Within hours, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin, 22-year-old childhood friends and army buddies from Groveland, were arrested, taken into the basement beneath the Lake County jail, and severely beaten by deputies. She was a longtime member of Notre Dame Parish in Clarendon Hills serving as an adult religious education instructor, lector, and diligent but admittedly unskilled, prayer shawl knitter. No matter what, you can always turn to The Marshall Project as a source of trustworthy journalism about the criminal justice system. It could be a memorial or something in the historical society. Failed to delete memorial. The two men, both 22, were convicted and sentenced to death. The Klansmen came looking to kill my whole family, Vivian Shepherd said. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. He was born August 23, 1954 in Bedford, IN, the son of Daniel Lewis and Norma Jean (Tolbert) Padgett. She later went to Presbyterian School of Nursing, finishing in 1956. Learn more about managing a memorial . Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Indiana, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1907-1944. Review. Norma Hunter Lee, 86, passed away peacefully, on Monday, January 31, 2022, surrounded by her family. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Nana found great joy in her 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. The board disagreed. My father accepted the apology, Vivian said. If you found a mistake or you want to remove or add obituary, please send us e-mail to info@obituary.memorial. Vivian Shepherd took a deep breath, filled out the form, and handed it to a man she never saw again. Ron DeSantis, he and the other three members of the state clemency board unanimously granted pardons to the Groveland Four. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The past he simply buried. Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home - Wamego Obituary Heaven claimed one of its angels on earth with the passing of Norma Faye (Hauschild) Padgett on October 12, 2020, when she succumbed to. The indictment said McCall kicked and beat the man, causing his death. Norma and the man drove away. She made good time, and after finding a parking space near the Florida Capitol Complex in Tallahassee, she rushed toward the House Office Building. He is buried in one of Grovelands all-black cemeteries. This browser does not support getting your location. On a nearby television monitor, she could see Rep. Bobby DuBose addressing the families. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He also can be found at the Olympics, having just finished the Tokyo and Beijing double, marking his 11th Olympics. There were venomous, shameful words that followed the Shepherd nieces and nephews through their school years and beyondsmears that resonated for decades. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Disclaimer: All information provided on this website is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Site. They were handcuffed together when, according to McCall, he stopped the car to check a tire and they tried to escape, so he shot them. John Cherwa is a special contributor to the Los Angeles Times. cemeteries found in Davenport, Polk County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Samuel Shepherd in his coffin in November 1951. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Marshall, convinced that the jury would once again convict, and convinced that the judge would once again sentence his client to death, urged Irvin to accept the plea. The pain was too great, and like so many victims of racial terror and brutality in the Jim Crow South, the Shepherds remained silent, not wanting to poison their own childrens hearts with stories of hatred. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Norma will always be remembered for her stylish outfits with matching accessories and color coordinated closets. The Groveland Four is a part of Lake County history, and we want to cover it, good and bad, said Marli Wilkins-Lopez, who works there. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. She later claimed she had also been raped. Norma rang the doorbell. The state of Florida was wrong, and were sorry, DuBose told them. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Norma Padgett to pay them a last tribute. Among observers of the historic hearing were Gilbert King, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in The Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America, which chronicled a detailed account of the case. Norma Padgett, 86, is the only one involved in the Groveland Four saga who is still alive. The larger Lake County Historical Society in nearby Tavares features one small exhibit. Henry Shepherds eldest son, James, a highly skilled auto mechanic in Groveland, was married to Walter Irvins sister, Henrietta. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Finally, she asked us all to celebrate the miracle of life and thank God for our blessings. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Vivian Shepherd was living in Gainesville in 1998 when she received a Monday night telephone call from her mother. They owned an RV and traveled the U.S. on many memorable vacations. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Norma was born on March 25, 1936, the 5th of nine children of Walter and Mathilda Hauschild, in Dorchester, Illinois. They married on July 5, 1957 and Norma was his co-partner in ministry for the full 64 years of their union together. The Heavenly Father made her blessed her whole life, and now she enjoys God forever. January 31, 2022 His dad said he was coming back to our house and if any white man strikes a match to burn his house down, he was going to kill him, said Griffin, who is now 74 and recently retired from the Groveland City Council. Norma Padgett and her husband Willie after questioning by the states attorney, in a 1949 newspaper clipping. Nonprofit journalism about criminal justice, A nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system, This story was published in partnership with. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. James Shepherd slowly limped to the door and opened it for Norma. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Greenlee at 16 was the youngest. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Rick Scott to put the issue on the clemency board docket. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Shepherd died at the scene of a gunshot wound to the head. In July 1952, Willie was arrested in Lake County, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and sentenced to five months in jail. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Norma's family would like to thank her long-time caregivers Maria de la Luz Vasquez and Julie Nordeen for their care and their gift of dignity in Norma's waning years. Review. Norma dropped the Padgett name, the couple divorced in 1958, and she remarried to another Lake County man a few years later. memorial page for Norma Lee Padgett Meakin (8 Sep 1926-18 Sep 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 79291851, citing Evergreen Cemetery, Davenport . You cant bring them back. Hein would like to organize community discussions about the Groveland Four, but not have them run by city government. GREAT NEWS! Samuel had been dead nearly 50 years, and despite Jamess reputation as a man of character and faith, the Shepherd name remained tainted in Lake County; Willis McCalls rendition of the Groveland story became the version that endured. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Visual Materials from the NAACP Records, NEA Telephoto, via Statesville Daily Record. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Once he was finished, poor white farmers took advantage of the now desirable tracts of rich Florida soil and purchased the lots around Shepherd at bargain prices, leading to an unexpected breakdown in residential segregation in south Lake County. It was not the first apology that Vivian Shepherd had missed. Norma was born on September 19, 1942 in Houston, Texas to Willie Norman Martin and Blanche. To use this feature, use a newer browser. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Norma worked for the Commercial Security Bank from 1960 to 1978, and then started a real estate career which lasted for 25 years, retiring in 2004. What the guards didnt tell Vivian was that shed been trying to gain entry on the wrong floor; that the families of the Groveland Boys were one floor up, seated in the balcony, which was open to the public. Thurgood Marshall then a lawyer working for the NAACP, later the first black justice on the Supreme Court took up their case and persuaded the Supreme Court that they had not received a fair trial and to order a new one. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Norma Lee Padgett Meakin. But a doctors examination of Padgett the morning after the alleged assault cast doubt on her rape accusations. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Weve updated the security on the site. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. It happened, Vivian said. He told her she could fill out a form that would be taken inside the chamber to one of the co-sponsors of the bill, and perhaps the representative would send a staff member out for her. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. . We have set your language to Alene could see a man waiting by his car on the street. Shepherd was tortured into making a confession and tried with Irvin. Try again later. Shepherd built a modest six-room house and maintained a small farm with help from three sons and three daughters, while his wife Ida Mae had the best preserve cellar in the area. Henrys white neighbors tried to run Shepherd off his land. Hermon Lutheran Church Cemetery, 3011 Leaphart Road, West Columbia, SC 29169. . All have preceded her in joining God. Google shows our ads across third party sites across the internet to help communicate our message and reach the right people who have shown interest in our information in the past. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel), Hearing on Identity Theft Charges for Mother of Missing Oakville Girl Postponed, Washington Was First State to Legalize Right Turns at Red Light, But a New House Bill Could Reverse That, Walsh Bill Allowing Family Burials on Private Land Unanimously Passes State House, Supreme Living Backs Off Plans for Sex Offender Housing Near Tenino, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. In 1998, Jamess health was failing. Norma had a capacity to love that defies description. Norma Hunter Lee, 86, passed away peacefully, on Monday, January 31, 2022, surrounded by her family. They just wanted it to go away and move on.. Oops, something didn't work. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, What time is it on the moon? Born to Alpha and Loretta Padgett on June 2, 1931, in Miami, Oklahoma, Norma grew up with a sister, Jean, and two brothers, Richard and Don. The Myth - Norma died while rushing into a burning orphanage to save the children. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Norma Lee (Mount Holly, North Carolina), who passed away on January 31, 2022 at the age of 86. Jurors were never told that a doctor who examined Padgett was unable to conclude that she was raped. Lori Lee Ferrell (Randy) of Cornelius, NC, Robert Jeff Lee (Phyllis) of Arlington, VA, Lesley Lee Padgett of Cornelius, NC and Kirk Hunter Lee (Candace) of Flower Mound, TX; her . From a wheelchair, Norma Padgett, now 86, the accuser of the Groveland Four, spoke publicly for the first time since 1952 when she testified in the retrial of Walter Irvin, who was convicted a. Search Engine specialized in the United States Obituaries. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Several members of the Tyson and Padgett families were upset to learn of Florida's apologies last month and took to social media to express their dismay. Eddie Irvin, 59, nephew of Walter Irvin, said his joy was tempered because his uncle and other relatives, especially his grandmother, were not alive to hear a judge declare that Walter was an innocent man a fact which they never, ever doubted. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. He said both his uncle and Samuel Shepherd were dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army because of the false rape accusation, and the families hope to see that corrected, too. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. We will know she is watching over us whenever we see her cherished cardinals in the yard. Vivian Shepherd wasnt the only one who hadnt heard this sordid piece of local history. Norma wandered into Okahumpka, 15 miles north of Groveland, the next morning and told a man she had been abducted. James Shepherd never sought closure to the family ruin hed endured in Groveland a half century before, nor had he ever attempted to come to terms with his tragic past. Notre Dame Catholic Church 64 Norfolk Ave, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514. They spent their summers in South Fork at the Eagles Campground. Norma is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mathilda Hauschild, son Philip Padgett, daughter Rachel Padgett, brothers Carl and Earl Hauschild, and sister Dorothy Weaks. There were rumors around town that Willie would drink and sometimes become violent toward his wife. For some in the town, the book was a call to action. To not have it in the museum is like trying to hide a rotting corpse, said Griffin, the former councilman. The Padgett family owned land that abutted the Shepherd farm, and when Norma Lee Tyson married Willie Padgett, the young couple moved into a small house on the Padgett property. The men ranged in age from 16 to 26 in 1949 when they were accused of raping Norma Lee Padgett. Fred joined God on February 1, 2013. For the Shepherds, there was no going back to Groveland anyway. She also admitted to the reporter that her father didnt have much confidence in her testifying in court; hed even bet a man that shed mess up on the witness stand. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Calling it an unimaginable privilege, Circuit Judge Heidi Davis cleared the names of Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas, all now dead, to correct one of Floridas greatest miscarriages of justice from the Jim Crow era. Can we count on your support today? Samuel Shepherd was one of the Groveland Four, a group of young black men who were victims of one of the ugliest episodes of the Jim Crow era in the South. The impact she had on others in this half-decade of service in her chosen profession is immeasurable. Norma stayed married to Willie Padgett through both of the Groveland trials. Floridas House of Representatives was scheduled to officially apologize for the gross injustices in the case of the Groveland Boys, and one of those boys was Samuel Shepherdthe uncle shed never metgunned down by Sheriff Willis McCall on the side of a dark Lake County road in 1951, 10 years before Vivian was born. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Irvin was eventually retried, convicted and again sentenced to death. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. "If the state wants to apologize for their treatment during and after their apprehension[,] fine," one family member wrote. Perhaps of all the cases my father worked on, this one haunted him for many, many years. This website aggregate United States obituaries from different resources. Norma requested she be cremated and laid to rest in Ogden City Cemetery next to her beloved Fred and that there be no public services. I do not want them pardoned no, I do not.. When one of the suspects, 25-year-old Earnest Thomas, fled north, Sheriff Willis McCall appointed a posse, which chased him down and left his bullet-riddled body in the woods 200 miles away. It contained a pair of Irvins trousers which had smears on the front that had never been scientifically analyzed. John Griffin, who was 5 at the time, said his father took the family to nearby Montverde when the Klan started to arrive. The couple did have children together, but their marriage was anything but bliss. Year should not be greater than current year. Friends will be received on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC. Add to your scrapbook. Lee James Padgett, age 66, of Athens, Georgia, formerly of West Columbia, SC, passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2022. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Norma Meakin (79291851)? This account has been disabled. In 1949, they were accused of raping a white 17-year-old and variously subjected to mob attacks, beatings by officials and summary execution by the Lake County sheriff. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. She picked up some yogurt in the cafeteria, quickly ate it, and then rushed back up to the fourth floor, where guards told her that the legislative session had already commenced. Driven from Groveland, the Shepherd family had lost their house and farm in what Florida legislators described as the states dark times of racism. By daybreak, Norma turned up outside a caf in nearby Okahumpka, claiming that four black men had beaten up her husband and forced her into their car at gunpoint. From left, Sheriff Willis McCall, jailer Reuben Hatcher, Walter Irvin, Charles Greenlee and Samuel Shepherd, at the Lake County Jail in 1949. 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