The Bobbitt Family In America

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The body was brought to Summersville Baptist Church where the funeral was held on Saturday evening the llth at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. Pastor J. F. Brown was in charge, assisted by Reverend G. C. Music of Gauley Bridge Baptist Church and L. C. Harris of the M. E. Church of Summersville. A large gathering of friends attended, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Groves cemetery.

John M. Hutchinson, George H. Alderson, Daniel Brock, Joseph A. Hill, J. A. Mearns, Kyle B. McCue, Henry W. Herold, John M. Fockler, Charlie Laughary, Richard M. Bryant, Mac Tyree, James B. Duffy, and Arch Hill were the honorary pall bearers. The active pall bearers were Lee. R. Tinnel, Okey L. Mearns, Marshall Tyree, Cecil Alderson, C. 0. Dodrill, Roy Alderson, W. P. Kincaid, and C. H. Craig.

Rowena Bobbitt became ill after the death of Elijah and the children felt that she should not live alone with the young grandson, Lee Otis Jr. Although, Lee Otis Senior lived nearby, he was not in good health. The family persuaded Samuel McClung Bobbitt to move with his family into the home with Rowena Bobbitt.

Almost the first thing my father did after we moved from Dunbar to Summersville was to take me to visit the grave of Elijah, his father. My father stood silently by the grave for several minutes and wiped tears from his eyes. The only time I ever saw my father weep. Six years later, Samuel McClung Bobbitt was buried on the very spot of ground where he stood and wept for his father.

Rowena Bobbitt's health did not improve. Her son, Dr. 0. H. Bobbitt took her to his home in Charleston where she would be near excellent medical care for treatment. In late September of 1931 she suffered a stroke and died on Friday morning October 2, 1931, at a hospital in Charleston.

Besides her children, she was survived by two sisters, Mrs. David (Lola) McClung, and Mrs. Edgar (Fannie) Sparks. Two of her sisters, Mrs. Henry Fitzwater, and Mrs. Rush Sparks, and one brother, Joseph Robinson, died several years ago.

Her funeral services were conducted on Saturday Afternoon in the Summersville Baptist Church by the Reverend J. E. Brown, Reverend G. W. Adams, and Reverend G. B. Dener. Burial was made in the Groves cemetery. Rowena Davis (Robinson) Bobbitt was born on April 12, 1857, married on October 26, 1882 and died on October 2, 1931.