Saturday, December 16, 2023

Mrs. Nanie Tatum Died Dec. 15, 1923, After Her Dress Caught Fire

Aged Durham County Woman Is Dead of Burns Received When Dress Ignited from Open Fire

Mrs. Nanie Tatum of Ferrell road, a resident of Durham for many years, died in Watts hospital Saturday evening about 10 o’clock of burns received at 7 o’clock in the morning when her dress became ignited while she was standing with her back to an open fireplace in her home.

It is reported that Mrs. Tatum was preparing breakfast when the accident occurred in some unexplainable manner. She did not discover the flames burning her garment until they had made much headway. The only other person in the house was her son, Fred Tatum, and before he could be awakened, the aged woman was badly burned.

Mrs. Tatum was taken to Watts hospital soon after the accident, but the shock and burns combined were too much for her, and death came during the evening. She was 68 years of age.

Funeral arrangements are being held up pending the arrival of the only surviving daughter, Mrs. R.L. Bellamy of Knoxville. The only other child, a son, is Fred Tatum who lived with his mother.

Mrs. Tatum was well known in Durham county and is related to prominent families of the city and the county.

The body will be in state at the home of Mrs. Mary Geer until Mrs. Bellamy arrives to attend to further arrangements.

From page 11 of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, Dec. 16, 1923

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