Boozer Obituary - Clark County, Arkansas 
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Submitted by:  Melvyn L Gillette
Email:  blayde67@pop.gateway.net
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Obituary - Published 18 Sep 1939, The Southern Standard, Arkadelphia,
Arkansas - Clark County

HENRY BOOZER, age unknown, but an old time Southern darkey with wide
acquaintance throughout the state, died last night.  He had been failing
for several years and succumbed to a short illness that began last
week.  Many thought "Boozer" was a nickname, but that was his surname
perhaps received from his or his father's "white folks" after the Civil
War.  Students attending Ouachita and Henderson colleges back in the
1890s knew Boozer well.  He shined their shoes, just as he shined the
shoes of several later generations of students. He never did seem to be
really young, so he must have attained a ripe old age before his death
last night.  Many of the students after 10 or 20 years, returned to Alma
Mater and usually they would find old Boozer still on the job, shining
shoes-- and begging a nickel or a dime to buy this or that. He was quite
successful in the latter occupation, but nobody ever could get angry at
Henry Boozer.  He became a tradition, like the courthouse clock or other
landmarks everybody gets used to and gains a sort of affection for. 
Boozer was a family man - had lots of children whom he tried to bring up
in the right way.  It used to be a familiar sight of a Sunday afternoon
to see Boozer and his wife and procession of young sons and daughters
going to the woods to gather nuts or just to get an autumn sunning.
Several years ago Boozer was discussing with a kindly doctor the
mysteries of death.  Boozer's chief objection to coming to the end was
that "You had to go by yourself." Let us hope that Boozer found a kindly
hand just over the border and that he did not have to go into the
unknown by himself 


Submitted by Melvyn Gillette