School Bus Hit By Train, Eads, Tennessee, 1941

On 10 Oct 1941, in Eads, Tennessee, a school bus stopped on the train tracks and was hit by the oncoming train. 7 died at the scene and 1 died later, totally 8 dead.

Picture from newspaper, crushed bus

I want to primarily focus on those who perished and who survived rather than the actual accident. 

Perished: 

~Hayden Austin Williams Jr. "Austin"

born: 15 Sep 1934 in Eads, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 7

burial: Magnolia Cemetery in Collierville, Tennessee 

Son of Hayden Austin Williams (1910-1965) & 

           Pauline Leake Earnheart (1909-1987)

~Murrey Kenneth Bryan

born: 08 Dec 1932 in Eads, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 8

burial: Reid Cemetery in Eads, Tennessee

Son of Perry Wallace Bryan (1899-1967) & 

          Alva Lee Cooper (1905-1981)

~Siblings Alma & Glenn

Daughter and Son of Joseph Guy Sherrill (1906-1986) & 

                      Dale Vaughn (1907-2000)

Both siblings are buried together in Salem Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery in Salem, TN.

Alma Irene Sherrill

born: 22 Oct 1932 in Tipton County, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 8

W. Glenn Sherrill

born: 22 May 1929 in Tipton Co., Tennessee 

died: 13 Oct 1941, Memphis, Tennessee, age 12

Injuries: Glenn survived the accident but was in critical condition. Death certificate states injuries were cerebral contusion, edema with fractured skull, fractured right femur & multiple bruises. He died 3 days later of his injuries.

~Melvin Finis Richmond "Tootsie"

born: 04 Feb 1930 in Eads, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 11

burial: Eads Cemetery in Eads, Tennessee

Son of Walter Peyton Richmond (1887-1944) &

          Lilly Irene Snider (1899-1969)

Deadly injuries from the accident- (from findagrave.com)- "Someone layed Tootside in her [his mother] arms and it was there that he took his last breath. The only visable injury was a small scratch above one eye. But his neck had been broken. He died within minutes."

His brother Tommy survived the accident.

~Guy Clifford Anderson Jr.

born: 03 Mar 1929 in Memphis, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 12

burial: Magnolia Cemetery in Collierville, Tennessee

Son of Guy Clifford Anderson (1905-1984) &

           Olivia Maude Ellis (1909-1984)

~Norma Jean Seward "Jean"

born: 30 Jun 1929 in Shelby County, Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 12

burial: Reid Cemetery in Eads, Tennessee

Daughter of Norman E. Seward (1895-1973) & 

                Mary Richardson (1905-1972)

~Bennie Harrell Priddy - the driver of the bus

born: 19 Jul 1886 in Shelby Co., Tennessee

died: 10 Oct 1941 in Eads, Tennessee, age 55

burial: Bethany Cemetery in Eads, Tennessee 

Son of William Henry Priddy (1846-1911) & 

          Mary Harrell (1845-1923)

Husband of Lillian Strong (1884-1976)

Father of 6: George, Nina, Sara, Grace, Bennie Jr., and Charles.

Survivors:

~Kenneth Richardson, age 7

~Nancy Jenkins, age 9

I did find in a newspaper from 26 Oct 1941 that someone visited her in the hospital- 16 days later.

~Peggy Lee Spain, age 9

~Ella Mae Warren, age 13

~Mary Bryant, age 13

~Mary Ann Baxter, age 6 was the youngest and luckiest- walking away with only a few bruises. A newspaper reports her saying: "I was sitting in the front seat across from the driver...I was sitting on the side opposite the train....I saw it, some of the others saw it and we called to Mr. Priddy. He tried to get out of the way, tried to pull over, but he couldn't....The train hit us and I cried and the rest all cried. I climbed out by myself, but Austin didn't. Austin was killed....Austin and me were going to ride a mule today---we was going to ride that mule together."

Austin Williams, 7, was her closest friend. 

~Charles John Markle

age in 1941 during the accident- 8

born: 06 Jul 1933 in Macon, Tennessee

died: 11 Jul 2005 in Gallaway, Tennessee, age 72

Son of Johnnie Elton Markle (1911-1966) & 

           Sula Voyles (1911-1971)

~Christopher Daniel Sammons

age in 1941 during the accident- 13

born: 25 Dec 1927 in Eads, Tennessee

died: 25 Feb 1982 in Tupelo, Mississippi, age 54

Son of Autrey Aubrey Sammons (1887-1969) &

          Isabella Luck (1887-1977)

He had a wife & 3 children.

~Thomas Emmett "Tommy" Richmond (Some newspapers at the time of the accident stated that Tommy had died in the accident)

age in 1941 during the accident- 14

born: 01 Nov 1928 in Eads, Tennessee

died: 09 Jan 1987 in Memphis, Tennessee, age 58

burial: Memphis Memory Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee 

Son of Walter Peyton Richmond (1887-1944) & 

           Lilly Irene Snider (1899-1969)

Injuries from the accident- (from findagrave.com) "Tom was thrown from the bus. His back ripped open and lungs exposed".

Tom was married to Joe Ann Nelson (1930-2006)