By By Arthur McLean Managing Editor
The Atmore Police Department is investigating the death of Euginia Wilson.
A family friend found Wilson dead in her Oak Street home Friday night and called 911, according to a police department statement.
Wilson was expected to arrive at her daughter's home in Pensacola to spend the weekend. When she did not arrive, her daughter, Linda Crews, became worried and called a family friend to check on Wilson.
Wilson was 79 years old.
Wilson's body was sent to the Alabama Forensic Sciences Lab in Mobile where the cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries to the head, according to Dr. Leon Riddick of the AFSL.
Escambia County Medical Examiner Dan Raulerson made early statements about Wilson's injuries, but when contacted Monday afternoon, he said the Atmore Police Department would not allow him to speak further on the matter.
Dr. Leroy Riddick, the doctor who performed the autopsy on Wilson was not available for further comment Monday or Tuesday, however.
The news shocked the quiet community surrounding Oak Street. Friends and residents in the area said they were concerned for their safety.
By noon on Monday, rumors began swirling throughout town on every aspect of the case. Atmore Police Chief Jason Dean said rumors of officers telling people to lock their doors and of other crimes in town were untrue.
At 79, Eugenia Wilson was still an active part of the community, serving with the Atmore Garden Club, United Methodist Women and the Atmore Community Hospital Auxiliary.
Recently, Wilson honored fellow Garden Club member Leo Atkeison with a lifetime membership in the club for Atkeison's effort. Wilson was also involved in the planning of a the club's beautification effort in conjunction with National Arbor Day.
Freddie Miller is a former neighbor of Wilson's and the garden club president. Miller said Wilson was a credit to her community. "She was a wonderful neighbor, and she was always working to help Atmore. She was always working with the garden club, and her mother worked with us for years as well," Miller said. "She will be missed by many people."
Wilson was born in Bainbridge, Ga. but had lived in Atmore since 1946.
She is survived by her son, David Lee and Mary Lynne Wilson of Boaz; two daughters, Linda Jean and Edward E. Crews of Pensacola and Susan Wilson and G. Barker Stein, Jr. of Fairhope; four grandchildren, Burton Ritchie, Mandy and Jeffrey Gillespie, Justin Hanks, Mary Page Wilson; two great-grandchildren, Brice and Jonathan Gillespie.