The Murdered Lad's Funeral
February 8, 1896
Summary
The community comes together for the mournful ceremony of young Roscoe’s death at the hands of a white murderer.
Transcription
A large crowd assembled at the First Baptist Church Saturday, Feb. 1, to pay the last tribute of respect to Roscoe O. Oliver, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Oliver.
On the rostrum were Rev. R. Wells, Rev. A. S. Thomas, Rev. W. R, Gullins, and the pastor, Rev James H Holmes. The scriptures were read by Rev. Holmes. Prayer by Rev. A. S. Thompson as Miss Alice Kemp sang with charming sweetness, “Home of the Soul."
Rev James H. Holmes delivered a most pathetic funeral address. Many were bathed in tears. Rev. Gullins spoke of the virtues of the deceased. He sang Roscoe's favorite song, the one that he was singing on the morning of that fatal day.
Prayer was offered by Rev R. Wells. Madame Mildred A. Cross sang; "We are waiting by the river. " It thrilled the audience and the reverberations of her mellifluent voice added anew the richness and sweetness of the notes which had gone on before.
The choir sang, after which the mournful cortage passed out. The following were the pall-bearers:
Honorary: Masters Ed. Ellis, George Burrell, Richard Patterson, Fred Tinsley, Albert Morris, John Coles, Christ Foster and Alfred Forrester. Active: Masters Ben F Thomas, J. C. Smith, J St. J. Gulpin, Oswald Bowser, G. H. Briggs, H. C. Mundin, Jos Vandervall and Alex Lewis.
The casket was a magnificent affair, being white embossed velvet, with silver mounted handles. It rested on white satin covered pedestals. Funeral Director A. D. Price officiated. The floral designs were numerous and costly.
The Junior Department of the Y. M C. A. sent a letter of sympathy, young Oliver being Assistant Secretary. Jos J. Gilpin, is president, E. B. Ellis, Secretary.
Could Julian Traylor, the youthful murderer, have seen the trouble he had wrought, and the misery he had caused he no doubt would have been driven to madness in the contemplation of it.
On the rostrum were Rev. R. Wells, Rev. A. S. Thomas, Rev. W. R, Gullins, and the pastor, Rev James H Holmes. The scriptures were read by Rev. Holmes. Prayer by Rev. A. S. Thompson as Miss Alice Kemp sang with charming sweetness, “Home of the Soul."
Rev James H. Holmes delivered a most pathetic funeral address. Many were bathed in tears. Rev. Gullins spoke of the virtues of the deceased. He sang Roscoe's favorite song, the one that he was singing on the morning of that fatal day.
Prayer was offered by Rev R. Wells. Madame Mildred A. Cross sang; "We are waiting by the river. " It thrilled the audience and the reverberations of her mellifluent voice added anew the richness and sweetness of the notes which had gone on before.
The choir sang, after which the mournful cortage passed out. The following were the pall-bearers:
Honorary: Masters Ed. Ellis, George Burrell, Richard Patterson, Fred Tinsley, Albert Morris, John Coles, Christ Foster and Alfred Forrester. Active: Masters Ben F Thomas, J. C. Smith, J St. J. Gulpin, Oswald Bowser, G. H. Briggs, H. C. Mundin, Jos Vandervall and Alex Lewis.
The casket was a magnificent affair, being white embossed velvet, with silver mounted handles. It rested on white satin covered pedestals. Funeral Director A. D. Price officiated. The floral designs were numerous and costly.
The Junior Department of the Y. M C. A. sent a letter of sympathy, young Oliver being Assistant Secretary. Jos J. Gilpin, is president, E. B. Ellis, Secretary.
Could Julian Traylor, the youthful murderer, have seen the trouble he had wrought, and the misery he had caused he no doubt would have been driven to madness in the contemplation of it.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Liam Eynan
Citation
“The Murdered Lad's Funeral,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 21, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1773.