MAURICE A. POWERS. Maurice A. Powers, son of William and Ellen Powers, was born in the city of Richmond, Virginia, on the 15th day of August, 1877. His early education was obtained at St. Peter's Catholic School in Richmond. In February, 1894, when he was little more than sixteen years of age he entered the law offices of Stiles & Holladay, of Richmond, Va., where he worked during the day, and at night he took a course in stenography and bookkeeping at the Virginia Mechanics' Institute, graduating with credit from that institution. With the exception of a short period, when he was engaged in business as a bookkeeper, he continued with the firm of Stiles & Holladay up to August, 1902. While with that firm he studied law in their offices with vigor and determination, and, after a course of one session at the University of Virginia, he was admitted to the bar of the State and, in the year 1900, he commenced the practice of law in the offices of the firm with which he had been so long associated. In the summer of 1902, the firm of Stiles, Powers and Stiles, of Richmond, was formed, composed of Major Robert Stiles, Maurice A. Powers and Jo Clay Stiles, Major Stiles' son. He continued a member of this firm until its dissolution by the death of Major Robert Stiles on October 5, 1905, when he continued the practice of law alone in the same city. About the 10th of May, 1914, after strenuous exertion in the Hustings Court of Richmond, extending over several days, he began to feel unwell and left the city for a short rest, and his life, so full of promise, so bright with hope and so fully and truly the subject of gratification and pride, came to an end during this absence in the city of Baltimore, on the 30th of May, 1914. Bright and cheerful in his disposition, and loving the companionship of his fellowmen, he was soon found in the active membership of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the McGill Catholic Union, the Order of Eagles, and of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. Enthusiastic and untiring in his work, enjoying the fullest measure of popularity and the unbounded confidence, affection and good will of all with whom he came in contact, he was soon a Past Chancellor of the Knights of Columbus, past State President of the Hibernians, past President of the McGill Union, President of the Dixie Aeria of the Eagles, and State delegate to its national convention. Always an interested and active member of the Richmond Bar Association, he served as its secretary for six years, continuing through several changes of administration, only ending his services in this capacity when he positively declined re-election. As a lawyer he was a clear and accurate thinker, a forceful and logical reasoner, a loyal and untiring representative, a strong and eloquent advocate. He enjoyed a large and varied practice, and few, even in a much longer lifetime, have acquired a larger or more desirable clientage. As a man he was pre-eminently clean hearted, clean minded, and clean spoken. No word ever passed his lips that could not have been used with propriety in the most select company. He possessed a fund of unvarying good nature and good humor, and was never irritated or out of temper. He was large hearted and ever ready to lend a helping hand to those in trouble or in need; none were too poor or too humble to receive his courteous and careful consideration, and, with or without compensation, he always gave their needs his best services; lenient in his judgment of others' frailties and shortcomings, few unkind words were ever uttered by him; a man of high ideals; he consistently lived in accordance with the standards required by them. As a friend he was faithful and generous, ever ready to give the larger and receive the smaller share, and willing at all times to carry the larger portion of the burden. His time and his energies were ready to serve his friends whenever and wherever they were required, and he was never too busy to accommodate or aid them. He was a consistent, faithful and loyal member of Sacred Heart Cathedral of Richmond, and the high dignitaries of his Punc denomination held him in great confidence and esteem. tual and regular was his attendance upon the exercises of his church and in the performance of the duties it required. In all the relations of life he was found faithful and true, measuring up fully to the requirement of a thorough gentleman and a sincere Christian. THOMAS J. WATKINS. Death is always sad, it breaks ties that are never fully mended and leaves wounds that are hidden but never cured. Particularly is this true in the death of the young, who stand on the threshold of a life of usefulness and happiness, full of hope and armed for all conflicts that time may bring. The Virginia State Bar Association has lost one of the most promising of its younger members in the death at Richmond, Va., on April 1, 1914, of Thomas J. Watkins, a member of the Bar of Charlotte county, who was born at Charlotte C. H., on February 2, 1885; attended the public schools at that place until September, 1901, when he entered Hampden-Sidney College, graduating in June, 1905, with the degree of A. B. During the session of 1905-6 he taught in the Augusta Military Institute, and entered the law school at Washington and Lee University in September, 1906, graduating in 1908, when he returned to his native county and entered into the practice of law with his father, Thomas E. Watkins, under the firm name of Watkins & Watkins. The writer has known Thomas J. Watkins from his earliest childhood, and, after he came to the bar, was intimately associated with him in the conduct of important litigation. He was a young man of clear, analytical mind, with every promise of making a ripe lawyer. His standards of professional honor were high, and he quickly made himself felt as a force at the Charlotte Bar. When he passed away from this earthly forum he left not an enemy behind. To quote Judge Harrison, it can be truthfully said: We drop a tear of sympathetic sorrow over the grave of one so young, so manly, so promising, and yet so quickly called away from this beautiful earth and the affections which clustered around him as their central hope and stay in the world. M. M. MARTIN. |