Obituaries: Doris Pennywell, LaDora Faye Pennywell, 1964, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 23, 1964 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Negro Mother, Baby Die As Home Burns In Atlanta

A young Negro mother of three was burned to death Friday with her infant baby
which she was trying to rescue from their flaming home southwest of Atlanta of
the Verda Road.

Two other small children were rescued by a neighbor, both were burned, but not
critically.

The woman was identified as Doris Pennywell, wife of Lou Edward Pennywell, a
woodsworker, who was away from home at the time hauling cattle feed from
Natchitoches to his father's home.  The baby was La Dora Faye, two months old.

The mother was caught in a wall of flame as she burst through the front door
of her house trying to get to her baby daughter sleeping in a bedroom.

Charred remains of the mother were found just a few feet from the child's bed
and she was obviously overcome by the fire and she fell at the bedroom door.

The mother had been visiting for about 10 minutes at the home of Sylvester
Rogers which is about 50 yards from the Pennywell homesite.

Rescue Try

Rogers said when the young woman left his house, she saw fire and started
running to her home.  He followed and called to her not to go into the fire-
engulfed house.

The baby was in a bedroom on the east side of the living room.

The kitchen and dining room were combined into a room located on the north
side of the living room.

Both the other children were rescued from the kitchen.  It has an outside
entrance and Rogers' son, Sylvester, Jr., took both children to safety.

The Rogers youth is 15 years old and forced open the kitchen door to save the
children.

The rescued children are Karen, 3, and Lou Edward, Jr., 14 months.  Each were
burned, the boy on his left arm and the girl on her head.

Heat for the house was provided by both wood heater in the living room where
the fire obviously started, and from gas.  Rogers said he did not know if the
gas heat was burning.

Fire Chief Byron Tullos and Deputy Clayton Norred both were of the opinion the
fire started from the wood heater.

Deputy Coroner Dr. Billy Floyd checked both the children who were rescued and
they later were taken to a hospital.