Individual Details
James Less FURR
(February 5, 1904 - October 5, 1956)
Alleged threats that James Less Furr would kill her led his wife, Juliette, to ask a limited divorce in Circuit Court at Upper Marlboro yesterday. The petition, filed through Attorney J. F. Lillard, states that Furr, on October 3, beat his wife, threatening to kill her, and forced her and their two children, Virginia Lee and Kathryn Furr, to leave his house. Judge Joseph C. Mattingly ordered the man in court October 29 to tell his side of the case. The Washington Times, Washington D.C., October 19, 1932
Family of Nine Flees As Early-Morning Fire Razes House
2-Day-Old Baby Carried Out of Smoking Home On Road to Baltimore
The Furr family, mother, father and seven children, including a 2 day-old baby girl, escaped with their lives, but little else, early today when fire destroyed a restaurant, barber shop and home on Baltimore boulevard at Autoville Drive near Branchville. Mrs. Ruby Furr was awakened by the smell of smoke about 2:30 a.m. and awakened her husband James. He discovered the flames in the rear of the restaurant on the first floor and while he was attempting to fight the fire his wife managed to wake the children. As the smoke grew thicker, Mrs. Furr, holding the baby, Alma Jean, born Tuesday in the upstairs apartment, crawled down the back stair way to safety, but was close to collapse when she reached the bottom. Eight-year-old James, the eldest of the seven children, followed his mother carrying Mary Agnes, 2 ½ and then ran across the street to a filling station to summon aid. By the time the Branchville Fire Department arrived, Margaret, 6, had reached the back yard with her brother, Albert, 19 months, and Joan Ann, 5, and Donald 4, had come down the stairway in their night clothes. Mr. Furr, who operates a barber shop next to the restaurant, managed by his wife, said he carried no insurance. Damage was estimated at about $1,000. Some clothing was saved, but members of the family were being cared for by relatives today.
Evening Star, Washington, DC, September 18, 1941
Family of Nine Flees As Early-Morning Fire Razes House
2-Day-Old Baby Carried Out of Smoking Home On Road to Baltimore
The Furr family, mother, father and seven children, including a 2 day-old baby girl, escaped with their lives, but little else, early today when fire destroyed a restaurant, barber shop and home on Baltimore boulevard at Autoville Drive near Branchville. Mrs. Ruby Furr was awakened by the smell of smoke about 2:30 a.m. and awakened her husband James. He discovered the flames in the rear of the restaurant on the first floor and while he was attempting to fight the fire his wife managed to wake the children. As the smoke grew thicker, Mrs. Furr, holding the baby, Alma Jean, born Tuesday in the upstairs apartment, crawled down the back stair way to safety, but was close to collapse when she reached the bottom. Eight-year-old James, the eldest of the seven children, followed his mother carrying Mary Agnes, 2 ½ and then ran across the street to a filling station to summon aid. By the time the Branchville Fire Department arrived, Margaret, 6, had reached the back yard with her brother, Albert, 19 months, and Joan Ann, 5, and Donald 4, had come down the stairway in their night clothes. Mr. Furr, who operates a barber shop next to the restaurant, managed by his wife, said he carried no insurance. Damage was estimated at about $1,000. Some clothing was saved, but members of the family were being cared for by relatives today.
Evening Star, Washington, DC, September 18, 1941
Events
| Birth | February 5, 1904 | Augusta County, VA | |||
| Marriage | November 9, 1921 | District of Columbia - Juliette F. LYON |  | ||
| Occupation | 1930 - 1950 | barber - Prince George's County, MD | |||
| Death | October 5, 1956 | Beltsville, Prince George's County, MD |  | | |
| Marriage | Ruby Pauline DOYLE | ||||
| Divorce | Juliette F. LYON | ||||
| Alt name | James Les FURR | ||||
| Burial | George Washington Cemetery, Adelphi, Prince George's County, MD | |
Families
| Spouse | Juliette F. LYON (1900 - 1992) |
| Child | Virginia Lee FURR (1923 - 2008) |
| Child | Living |
| Spouse | Ruby Pauline DOYLE (1914 - 2008) |
| Child | James Less FURR Jr. (1934 - 1989) |
| Child | Margaret Jane FURR (1935 - 2008) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Albert Lee FURR (1940 - 1950) |
| Child | Alma Jean FURR (1941 - 2015) |
| Child | Charles Raymond FURR (1943 - 2013) |
| Child | William Eugene "Billy" FURR (1944 - 2007) |
| Child | Dorothy Elizabeth FURR (1945 - 2019) |
| Child | Jerry F. FURR (1947 - 1950) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Father | John Newton FURR (1865 - 1939) |
| Mother | Margaret Jane "Maggie" PANNELL (1871 - 1949) |
| Sibling | Alma Virginia FURR (1892 - 1963) |
| Sibling | William Franklin FURR (1894 - 1969) |
| Sibling | Robert Lee FURR (1899 - 1958) |
| Sibling | John Thomas FURR (1901 - 1953) |
| Sibling | Edward S. "Eddie" FURR (1908 - 1948) |
Notes
Death
FURR, JAMES LESS, on Friday, October 5, 1956, at his residence, 11214 Old Baltimore pike, Beltsville, Md., JAMES LESS FURR, beloved husband of Ruby Furr, father of Margaret McCandless, Joan A., Mary A., Jean, Dorothy, Judy, Fay and Bonnie Sue Furr; Donald, Ray, William and James Less Furr, jr. Services at the Gasch Funeral Home, Hyattsville, Md., on Monday. October 8, at 2 p.m. Relatives and friends invited. Interment George Washington Cemetery.The Evening Star, Washington, DC, October 7, 1956
Endnotes
1. District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 24 November 2020.
2. The Washington Post, Washington, DC, October 6, 1956.
3. The Evening Star, Washington, DC.