Desa (Crawford) Sheppard was Born in Kenefic, Oklahoma to Gus T. & Ida (Morrison) Crawford. On October 31, 1915, at 5 years old, Desa heard her fathers name called from the bushes outside, just before the blast from a shotgun killing Gus, by the porch of their family homestead near Stonewall, Okla. Apparently, Gus had information or was to be called as a material witness regarding an upcoming murder case. Desa Married Roy C. Sheppard in Coweta, Wagoner Co., Oklahoma in 1935. Together, they had 8 children: Lillian "Rowena", "Naomi" Carol, Betty Lou, "Beverly" Sue, Baby Mary(Still born), Rosemary/Roy Gary(twins) and Ray "Gene".
In 1955, Desa & Roy made the decision to homeschool their last three children after dissatisfaction with the Tulsa County Public School curriculum. They were met with the full weight of the City, bearing arrest and fined for non-compliance of compulsory truancy laws within the City and State. They stood their ground based upon their principles proceeding all the way to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, ultimately winning the right to Home-School their children. By this, the first such precedent was established, giving families not only in Oklahoma, but all over the United States rights to School their children at home Thus, Desa and Roy began schooling Rosemary, Roy Gary and Gene in the upstairs Schoolroom of their two-story Tulsa home. They opened each morning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. This lengthy court battle was sensationally carried by the national news media and newspapers all across America. Ironically, Desa had no education during this time. It wasn't until later in her life which she enrolled in night school at Tulsa Webster High school where she earned her High School Diploma in the latter 1960's. In all her life, She would say the greatest thing was being "Born-Again" and saved by the Blood of Christ, alone, by faith alone, in Him alone! She was known as a woman of intercessory-prayer, loved by those who knew her.
CSSouthern
(grandson)
*********************************
SHORT STORY:
Crawford's & Pretty-Boy Floyd
. I've written before about my Grandmother, Mrs. Desa (Crawford) Sheppard, and her family who resided in Bryan County Oklahoma, back in its heyday. When I was a boy, we spent much time together as she bore out stories of her childhood in the "Black Lands" near Kenefic, and The Blue River. Her little index finger would swirl around and tap the arm of her chair as she journeyed back through the pages of memories in her mind, testifying of how it was with she and her Choctaw people, once upon a time!
Grandma was a little woman. Perhaps on her best day, she was a hair over five-feet tall. She always wore a short little pixie hairdo parted to the right with a pin to hold'er in place. By the time I came along, her locks had long since been silver. Even with a few "worry lines" here and there, her face was glowing despite all she'd experienced and witnessed throughout her life of seventy some years. I know now this was because she spoke with her Savior most all day, everyday! To say she was a "fine" woman would be near saying a diamond was simply beautiful. She was the best of the best. In fact, I would say Desa was the standard bearer, epitomizing womanhood!
I've written before of how her Father, Gus T. Crawford, a quarter Choctaw from Arkansas, was murdered on Halloween, 1915. The better part of his his bunch moved out into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, from Polk County Arkansas, once Choctaw land patents had been opened, where he began farming. Desa went to her grave never knowing Gus had done time in Leavenworth for bootleggin'. Farming didn't always keep food on the table, so Gus did what he had to do, and for that he paid the price with number 2763 on his shirt for two years.
I believe had Desa known this about her father it would have hurt to her core. Apparently, her folk's felt the same, never telling their children of this. By the time Gus was murdered on the front porch of the old farmhouse near Stonewall, Desa was only five. She told the story, still vivid, how a scared little girl heard a voice outside in the bushes! As though it was yesterday, she recounted the sound of his assailants hollering Gus' name just before emptying fatal shot into his gut! Painful, still, as her face grimaced and lines deepening in her forehead, Desa shared these dreadful annals with a twelve year old boy who wouldn't fully understand until much later in his life. As the years passed since Gus' murder, Desa's Mother, Ida (Morrison), decided to move the family to Tulsa, in hopes of a better life, leaving the land and everything else behind.
So, it was a blustery, snowy January night back in 1986, Desa turned the page and shared her claim to history as it related to the famed, bank-robbing, folk hero, Pretty Boy Floyd. On their journey to Tulsa, Ida and her progenies; Uncle Jewell, Stella, Desa and lastly, Edna, stopped off in McAlester, where they spent a brief stent. They lodged at a little out of the way boarding-house whereby locals began whispering they'd witnessed a young girl bearing striking resemblance to Floyd's girlfriend walking about the sidewalks near the flop.
The fed's had been called in and began a stake out, setting in motion a plan for a midnight bust. Grandma said they were all well asleep into the night when all of a sudden the door to their little ramshackled room was bashed in! She said men with machine guns began pouring in one after another. "Where is he!", they yelled! Scared to death with guns and flashlights in their face's, "Who", said Ida! "Pretty Boy", the agent shouted! Pointing toward Desa, "That's his girlfriend!", the man said; "she ought to know!" After a short time it was realized by these men they had the wrong bunch! They apologized, attempting to repair the breech as best they could before making their departure.
Laughing still, after all these years, Grandma told this story with humor just before kicking back in her chair. That was her tale of Pretty Boy!
We tell these stories to keep them, those places and experiences alive for generations to come!
Cleveland S. Southern
Dallas, TX
[email protected] 2019
In 1955, Desa & Roy made the decision to homeschool their last three children after dissatisfaction with the Tulsa County Public School curriculum. They were met with the full weight of the City, bearing arrest and fined for non-compliance of compulsory truancy laws within the City and State. They stood their ground based upon their principles proceeding all the way to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, ultimately winning the right to Home-School their children. By this, the first such precedent was established, giving families not only in Oklahoma, but all over the United States rights to School their children at home Thus, Desa and Roy began schooling Rosemary, Roy Gary and Gene in the upstairs Schoolroom of their two-story Tulsa home. They opened each morning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. This lengthy court battle was sensationally carried by the national news media and newspapers all across America. Ironically, Desa had no education during this time. It wasn't until later in her life which she enrolled in night school at Tulsa Webster High school where she earned her High School Diploma in the latter 1960's. In all her life, She would say the greatest thing was being "Born-Again" and saved by the Blood of Christ, alone, by faith alone, in Him alone! She was known as a woman of intercessory-prayer, loved by those who knew her.
CSSouthern
(grandson)
*********************************
SHORT STORY:
Crawford's & Pretty-Boy Floyd
. I've written before about my Grandmother, Mrs. Desa (Crawford) Sheppard, and her family who resided in Bryan County Oklahoma, back in its heyday. When I was a boy, we spent much time together as she bore out stories of her childhood in the "Black Lands" near Kenefic, and The Blue River. Her little index finger would swirl around and tap the arm of her chair as she journeyed back through the pages of memories in her mind, testifying of how it was with she and her Choctaw people, once upon a time!
Grandma was a little woman. Perhaps on her best day, she was a hair over five-feet tall. She always wore a short little pixie hairdo parted to the right with a pin to hold'er in place. By the time I came along, her locks had long since been silver. Even with a few "worry lines" here and there, her face was glowing despite all she'd experienced and witnessed throughout her life of seventy some years. I know now this was because she spoke with her Savior most all day, everyday! To say she was a "fine" woman would be near saying a diamond was simply beautiful. She was the best of the best. In fact, I would say Desa was the standard bearer, epitomizing womanhood!
I've written before of how her Father, Gus T. Crawford, a quarter Choctaw from Arkansas, was murdered on Halloween, 1915. The better part of his his bunch moved out into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, from Polk County Arkansas, once Choctaw land patents had been opened, where he began farming. Desa went to her grave never knowing Gus had done time in Leavenworth for bootleggin'. Farming didn't always keep food on the table, so Gus did what he had to do, and for that he paid the price with number 2763 on his shirt for two years.
I believe had Desa known this about her father it would have hurt to her core. Apparently, her folk's felt the same, never telling their children of this. By the time Gus was murdered on the front porch of the old farmhouse near Stonewall, Desa was only five. She told the story, still vivid, how a scared little girl heard a voice outside in the bushes! As though it was yesterday, she recounted the sound of his assailants hollering Gus' name just before emptying fatal shot into his gut! Painful, still, as her face grimaced and lines deepening in her forehead, Desa shared these dreadful annals with a twelve year old boy who wouldn't fully understand until much later in his life. As the years passed since Gus' murder, Desa's Mother, Ida (Morrison), decided to move the family to Tulsa, in hopes of a better life, leaving the land and everything else behind.
So, it was a blustery, snowy January night back in 1986, Desa turned the page and shared her claim to history as it related to the famed, bank-robbing, folk hero, Pretty Boy Floyd. On their journey to Tulsa, Ida and her progenies; Uncle Jewell, Stella, Desa and lastly, Edna, stopped off in McAlester, where they spent a brief stent. They lodged at a little out of the way boarding-house whereby locals began whispering they'd witnessed a young girl bearing striking resemblance to Floyd's girlfriend walking about the sidewalks near the flop.
The fed's had been called in and began a stake out, setting in motion a plan for a midnight bust. Grandma said they were all well asleep into the night when all of a sudden the door to their little ramshackled room was bashed in! She said men with machine guns began pouring in one after another. "Where is he!", they yelled! Scared to death with guns and flashlights in their face's, "Who", said Ida! "Pretty Boy", the agent shouted! Pointing toward Desa, "That's his girlfriend!", the man said; "she ought to know!" After a short time it was realized by these men they had the wrong bunch! They apologized, attempting to repair the breech as best they could before making their departure.
Laughing still, after all these years, Grandma told this story with humor just before kicking back in her chair. That was her tale of Pretty Boy!
We tell these stories to keep them, those places and experiences alive for generations to come!
Cleveland S. Southern
Dallas, TX
[email protected] 2019
Desa (Crawford) Sheppard was Born in Kenefic, Oklahoma to Gus T. & Ida (Morrison) Crawford. On October 31, 1915, at 5 years old, Desa heard her fathers name called from the bushes outside, just before the blast from a shotgun killing Gus, by the porch of their family homestead near Stonewall, Okla. Apparently, Gus had information or was to be called as a material witness regarding an upcoming murder case. Desa Married Roy C. Sheppard in Coweta, Wagoner Co., Oklahoma in 1935. Together, they had 8 children: Lillian "Rowena", "Naomi" Carol, Betty Lou, "Beverly" Sue, Baby Mary(Still born), Rosemary/Roy Gary(twins) and Ray "Gene".
In 1955, Desa & Roy made the decision to homeschool their last three children after dissatisfaction with the Tulsa County Public School curriculum. They were met with the full weight of the City, bearing arrest and fined for non-compliance of compulsory truancy laws within the City and State. They stood their ground based upon their principles proceeding all the way to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, ultimately winning the right to Home-School their children. By this, the first such precedent was established, giving families not only in Oklahoma, but all over the United States rights to School their children at home Thus, Desa and Roy began schooling Rosemary, Roy Gary and Gene in the upstairs Schoolroom of their two-story Tulsa home. They opened each morning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. This lengthy court battle was sensationally carried by the national news media and newspapers all across America. Ironically, Desa had no education during this time. It wasn't until later in her life which she enrolled in night school at Tulsa Webster High school where she earned her High School Diploma in the latter 1960's. In all her life, She would say the greatest thing was being "Born-Again" and saved by the Blood of Christ, alone, by faith alone, in Him alone! She was known as a woman of intercessory-prayer, loved by those who knew her.
CSSouthern
(grandson)
*********************************
SHORT STORY:
Crawford's & Pretty-Boy Floyd
. I've written before about my Grandmother, Mrs. Desa (Crawford) Sheppard, and her family who resided in Bryan County Oklahoma, back in its heyday. When I was a boy, we spent much time together as she bore out stories of her childhood in the "Black Lands" near Kenefic, and The Blue River. Her little index finger would swirl around and tap the arm of her chair as she journeyed back through the pages of memories in her mind, testifying of how it was with she and her Choctaw people, once upon a time!
Grandma was a little woman. Perhaps on her best day, she was a hair over five-feet tall. She always wore a short little pixie hairdo parted to the right with a pin to hold'er in place. By the time I came along, her locks had long since been silver. Even with a few "worry lines" here and there, her face was glowing despite all she'd experienced and witnessed throughout her life of seventy some years. I know now this was because she spoke with her Savior most all day, everyday! To say she was a "fine" woman would be near saying a diamond was simply beautiful. She was the best of the best. In fact, I would say Desa was the standard bearer, epitomizing womanhood!
I've written before of how her Father, Gus T. Crawford, a quarter Choctaw from Arkansas, was murdered on Halloween, 1915. The better part of his his bunch moved out into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, from Polk County Arkansas, once Choctaw land patents had been opened, where he began farming. Desa went to her grave never knowing Gus had done time in Leavenworth for bootleggin'. Farming didn't always keep food on the table, so Gus did what he had to do, and for that he paid the price with number 2763 on his shirt for two years.
I believe had Desa known this about her father it would have hurt to her core. Apparently, her folk's felt the same, never telling their children of this. By the time Gus was murdered on the front porch of the old farmhouse near Stonewall, Desa was only five. She told the story, still vivid, how a scared little girl heard a voice outside in the bushes! As though it was yesterday, she recounted the sound of his assailants hollering Gus' name just before emptying fatal shot into his gut! Painful, still, as her face grimaced and lines deepening in her forehead, Desa shared these dreadful annals with a twelve year old boy who wouldn't fully understand until much later in his life. As the years passed since Gus' murder, Desa's Mother, Ida (Morrison), decided to move the family to Tulsa, in hopes of a better life, leaving the land and everything else behind.
So, it was a blustery, snowy January night back in 1986, Desa turned the page and shared her claim to history as it related to the famed, bank-robbing, folk hero, Pretty Boy Floyd. On their journey to Tulsa, Ida and her progenies; Uncle Jewell, Stella, Desa and lastly, Edna, stopped off in McAlester, where they spent a brief stent. They lodged at a little out of the way boarding-house whereby locals began whispering they'd witnessed a young girl bearing striking resemblance to Floyd's girlfriend walking about the sidewalks near the flop.
The fed's had been called in and began a stake out, setting in motion a plan for a midnight bust. Grandma said they were all well asleep into the night when all of a sudden the door to their little ramshackled room was bashed in! She said men with machine guns began pouring in one after another. "Where is he!", they yelled! Scared to death with guns and flashlights in their face's, "Who", said Ida! "Pretty Boy", the agent shouted! Pointing toward Desa, "That's his girlfriend!", the man said; "she ought to know!" After a short time it was realized by these men they had the wrong bunch! They apologized, attempting to repair the breech as best they could before making their departure.
Laughing still, after all these years, Grandma told this story with humor just before kicking back in her chair. That was her tale of Pretty Boy!
We tell these stories to keep them, those places and experiences alive for generations to come!
Cleveland S. Southern
Dallas, TX
[email protected] 2019
In 1955, Desa & Roy made the decision to homeschool their last three children after dissatisfaction with the Tulsa County Public School curriculum. They were met with the full weight of the City, bearing arrest and fined for non-compliance of compulsory truancy laws within the City and State. They stood their ground based upon their principles proceeding all the way to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court, ultimately winning the right to Home-School their children. By this, the first such precedent was established, giving families not only in Oklahoma, but all over the United States rights to School their children at home Thus, Desa and Roy began schooling Rosemary, Roy Gary and Gene in the upstairs Schoolroom of their two-story Tulsa home. They opened each morning with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. This lengthy court battle was sensationally carried by the national news media and newspapers all across America. Ironically, Desa had no education during this time. It wasn't until later in her life which she enrolled in night school at Tulsa Webster High school where she earned her High School Diploma in the latter 1960's. In all her life, She would say the greatest thing was being "Born-Again" and saved by the Blood of Christ, alone, by faith alone, in Him alone! She was known as a woman of intercessory-prayer, loved by those who knew her.
CSSouthern
(grandson)
*********************************
SHORT STORY:
Crawford's & Pretty-Boy Floyd
. I've written before about my Grandmother, Mrs. Desa (Crawford) Sheppard, and her family who resided in Bryan County Oklahoma, back in its heyday. When I was a boy, we spent much time together as she bore out stories of her childhood in the "Black Lands" near Kenefic, and The Blue River. Her little index finger would swirl around and tap the arm of her chair as she journeyed back through the pages of memories in her mind, testifying of how it was with she and her Choctaw people, once upon a time!
Grandma was a little woman. Perhaps on her best day, she was a hair over five-feet tall. She always wore a short little pixie hairdo parted to the right with a pin to hold'er in place. By the time I came along, her locks had long since been silver. Even with a few "worry lines" here and there, her face was glowing despite all she'd experienced and witnessed throughout her life of seventy some years. I know now this was because she spoke with her Savior most all day, everyday! To say she was a "fine" woman would be near saying a diamond was simply beautiful. She was the best of the best. In fact, I would say Desa was the standard bearer, epitomizing womanhood!
I've written before of how her Father, Gus T. Crawford, a quarter Choctaw from Arkansas, was murdered on Halloween, 1915. The better part of his his bunch moved out into Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, from Polk County Arkansas, once Choctaw land patents had been opened, where he began farming. Desa went to her grave never knowing Gus had done time in Leavenworth for bootleggin'. Farming didn't always keep food on the table, so Gus did what he had to do, and for that he paid the price with number 2763 on his shirt for two years.
I believe had Desa known this about her father it would have hurt to her core. Apparently, her folk's felt the same, never telling their children of this. By the time Gus was murdered on the front porch of the old farmhouse near Stonewall, Desa was only five. She told the story, still vivid, how a scared little girl heard a voice outside in the bushes! As though it was yesterday, she recounted the sound of his assailants hollering Gus' name just before emptying fatal shot into his gut! Painful, still, as her face grimaced and lines deepening in her forehead, Desa shared these dreadful annals with a twelve year old boy who wouldn't fully understand until much later in his life. As the years passed since Gus' murder, Desa's Mother, Ida (Morrison), decided to move the family to Tulsa, in hopes of a better life, leaving the land and everything else behind.
So, it was a blustery, snowy January night back in 1986, Desa turned the page and shared her claim to history as it related to the famed, bank-robbing, folk hero, Pretty Boy Floyd. On their journey to Tulsa, Ida and her progenies; Uncle Jewell, Stella, Desa and lastly, Edna, stopped off in McAlester, where they spent a brief stent. They lodged at a little out of the way boarding-house whereby locals began whispering they'd witnessed a young girl bearing striking resemblance to Floyd's girlfriend walking about the sidewalks near the flop.
The fed's had been called in and began a stake out, setting in motion a plan for a midnight bust. Grandma said they were all well asleep into the night when all of a sudden the door to their little ramshackled room was bashed in! She said men with machine guns began pouring in one after another. "Where is he!", they yelled! Scared to death with guns and flashlights in their face's, "Who", said Ida! "Pretty Boy", the agent shouted! Pointing toward Desa, "That's his girlfriend!", the man said; "she ought to know!" After a short time it was realized by these men they had the wrong bunch! They apologized, attempting to repair the breech as best they could before making their departure.
Laughing still, after all these years, Grandma told this story with humor just before kicking back in her chair. That was her tale of Pretty Boy!
We tell these stories to keep them, those places and experiences alive for generations to come!
Cleveland S. Southern
Dallas, TX
[email protected] 2019
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