H. L. Allen Sr. Drowned When Boat Capsizes.

Homer L. Allen Sr., aged about 60, prominent Jackson businessman, was swept to death in the raging waters of the Ocmulgee river at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon when the in which he was fishing trot lines capsized below the power plant of the Georgia Power Company at Lloyd Shoals.
C. W. Bowen, McDonough, a companion in the boat, was rescued by clinging desperately to overhanging limbs until aid reached him fro the ashore.
Mr. Allen, reports said, also caught a limb and held on until his strength gave way. He was then swept to death in the torrent.
The men went to the river Wednesday afternoon to fish troy line. Just what caused the boat to capsize has not been determined.
A Negro fisherman saw the men in distress and reported it to the power company personnel. Efforts were made to aid the men, and Bowen, battered by the swollen stream was rescued and efforts were being made to reach Mr. Allen but before the boat could get to him he was carried away by the swift water.
At the time of going to press the body had not been recovered and because of high water it was Thursday afternoon before search could be made.
Mr. Allen, who was born and reared in Monroe county, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Allen, has been a resident of Jackson for several years. He was formerly a telegrapher and retiring from that work he engaged in the grocery business in which he met success. Only recently he built a handsome new store on west Second street where he operated Allen's Hom-Ond store.
He was a deacon on the first Baptist church. member of the Kiwanis club, director of the Jackson Ice Corporation and a leading figure in the religious and business life of the county.
Survivors are his wife and two sons, Homer Allen Jr., Cairo, and Mike Allen, Jackson; one daughter, Mrs. Jack Jackson, Homestead, Fla.; four grandchildren, Ann and Jimmy Allen, Bobby and Allen Jackson.

(Jackson Progress-Argus, March 18, 1948)

Body H. L. Allen Recovered Sunday Near Giles Ferry.
The body of Homer L. Allen Sr., prominent Jackson businessman and churchman, drowned ion the Ocmulgee March 17 while on a fishing trip, was recovered Sunday afternoon near Giles Ferry, several miles below the Lloyd Shoals dam where the accident occurred.
The body was found by Andrew Martin and party from Shady Dale in Jasper county who were fishing in the river. The discovery was reported to officers here and Sheriff J. D. Pope and others went to he river to bring the body to shore.
The body, it was disclosed, had lodged against trees on an island some distance below Giles Ferry.
Cash, papers, keys to the automobile and store made the identity certain , Sheriff Pope said.
Finding of the body by the Jasper county fishing party ended a long search for the missing business leader. Immediately following the accident and for weeks afterward a constant vigil was kept, the river was dragged with grappling hooks and dynamite was used to bring the body to the surface.
The $500 reward offered by the family was paid to Martin and the members of his group for locating the body. Martin, who lives at Shady Dale, works for an aluminum plant in Eatonton.
Survivors are his wife, the former Miss Anice Little of Forsyth; two sons, Homer Allen Jr. of Cairo and Mike Allen of Jackson; one daughter, Mrs. Jack Jackson of Homestead, Fla.; four grandchildren, Ann and Jimmy Allen, Bobby and Allen Jackson; his mother, Mrs. J. M. Allen, Forsyth; one brother, Ernest Allen of Forsyth; six sisters, Mrs. Gus Pippin and Mrs. Preston Stewart of Forsyth; Mrs. Harvey Smith and Mrs. Walter Herndon, of Macon; Mrs. A. D. Pass and Mrs. Arthur Hudgins of Griffin.
Funeral services were held at 3:30 Monday afternoon at the First Baptist church with the pastor, Rev. Gaither Briggs, officiating. Pallbearers were deacons of the church. Burial was in the family lot in the Forsyth cemetery and Thornton Funeral Home had charge of plans.
During the hour of the funeral business houses closed as a mark of esteem to this well-known merchant and leader. Friends, organizations and relatives sent lovely floral offerings.

(Jackson Progress-Argus, June 17, 1948)

Submitted by V. S. Harrison