Laurens, Oct.
22 - Funeral rites for Thomas S. Langston, Confederate veteran and widely
known Laurens County citizen were held this afternoon at 4 o'clock from
the New Prospect Baptist Church, near Madden, with internment in the family
plot in the church cemetery.
The services were conducted by a former pastor, the Rev. Jodie A. Martin of Laurens. He was assisted by the Rev. C.E. Vermillion, of Spartanburg, and the Rev. John H. Washington, Laurens, also former pastors; the Rev. Graves L. Knight, D.D., the Rev. E.D. Patton and the Rev. W.D. Spinx, all of Laurens. Mr. Langston died at 12 o'clock Sunday night at his home four miles from the city, near Madden after an illness of several weeks, a change for the worse occurring Saturday. Thomas Smith Langston, son of W.H. Langston and Sarah Smith Langston, was born Oct. 24, 1848, and therefore lacked only two days of being 86 years of age. His father held the office of probate judge for a number of years. The Langston family has been influentially associated with Laurens County religiously and politically for generations. As a youth, Thomas Langston enlisted in the confederate service the latter part of the war and remained in the Confederate army until the close. He had engaged in farming for 60 years or more. For about the same length of time he had been a member of New Prospect Church, serving for many years as deacon and superintendent of the Sunday school and teacher of the Bible class. Some years ago, because of advancing years, the church elected him as honorary member of the board of deacons. He has served on the county board of registration for a long period, and in other ways he had been a useful and public spirited citizen. Mr. Langston was twice married, his first wife being the former Mrs. Fanny Finley*, also of Laurens County. Two children of this union survive, R.J. Langston and Mrs. J.D. Bryson, both of Madden. His second marriage was to Mrs. Mary Wharton Hudgens, also of an old Laurens County family. Of this union three children survive, the Rev. Alba B. Langston, D.D., returned missionary from Brazil, now pastor of a group of churches in the county; Misses Carrie and Mamie Langston, all of Madden. Another daughter, the late Mrs. B.Y. Culbertson, was the twin sister of Dr. Langston. Mr. Langston is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Virginia L. Finley of Laurens, and one brother, the Rev. William J. Langston, D.D., retired Baptist minister of Greenville. |
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