Sibling Saturday: Shelton Sisters, June 1, 1974

After the Shelton Family Reunion back on June 25, I went to the home of my first cousin twice removed Shirley Thompson, and looked through an album of old family photographs and newspaper clippings.

One of the clippings was this photograph from the first Shelton Family Reunion of descendants of my great-great-grandparents, Levi Marion Shelton (1863-1941) and Sarah Ann Spikes Shelton (1871-1935).  It was held at Nantachie Lake in Grant Parish, Louisiana (between Montgomery and Aloha) on June 1, 1974.

The photo shows the four of Levi's and Sarah's children who were still alive on that date.  From the upper left, standing, they are Elvie Eloise Shelton Jowers (1907-1988) and Pearl Vivian Shelton Chelette (1909-2003); and, seated from left, Cleola Eugenia Shelton Davis (1902-1991), and my great-grandmother, Addilee Tennessee Shelton Wolfe Odom Harris (1890-1977).

My second cousin once removed
Phyllis Doherty Holmes verified who was who, and also said, "We always called Elvie 'NeeNee,' so you might hear her referred to that way. Don't know where that got started. Minus Aunt Pearl, this was the domino playing group; I think it was maybe Uncle Sid's* wife** mixed in with the three sisters to round 'em out to four, because when they played, Vicki*** and  I were assigned two each to watch and make sure they didn't cheat; Donna**** was always the score keeper. They were a rowdy bunch playing dominoes! It was always fun to hang out with them even if we weren't allowed to play."

* Uncle Sid would be John Sidney Shelton (1891-1963), brother to these four sisters.
** His wife was Sarah Corena "Cora" Hayles Shelton (1896-1979).
*** Vicki is Phyllis' sister, Vicki Irene Doherty (1957-1977).
**** Donna is Phyllis' other sister, Donna Denice Doherty Dyson (1956-2013).

Here's a little more information about Pearl and Cleola (Elvie will be in a future post).

Cleola Eugenia Shelton was born in Winn Parish, Louisiana, on October 10, 1902, the eighth of Levi's and Sarah's twelve children.  On October 5, 1919 - just short of her 17th birthday - she married Birrs Alvin Davis (1898-1900).  They had seven children, three of which died by age 2 and two more that died as young adults.  They were living in Grant Parish on the 1920, 1930, and 1940 Censuses, and specifically in Montgomery in that parish (which is adjacent to Winn) at the time the photograph above was taken in 1974.  Cleola died September 15, 1991, and is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery in Wheeling, Winn Parish.

Pearl Vivian Shelton was born December 23, 1909, in Louisiana, most likely in Winn Parish, the eleventh of Levi's and Sarah's twelve children.  She married Peter Lee Chelette (1902-1997) on June 16, 1926, and they had seven children, two of which are still living.  When the photograph above was taken in 1974, Pearl was living in Colfax in Grant Parish. Pearl passed away June 12, 2003, in Tioga, Louisiana.


© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.