Obituary of Eli Tackett from the Minutes of the New Salem Association of Old Regular Baptist of Jesus Christ held at the Long Fork Church at Hartley, Ky. September 1950.
It is with sad heart that I attempt to write an obituary of a beloved Brother in Christ to-wit.
Eli Tackett was born March 5, 1871 and deceased this life March 26, 1950, age 79 years and 22 days.
He was married to Sister Jane Hampton and to this union was born eleven children. Sister Jane died and he was married to Hilza McCown. To this union was born 14 children, making a total of twenty five children, six of whom have preceded him in death and nineteen still living to mourn the loss of their father.
Brother Eli joined the Long Fork Church of Old Regular Baptists on the fourth Saturday in may 1906 and was baptized by Elder Alex Johnson on the fourth Saturday in July 1906. He was ordained as a deacon of the Long fork Church on the fourth Saturday in August 1909, and served faithfully in that office until the Death Angel carried him away.
Brother Eli was faithful in filling his notable seat in the corner of the church house which he always claimed was his seat. He was at church on Sunday of the February meeting and was taken sick on the way home from church. he only lived till Sunday evening of the March meeting when Death Angel visited him and took him as we believe to the Paradise of god. I never heard a better testimony of a dying pilgrim than Brother Eli gave to all of us. His prayer and dying words were to all his children and friends were to live right and serve the Lord and meet him in Heaven. He loved the old church so well that he gave his life to it.
He took me by the hand and asked me to serve the Long Fork Church as their moderator as long as I lived. I told him that I would serve them as long as it was their will for me to do so. I thank God that I have had the privilege to baptize one of his daughters and son-in-law in to the old church since his death.
I want to say to all the rest of his children and friends and relatives that if you ever want to go to where Brother Eli is you must repent of your sins and be born again. May God bless his beloved widow and band of Orphan children and especially the baby boy as Brother Eli asked me to council him and pray for him.
So I will close by saying, you all have lost a good pious and Christain father and we have lost one of our Deacons and a loving brother but I truly believe that our loss is his eternal gain- - a Home in Heaven.
His funeral is to be preached together with his son Dan who lost his life in the last Great World War, in foreign lands, on the fourth Saturday and Sunday in July 1951 at or near the Long Fork Church house.
Written by your Brother in Hope- - - - - - Elder M.V. Burke