Obituaries: Alberta (Audrie Mae) Holden, 1955, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: August 4, 1955 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Negro Girl Drowns In Farm Pond Last Thursday

Alberta Holden, 16 year old Negro girl of Hatfield Quarters, drowned last
Thursday afternoon at about 4 o'clock when a boat in which she was sitting
overturned in a large stock pond, known as Connor's Pond, 2 « miles southwest
of Winnfield.

The girl was unable to swim and several boys who had been swimming in the pond
were unsuccessful in attempts to save her, it was reported.  Her younger
brother, Danny, also unable to swim, was in the boat when it capsized and
was pulled to shore by some of the boys.

Dr. Geo. M. Rodgers, assistant parish coroner, said the drowning was
accidental.

Sheriff C. M. Robinson, who recovered the body with a grapple at about 6:50 
p.m., said he questioned eight boys, four white and four colored, who had been
swimming in the pond, and all told "about the same story," that a number of
the boys had been climbing in and out of the boat and that it had upset in
water from 7 to 10 feet deep.

One white boy, Benny Canerday, 13, nearly drowned in trying to save the girl,
and had to be helped to the bank according to the stories.

Boys questioned were Benny Canerday, Rusty Melton, 12; Tommy Varnell and Billy
Waggoner, all white boys; and Eddie Russell, 18; Marshall Booker, Jr., 14;
Clintell McCoy, 13, brother of the girl; and Danny Ray McCoy, 12, a brother,
all colored.  Sheriff Robinson said the questioning continued until after
midnight.  Tape recordings were made.

After failing to rescue the girl, or find the body, the boys finally left the
pond and some of them reported the drowning to the city police station at 4:55
p.m.  The sheriff's office was then notified.

Sheriff Robinson, Deputy Sheriff Kyson, Winnfield Fire Chief Leonard Horton,
and City Police deputies G. C. Bates and Cecil Alderman went to the pond and
began dragging for the body.  Glen Evans also assisted. 

The sheriff, in a boat with Fire Chief Horton, found the body afer a search of
more than an hour.

The pond is located beside the old L. R. and N. tracks.  It has been a popular
swimming hole this summer, according to reports.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at Morning Star Baptist Church with Rev.
Robinson, colored, officiating.  Burial was in Cedar Grove Cemetery,
Natchitoches, with Johnson Funeral Home in charge.

Alberta, who also was known as Audrie Mae, is survived by her parents,
Therresa McCoy, and Dan Williams, five sisters, and two brothers.