Champion, James Francis Avington

boy silhouette
James Francis Avington Champion
b: 11 MAR 1885
d: 8 MAY 1967
Biography
Not on 1910 Census; Mother shows 10 children born and 8 living. Aringtonand Mary are missing on the 1900 and 1910 census records. Aringtonwould have been 15; Mary, 25-may have married.


OR

From: "theresa foss" >
To: >
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: BWO Look-Up Request

Books are available from Joseph L. Whitten, email: [email protected] Mar. 9, 1939, The Pell City News, pg.278-279 AVONDALE MILLS OFFICIAL SHOT BY AN EX-EMPLOYEE.

James L. Byers, superintendent of the Bevelle Mills plant of the AvondaleMills at Alexander City, was shot and killed by R.J. "Rube" Eason, Fridaynight when he left his office after working late, and in the excitementfollowing the shooting, A.C. Champion, special officer at the mills, diedof a heart attack. Sheriff L. E. Sellers, of Dadesville, arrested Easondirectly after the shooting and said that the prisoner readily admittedthe killing. After threats of violence were made by citizens, Eason wasremoved to the Dadesville Jail for safekeeping.
According to Sheriff Sellers, Eason had been discharged from theAvondale Mills about 3 years ago, and more recently other members of hisfamily had also been discharged from the company. Mr. Byers was wellknown in St. Clair County, having been born at Ashville where he receivedhis elementary education. He has many relatives scattered throughout thecounty and a host of friends among Avondale officials and others here.Five shots were fired, four of them striking the deceased man. Eason wasquoted as saying that he went to the vicinity of the mills office whereMr. Byers was working late and waited about 2 hours for Mr. Byers toleave the office.
Immediately after the shooting Eason fled and was pursued a shortdistance by Mr. Champion. Others at the office urged the special officerto give up the search after Mr. Champion had shown effects ofthe pursuit. He died of a heart attack. Eason called a Sheriff''s deputyand informed him of the shooting.
Mr. Byers was educated at Clemson College, worked for the Avondale Millsin Birmingham for a time, later transferring to the Alex City plant. Hewas a long time and valued employee of the company, an army officer inthe World War and an ardent lover and patron of amateur sports. He took avery active interest in the affairs of the East Alabama Industrial Leaguewhere his advice and counsel will be missed. His team, the Bevelle Tigersof Alex City have been champions of the league for the past two years.The deceased man is survived by his widow; mother, Mrs. P. C. Ratliff,Birmingham; 2 sisters, Mrs. Walter E. Hooper, Birmingham, and Mrs. JosephMcNamara, Orangeburg, SC; and a brother Walton V. Byers, Durham, NC.
Mr. Champion was about 55 years old and had served for several years asspecial officer of the mill at Alex City. He is survived by severalchildren."
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Facts
  • 11 MAR 1885 - Birth - ; Chilton, Alabama
  • 1900 - Census - U.S. ; Chilton, Alabama
  • 8 MAY 1967 - Death - ; Fairhope, Baldwin, Alabama
  • 12 SEP 1918 - Draft Registrtion - World War I ; Clanton, Chilton, Alabama
Ancestors
   
William Luke Champion
DEC 1825 - 8 MAY 1904
 
 
James Ensley Champion
13 NOV 1852 - 8 DEC 1923
  
  
  
Rachael Ann Powell
1828 - MAR 1858
 
James Francis Avington Champion
11 MAR 1885 - 8 MAY 1967
  
 
  
?
 
 
Nancy Ann Frances Boyd
4 NOV 1856 - AUG 1929
  
  
  
?
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) James Ensley Champion
Birth13 NOV 1852Shelby, Alabama
Death8 DEC 1923 Chilton, Alabama
Marriage1873to Nancy Ann Frances Boyd
FatherWilliam Luke Champion
MotherRachael Ann Powell
PARENT (F) Nancy Ann Frances Boyd
Birth4 NOV 1856Mississippi
DeathAUG 1929 Chilton, Alabama
Marriage1873to James Ensley Champion
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
FMary Ann Dulcinia Champion
Birth16 FEB 1875Alabama
DeathAPR 1936Chilton, Alabama
FSarah Dovie Jane Champion
Birth17 MAY 1877Alabama
DeathAPR 1936Chilton, Alabama
FMartha Lovina Virginia Champion
Birth5 OCT 1879Chilton, Alabama
DeathOCT 1935Chilton, Alabama
MJames Francis Avington Champion
Birth11 MAR 1885Chilton, Alabama
Death8 MAY 1967Fairhope, Baldwin, Alabama
Marriage1905to Mary Alice Gibson
FPerelia Haseltine Champion
Birth6 OCT 1889Chilton, Alabama
Death16 SEP 1971Jemison, Chilton, Alabama
FEffie Leona Champion
Birth11 JUL 1892Alabama
Death1971
FJerrie Champion
BirthMAR 1895Alabama
Death
MRichard Clyde Champion
Birth4 AUG 1897Alabama
Death22 APR 1957Jefferson, Alabama
Marriage22 SEP 1918to Evie C. Childress at Alabama
MJohn William Jessie Champion
Birth29 SEP 1881Alabama
Death1893
FMargaret Melvina Osaham Champion
Birth21 MAY 1887Alabama
Death1888Alabama
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) James Francis Avington Champion
Birth11 MAR 1885Chilton, Alabama
Death8 MAY 1967 Fairhope, Baldwin, Alabama
Marriage1905to Mary Alice Gibson
FatherJames Ensley Champion
MotherNancy Ann Frances Boyd
PARENT (F) Mary Alice Gibson
Birth
Death
Marriage1905to James Francis Avington Champion
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
Evidence
[S260]Census
[S309]Champion Family Tree
[S264]Social Security Death Index Master File
[S275]Draft Registration
Descendancy Chart
James Francis Avington Champion b: 11 MAR 1885 d: 8 MAY 1967