Charles Walter Long, Sr. was born Friday, March 18, 1881 in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, to Harm Kelly Long and Elizabeth Woodall Long. ~ He married Thena Ellen King, a daughter of Calvin C. King and Amanda A. Harris King. ~ MOTORIST KILLED; LAW HUNTS ‘RACERS’ (Newspaper Headline)

C. W. Long, Sr., Dies As Vehicle Hits Abutment

May Have Been Forced By Pair Of Racing Cars

The State Highway Patrol is attempting to identify the drivers of two late model cars who, they believe, may have caused Charles Walter Long, Sr., 74, of Danville 3, to swerve his 1948 Chevrolet coupe into an abutment of the overhead bridge south of Flint, sustaining injuries from which he died enroute to a Decatur hospital.

The Patrol said a witness, whose name they would not disclose, told them he saw two maroon and white cars apparently racing toward Decatur, cut in front of Longs car as he approached the bridge from the direction of Hartselle about 2 p.m. Saturday.

The front of Long’s car was a mass of tangled steel after it hit the southeast abutment of the overhead bridge, said investigating officers Sgt. W B. Little, L. M. Williams and James Lee of the Patrol.

Carl Gibson, ambulance attendant for Brown-Service, whose vehicle brought Long to the hospital, said the man never uttered a word after he was placed in the ambulance, and apparently succumbed to injuries to his head and chest.

Gibson added that, as he was placing the man in the ambulance, he was told by a bystander, presumably an acquaintance of Long’s, he had suffered two heart attacks previously. Gibson said he did not have time to identify the man volunteering the information.

The family later, however confirmed that the victim was subject to heart seizures.

Funeral services for Mr. Long will be from Johnson's Chapel Church, near Danville, at 2 p.m. Monday, the Revs. Bryce Sons and Addie Wallace officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery, Brown directing. Pallbearers will be his nephews.
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Surviving Mr. Long are five daughters, Mesdames E. M. Terry, Porter Harris, and Archie Harris, all of Decatur, Mrs. Emma Cathcart of Decatur 1 and Mrs. Johnny Hill, of Danville 8; five sons, Guy and Bobby of Decatur 3, Charles of Decatur, Hoyt of Hartselle 1, and Billy Long of Chicago, Ill.; and a brother, Wheeler Long of Decatur.

The body will lie in state at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Porter Harris. 402 Cedar St., at Austinville, from 2 p.m. Sunday.

Originally published in The Decatur Daily on Sunday, November 27, 1955 Decatur, Alabama Page: 1 Column: 8
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