Alice Shofner (May 31, 1963 - May 27, 1932)
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? It is a common question based upon a false premise. Because Ecclesiastes 7:20 teaches us, "for there is not a just man, upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not." We can not define a "good" person through the eyes of another sinner. It is through the eyes of God that their value becomes determined. To know, appreciate, and understand what good is, we must know, respect, and understand pain, hurt, and evil. Although, admittedly, in the darkest hours, it is difficult to understand God's plan for our lives, so we tend to yell out in grief, "Why, Lord"? But there is no better way for God to make his children yield to him and his glory than through suffering. Romans 8:28 testifies, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Yet, even in that understanding, we still ask, "Why has God failed us?" But God never fails anyone according to 2 Corinthians 1:4 because "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Pastors and Preachers tell their parishioners to pray hard and often to shield themselves from external and internal sins from their pulprits. Some Pastors and Preachers offer assurances that if you are good Christian soldiers, God will reward you through riches. But our purpose is not here on Earth. Our lives are mere falling stars meant not to shine in the world. The world is only a classroom that requires trusting in God's plan. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Provers 3:5-6)." I can't think of any better illustration of God's will than the story of my distant cousin, Alice Shofner.
Alice Shofner was born May 31, 1863, in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, to Jacob Morton Shofner and Melissa Emma Landis [1-7]. She was the oldest child of five born to the couple. Besides Alice, the couple welcomed into the world Emma (October 31, 1864), Edna (March 26, 1867), A J (1868), and Argentine Shofner (April 3, 1873) [8-24]. Tragically, though, Alice faces the meaning of death at a very young age because, on October 17, 1868, Alice's little sister Edna dies at 18 months old [24]. That same year, Alice suffers another loss with the death of her brother A J.
To support his family, Alice's father, Jacob, worked as the President of the People's Bank of Shelbyville [25]. But in addition to his entrepreneurial skills, Jacob owned vast amounts of land he farmed for profit [25]. Alice and her siblings lived and played at their home, Riverside Farm House, located on Bridge Road in the horseshoe bend on Duck River, on land deep-rooted in family history [26]. Her family had acquired a reputation for prominence and wealth, and her home was representative of their stature [26]. After receiving her fundamental education requirements in Bedford County community schools, she completed her education at Mary Sharp College, graduating on July 1, 1881 [27].
When Alice is in her early twenties, love finds her after meeting Redden Dale King. Redden was a child of Charles Brandon King and Mary Cyrene McQuiddy, born May 23, 1861, in Normandy, Bedford County, Tennessee [28]. As an established attorney with Carroll & King, Redden's future was bright and secure [29]. And so the two of them decided to marry on March 13, 1884 [29]. Soon, both of them melted into their communities and became prominent active members in social, civic, and religious affairs [33-36]. In addition, Alice became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a non-profit organization that promotes education and patriotism and a motto of "God, home, and country [33]." A year after their marriage, Alice and Redden welcomed their first son, Hoyt Dale, on March 11, 1885 [30]. And then, later, they are blessed with two more sons, Morton Brandon (September 8, 1887) and Douglas King (May 27, 1892) [31-32]. To Alice and Redden, briefly, it must have seemed as if God had blessed them with everything. However, their perfect beginning lasted for only a limited time.
As the years passed and accumulated, Redden continued to climb in his career, finally reaching the pinnacle and becoming a judge [34-35]. In 1894, he and Alice arrived at a 10-year milestone in their marriage [29]. On January 10, the following year, Redden gets appointed as the Chairman of the Bedford County Court, defeating his Republican opponent John W. Thompson, reaching another milestone [37]. Six months later, on July 3, Redden comes home after court adjournment and suddenly suffers apoplexy [34]. The following day at noon, Dale returns to the heavens peacefully, completing his last milestone, leaving behind a wife and three growing sons [34]. While the rest of the country celebrated the nation's birthday, Alice remained at home, grieving the loss of her husband [34]. Dale was only thirty-four [38]. His internment is at Jenkins Chapel Cemetery in Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee [38]. But in his death, Redden had provided well for his family, leaving Alice ten thousand dollars [39-40]. In today's terms, his estate equaled $315,329.76 upon his death [41].
When you lose a husband, the loss is profound and penetrating. But as a grieving mother of three children, Alice had to embrace the future and God's plans for the sake of what remained of their love. A reminder to Alice of God's words in Mathew 5:4, "Blessed they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Fifteen months later, Alice's faith becomes tested again when God takes her youngest son, Douglas, to the heavens on October 6, 1896 [30]. It serves as a reminder to Alice that the Lord can give, but he will also take [Job 1:21]. And yet, God still required her to praise him despite the visceral screams that might have escaped her heart from losing her child [Job 1:21]. God's gift of Douglas to Alice lasted four years, six months, and nine days [30]. With courage, Alice laid her closed child's coffin in Jenkins Chapel Cemetery so he could be near his father in death [30].
To most, two such parlous privations would destroy our will to face the challenges of another day. Again, Alice had to show strength for her two remaining sons and continue with life. Sadly, though, God was not through testing her strength and courage. On March 18, 1902, Alice faces tragedy once more. While trying to catch a train, Hoyt accidentally falls onto the railroad tracks as a train approaches, severing two limbs from his body, killing him instantly [32,42]. Alice's loss was unimaginable. Hopefully, as she laid her seventeen-year-old son in his final resting place by his brother and father, she found comfort in Psalms 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Usually, when there is grief, solace and strength are sought by a Preacher or Pastor. Alice perhaps found both, as well as peace, love, and comfort, with her marriage to Rev. Charles Henry Armstrong on June 23, 1897, in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee [43-44]. Charles was a son of Abraham Smith Armstrong and Leah Jane Lacey, born December 2, 1869, in Licking County, Ohio [45-50]. Charles was known as a patient, kind, gentle, and loving soul who gave endlessly of his time [50]. A friend described Charles as a person that "interpreted life in terms of the Holy Bible [50]." He and Alice were married thirty-five years until her death on May 27, 1932, in Shelbyville [1-7, 33]. She died suddenly of a stroke [33]. Charles has a cerebral hemorrhage and dies alone inside his house on June 20, 1937, five years later [46-50]. Both of their internments are in Jenkins Chapel Cemetery [1,51].
Death
Bit by bit, it takes you.
Slowly you are fading away.
When will you leave me?
On my heart it quietly weighs.
You are gone, but no, not really.
What once was is still there.
You are buried somewhere deep inside.
Amongst all the pain and fear.
My fingers, they slowly release you.
I know you are not here to stay.
What am I without you?
My soul feels no other way.
I see it grab a hold of you.
Your skin fading from rose to ash.
Soon gone from my grasp.
Only memories from the fading past.
When you lay in wake in white satin.
And in death, you are properly displayed.
It's me without you that takes a piece.
And it is me and not you fading away.
By Dj Moats-Herron
Source References:
1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261561/alice-king
2. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 4
3. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
4. Original data: Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1965. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.
5. Tennessee City Death Records Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis 1848-1907. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.
6. "Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874–1955." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
7. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1874-1955 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
8. Year: 1870; Census Place: District 25, Bedford, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1514; Page: 433A
9. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
10. 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
11. Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
12. Census 1870: Resided in District 25, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA: Jacob Shofner 29, Melissie, 26, Alice 7, Emma 5
13. Year: 1880; Census Place: Winchester, Franklin, Tennessee; Roll: 1254; Page: 8D; Enumeration District: 085
14. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
15. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
16. Census 1880: Resided in Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, U.S.A., J.M, 38, M.E. 35, Alice 17, Emma 15, Argie 7
17. Book Title: Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 071
18. Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
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20. Original data: Genealogical Card File. Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
21. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261134/jacob-morton-shofner
22. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261136/melissa-shofne
23. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261567/emma-maupin
24. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202653679/edna-shofner
25. “J.M. Shofner Dies Near Shelbyville,” 1916, July 9, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 26.
26. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/45550bd2-8b1f-4153-8a97-30d47a90569c/
27. “Graduates,” 1881, July 1, Tennessee Baptist, Memphis, Tennessee, Page 17.
28. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261548/king
29. “Carroll & King,” 1884, March 15, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 2
30. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261563/douglas-king
31. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202624175/morton-brandon-king
32. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202623610/hoyt-dale-king
33. “Wife of Shelbyville Minister Succumbs,” 1932, May, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Page 4.
34. “Judge Dale King-Sudden Death Of A Well Known Citizen Of Bedford County, 1895, July 5, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 3.
35. “Normandy-Personal, Political And General News,” 1884, April 26, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 1
36. “Untitled,” 1884, May 17, Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 2.
37. “Bedford County Court-Democrats Get The Upper Hand In Court,” 1895, January 11, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 3.
38. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11261548/redden-dale-king
39. .Administrator's and Executor's Bonds and Letters, 1861-1965; Administrator's and Executor's Settlements, 1865-1934, 1937-1963...; Author: Bedford County (Tennessee) County Court Clerk; Probate Place: Bedford, Tennessee
40. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
41. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1895?amount=10000
42. “Trying To Catch A Train,” 1902, March 21, Chattanooga News, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Page 3.
43. "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 18 March 2020. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City
44. “Unnamed,” 1897, June 24, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tennessee, Page 3
45. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958; Roll Number: 6
46. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
47. Original data: Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1965. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.
48. Tennessee City Death Records Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis 1848-1907. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.
49. “Wartrace Pastor Dies,” 1937, June 21, The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Page 12.
50. Pitts, R.K., “A Tribute To Reverend Charles H. Armstrong,” 1937, June 24, Shelbyville Gazette, Shelbyville, Tennessee,
51. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16393806/charles-henry-armstrong
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