Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gray, Joseph R., 1938 

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JOE GRAY BLEEDS TO DEATH AFTER AUTO WRECK 

Hundreds Visit Scene of Fatal Wreck In County 

Internal Bleeding Fatal to Isle of Wight Youth 
Victim of Hemophilia 
          _____ 

Edward L. Williams, Jr. of Norfolk Faces Murder Charge as 
Result of Death of Joseph Ruffin Gray, 29, Injured in Automobile Collision. 
          _____ 

  Joseph Ruffin Gray, 20, of Isle of Wight County, died Sunday afternoon at 
1:18 o'clock in Lakeview Hospital, Suffolk, of injuries suffered Saturday 
night at 9:00 o'clock in an automobile collision in which five other persons 
were injured. 

  Gray, who was a victim of hemophilia, in whic the blood does not clot 
normally, is believed to have bled to death internally.  Besides internal 
injuries, he suffered a broken left arm and a broken jaw in the accident. 

   Edward L. Williams, Jr., aged 30, of Norfolk, alledgedly driving the other 
car figuring in the collision, was arrested afterward on a drunken driving 
charge by Sheriff W.C. Whitehead, of Isle of Wight and Town Sergeant J.W. 
Addison of Smithfield.  He was placed in of Isle of Wight Jail and was 
released Sunday morning on a $250 bond, pending a hearing in Isle of Wight 
Trial Justice Court. 

Second Warrant Issued 

  After the word of Gray's death reached here, a warrant charging murder was 
issued by Isle of Wight authorities against Williams, and he was re-arrested 
in Norfolk.  Subsequently, he was freed a second time on giving $1,500 bail on 
authority of Trial Justice J. Frank Wilson, for his appearance at a trial 
justice's hearing in Smithfield, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. 

  Williams suffered minor injuries in the accident, as did Mr. and Mrs. Nathan 
Crocker, Miss Estelle Mae Crocker, and Leroy Cornet, all of Isle of Wight 
county.  The last-named five were occupants of the car driven by Gray.  The 
collision took place on a long curve on the Smithfield Petersburg highway, in 
front of the farm of Mrs. Wallace Gwaltney, a few miles from here, and the 
scene of a number of fatal accidents with recent years. 

  Gray was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ruffin Gray, of Isle of Wight.   Besides his 
parents, he is survived by a brother Thomas Henry Gray and five s[i]sters, 
Mrs. Thelma Wooster, and Misses Josephine, Mary V., Elsie Lucille and Betty 
Ann Gray, all of Isle of Wight County.

  Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Mill Swamp 
Baptist Church by the pastor, the Rev. L.E. Holzbach, and burial will be in 
the church cemetery. 

  Mr. and Mrs. Crocker and daughter were brought to Smithfield from the scene 
of the accident by Johnny Barlow and received treatment from Dr. Rea Parker at 
his office. 

  Joseph Gray and Leroy Cornet were brought to town by James Seward and 
Vernon Scott and given first aid treatment by Dr. T.H. Massey, who sent Gray 
to the hospital. 

  It was learned Monday that Mr. Williams received a very bad bump on his 
head and is confined to bed.  He is thought to be suffering from a 
"concussion", running a high fever and his attending physician fears pneumonia.

  Mr. Williams is being represented by A.E.S. Smith, prominent Smithfield 
Attorney.


photo, col. 4-6 

Where Youth Was Fatally Injured 

    Injuries suffered in this vehicle Saturday night proved fatal to Joseph 
Ruffin Gray, 20, of Isle of Wight.  Accident occurred on Petersburg-Smithfield 
highway on a curve opposite the farm of Mrs. Wallace Gwaltney, with death for 
young Gray following Sunday.  Edward L. Williams, Jr., of Norfolk, is under 
arrest in the case. - (Photo by Jesse J. Scott). 


"Joe" Joseph Ruffin GRAY, 
b. 7 Oct 1918, Isle of Wight Co., 
fatally injured in collision 12 Nov 1938, near Smithfield, 
d. 13 Nov 1938, Suffolk, 
interred in Mill Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery*, 15 Nov 1938, 
"The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 19, No. 34, Nov. 17, 1938, p. 1, col. 2-8 

*Additional information: 

His parents, Ruffin & Elsie (WALKER) GRAY, are also buried there. 
   Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} 
   Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} #55: 
   http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html 

A photo of his gravestone is posted with his Find a Grave Memorial, 
   #104622753. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Carolyn Keen (VAHistoricHouses@aol.com) & 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/g600j10o.txt