General Notes

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Drexel worked at The Luverne Motor Company until 1964 in the body shop
with his brother Virgil.  In 1964 he started to work with the Luverne
Police Department. In 1971 as Assistant Police Chief of Luverne, he was
shot by an escapee while trying to apprehend the fugitive.  He is buried
in Emmaus Cemetery, Luverne, AL.
Obit of Drexel Rushing - Crenshaw Co., AL
FINAL RITES HELD SAT. FOR SLAIN POLICEMAN
They came from all around - uniformed policemen and other law
enforcement officials - to pay their final respects to a fallen comrade
last Saturday morning.  State Troopers, motorcycle, policemen, chiefs of
police, sheriffs and deputies from Montgomery, Greenville, Opp,
Andalusia, Troy, Elba, Brantley and other towns and cities formed and
honor escort to Emmaus Cemetery in Luverne where Luverne Assistant Police
Chief Drexel Rushing was laid to rest.
Rushing was felled by a bullet from the gun of and escapee at an hour
Thursday morning as he was assisting fellow police officers in
apprehending the fugitive.  He died shortly after.
Eulogies were give by the Rev. Charles Sims, pastor of the First
Baptist Church of Luverne and the Rev. J. L. Jones, pastor of the
Freewill Baptist Church of Luverne.  Survivors include his widow, Mrs.
Pauline, Rushing; father Rufus Rushing, two daughters, Mrs. Glenda Ray,
Mrs. Martha Hall; one son, Joe Rhodes Rushing, all of Luverne; four
sisters, Mrs. Willodean Edwards, Mrs. Jeanette Wright, Panama City, Fla.,
Mrs. Erma Jean Bailey, England, Mrs. Helen Nelson, Evergreen; three
brothers, Virgil Rushing, Luverne, Hullen and Donald Rushing, Mobile.
Honorary pallbearers were Luverne City officials and representatives
form each of the police forces in attendance.  Active pallbearers were
members of the Luverne Police Force.
Services were held at Turner’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Turner’s
Funeral Home in charge of funeral arrangements.
Note: Drexel Rushing, son of Rufus Sanders and Johnie Estelle (Bowers)
Rushing was born 15 November 1929 in Coffee Co., AL.  He married Pauline
Rhodes 3 Jun 1950, the daughter of Aletha (Byrd) and Fox Rhodes.  She was
born 18 Jun 1933 in Pike Co., AL.  Drexel worked at The Luverne Motor
Company until 1964 in the body shop with his brother, Virgil.  In 1964 he
started to work with the Luverne Police Department.  In 1971 as Assistant
Police Chief of Luverne, he was shot by an escapee while trying to
apprehend the fugitive.  He died 8 July 1971 and is buried in Emmaus
Cemetery, Luverne, Crenshaw Co., AL." (1)  " ‘Rushing’ Through the
Generations" by Peggy Rushing Sims.
Ronald,
I saw your Obit on the Roots Web page of Crenshaw County and I must
say it brought back alot of memmories.  I remember the incident very
well because I lived in Brantley as a teen during that period. I can't
remember the guys name that was responsible, but I do remember most of
the details. Infact, the car that belonged to him, a black 59 Ford was
once my fathers and the first car I ever owned. Just thought you'd like
to know that little tid-bit.
Thanx,
Kenny Shackleford
Cindy Shackleford <shackcl@@bellsouth.net>