General Notes

[Westbrook.FTW]

-Obit: Tom Orrell, age 84, died Oct. 20, 1966.  Services were conducted last Saturday afternoon at the chapel of the Doug Murphy Funeral Home in Martin with the Rev. Charles Gray, minister of the Central Baptist Church, officiating.  The former employee of the City of Martin died Thursday at the Volunteer Hospital following a lengthy illness.  A member of the Saloam General Baptist Church in Dresden, he had been a resident of the Weakley Co Nursing Home.  Survivors include his son, Milton Orrell, Martin; and three daughters, Mrs. Ursel Smith, Martin, Mrs. Douglas Gouer and Mrs. Ray Zarling, both of San Francisco; a step-brother, Jodie Hathcoat, Sharon; three sisters, Mrs. Florence Morris, Dresden, Mrs. Annie Highfill of Como; and Mrs. Mattie Bradbury of Sharon; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  Marvin Prince, C.B. Martin, Sam Mount, Opal Morris, Doyle Morris and Woodrow Jackson served as pallbearers.  Burial was in the East Side Cemetery of Martin.

Census - Weakley Co - 1900
Orrell, Thomas 18 M
Willie E. Stroud 30 F B-L
Mary E. Stroud 24 F Wife

Census - Weakley Co - 1910
Orrell, Robert Thomas 28 M
Pearl 25 F Wif
Ruth 3 F Daughter
Cecil 7mo M Son

Census - Weakley Co - 1920 - District 14  -  All & parents born in TN
Tom R. Orrell, age 38, farm operator 14 years, reads & writes
Pearly, wife, age 34, reads and writes
Ruth, daughter, age 12
Gracie, daughter, age 7
Ruby, daughter, age 4
Moselle, daughter, age 10 months

-June 13, 1948  The home of Mr. & Mrs. Tom Orrell was the scene of much pleasure Sunday as several gathered there for a family reunion.  Mr. Orrell's sister, Mrs. Lawrence Estes, her daughter and son-in-law, Mr/Mrs Lonnie Avery and their 2 children, David and Jean from Lake City, FL., were there; also Mr/Mrs. W.H. Orrell from Detroit, MI.  Forty-one grown people and 14 children were there to eat dinner.  Around 25 came in the afternoon to visit.  All enjoyed one more happy day - just being together again.

-News paper clipping  (Probably Martin Mail, no date. Picture of him holding a rope and 4 boys watching)  ROPE TRICK: There is nothing more fascinating to a boy than a rope trick.  In the above photo, Mr. Tom Orrell paused as he passed through the IC Park to show this group of Martin youngsters how to tie a series of knots in a rope. Looking on with enthusiasm are Tim Oliver, Steve Freedie, Randall McDaniel and Bob Garner.

-1965 - The Shopper-News: Folks in Martin have every reason to believe that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Orrel of North McComb will prove to be a successful one, as the widely known and beloved couple celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary June 7.  The two were married at Rock Hill Church located east of Sharon by Rev. Bruce, who was the pastor, on June 7, 1903 and those still living that attended the wedding included Mrs. Orrel's sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Hornbeak of Hoxie, Arkansas.  The couple came to live in Martin on Jan 6, 1926.  Mrs. Orrel was originally from Gibson Co and Mr. Orrel born and reared West of Greenfield in the 22nd District.  Their first home was located but two doors from the Yellow Fever Cemetery.  The couple has been blessed with nine children, four of them are still living, two boys and two girls, with the latter two expected to pay a visit some time this summer from their present home in California.   Mr. Orrel was a former tree doctor and tree topper and his eyes will still flash with interest when the talk gets around to trees, for he's an authority on the subject. He worked for the City of Martin for 17 years and was lastly employed as a night watchman at the Martin Manufacturing Company, where he worked for "Nine years and nine months to the day" to quote him.
Mrs. Orrel celebrated her 80th birthday on Jan 14, 1965, and Mr. Orrel was 83 on Nov 28, 1964.    In looking back over the years, Mr. Orrel stated that he could remember coming to Martin driving a wagon and team