Per her death certificate found on Ancestry.com: she was a daughter of Ed Abbott, born in Fairfield Co., S. C., and Humming Marsh, born in Kershaw Co., S. C. She was a widow at the time of her death and her spouse is not named. She died on Meeting St. in New Brookland (now part of West Columbia). She was murdered. She was shot on the right side of the head. The informant was Mrs. Ed Abbott of 4900 Monticello Rd., Columbia, S. C.

Conflict: her name on the certificate is spelled Lillie (it is spelled Lily in the book referenced below) and her year of birth is given as 1904 which is probably more accurate as the informant was her mother.

She can be found on the 1930 US Census for Columbia, Richland, SC at age 28, living with husband, John L. Easterling, 34, and children, John C., 8, Lowni (male), 6, and Frances, 2. She has been married 10 years.

Found in The State 22 September 1934: Mrs. Lillie Easterling, 1014 Green street, was shot twice and instantly killed at 7:30 last night while driving her car in New Brookland and her companion, John Jaco, Route 4, Columbia, was shot once, dying at 10:40 at the Baptist hospital. Investigating officers believed the deaths a case of murder and suicide, holding to the theory that Jaco first shot Mrs. Easterling then turned his pistol, a .32 Smith and Wesson, upon himself. Mrs. Easterling was shot once in the right side of the face just below the ear, the bullet traveling through the head and out the top of the coupe. She was shot a second time through the right jaw. Jaco was shot back of his right ear, the bullet traveling through his head and out the top of the car. This accounted for two bullet holes found on the top of the car. In the pistol three empty shells were found. At the sound of the shots, Officer Jimmie Richardson and J. H. Ruff, of New Brookland, who heard the reports of the pistol, at State and Meeting streets, ran to the car, the engine of which had choked down. The car came to a stop in the middle of the street in front of the old New Brookland post office building. When they reached the car, a coupe, they found Mrs. Easterling, dead, behind the wheel, her head slumped against the window on the driver's side. Jaco was sitting next to her with his arms folded and the pistol clasped in his right hand. His head was tilted back on the seat of the coupe. Both Mrs. Easterling and Jaco were bleeding badly. An ambulance was summoned and the wounded man was rushed to the Baptist hospital. Mrs. Easterling was taken to the Thompson Funeral home where she remained unknown for some time. Her identity was established by letters and papers later found in her purse in the car. Also in the coupe were two suitcases, one containing woman's apparel, and the other a man's clothing. The suitcases were in the rumble seat. Sheriff Cromer Oswald and Coroner Morgan Caughman, Lexington, and Officer Richardson, last night could find no motive for the double shooting. There were no notes of any kind in the car. When Officer Richardson reached the car after the shooting, Jaco tried to speak, but only a feeble moan could be heard. Mrs. Easterling, 32, was wearing a green dress, a bracelet, two diamond rings and a small ruby. Her purse contained several insurance papers and a bank book and $1.35. Jaco, about 45 years old, operated a filling station near the State Fair grounds. Several people heard the three shots, and witnesses, who noticed the coupe, said that it was moving slowly toward Columbia just before the tragedy. A man, who was driving a car behind the coupe, told officers that he had noticed the car in Aiken, with the man and woman in it. A neighbor of Jaco's said that Jaco and Mrs. Easterling had been to Tennessee and were returning to Columbia last night. A sister of Mrs. Easterling and Jaco's wife and children also lived in Tennessee. Mrs. Easterling's husband died about six months ago at the Oteen, N. C., Veterans' hospital. She leaves three small children, J. C., 12, L. B., 10, and Frances, seven. The following sisters and a brother also survive: Mrs. Mary Marsh, Mrs. Ada Knight, Mrs. Neta Jansserus, Mrs. Marie Younginer, Mrs. Murtha Cooper and Mrs. Almeta Kelly, all of Columbia, Mrs. Ides Moore, Union; Mrs. Ruby Harrison, Nashville, Tenn., and J. R. Abbott, Columbia. Her parents, who survive, are Mr. and Mrs. Ed Abbott, Columbia. Funeral plans for Mrs. Easterling and Jaco were incomplete last night. Coroner Morgan Caughman impaneled a jury to view the body. Whether or not an inquest will be held will be decided today. The coupe, in which the shooting occurred, was stored in the yard of the New Brookland jail. Jaco had been in Columbia for about five years. He was born in Tennessee. In the five years he had been here, he had visited Tennessee several times. In Mrs. Easterling's purse was found a newspaper clipping telling of her husband's death at Oteen, N. C. John L. Easterling, her husband, had the following record in the "Official Roster of South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the World war: "Residence, Columbia, S. C., Regular Army, Columbia barracks, Ohio, March 13, 1916. Born in Chesterfield county, South Carolina, 18 years. (smudged word), Third Cavalry, to discharge. Corporal, June 17, 1918; sergeant, July 5, 1919; private, October 2, 1919; mechanic, February 24, 1920. American Expeditionary Forces, October 16, 1917 to June 30, 1919. Honorary discharged, July 20, 1920, by reason of the abolishment of the Regular Army reserve." Sheriff Oswald is conducting an investigation in an effort to establish the motive for the double shooting.

Note: John Jaco was buried in Tennessee, memorial # 106326081.