Maria Todd of Ballinary, The Birches, Portadown, Co. Armagh died on 10th October 1940 leaving a husband, John Todd, a farmer near Portadown, Co. Armagh. Mrs. Todd was the organist of Tartaraghan Parish Church, Portadown, Co. Armagh. At the time of the accident, she was on her way back home from choir practice in a local schoolroom.
The lorry of grocer and poulterer Mr. J.G. Henderson of Woodhouse Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh struck Mrs. Todd. She died almost immediately from injuries sustained. Despite the moonlight, tall trees cast shadows over the road, increasing the darkness in the blackout. The lorry driver did not see Mrs. Todd on the country lane until it was too late. An inquest later exonerated the driver.
The sad affair cast a gloom over the neighbourhood, where the deceased was familiarly known and esteemed for her kindness and devotion to duty.
Portadown News – 19th October 1940
That evening had been the final choir practice before Tartaraghan Parish Church’s Harvest service. At Maria Todd’s funeral, the congregations sang “The Church’s One Foundation”. This was the first hymn Mrs. Todd had ever played in the church as organist. Rev. John Hobcroft, relatively new to the congregation paid a glowing tribute to Mrs. Todd who had served the church for over 50 years.