A good mother in Israel, and a pioneer missionary worker in home and foreign fields, has fallen asleep. Sister Corliss accompanied Elder J. O. Corliss from Mountain View to the Southern California campmeeting, at Glendale, in August. She was taken ill, pneumonia developed, and her death occurred during the meeting.

Julia A. Burgess was born in Wood County, Ohio, July 22, 1843, and died Aug. 16, 1912, at the age of 69 years and 24 days. When twelve years of age, she removed with her parents to Gratiot County, Michigan. At the age of fourteen she began teaching public school, and taught for ten years. Under the teachings of Elders R. J. Lawrence and I. D. Van Horn, she gladly accepted the third angel’s message at the age of twenty-one. In 1868 she was married to J. O. Corliss, since which time she has given her life to the work in which her husband was engaged. She accompanied him in all his travels, going abroad in mission work three different times, twice to Australia, once to England.

Five children were born to the union, the three eldest being laid away in the various fields where Brother and Sister Corliss were laboring. The surviving children are Dr. Burr Corliss, of California, and Sister Lulu V. Gregory, of Tennessee.

Sister Corliss was ever a patient, burden bearing woman, always ready to contribute means and render personal help in every case of need coming to her notice. In a few weeks more she would have lived with her husband forty-four years, a blessed union of perfect harmony. When taken with her last illness, she expressed the confidence that she should not survive it, and therefore sent messages to all her nearby friends to be prepared to meet her. She leaves behind a memory of sweet savor, an influence that will continue to the end.

A memorial service was held at the campmeeting, at the sunset hour following the Sabbath, August 17. Elders J. N. Loughborough, G. A. Irwin, E. W. Farnsworth, and E. E. Andross, and the writer spoke, and the Lord gave Elder Corliss special strength to bear his testimony of tribute also to the godly life and companionship in service that had been to him an inspiration and a tower of strength for nearly half a century. The funeral service was held at Mountain View, August 19, many citizens, aside from our own people, attending. Elder A. O. Tait and the writer officiated; and clinging to the sure promise, we laid away one of the Lord’s own children in the ” blessed hope ” of the resurrection.

W. A. Spicer
Taken from the Advent Review & Sabbath Herald, Sept 19, 1912