Mr. Mars left Philadelphia early Wednesday morning in company with Mr. W. I. Luke. Later they were joined by Mr. Louis Luke and Son of Union. The party was catching bait for the fishing trip down the river. Rodney remained behind in company with a young man named Cochran and Paul Luke to catch more bait. Rodney was standing in water about two feet deep when he stepped backward into a hole twenty-five feet deep which seemed in every way to be a whirl pool formed by an under current. Young Cochran saw the accident and realizing the seriousness of the situation called for help. Rodney came to the surface only one time. Cochran made a desperate effort to rescue him but failed. He never came up the second time. Cochran prepared to dive for Rodney but his father who was nearby, realizing the danger of the water, urged him not to do so, because of the treacherous waters it would have meant death of the two. The two Mr. Lukes, who were fishing nearby, were notified immediately and came to the scene of the accident. Every possible effort was made to recover Mr. Mars in time to resuscitate him but it was two hours before the body was recovered which was some twenty-five feet from where he was last seen. On hearing the tragic news a large numbers of friends left Philadelphia for the scene of the accident, including his brother, Henry and Norman Mars, Mr. J. C. Stribling and Mr. N. R. Gipson of the Mars Brothers Firm. Philadelphia friends arrived on the river about one o'clock after C. R. Hoye, nephew of his mother, who lives at Lucedule, arrived first and called the body had been recovered Dr. T. E. Ross Jr. and Robert Ross, nephews of George Mars, who rushed from Hattiesburg to take personal charge of the searching party. Dr. Ross took personal charge of the body and a funeral director from Hattiesburg made the preparation for return to Philadelphia. Mr. Wright of the Spivey-Ross Co. went down from Philadelphia to bring the body home, arriving in Philadelphia Thursday morning at eleven o'clock. The death of Rodney Mars cast a gloom of sadness over the entire neighborhood and surrounding Counties, he having spent his entire life a resident of Neshoba County. He was born September 11, 1897, twelve miles East of Philadelphia. His parents moved to Philadelphia when he was nine years old and with the exception of the time he was away in school, had spent his life here. He finished Meridian College after completing his high school work in Philadelphia. Later took a years special work in Columbia University of New York, served six months in the Army during the World War and while awaiting to be called for Service of his Country, took special work at Tulane University of New Orleans, leading up to Medicine. Upon returning home, he found his services were needed in his father's business so he immediately took up his work and was one of the Directors of Mars Brothers where he has made a host of friends through out this section of Mississippi. Mr. Mars was a member of the Methodist church, of the Board of Stewards, the Philadelphia Lodge of Masons, a Chapter and Knight Templar Mason, also a member of Hamasa Temple of Shrine and American Legion and a leader in civic affairs being one of the Charter member of the Philadelphia Rotary Club. News of Mr. Mars death spread. The family received scores of telegrams and messages from over the State and other distant cities where Rodney had many warm friends in the Markets of the MidWest and East. He had been to the markets for his firm twice yearly for the past ten years and was well known in Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and other places where the firm has been buying merchandise for more than thirty years. The funeral was from the Philadelphia Methodist Church where his father has been a member of the Official Board for twenty-five years. Rodney following in his footsteps has served faithfully both as a member of the Board and member of the Sunday School, as well as a devoted member of the Church. The services were conducted Friday morning, July 3rd at ten o'clock, Rev. W. B. Jones, Pastor, officiating, and was assisted by three former pastors, Dr. J. A. Smith of Jackson, Rev. J. E. Gray of Crystal Springs and Rev. B. L. Sutherland of Meridian. Rev. Gray read the first lesson, Dr. Smith read the second lesson and Rev. Jones paid a most beautiful tribute to Mr. Mars in his remarks regarding his life as a citizen, church worker and business man, and Rev. Sutherland prayed. Miss Grace Jones sang most beautifully "There is No Night There," a favorite song of Mr. Mars in his life time. A male quartett, composed of Grady Hays, Sharp Banks, Leon White and Barney Watkins sang "In the Sweet Bye and Bye." Mr. Mars married Miss Lucile Glass February 5, 1922, who survives him. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Mars, one sister, Mrs. Weaver Bridges of Athens, Ga., three brothers, J. Henry Mars, Norman C. Mars and Louis F. Mars all of Philadelphia. The following Poem was sent to his mother while he was attending Columbia University and to those who knew him best, this is his philosophy of life. "To laugh is just like music; A laught is just like music; "O Jesus Christ, My Master, Rodney Mars has answered his last orders. He hath done what he could, he has served well. A Loved One.     |