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About Zola Ophelia (Ovella) O'Berry:

Zola Ophelia O'Berry Eiland
Birth: Dec. 9, 1888, Spring Lake, Hernando County, Florida, USA
Death: Aug. 20, 1938, Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, USA

Domestic Violence Victim. Zola was born to John and Emily O'Berry. She married Charles Eiland on March 15, 1908. Times were good for couple and they were living well. Charles was a carpenter and although they did move fairly often depending on where he could find work he was making a good living for the family. They lived in Manatee, Hernando, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. While living in Pinellas County, Charles worked on building the Loews Don CeSar Hotel on the St. Pete Beach. When the depression hit in 1929 they lost everything. They had all their money in the bank and lost it all. This tragedy would teach their children to distrust financial institution for the rest of their lives. To say Charles and Zola were devastated after having lost everything was surely an understatement. They both went into a deep depression and began to drink heavily. On August 17, 1938, the day after Charles' 51st birthday, he'd started drinking fairly early; not sure if Zola had been drinking that particular day or not. There was an argument and Charles stormed out of their home. Zola got back to her household chores and when she opened the back door to toss out the dirty dish water her husband was lying in wait and shot her. Neighbors called police and Zola was rushed to the hospital. Officers began the search for Charles. The neighbors had informed the officers that Charles had left the scene of the shooting on foot with his shotgun still in hand. A couple officers found Charles just blocks away from his home and when Charles seen them the chase was on. One of the officers yelled out ordering Charles to stop and drop his weapon. This order was shouted more than once and ignored. Charles continued running and jumped a fence and as he jumped down on the other side the deputy shot and killed him. Charles died instantly. Zola lived for a few more days in the hospital. She lived long enough to answer questions for law enforcement officers explaining what happened that day. At one point a newspaper article said Zola's condition was improving and it's obvious now that she took a turn for the worse after that article was printed in the Tampa Tribune and passed away a day or so later.
Burial: Lake Lindsey Cemetery, Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, USA, Plot: AD11B - unmarked grave
Created by: MEMORIES, Record added: Feb 18, 2010, Find A Grave Memorial# 48304606,

Name: Zola Ovelia Eiland
Death date: 20 Aug 1938
Death place: Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida
Gender: Female
Race or color (on document): White
Race or color (expanded): White
Age at death: 48y 8m 7d
Birth date: 09 Dec 1888
Birth place: Hernando County, Fla.
Marital status: Widowed
Spouse name: Charles Eiland
Father name: J. B. O'Berry
Father birth place: Pierce Co, Ga.
Mother name: Emily N. Morgan
Mother birth place: Clinch Co, Ga.
Occupation: Housewife
Street address: Russell St.
Cemetery name: Lake Lindsley
Burial date: 21 Aug 1938

Mrs Zola Ovella Eiland, died Aug 20, 1938, Bksv, FL, born Dec 9, 1888 Hern Co, FL, burial-Lake Lindsey Cem, Hern Co, survived by parents M/M John B O'Berry, Spring Lake, FL, one bro-W H O'Berry, 5 sisters Mrs Mabel Chuncey, Dunedin and Mrs Hoyt Campbell, Bksv, Mrs Annie Page, Mrs Osie Irby and Mrs Grace Wilson, 2 sons John Chas Eiland, Bksv and Roy Lee Eiland, 3 daus Mrs Leonard Rolland, Bksv, Mrs Dan Price and Mrs F M Fullaway,