Charles Almus Colley
1872-1933
Gospel Advocate Obituary For C.A. Colley
My brother, C. A. Colley of Fulton, Ky., answered the summons from on high on April 7, 1933. We were notified of his serious condition on Wednesday about 7:30 P.M. Wife, Dorothy, and I made a continuous drive until we reached his bedside some twenty hours later. He was nearly gone, but knew us, which to us was worth much. He passed away at a few minutes past twelve o'clock the next day. My brother and I were "boyhood pals." The other members of the large family are all dear to me, but we were nearer the same age, he being a little older in age and much older and wiser in ways, which somehow carried me along with him. We worked together on the farm. He would often help me out on my row when I lagged behind, counseled me when I was a little rude, and stood for me in many ways when I was unable to do my part alone. We were baptized in the same meeting, by the same preacher, Brother Joe Ratcliffe of Bardwell, Ky. He married early in life and did not get the education that some others did, which kept him back some; but through independent study and research from the Bible and from other literature he became one of the best teachers and leaders in the congregation, Oak Grove, where we were both reared and taught the gospel. There were very few teachers known to me who could go deeper into the actual teachings of the Bible and make the plan of salvation plainer to an honest seeker for truth. There are numbers of boys and girls of his community who live as Christians today to testify to that same thing. When our father passed away, he was an elder of the church at Oak Grove. My brother, Almos, as we called him, was chosen by the church to take his place in the eldership. He served in this capacity as long as he lived. He was not satisfied to be a "nominal elder," but he studied hard to fill that place to the honor of God. He was never accused, so far as I know, of trying to enforce his ideas on any one else by virtue of his "office as elder," but he led by his influence. He visited the sick, looked after his family with a tenderness characteristic of a Christian father and husband. He made talks over the dead; entered into the sorrows of others; did all he could to relieve suffering humanity; preached the gospel (he never called himself a preacher), and baptized those who desired to be baptized; and counseled the members of the church. I believe he went to his well-earned reward. We sorrow, but not as those who have no hope. Brother Ira C. Douthitt of Paducah, Ky., with other neighbors and friends, said many encouraging words at his burial; and in the midst of a host of his neighbors and friends, including Brother Joe Ratcliffe, who baptized him, with proper ceremonies for such a passing, we laid him to rest in the burying ground that he had helped to plan and care for, near the church where he had served as an elder so long. Our family ties are broken; there are five brothers and a sister left; but this breech will be widened by others passing, perhaps, soon. But our hope is that we shall have a "home over there" where death cannot enter and where parting is no more.
-A. O. Colley., Dallas, Texas, Gospel Advocate, June 8, 1933, page 552.
Charles & Lula Colley
Source: Ancestry.com
Report From C.A. Colley
Gospel Advocate, 05.28.1922, p.584
The Paducah Sun, Kentucky, Sunday, Saturday, March 10, 1906, p.4
Obituary For Mrs. C.A. Colley
Mrs. Florence Colley, wife of Brother C. A. Colley and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. (Dock) Jones, was born on November 18, 1875, and departed this life on March 8, 1906. She obeyed her Savior under the preaching of Brother Joe Ratcliffe, at Oak Grove Church; near Fulton, Ky., in 1893. She was married to C. A. Colley in the spring of 1894. To them were born two girls, who are left to mourn the loss of a mother. Brother Colley carried her to West Texas, but it did her no good that we could tell. She was suffering from that dread disease, consumption. We have strong consolation to rest upon when we consider her patience in pain and her willingness to go into, the beyond. Her only regret was to, leave her husband and children. She knew everything to the last, and admonished all to live so as to meet her in heaven. She made a very affectin a talk to her three brothers, requesting them to humbly obey their Savior. To the bereaved
ones I would say: The Lord will graciously sustain us in all our sorrows if we will trust and obey him. She is gone to her reward. Let us so
live that when the summons conies we can meet death as bravely as she did and be with her through eternity.
-Fulton, Ky. A. O. COLLEY, Gospel Advocate, April 5, 1906, page 222.
Directions To Grave
C.A. Colley is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Dukedom, Tennessee
From Jackson, in West Tennessee, take I-40 to Exit #80 and head north on Hwy. 45E. Go through Medina and Milan on 45E. At Greenfield, take Hwy. 54 to Dresden. Go North out of Dresden on Hwy. 118 for 14.8 miles and when you come to the Kentucky State Line, turn left on Hwy. 129. Go 2.2 miles and the church and cemetery will be on your left. As you enter the cemetery begin looking to your left and just next to the drive you will quickly see the Colley family plot. Also buried in this cemetery is J.S. Jones, J.E. Choate, Bill Cannon, and Homer H. Royster. The trip is right at 67 miles from Jackson.
GPS Location
36°30'06.6"N 88°45'22.3"W
or D.d. 36.501839, -88.756205
Lula Colley
1882-1970
C.A. Colley
1872-1933
Photos Taken 02.13.2020
Webpage produced 03.16.2020
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
