Etowah County AlArchives Obituaries.....Shell, Ollie February 1927
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Claudie Hudson claudiehudson@yahoo.com November 18, 2014, 3:39 pm

February 17, 1927 in The Boaz Leader
Ollie Shell
Published February 17, 1927 in The Boaz Leader
OLLIE SHELL DESPONDENT SHOOTS SELF
Resident of Sardis Community 15 years, Writes 4 Letters and Kills Himself
Last Friday about noon, Ollie Shell, 47, farmer, living near Sardis, a few 
miles east of Boaz, committed suicide by shooting himself through the heart 
with a shotgun.  A deep mental trouble of long standing or the fear of ill 
health is thought to be the cause of the rash act.
Four letters were left at Shell's old home off the main road explaining the 
suicide, one addressed “To My Beloved Wife”, one to a brother in Atlanta, one 
to the Sardis Community, and one to a son of his first wife by a former 
marriage.  He was a bachelor until about three months ago when he married Mrs. 
Rosa McCoy, whose farm adjoined his.  He had been in this community for more 
than 15 years and was esteemed highly by the whole community.  Funeral and 
interment was made according to directions at Sardis, Saturday.
Following are the letters:
Friday, Feb. 11, 1927
Dear Rosa:
This is the last message I will write you.  Be good and don't worry too much.  
You know I love you.  Meet me in heaven.  You have been good to me, but I could 
not face life any further.  I believe I will be saved.  I will pray to the 
last.  I am not particular what you do about my property.  It's not necessary 
to carry me back to Georgia.  Bury me at Sardis in my blue serge suit, striped 
shirt and black tie.  I believe that is all.  Govan and Davis are close by.  
Meet me in heaven, farewell, farewell.
Ollie
To Sardis Community:
This is to certify that the relation between me and my wife are very pleasant.  
I have been good to her and she has been good to me.  I love her and regret the 
sorrow this will give her, but the condition I am in she would be in trouble if 
I lived.
Ollie
The first evidence that Mr. Shell contemplated anything of the kind or was even 
worrying about anything, came when he called Davis and Govan Lonnergan, who 
were cutting wood near the scene of the tragedy, and announced that he was 
going to kill himself.  They tried to dissuade him, but he was determined.
“Do you think it will be safe for me to do what I am about to do,” Mr. Shell 
asked Davis, the latter says.  “Not according to the scriptures” Davis said he 
replied.
“I'll meet you in heaven,” Shell replied and pulled the trigger.

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