Lida Croom-Hodges
The Wharton Spectator
November 25, 1911
Probably no advice coming to Wharton in years caused more general sorrow and genuine grief that that conveyed in a telephone message from Galveston Saturday afternoon stating that Mrs, Lida Croom-Hodges had died at 2:25 o'clock that day. Few of the citizens of Wharton knew that she was ill, fewer still knew she was critically so, and the news of her death was a distant shock. Even deceased herself sis not know how grave was her malady until she consulted her physician last Tuesday, and when told the nature of her malady (a cancerous affection) she suffered a severe mental shock. She at once decided to consult with a specialist and submit to an operation if it were deemed necessary, and last Wednesday left for Galveston. Of those who saw her depart not one dreamed that so soon she would be brought home a corpse. Arriving there, a diagnosis of her case revealed that her days were numbered except an operation be performed, and the success of this was very doubtful. But bravely she decided she would take the chance, and the operation was performed. Coupled with the mental shock she had endured the physical shock was too much for her rather frail constitution, and she passed into the great beyond shortly after recovering from the influence of the opiates.
The remains were brought to this city, arriving Sunday noon. The funeral was held from from the residence of her father, Judge W.J. Croom, on Monday morning at 10:30 o'clock, Rev. T.J. Windom of the Episcopal church at Houston assisting Rev. Wm Hart, the local rector in the services at the residence and the cemetery.
The active pall bearers were Messrs. Henry Cookenboo, C. M. Hughs, A. A. Rugeley, G. A. Harrison, R. H. D. Sorrell and J. A. Sanders; honorary, R. E. Vineyard, R. B. Huston, H. J. Bolton, H. J. Russell, J. G. Barbee and R. A. Armstrong.
As a tribute of respect to the memory of deceased, the public schools were dismissed and several business houses closed. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, and after the interment the mound of fresh earth was completely hidden by them.
The ways of the Infinite are inscrutable to the finite mind, and not to us is given to understand why one so young should be touched by the cold hand of death - while others is accorded full four score years and more. In the decease of Mrs. Hodges passed from this earth one whose life work was but little more than well begun. She died Saturday; on Sunday she would have been 37. On the same day her paternal grandfather, John L. Croom was 85 years of age. On the maternal side Mrs. Hodges was a great granddaughter of Governor Horton, who held office in the early days of the republic, and a granddaughter of Col. I.N. Dennis, one of the most distinguished lawyers of his time. She was a daughter of Judge Wiley Croom, hid first-born, and from babyhood to the day of her death the attachment between the two was something beautiful in its depth, and no day passed but saw the two together a part of the time. In 1894 on the 20th day of February she was united in wedlock to Frank Hodges, and two sons blessed their union, Wiley and Franklin, aged 17 and 12 respectively.
On October 29, 1910 the husband and father passed into the beyond and while his memory has been kept green, the mothers love for her children seemed to be accentuated and her very heart strings centered in her boys. Owing to the ill health of Mr. Hodges for several years before he died, upon his wife devolved for the most part the management of their affairs, and it is stated there was no better business manager in this section than she was. Her property being quite extensive, she was kept quite busy, and this fact probably kept her from realizing that she was ill until too late.
Attending the funeral from out side points were Judge Pearson and wife and Mrs. Robert Darst of Richmond; Wm. E. Austin and wife of Bay City; Dr. Dennis and wife and Miss Nannie Dennis of Cleburne; and Judge Croom and wife of Jacksonville, Miss.
Practically the entire citizenship of Wharton attended the funeral, and quite a number of the old-time negro retainers of the family and their descendants were also present, attesting in this manner the love and respect that had for "Miss Lida", as they have ever called her.
The love, the friendship, the affection one builds up during life are not marked by marble shafts which rear their height on our last resting place, but rather by the memories of what one was in life. Oftentimes an inscription carved on a slab is all that remains to call to mind one who was and now is not. Not so with Lida Croom-Hodges.
So long as those who knew her in life do live her memory in our hearts will be kept green, and her gentle spirit will yet live in all those with whom she came in contact. Among the friends who sympathize with the bereaved relatives in this sad hour, there is no one more sincere than the Spectator editor.
At the evening service at the Episcopal church, of which deceased had been a member for years, the following resolutions were adopted: Whereas: God in His infinite wisdom and love has taken the spirit of our friend and sister in Christ, Lida Croom-Hodges, from this world of sin and sorrow, translating her to His paradise of rest; whereas, St. Thomas' Episcopal church of Wharton has thereby lost one of its most active and faithful communicants, one who ever delighted to follow in the footsteps of her Lord in quiet, gentle ministries of love and noble deeds; Therefore, resolved that we, members of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, while we mourn her loss in our midst, do nevertheless bow in humble submission to God's will, believing that "He doeth all things well" and thank Him for the fragrance of her dear memory.
Resolved, that our deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved sons, and other relations, and we will pray God - as we have already done in the congregation - that He will sustain and comfort them in their deep sorrow. Wm Hart, Priest in Charge E. Brooks Secy St. Thomas' Church
This obituary from a copy of the one appearing in various Wharton County Newspapers and donated to Wharton County Historical Museum. Transcribed by Janet Barrett Hobizal.