Howard Divinity's Death Certificate

The article below was found in a local newspaper reporting the death of Howard Divinity of Copiah County, Mississippi.

Howard Divinity Stood by his Principals

Howard Divinity is dead at the age of 108. He was the oldest person in Copiah County, residing near Hazlehurst.

Howard had attained wide renown over the country. He attended every confederate reunion for many years, and once visited the White House in Washington, dining with the servants.

He served during the Civil war as bodyguard for officers.

Howard doubtless is sincerely mourned by his white friends of Copiah county. A long life of faithful devotion to sentiments and principals is just as touching in a servant as it is admirable in a master.

Clarion-Ledger

Jackson, Mississippi

20 Mar 1934 - Page 5

Howard's death certificate is void of the information family historians value, the names and birthplaces of his parents. At the time of his death, 08 March 1934, Howard was listed as 110 years of age. He was supposedly a widower although his wife Susan died four years later in 1938. Census records suggest he was born in the mid 1840s.

1870 - Howard, 27 years old, born about 1843.

1880 - Howard, 30 years old, born about 1850.

1900 - Howard, 55 years old, born about 1845.

1910 - Howard, 78 years old, born about 1832

1920 - Howard, 75 years old, born about 1845

1930 - Howard, 107 years old, born about 1823

https://betweenthegateposts.blogspot.com/2013/01/howard-divinity-of-copiah-county-ms.html

Howard Divinity's Slave Narrative

Howard Divinity of Copiah County, MS Slave Narrative

Howard Divinity is on the right.
Photograph Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Copiah's best known ex-slave was Howard Divinity, or "Uncle Divinity," who, since the close of the war until a few years before his death in 1930, attended practically all of the National Reunions of Confederate veterans and of World War veterans. Richmond, New York, Washington, and many other cities of the nation knew him as a familiar figure when the veterans gathered there. He always wore the gray uniform of the Confederacy, the coat being literally covered with reunion medals. Uncle Divinity was born early in the 1820's and served from 1861 until the close of the war as body slave and cook with Bob Scott, of Copiah County, in Company D, of the Twelfth Mississippi Regiment. While in the Confederate army, Divinity acquired the reputation of being the champion forager in the whole Confederate army and was called the chicken provider of the Confederacy. In 1926 Uncle Divinity made a speech before the Mississippi Legislature in behalf of the Confederate soldiers, their widows, and servants. It is said that when in Washington some years ago, Uncle Divinity learned the difference between a senator and a congressman in the following way:

He went to the senate office building and asked to see his senator. When he was admitted to see John Sharp Williams, the Mississippi senator asked which he would rather have - five dollars, a toddy, or straight whiskey; Divinity came away with five dollars. A short while later Uncle Divinity met up with Congressman Percy E. Quin, representative of the Copiah District. Mr. Quin gave him a silver dollar. Shortly afterwards, Divinity remarked to a group of veterans that he had learned the difference between a senator and a congressman. They asked him what the difference was, and of course he answered - "Four dollars."

Uncle Divinity and his wife Susan lived on the old Rembert place, near Bayou Pierre, until Susan's death some ten years ago. Divinity, who was blind his last years, survived his wife by only a few years.

Census records indicate he was born between 1832-1850, likely around 1845. He was married to Susan and the couple had at least three children: Marilla, Joe and Beulah.

Although the narrative mentions he wore the gray uniform of the Confederacy, I note he has on a regular man's suit, possibly gray with a hat which appears to be one worn by Confederate soldiers.

Divinity's Pension Application