Spalding-Pike County GaArchives Obituaries.....Earl Zellner Buchanan August 8 1940 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dawn Hill dawnlfdp@yahoo.com December 18, 2002, 6:07 am Griffin Daily News - Friday August 9, 1940 Mr. Earl Buchanan Instantly Killed In Accidental Discharge Of Rifle At Friend's Home Here Preparing For Target Practice When Gun Fires Accidentally Funeral services for Mr. Earl Zellner Buchanan, 30, who was killed instantly in the accidental discharge of a rifle at the home of a friend late Thursday afternoon, were conducted from the First Baptist church here this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. Rev. Charles B. Holder, pastor of the First Christian church, and Rev. J.W. Rawls, pastor of McIntosh Baptist church, officiated. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery with Frank S. Pittman, funeral director, in charge. Pallbearers were A.L. and Harold McKneely, J.R. Lynch, G.G. Henderson, Homer Carden, Girdean Harper, A.L. Scifres, and J.C. Tinsley. The accidental tragedy occurred at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Pitts, near Griffin. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Pitts were preparing for target practice with a .22-caliber rifle. Rifle Is Discharged Eye-witnesses were reported to have said Mr. Pitts had stepped into the yard to place the target, while Mr. Buchanan, believing the safety catch had the rifle temporarily locked, hit the gun against the floor of the porch at the Pitts home. The rifle was discharged and the bullet entered Mr. Buchanan's right eye. Death was instantaneous. Born and reared in this community, Mr. Buchanan had been for the past three years a valued employe of the Ideal Bakery here. He was the son of Mrs. Lydia Patterson Buchanan and the late Mr. Robert Lee Buchanan. He was a member of McIntosh Baptist church. Surviving in addition to his mothers, are his wife, Mrs. Sara Evans Buchanan; a brother, Ulmer Buchanan; and three sisters, Mrs. Homer Carden, Mrs. G.G. Henderson and Mrs. D.D. Scott, all of Griffin. (Transcribed 12/17/02 Dawn M Hill) File size: 2.3 Kb