Class of 1899
Commencement essay: “The Territory of the United States”

Birth: 26 Aug 1873, South Carolina
Death: 9 Jul 1909, Richmond, Virginia

Parents:
Luke Middleton Smith (1820-1881)
Martha J. Stone Schumpert Smith (1846-1899)

Spouse: Charles Doring Bray (1866-1953)
Marriage: 5 Jun 1900, Prosperity, Newberry County, NC

Children:
Annie Kathrine Bray (1902-1903)
Charles Doring Bray (1904-1993)
Elizabeth Bray Black (1908-1986)

Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, Florence, Florence County, South Carolina
Source: www.findagrave.com, #88997089.

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The Bamberg Herald (Bamberg, SC), 15 Jul 1909, p. 8.

Mrs. Bray Dies from Injuries

Richmond, Va., July 10. – Although it was stated at the Hygra hospital as late as 4 o’clock this afternoon that she was “doing as well as could be expected,” Mrs. Charles D. Bray, of Florence, S. C., who jumped from a second story window of that institution yesterday afternoon, died there shortly after eight o’clock last night. The first information of the death of the woman came from her husband who reached the city this morning and was then notified of her death by officials, who attempted and did keep the matter secret from the afternoon papers. A nurse at the hospital reported that Mrs. Bray was doing well and had gone home at the very time that her body was being shipped to South Carolina.

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The State (Columbia, SC), 13 Jul 1909, p. 9.

Funeral of Mrs. Bray

Special to The State
Florence, July 12. – The funeral of Mrs. Charles D. Bray, who died in Richmond Friday night, took place yesterday afternoon, attended by a large number of friends and relatives. The funeral was conducted at the Lutheran church by Rev. J. L. Yonce, pastor. The interment was at Mt. Hope cemetery.

The large crowd which attended the funeral attested the love and esteem in which this young woman was held. The floral designs were numerous and beautiful, many of them coming from friends of the deceased who live at a distance, and who, though unaable to attend personally, sent their tribute to the memory of this good woman.

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The Bamberg Herald (Bamberg, SC), 20 Jul 1909, p. 1.

DR. HODGES DEFENDS HIMSELF
Denies That He Withheld News of Mrs. Bray’s Death at Hygia Hospital in Richmond

Special to The State
Richmond, Va., July 19. – Dr. J. Allison Hodges has issued a statement explaining the death of Mrs. Charles Bray of Florence, S. C., which occurred in the Hygia hospital July 9, the lady jumping from a window of the hospital while in a state of mental delusion, thereby sustaining injuries which caused her death.

Dr. Hodges was charged by each of the three Richmond papers with falsely stating the facts and withholding news of the death of Mrs. Bray. He denies having held back the facts and attributes the circumstances to the fact that those in charge did not feel that they had the authority to sod do.

He declares that he deemed no inquest necessary as Mrs. Bray, in the presence of four consulting physicians, herself declared that she only was to blame.

Dr. Hodges expresses great surprise that while he was in Canada on important business, being called there previous to the incident, that wrong motives should have been charged to his going to that country. He indignantly denies practically all that has been said of his having withheld the facts from the coroner and the press.

The papers in publishing a lengthy denial have each reiterated the statement that the physician was responsible for misleading them in a publication the morning after the lady’s death that she was still living.

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Edgefield Advertiser (Edgefield, SC), 21 Jul 1909, p.

Sad Fatality

Florence, Special. – News was received in the city Saturday morning of the death of Mrs. Charles D. Bray, at a hospital in Richmond, Va., Friday night. Mrs. Bray had been in bad health for several months owing to a nervous break down, and it was thought that she would improve under treatment in the hospital in Richmond. Mrs. Bray had only been in the hospital about a week, having been taken there on last Friday by Mr. Bray, who after spending a few days with her, returned home. He received a telegram Friday afternoon summoning him to come at once, owing to a turn for the worse in the condition of Mrs. Bray. He arrived too late, however, to see her alive. All Florence grieves at the loss of one of her most beloved young matrons.