Daughter of William Flemming Lee & Mrs. Jane Smith Thompson
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LINCOLN COUNTY, KENTUCKY MARRIAGES
S. L. Lee married James M. Huffman
9 September 1851
Mrs. S. L. Huffman married John M. McRoberts
22 June 1876
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SEMI-WEEKLY INTERIOR JOURNAL, STANFORD, KY., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1882
Page 3
McROBERTS - After many months of intense though patient suffering, the spirit of Mrs. Statin Ladocia McRoberts, wife of John McRoberts, Sr., was freed from its suffering body and at 6:30 o'clock, Friday morning, Nov. 3d, took its flight to the Mansions of Eternal Glory. Her disease was pronounced by the physicians to be cancer of the stomach, which became so exceedingly irritated as to refuse to retain food for more than a month before her death. Remedies and medicines were unavailing and her children and friends could only minister to her wants and await the inevitable. She was the daughter of Mr. Wm. F. Lee, late of this county, and was born Dec. 25, 1828, which made her nearly 54 years of age. At 15 she professed religion and joined the Presbyterian Church at Hustonville, and it may truly be said of her that she lived up to her faith. On the 9th of Sept. 1851, she was united in marriage to Mr. James M. Huffman, who died Aug. 1, 1864, leaving her with four small children, to whom she devoted her life and labor in educating and rearing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They are all living and she had the joy to seeing them, save one, gathered into the fold before her death. After twelve years of widowhood, she was again married, uniting herself on the 25th of June, 1876, to Mr. John McRoberts, Sr., who survives her. One sister also survives her, Mrs. P. P. Huffman, wife of Dr. Huffman of Peabody, Kansas. Naturally a woman of great force of will, she never swerved from duty. Devoted to her children, she lost no opportunity to serve and assist them both in season and out of season, and to her they owe all that they are. Several weeks before the fatal day, Dr. Peyton, her attending physician, informed her that her disease was incurable and that her death was but a question of time. She calmly listened to him and replied that she was aware that her condition was critical and that she could live but a short time, adding that she did not fear to die. Subsequently she talked repeatedly of her approaching end, always assuring her weeping children and friends that all was well, that she would soon be with her Redeemer, and urging them to live so as to be with her again. She seemed greatly to enjoy the praying and singing of the ministers who often called on her and whenever there were services at the Methodist Church across the street she asked that the door be opened so that she could hear again the sweet songs of Zion. Her faith seemed to grow stronger as her life faded away and retaining consciousness to the last, her latest words were of confidence of an everlasting rest. All the day before and the night preceding her death her waking moments were spent in conversing with her children and husband on the brightness of the life she was about to enter, and expressing her great anxiety that they should live christian lives and at last receive the reward of Eternal happiness at His right hand. She divided her personal effects among her children and gave the most minute details as to her burial, even to the selection of her grave clothes, and asked that only a chapter be read and a prayer be said over her remains. The scene when she called her children to her bedside and talked to each of them, now and again placing her amaciated arm around their necks, was affecting in the extreme and stronger hearts than theirs melted into tears as their heart-breaking sobs filled the room. But as sad as was the scene, it was rendered less terrible by the calm and trusting words of the dying christian and death was in a measure robbed of its sting.
A faithful mother of Zion has gone to her Eternal reward and the writer, whose mother-in-law she was, esteems it an honor to pay her even this poor tribute. She came as near a mother to him as any one could since his own precious mother was called hence six years ago. Many are the little deeds of affection and kindness that she has showered on him and his and in memory she shall always occupy a place in his heart. Among the last words that she said to him was a request to thank thro' the papers the dear, kind friends who had done so much for her during her sickness. She could not see them all, she said, and thank them individually but she knew the Lord would bless them for their kindness to His poor suffering servant. That the aged husband and grief stricken children have the sympathy of the entire community was evidenced by the large crowd that gathered to pay the last tribute of respect and the tears that fell on every hand as Rev. I. S. McElroy delivered a most touching and appropriate address. May the afflicted ones find consolation in the glorious promises to the just, remembering that
Earth has no sorrow, that heaven can not heal, and strive to meet her there.
(Kentuckiana Digital Library)