MACON TAYLOR COUNTY, GA - OBITS Jolly, Homer Howell b.ca. 1886 d. 7-5-1930 ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Meredith Clapper, Harriet Fuquay dumaxeth@atlantic.net and Davine Campbell THE BUTLER HERALD Volume 54 Butler, Ga., July 10, 1930 Number 36 Macon County Tragedy Greatly Deplored By Local Citizens Mr. Homer Howell Jolly, well known Macon County citizen and brother of Sheriff J. O. L. Jolly, was mortally wounded Friday night with a shot gun said to have been fired by Berrien [my note: Berryman] Massee [Massey], white man employed on the Jolly farm in the Miona Springs section of Macon county. According to reports the shooting followed an argument sometime during the day Friday between the two men over business matters pertaining to the farm which they operated jointly. The shooting took place at Jolly's home Friday night between 8 and 9 o'clock, when it is said Massee appeared at the Jolly home, called for Mr. Jolly, who had retired for the night and as he opened the front door was fired upon by Massee. The full charge from the gun found lodgment in Mr. Jolly's right arm and side, the bones in the arm being so shattered that amputation of that member at the shoulder joint was determined necessary by attending physicians. Following the shooting Friday night Mr. Jolly was carried by ambulance early Saturday morning to the office of Dr. S. H. Bryan, in Reynolds, where the amputation of his arm and dressing of other wounds were performed by Drs. Bryan and Liggin, of Reynolds, and Dr. Savage, of Montezuma, the wounded man being removed later to the home of his sister, Mrs. E. L. Brooks, in Reynolds, where he died a few hours later, the hour of his death being given as about 11o'clock Saturday morning. [Actual death date was 5 Jul 1930] Massee was apprehended several miles from his home Saturday by Macon county officers, who arrested and placed him in the county jail at Oglethorpe to await grand jury action at the next term of Macon county Superior Court. This affair is one of the most deplorable that has occurred in Macon or adjoining counties in many years. Massee is about 40 years of age and unmarried.[He was actually about 30 years of age.] Mr. Jolly is survived by his widow five daughters and one son. The children are: Hilda, Ouida, Lois, Ruth, Hazel and Ted Jolly. Other near relatives surviving him are three brothers, Messrs. W. T. and J.O. L. Jolly, of Oglethorpe, and J. D. Jolly, of Marshallville; and one sister Mrs. E.L. Brooks of Reynolds. He was about 43 years of age, born and reared in Macon county. Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, at Garden Valley, was held for the deceased one of the saddest funeral services, and one of the largest attended ever witnessed at that place, the last sad rites being conducted by Rev. E. L. Jinks, assisted by Rev. J. E. Summers, of Oglethorpe and Rev. M. O. Williams, of Reynolds. The pall bearers were: Messrs D. C. Smith, Walter Jones, J. C. Watkins, R. O Sutton, Tom Lowe and Houston Busbee. Funeral arrangements were made under the direction of G. H. Goddard & Co., of Reynolds. Macon County Citizen - Oglethorpe, Ga. July 11, 1930 HOMER HOWELL JOLLY Mr. Homer Howell Jolly was shot and killed in Reynolds, Georgia last Friday evening. He leaves a wife, Julia Barfield Jolly and seven children Hilda L. Jolly, Onita Jolly, Theodore Jolly, Lois Jolly, Ruth H. Jolly and Hazel Jolly [Six Children's names taken from 1920 & 1930 census He is the half brother of Sheriff J. O. L. Jolly, Mrs. W. T. Jolly, Sr. and Mrs. D. D. Davidson, all of Oglethorpe. [Note: Homer Howell Jolly [b.ca. 1886 d. 7-5- 1930] is buried in PLEASANT GROVE CEMETERY, unmarked next to his wife, Julia B. Jolly [Aug 4, 1889 - 5-28-1976] 1920 Macon Co., GA 1002 GMD Here ends Lower Public road on River Road Oglethorpe to Reynolds, GA 159. Jolly, Homer H., HH, 34, md, owns with mort., GA/GA/GA Julia, wife, 32 Hilda L. dau 13 Onita dau 9 Theodore son 7 Lois dau 2 9/12 William T. brother, 48 1930 Macon Co., GA 1002 GMD dist 11 Neisler's Store Rd Jolly, Homer H head own yes radio 44 age first mar 19 GA/gA/GA farmer general farming Julia wife 42 Sidney O. son 17 Lois dau 12 Ruth H dau 9 Hazel dau 4 10/12 William T., Sr. brother 59 laborer general farming He was supposedly the son of Thomas J. Jolly & Mary Rosalie Dennis and was born 29 Jul 1885 Macon Co., GA. Married c. 1905 to Julia Barfield dau of Edward J. Barfield and Amanda Hill. Notes: Harriett Fuquay The murderer, Berryman Massey, died in 1931 at the prison Line 17 DN# 157 / FN# 158 Massey, Berryman Head R m w 28 S GA GA GA Laborer General farming ************************************************* Berryman Massey was the son of Berry R. and Puss/Lily Hill Massey. Grandson of Kimbrell Massey and John Hill. Berryman Massey was in Macon County in 1910 in his parents household shown as 11/12 months old. In 1910 he is listed in the census of Baldwin County GA in the South Georgia Methodist Orphans Home in Milledgeville. He was taken to the Home in 1908 by his uncle Thomas A. Shirah and was released in 1917 to his brother William T. Massey. In 1920 he is listed in the household of his cousin Fletcher Barfield in Macon County and lived next door to Homer Jolly as shown above in 1930. Berryman Massey died 5 Jul 1931 in the Georgia State Penitentiary in Milledgeville, Baldwin County, GA and is buried in the City/Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville. I am awaiting Berryman Massey's death certificate to see what the exact cause of death may have been. His sentence for this crime was life in prison. 1900 Macon Co., GA Hicks 1002 gmd Jolly, Mary R head June 1849 51 mother of 6, 6 living GA/GA/gA farmer Susie R dau Jan 1882 18 Homer H son July 1895 14 farm laborer Julian D. son Aug 1889 10 1910 Macon Co., GA Hicks 1002 gmd Jolly, Homer head 22 married 5 years GA/GA/GA farmer general farming Julia wife 21 mother of 1, 1 living Lucile dau 4 Georgia Deaths, 1919-98 Name: Homer H Jolly Death Date: 05 Jul 1930 County of Death: Taylor Certificate: 22744