Tift County, Georgia Genealogy and History - Presented by Genealogy Trails History Group

MRS. SAM GOODE KILLS HERSELF WITH A RIFLE
Accidental Shooting Occurs at Omega Tift County,

TIFTON, July 11—Sirs. Sam Goode accidentally shot herself through the heart at her home near Omega ten miles southwest of Tlfton, last night about 8 o'clock.
Mr. Goode had been away from home since Thursday, being in Atlanta to look after some melon shipments. Two neighbors, both women, went over to Mrs. Goode's home for a visit and as a joke to frighten her tapped on the window and stooped down out of sight, Mrs, Goode was expecting them and after calling their names to humor the joke, picked up an old 32-caliber rifle and stuck the stock out of the window. The hammer hit either the sash or the window sill and the gun was fired, the ball passing through Mrs. Goode's heart. The gun had not been used for several months and was thought by all not to be loaded,
Mrs. Goode leaves a husband and four children, the youngest 18 months old. They moved from Bartow county to this section a short time ago. Mr. Goode was expected home this morning, but so far all efforts to get in touch with him have failed.
Date: 1916-07-12; Paper: Macon Telegraph

OLD FEUD ENDS
C. L Smith of Omega Ga., Dies From Wounds Received Sunday.

Tifton Ga. Jan 5 - A family feud was wiped out Tuesday afternoon when death claimed C. L. Smith, who was shot and mortally wounded by his father-in-law, M. B. Underwood, in a pistol duel at Omega Sunday afternoon. Underwood was killed instantly.
Smith was wounded several times during the fight. His condition was reported better Monday, but suddenly Tuesday a sinking spell set in from which he failed to rally.
The duel was the result of family troubles between the Underwoods, father and son, and Smith. E. L. Underwood, son of the dead man, brought a suit against his wife for the custody of their children and after a fight in the Tift county courts, Underwood won. Young Underwood alleged that relations between Smith and his wife caused the separation.
Later Underwood sued Smith for alienating his wife's affections, and got a verdict of $3,500. Later Smith prosecuted young Underwood for assault and battery, but Underwood was acquitted.
Date: 1921-01-06; Paper: Macon Telegraph

Father is Dead of Blow From His Son
Shovel in Hands of 16 year old Boy Fatal to Father, Who was fighting with wife

TIPTON, Feb. 20—As the result of a blow upon the head inflicted with a shovel by his 16 year-old son, Harvey, W. S. Mathis, a farmer living near Omega, this county, died at his home early this morning. The trouble occurred Monday about noon Mathis, said to be under the influence of liquor, attacked his wife on the front porch. In the scuffle that followed the two fell to the ground. The man, It is said, appeared to be about to kill his wife when Harvey Mathis, who was unloading sawdust nearby, came to the rescue of his mother.
"I did not mean to kill my father," the boy explained to Deputy Sheriff Rossie Shaw when the latter called at the Mathis home, "but he would have killed my mother. It was her life or his as it turned out.
"I am sorry, of course"
Mrs. Mathis is in a delicate condition, and Deputy Shaw allowed the boy to remain with his mother until it is safe for him to report to Tifton.
Mathis is said to have often abused his family, upon one occasion running his wife away with a shotgun.
Date: 1917-02-21; Paper: Macon Telegraph

MRS. R. L. HERRING.

TIFTON, Nov. 30.—Mrs. Rebecca Levicia Herring, wife of William Jasper Herring, died at her home two miles northwest of Sylvester In Worth county, November 25, 1912,.at 8:30 p. m. of acute indigestion after a few hours' illness.

She was laid to rest In the family cemetery at noon November 27. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. E. Reiser, of Sylvester. The pallbearers were her six eldest grandsons, three from each branch of the two branches of the family.
In middle life she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a consistent member. Besides her husband and son and grandchildren And great-grandchildren to the number of thirty-two, she leaves two brothers, Jas. F. Paul, of Omega and A. J. Paul, of Isabella; also two sisters, Mrs. Mary Brady, of Ty Ty, and Mrs. Ruth Sumner, of Isabella.
Date: 1912-12-01; Paper: Macon Telegraph

ATTAPULGUS Dec. 26 - W. T. Willder who died at his home here from pneumonia, following Spanish influenza, was buried at Omega yesterday, The deceased is survived by his widow and two children. One sister and four brothers also survive. Mr. Wilder belonged to the Woodmen of the World and was a member of the Baptist church.
December 27, 1918

I. W. Bowen, 75, better known as "Uncle Wash" Bowen, one of Tift county's most beloved old men, died at his home in Tifton on Saturday, Dec. 4th., after a nine months' illness. He was a native of Pulaski county and moved to what is now Tift county in 1870, moving from Brookfield to Tifton several years ago. He was a member of the first board of commissioners of Tift county, serving several terms, and also prominent In the councils of the Mell Baptist Association.
Clinch County News January 14, 1938

Augusta Chronicle, 26 Feb. 1903
Tifton, Ga., Feb. 26. – Late yesterday afternoon, the 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Greene, near Omega, in Colquitt county, was burned to death.
He was playing near a fire when his clothing caught, and before help could reach him he was so badly burned that medical aid was promptly summoned, but could give no relief and he died a few hours later in great agony.
Contributed by Marla Zwakman