Willie Aspray, Robert Peace and Everett Hatch Obituary

Three Drown in Stokes Creek

The body of 48 year old Willie Aspray, who was drowned with two companions, Robert Peace and Everett Hatch, Friday when their automobile plunged into rain swollen Stokes Creek near Friendship, was recovered at 9:30 Monday morning by a dragging crew. The other bodies were recovered Sunday afternoon. The bodies of Peace and Hatch were first taken to Thompson Funeral home in Friendship and after identification were turned over to Ronk Funeral Home of Alamo, who had charge of the three funerals.

Horace Vernon of the Elizabeth community retrieved the body when one of the dragging hooks he was using caught in the victim's clothing.

Meanwhile, joint services were arranged for the other two victims, Everett Hatch, 23, and Robert Peace, 29, whose bodies were recovered Sunday. The Rev. Frank Perry conducted the rites at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Providence Baptist Church near Crockett Mills, home of the three victims. Burial in the church cemetery. The Aspray funeral will be held Friday.

The victims, all farmers, disappeared Friday after they were seen leaving Friendship in an automobile. A group of small boys playing near Stokes Bridge Sunday saw one of the wheels of the overturned auto just above the surface of the water. A tractor dragged the auto out, and with it the bodies of Mr. Peace and Mrs. Hatch. A broken windshield and window indicated Mr. Aspray broke his way out of the car only to drown.

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Ruby McCail Aspray; a son, William D. Aspray, of Birmingham; two daughter, Rosella and Willie Miller Aspray of Crockett Mills; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Aspray of Crockett Mills and brother, Robert T. Aspray of Los Angeles.

Mr. Hatch leaves his wife, Mrs. Mary Nell Hatch; a daughter, Donna Sue Hatch; his mother, Mrs. Annie Lou Hatch, all of Crockett Mills; his father, Chester Hatch of Keiser, Ark.; two sisters, Mrs. Raymond Mansfield of Memphis and Mrs. Paul Hensley of Trenton.