First wife of Walker Reynolds, married April 13, 1826.
She was the daughter of Churchill Gibson and Mary Brantley Gibson of Monroe County, Georgia.
Her only living child, Thomas, was age 12 at the time of her death.
"THIS MONUMENT is erected by a bereaved husband and dedicated
to the memory of
Mrs. ESPEY REYNOLDS,
who departed this life on the 13th day of September in the year 1839 and in the 31st year of her age. She was the daughter of Churchill and Mary Gibson, late of Monroe County, Georgia. Her mother Mrs. Gibson departed this life July the 6th 1835, and her Father, November 14th 1838. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Warren County, Georgia, on the 28th of August in the year 1809, and was married to Walker Reynolds on the 13th of April 1826. At the time of her death, she left an only child Thomas H. Reynolds, then in the 12th year of his age. May that son, whenever his eye
shall rest on this inscription, remember the fond solicitude of his dying mother! And may that remembrance, set his heart on virtue, and fix his thoughts on Heaven."
(Transcription by Carolyn Lane {Mrs. J. Oden] Luttrell.)
The marble mausoleum of Epsey Reynolds contains inscriptions carved on the inside three walls totaling 496 words.
Transcription by Mike Reeves:
Whether curiosity or affection shall lead you
to this spot! And whether friend or stranger shall
trace these lines-yet let this solemn impression
rest on the mind and deeply impress the heart.
This is the work of death! This is the end which awaits
all of the living-and you too, must die! Compared with
the joys of a triumphant death, what are all the
glories of this fleeting life? And who would not
prefer to live the christians life, and die the
christians death, that his last end may be like theirs?
Religion performs its perfect work where the world
loses its power to charm the heart, or solace
the weary spirit. And where death approaches, the
christian is not only sustained by the consciousness
that "there remaineth a rest for the people of God"-
but can exclaim amid the last conflict with the Poet,
"Jesus can make a dying bed,"
"Feel soft as downy pillows are;"
"While on his breast I lean my head,"
"And breathe my life out sweetly there."
In the death of this estimable Lady, her sex has
lost one of its brightest ornaments. On her cheeks,
the rose of beauty bloomed yet she was not vain !
In her eye intelligence sparkled, yet she was not
haughty! Around her, wealth scattered all its
conveniences, yet she was not proud!! She lived,
beloved, an affectionate wife-a tender mother-
a faithful friend ! She died, lamented a kind neigh-
bor-a pious example-and a devoted Christian.
This marble shall be consumed, and this monument
shall perish; yet shall its pious inmate live again!
And when the trump of God shall bid the dead arise,
then shall the tenant of this tomb awake, in the
lovely image of that Savior in whose merits she
trusted; and trusting triumphed over death.
There is a worth, which like the sun-lit skies,
The powers of language, and of thought defies-
On worth like this, in vain is praise bestowed.
It blooms on earth, but yields its fruit to God !
She was the daughter of Churchill Gibson and Mary Brantley Gibson of Monroe County, Georgia.
Her only living child, Thomas, was age 12 at the time of her death.
"THIS MONUMENT is erected by a bereaved husband and dedicated
to the memory of
Mrs. ESPEY REYNOLDS,
who departed this life on the 13th day of September in the year 1839 and in the 31st year of her age. She was the daughter of Churchill and Mary Gibson, late of Monroe County, Georgia. Her mother Mrs. Gibson departed this life July the 6th 1835, and her Father, November 14th 1838. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Warren County, Georgia, on the 28th of August in the year 1809, and was married to Walker Reynolds on the 13th of April 1826. At the time of her death, she left an only child Thomas H. Reynolds, then in the 12th year of his age. May that son, whenever his eye
shall rest on this inscription, remember the fond solicitude of his dying mother! And may that remembrance, set his heart on virtue, and fix his thoughts on Heaven."
(Transcription by Carolyn Lane {Mrs. J. Oden] Luttrell.)
The marble mausoleum of Epsey Reynolds contains inscriptions carved on the inside three walls totaling 496 words.
Transcription by Mike Reeves:
Whether curiosity or affection shall lead you
to this spot! And whether friend or stranger shall
trace these lines-yet let this solemn impression
rest on the mind and deeply impress the heart.
This is the work of death! This is the end which awaits
all of the living-and you too, must die! Compared with
the joys of a triumphant death, what are all the
glories of this fleeting life? And who would not
prefer to live the christians life, and die the
christians death, that his last end may be like theirs?
Religion performs its perfect work where the world
loses its power to charm the heart, or solace
the weary spirit. And where death approaches, the
christian is not only sustained by the consciousness
that "there remaineth a rest for the people of God"-
but can exclaim amid the last conflict with the Poet,
"Jesus can make a dying bed,"
"Feel soft as downy pillows are;"
"While on his breast I lean my head,"
"And breathe my life out sweetly there."
In the death of this estimable Lady, her sex has
lost one of its brightest ornaments. On her cheeks,
the rose of beauty bloomed yet she was not vain !
In her eye intelligence sparkled, yet she was not
haughty! Around her, wealth scattered all its
conveniences, yet she was not proud!! She lived,
beloved, an affectionate wife-a tender mother-
a faithful friend ! She died, lamented a kind neigh-
bor-a pious example-and a devoted Christian.
This marble shall be consumed, and this monument
shall perish; yet shall its pious inmate live again!
And when the trump of God shall bid the dead arise,
then shall the tenant of this tomb awake, in the
lovely image of that Savior in whose merits she
trusted; and trusting triumphed over death.
There is a worth, which like the sun-lit skies,
The powers of language, and of thought defies-
On worth like this, in vain is praise bestowed.
It blooms on earth, but yields its fruit to God !
First wife of Walker Reynolds, married April 13, 1826.
She was the daughter of Churchill Gibson and Mary Brantley Gibson of Monroe County, Georgia.
Her only living child, Thomas, was age 12 at the time of her death.
"THIS MONUMENT is erected by a bereaved husband and dedicated
to the memory of
Mrs. ESPEY REYNOLDS,
who departed this life on the 13th day of September in the year 1839 and in the 31st year of her age. She was the daughter of Churchill and Mary Gibson, late of Monroe County, Georgia. Her mother Mrs. Gibson departed this life July the 6th 1835, and her Father, November 14th 1838. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Warren County, Georgia, on the 28th of August in the year 1809, and was married to Walker Reynolds on the 13th of April 1826. At the time of her death, she left an only child Thomas H. Reynolds, then in the 12th year of his age. May that son, whenever his eye
shall rest on this inscription, remember the fond solicitude of his dying mother! And may that remembrance, set his heart on virtue, and fix his thoughts on Heaven."
(Transcription by Carolyn Lane {Mrs. J. Oden] Luttrell.)
The marble mausoleum of Epsey Reynolds contains inscriptions carved on the inside three walls totaling 496 words.
Transcription by Mike Reeves:
Whether curiosity or affection shall lead you
to this spot! And whether friend or stranger shall
trace these lines-yet let this solemn impression
rest on the mind and deeply impress the heart.
This is the work of death! This is the end which awaits
all of the living-and you too, must die! Compared with
the joys of a triumphant death, what are all the
glories of this fleeting life? And who would not
prefer to live the christians life, and die the
christians death, that his last end may be like theirs?
Religion performs its perfect work where the world
loses its power to charm the heart, or solace
the weary spirit. And where death approaches, the
christian is not only sustained by the consciousness
that "there remaineth a rest for the people of God"-
but can exclaim amid the last conflict with the Poet,
"Jesus can make a dying bed,"
"Feel soft as downy pillows are;"
"While on his breast I lean my head,"
"And breathe my life out sweetly there."
In the death of this estimable Lady, her sex has
lost one of its brightest ornaments. On her cheeks,
the rose of beauty bloomed yet she was not vain !
In her eye intelligence sparkled, yet she was not
haughty! Around her, wealth scattered all its
conveniences, yet she was not proud!! She lived,
beloved, an affectionate wife-a tender mother-
a faithful friend ! She died, lamented a kind neigh-
bor-a pious example-and a devoted Christian.
This marble shall be consumed, and this monument
shall perish; yet shall its pious inmate live again!
And when the trump of God shall bid the dead arise,
then shall the tenant of this tomb awake, in the
lovely image of that Savior in whose merits she
trusted; and trusting triumphed over death.
There is a worth, which like the sun-lit skies,
The powers of language, and of thought defies-
On worth like this, in vain is praise bestowed.
It blooms on earth, but yields its fruit to God !
She was the daughter of Churchill Gibson and Mary Brantley Gibson of Monroe County, Georgia.
Her only living child, Thomas, was age 12 at the time of her death.
"THIS MONUMENT is erected by a bereaved husband and dedicated
to the memory of
Mrs. ESPEY REYNOLDS,
who departed this life on the 13th day of September in the year 1839 and in the 31st year of her age. She was the daughter of Churchill and Mary Gibson, late of Monroe County, Georgia. Her mother Mrs. Gibson departed this life July the 6th 1835, and her Father, November 14th 1838. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Warren County, Georgia, on the 28th of August in the year 1809, and was married to Walker Reynolds on the 13th of April 1826. At the time of her death, she left an only child Thomas H. Reynolds, then in the 12th year of his age. May that son, whenever his eye
shall rest on this inscription, remember the fond solicitude of his dying mother! And may that remembrance, set his heart on virtue, and fix his thoughts on Heaven."
(Transcription by Carolyn Lane {Mrs. J. Oden] Luttrell.)
The marble mausoleum of Epsey Reynolds contains inscriptions carved on the inside three walls totaling 496 words.
Transcription by Mike Reeves:
Whether curiosity or affection shall lead you
to this spot! And whether friend or stranger shall
trace these lines-yet let this solemn impression
rest on the mind and deeply impress the heart.
This is the work of death! This is the end which awaits
all of the living-and you too, must die! Compared with
the joys of a triumphant death, what are all the
glories of this fleeting life? And who would not
prefer to live the christians life, and die the
christians death, that his last end may be like theirs?
Religion performs its perfect work where the world
loses its power to charm the heart, or solace
the weary spirit. And where death approaches, the
christian is not only sustained by the consciousness
that "there remaineth a rest for the people of God"-
but can exclaim amid the last conflict with the Poet,
"Jesus can make a dying bed,"
"Feel soft as downy pillows are;"
"While on his breast I lean my head,"
"And breathe my life out sweetly there."
In the death of this estimable Lady, her sex has
lost one of its brightest ornaments. On her cheeks,
the rose of beauty bloomed yet she was not vain !
In her eye intelligence sparkled, yet she was not
haughty! Around her, wealth scattered all its
conveniences, yet she was not proud!! She lived,
beloved, an affectionate wife-a tender mother-
a faithful friend ! She died, lamented a kind neigh-
bor-a pious example-and a devoted Christian.
This marble shall be consumed, and this monument
shall perish; yet shall its pious inmate live again!
And when the trump of God shall bid the dead arise,
then shall the tenant of this tomb awake, in the
lovely image of that Savior in whose merits she
trusted; and trusting triumphed over death.
There is a worth, which like the sun-lit skies,
The powers of language, and of thought defies-
On worth like this, in vain is praise bestowed.
It blooms on earth, but yields its fruit to God !
Inscription
The marble mausoleum of Walker Reynolds' first wife, Epsey Gibson, contains an inscription on the inside three walls totaling 496 words.
