Albert Fletcher Bullard Sr.

Bullard Rites Are Conducted

Banker, Naval Stores Pioneer Dies

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla., Oct. 21. (Special) Funeral services for Albert Fletcher Bullard, prominent naval stores operator of Northwest Florida, who died at his home in DeFuniak Springs early Wednesday, after a lingering illness, were held Saturday at 3 p.m. from the Methodist church, DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. H. P. Childs officiating. Interment was in the Magnolia cemetery with Wickersham Funeral home in charge of details.

Active pallbearers were: Graham Campbell, Melville Jennings, Harold Gillis, Clyde Harberson, Loy Carlan, John Creel, Jerome McDonald, and W. F. Green.

Honorary pallbearers, included: J. G. Dunn, Andalusia. Ala.: C. C. Cook, Marianna; Carey Johnson, Apalachicola, J. C. Waits, Bonifay; Leo Davis, Bagdad; B. M. Henderson, Pensacola; W. W. Harberson, Pensacola; C. H. Overman, Pensacola; W. E. Bryant, Panama City; Henry Elliott, Ned Beatty, Olin Campbell, K. S. McKenzie, W. I. Stinson, Dr. E. L. Huggins, G. W. Broxson, A. G. Douglass and P. W. Miles.

Among those attending the funeral from out of town. were: B. H. Cooper, Sr., Birmingham, Ala.; B. H. Cooper, Jr., Mrs. R. E. Woodfin, Selma; Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Woodham, Opp; Mr. and Mrs. P. F. Renaud, Montgomery; Misses Virginia and Rhea Cumming, Montgomery; Lean Benson, Andalusia; Dudley O’Neal. Andalusia; J. V. Henderson. Andalusia; and Mrs. W. B. Sellers, Samson.

Mr. Bullard was born in Steadman, N. C, Sept. 1, 1879. Early in 1900 he moved to Geneva county, Alabama where he became associated in the naval stores industry with his uncle, the late B. F. Bullard, Alex Sessoms, and Charley Matthews.

In 1908 Mr. Bullard married Miss Euphie Autry of Steadman, N. C, who died in 1916. Children of this marriage were two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Cooper and Sara Brooks, a son, Lt. A. F. Bullard, Jr., U.S.N.R.

Mr. Bullard moved to DeFuniak Springs in 1916, where he was a pioneer in naval stores operations in Northwest Florida, associated with G. O. Waits, E. W. Thorpe, T. M. McConnel, A. C. Darling, J. D. Henderson, C. B. Matthews, W. B. Sellars, and W. B. Harbeson, all now deceased.

His business interests included the Bagdad Land and Lumber company of which he was secretary treasurer, and later president; president of the First National bank, DeFuniak Springs, and president of the Pine Institute of America; he also served as representative from Walton county in the state legislature in 1927.

Mr. Bullard was active in church circles, having served on the board of education of the Alabama conference of the Methodist church; for many years a trustee of Huntingdon college, Montgomery, and chairman of the board of trustees of the Methodist church, DeFuniak Springs. He was a thirty-two degree Mason and a Shriner.

Mr. Bullard leaves a widow, the former Mary Virginia Cumming, daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. J. B Cumming, whom he married In 1923. Children of this marriage are: A son, John, now attending Duke university; two daughters, Virginia and Janet. Others surviving include children of his former marriage, Mrs. Catherine Cooper, DeFuniak Springs, Lt. A. F. Bullard, Jr.; four sisters, Mrs. J. C. Byrant and Mrs. A. B. Watson, both of Fayettville. N. C., Miss Retta Bullard of DeFuniak Springs, Mrs. L. F. Alderman of Andalusia: two brothers H. H. Bullard of Andalusia, Ala., and Dr. John Bullard of Richmond, Virginia.

[Source: The Pensacola News-Journal, October 22, 1944, Page 14]

[Burial: Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs]