Shelton Descendants Historical Society
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
EIN 88-4358768
The Grapevine
Phenomenal Accomplishment!
Reina is the 4th Great Granddaughter of Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton; the 5th Great Granddaughter of Lucy Bearden Spullock, and the 6th Great Granddaughter of Matilda and Jerry, a reputed half-Cherokee man. Reina has DNA tested with Ancestry.com.
Reina is the oldest of two daughters (Jasmine) born to Phillip G. and Jacqueline P. Henderson in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She graduated Boyd-Buchanan High School, and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from East Tennessee State University. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Memphis with a Master of Arts in Caribbean History. Reina served as a graduate assistant for the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change and as the secretary for the Graduate Association for African American History.
In May 2026 she earned her PhD from Duke University. During her tenure as a doctoral student, she has served as a teaching assistant for multiple courses and as a graduate assistant for assessment in the History Department. She is also the co-president of the Hurston James Society for the Humanities and the Social Sciences. She also served as a graduate member of the History Department’s Task Force for Research and Education in Racial Equity and assisted her advisor in the recreation of a course on Critical Race Theory. She served as a judge for the West Tennessee History Day competition for four years.
Reina received multiple grants and fellowships towards her education including an Academic-Year Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship for Haitian Creole. She speaks English and French fluently, and Haitian Creole at a novice-level. She is an aspiring professor of History and an author. Reina is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated in its rechartering of the Sigma Xi chapter in Johnson City, Tennessee in 2015.
Congratulations, Johanna!
Johanna, daughter of Robert Hermanson and Brenda Woodson Hermanson, grew up in Princeton, NJ. During her formative years she was immersed in international cultures and started learning foreign languages in elementary school. Her love of multiculturalism and languages led her to first a major in French in college and then a change into Classical Humanities. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors degree in Classics. While Johanna was finishing her undergraduate degree, she was working for New Brunswick Public Schools where she discovered how much she enjoyed working with children. She then attended The College of New Jersey and received her Masters of Education in English as a Second Language. After graduation, she moved to Northern Virginia and has been working in public schools teaching ESL to first and second graders. Beginning in 2017, Johanna started her doctoral journey at George Mason University studying Multilingual/Multicultural Education and Education Leadership. Her dissertation is titled: An Exploration of Teacher of Color Retention Through Culturally Responsive Leadership. The work examines what school leaders can do to help retain Teachers of Color in public schools. Johanna graduated from George Mason with her PhD in May 2025.
Photo: Shelton Family Cemetery/AlyssaBriellePhotography for SDHS
Historic!
Berry College has secured a $50,000 grant for further historic preservation of the Freemantown and Shelton Family cemeteries located on the campus! Thank you Jennifer Dickey, Berry College, and the families for leading this effort! Our non-profits are proud to be involved in this continuing project. The cemeteries are part of the Action Fund's first cohort of the Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative (DFS). The funds were received and controlled by Berry College and will be used to conduct Ground Penetrating Radar of the cemeteries as needed, prepare a detailed preservation plan, prepare educational materials, and prepare documentation to secure the cemeteries' recognition on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Ava G. White
Ava is the recipient of the 2nd Annual Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton 1874 Academic Scholarship
Ava G. White is a 2025 graduate of Renaissance High School in Detroit, MI where she served as Class President and was honored as Class Salutatorian. With an impressive 4.22 cumulative grade point average, Ava is a shining example of tenacity, intellectual prowess, and leadership.
During her high school career, Ava also served as Class Treasurer, Senate Treasurer and participated in extra-curricular programs such as the National Honor Society, Medical Club, Pretty Brown Girl Inc., and played on the Junior Varsity Volleyball team. Within the metro Detroit community, Ava served two years as a council member on the Skillman Foundation’s President’s Youth Council, participated three years as an outside hitter on an AAU volleyball team, was Recording Secretary of the Detroit Delta GEMS chapter, and is an alum of the College Career and Beyond Midnight Golf Program, Wayne State University Math Corps, and the Henry Ford Hospital RYSE Med program. She has received numerous city, state, and national awards, recognitions, and accolades for her academics, leadership, and community service accomplishments.
Driven by her passion for women's health, Ava is currently a freshman at Xavier University of Louisiana, majoring in Psychology Pre-Medicine. Her ultimate career goal is to obtain her medical degree to become an Obstetrician Gynecologist, focusing on decreasing the maternal mortality rate of African-American women. With a stellar academic record and exceptional leadership abilities, Ava is poised to make a profound mark on the world and set a new standard for customer care in her chosen career path.
August 14-18, 2024, was Dream Cruise 2024 weekend in metro Detroit. Our family from Denver visited Detroit to partake in the Dream Cruise festivities, just as they had in 2023, and for many years past. Cousins John Cook, a vintage car collector, enthusiast and expert, his wife Sheri, and daughter LaChaunda, made the annual trek from Denver to Detroit to drive their beautiful vehicle along the Dream Cruise route. John, Sheri, and LaChaunda, know everything there is to know about these special vehicles, and '56 seems to be John's favorite year for his vintage collection. In 2023, John and Sheri, brought their green and white Chevrolet Bel Air along for the ride, and this year a candy apple red (metallic) and white Bel Air. We were able to have a meal with them and enjoyed a Dream "Cruise" along the Woodward cruise route. We are grateful to be able to connect with them and create special memories. John is the 3rd GGson of Hardy and Mary Shelton, the 2nd GGson of Leroy and Fannie Cathey (Shelton), GGson of Oscar and Gracie Cook (Cathey), GSon of Algin and Georgia Cook (Potts), and son of John and Mattie Cook (Banks).
Vehicle Expert John Cook and Family
Wow, let's give a big round of applause to Jadynce Blowe, of Baltimore, MD! Congratulations on your incredible achievements!
Congratulations, Jadynce! We are absolutely thrilled to announce that you are the recipient of the inaugural Hardy and Mary Shelton 1974 Academic Scholarship! Your passion for acting, dancing, and singing since age three has been truly inspiring, and we are so excited to see you pursue a degree in Theater Arts at Clark Atlanta University. With your continued community service engagement and participation in meaningful extra-curricular activities, we have no doubt you will make a positive impact on the world.
Empower
Growth
In spring 2024, the Shelton Descendants Historical Society sponsored a student's participation on the annual Rhonda Walker Foundation HBCU College Tour. Learn more about RWF below.
Hubbard Pryor - Civil War Veteran
Hubbard escaped enslavement in Georgia, enlisted in the 44th Colored Infantry of the Union Army, He, along with many other black soldiers were captured by the Confederate Army and forced to rebuild the railroads. This is Hubbard's story of survival and perseverance. Freemantown's William Thomas Freeman, and Freemantown Historical Foundation founder Cheryl Freeman Snipes are highlighted in this article, as well as the 44th USCT Reenactment Group.
Clipped from Atlanta Journal Constitution
February 18, 2024
Veteran
Elouise Virginia Hudgins
WHAT AN HONOR!
Cousin Rhonda Dorsey-Prude shared this photo and historical information with us about her great aunt, our relative, Elouise Virginia Hudgins. On March 14, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden signed the bipartisan bill to award the all-black female WWII Unit known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion or the "Six-Triple-Eight" the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award bestowed by the United States Congress for distinguished achievements by individuals or institutions. The 6888th was active in 1945-1946 and comprised of 855 primarily black women in the Women's Army Corps, commanded by Army Major Charity Adams. The women were chosen to ensure that the backlog of 17 million letters and packages in Europe for our seven million military members made it to their final destinations. The motto of the 6888th was "No mail, low morale." Tyler Perry is producing a movie that will bring the service of these honorable women to life.
Our family member, Private First Class Elouise V. Hudgins is among the 855 distinguished women, of which, a half-dozen or so are still living. Elouise is the daughter of Nelson and Minnie Spruce Hudgins. Minnie (pictured below) is the daughter of Harper Spruce and Kittie Cathey. Harper Spruce is the brother of Irvin Spruce. Harper and Irvin are the sons of Currell and Martha Duke Spruce.
Read more about the fabulous women of the 6888th below.
For More Information Check out the Links Below:
Movie Premier - December 6, 2024
6888th Central Directory Postal Battalion Roster
(All Women)
https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/list-of-6888th-veterans
The 6888 Postal Directory Battalion- Heroes of World War II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSiFh85SkEw
Terry Crews Narration of the 6888th Central Postal Directory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmLH1dlh7RE
Six Triple Eight: Tyler Perry's take of the true story
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/tyler-perry-new-netflix-movie-six-triple-eight
Family Search Profile of Elouise V. Hudgins
CONGRATULATIONS!
SDHS is proud to announce that on November 2, 2023, the 44th Regiment of United States Colored Troops Reenactment Group received an NAACP Image Award, from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Branch, for their outstanding work as Civil War re-enactors. This award is a true testament to the dedication of its members, who strive to create an authentic and educational experience for all who attend their events. The group was founded 15 years ago by member Donald Tatum, and has 15 members.
Pictured at the Chattanooga National Cemetery - left to right: Robert Phillips, Emanuel Roland, Donald Tatum, Joyce Allgood, and Phillip Henderson, whose 3rd Great Grandfather, Thomas Freeman, served with the 44th Regiment! Phillip is also the 3rd Great Grandson of Hardy and Mary Shelton (photos courtesy of Phillip Henderson).
