Lavaca Randall

Oldest daughter of Henry Oran Randal and Julia Ann Sewell, Lavaca (pron. “Lavāca”) Randall was born on March 14, 1885, in Franklin County, Georgia.

On Oct. 20, 1901, Lavaca Randall (at age 16) married William Charew Shirley (b. July 29, 1882 – d. April 20, 1954). They had the following children:

  1. Odis Shirley (July 11, 1902 - 1985). On Aug. 22, 1926 she married Fred E. Lee (1899 - 1954). They had the following children:
    1. Margaret Elizabeth Lee (May 25, 1927 - ). On Feb. 20, 1953 she married Herman Ayers (b. Mar. 24, 1921).
    2. Shirley Jean Lee (July 30, 1930 - )
    3. William Freddy Lee (Jan. 13, 1936 - ). on Sept. 3, 1961 he married Earnestine Stewart.
  2. Willie Ola Shirley (Nov. 16, 1904 - Dec. 28, 2000)1). On Oct. 10, 1921 she married James E. Bruce (b. Oct. 19, 1901 - Nov. 2, 1971)2). They had two chilren:
    1. Thomas Edwin Bruce (Sept. 29, 1923 - ). On Sept. 15, 1943 he married Sarah Honea.
    2. Mary Jim Bruce (Sept. 30, 1938 - ). During June 1958 she married Morgan Holbrock.
  3. William Howard Shirley (Feb. 24, 1909 - July 30, 1989)3). On Dec. 4, 1930 he married Laura Mae Alexander (b. Oct. 20, 1905). They had one daughter:
    1. Nancy Ann Shirley (May 9, 1932 - ). On Sept. 20, 1958 she married Melvin P. Shoemake (b. Sept. 17, 1937).
  4. Winifred Haron Shirley (Sept. 8, 1911 - Nov. 22, 1912. Died in infancy at 14 months old.)
  5. Sarah Ruby Shirley (Sept. 22, 1913 - ). On Dec. 23, 1945 she married James S. Prichard. They had one son:
    1. Philip Seaborn Prichard (Aug. 15, 1949 - )
  6. William Charew Shirley, Jr. (Born Dec. 14, 1916. Married Louise Hesse in 1944. Sgt. William C. Shirley, Jr. of “C” Battery, 202nd Field Artillery Battalion, United States Army was killed in action on January 3, 1945 near Bining, Lorraine, France. He was the Chief of a 155mm Howitzer gun crew.)4)
  7. Flora Velma Shirley (Oct. 10, 1919 - ) She married Talmadge W. Grant (Born Feb. 24, 1918). They had one child:
    1. Wilson Aaron Grant (Jan. 8, 1949 - )
  8. James Ralton Shirley (Feb. 15, 1923 - March 7, 1980)5) Captured by the Germans during early January 1945. He was released April/May 1945 – during a prisoner exchange. On March 12, 1947 he married Lula Belle Reece (Feb. 11, 1920 - Nov. 14, 2006). Lula Belle Reece had been a nurse during WW II. 6). They had one son:
    1. James Ralton Shirley, Jr.

Lavaca and William Charew Shirley moved to South Carolina during February, 1930.

1940 United States Federal Census


State: South Carolina
County: Oconee
Township or other Division of County: Wagener Township
Date: May 13, 1940

Name Relation Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
William C Shirley Head M 57 Georgia Farmer
Lavaca Shirley Wife F 55 Georgia
Ruby Shirley Daughter F 25 Georgia Helper Farm
W C Shirley, Jr. Son M 23 Georgia Laborer Farm
Flora Velma Shirley Daughter F 20 Georgia Laborer Farm
James Shirley Son M 17 Georgia

Source: “United States Census, 1940,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K469-D6T : accessed 23 January 2015), William C Shirley, Wagener Township, Oconee, South Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 37-28, sheet 14B, family 256, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 3828.

[1940 United States Federal Census, Sheet 14B. William C Shirley's family begins on line 78.]


[1940 United States Federal Census, Sheet 15A. William C Shirley's family continues at line 1 (from Sheet 14B).]

Lavaca Randall-Shirley died on April 25, 1969, and was buried in “Coneross Cemetery”, Oconee County, South Carolina. 7)

The “History of Franklin County” (by the “Frsnklin County Historical Society”, fourth printing 2004, page 521 INCORRECTLY cites that Lacava Randall died during 1916. The correct date was April 25, 1969. Source: Lacava Randall's daughter, Margaret Shirley-Ayers. This is corroborated by the “FindaGrave” web site.
1)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=87485389
2)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=87485260
3)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51079950
4)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51079943
5)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23310147
6)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23310148
7)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51079925