14. William Sidney LOWRY was born
on 23 Mar 1862 in Springville, Tennessee. He died on 29 Aug 1941 in Jefferson, Texas. This
is the obituary printed in the Review and Herald, dated September 25, 1941.
William Sidney Lowry was born March 23, 1862, at Springville, Tennessee. He was married to
Anna Wall, Sept. 5, 1883. Brother Lowry accepted the advent message in 1885. He spent many
years as an active worker in this denomination, having filled many important positions in
the work.
Elder Lowry's life was one of consecration and piety. He dearly loved the truth as it is
in Jesus. He was a faithful worker, and was highly regarded by all who knew him.
After several months of illness, he fell asleep in Jesus. He is survived by his wife,
three sons, one daughter, and other relatives. One of his sons, Charles Fulton, died in
Burma while serving as a missionary. Another son, Gentry, is president of the Southern
Asia Division.
Funeral services were conducted by the writer, assisted by H. S. Miller, in the Berean
church, a few miles from Jefferson, Texas. R. P. Montgomery He was buried in Jefferson,
Texas. William Sidney Lowry was one of the pioneer ministers for the Seventh Day Adventist
Church. He applied for retirement on August 16,1926 due to bad health.
The following was written by Vesta Anderson Bowen for the museum at Jefferson, Texas.
IN MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER
ELDER W. S. LOWRY
My grandfather was a wonderful and godly man and everyone loved him.
As I look back, so long ago, I remember when we moved to Jefferson or "The
Coloney" as it was called. My grandfather was asked to come there to start a church
and school. My mother, Lillie Lowry Anderson (and later Lillie McMullin) was a widow at
that time and since we lived with my grandparents we made the move with them. Grandpa was
pastor of the Shreveport Church at the time we moved to Jefferson.
Ezra Eaton had a touring car, with no top, and he drove us to Jefferson in that car. It
took us from sunup to sundown to make the 60 mile trip on dirt roads. Grandpa stayed
behind to ride over in a boxcar with all our earthly belongings. This included the cows
and chickens. Grandma needed the cows and chickens as this was an important part of
country living. She was good with chickens. .if one got sick she would take her scissors
and cut open the craw, remove the corn or whatever had made it sick, sew it up with her
needle and thread. The chicken would walk away as though nothing was ever wrong.
I can still remember the beautiful sunset as we arrived on that day so long ago. You may
wonder where we stayed when we arrived because there were very few houses and a few old
slave houses that were In very bad shape. We went to the big plantation house for it had
many rooms. It was later called the Alexander House for Walter Alexander bought it and
lived there for many years.
We were not there long before others moved to the area. Grandpa knew a lot of people in
Louisiana and Mississippi and he wrote them to move to Jefferson. Some came that were
farmers and they lived in the same big house until they could get a house built.
There was a church already built and Grandpa built our house next to it. Some of the early
families that moved into the community were Alexander's, Colvin's, Pillergree's, Eaton's,
Sibley's, Johnson's, Culpepper's and Powel1's.
I went to the very first school in 1914. My uncle, Burley Lowry, taught the first school.
The church and school were in the same building and was for years after. I understand it
was torn down to make room for progress.
My mother and her children moved away for a couple of years and when we moved back there
were even more families that had come to the area.
My grandfather built a little store by our house which was the first store there. He was
so trusting of everyone that he had a metal box that he kept the store money in and he
left it out all the time even though he was not in the store all the time. He was just
there when someone needed something. He left it out even at night. However, one night
someone broke in and stole the box. It was later found.. . smashed and the money missing.
Elder NcCutchin bought 1000 acres of land with the hope of selling it off for homes,
school and church. So it was not long before many families moved in. Not long ago I was in
California and met two of his granddaughters and Fannie Johnson, two of the Whitlock girls
and their brother, Leslie. They had a lovely luncheon in my honor. It was so good to be
with them after so many years.
My grandpa baptized me along with many other young folks. I remember when we had Communion
Service that the wine was put in a large footed water glass and each one took a sip and
then passed it to the next person. This was the custom of that era.
Grandpa encouraged everyone to attend the Week of Prayer each evening during the Fall
season of the year. There would be readings from the Review, some would stand and give a
testimony and many would pray. Some would ask their neighbors to forgive them if there
were hard feelings.
Prayer Meeting, each Wednesday evening, was very important for us all. Grandpa was always
ready for Sabbath at Friday sundown. He gathered the family for worship and started by
singing "Sweet Hour of Prayer". This was his habit and he never failed. He would
read from the Bible and then we would have worship. Sometime when he preached he would
sing the 24th of Matthew without the piano. Sabbath evening worship would find him singing
some more and after he prayed we would all say The Lord's Prayer.
As a young man, grandpa was arrested for working on Sunday in Tennessee. They were called
the "chain gang". There were several S.D.A. men that were arrested at the same
time. They did not have a jail so they kept them in an old house but the S.D.A. men did
not try to escape.
Grandpa was president of the Mississippi Conference before moving to Louisiana and then
Texas.
He was truly a great man and his influence has helped many people to be ready to meet
Jesus when lie comes. I, too, want to be ready when Jesus comes so that I can again see
Grandpa and Grandma and give them each a big hug.
In loving memory,
Vesta Anderson-Bowen
February 12, 1989
The following was written by Frances (Fannie) Johnson of Auburn, Ca.
Afew memorie of Elder W. S. Lowry to whom I am very grateful since I credit his influense
for my being in church school in Jefferson, Texas.
I lived in his home for two years while attending school. I found him to be very kind and
very concerned in my Christian progress; always pleasant in the home and firm in his faith
in church.
When I was about 6 years old we attended a tent meeting where he was preaching on Sabbath
P.M. Everything went along smoothly until a couple of farmers came with a wagon &
team. The wagon was full of rocks intended for Bro Lowry. Because Bro Lowry had invited a
black family to sit in the outer edge of the tent.
Some of the men went and talked with the irate farmers. After asking the blacks to move
out of the tent but still in hearing distance the farmers calmed and moved on; then Elder
Lowry went ahead.
When I was 14 years old Elder Lowry baptized me in the Cypress River near the school.
I have always been greatful to him since he helped me to get my first school in 1925 in
Hondo, Texas near San Antonio.
If I am faithful I am sure I can thank him in the New Earth.
Signed, Frances Johnson Hankins He was married to Nancy Anna WALL on 5 Sep 1883 in
Tennessee.
15. Nancy Anna WALL was born on 19
Mar 1865 in Paris, Tennessee. She died on 19 Jun 1942 in Washington Sanitarium, Takoma
Park, Maryland. She was buried in Washington Memorial Cemetery. This is the obituary that
was printed in the Columbia Union Vistor, dated November 26, 1942.
Anna Wall was born near Paris, Tennessee, March 19,1865, and died June 15, 1943 at the
Washington Sanitarium. In September 1883 she was married to William Sidney Lowry. To this
union were born five sons and one daughter. A little more than a year after their
marriage, they attended a series of Seventh-Day Adventist meetings which was held in their
community. They both embraced the message and dedicated their lives to its proclamation.
They labored successively in the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and
various other conferences of the south.
Their zeal for the message was instilled into the hearts of their children, and the two
older sons, Gentry and Charles, dedicated their lives to the needs of India, and are now
sleeping in the land for which they labored. From 1928 to 1937 Brother and Sister Lowry
resided near Norfork, Virginia, where he rendered valuable service as associate pastor of
the Norfork Church. Later they moved to Jefferson, Texas, where Elder Lowry preceded his
wife in death ten months ago. Of the immediate family, there are left to mourn, her
daughter, Mrs Lilly McMullen of Jefferson, Texas, two sons, William Byrl of Norfork,
Virginia, and Orvil Lee of Takoma Park, also 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Sister Lowry will be greatly missed by her relatives and a host of freinds who knew her to
be a sincere Christian and a mother of Israel. Wors of comfort were spoken by the writer,
and she was laid to rest in the Washington Memorial Cemetery to await the call of the
Life-giver.
James H. Smith Children were:
i. Charles Fulton
LOWRY.
ii. William Byrl
LOWRY.
iii. Gentry G.
LOWRY was born on 3 Jun 1884 in Springville, TN. He died on 4 May 1942 in Mahableshwar,
West India. He was buried in Mahableshwar, West India. Gentry was a minister for the
Seventh Day Adventist Church. He was called to South India, and was supertendant of Tamil
Mission in 1918 and became head of South India Union Mission in 1920 when it was
organized. He held other responsible positions. Acting president of South Asia Division,
later elected president. He wrote the first Bible lesson used in the SDA schools in South
India and organized first Sabbath School there.
7 iv. Lillie Pearl LOWRY.
v. Orvile Lee
LOWRY(2) was born in 1910 in Tn.
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