mclucas

McLucas: From Scotland to Georgia

Archibald McLucas (1799-1841)--First in Fayette

Submitted by Sara Jane Overstreet, based on research by self and John McLucas, Sr., both direct descendents

The McLucas' were part of the MacDougall clan in Scotland. Our ancestors seem to be of Celtic descent. For centuries they lived off the land and supporting each other in a harsh and beautiful country. This clan held land in the Argyll section, as well as islands including Coll, Jura, Lismore, Mull, Tiree and elsewhere. The clan was active in the political changes affecting Scottish history--opposed to Robert the Bruce; aligned with Wallace in the cause of Scottish independence from England; and later marrying into Robert the Bruce's family. The daughter of the last MacDougall Lord of Lorne married Sir John Stewart and when that family gained control of the English throne the MacDougall lands that had been confiscated earlier were restored to the clan.

Our ancestors were witness to many struggles in Scotland. After the Scottish crown joined with the English crown in 1603, the governmental system in Scotland became subject to English rule. Scottish Christians had resisted the Pope's rule over their churches for generations, and were not enthusiastic about the Church of England and the king ruling their churches. The Presbyterian church fit well with the traditional clan ideology. Rebellions occurred with some frequency during periods of religious and political upheaval. Clans chose sides in the rebellions. Englishmen gradually gained more land and influence as they moved from the Lowlands to the Highlands--with the Highlands being especially resistant to change as they were separated from England by terrain and by ideology.

When the clans chose from time to time to rise up against the English and lost, there were military and economic consequences. Following a failed uprising in 1745-46, the clan system lost much of its influence for all time. There were political, economic, and religious hardships. Many Scottish prisoners were killed in a sort of "ethnic cleansing." Others were shipped out to the American South.

Our first McLucas ancestor--John McLucas (1766-1831)--came to America a few years after this last uprising. In addition to the nation's hardships, our ancestor had additional economic reasons for immigrating. Since an estate was generally left intact to the oldest son, it is of note that John McLucas was the fourth child in his family and did not stand to inherit the land. He and a number of other Scotsmen came to America in the 1700's with dreams of establishing themselves on the land. Since these "second sons" did not leave property behind in the old county, they were free to come to America and move inland where the government was encouraging settlement for their own purposes (e.g., increase the ratio of white settlers; establish settlements as a buffer against invasions from non-citizens). John McLucas and his brother Daniel landed in Wilmington, NC in 1783. John took the oath for naturalization the next year. He moved into a community with others from Scotland, as there had been much Highlander as well as Scots-Irish immigration into the Carolinas and up the rivers to the interior (McLucas, 1996).

The histories of NC and of Cheraw District of SC show a strong Scottish influence. John McLucas (born in the Parish of Torosay, Argyleshire, Scotland) and his wife Mary McPhail McLucas (born in the Isle of Mull, Argyleshire, Scotland) were buried with their kinsmen in Marlboro County, SC. (Notice that the county just north of Marlboro SC is named Scotland NC). Their son Archibald McLucas moved to Fayette County, GA. It is interesting that others from that same area in SC moved to Fayette County at about the same time--e.g., Elisha Hill and Martha "Patsy" Stubbs Hill (McLucas, 1996), the Mask's, and the Lamb's.

Archibald McLucas (b. 1799 in Marlboro Co., SC; d. 12-13-1841 in Fayette Co., GA; m. about 1828 in SC) was one of the first white settlers in Fayette County, GA, having bought land (LL 8 in 5th Dist. in 1829) after the treaty of Indian Springs was established. He married a woman who was born in Scotland and then moved to America at an early age--Mary MacDougald ( b. 1800; d. 1888; dau. of Duncan MacDougald and Jean Campbell). This couple is buried in the Inman Methodist Church cemetery in Fayette County, GA (McLucas, 1996). Their son Rev. Daniel McLucas was said to have a Scottish accent (Burdett, 1950).

The MacDougall clan is recognized by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. The MacDougall Coat of Arms has a lion. The Tartan is bright red with darker colors running through it in a plaid pattern. The Motto is "Buaidh no bas" (To conquer or die).

Resources:

Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire. HarperCollins Publishers. 1994.

Scotland: A Concise History (Rev. Ed.), by Fitzroy MacLean. Thames and Hudson. 1993.

A History of Marlboro County: With Traditions and Sketches of Numerous Families, by J. A.W. Thomas. Foote & Davies Co., 1897.

McLucas Family Genealogy, by John McLucas, Sr. 1995.

A Chambers Family Record, by Sadie Chambers Burdett, 1950, unpublished.

Andrew McLucas (1827-28--1863)

Submitted to Sara Jane Overstreet by John McLucas, Jr. of Inman, GA

My great great uncle, Private Andrew McLucas, died at Point Lookout, Maryland of wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg. Our family believes he is buried there in a mass grave along with four thousand other soldiers, but we can't be sure. Andrew was captured and taken prisoner after being wounded on July 2, 1863. He was sent to other prisons before being sent to Point Lookout, Maryland on October 20, 1863. Pvt. Andrew McLucas was a brother of my Great Great Grandfather Daniel McLucas, Captain of Company C, GA 53rd GA Regiment, and was in the same company with Daniel. His cousin, Major Hugh McLucas Jr. of South Carolina, was also killed at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. Company C (The Fayette Planters) was raised here in Fayette County and fought under General Robert E. Lee.

My father was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, and I hope to one day be a Marine. It would truly be an honor for me and my family to have the privilege of laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. This would be an experience that would last a lifetime.

Note by S. J. Overstreet--In May, 1997, John put the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. He was given this honor based on the essay displayed above.

Andrew McLucas was born 1827-28 in Marlboro County, SC and moved as a child to Fayette, Co., GA. He was the son of Archibald McLucas and Mary MacDougald. He was married to Catherine Giles and had children when he went to serve in the War Between the States.

Rev. Daniel McLucas (1832-1899) &

Rebecca Ann Chambers (1828-1908)

Submitted by S. J. Overstreet from personal research as well as that of John McLucas, Sr., Griffin Lunceford, Sadie Chambers Burdett, and others.

Daniel McLucas (b. 1-6-1832; d. 4-16-1899) and Rebecca Ann Chambers (b. 1828; d. 1908) were born to some of the earliest settlers in the Fayette/Henry/Clayton County area of Georgia. Their parents each had come following the Indian Springs Treaty when settlers were encouraged to populate the area and were given land through lottery drawings. This couple married Feb. 2, 1854, and were the parents of 6 children who survived and contributed to the population now living in the area. The couple farmed as their main source of livelihood. Daniel was a Local Preacher at Liberty Chapel--now known as Inman United Methodist Church located on Hill's Bridge Road in the southern part of the county. Both are buried under prominent markers in the cemetery at Inman.

Daniel McLucas was born in Fayette County on Jan. 6, 1832. His parents had come to the area from South Carolina. Daniel was the son of Archibald McLucas (b. 1799, d. 1841, Fayette Co., GA--buried Inman), whose family had come from Scotland in the late 1700's and settled among other Scottish people in the Cheraw section of South Carolina. Archibald married Mary MacDougald (b. Dec. 22, 1800, Kelmartin Parish, Scotland; died June 11, 1888, Fayette Co., GA--buried Inman) about 1828. Daniel's mother's having come from Scotland would account for his reported Scottish accent. Daniel built a mercantile on the site where the current Inman United Methodist Church now stands, and later the store was moved across Hill's Bridge Road. When Daniel died his youngest son John Lee McLucas took over the store

Rebecca Ann Chambers was born in Henry County, GA--near Inman at the Flint River where land was originally Henry, then Fayette, and later Clayton. Her family had been in Georgia having drawn land following the Revolutionary War. Her parents were Joseph Sanders Chambers (b. 1799, SC; d. 1858--buried Chambers Family Cemetery near New Hope Methodist in Clayton County) and Frances Asbury Stinchcomb (b. 1802, Elbert Co., GA; d. 1894--buried Chambers Family Cemetery). They are listed in Elbert County marriage records as having been united on Aug. 29, 1822. They moved to land that Joseph bought from his brother William. The couple established a home near Liberty Chapel and had children whose names are still listed in the local population.

Daniel and Rebecca had lineage of their own. All except the last of their children were arranged before Daniel went to fight in the CSA. Their children and their spouses are as follows:

Mary Frances McLucas (b. Nov. 7, 1854; d. Apr. 2, 1933--married James Wordie Dixon)

Archibald Joseph McLucas (b. July 23, 1856; d. Apr. 11, 1903--married Sara Jane Lunceford)

James Andrew McLucas (b. Oct. 11, 1857; d. Oct. 20, 1933--married Pauline Whitaker)

Martha Jane McLucas (b. May 13, 1860; d. Dec. 7, 1916--married Elisha Griffin Lunceford)

Margaret Ann McLucas (b. June 14, 1862; d. Aug. 28, 1897)

John Lee McLucas (b. July 5, 1866; d. Nov. 25, 1906--married Louisa Dora Nash)

Daniel McLucas was listed in the publication Memoirs of Georgia (1895) as follows:

Daniel M'D.Lucas, merchant, Inman, Fayette Co., GA., Son of Archibald and Mary (MacDougald) Lucas, was born in Fayette county Jan. 6, 1832. His paternal grandparents were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to the United States in 1796, and settled in North Carolina, where Mr. Lucas' father was born in 1799. He migrated from North Carolina to Georgia in 1827 and settled in Fayette county, where he died in 1842. His mother was born in Scotland, Dec. 22, 1800, and came to this country with her parents who settled in South Carolina, in 1804. Mr. Lucas received a common school education, and remained on the farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he began farming on his own account and continued it until 1884, when he entered upon mercantile life at Inman which he has pursued since with results entirely satisfactory to himself. He has done a good and increasing and profitable business, stands well as a reliable merchant in commercial circles, and has the implicit confidence of the people. On May 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company C--of which he was elected first lieutenant--Fifty-third Georgia regiment (Col. L. T. Doyal) which reached Richmond in June. While in the service he, with his command, participated in many of the bloodiest and most important battles of the war with marked intrepidity and courage. Among them: Seven days' fight around Richmond, Antietam, Funkston, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania County House, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Cedar Run, Petersburg, Berryville, etc., some of which lasted from two to seven days. After the last-named battle he was promoted and commissioned as captain, and discarded its duties with fidelity and distinction until the surrender. In 1856 he was elected justice of the peace, but held the office only one year. After the war he resumed farming, and after many years of success supplemented it by a general merchandise store at Inman. Mr. Lucas was married Feb. 2, 1854, to Miss Rebecca Ann--born in Henry county, GA., May 22, 1838--daughter of Joseph Sanders and Frances Asbury (Sinchcomb) /sic./ Chambers. Their parents were born in Ireland, and came when young to this country. Mr. Chambers was born in South Carolina in 1804, and died in 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas six children have been born: Mary Frances, born in November, 1854, wife of James W. Dixon, Fayette county; Archibald Joseph, born in July, 1856, farmer, Fayette county; James Andrew, born in October, 1858, farmer--homestead; Martha Jane, born May, 1860; Margaret Ann, born June, 1862; and John Lee, born July, 1866, associated with his father in business at Inman. Mr. Lucas is a royal arch Mason, and himself and wife are working and prominent members of the Methodist church, of which he was a steward many years, and has been a local preacher for nearly two-score years.

(Information taken from oral history as well as research done by relatives John McLucas, Griffin Lunceford, S. J. Overstreet, and Sadie Chambers Burdett)

Relation to Author:

Sara Jane Overstreet--children Graceann Overstreet Rogers and Alexander Overstreet Rogers

Sara Jane Overstreet--child of Winton DeVan Overstreet, Jr. & Vernon Loreen Phillips

Winton DeVan Overstreet, Jr.--child of Winton DeVan Overstreet, Sr. Sara Nancy Banks

Sara Nancy Banks Overstreet--child of Alexander Gardner Banks and Lula Effie McLucas

Lula Effie McLucas Banks--child of Archibald Joseph McLucas & Sara Jane Lunceford

Archibald Joseph McLucas--child of (Rev.) Daniel McLucas & Rebecca Ann Chambers

Archibald McLucas & Sarah Jane Lunsford

submitted by Sara Jane Overstreet, direct descendent

Archibald Joseph McLucas (b. 4-23-1856; d. 4-11-1903)

Archibald Joseph McLucas (b. 4-23-1856; d. 4-11-1903) was born in Fayette County, GA and married a woman from another local family. Sarah Jane Lunsford (b. 1858; d. 1925) was the daughter of (Rev.) Thomas F. Lunsford and Martha Rachel Hill. While her father had moved to Fayette from Newton County, her mother had been born in South Carolina and came as a child with her parents. The couple was married in Fayette County on 11-15-1877, and had the following children:

Martha Annie McLucas--b. 8-5-1878 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 10-10-1937; m. Bill McBrayer (see separate biographical sketch McBrayer)

Lula Effie McLucas--b. 12-8-1881 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 12-29-1946; m. Alexander Gardner Banks (see separate biographical sketch Banks)

Minnie F. "Nannie" McLucas--8-28-1883 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 10-1-1909;

Mary Griffin "Mamie" McLucas--b. about 1885; m. Earl F. Bearden

Dora Lee McLucas--b. 5-10-1888 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 11-22-1952; m. Sam Saxon

Bertha Tommy McLucas--b. 5-16-1890 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 6-17-1894

Maude Rebecca McLucas--b. 10-21-1892; d. 1-8-1955; m. James Calvin Jackson

Lottie Bell McLucas--b. 12-26-1894 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 1-23-1975

Wilma Florence McLucas--b. 8-4-1897 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 2-14-1979; m. Roy Nash

Sallie Kate McLucas--b. 4-7-1900 in Fayette Co., GA; d. 4-22-1971; m. Clarke Maddux

After the death of her husband, Sally McLucas was left with a farm and a houseful of daughters. While the girls worked the fields, some work still had to be hired out. (In fact, Alex Banks had come to work on the farm and his employment resulted in his marriage to Lula--after he had dated another couple of sisters first!) It was not possible for the family to keep the farm--home off Goza Rd. in Fayette County in the Inman community. Sally sold the farm and house to Arch's younger brother John Lee McLucas, and his family still owns the land today. The farm house stands. The fireplace is still intact, and many of the nails in the walls are individually forged blacksmith nails. It is noted that the field surrounding the house has abundant bulb plants that have probably been reproducing for over 100 years.

When Sally moved to a house that still stands abandoned at the corner of Hwy 92 South and Inman Road, she did so through the generosity of some of her Lunsford relatives living in Acworth. Her husband died young and suddenly--presumed from some sort of brain hemorrhage. She still had years of childrearing to go! She lived in this house until she was elderly. Many of her grandchildren were born in this house, and they would often visit at lunchtime when they attended the nearby Inman School. Sara Banks (Overstreet) was one of many children born in this house.

Resources:

Genealogical research of John McLucas, Griffin Lunceford, & S. J. Overstreet

History of Fayette County: 1821-1971, Fayette Co. Historical Society, 1977

Hon. Daniel Allen McLucas (1835-1900) &

Charlotte S. Hightower (1840-1918)

submitted by S. J. Overstreet

Daniel Allen McLucas (b. 2-17-1835; d. 10-16-1900)

Daniel Allen McLucas (b. 2-17-1835; d. 10-16-1900; buried Inman Cemetery) was born in Marlboro Co., SC. His parents were John McLucas--brother of the Archibald McLucas who was the first of his family to move to Fayette--and Janet McPhail. Daniel Allen's father died when he was young, and his mother remarried. Rev. Daniel McLucas brought Daniel Allen to Fayette. After coming to Inman Daniel Allen was a farmer, lawyer, Justice of the Peace, member of Fayette County Board of Education, elected to the Georgia General Assembly, Mason, and member of Liberty Chapel Methodist Church. Her served in the C. S. A. as a Captain and Major.

Daniel Allen married Charlotte Hightower (b. 10-16-1840; d. 10-30-1918) on December 23, 1856. She was the daughter of James Calhoun Hightower and Manervia Ann Armstrong. The couple had the following children:

James A. "Jim" McLucas--md. Annie Bell Davis

W. M. Jewel McLucas--md. Effie Matthews

John McLucas--b. 10-21-1857; d. 11-16-1942; md. Emma Murphy

Mary Jane "Mollie" McLucas--b. 3-20-1862; d. 12-29-1887; md. 4-15-1884 J. Matthew Sams

Margaret A. "Maggie" McLucas--b. 5-17-1865; d. April 1940; md. William Henry Burch

Robert Edward McLucas--b. 1866/7; md. Lunnie Price

Lilla Idell McLucas--b. 12-2-1871; d. 9-30-1956; md. Walter Hall

Minerva Frances McLucas--b. 2-13-1873; d. 5-19-1918; md. Dr. J. A. S. Chambers

Daniel Allen McLucas--b. 2-11-1875; d. 11-19-1941; md. Minnie Welden

Andrew Jefferson McLucas--b. 11-2-1875; m. Erma G. Roberts

Walker Hugh McLucas--b. 5-27-1884; d. 8-11-1887

Resources:

Genealogical research John McLucas, Sr.

History of Fayette County--1821-1971, Fayette Co. Historical Society

History of Clayton County, Georgia--1821-1983, Ancestors Unlimited, Inc., Genealogical Society, 1983.

John Lee McLucas (1866-1906) & Louisa Dora Nash (1868-1952)

and Family

Based on information submitted by John Lee McLucas, Sr., direct descendant; edited by S. J. Overstreet for church history

John Lee McLucas was born 7-5-1866 in Fayette County, GA as the youngest son of Capt./Rev. Daniel McLucas and Rebecca Ann Chambers. Since Capt./Rev. McLucas served in the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee for three years, it is assumed that his son was named after General Lee as this is the first time the name Lee appears in the McLucas lineage. This was Daniel's only child born after the Civil War. John Lee was a farmer and was the first postmaster in Inman. In this capacity he was responsible for the name "Inman" being given to this community (in honor of the cotton trading firm of S. M. Inman & Co.). He was a merchant and took on running the mercantile that his father had started in the community. (The first store had stood on the site of the current Inman Church, and the two more recent buildings stand across the street from the church.) He was a Mason and an active member of Liberty Chapel Church. Even at a young age he held positions of responsibility in the church. He grew to be six feet seven inches tall--a particularly unusual height in the 1800's. It is said that height is a McLucas trait still evident today.

John L. married Louisa Dora Nash on 1-7-1891 in Fayette County. She was born 1-14-1868 in Fayette County, as the daughter of John A. Nash and Nancy S. Harp. She died in Fayette on 11-21-1952. The couple had the following children:

Rembert Harp McLucas--b. 7-1-1892; d. 3-19-1927; md. Virginia Long Allen

Nannie Ann McLucas--b. 12-20-1894; d. 12-2-1963

Andrew Clinton McLucas--b. 4-21-1897; d. 3-13-1973; md. Ethel Woodward

John Daniel McLucas--b. 1900; d. 4-22-1981; md. Harriet Leppert

Margaret Ann McLucas--b. & d. 1905

Willie Bryan "Bill" McLucas, Sr.--b. 4-4-1906; d. 6-25-1986; md. Grace Minter

John L. McLucas died11-25-1906 as the result of a "mad dog" bite. He was bitten by a puppy who died of rabies. After determining that the puppy bite was the cause of his sickness he rode the train to Atlanta every day for 21 days and took the newly developed Louis Pasteur treatment for Hydrophobia. This consisted of a large shot in the stomach every day for 21 days. Although the treatment did not work, it did prevent his dying from being so horrible as was the case with Hydrophobia. He and his wife are buried in the Inman Cemetery.

John L. McLucas' son Willie Bryan "Bill" McLucas, Sr. was born 4-4-1906 at his parents' home. When Bill was 7 months old his father died at the age of forty from a "mad dog" bite. He left a widow and five children ranging in age from 7 months to 14 years with Bill being the youngest.

Bill's mother, Dora (Nash) McLucas, never remarried and Bill grew up under the tutelage of his mother; Grandpa and Grandma Nash; his sister Nannie; brothers Rembert, Clint, and J. D.; his uncle Jim McLucas; his cousin Dan McLucas; and other friends and relatives in the Inman community. He developed a love for quail hunting and learned well from cousin Dan McLucas and his son Steve McLucas. He attended the Inman school until it was consolidated with Fayetteville High in the early 1920's. He played basketball and was on the track and field team. He graduated (11th grade) from Fayetteville High in 1925. After graduation he moved to Fort Myers, Fla. to seek his fortune. He worked in a furniture store for four or five years selling furniture, delivering furniture and installing linoleum floors. He continued his "bird" hunting in Florida and often remarked that quail were plentiful there but so were rattlesnakes. In the early 1930's the Florida boom turned to bust and Bill returned to Inman and took over the management of his mother's farm as well as farming on his own account. Bill always embraced progressive farming practices and was a pioneer in terracing, rotating crops, soil testing, fertilization, planting wild game feed plots, and building the land through legume planting. In the 1930's he purchased his first tractor, a Minneapolis Moline, to use in his farming operations. He followed this purchase with a combine and traveled all over Fayette County harvesting grain for shares or cash. He continued farming throughout the depression and in 1943 he married Grace Minter, the girl next door. From 1945 until 1951 Bill and Grace had three boys, Bill, John & Andy, and one girl, Judith Kay, who died after a premature birth.

When they first married they rented a house next door to the (cousin) Dan and Minnie McLucas home on Hill's Bridge Road in Inman. About 1944-5 they built a house on John Street on the lot given to Grace by her family. Her mother Della (Moore) Minter moved in with Bill and Grace and lived with them until her death in 1955 at the age of eighty-three.

In the 1950's Bill took a salesman job with the International Fertilizer Company. He traveled all over Georgia in this capacity and was on the road in 1952 near Roberta, GA when the Georgia State Patrol located him with the sad news that his mother had died. His favorite territory was the north Georgia mountains, especially the Hiawassee valley. He was a gifted "talker" and developed many friendships throughout his territory. By the mid 1950's row cropping cotton and corn was on the way out in Georgia and so was Bill's job with the fertilizer company. He returned to his farm full time, but cotton was no longer king. Prices were down, and the sharecroppers were moving from the farm to better paying jobs in the city. Bill gave up cotton and corn farming and switched to raising cattle and beef calves. He kept a commercial beef cow operation until 1968, when he sold all of his cows and retired.

In the 1950's Bill was one of the charter members of the Fayette County Kiwanis Club and remained a member for over one quarter century. During his membership, he served as Kiwanis President, Fair Chairman, Horse Show Chairman, and was on other committees as needed. He was instrumental in helping the Kiwanis Club purchase the land and establish the Fayette County Kiwanis Recreation Center on Redwine Road.

In 1971 at the age of sixty-five, Bill was appointed county registrar in charge of all voter registration for Fayette County, GA. This appointment had traditionally required a minimum of time, but 1970 to 1980 saw the county population triple from ten to almost thirty thousand. This swelled the voter rolls and caused Bill to recommend that the county commission revise and modernize the registration process by creating a board of elections to handle all matters relating to voter registration and elections. After this was accomplished Bill retired once again.

On July 5, 1980, Grace McLucas suffered a massive heart attack and died. Bill lived alone in relatively good health from 1980 until his death in June of 1986, at the age of 80. By this time he had three grown sons and three grandchildren.

He married Della Grace Minter, daughter of John Gideon Minter and Della Lee Moore, on 4-4-1943. She was born 4-3-1912. She was a teacher, homemaker, and Sunday School Teacher at Inman Methodist. She died July 5, 1980 and she and her husband are buried in the Inman cemetery.

Grace Minter was born in her parents' home in the Rest community of Fayette County, GA on Wednesday, April 3, 1912. She was the youngest of twelve children, eight of whom survived. After Grace was born the family moved to a home across from the Methodist Church on John Street in Inman, GA. Her father John Gideon Minter died when Grace was eleven years old. She attended Fayette County High School graduating in 1929. Fayetteville was five miles from Inman, and she rode to school in a car belonging to the Wesley family of Woolsey. The students that rode together were Rubye Wesley, Eloise "Girlie" Woolsey, Faybe McLucas, Frances Wills, John McClain, and Grace. They became good friends and maintained lifelong friendships even though they were scattered.

Grace attended the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, GA graduating about 1932 or 1933. She obtained a job teaching school in Clayton County. She taught at Mountain View, Lovejoy, and possibly other schools in the area. In 1943 she married Bill McLucas, the boy next door.

Bill and Grace had the following children--still living in Inman community:

Willie Bryan "Bill" McLucas, Jr. md. Ellen Callaway

John Lee McLucas, Sr. md. Mary Victoria Bernhard

Andrew Bruce "Andy" McLucas md. Hilda Winnona Carver

Judith Kay McLucas--b. & d. 1951

In 1956 when her youngest son Andy started the first grade, she resumed her teaching career. She was hired to teach the fourth and fifth grade (in one classroom) in the Woolsey School District in Fayette County, GA. She taught at Woolsey School as Principal/Teacher until it was consolidated with the Fayette County Schools by the Culpepper Act of the GA General Assembly. Woolsey School closed its doors in 1966. Grace transferred to Fayetteville and taught third grade at Hood Avenue Elementary in Fayetteville from 1966 until her retirement in 1974.

In September of 1974, Grace and Bill's first grandchild was born, and she insisted on keeping the infant Bryan (Son of John Lee & Vicki McLucas) in her home while his parents returned to work. Bryan was a real joy to her, and she delighted in taking him with her to visit friends. She read stories and taught him many things while he was very young. When Bryan was four years old he could read the newspaper and loved it.

Grace taught Sunday School at Inman Methodist Church for over twenty years. She continued her church and social activities and membership in professional organizations (Delta Kappa Gamma). She canned vegetables from the garden, cooked and baked wonderful food, and did all the things grandmothers love to do.

On Saturday July 5, 1980, Grace was at her son John's home visiting her first granddaughter, Brandi, who was six days old. Bill called and said that Frances Wills had come by to see her so she started home. She was driving down the driveway when she suffered a massive heart attach and died. She was sixty-eight years old.

Return to Biographies Index

Return to Fayette County Home Page