Funeral Eulogy: Rev A.V. Greer died at his home one mile southwest of Newstead, Newton Co. MO 12 Jun 1903. Rev. A.V. Greer aged 79 years 5 months and 22 days. A.V. Greer was born Dec 21, 1823 in Sevier County, TN. He was married Oct. 5, 1845 to Catherine Gregory of Blount County, TN.

Rev. Greer was converted in July 1852, licensed to preach shortly after being converted and was ordained a Baptist minister Sept 5, 1860 at Tuckaleechee Cove, TN. Bro. Greer served as Pastor of Cades Cove Baptist Church, Blount Co., TN for ten years; at the expiration of which time Greer played an active part in organizing Big Spring Baptist Church (MO) in which he held his membership to the time of his death. He was elected first pastor of said church and was pastor of this church for 10 years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Greer were born twelve children, six boys and six girls, of which ten are now living, as his heart broken wife with whom he lived faithfully and devotedly and with her lived at unity, lasting 58 years.

He was a man of great integrity, and looked to the blessed Bible for his guidance. In his relations toward his children he was very desirous of having them live Christian lives and gave them such advice and tutoring as was in his estimation beneficial to the welfare and future career of them.

Bro. Greer had been in bad health for several years, suffering mostly from skin eruption. During the past winter he grew gradually worse. A large tumor formed on his right side (reason of death) in the latter part of the winter, which caused him to grow more feeble. For several weeks prior to his death it was known that he could not recover. He knew it himself, but was as quiet as a bird.

While Bro. Greer will not be seen in this world of sorrow and disappointments, yet a vivid memory of him will rest with the vast number who knew him. The entire community deeply mourn the loss of so estimable a citizen. But we know it is the hand of God that calls both great and small from mortal to immortal life, and his life work was ended. A life such as which we should aspire to live, a life filled with ardent work for the up building of humanity, and for the furtherance of Christianity on earth. After living 51 years a Christian and being a minister of God's work on earth for 34 years, is it any wonder that God should say, it is enough. Is it any wonder why he so humbly submitted to death or strange that he should ask God to take his soul from the frail human clay which encased it, take him from the strife and sin of this world to a land of peace and happiness in a far brighter clime than this, His death was only an act of Benefience from the hand of God only the wages of a useful and devoted Christian life, a reward which all should be more than willing to attain. While it fills the eyes of loved ones with tears to look to a vacant chair, tear dimmed eyes and aching hearts are made to know by his life of devotion to God's cause on this world of strife that his soul has flown from this world of which one half is enveloped in the blackness of night and the other half struggling with sin, bitter disappointment and avarice, and flown to a world of eternal day, where strife and the depredations of insidious enemies are not to contend with.

Bro. Greer was widely known in Southwest MO. having lived here since 1870. His loss is deeply felt and the loved ones he left behind have the sympathy of us all, and my God's blessings rest on his frail wife, and the children of the departed. May their hearts be healed and when it is their time to die may their souls unite with his in heave, is the prayer of all true Christians. Bro. Greer was conscious up till death. He died at peace with God and man 9 pm Friday the 12th. Funeral services were conducted by Bro. Whittington of Barry County at Big Spring Church Sunday at 11 am in the presence of a vast audience, after which he was buried in the Dice Cemetery. (Rev. Greer's daughter, Effie Palestine Greer, wrote in the margin that more than 500 attended the funeral.)