Obituaries: Joseph Pugh Durham, Jr., 1937, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: February 18, 1937 Winn Parish Enterprise

Infant Burned To Death In Sikes Thursday

2 Mo. Old Son Of Joe Durham Is Cremated

House Completely Destroyed; Infant Was Son of Teacher

Joseph Pugh Durham, Jr., two months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Durham of
Sikes, was burned to death at 10 a.m. Thursday morning when the home was
completely destroyed by fire.

According to information telephoned to the Enterprise by it's Sikes
correspondent, James Erskins, the fire was thought to have originated from the
fireplace in the southeast room in the house where the child was sleeping. 
Its mother and Mrs. Horace Pepper (Ruby Gates), who also resided in the house,
were in a north room.  The two women were unaware of the fire which was
discovered by Jim Hatcher who operates a filling station across the street
from the Durham residence, and Elzie Crain.  The two men ran to the house, but
were unable to enter the room where the child was because of the intense heat
and flames.  Mrs. Durham and Mrs. Pepper and her infant child were brought
from the burning house safely.  It was presumed that the child was smothered
in its sleep by the smoke, as no cries were heard from the room.

The house where the tragedy occurred was located on the main highway just
inside the community of Sikes and was the property of Dr. J. B. Parker.  It
was completely destroyed by the fire, even to the sills and sleepers.

The bulk of the cremated infant could be seen in the ruins of the house and it
had not been possible to remove them from the burning debris at 1:30 this
afternoon.  Removal was to be made as soon as the undertakers arrived at the
scene.

Joseph Pugh Durham, Jr., who was born December 19, 1936, was the only child of
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Durham, who have been residing at Sikes for the past several
years where Mr. Durham is an instructor in the Sikes High School.  Mr. Durham
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Abner Durham of Atlanta, and Mrs. Durham was
the former Miss Claudia Shepherd, daughter of the Rev. C. F. Shepherd,
Methodist minister of Hackberry, La.

Funeral services will be held at the Winnfield Cemetery Friday, 10:30 a.m.
with Rev. G. A. Morgan, Methodist pastor, officiating.