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RESPONSES FROM CLASSMATES REGARDING THE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR FELLOW CLASSMATES

I SIMPLY COPIED AND PASTED THEM IN THE ORDER THEY WERE RECEIVED -- NOTHING FANCY

From: Julie Davis-Welborn

Jean, You have been fantastic keeping up with our class of 62.

What bothers me is the amount of people that have died with

cancer in Pritchard and Chickasaw. I personally think it

was the paper mills that caused this. We didn't think anything

about it in the 60's.

I would like to see a count of our class that has died from cancer.

Do you have any records of this?

Julie Davis Welborn

Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

From: Jan Rutherford-Tomek

Date: June 9, 2009 8:15:08 AM CDT

Hi Jean, Judy Lynch died of breast cancer. Take care, Jan

Thanks Jan - do you know when Judy died - at least, the year?

No I don't Jean, but when I go to Daphne again I will try and find out. Her sister Linda lives there. Jan

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From: Annalee Chavers-McPhilomy

Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

Date: June 9, 2009 9:17:49 AM CDT

Elbert Leonard Carroll HEART ATTACK-DAD DIED SAME AGE OF HEART ATTACK

JUST AS A NOTE TO THEM--MY MOM, AUNT, UNCLE AND TWO OF MY COUSONS WERE ALL PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND/OR COACHES IN MOBILE AREA. MOM DIED AT 92 OF HEART TROUBLE-DAD OF HEART TROUBLE AT 89-HE WORKED OUTSIDE AND IN TOXIC BUILDINGS(ATTIC) FOR THE TELEPHONE CO. AND AUNT AND UNCLE-NEVER SMOKED EITHER ONE AND BOTH DIED OF LUNG CANCER..CURT A COUSON COACH ETC HAD 3 KINDS OF CANCER ALL MOUTH/THROAT/LUNG BUT IS STILL ALIVE AT 75. HIS WIFE JUST DIED AT 73 AND HAD A RARE THOAT/STOMACH CANCER-SHE WAS A PE AND COACH ETC.

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Subject: List of deaths of classmates

From: Sylvia Barker-Osborne

Date: June 9, 2009 9:59:45 AM CDT

Jean,

This is a subject I have often wondered about.

I grew up in Chickasaw and if you take just a 4 mile area right off the top of my head I can think of early deaths due to cancer and related diseases.

Mary Lou Byrd (Lee) lived in Mauvilla

Jullianne Crawford lived in Mauvilla

Janice Brock lived across the street from Mary Lou

Kay Mills sister lived around the corner

LeJune Richardson lived around the corner

Judy Osborne lived in neighborhood

Mickey Humphrey (Lee street area)

Larry Humphrey (Lee street area)

Faye Cobb (same area)

Bobby Livings (grew up in same area)

I am sure if I took the time to check this out there would be others.

It always seemed like an inordinate number of deaths, even though all were not due to cancer.

Sylvia Barker Osborne

Class of '61

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From: Betty Byrd

Subject: RE: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

Date: June 9, 2009 10:14:52 AM CDT

Don Brown Brain Cancer

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Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

From: Harry Endinger

Date: June 9, 2009 10:19:11 AM CDT

Jean,

I have no specific information, but have often wondered if the strong odor from the paper mills had a lot to do with the cancer rates in Mobile County.

I looked at this list and then looked at the class roster on the website. I fully remember Danny Goodrich as being listed as among the deceased at the thirty-fifth reunion. I notice that he is now listed as living in Mt. Vernon.

One change; I now live at 500 Eastdale Road, Apartment L2, Montgomery, Alabama. Don't be in a hurry to change it, though, as I may be changing my address (again) very shortly.

Best wishes,

Joe Endinger

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Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

From: Ron Moore

Date: June 9, 2009 10:27:55 AM CDT

Jean, I am not certain the type of cancer, I know of at least three who did pass from cancer:

Bobby Livings- I think this started as a lump in the stomach or side(not certain).

Paula Naron(unknown).

Richard Moore( I believe, Richard had Lupus (sp)).

also -Ed Dismukes, do you know what caused his death?

Keep up the good work... Luv Ya, Ronnie (Matt 21:22)

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Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

From: Maybelle Becker-Mitchell

Date: June 9, 2009 10:40:09 AM CDT

Gay Black (aneurysm)

Faye Cobb (brain tumor)

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From: Sylvia Barker-Osborne (’61)

Subject: names

Date: June 9, 2009 11:17:23 AM CDT

The names that I mentioned as being relatives were sibling of my classmates or classmates.

Another that I remembered from that same Mauvilla area was the sister of Claire Gilmore one of our classmates.

Sylvia

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From: Hilda Gates-O'Clair

Subject: RE: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

Date: June 9, 2009 12:34:06 PM CDT

Hey Jean,

Patricia Godwin died of cirrhosis of the liver. I always thought it was a form of cancer, but I’m not sure. She was not an alcolic, but was a diabetic. I think some liver diseases are associated with diabetes. (What do I know?)

Hilda

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Subject: memory book

From: sgfassbender@mccd911.com

Date: June 9, 2009 1:06:17 PM CDT

I heard that Travis Applin died of a drug overdose, I know he was into them when he returned from Vietnam, but this is just hearsay.

Can anyone confirm this????? jean

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Subject: classmates who died with cancer

From: Ron Moore

Date: June 9, 2009 1:18:38 PM CDT

Thanks. No, I did not know how Travis died. Are you receiving much information regarding the Mobile Area cancer situation??

----- Original Message -----

From: Adams Jean

To: ron

Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 1:32 PM

Subject: Re: classmates who died with cancer

Hey,

Faye Cobb was already on the list when I got involved with our website. I do not know when or how she died.

I will add Faye Beard to our list. Thanks for helping with this information.

Someone has suggested that Travis Applin died from a drug overdose - apparently he had a problem after returning from Vietnam. Do you know if this is true?

On Jun 9, 2009, at 1:18 PM, ron wrote:

Jean, I forgot that Faye Beard died with brain cancer 02/12/06. I noticed on our classmate obituaries that Faye Cobb had died. Do you know when she died and what caused her death. Today was actually the first that I had heard about her passing..

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From: Julie Davis-Welborn

Date: November 19, 2003 5:19:15 AM CST

Jean,

Joyce Ford had Breast cancer... then spread everywhere. ended up

in her brain. spoke with Wayne Thomas a min ago. her husband.

Helen lacy... also had cancer... but not sure what kind.

I think Joyce was from Prichard... Not sure about Helen.

she could have been from Eight Mile. She was married to Jimmy

Taylor . His mother married my husbands father in 1992. And I think

she died around 1993 or 1994. Not sure..

It will be interesting what we discover.. May not be anything.. but sure

is curious about the numbers that have died with cancer.

Julie

Just talked to Wayne Thomas... husband of Joyce Ford.

she died Jan 17th 2004. It started as breast cancer and spread

everywhere and ended up in her brain.

Wayne who use to work for International... said. the fall out

from the mill was visable on cars in Chickasaw and Pritchard.

Not in Whistler. where we both lived.

But Joyce lived in Pritchard homes I think he said. and you

could see the white residue on the cars there.

I remember the people that worked at the mill drove their

old cars there... as they knew they would be rusted out with

the residue on their cars...

Not sure where we can go with this... But it is interesting

on the people that have had cancer from this area.

Julie

On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 08:31:39 -0500 Adams Jean <adamsoj@comcast.net>

writes:

Hi Julie,

I do not know of any statistics, but the area was toxic with the two

papermills, the Alcoa plant, several chemical plants on the Mobile

river and other waterways north of Mobile. Shipyards, Brookley AFB

well as all these types of industries all around in other cities and

states nearby. Then there is the tobacco factor . . .

I hope we get some answers on the e-mail just sent out. Jan

Rutherford has already replied that Judy Lynch died of breast

cancer.

I have asked her for a date or at least the year. I forgot to ask

for

this on my email. If you have any information, please let me know

and

we will see what we can find out.

Take care,

Jean

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From: Linda Tilllman Carr

Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

Date: June 10, 2009 10:10:48 AM CDT

Hi, can't add to your knowlege on this inquiry, but I'm shocked at how many were taken by cancer at a relatively early age. If Mobile was toxic, Houston is the epicenter of toxicity, right? Linda Tilllman Carr

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From: Cecilia Barnes-Martin

Subject: Re: MOBILE COUNTY STATISTICS - INTERESTING

Date: June 10, 2009 1:19:37 PM CDT

Too late. I already opened it. I have a new computer with vista on it so I am ok. I am sure a lot of the others may not be able to open it. The statistics are very interesting. I have often wondered how International Paper Company/Kraft Bags affected my health. I have always had difficulty with breathing. A lot of fragrances and scents are offensive to the smell for me and trigger breathing difficulty. I can remember as a child there would be particles of something all over the car and our steps every morning when we got up. (I lived on the corner of Telegraph Road and what is now Elm Street -- it was George Street in the 50's and early 60's.) If you ever hear of a survey and/or study about that please let me know.

Cecilia

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From: Lenora Jones-George

Subject: Re: CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

Date: June 10, 2009 4:50:42 PM CDT

I do know of these two.

Joyce Ford - Breast Cancer

Gay Black - Breast Cancer April 1995*

*Gay's sister is in my SS class, Elaine Black- class of '65 is a breast cancer suvivor, another sister Juanita (Tiny) Black-class of '60 is cervical cancer survivor, her brother James Issac Black died of esophageal cancer June 2008.

Also, Richard Norred's son worked at UM with me. I emailed him to get the cause of death to be sure, but I am thinking it may have been cancer also. Will let you know for sure once I get a reply.

Lenora

This is on Richard Norred

Thanks.

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Buck Norred

Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 8:22:57 AM

Subject: Re: Your Dad

Hi,

Dad had COPD. He did have prostate cancer but that was treated and had been cleared. I he died on August 26th. Let me know if you need any more information.

Buck

>>> Lenora George 06/09/09 3:16 PM >>>

I received an email today from our class of '62 webmaster with a request for a class research project. The classmates who are on our list as deceased, they are looking for the cause of death. Did your dad have cancer, if so, what kind, or what cause if not cancer and the date of his death?

Thanks Buck, I really appreciate this information.

Lenora

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Mother used to tell me she wouldn't eat any seafood that came from anywhere near the run-off from the paper mills because of the chemical content of the waste. I'm sure that has changed because of environmental since I left Mobile but still, any catch not would be something I'd want to ingest.

From: Jerry Gray (’61)

Subject: Jimmy Williams

Date: June 11, 2009 2:18:30 PM CDT

Hi,

Read your email from Sandra and I was a friend/neighbor of Jimmy Williams on your list of deceased. Sorry I can't give you exact data but Jimmy died of a brain tumor in the late 70's in Eight Mile while I was living out of state.

There are quite a few in my class that are deceased and its a shame.

take care,

jerry gray/class of 61

Jean, I received the following from William Hanley Jr, husband of one of our '58 classmates, Rebecca Blue. I don't know if he also sent it to you.

Jimmy

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June 13, 2009

Maris Wilson

For what it's worth, I know that Ian's mother, Sarah Gaston, more than 20 years ago was collecting data about cancer-related deaths in Chickasaw for the American Cancer Society. Those results must be filed somewhere.

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Dear Mr Martin,

My name is William Barrett Hanley Jr. (husband of Rebecca Blue '58)

Back during the 80's my dad (Dec Jan 2007 age 98).attended the "old Whistler reunion". Afterward he sent me an attendance roster and I was astounded at the total number of attendees that were even older than him at the time. Why there were even people's names on there that were "old people" when I was a little kid! I often wondered about this. Looking at many of the responses from the Vigor Study I submit this theory.

I grew up in Whistler and my mother & other relatives always said that "you could always smell the paper mill just before a heavy rain".

A short course in meteorology:

Heavy rain is usually associated with Thunderstorms (TSTM's)

TSTMS draw air into their bases and elevate it until the moisture in it freezes, falls back through the freezing level (usually around 12,000 Ft MSL in the Mobile area during warm weather)

This activity produces "heavy" rain.

Most TSTM's approach from the West /North west.

Whistler lies west of the paper mill.

TSTM's move toward the East rapidly.

The inflowing currents of the TSTM would draw odorous paper mill smoke rapidly over Whistler, which would leave minimal deposits, hence "smell the paper mill" would occur.

As the TSTM passed over the Whistler the rain deposited would have been from other non contaminated sources. The pollutants that my mother smelled would have been deposited on the Prichard, Plateau, Magazine Point area.

The Whistler Residents would have been spared, therefore explaining their unusual longevity in this otherwise polluted area.

I hope this sheds some light on the problem, which I believe is real.

William Hanley Jr.

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Subject: Class Research Project

Date: June 16, 2009 8:46:04 PM CDT

Jean, Paula Naron Wade was my sister-in-law she died of a heart attack, but she had diabetes, crohns

disease was on dialysis, I think about the only thing she didn't have was cancer.

Myrtis Craig Naron

Class of Vigor '58

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June 17, 2009 8:12:11 AM CDT

At the reunion several years ago at the Riverview Plaza, I remember looking at a list of those we had lost and was shocked to learn at the number of them who had died of cancer. On a personal note, my father died at the age of 39 of a brain tumor (we lived in Prichard Homes), as did Margene Smith's father and Terrell Smith's brother. Then just a couple of years ago Karen Wilson also died of throat cancer. And now Orinell Tucker Gates has cancer.
All the best,
Donna Steadham Besch, '58

From: CEve923114@aol.com
Subject: (no subject)
Date: June 18, 2009 12:15:53 PM CDT

HI JEAN,

This is Linda Dabbs Everett, Class of '61. I have been married to Carlton Lee Everett, (of the Everett's Furniture Store across from Vigor) for 46 years. I just wanted to let you know that Joyce Ford died from breast cancer. I worked with her at International Paper for years.
If I can find any info on the others, I will advise.

Linda Everett

July 8, 2009 1:26:11 PM CDT

Ron Moore

Jean, great job as always. I think I am right on these, but you may want to double check, just in case:

Cheryl Ann Evans: Kidney Failure (from the time we were in elementary school together, she suffered from kidney problems)

Kenneth Hall: Heart Attack (Had retired from the USAF as a Master Sgt, I think, and I believe he was found dead shortly after his military retirement on
his sister's couch and his death was determined to be a major heart attack)

Gloria Scott: One sweet girl....(her husband and baby as well, were killed in a tragic auto accident)

Jesse Self : (you may want to leave as is, but he committee suicide)

Bettie Ann Teague : (I always called her Bettie Babe, and she signed my year book with that pet name) I think it was a brain tumor.... of course, Phil could
bring us up-to-date on this)
God Bless, Ronnie

From: elaine.wright@centurytel.net
Subject: PROJECT: CAUSE OF DEATH
Date: July 17, 2009 9:00:38 AM CDT

Jean,

I apologize for the late response to your request. Charles W. Law and I were divorced but he died of of leukemia. It was so stange because within a year or little over a year his sweet little mother died of pancreatic cancer and his father died of cancer also. They lived in Chickasaw close to Chickasaw Steam Plant. I remember Mrs. Law's car being covered with a fine black powder after she had it washed and waxed. It makes you wonder????

Elaine Wright