Donnie Elizabeth (Beard)Muirhead / Wright
The date of this photograph
is unknown.
It has been in our family for as long as I can remember. My
mother acquired the original framed version after her mother passed away
in 1956. After mothers death in 1988 the photograph passed on to
my sister who graciously agreed to let me have copies made and the frame
restored. My best guess is that
it was made some time between 1920 and September 1929. Great
Grandmother died October 1, 1929.
Death resulted from trauma received when the elevator she was in stopped
between floors in the United States Post Office in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The elevator operator had managed to get out and go to the basement
where he replaced a blown fuse. The operator replaced the faulty
fuse restoring power and with the control engaged, the elevator started
upward. Apparently he failed to place the control in a neutral
position and as Great Grandmother was attempting to exit the car, in the
same manner as the operator had, she was crushed between the 1st and 2nd
floors. She is buried next to Great Grandfather Rufus Francis Muirhead
in the Redbone Cemetery Vicksburg, Mississippi. The cemetery is located
on Redbone Road which is about 5 miles south of Vicksburg.