Page 15 - Robeson Living Winter2019

they thought her daddy was killed. There was only one house
left on strand and looking back from the waterway she could see
houses up in trees. They looked like they had been placed there.
There were foundations of houses were left, appliances were in
trees and furniture littering lots. The first paved road was com-
pletely washed away.

Her father was found with his pants rolled up and the ignition
was turned on in his truck. Betty was a senior in high school,
but they were not released early from school. Principal did not
think it was going to be bad. They had to sit in the auditorium
until the highway patrol released them. “It was really bad, flood-
ed and at my mother’s house all of the trees were down in the
yard. You just had to see it to believe it.”

Bullard, the son of Elmore Bullard and Roxie Campbell. was
associated with his brother, L.S. Bullard, at Bullard Motor Com-
Dougald B. Todd (left) and Shelton W. Bullard were killed at pany. He left behind his widow, the former Bessie Lee Worley,
Long Beach as a result of the Hazel. Courtesy The Robesonian and a daughter Joan. Lea Thompson, granddaughter of Shelton’s
brother Les Bullard remembers being at the Bullard house when
The Storm Brings Injury and Death someone from the Sheriff’s office came to inform the family
that Shelton has been found. Twenty-two years later Mrs. Bull-
Several citizens were treated for injuries including Alfred Hodge ard drowned while visiting Long Beach.
who received damaged to his shoulder and chest when his house
blew down around him. A tree landing on Bobby Little caused A year after Shelton Bullard’s death in the October 14, 1955
injuries to his elbow and knee. Rudolph Mears was injured while issue appeared the following remembrance:
traveling on Highway 211. He was trying to dodge a dead dog on
the road and his car struck a downed tree. In remembrance of our son
and brother, Shelton Bullard, who was
Daryl Thompson recalls his sister, Mary Jane, was outside with lost in Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954.
Mama getting clothes off the line when the six-foot board fence
in our yard was blown down on top of her and she was taken to HIS MOTHER AND SISTERS
the new Hospital behind our house on 24th street with a concus-
sion. One year has passed since you left us
Sad was the shock of that day
Ann McRainey Taylor remembers that on her father’s farm north You bade no one a last farewell
of St. Pauls that one-month old Josie Ann Bullard was killed. A last goodbye you could not say
She was the daughter of Lemoner Bullard and Esther Mae Mc-
Crowie. She and her mother were lying in bed when the storm Quick and sudden was the call
blew a large tree on to the house. The father had been outside Your sudden death surprised us all
trying to board up windows that has been blown out. The shock was great, the blow severe
We little thought your death so near
Two Lumberton men, Dougald Bertrum Todd, Sr. and Shelton
Wardell Bullard, went to the coast to check on Bullard’s Long Every day brings sad memories
Beach property when Hazel hit the Carolina shores. They were Every memory brings a tear
last seen in Southport but must have later gone to Long Beach. Deep within our hearts we carry
Todd was found soon after the storm, but Bullard remained miss- Thoughts of one we love so dear
ing for over two weeks. Bullard was found in a wooded area
of Lockwood Folly a mile south of Long Beach by a group of Gone is the face we loved so dear
children. Silent is the voice we love to hear
“Tis sad but true, we wonder why
Todd, the son of Benjamin Columbus Todd and Martha Jane Pit- So quickly and suddenly you had to die
tman, was a furniture salesman. He was survived by his widow,
the former Martha Viola Scott; three sons Dougald, Jr, William What happy days we once enjoyed
and Eartle; two daughters, Emma Todd Rinaldi and Betty Todd When we were all together
Mclean. But oh, how changed it all is now
Since you have gone forever
Todd’s daughter, Betty, remembers going to the beach with her
brothers, Dougald and Ertle Todd. The National Guard allowed The depth of sorrow we cannot tell
them on to the beach. They walked down the beach to where Of the loss of one we loved so well