Notes:
Data source is the 1990 book, "Moomaw-Mumma-Mumaw-Mumaugh Genealogy" compiled by Robert Austin Moomaw (deceased).
Roanoke VA Times, Sunday, August 15, 1897:
A CHRISTIAN'S DEATH
The Passing Away of Young Carey Moomaw
Rev. B. C. Moomaw, of Buena Vista, writes an affecting letter to Rev. E. G. Kregloe concerning the death of his son, Carey Moomaw, a young man about 21 years of age, which occurred a short time ago at Johns Hopkins Institute, Baltimore, where the young man had been taken to undergo an operation for appendicitis. The letter is so impressive that it is published below in full as follows:
"Dear Brother Kregloe: I expected to receive just such a good Christian letter from you as this day's mail brought me. Suddenly we have been overwhelmed with the greatest sorrow that can come to a paternal heart---the loss of a manly, noble, Christian boy in the first prime and rich promise of his young manhood. I cannot portray how our hearts have been utterly crushed with this great grief and yet behind this dark cloud shines a peculiar glory.
"Carey's spiritual life was very much quickened during the Schoolfield meeting and since that time there has been a remarkable growth in grace and ever-increasing diligence in every good work. I did not know much of this, being away, but so many have told me of the notable and unusual manner in which the Christian graces had within a limited time matured in his life and conduct. When I reached home, summoned by the telegram announcing his serious illness, almost the first thing I heard him say was, 'Mamma, if I die I am going to heaven.' That night I hurried him away to the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the surgeon, after examination and first operation, stated confidently that he would get well. In a few hours he was worse, and a second operation revealed fatal conditions. I cannot describe in this limited space all that occurred, but I will tell you some things.
"He said to me very solemnly, 'Papa, if I die tell mamma that I have gone to heaven.' A delirium clouded his faculties until about fifteen minutes before he passed away. Then he became calm and rational. With a solemn majesty that I cannot describe, he said, 'My soul, my soul, my soul is going into eternal rest.' Then he said that he was trusting in Jesus and that Jesus was with him. He then reached up to me and asked me to kiss him. Then observing the tears of the nurse he spoke to her tenderly of Jesus, the Comforter and Saviour.
"Then he exlaimed in a loud voice, 'Blessed be the Lord. He is sending His angels.' The next instant he startled us with a shout 'Up, up, up,' just as if he were sweeping up into the skies. He then murmured something about being up so high and about the blessed angels, and in a moment he was gone.
"This dying rapture left upon his settled features in death such a heavenly smile as I never saw before. God be praised for this great victory! Yours in Christ."
B. C. MOOMAW