Obediah F. Adams Requested that His Face be Turned Towards His Wife

While searching for information about another Rose Hill Cemetery interment, George P. Dure, I came across this obituary (viewed online at Ancestry) for Obediah F. Adams. It's interesting, and I'm sure I'll add more information for Capt. Adams as I uncover it. He was laid to rest in the Magnolia Ridge section of the cemetery.

Image by James Allen

The Atlanta Constitution, 7 April 1890

CAPTAIN ADAMS DEAD.
MACON'S EX-TREASURER NO LONGER AMENABLE TO THE LAW.
He Passed Away Quietly at 7 o'clock Yesterday Morning -- Killed By Remorse -- The Funeral

Macon, Ga., April 6 -- [Special] -- Captain Adams is dead. Surrounded by his family and friends he passed away quietly at 7 o'clock this morning. For several days he has been at death's door and the announcement this morning caused no surprise.

Captain Adams's death is plainly the result of remorse. For several months he has remained at his home, shutting himself out from the world and seemingly anxious for death to relieve him of his troubles. Captain Adams was treasurer of Macon from 1880 until December 1888.

The circumstances surrounding his removal have been fully given in The Constitution, and their rehearsal, since death has drawn the curtain over his life, is unnecessary.

Whatever may have been his actions in the past, he had the sympathy of almost the entire city in his last days. His funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. He will be buried by the side of his wife and son in Rose Hill cemetery. Before death he requested that his face be turned towards his wife. The casket is one of the handsomest that could be procured. It is metal[l]ic with an elegant black broadcloth covering and trimmed in silver. On the silver plate is the inscription "Obediah F. Adams, Born November 24th, 1826, Died April 6th, 1890, He rests in peace."

The following gentlemen have been requested to act as pall bearers:
W. A. Huff, Tom Hendrix, T. J. Carling, George B. Turpin, George A. Dure, John D. Dentz, M. J. Hatcher, T. S. Massenburg, W. E. Harris, Robert Brown.

Mr. Adams, it is stated, carried insurance on his life to the amount of $20,000.

A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Mr. Adams was born in Twiggs county on November 24, 1826. His father was Daniel Adams formerly of Rowan county, N.C. The deceased attended Mercer college in 1846 and after leaving taught school for some time.

In December 1847 he was married to Miss Julia A. Flanders, of this county.

He was elected alderman in 1852 and again in 1864 and 1865. In 1873 he was appointed county assessor and collector of taxes for the city. After several years service in this capacity he was elected chief of police and afterwards city treasurer.

He belongs to the order of Kinght Templars, the Order of Tonti and Knights of the Golden Rule, all of which will probably attend the funeral in a body. He was at one time treasurer of Goodyear lodge Order of the Tonti and was grand secretary of the Knights of the Golden Rule in Georgia. He was also recorder of St. Omer Commandery Knight Templars. Mr. Adams is the father of Walter F. Adams, Sydney F. Adams, Miss Lutie E. Adams, Mrs. Guy Hillsman of Madison and Mrs. John J. Smith, of Indianapolis, Ind.

His funeral is likely to be one of the largest that has occurred in Macon in many years.