Martha Terral Risher, daughter of Joshua Terral (1793-1766) who was son of Edward Terral and Artilissa Stephens. Martha married John Risher (1821-1884) and had these children: Christopher Columbus Risher (1843-1917), James William Risher (1843-1917), Edward Campbell Risher (1848-1906), Susan Columbia Risher (1851-bef 1930), Mary Elizabeth Risher (1853-?), J A Risher (1853-1858), Singleton Terral Risher (1859-1931).
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Eastern Clarion, vol. 22, no. 20, March 2, 1859
ObituaryDied at the residence of her husband, in Jasper County, Mississippi on the 28 January 1859, Mrs. Martha Risher, wife of John Risher and daughter of Col. Joshua Terral, of Jasper County, aged 27 years.
The subject of this notice was born March 28 AD 1822, and lived to the age of 37 years, when it was the will of the almighty to remove her from this earth. Mrs. Risher was one who did not fear to die. She united herself with a branch of the Christian Church in the Spring of 1852, and until her death she moved as a shining star and a worthy member. For seven years her health has been delicate, and she often told her husband for six months before her death, that she was going to leave him about the time she died. Her last illness was of but short duration.
Thus passed away one of the best and loveliest women we have ever known. She possessed those noble qualities of mind and heart in an eminent degree, which endeared her to all who knew her. Her life was a living and practical commentary upon the religion which she professed. She diligently read and studied the Bible, which pointed out to her the way of salvation.
She had much to bind her to earth -- a devoted husband -- an interesting family and many relatives and friends who loved her devotedly, yet she expressed a friendly resignation to the will of the Lord. The writer has often heard her say that the only object for which she wished to be spared was her children. -- But, alas! she is gone, leaving behind husband and children to endure the loss of a wife and mother -- she leaves no one on earth to say that she was not as a neighbor and friend, kind and obliging. She looked well to the ways of her household. "She opened her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue was the ___ of kindness." We mingle our tears of sorrow and affection with the bereaved and afflicted family, but we (paper is torn) friend has left us -- no more on earth shall we hear her voice or behold her welcoming smile; but we are consoled by the thought that what is possessed, entertained not a doubt of her salvation -- looked back without regret on a life spent doing her Lord's will. She looked forward with fond assurance of entering upon the "enjoyments and employments of another and better life. She sleeps with the silent in death, but still lives in the affections of her children, husband and friends. Well may her husband say her life and death were to him the most convincing evidence possible of the truth of the Christian religion and of the sure reward that awaits the true and persistent followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. "The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away." "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."