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Palm Beach County Deaths 1928
Year of the Killer Hurricane

Palm Beach County Deaths 1928 - Year of the Killer Hurricane

It is estimated that about 3000 people died in the September 1928 Hurricane - about one-half of the county's population. Because of the overwhelming number of dead, and the fear of disease spreading, many were buried in mass graves and no record of their deaths exists. The list below includes ALL deaths for the year 1928, and there is no way to determine who was a victim of the hurricane, although some hints can be found. It appears that most of the hurricane victims are listed in Book 405 of the Palm Beach County death records, with death certificate numbers of 20XXX. There were very few lists of the dead in the newspaper archives that were searched, but the ones found are at the bottom of the page.

The following people died and were buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach during the days just after the hurricane (the hurricane made landfall on 17 Sep 1928). Woodlawn contains a mass grave of some of the victims.

Deaths mentioned in newspaper articles (some did not live in Palm Beach County):

Mrs. Julia White, age 76, killed in Delray Beach

Fred Nelms, age 2, son of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Nelms in Kelsey City

John Anderson Baylock, age 46, of Westgate

Robert Lightsey, age 4, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Robert Damon Upthegrace, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Paula Ruth Upthegrace, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Elbert Upthegrace Jr., Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Jesse Lee, age 40, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Infant daughter of Jessie Lee, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

William Lee, age 79, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Lucilee Cook, age 2, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Eugene Cook, age 3 months, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Winifred Frazier, age 7, Beach Eagle Bay and Ridge Settlement

Frank Godwin, age 55, Okeechobee City

Lewis F. Day, Okeechobee City

Vernon Day, Okeechobee City

Thelma Yarborough, age 11

Boy Yarborough, age 4

Mrs. Smith, Pahokee

George Bradshaw, Assistant Fire Chief, Palatka

Will Jones, (black), Delray Beach

Ella Jones, (black), wife of Will Jones, Delray Beach

Mrs. P.L. Burke and 3 children, Chosen

Roy Burke, brother of P.L. Burke, Chosen

Mrs Roy Burke, Chosen

W.R. Smith, Chosen

Mrs. W.R. Smith, Chosen

Mrs. Julia Bangley, Chosen

Sand, age 3, child of Julia Bangley, Chosen

Gerald, age 5, child of Julia Bangley, Chosen

Raymond Rastas Martin, age 16, Belle Glade

Minnie Martin, age 6, Belle Glade

Abner Martin, Belle Glade

Alieas Martin, Belle Glade

Bessie Mae Martin, Belle Glade (mother of Minnie)

Belona Martin, Belle Glade

Olive Martin, Belle Glade

Tainner Martin, Belle Glade

William H. Boots, his wife Mattie and son Virgil S., Lake Okeechobee

Bonnie MacIvey, Okeechobee