Obituaries: Billy Overbey, 1954, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: June 17, 1954 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Billy Overbey Drowns In Park Pool; Funeral Services Held Thursday P. M.

First Fatality In 5 Year History, Municipal Pool

Funeral services for Billy Overbey, 16 year old high school student who
drowned Wednesday afternoon in the Tremont Park swimming pool, were held at
the First Baptist Church today (Thursday) at 3:00 p.m.  The rites conducted by
the Rev. W. L. Holcomb, pastor, were followed by interment in the Winnfield
Cemetery.

Young Overbey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Overbey, considered a good
swimmer, is the first fatality in the five year history of the municipal pool. 
One of a large crowd of swimmers in the pool Wednesday afternoon, he is
believed to have sustained a head injury in some manner that led to drowning. 
When his body was pulled from the pool in about 10 feet of water around 5:50
p.m. by Herbert Garrard, a life guard, a slight abrasion was found on his
forehand just above the right eye.  The body was spotted by another swimmer
who notified guard Garrard.

Dr. George M. Rodgers, deputy parish coroner, was called and a pullmotor was
used along with artificial respiration for more than an hour in efforts to
revive the boy.  Dr. Rodgers pronounced it accidental drowning.

Just how long the body remained at the bottom of the pool could not be
determined even though scores of swimmers thronged nearby.  Three lifeguards
were on duty at the time, none of whom saw anything unusual at the time of the
drowning.

Young Overbey, who would have graduated from high school next year, is the
second son of Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Overbey to drown.  The first was their oldest
child, a son four years old, who while playing, fell into a small pool of
water in Miami, Florida, in February, 1940.

Beside his parents he is survived by two younger sisters, Lynda and Sarah, and
his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ellen Sowers of Winnfield; two paternal uncles,
O. Z. Overbey, Bunkie, Durr Overbey, North Dakota; two paternal aunts, Miss
Dot Overbey, El Paso, Texas, and Mrs. Lucille Knofle, Black Mountain, N. C.

Pallbearers were Max Crowe, Bill Davis, Stanley Smith, Leo Shelton, Robert
Franks, and Billy Ray Rockett of Jonesboro.