Buckingham Notables: Egbert Bolling Winfrey, Part I

Richmond College. Courtesy Richmond University.

The shocking death of Egbert Bolling Winfrey resulted in several lengthy obituaries. Clippings shared with me had been preserved in a Winfrey family Bible and were not sourced. A promising young scholar, E. B. Winfrey’s death was mourned by many. It is very rare to have multiple, diverse, surviving obituaries for a young man just beginning his career. I will share four of them.

A YOUNG PREACHER DEAD.

Mr. Winfrey closes his eyes to the world. Action of students.

Mr. Egbert Bolling Winfrey, of Buckingham, died yesterday at Richmond College after an illness of three weeks.

Mr. Winfrey was born in Buckingham County, Va., March 21, 1868, and was subsequently just twenty-three years of age. His parents are still living in the same county. His oldest brother, Rev. E. W. Winfrey, is the honored pastor of the Baptist church at Culpeper, Va. He had several other brothers and sisters, all of whom are living. At an early age Mr. Winfrey made a profession of religion and became a member of Sharon Baptist Church, near the home of his childhood.

When less than twenty years of age he began to preach and give promise of extensive usefulness in the ministry.

At the time of his death he was pastor at Bethany, Caroline County, and had formally supplied as pastor of Waller’s church, in Spotsylvania, and Little River, in Louisa. He was exceedingly popular wherever he went.

After some preparation in primary schools he spent one session at Homestead Academy, Chesterfield county, and entered Richmond College in September, 1889. Few students in that institution have ever been more universally esteemed or regarded as more promising. At the close of his first session at college he was awarded a medal in the Philologian Society for improvement in debate.

At a meeting of students held in the College chapel yesterday afternoon suitable resolutions touching the death of Mr. Winfrey were presented by a committee consisting of Messrs. W. Owen Carver, C. T. Taylor and T. S. Dunaway, and tender and appropriate remarks were made by Rev. Dr. C. H. Ryland, Prof. H. H. Harris and Messrs. Taylor, Loving, Carver, Britt and Allison.

The remains will be taken to Buckingham for burial to-day, accompanied by Messrs. M. J. Hoover, J. E. Hixson, W. C. Blair, J. S. Ryland and W. B. Loving.

~

Click here for the obituary of E. B. Winfrey’s mother, Judith Winfrey.

Coming next: Egbert Bolling Winfrey, Part I