Giles County Obituaries
Page Two

Young Milk Truck Driver Killed on Blue Creek   
August 2nd ---

   Elmer Watson, 30, driver on a milk route in the county was instantly
killed during a thunder storm on Thursday evening about 8 o'clock when a
bolt of lightning struck him as he was handling a milk can on the route
about ten miles north of Pulaski.
   Accompanied by an assistant Elbert West, Watson had stopped the truck
and had alighted near the barn of the farm owned by the former Miss Sue
Rogers, on Blue Creek while he waited for the negro farmer to complete
the milking of a cow.
   It was reported that Watson had his hand on a wire fence, when the
bolt hit, striking him with such force that he fell in the road.
   Although the occupants of the barn were also knocked to the floor,
none was hurt, and Watson was aided and carried into the barn by West,
but death was immediate.
   Besides operating the milk truck, Watson was the proprietor of the
South End filling station.  His wife is an employe of General Shoe
Corporation.
   A native of the county, he was a member of the Pulaski Church of
Christ, where funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon.
conducted by Eld. John Graham.  Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.
   Besides his wife, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. O.
Watson of Pulaski, five sisters, Mrs. Joe Hill [Mary], Mrs. Lee
Barshears [Willa Mae], Mrs. William Willis [Lucille], Mrs. Oscar
Campbell [Nina], and Mrs. Garfield Hobbs [Mildred], all of Pulaski,
three brothers, Tom Watson, William Watson, both of Pulaski, and Roy
Watson, U. S. Army.

Submitted by: Doris Estes

A native of Giles County, Mrs. Brashears was the daughter of the late Oscar and Cora Yant Watson and was married to the late Henry Lee Brashears. She was a housewife.

Survivors include one sister, Edna Lucille Willis of Pulaski; and several nieces and nephews.

Submitted By: Doris Estes

The Pulaski Citizen
Thur. Nov. 8, 1917

Mrs. Lucy Ann Hedricks, 74 years of age, died at Prospect
Saturday and the remains were interned in the Elliott Graveyard
Sunday. Mrs. Hedricks had been a sufferer for some time with
tuberculosis, and while her death was not unexpected, it was a severe
shock to her relatives and many friends. Limestone Democrat.

Copied from microfilm of "The Pulaski Citizen" at the city library in
Pulaski, Tennessee, Dec. 30, 1985.

Submitted by: John V. Burns

See Lucy's Tombstone.

The Pulaski Citizen
November, 1873

Eunice Chandler Gilbert

    Died at her residence near Bethel in this county, on Wednesday the
5th inst., Mrs. Eunice Gilbert, consort of the late Carey Gilbert, Sr.
and mother of a numerous family, among whom J. Cal. Gilbert and Pet
Gilbert.  Deceased was born in Newberry South Carolina, Nov. 1, 1796
and moved to Tennessee in 1828.  Thus one by one are the old landmarks
departing.

Researcher's Note:
Daughter of Israel and Lydia Gilbert Chandler, b. Nov 1, 1796,
d. Nov. 5, 1873, buried in the Old Gilbert Cemetery.

Submitted by: Jane Gilbert

Farmerville Times
Farmerville, TX
April 15, 1928
 
AGED RESIDENT FARMERSVILLE DIES AT HOME 
Mrs. Mittie Harwell, aged 82, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
J. W. Spain, last Sunday, April 15.  Funeral services were conducted
at the Spain home Monday afternoon by Rev. C. W. Dennis of Rayse City
and Rev. T. G. Craft of Dallas.  Interment in Rock Quary cemetery.
Mrs. Harwell was born January 30, 1846 at Paluski(sic), Tenn.  She was
the daughter of the late Laban and Nancy Westmoreland.  She was
married to J. M. Harwell in October, 1863, and to this union were born
three children, Mrs. A. G. Smith of Ballinger, R. H. Harwell and Mrs.
J. W. Spain of Farmersville, all of whom survive.  Mrs. Harwell was
the last of a family of eleven children.  Besides three children she
is survived by thirteen grand children and eight great-grandchildren.
This splendid Christian lady had been a resident of this community for
almost fifty years and her passing brings sadness to her many good
friends.  She had been a consistent and faithful member of the
Methodist church for forty-five years.

Submitted by: Roger Harvell

Giles County Press
Pulaski, Tennessee
June 5, 1936
 
"We regret to report the death of Mildred Watkins who departed 
this life June 3.  We feel that she was one of those flowers that the 
Reaper of Death has taken from the Garden of Love.  Mildred had such a 
kind and loving disposition that everybody admired her.  She had a 
winning personality and always greeted you with a smile and a kind word.  
She took great interest in her church and school work winning many 
prizes and honors.  In a county school contest she won first place in 
arithmetic, first in spelling, and second in a speach contest, her 
subject being on "Sam Davis," by Mrs. W. B. Romine.  This community, 
chool and church, as well as family, have lost a great jewel which 
will be greatly missed.  She seemed to love everybody and everybody 
venerated her."  Robt. Townsend

[Researcher's Note: Mildred died in Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, 
TN at age 17.  Cause of death was said to have been rhuematic fever, but 
was never proven.  Her home was in Giles County, she is buried at Mt. Zion 
Cemetery, Lawrence County, TN.]

Submitted by: Mike Watkins

The Citizen
Pulaski, TN

January 18, 1912
              
THOMAS HAYWOOD MAY

     The many friends here of Thomas Haywood May were shocked Monday
morning to learn of his sudden death which took place about half past 
9 o'clock at his home on South Third Street.

     Mr. May had arisen as usual, and after eating breakfast complained of 
a pain in his left side and decided to lie down on his bed awhile. One 
of his daughters prepared a mustard plaster which he applied. The young 
lady had occasion to leave the room a short while afterward and on her 
return found that her father had quietly passed into the peaceful sleep 
of death.

     Mr. May had been a great sufferer with rheumatism for the past year 
or more and it is presumed that the disease affected his heart.

     He assisted at Murray & Bennett's jewelry store during the Christmas 
trade and seemed to be better than for some time past.

     Funeral serices were conducted at the residence Tuesday morning by 
Rev. M.S. Kennedy assisted by Rev. G.A. Morgan and the burial was at 
Maplewood beside the grave of his wife who predeceased him a number of 
years ago and that of the young son who died more recently.

     Mr. May was a son of the late J. Pink May and his mother and four 
brothers and three sisters survive. The former are Gil T. May, R. Boone 
May, Al May, of Nashville, and Marvin May of Louisville. The latter are 
Mesdames A. Sam Abernathy and Ed. F. McKissack of Pulaski, and Mrs. W.W. 
Bush of Nashville. He was also a half brother of Dr. J.P. May of Aspen 
Hill, Chas. W. May of Pulaski, and Mrs. Alonzo Westmoreland of California. 
He was aged 52 years.

     For many years in his young manhood Mr. May was associated with his 
father in the leading book and jewelry store here and of later years he 
was engaged in various vacations (sic), being in the furniture business 
here and at Decatur, more recently being connected with the Nashville 
Bottling Works. He traveled two or three years for the Sward Medicine Co.

     Mr. May was a man of genial disposition and affable manner and was 
always very popular. He was eight times elected Mayor of Pulaski, the last 
time being in 1901. That he retained his popularity was shown in the recent 
race for Mayor which he lost by only five votes.

     Thomas H. May was a warm-hearted, whole-souled man, who has many 
good deeds and acts of kindness to his credit, and although he must have 
suffered much in the past year or two, he strove to keep up his jovial 
disposition and not worry others with his troubles.

     The bereaved families and aged mother have the sympathy of the 
community in their sorrow and especially is this true of the six bright 
dutiful orphaned daughters, including Mrs. John H. Black.

     Peace to the dust of Thomas H. May.

Submitted By: Patricia May Touw

Issue of Thursday, September 28, 1876

Little James McClure Marbut, age 18 months, died of croup on the 11th inst., 
in south west Missouri; the maiden name of the Bereaved young mother was 
Virginia Adelaide Hughes, the youngest and twentieth child of the late Samuel 
McClure Hughes of this county.

******************

Issue of Thursday, January 27, 1881

Marbuts

Mrs. Prince died on Thursday, the 20th inst., of chronic rheumatism, 
aged 67 years. She was an excellent woman and died in the hope of a 
blissful immortality. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. H. L. 
Booth and her remains were interred in the graveyard at Mr. G. W. White’s. 
(This must be Anna Prince, 29 Feb. 1808 - 20 Jan. 1881)

******************

Issue of Thursday, February 26, 1885

Mr. Keedy {Kiddy} died on the 16th of old age. He was near his ninety first 
birthday.

(This must be Louis Kiddy, 14 April 1794 - 4 Feb 1885; age 90 yrs., 9 mos, 
20 days; buried in Puncheon Cemetery.)

******************

Issue of Thursday, September 24, 1885; Deaths in the Minor Hill?Marbut area:

On Monday night, Sept. 7th , Mrs. L. Longshore was called from time to eternity.

Mrs. Martha, wife of Eldridge Longshore, died the 7th inst.

Mrs. W. R. Jones died Saturday night, the 19th , with consumption.

Died, Sept. 15th , 1885, little Mamie, daughter of J. Mat. and Mattie Marbut, 
aged 3 years, 4 months and 11 days.

******************

Issue of Thursday, April 8, 1886; News from Marbuts

Dies, Etta, the little six years old daughter of W. P. Haney.

******************

Issue of Thursday, March 10, 1887

Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of John A. Marbut, died at her home at Marbut’s on 
the 4th of March, after a lingering illness. She has a large circle of 
children, grandchildren and relatives who sorrow for her. She was long 
a devoted Methodist, being a member of the church for 35 years, and 
beloved by all. Services were conducted at the grave by Rev. Ernest Brown. 
The funeral sermon will be announced. (Elizabeth was the daughter of John 
and Kissiarh Wright Sanders and was buried in Gilbert Cemetery, Giles 
County, TN.)

******************

Issue of Thursday, March 15, 1888

Died at his home in the 8th district, February 24, 1888, William H. Beard, 
of paralysis, after an illness of 24 months, aged 59 years. He was a member 
of the Christian Church, a good neighbor and a honorable man.

A three-year-old child of Mr. Asa Foster died near Marbut’s on the 10th.

Peter Mason, col., aged 70, departed this life the 17th inst. And was buried the day following in the Prospect Cemetery near unto his life long friend and former master, J. G. Mason. In the death of this old darkey, it is due his memory to pay him a tribute of respect. He was always a white folk’s darkey, and seemed to ardently love Dr. Mason and family. For many, many years he was the sexton of the Methodist Church and was always faithful in the discharge of duty. When the American Negro was declared a free man he preferred to cast his lot with Dr. Mason and thus live on as a house servant for the family.

His loyalty to them was only excelled by theirs to him. Even after he had served his day of usefulness owing to decrepitude, they provided and cared for him as of old.

A decent burial hardly expresses the manner of his burial. It was indeed more than this, and a beautiful monument suitable to the taste of J. G. Mason, Jr., has been laid aside for some time for Old Uncle Peter's grave.

The manner of his burial and sad expression written upon the face of Mrs. Mason and her children bespeak the fact that after all the Southern People are the negroes best friends. E.T.H.

Submitted by: Jean Cosby

See Peter Mason's Stone.

   LEWISBURG -- Mrs. Laura Mae Griffis Vaughn, 513 Hill St. Lewisburg, 77, died Sunday night at Lewisburg Community Hospital following an extended illness.

   Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Cornersville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Charles Williamson officiating. Burial will be in the Diana Cemetery in Giles County.

   A Giles County native, she was a member of the Church of Christ and a housewife.

   She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Katherine Jett, Lewisburg, Mrs. John Savage, Columbia, and a step-daughter, Mrs. John H. Pierce, Pulaski; three sons, James, Cornersville, Charley and Edward of Lewisburg; 24 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Submitted by: Deborah Claxton.