Published in Limestone Democrat
Athens, Alabama
March 18, 1937

Squire W. W. Todd, 79, one of Limestone County's best known citizens, died at his home on Coleman Hill Tuesday after an illness of several months duration.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday morning by the Rev. R. L. Harrell of the First Christian Church and interment was made in the City Cemetery, N. S. Hollon & Co. in charge.

An unusual person, Mr. Todd, though never obtaining more than three days schooling, was a successful businessman, having been contractor for more homes and business houses in this county than any other person. At various times he held office as Justice of the Peace, city elderman and county commissioner.

He was born in Fort Gaines, Ga., the son of Joseph and Mary Jervis Todd, but moved to this place when a lad of sixteen.

Squire Todd was probably the only man in this county who ever filled out his own death certificate, preparing this data several years ago when paying his daily visit to his friend, R. H. McConnell, manager of N. S. Hollon & Co., funeral directors. Only the cause and date of death were left blank. He was buried in a casket made by himself, in the summer of 1930 bringing to Mr. McConnell's establishment the coffin after he had informed him a few weeks previous of his intention of building his own. The casket was of solid cedar, inlaid with walnut.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Flora W. Todd; 11 children, several of them by a previous marriage to Molly Lacy of this county; and a number of grandchildren.

1st wife, Permelia Ann (Molly) Lacy Todd. She died January 9, 1920 and is buried beside him in the Athens City Cemetery.


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Please note!!! The above obituary was written by WW Todd. Mr. Todd is on record being the only man in Limestone County, Alabama to have built his own coffin, completed his own death certificate, and written his own obituary. Having completed on 3 days of formal schooling, these two documents were noted as being legible however, Mr. Todd did misspell his mother's maiden name and named his father as "Joseph", which is not his first name. WW Todd's mother is Mary Ferrebee Jernigan and his father is William Joseph Todd. WW Todd, came to Limestone County, Alabama at the age of 16, along with his mother and sister. Their "wagon train" caught small pox and they were quarantined in Limestone County. Mary, WW's mother, was "licensed to give medicine and deliver babies". So she went to work for the only doctor in town. "Some people" advised her to stay in Limestone County, so she did. And that is how it all began.