William J. Avent
Obituary, The Webster Progress, Eupora, MS
October 31, 1929

“In the passing of William J. Avent at his home in Coldwater at midnight, Tuesday, October 22nd, Webster County and the state of Mississippi lost one of the finest and most revered old men.

Hale and hearty only a few days previous to his death, pneumonia proved too much for his advanced years, and the Grim Reaper called him to answer reveille in the eternal bivouac where all good soldiers gather after their battles are over.

Everyone, old and young, in Webster County, knew ‘Uncle Billy’ Avent, and everyone loved him. He was looked on, you might say, as a land mark, a source of pride for the people of his home community. For he was that splendid type of old southern gentleman of which there are but few left for us to know and admire. He was a last connecting link between the glorious old south and our modern day, and in his journey over the river those of us who love old time southern ideals feel a distinct loss. Obscure memories and bleak pages of history are all that are left to take the place of refreshing personalities such as his. The old south has gone on. It is sad.

Uncle Billy Avent, a few weeks ago when he was in Eupora, although gray of head, still carried himself with that erectness and assurance only seen in the carriage of a born and experienced soldier. His cloths were extremely neat, his speech clear, his ever-present sense of humor exuberant, and his mind so keen that his eighty seven years rode very lightly it seemed on his military shoulders. It is sad to think that we cannot again seat ourselves with him and hear recounted the bitter battles of Shiloh and Vicksburg; or hear him tell of those incidents before the war when he would haul cotton to Columbus and Greenwood the nearest “shanty-towns”, from the old home place in Cumberland. Webster County was once vast wilderness then and deer and panther cavorted over the site of the present modern little city of Eupora.

William J. Avent was the son of Captain William Henry Avent [sic], one of the first settlers of in the old Indian hunting grounds around the headwaters of Big Black River. He was born March 1, 1843, at the place where this old pioneer built his home in the Cumberland community, at that time Calhoun (sic) County. Here he lived until called to the colors of the southland He was a youthful sergeant in Captain Foard’s famous company of the 15th Mississippi Regiment, and a brave soldier indeed. Several times was he wounded when his over-anxious bravery led him to risky feats of arms. It was said that he was a pet of his captain and a great source of worry to that officer because of his boyish foolhardiness. But he bore a charmed life and came out of the great conflict with honor and health.

In the Battle of Shiloh a spent shell struck him in the neck and he was left for dead on the battlefield as the company was rapidly advancing. Afterwards as the company had gained its objective and was uniting, the young sergeant came running up to take his place much to the delight of his comrades. His captain ordered him to the rear for treatment as it was evident from the flow of blood and the hang of his head that he was hard hit but “Sergeant Bill” carried on won honors in the fierce fighting which ensued.

Home from the war he married Miss Sarah Ellenor Quinn on December 20, 1866. They lived at the old home place for two years when they moved to a farm near Walthall and later to the town of Walthall. In 1902 they moved to Eupora.

His splendid wife died October 13, 1912, leaving two sons and three daughters. In his later years he made his home with his son C. K. Avent of Coldwater.

Mr. Avent was a former member of New Hope Presbyterian Church and was a master Mason.”