In the minutes of 1876, there is recorded resolutions on the death of Thomas E. Davenport, who had recently been accidentally killed by being crushed between two railway cars at the depot, then on Cochran Ave. at George St. Briefly, the memorial states that the Davenport family came to Brunswick in 1852 from Newberry County, S. C., when Tom was only nine years old.      

As soon as sufficiently recovered from his wounds, he accepted any work however menial, if it was honorable. In the meantime, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He formed a partnership with his old Captain and law tutor, Capt. B. F. Harris. After Captain Harris left Brunswick to go to Florida for his health, Tom Davenport formed a partnership with W.E. Joiner.

Tom Davenport was Master of Ocean Lodge in 1875-76 and Mayor of Brunswick in 1876. Then the Yellow Fever Epidemic, such times as try men's souls and prove their worth. He was chairman of the Board of Relief. He was stricken early with the fever. Before he had sufficiently recovered, he was doing everything humanly possible to relieve the stricken population. Doctors were scarce. Tom Davenport had learned what to do until the Doctor came. There was not a family so poor but he was first at the bedside of the stricken one, advising them how to treat the patient as to nursing, feeding and medicine. If no food was there, Tom Davenport was soon seen returning with his arms full of necessary food and medicine. He was indeed an angel of mercy.

No wonder Ocean Lodge idolized him and made of him their one Hero. If Tom Davenport was the hero of Ocean Lodge, then the most faithful member was Jerry M. Conoley. He came to Brunswick in 1870. Where he came from or from what Lodge he hailed, I do not know, but soon after his arrival, he affiliated with Ocean Lodge.

By trade he was a carpenter and worked at the railroad shops, where he continued for more than 35 years, when he became enfeebled by age, so he could no longer work. He claimed no prestige of birth, no education or culture, but doing each assignment, however humble, well and faithful to every trust. When one was needed to sit up with the sick or the dead, he was the first to volunteer. During those days that tried men's souls, when the City was stricken with Yellow Fever, Jerry Conoley was himself a hero, constantly attending the sick and dying.

In attendance he was most faithful. If the weather was such that but a few were there, Jerry Conoley was one of them. I am sure that he holds the record of having attended more meetings of Ocean Lodge than any other member. He was the Lodge's instructor, and there were but few who were not taught the catechism by Jerry Conoley. Toward the end he became quite feeble and could do no work, so he and his wife became complete charges of Ocean Lodge.

Georgia Masonry had recently built a Masonic Home at Macon. We thought it would be a haven for Jerry Conoley and his wife to spend their declining years. There they could have comforts that we could not give them. Ocean Lodge did not wish to avoid any expense. They offered to pay the Home all the charges and only asked a more comfortable place for the old faithful Mason and his wife. But they were refused admission.

Perhaps it was the right thing to do. For such institutions are too often operated for the comfort and ease of the officers and attendants rather than the inmates.

Mrs. Conoley was sick, very sick, at the time and her heart had been crushed by the death of her only child, a young man nineteen years old. The doctors prescribed morphine. They perhaps, ought not to have done it, but they did. She contracted the habit of morphine. Man condemned her, but some how I think that God overlooked and forgave her the fault. It was too late to try to affect a cure, so Ocean Lodge saw that she had the drug until her death. It was perhaps wrong for a Masonic Lodge to purchase opium, but who will condemn?

It was not long before the old Mason grew weary and very tired and fell on sleep. No pauper's burial was his. His body lay in state in Ocean Lodge room, the most beautiful at that time in the State. At the appointed time, a large concourse of Masons gathered and bore all that was mortal of Jerry Conoley to Oak Grove Cemetery, where we laid him away with full Masonic honors. .

We bad the frail Wife sent to the hospital where she had every care possible. It was not long before she gently fell asleep. A large concourse accompanied her remains to the cemetery where by the side of her boy and her husband, we laid her away. All three graves were covered with flowers and there we left them to be guarded by the angels.