Rachel Grace Bivens (1901 - 1920)

Born 25 Aug 1901 in Lincoln County, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Died 9 Jun 1920 at age 18 in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, United States

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Biography

"Aged 18 years. daughter John and Mollie (Mary) Spiers Bivens.

Cause of death:

2nd and third degree burns from a house fire." (findagrave)

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The TRAGIC DEATH of RACHEL GRACE, as told to me by an eye-witness, her close sister, Viola Mae Bivens, about 1974.

In the first week of June 1920, there was a party or gathering to which Viola Mae was privileged to be going. There was also the matter of a fine chiffon or lace dress which she was going to wear to the special occasion.

For some reason, which I cannot now remember, Viola Mae learned on the day of the party that she would not be able to go. That left the opportunity for a replacement. Viola Mae's slightly older sister, Rachel Grace, would go in her place.

Once Rachel was dressed in the fine dress and about ready to go, some sort of cooking fuel or kerosene spill took place near the oven where Rachel Grave was, and almost instantly the fine dress she was wearing caught fire.

Long before the days of 'drop and roll' was taught in the schools, Rachel Grace, panicked and pained by the burning oil, began to run full speed out the kitchen door into the yard, which only fanned the flames.

No one was able to quickly catch her, until finally she was brought down to the grassy ground and covered with a blanket or quilt, already in shock.

But the severe damage was done, and I don't remember if it was some hours or a few days before Rachel Grace succumbed to her bodily injuries.

Fifty plus years on, at the telling of this story, my grandmother, Viola Mae, still spoke with pain as she handed me the oval-shaped portrait of her very young and pretty sister, concluding:

'If I had of gone to that party as originally planned, it might have been me instead of poor Rachel Grace.'

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"Burial:

West View Cemetery

Augusta

Richmond County

Georgia, USA" (findagrave)

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 23414884 - Created by: Monica Woodward, photo of gravestone by Fort.

• The TRAGIC DEATH of RACHEL GRACE - report of the eye-witness testimony by her sister, Viola Mae Bivens, my grandmother, ca.1974.