The et cetera chronicles – vol. 116

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? – A.J. Jernigan and his bride, Miss Fannie Thompson, were in the center of social activities in Sandersville. Mrs. Jernigan, known as the most beautiful belle of Georgia society, found herself completely paralyzed after the birth of her first child. She could not move any limbs or speak at all. She was so badly stricken that she could only swallow a diet of liquid food.  

For 15 years, Mrs. Jernigan languished in pain and misery. The poor lady took a turn for the worse, and her death was imminent. Her friends rushed to her side and began to pray for her recovery. Friends took turns waiting for her final breath to relieve her anguish. After a while, Mrs. Jernigan fell into a deep, death-like sleep. Her friends left the room, thinking the time was about to come. What her friends did not know was that while lying on her deathbed, Fannie Jernigan began to pray in absolute silence. Mrs. Jernigan asked that she be allowed to live for the sake of her young daughter. 

Four hours later, Fannie heard a voice say, “Arise, thy faith hath made thee whole.” Once again, Fannie prayed.  Suddenly, Fannie had use of her arms and rejoiced in the fact that the Lord had answered her prayer. Fannie arose from her deathbed and threw on an appropriate outfit.  

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She opened the door into the adjoining room where her friends were awaiting her death. As they stood in complete shock, thinking they were seeing a ghost, Mr. Jernigan and his Samaritans heard Mrs. Jernigan say, “Fear not, God has restored me to life.” Everyone in the room dropped to their knees and gave thanks to God.    

But Mrs. Jernigan didn’t stop praying, not at all. That afternoon, she walked a half-mile to her church to pray in person.  It was a miracle! It was as if she had never been sick and was as healthy as the day she was married.  Visitors came by the hundreds to pay their respects and take a look for themselves at a living miracle. Mrs. Jernigan, an ardent prohibitionist, lived for another 39 years, dying in January 1923. Her brother, the Rev. George C. Thompson, was a prominent minister and architect based in Dublin, Georgia. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Oct. 30, 1884, Galveston, Texas Daily News, Nov. 17, 1884. 

TWICE BITTEN, ONCE UPON A MIRACLE – Mack Duggan and Ben Jordan took a ride out to Buffalo Creek in western Washington County to bring home a mess of fish. They were looking for, in particular, brill, a flat fish usually found in the oceans. All of a sudden, Duggan let out a blood-curdling scream. Owls fled their perches. Jordan rushed to his friend’s aid. Seeing the need for more help, Jordan tied a tourniquet, fashioned out of suspenders,  around Duggan’s leg. Duggan lay there in sheer agony, not knowing if he was going to live or die.  After a long hour, Jordan and an old Negro man returned to witness an amazing sight.  The rescuers observed a large black mass about the size of a half-bushel basket situated a short distance from Duggan’s bitten leg. Upon a closer examination, Duggan discovered that the strange mass was in fact a clump of dead mosquitoes. The blood sucking insects had gorged themselves on Duggan’s poisoned blood, draining the life-killing venom from his veins. When Duggan awoke from an unconscious state, the stress of the initial bite was removed from his memory. His only question was what was good for healing mosquito bites? The Huron South Dakota Daily Plainsman, Sept. 29, 1892.

ONE RICH UNCLE – H.H. Lanier earned a meager living as a watchmaker in a Dublin jewelry store. Mark Hopkins, a brother of Lanier’s mother, traveled to California during the 49er days. Hopkins founded the Central Pacific Railroad. Uncle Mark Hopkins died in 1878. For more than 40 years, his heirs fought over his estimated 20 to 135-million-dollar estate. The family was still fighting in 1927.  Macon Tel., Feb. 28, 1927.

HOW ABOUT THOSE DUBLIN DOGS! – When the Dean of the University of Georgia issued his list of the university’s top students, one remarkable fact stood out.  Every Dubliner attending the university made the list.  They were Leila Bates, R.C.Coleman, Eugene Baldwin, and Charles Molony.  Macon Telegraph, February 13, 1931.