Georgia Phyllis Sills (1940-1955)
A 15-year-old girl lost a week long fight with a bullet wound yesterday despite her determination to get well.
Phyllis Sills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Sills of 1508 Wright street, died at 12:15 p.m. at Methodist hospital of a pistol wound suffered accidentally at her home. She was shot accidentally when a 38 caliber revolver fell from the hands of her friend, 15-year-old Ronnie Whitledge, on the afternoon of May 27. Whitledge told police he had found the pistol in an adjoining room. He broke the revolver and thought be removed the bullets. When he replaced the
chamber the gun slipped from his hand and discharged either in the air or when it hit the floor. The bullet struck the girl’s right arm, passing through it and entering her body.
Witnesses were two young friends, Donna Jernigan and Billy Loney. The parents were both at work when the tragedy occurred. Phyllis was Improving steadily until Friday, when she suffered a relapse. During her week-long fight for life she never seemed worried and displayed great courage to the end.”
Besides the parents her only survivors are grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Sills of Henderson and aunts and uncles. The body will be moved from Moss Audubon to the Church of Christ, 12th and Green, at noon to-morrow, where funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. (CST), L. H. Pogue officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont cemetery.
