| Notes |
- Obituary from Dallas Morning News, Dec. 23, 1933. "Mrs. Tennie McFarland Graves, 52, of 2517 Oak Lawn, for seven years church visitor for the East Dallas Christian Church, and member of a pioneer Texas family, died Friday morning after an illness of two weeks. Because of ill health she resigned her position with the church last April. Mrs. Graves was born in Ladonia, Fannin County, daughter of the late James F. McFarland and granddaugther of the Fannin County pioneer, Jackson McFarland. At the time of her death Mrs. Graves owned land near Ladonia that was granted her grandfather by Gen. Sam Houston during the time of the republic. Her husband, Henry L. Graves, was a merchant of Ladonia. He died there about ten years ago...... She is survived by two step-sons, Henry L. Graves Jr., United States Navy, stationed at San Diego, Cal., and will Nunn Graves, Milwaukee; her mother, Mrs. Mary Jane McFarland of Ladonia; four brothers, Sam J. McFarland, James R. McFarland, both of Lubbock; John A. McFarland of Ladonia and Dr. Gordon B. McFarland of Dallas; three sisters, Mrs. Walter P. Jennings of Lubbock, Mrs. W.M. Williams of Ladonia and Mrs. Joe M. Hill of Dallas....
From Lola McFarland Hill's book: P. 99
RUTHA TENNESSEE MCFARLAND - married Henry L. GRAVES. Born Aug. 22, 1881. Fifth child of the family. She attend¬school in Ladonia and graduated from Carlton College in Bonham. While in college she studied painting with Miss Grace Carlton, and painted many beautiful pictures. She was very capable at needle work and while in college she knitted a beautiful shawl for her mother. She was a great help in managing the household, and showed great concern for any who were ill or grieved. While living at home in Ladonia, she worked at the bank and the Oil Mill, and at the same time was the teacher of a Sunday School Class of young people at the First Christian Church - the Loyal Bereans. Her influence was very great upon those in her class. She went to Europe with her sister Florence in 1910, attending the Passion Play. On the 26th of Dec. 1918 she was married to Mr. Graves and made for him, Mother Graves, Will Nunn and Henry a lovely home life. He was stricken ill soon after their marriage, but for five years she was extremely happy, until his death May 30, 1924. After his death, she and Henry Jr. came to Dallas and lived on Victor Street and Henry attended Woodrow Wilson High School. She was employed in the office of the Trinity Warehouse which was operated by her brother James R. In 1926 she became the church visitor for the East Dallas Christian Church and was of the most valuable service to the church and especially to Dr. L. N. D. Wells, the minister. During this time she lived in the home of Judge and Mrs. R. J. Thorne. In 1932, because of ill health, she resigned from this strenuous work and became secretary in the office of her brother Dr. Gordon B. McFarland and lived in the home of Miss Cora McFarland on Henderson Ave. She suffered many hemorrhages and was given inumberable blood transfusions. Among the donors were Rebel Proctor and her brother-in-law, Joe Hill, who gave as many as twenty. She died on Dec. 22, 1933, and her place was never filled in the hearts of her loved ones. She remembered all her family in her will, giving her jewels to her nieces and the homestead farm to her sister, Lola. She was only 52 years old when she died, but her life had been so full of love and service to others that it might have been a much longer life in someone else, to have accomplished what she die. She is buried beside her father and mother in the Ladonia Cemetery.
P. 100
GRAVES - MCFARLAND.
• from Ladonia News, Dec. 27, 1918
Friends in Ladonia were surprised to receive news of the marriage of Mr. H. L. Graves and Miss Tennie MoFarland in Fort Worth last Thursday. Accompanied by Capt. and Mrs. Joe M. Hill and John A. McFarland they drove to Ft. Worth from Dallas and were married at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Walter P. Jennings. The latter is a sister of the bride. Rev. Jennings performed the ceremony.
Mr. and Mrs. Graves returned Tuesday from Dallas and will occupy the Graves home on East Main Street, which is being remodeled.
The groom is a prominent merchant of Ladonia, being a member of the firm of Graves-Moore Co., and is well and favorably known throughout this section of the state, while the bride is the daughter of Mrs. Mary J. McFarland and the late J. F. McFarland, banker and business man of Ladonia for years. Miss Tennie is one of Ladonia's most lovable characters and everyone is her friend. She has held the responsible position as book-keeper at the First State Bank for some time, besides being prominent in church and social circles.
The News congratulates this popular couple upon the happy event and wishes for them that all their years may be rich in the fullness of joy to each.
RESOLUTION
To many is given an urge to serve, but to few is added the gifts of an understanding sympathy and the facility of expression that opens the way to the very hearts of those to whom the service is carried.
Such a handmaiden in the Courts of our Lord was
MRS. TENNIE MCFARLAND GRAVES
whose translation, after a lifetime of devoted service in earth¬ly fields, to that rare world above leaves so great a void in our church family.
But withal there is a song of joy and thanksgiving for the ever continuing influence of her ministrations and example, especially in her work as Visitor for the East Dallas Christian Church.
In this and all other Christian service, neither heat of summer not cold of winter, physical pain no the lure of conflicting in¬terests, deterred her devotion to what she made her highest duty.
We commit to the permanent records of East Dallas Christian Church this expression of thanks, appreciation, and affection for our be¬loved co-worker, and order that a copy hereof, with our deepest sympathy be transmitted to her devoted family.
OFFICIAL BOARD
East Dallas Christian Church.
Signed: J. Howard Payne, Paul Gerhart, Starr Armstrong ,LND,'Vells. Dallas, Texas - May 7, 1934 A.D,
P. 101
SORROW TO THE WHOLE CHURCH FAMILY
-from the Church World - Mrs. H. L. Graves, for seven years assistant to the pastor in East Dallas.
No greater sorrow has ever come to the East Dallas Church than that occasioned by the passing of Mrs. H. L. Graves, for seven years as faithful a servant as any church ever had. Her interest was vital in every department of our church life and her constant check-up on all our groups was remarkable indeed. If any class, department or organization among us began to lag for any reason, whatsoever, Mrs. Graves' attention was on it immediately, and through her zealous efforts the difficulties were corrected very soon. Perhaps she rendered no greater ser¬vice than her work in helping your pastor to center his efforts across the years. Your pastor (Dr. L.N.D.Wells) never made a call in following her suggestion that he did not feel that call to be tremendously worthwhile. She had a remarkable ability of sensing situations and knowing not only where her own presence would be of most value, but also where a call by the pastor would count for the most.
Mrs. Graves always found those in trouble, those in distress, those who were ill, those who were disaffected, and always, and under every circumstance her service was of the highest type.
We have never heard a criticism of her work as assistant to the pastor in East Dallas. Her place will be very hard to fill.
L.N.D. Wells, Pastor.
"It is in the darkness that the light is needed and it is there that it shines the best. The other day a saintly woman of my own parish went to the hospital to say a last farewell to a grown daughter who within a few hours must pass to her long home. As this Christian mother left the room with streaming eyes, she said to me, "It would be a shame to call her back, when she is so near to Heaven." And a new light from a brokenhearted mother who was a true Christian, illumined my own soul.
- from The Light of the World by LND WELLS.
Tennie was also known by Bakie, or Baker with family members, a nickname referring back to a well-known preacher named Tennessee Baker. She was 37 years old when she got married, and the family members were not happy with her choice at first. Her brother John Allen (Doc) wrote a letter to Gordon where he criticized this choice and said she was only doing it to avoid being an "old maid." That possibly was due to the fact his business was a competitor of the Jackson McFarland retail store in Ladonia, and that he had once dated sister Mary, but then married Mamie Nunn. However, the family changed their minds as they got to know him and he joined the Christian church.
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1881 - 1933 (52 years)
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