Delayed Obituaries

Recently, someone reminded me of the obituaries I’ve written for ancestors that were tragically murdered. The newspaper article about my great-great grandmother was headlined “Negro Killed” - but didn’t say anything about her leaving behind children and siblings, or the things she accomplished during her life. I realized that the same is true for the people that were killed in the Early County Massacre, so I decided to write obituaries for them too, instead of the dramatized and dehumanizing newspaper articles that already exist.

Read a little bit about the lives of these people below.

GOOLSBY, Simon

Simon Goolsby, 32, of Pleasant Grove, was senselessly killed on the River Road by a lynching mob on Wednesday, December 29th, 1915. The youngest son of Mike and Sarah Goolsby, he was born in Early County in 1883. Simon married Laura Ross Bass on June 24th, 1907. In addition to his mother and his wife, he is survived by three step-children: Lessie Mae, Clarence, and Carrie Belle Bass, a brother: Alpheus “App” Goolsby, two sisters: Fredonia Harris and Beulah Crews, a sister-in-law: Mary Goolsby, and two brothers-in-law: Winget Harris and Isom Crews. Simon is also survived by an uncle: Reuben W. Goolsby, and an aunt: Charlotte Law. He was predeceased by his father and a sister. Simon’s brother, Grandison, was killed less than 24 hours after him.

HIGHTOWER, Early

Early Hightower, 35, of Sardis, was killed in an ambush on his home on Thursday, December 30th, 1915. Early was born to the late Preston Hightower and the late Delia Law White in Clay County. In 1910, Early became a landowner, purchasing 75 acres on the River Road. He was especially fond of his aunt, Charlotte Law, and her children, Baler, Major, Rogers, Ed, Girlie, and Releford. Early is survived by another aunt, Sarah Goolsby. He was predeceased by his parents and his step-father, Lot White. He was also predeceased by his siblings: Greely, Henry, James, and Viola. 

GOOLSBY, Grandison

Grandison Goolsby, 46, of Pleasant Grove, was killed at the home of Charles Holmes on Thursday, December 30th, 1915. He was the oldest child born to Mike and Sarah Goolsby, on Gilbert Place in 1869. Grandison was an intelligent member of society and an industrious farmer. He was a founding member of Starlight Lodge #95, Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons, and had been the Worshipful Master of that lodge for several years. He was also an officer in the United Order of Odd Fellows lodge in Blakely and the Supreme Circle of Benevolence lodge at Pleasant Grove. Grandison was a member of Pleasant Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church since birth. He married Miss Mary M. Hutchins on January 23rd, 1895 and they were blessed with four sons. Grandison and Mary purchased several hundred acres of land in Early County and multiple town lots in Blakely. Grandison was a kind-hearted man and respected by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Mrs. Mary M. Goolsby. He is also survived by his sons, Ulysses McKinley Goolsby, Mike Atrus Goolsby, Roosevelt Goolsby, and Nathaniel Hawthorne Goolsby, brother, Alpheus “App” Goolsby, sisters, Fredonia Harris and Beulah Crews, mother, Sarah Goolsby, uncle, Reuben Goolsby, and an aunt, Charlotte Law. Grandison was predeceased by his father, Mike Goolsby, and his sister, Hederogeneous Goolsby. He was also predeceased by his brother Simon by one day.

LAW, Edmond Jr.

Edmond Law, Jr., 68, of Cedar Springs, died at his home on New Year’s Eve 1915, at the hands of a cruel lynching mob. He was born during slavery on the plantation of Robert Yelldell in Early County, which was later owned by James and Robert Freeman. Edmond married the love of his life, Lorena, shortly after emancipation. Ed and Rena moved to the Cedar Springs area in the 1870s, where Ed found work on the turpentine farms. They adopted two boys, Alto McCoy and Precious Hall. Edmond is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Rena Law, a son, Alto Law, and two sisters, Sarah Goolsby and Charlotte Law. He was predeceased by his parents, Edmond and Hulda Law, his sisters Cornelia Ann Hutchins and Delia White, and a brother, Warren Law. He died together with his son, Precious Law.

HALL, Precious

Precious Hall, 21, of Cedar Springs was murdered at the home of Ed and Rena Law on New Year’s Eve 1915. He was born in Alabama to Cynthia Smith in June of 1894. Precious was raised by his grandmother, Elizabeth Smith, and was later adopted by Edmond and Rena Law. He worked as a laborer on the turpentine plantation owned by his biological paternal family, the Hudspeths. Precious is survived by his mother, Rena Law, a brother, Alto McCoy, and two aunts, Sarah Goolsby and Charlotte Law. He died together with his father, Ed Law.