Bruce Eldredge Woods of Hillcrest Cemetery

This sketch highlights Bruce Eldredge Woods who is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia.

Photo from beiningn77 via Ancestry.com

Bruce was born in Fulton County, Georgia on December 20, 1900 to James Samuel Woods and Amanda Elizabeth “Lizzie” Pilgrim. Besides Bruce, his parents had three other children—Rader Harmon Woods (born 1895), Myrtle Lee Woods (born 1897), and Brady Lee Woods (born 1913).

On May 10, 1910, Bruce and his family lived at Hanceville and Garden City Road in Hanceville, Cullman County, Alabama. His father worked as a farmer on a general farm. Bruce’s mother and brother Rader both worked as farmers.

On January 22, 1920, the Woods family still lived in Hanceville and Bruce’s father continued to work as a farmer on a general farm. Rader was no longer living in the home. At age 22, Bruce married 20-year-old Violet Sarah Myrick on July 23, 1925 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. 

Bruce and Violet's Marriage Bond (click to enlarge)

Their marriage was blessed with three children—Wennell Woods (born 1926), Charles Eldredge Woods (born 1928), and Colton C. Woods (born 1931). By 1928, Bruce had moved his family to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and rented a home at 583 Glenn Street SW. He supported the family working as a huckster, aka a peddler. They moved to 583 Ocmulgee Street SW by 1929 and Bruce worked as a produce peddler. 

On April 15, 1930, Bruce and his family lived in a rental home at 587 Ocmulgee Street in Atlanta. His parents and brother Brady lived next door at 583 Ocmulgee Street. Bruce was working as a produce salesman and Violet as a spool winder in a wood mill. They moved again by 1932 and were living at 600 Glenn Street SW. His brother Brady shared the house with Bruce and his family. Bruce continued to earn money as a peddler. But that is not all he did. Bruce, who was physically disabled, was also a musician who played the banjo. He and his friend Emmett W. Hazel, a blind accordion player, performed with a group in the streets of Atlanta and at private parties. Early morning April 16, 1933, Bruce and Emmett were traveling to Bruce’s home in Egan Park, a community in East Point, Fulton County, Georgia. On the way, the car had a flat tire so they stopped on Stewart Avenue at Lakewood. Bruce was attempting to repair the tire with Emmett standing beside him when they were struck by a speeding car. The driver left the scene of the accident. Both men were picked up by a passing driver who took them to Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta. Emmett was listed in critical condition with his leg injured so badly it had to be amputated. Bruce sustained lacerations on his head and his right leg was broken. He died at the age of 32 at the hospital from his injuries on April 17. His death certificate lists the cause of death as fracture of right femur, left pubis and right scapula as well as skull fracture and shock. A funeral service, officiated by Revs. J. H. Morwell and J. M. Standridge, was held at Stewart Avenue Baptist Church on April 20, followed by burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in East Point. 

Photo used with permission of Cynthia Jennings, Find A Grave ID 48321835

References

• Atlanta, Georgia City Directory, 1928, 1929, 1932.
• Blind Musician’s Leg Broken by Hit-Run Car, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 1933.
• Bruce Woods Certificate of Death no. 33 10461, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Bruce Woods, Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967.
• Burial in Hillcrest for Mr. Bruce Woods, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, April 20, 1933.
• Colton Clayton Woods, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861–1985.
• Cripple, Hit by Auto, Succumbs to Injuries, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 1933.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63674226/colton-c-woods: accessed 17 September 2023), memorial page for T/SGT Colton C Woods (29 Jan 1931–21 Jul 1961), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63674226, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by East Point Historical Soc (contributor 50779333).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141459919/bruce-eldredge-woods: accessed 21 August 2023), memorial page for Bruce Eldredge Woods (20 Dec 1900–17 Apr 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 141459919, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, East Point, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by To Die for Images (contributor 48321835).
• George Wesley Farr, Brady Lee Woods, and Charles Eldredge Woods, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Rader Harmon Woods, Tennessee, U.S., Marriage Records, 1780–2002.
• Run Down by Car, Blind Man Dying: E. W. Hazel, Musician, and Crippled Friend Victims of Hit-Run Auto, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 1933.
• U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Hanceville, Cullman County, Alabama, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 642, Carroll County, Georgia, 1900.