Surviving children: Mattie, Ann, Shirley, and Junior.

My grandfather died in an automobile accident. He was returning to Jackson on old Hwy 51 somewhere in Copiah County, driving an IH Truck. Back then the IH trucks were equipped with a govern to control speed.
As he went over a hill, two cars were racing and the one in his lane hit him head on. They never found his glasses.
He worked for International Harvester (IH) Trucking Co.

Gilbert D. Easterling, 49, of Route 6, Childress Road in Rankin county, was killed at 11:40 p.m. Monday five miles south of Brookhaven in a head-on collision between the truck he was driving and an automobile; driven by an 18-year-old Bogue Chitto youth. Easterling was returning to Jackson with a new truck which the Prichard Motor and Farm Equipment Co. had purchased in New Orleans. He was a native of Smith county. formerly lived at Fannin, and for the past 18 years was employed as a mechanic with the Pirchard Motor and Equipment Co. He was a member of the Drakes Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, the former Alpha Frith of Mize; three sons, Herston Davis Easterling, Gaynell Easterling, and Garland (Junior) I. Easterling, all of Jackson; five daughters, Mrs. J. D. Burnham, Pelahatchie, Mrs. Bessie Lee Montgomery, Barbara - Odean Easterling, Margaret Ann Easterling, and Shirley Mae Easterling, all of Jackson; his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Garland I Easterling of Smith county; four brothers, H. C. Easterling and H. H. Easterling, both of Polkville. Horace Easterling, Forest, and N. W. Easterling, Oklahoma City, Okla.; five sisters, Mrs. Larkin Huff, Polkville, Mrs. Ray Alford, Jackson, Mrs. Chester McAllister, Richmond, Calif., Mrs. Oscar Daniels, Polkville, and Mrs. Charlie Gray, Jackson; and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be held from Drakes Methodist Church on the Fannin Road in Rankin county at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday conducted by Rev. Tommie Gilbert, Rev. Laverne Smith, and Rev. B. K. Harding, with interment in the Buelah Baptist Church cemetery in Polkville. Pallbears will be: Roy James, H. H. Rowe, Rip Prichard, Wesley Boyd, R. L. Boleware, George Clark, J. D. Singletary, and C. W. Hutson. The remains will be at the residence until service. Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Scott County Times 1956