Letter from Rebecca Macky Trapnell funeral: Byrne and Asimov Genealogy and Family Histories

Title	Letter from Rebecca Macky Trapnell funeral
Date	22 Aug 1966
Locality	Personal files of Hugh Byrne
Source Type	Letter
Source ID	S514
Text	August 22, 1966 The Harts drive Mother and me down to Charles Town via Baltimore and Frederick after Jim and I had worked a half day. We had a hot, humid, murky day and even the breeze was hot. Of all the country I’ve seen though, I still think the Valley and the Blue Ridge mountains are the loveliest. We arrived about three thirty and went direct to Babbie’s and Edith Gardiner’s apartment on South Mildred Street. Its the first floor of a big, old, red brick house and was cool inside. There were so many relatives around that I didn’t know who was who. Didn’t have time for more than a word of greeting all around. We left the cars out front and walked the 2 blocks to the church, entering the church yard at the lower end. Mother and Edith and a couple of others were driven down and Uncle Jack with Becky and Jack drove too. Uncle Jack looks awful and seemed very feeble. This was especially hard on him - he and Babbie had always been so devoted. That is a lovely old church and seemed cool and serene with the white flowers in vases on the altar. I noted again the brass plaque on the left side wall to the memory of Nathan Smith White and Frederica Macky White. There is one tall lancet window on the right side that is not a stained glass memorial. I hope someday that we can band together and make that a memorial to Joseph and Rebecca White Trapnell and their children - most of whom lie buried in the church yard outside. (Uncle Tom is in Arlington). There was a full vested choir and we sang two hymns - one of my favorites, “Welcome Happy Morning,”, and “O Love Divine.” Babbie sang in the choir for years - so did Uncle Jack. And Edith was the organist for years. The casket had no pall but was covered with a magnificent spray of huge white chrysanthemums and red carnations. There were a minister and deacon whom I didn’t know, and Felix. (He and Olivia have a summer place in Maine and had driven all night in order to get there in time). The deacon took most of the service and had a good voice and delivery. Felix speaks with difficulty as he had a malignancy removed from his throat some years ago, but he said several beautiful prayers. We all walked outside the grave under the open green canopy where there were chairs for Uncle Jack, Mother, Win and a few others. Most of us stood outside of it during the committal service. The mound was covered with artificial grass and many sprays and baskets of beautiful and colorful flowers. Babbie lies in the lot with her parents and her two sisters, Emily who died of diphtheria when she was seven and Fredericka who died when she was twenty of some brain ailment - possibly a tumor. Afterward we spoke to relatives and some Charles Town friends (there were a good many townsfolk present) and then dispersed. Some of us went back to the apartment on foot and saw each other off. A good many were going on to Shrinemont, near Orkney Springs, where they had planned their annual get-together the following week. They would have been going on Saturday anyway. Coke and Elsa, Bill, Berk and Tommy, the Hoes’ and the Neds, Libby and Rogers and his family. Sally went back to Washington with Hall and Betty and I think the Bowlings went home too. Win drove herself back to Manasas - she said it only takes about an hour and a half. Tucker and her three were going to Shrinemont - Tucker and Becky for the weekend and Hunt and Anne were staying the week and going home by bus. I kept thinking of all the times Babbie had been hostess to the family for the other funerals and how she would have enjoyed seeing all of us together. The Harts, Mother and I left before six and drove to Frederick where we went out of our way to go into town to the Francis Scott Key Hotel for dinner. It was worth it. The traffic wasn’t too heavy and it was cooler. We took Route 40 (duel) to the Baltimore Beltway and that to I-95 (Kennedy Memorial) and that right back into Wilmington, getting home around ten thirty. The same route we took going down, when we did it in 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is amazing considering that when we were kids, the drive from her to Charles Town for a long summer visit at Rion Hall (Mother’s aunt’s home) took us almost all day long. Note: Edith and her mother and father first rented the north half of Grandpa’s house on South George Street (he built it in 1870) in 1921 when he retired from his farm near Sharpardstown. Mr. Gardniner died and as Granny and Mrs. Gardiner were both invalids, Babbie and Edith helped each other care for their mothers. I think Granny died first (May 1931) and Dad helped make the south half of the house into two apartments. Babbie had the upstairs and Edith the first floor. Mrs. Gardiner died either just before then or just after. Quite a while later, Babbie decided to sell the house and she and Edith took an apartment together. Edith is quite a bit younger than Babbie (she was 86 or 87) and nobody was ever a more devoted and and good friend. We all owe her a great deal, because what Babbie would have done without her, I don’t know. She certainly is a member of the family. F H T Funeral of Rebecca M. Trapnell, August 19, 1966 1. Ben -- None present. 2. Joe: Laura Rawlins Libby Trapnell Rogers & Lee 3 children Hall & Betty Bill & Berk Sally Tommy Polly Hillary Scott Hillary 3. Nell Koman Rev. Felix & Olivia Kloman Tony Kloman Anne Hunter Jenkins Mark Jenkins 4. Will Coke & Elsa Homes & Frances Jane Emily Ned & May Elizabeth Susan Jane & Nubby Bowling Betty Bowling Tommy Bowling 5. White -- None present. 6. Dick’s widow, Evelinea Beatty Ricky Trapnell Tucker Rawlings Hunt Rawlings Becky Rawlings Anne Rawlings Anne & Jim Hart 7. Tom’s widow, Win Trapnell 8. Jack (last surviving brother or sister) Becky Purcell Jack, Jr. 1 brother 2 sisters-in-law 16 born nieces and nephews 10 in-law nieces and nephews 14 born great nieces and nephews 3 born great great nieces and nephews 1 in-law great niece ----- 47
Linked to (3)	TRAPNELL, Emily Watkins TRAPNELL, Fredricka Holmes TRAPNELL, Rebecca Macky

Documents
Rebecca Trapnell Funeral
Letter from Frederica Holmes Trapnell to Edna Valentine Trapnell about Rebecca Trapnell's funeral (see source #S514 for full transcript)

Maintained by Hugh Byrne. | Data Protection Policy.