Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Uzzell, W. Jackson, 1978 

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Guard Dies in Plant 

  A security guard at ITT Gwaltney died Friday night, the apparent victim of 
cyanide gas poisoning in a plant smokehouse. 

  William Jackson Uzzell, 69, was pronounced dead at the plant shortly after 
10 p.m. after being carried from the smokehouse by members of the Smithfield 
Volunteer Fire Department. 

  An autopsy waa performed this weekend, but Dr. Faruk Preswaller, deputy 
chief medical examiner for Virginia, said Tuesday laboratory tests which were 
necessary to determine the cause of death had not been completed. 

  According to ITT Gwaltney President George Brown, the smokehouse was being 
fumigated by Orkin Pest Control when the accident occurred.  Brown said 
fumigation with cyanide gas is a routine procedure performed about every six 
weeks at the plant. 

  Orkin personnel posted signs warning persons not to enter the smokehouse 
after the gas had been placed there Friday afternoon, Brown said. 

  Brown said a written memorandum was also left with the chief security guard 
indicating that the building was off-limits during the fumigation process. 

  "For reasons I am unable to explain, the guard disregarded those 
instructions, Brown said. 

  Brown noted that Uzzell was an employee of Wells Fargo, which contracts with 
Gwaltney to provide security for the plant. 

  Other guards noticed Uzzell was missing at about 10 p.m., Brown said, and 
began a search for him.  He was seen through a smokehouse window lying on the 
floor shortly afterward. 

  Guards then called the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad and the fire 
department for assistance. 

  Firemen wearing protective breathing apparatus entered the building and 
carried Uzzell outside. 

  A county native, Uzzell was a member of the Smithfield Assembly of God 
Church. 

  He is survived by his widow, Alice Pierce Uzzell of Smithfield; three 
daughters, Mrs. Helen Costello [sic; Castellow] 

       (Continued on Page 5) 


Guard Dies 

       (Continued from Page 1) 

of Suffolk, and Mrs. Miriam Ruth Latimer and Mrs. Lois Evelyn Lancaster, both 
of Alexandria: two sons, Francis Earl Uzzell of Mechanicsville and Phillip 
Warren of Newto, S.C.; one sister, Catherine Rife of Smithfield. and one great-
grandchild. 

  A funeral service was held Monday at 2 p.m. in the Colonial Funeral Home. 
The Rev. Donald Watkins officiated.  Burial was in the Central Hill Church 
Cemetery.

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Cyanide Death Confirmed 

  A state medical examiner said this week a night watchman at ITT Gwaltney was 
killed by cyanide gas inhalation. 

  Dr. Farak Preswaller, deputy chief medical examiner for Virginia, told the 
Times Monday an autopsy had confirmed that the plant guard, William Jackson 
Uzzell, 69, died from the cyanide gas he was exposed to when he entered a 
smokehouse that was being fumigated on Aug 18. 

  Preswaller said cyanide has a pungent odor, but noted that one in four 
persons have a "genetic inability" to smell it.  Thus, it would be possible 
to be exposed to the deadly gas without detecting its presence and a written 
memorandum had been left at the plant guard house warning watchmen to stay 
out of the building, according to plant President George Brown.

  Brown said the plant's smokehouses are fumigated routinely by Orkin Pest 
Control about every six weeks.


William Jackson "Jack" UZZELL, night watchman, 
Isle of Wight Co. native, 
asphyxiated by cyanide 18 Aug 1978, Gwaltney smokehouse, Smithfield, age 69, 
interred in Central Hill Baptist Church Cemetery*, 
"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 59, No. 34, Aug. 23, 1978, p. 1, col. 1; 
"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 59, No. 35, Aug. 30, 1978, p. 9, col. 4-9 

*His parents, Ocie J. & Clara Yerby (BLAND) UZZELL, are also buried there. 
   Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} 
   Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #56: 
   http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html 


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