UPDATED @ 11:31 AM ON Wednesday May 14, 1973…Remembering The Alday Family

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Posted by: Steve Hardwick
Date: May 14 2024 3:31 PM

Today I placed this floral bouquet in the arms of the Angel Of Hope for Ned Alday, Chester Alday, Aubrey Alday, Jimmy Alday and Jerry and Mary Alday.

On May 14, 1973, escaped prisoners from a Maryland work camp massacred members of a Seminole County farming family who had interrupted a burglary.

Seminole County, Georgia is just across the river from Dothan.

Even though it happened 51 years ago it is still a day that many of us will never forget.

Every time I ride down river road where the massacre happened I feel heartbroken for the Alday relatives and for the community.

Ned, Chester, Aubrey, Jimmy, Jerry And Mary
You Are Always Loved
You Are Always Missed
You Will Always Be Remembered

Steve Hardwick 

Wiregrass Angel Of Hope

UPDATED @ 11:31 AM   

From Rickey Stokes ... my parents had a place on Lake Seminole. And my dad, Curtis Stokes, loved to fish. In fact he fished Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday's if the fish were not biting. If they were biting he would fish 7 days per week.

The day of the Alday Murders, my parents along with Hubert Robbins and myself had gone to the lake for the day. At the Marina, then called Dunn's Marina, Mr. Bud Alday was there. I remember talking with him. And it was Bud Alday who found the family members dead.

And I remember when we passed the trailer that Jerry and Mary Alday lived and where the murders took place, the tractors parked outside of the trailer. And this was before the bodies were found.

Seminole County Sheriff was Dan White with Deputy Kenneth Brooks. 

The murder suspects carried Mary Alday from the residence to a field near the scene. The car was seen by a farmer, Jerry Alday. But at the time no one knew what was going on.

The suspects were identified and arrested, later tried and convicted.

Years later Sheriff Dan White and his wife retired. The farmer, Jerry Godby, ran for Sheriff and was elected. As times changed Sheriff Godby brought the two man Sheriff Department to a larger and more active law enforcement agency. Sheriff Jerry Godby was one of the Sheriff's from the old school that he was "the man" who had to end the situations that were out of control. And he was very much of a man.

In the years after the murder, Mr. Ned Alday's son, Curt Alday and Mr. Aubrey's wife, Mrs. Inez became friends. And I have had the pleasure of eating many fine meals at Mrs. Inez's table.

Growing up was friends of Mr. Bud Alday and I was raised at Lake Seminole. Attended Spring Creek Baptist Church when we were at the lake which is where the Alday family is buried.

The Alday's are and were at the time a very respected family. And this tragic event was one of random of escapees getting behind Ms. Mary Alday as she traveled home and pulled into her residence behind her. And the man who were farming one by one was stopping to check on each other and how they were killed.

I very much remember that day.

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