Ava Lourena Crenshaw (1882 – 1975)

Ava Lourena Crenshaw was born on July 22, 1882, in Oconee County, South Carolina. At age 14, she married Robert L. McDonald, with whom she had several children. The family moved frequently within South and North Carolina, eventually settling in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ava supported her family by working as a seamstress, while Robert was a farmer and later, a brick mason. After the untimely death of her son William, Ava managed his estate. She spent her later years in Greensboro, where she passed away on December 2, 1975, due to pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Ava is buried at Alamance Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

1910 United States Census

In 1910, Ava (spelled Eva), 28, and her husband, Robert L. McDonald, 41, lived with their children, Lizzie, 11, William H., 9, Margaritte, 5, Myrta L. (Myrtle), 4, and Harold, 1, in a rented on a farm in Keowee, South Carolina. Robert and Ava had been married for 12 years, and 5 of Ava’s 6 children were still living. Robert was a farmer, and Lizzie and William were in school. The family was native to South Carolina. Robert, Ava, and Lizzie were able to read and write English, and William could speak English. Name listed: Eva McDonald1

Keowee Lake (formerly Keowee), South Carolina

The town of Keowee According to Duke Energy, the town of Keowee was flooded and transformed into Lake Keowee in the early 1970s. The lake now cools a nuclear power plant and generates hydroelectric power for the surrounding area.2

1930 United States Census

In 1930, Ava, 48, and her husband, Robert L. McDonald, 61, lived with their children, Raymond A., 13, and Vivian C.,. Although this record lists Raymond as Ava’s son, Raymond’s WWII Draft Registration card lists her as his grandmother,3 and it is believed that Raymond’s mother was actually Ava’s daughter, Elizabeth. The family owned a house valued at $2,000 in Jefferson, Guilford County, North Carolina. Robert and Ava were married when Robert was 27 and Ava was 14. Everybody in the family was native to South Carolina except Vivian, who was born in Georgia. Robert was a brick mason, though unemployed, Ava worked as a factory seamstress, and Ramond and Vivian were in school. Everybody could read, write, and speak English. Name listed: Ava McDonald4

Jefferson, Guilford County, North Carolina

January 1, 1936 – Ava Handled Son’s Estate

After the death of her son, William H. McDonald, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 35,5 a judge qualified Ava to handle his estate, which consisted of $300 in real estate and $100 in personal property.6

1940 United States Census

In 1940, Ava, 57, lived with her husband, Robert L. McDonald, 71, daughter, Kathleen Harrelson (spelled Harrison), 29, son-in-law Olin L., 33, and grandchildren Joyce M., 13, Richard L., 9, Thomas O., 6, Betty L., 4, and Sarah K., 2, in a house they owned in Jefferson, Guilford County, North Carolina valued at $3,000. They had lived in the same house 5 years prior. Robert, Ava, and Kathleen were born in South Carolina, Olin and Joyce in Georgia, and Richard, Thomas, Betty, and Sarah in North Carolina. Robert worked 50 hours per week as a self-employed brick mason, and Olin for 40 hours per week as a self-employed mechanic at an automobile agency. No wages were recorded. Joyce, Richard, and Thomas were attending school. Robert completed fifth grade, Ava completed fourth grade, Olin completed sixth grade, Kathleen completed seventh grade, Joyce completed sixth grade, Richard completed second grade, and the youngest had yet to complete any schooling. Name listed: Ava C. McDonald7

1950 United States Census

In 1950, Ava, 67, lived with her grandson, Raymond A. McDonald, 33, in Morehead, North Carolina. Ava was a widow and Raymond was single. Raymond was a self-employed carpenter, working as a general contractor, and he worked 40 hours per week. They did not live on a farm and their lot was less than an acre.8

Morehead City, North Carolina

1958-1960 Greensboro Directory

Ava lived at 2500 McConnell Road, Gilmer Township, Greensboro, North Carolina, appearing in the city directory as the widow of Robert McDonald, from 1958 to 1960.9 She sold it in 196110 before it was eventually demolished to make room for a highway. She bought a new home later that year on Clover Road, Jefferson Township, Greensboro, North Carolina. Name listed: Ava L. McDonald11

*The framed photos above were originally shared by Larry Thompson, a descendant of Ava. His diligence in digitizing these photos is the reason many of them are currently available.

Death of Ava Lourena Crenshaw McDonald – November 23, 1975

Ava passed away on November 23, 1975, at home, outside Greensboro city limits on Route 10, in Guilford County, North Carolina, of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, which she had suffered from for about 20 years, with general arteriosclerosis contributing. She was 93 years old. Her doctor had been attending to her since 1960 and saw her last in September 1975. Her parents were William H. Crenshaw and Myrtle Louise Elbrook, and the informant for her death certificate was her daughter, Marguerite Clark of Greensboro, North Carolina. She was buried at Alamance Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina.12 Her obituary appeared in the Greensboro Record13 and the Greensboro Daily News.14

Obituary from the Greensboro Record, November 24, 1975

  Mrs. Ava Lourena McDonald, 93, of Rt. 10, Greensboro, died Sunday at her home following a lengthy illness.
  Funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Alamance Presbyterian Church with the pastor, James E. Dinkard officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. at Forbis & Dick, N. Elm St. tonight and at other times at the home of daughter, Mrs. Marguerite Clark on McConnell Road.
  She was a native of Oconee County, S.C. and she lived here since 1927. She was a member of Alamance Presbyterian Church.
  Surviving are daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith of Walhalla, S.C., Mrs. Marguerite Clark of Greensboro, Mrs. O.L. Harrelson of Whitsett.

Obituary from the Greensboro Daily News, November 24, 1975

  Mrs. Ava Lourena McDonald, 93, of Rt. 10, Greensboro, died Sunday at her home following a lengthy illness. The body is at Forbis & Dick Funeral Home pending completion of funeral arrangements.
  She was a native of of Oconee County, S.C. and she had lived here since 1927. She was a member of Alamance Presbyterian Church.
  Surviving are daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith of Walhalla, S.C., Mrs. Marguerite Clark of Greensboro, Mrs. O.L. Harrelson of Whitsett.
Photo Credit: Find a Grave.15

Sources

  1. 1910 U.S. Census, Oconee County, South Carolina, population schedule, Keowee, enumeration district (ED) 125, p. 93 (stamped), 7B (penned), dwelling 94, family 101, Eva McDonald, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 April 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T624, microfilm 1375482, roll 1469. ↩︎
  2. ClientVideos45, “History of Lake Keowee in South Carolina,” 7 May 2009, video, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDXGOClXEhU : accessed 2 April 2021).  ↩︎
  3. “World War II Draft Registration Cards for Young Men, 1940-1947,” images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), Raymond Alexander McDonald, registration, serial no. 1133, order no. 1420, local board no. 3, Guilford County, North Carolina, citing U.S. WWII Draft Registration Cards for Young Men, 1940-1947, NARA microfilm publication DSS-1, no specific roll cited. ↩︎
  4. 1930 U.S. census, Guilford County, North Carolina, population schedule, Jefferson Township, enumeration district (ED) 41-70, p. 208 (stamped), p. 14B (penned), dwelling 373, family 377, Ava McDonald, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T626, microfilm 2341430, roll 1696. ↩︎
  5. “North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1976” image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), record for William H. McDonald, 3 December 1935. ↩︎
  6. “Three Qualify to Handle Small Estates in County,” Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC, 1 January 1936, p. 14, col. 3, image, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/three-qualify-handle-small-estate-county/wqlhuayqtghurlargrnowmluymnnzchn_ip-10-166-46-137_1717232337493 : accessed 1 June 2024). ↩︎
  7. 1940 U.S. Census, Guilford County, North Carolina, population schedule, Jefferson, enumeration district (ED) 41-109, p. 6A, household 96, Ava C McDonald, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2922. ↩︎
  8. 1950 U.S. Census, Guilford County, South Carolina, population schedule, Morehead, enumeration district (ED) 41-107, p. 9, dwelling 66, Ava L McDonald, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 June 2024); citing NARA publication P1. ↩︎
  9. Hill’s Greensboro Directory of Householders Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide, 1958 (Hill Directory Co., Inc., 1958), p. 419, image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021); Hill’s Greensboro Directory of Householders Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide, 1959 (Hill Directory Co., Inc., 1959), p. 433, image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), Hill’s Greensboro City Directory, 1960 (Hill Directory Co., Inc., 1960), p. 505, image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021). ↩︎
  10. “Real Estate Transfers: Gilmer Township,” Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC, 16 March 1961, p. 7D, col. 8, image, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/real-estate-transfers-gilmer-township/nuoscjpfafoeggfwdypozwboeskabskl_ip-10-166-46-106_1717235124875 : accessed 1 June 2024). ↩︎
  11. “Matters of Record: Jefferson Township,” Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC, 25 July 1961, p. 7B, col. 3, image, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/matters-record-jefferson-township/fpzoyohjinobfnbokyjhxlottfjuherm_ip-10-166-46-143_1717235420843 : accessed 1 June 2024). ↩︎
  12. “North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1976” image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2021), record for Ava Lourena Crenshaw, 24 November 1975. ↩︎
  13. “Local, area deaths: Mrs. Ava McDonald,” Greensboro Record, Greensboro, NC, 24 November 1975, p. 14C, col. 5, image, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/local-area-deaths-mrs-ava-mcdonald/eurqmooydmsarzjlttdcwturcglswdkp_ip-10-166-46-124_1717238168500 : accessed 1 June 2024). ↩︎
  14. “State And County Deaths And Funerals: Guilford County: Mrs. Ava Crenshaw,” Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC, 24 November 1975, p. 16B, col. 1, image, Genealogy Bank (https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/state-and-county-deaths-and-funerals-guilford-county-mrs-ava-mcdonald/woukmhuudwkprrdtrcvrytbhvvwctope_ip-10-166-46-94_1717238465592 : accessed 1 June 2024). ↩︎
  15. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37737925/ava_laurena-mcdonald : accessed 6 August 2021), memorial page for Ava Laurena Crenshaw McDonald (6 Aug 1882–23 Nov 1975), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37737925, citing Alamance Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, USA, Maintained by Jim Smaltz (contributor 47028793). ↩︎

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