Brick Haven, June 29—The most tragical occurrence and the greatest loss that Brick Haven has ever experienced took place last Monday at the Cherokee Brick Co., here, when Mr. J.H. Overby was almost instantly killed while working in the engine room of the brick mill.
The accident occurred about 7:20 a.m., just a few minutes after the work for the day began. Mr. Overby, who was the kiln foreman was substituting for one of the men off duty and in some way his garments became entangled in a belt, and he was thrown with great force against the cog-wheels. Death resulted almost instantly.
Mr. Overby has been an employee of the Cherokee Co. for more than 15 years and his loyalty and interest in its welfare was often favorably commented upon. In his passing the company loses one of its most popular and valued employees, and the community loses its most useful citizen, for he was intensely interested in everything pertaining to the betterment of the community and was untiring in his efforts as a member of the school board—and as superintendent of the Sunday school—in making Brick Haven a better place in which to live. His class of boys will not soon forget the lessons of honesty and unselfishness which he so faithfully taught them; nor will those of us who knew him ever forget how he illustrated those lessons in his everyday life. He was a model of unselfishness in dealing with all those with whom he came in contact and was evry ready to lend a helping hand to the unfortunate in every walk of life.
In his home life he was at his best—gentle, kind and thoughtful. His love for his aged parents was most beautiful, and no home was ever blessed with a more considerate, more devoted husband and father.
Mrs. Overby, who was before her marriage Miss Willie Beatty of Charlotte, and the five small children are desolate and heart-broken, but they have been left the heritage of a beautiful life, the memory of which will grow sweeter and more wonderful with the passing years. And somehow, we like to think that the spirit of one so loved and wo was so devoted in this life will hover around and guide and protect those he loved so well.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Lee Jojnson of Fuquay Springs, and the body was laid to rest at Wentworth Christian Church near McCullers, the old home of the deceased. The large crowd present and the many beautiful floral offerings attested to the esteem and honor in which Mr. Overby was held.
The active pall-bearers were Messrs. J.C. Seawell, W.J. Hannon, G.P. Truelove, A.P. Harrington, J.W. Purvis, and C.H. Thompson, employees of the Cherokee Co. the honorary pall-bearers were Messrs. O.C. Kennedy, W.O. Mills, A.B. Wicker, C.S. Harrington, L.S. Garner of Brick Haven, J.F. Johnson, Ray Banks, Claude Council and R.V. Hawks of Raleigh.
Among those from out of town attending the burial of Mr. Overby were Mr. and Mrs. James Honeycutt, Mrs. C.L. Boovey, Mrs. Skinner and Mr. Freeman of Charlotte.
From the front page of the Chatham Record, Pittsboro, N.C., July 1, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn85042115/1926-07-01/ed-1/seq-1/
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