Mary Elizabeth Baird Shepherd: September 26, 1912 - November 12, 1985

 

The Bookmobile

 

Time Machine: Max Cleland

In 1985, the year that I was president of the Floyd County Democratic Association, Secretary of State Max Cleland was kind enough to inscribe a portrait of himself to me. Although he and I are not directly related to my knowledge I think our families have some connections. My Shaws and the Cleland's lived in the Lithonia area. My grandfather's first cousin Lou Shaw married a Cleland. So I suspect our families are connected by marriage at least, but I have not established the link. So, when I was working on my "family tree" I called Max's father, Joseph Hughie Cleland, and had a great time talking with him by phone about our possible family connections. He was a very friendly, articulate, and knowledgeable fellow. We were both pretty sure there was a connection, but did not get it figured out.

 

Time Machine: Jefferson-Jackson Dinner 1985

I finished up my year as president of the Floyd County Democratic Association with this annual dinner. I was thrilled to attract Lt. Gov. Zell Miller as the keynote speaker.

Lt. Gov. Zell Miller, Congressman Buddy Darden, and DNR Commissioner Joe Tanner
each inscribed my program.

 

Campaign Advice from Uncle Mac

A much earlier painting of Uncle Mac by Ralph Wolfe Cowan (from my iPhone photo)

Sheila’s Uncle Mac (husband of Wilma, the sister of Sheila's mother Mavis) sent me this letter today (and I would pull it from an old box of papers in 2026) and enclosed a helpful <wink> guide to campaigning in case I ever had a second political race. I lost the 1984 race. What a shame I didn't have this important advice a year earlier!