- Mary Ann McCuistion was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, July 5 1804. she was married to Jesse Summers Feb. 20, 1823, professed religion and joined the Baptist church in 1825. Jesse Summers, her devoted husband died Dec. 30, 1827, and she was married to Thos. McCuistion Dec. 10, 1829. They moved to Mississippi in 1837, where they remained until 1851, when they moved to Nacogdoches county, Texas, where they have ever since lived, and where she died May 8, 1892, being aged eighty-seven years, ten months and three days.
Sister McCuistion was the oldest member of the oldest church in Texas. Her membership has been continuously with the old North Church for over forty years.
When the split took place between the Missionary and anti-Missionary Baptists in 1830, she refused to take sides in the controversy and remained with the original church and really held it together. She was the mother of eight children, only four of whom survive her. During all those years of her pilgrimage, she was a most tender and devoted mother, an affectionate and faithful wife, a consistent and consecrated Christian. Her husband had the misfortune a few weeks ago to be accidentally hurt, and for a time his life was in jeopardy. During his period of suffering, her care of him was as touchingly tender as it might have been half a century ago. She lingered about two weeks on the banks of the river of death, and then passed over to her home in heaven. She was fully conscious of her approaching death and spoke of it calmly and hopefully unto the end. She called around her bedside her family and friends and bade each a touching farewell, gave careful instructions and faithful admonitions, and then in the fulness of time, ripe with age and rich in experience, she fell asleep in Jesus.
The whole community waited at her bedside and followed her beloved remains to the tomb. She had looked back on a life well spent, with a conscience void of offense toward God and man, and looked forward to the land of the glorified with sweet and hopeful anticipations.
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