Obituary of Drexel Rushing, Crenshaw, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/crenshaw/obits/drushing.txt =============================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Ronald Bridges ================================================================================= October 1998 Obit of Drexel Rushing - Crenshaw Co., AL FINAL RITES HELD SAT. FOR SLAIN POLICEMAN They came from all around - uniformed policemen and other law enforce- ment officials - to pay their final respects to a fallen comrade last Saturday morning. State Troopers, motorcycle, policemen, chiefs of police, sheriffs and deputies from Montgomery, Greenville, Opp, Andalusia, Troy, Elba, Brantley and other towns and cities formed and honor escort to Emmaus Cemetery in Luverne where Luverne Assistant Police Chief Drexel Rushing was laid to rest. Rushing was felled by a bullet from the gun of and escapee at an hour Thursday morning as he was assisting fellow police officers in apprehending the fugitive. He died shortly after. Eulogies were give by the Rev. Charles Sims, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Luverne and the Rev. J. L. Jones, pastor of the Freewill Baptist Church of Luverne. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Pauline, Rushing; father Rufus Rushing, two daughters, Mrs. Glenda Ray, Mrs. Martha Hall; one son, Joe Rhodes Rushing, all of Luverne; four sisters, Mrs. Willodean Edwards, Mrs. Jeanette Wright, Panama City, Fla., Mrs. Erma Jean Bailey, England, Mrs. Helen Nelson, Evergreen; three brothers, Virgil Rushing, Luverne, Hullen and Donald Rushing, Mobile. Honorary pallbearers were Luverne City officials and representatives form each of the police forces in attendance. Active pallbearers were members of the Luverne Police Force. Services were held at Turner’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Turner’s Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements. Note: Drexel Rushing, son of Rufus Sanders and Johnie Estelle (Bowers) Rushing was born 15 November 1929 in Coffee Co., AL. He married Pauline Rhodes 3 Jun 1950, the daughter of Aletha (Byrd) and Fox Rhodes. She was born 18 Jun 1933 in Pike Co., AL. Drexel worked at The Luverne Motor Company until 1964 in the body shop with his brother, Virgil. In 1964 he started to work with the Luverne Police Department. In 1971 as Assistant Police Chief of Luverne, he was shot by an escapee while trying to apprehend the fugitive. He died 8 July 1971 and is buried in Emmaus Cemetery, Luverne, Crenshaw Co., AL." (1) " ‘Rushing’ Through the Generations" by Peggy Rushing Sims, 1994.