Funeral held for worker killed in Rockmart plant blast

POLK COUNTY, Ga. — Hundreds of family, friends and co-workers gathered in a small church to pay last respects to a Rockmart plant worker who died from injuries sustained in an explosion last week.

Elaine Davidson, 56, was a quality assurance inspector at the Meggitt Polymer and Composites Facility in Polk County. Officials say contents in a pressurized vessel called an autoclave exploded inside a room at the plant early Thursday morning, causing critical injuries to the worker. She died an hour later at a hospital in Cedartown.

A stepson of the victim spoke with Channel 2's Tom Regan prior to the overflow service at Morning View Baptist Church.

"The family is doing well thanks to the outpouring of community support that we have received. Elaine was well loved throughout the community. I can't begin to tell you how much the family appreciates everything this community has done for us at this time," said stepson Joey Davidson.

Mourners at the church included co-workers that have worked with Davidson for many years.

"We're worked together for 37 years. She was always sweet, no matter where you saw her. She was a very sweet person," said co-worker Donna Holder.

Family members and others say Davidson was a loving mother and grandmother, and devoted to her family and her church. She taught a Sunday school class.

"It is heartbreaking, but we still know she loved the Lord and we love the Lord, too. So we are standing and grieving with the family," said co-worker Phyllis Davis.

The Meggitt plant closed Monday in recognition of the funeral service. A flag flew at half staff. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that investigates workplace accidents and injuries, said it will take several weeks to determine the cause of the explosion. The company said it is conducting a separate investigation of the accident.

WSBTV