Obituaries - R Surnames

4 December 1925, HEADLINES:

Five Meet Death in Boiler Explosion

E P Creel and four others of this city meet tragic death.

A terrific boiler explosion at the E P Creel Sawmill located on highway just west of Ponce de Leon yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock took a death toll of five and wounded three others, almost completely wiped out the force of thirteen working men. The dead are:

E P Creel, 55, owner of the mill and a life-long resident of Bonifay.

Walter Redman, 55, of Ponce de Leon, mechanic at the mill, survived by a wife and four children.

William Jenkins, 35, Ponce de Leon, laborer, survived by a wife and four children.

Wesely (DeDe) Smith, 40, fireman, survived by a wife and four children.

Theodore Martin, of Ponce de Leon, 15 years of age, an orphan.

The injured are Elbert Whitehead of Ponce de Leon, Claude Redman of Bonifay, bruised about the head, Edgar McDonald, of Chipley, broken arm and foot.

Arthur Creel, son of E P Creel, was badly shocked but, otherwise unhurt, first reports were he was killed.

The exact cause of the explosion is not known, but it is believed that the boiler was out of water, and when the fireman turned water into the boiler it exploded. Arthur Creel, said the indicator had shown a gage of water just a few minutes before the explosion. But the indicator might have become clogged. None of the men think the boiler was defective.

The explosion was heard for miles around and so terrific was the force of the combustion that hardly a trace of the plant was left. Pieces of the boiler and parts of the machinery were found many feet from the mill. A large piece of the boiler was hurled several yards through the air and cut the top from an oak nearby.

The mill had been in operation about ten days. E P Creel, the owner, has been in the timber and sawmill business in this section practically all his life. He was well known throughout West Fla. He has a large circle of friends and business associates in Bonifay. Left to mourn his loss is a wife and three small sons, as well as a daughter and six sons by a former marriage. He is survived also by his aged mother, Mrs S A Creel and R W Creel, Clerk of Court.

Mr Creel was struck many times as shown by the bruises and contusions on his body. One injury in itself fatal, was a large wound in the side.

Wesely Smith, the fireman, was instantly killed, by a blow which tore off the entire top of his head. Redman was torn literally to pieces. Both Jenkins and the Martin youth were killed instantly.

The remains of both Creel and Smith were brought to their home in Bonifay last yesterday afternoon, while the other victims were taken to their homes in Ponce de Leon.

The funeral of Mr Creel will take place at his home Saturday morning at 10:00 o'clock and the internment will be at the Bonifay Cemetery.

The funeral of Mr Smith will take place this afternoon, at the St John's Church south of Bonifay.

Transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp
Submitted by JoAnn Beagle

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Bonifay Citizen Dies at Dothan.

Mr. L. A. Redmon, who was carried to Dothan, Ala., for treatment some week ago, died in the hospital there last Saturday, the immediate cause of his death being billious colic, together with other complications of which he has been a sufferer for many months. The remains were brought to his home here, the interment being made in the city cemetery Sunday after noon, where relatives and many friends gathered to pay their last respects.

Mr. Redmon was a good citizen, all who knew him honored and respected him.

He leaves to mourn his loss, be sides the sorrowing widow, two sons, three daughters and a number of other relatives.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Friday, December 7, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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"Uncle Dock" Reeves Dead

Sunday at 5 o'clock p.m. Mr. B. F. Reeves, had suffered with heart dropsy died at the home of Sheriff Hickman, in spite of all that caring nursing and medical attention could do. Thus quietly passed away one more of the old land marks of this section.

Mr. Reeves, better known as "Uncle Dock" on account of his age and sociable disposition was born at Troy, Ala., Mar. 2, 1835. On January 2, 1859 he was married to Miss Henrietta Brigman some of whose near relatives live at Westville. In 1864 he moved to Florida. That same year he enlisted in the 6th Florida Regiment and served till the close of the war. When the war closed he resumed his profession of teaching twenty years of which service he rendered in the public schools of Florida.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, of whom the following survive him Mrs. H. E. Hickman, Judge I. J. Reeves, Mt. Finley Reeves, and Mrs. C. M. Con.

"Uncle Dock" was held in respect wherever known. Faithful friends attended his bedside in his last hours, and tenderly did the necessary things. Monday morning they escorted the remains and the mourning family to the train. At Westville other friends and relatives were at the station and followed to Otter Creek cemetery where "Uncle Dock" was gently placed beside his devoted wife who was buried there thirty-three years ago. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Whitsett.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, April 20, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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G N Register, who has been suffering with that dread disease, consumption, for a number of years, died at his home, 3 miles east of here last Tuesday morning. Mr Register was well known in Bonifay and has a large circle of friends who mourn his untimely death. The remains were interred at Mt Zion cemetery Wednesday. Peace to his ashes.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, FL, Saturday, Feb 22, 1908

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Martha Louise Ivie Register, age 86, of Graceville, died Friday, Feb 26, 1999 at her residence following a long illness.

Funeral services were held on Feb 28 at Galilee United Methodist Church with the Rev Charles Walsingham and the Rev Robert Hall officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Byrd-Williams Funeral Home directing.

Mrs Register was born May 15, 1912 in Jackson County and lived the early years of her life in the Galilee Community. She attended school at Sunshine Galilee School. Mrs Register was a homemaker and the widow of Curtis Register who died in July 1978.

Andy Ming, Steven Curtis Register, Joey Register, Clint Williams, Joshua Dean, Curt Register, and Jonathan Register served as active pallbearers.

Survivors include sons Elton and wife Jeanette Register of Graceville; Ted and wife Jackie Register of Monicello, Florida; and Joe Register of Graceville; daughters Molly and husband Jim Boggess of Greenville, Kentucky; and Peggy and her husband Gerald Ming of Dothan, Alabama; brothers Walter Ivie, Jr of Ozark Alabama and Theory Ivie of Riverview, Alabama; sisters Evelyn Rabon of Marianna, Juanita Gill of Dothan, Alabama and Flora Bright of Ozark, Alabama; several nieces and nephews, 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 3 March 1999, Page 21

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Sad Death of a Little Boy

Died at his home in our city yesterday at 7 o'clock p.m. little Ralph Roberts, aged three years.

Thus over a happy home the shadow of a little grave has fallen; and, as another has said, it is wonderful how long a shadow a little grave can throw. Little Ralph was so bright and cheerful, so precious to his parents that he seemed a flower of paradise permitted to bloom for a brief season by their side, them recalled to a home beyond the skies, leaving the earth road for them dark and lonely indeed.

After funeral services at the home this afternoon, the little form will be laid to rest in the city cemetery. May God's purest angels guard his slumbers.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Saturday, October 19, 1912
Transcribed by Mona Spears

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Mrs Mable Shipes Rowe, age 89, of Vernon, passed away Feb 8, 1999 at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida.

Funeral service will be held at 2 pm on Wednesday, Feb 10 at New Hope Methodist church with the Rev Wesley Hall officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Church Cemetery with Peel Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her daughter: Mary Jean and husband Randall Coatney of Panama City; granddaughters: Rhonda and husband Gene Williams, Sheila Sullivan and Janna and husband Steve Barnett, all of Panama City; great-grandchildren: Nicholas and Justin Williams, Michael and Christian Sullivan, and Jarrett and Jennifer Barnett.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/ Washington County Post, 10 Feb 1999, Page 18

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Katie Rudd, infant daughter of Sam and Jeanette Rudd of Wausau passed away on Jan 29, 1999 in Panama City.

Graveside service was held on Jan 21 at Oakie Ridge Cemetery with the Rev Dennis Boyette officiating. Burial followed with Brown Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her parents: Sam and Jeanette Rudd of Wausau; maternal grandparents: Jeanette Shields of Bonifay and Thomas Lomax of North Carolina; paternal grandparents: Jimmy and Jane Rudd of Chipley; Paternal great-grandparent: Arlene Rudd of Chipley.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post, February 10, 1999, Page 18

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