Stacie Beatrice SMITH

HAIRSTON.org ID#608, b. 10 September 1897, d. 15 February 1977
Father*Augustus G. SMITH b. 20 Aug 1871, d. 18 Dec 1931
Mother*Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" BLANKENSHIP b. 20 Feb 1880, d. 16 Mar 1923
Birth*Stacie Beatrice SMITH was born on 10 September 1897 in Monroe, Ouachita, Louisiana.1,2 
She was the daughter of Augustus G. SMITH and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" BLANKENSHIP. 
Census 1900Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1900 census of Augustus G. SMITH on 23 June 1900 in District 92, West Monroe, Ouachita, Louisiana; G A Smith 28 (a carpenter), Mary E Smith 20 wife (married for 4 years), Stacy B Smith 2 daughter, Ora M Smith 12 daughter.3

Census 1910Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1910 census of Augustus G. SMITH on 16 April 1910 in Ward 6, District 56, Houston, Harris, Texas; Augustus Smith 39 hardware proprietor, Mary Smith 30, Stacie Smith 12, Ora Smith 10, Verbenia Smith 5 and Augustus's brother-in-law Joe Blankenship 26.4

PhotoStacie Smith with her father Agustus Smith in 1916.

 
Marriage*Stacie Beatrice SMITH married Louis Coffman SHELBY, son of Charles S. SHELBY and Hester Henry BAKER, on 15 August 1917 in was married by Dr. Walter M. White at the A. G. Smith home on Waldron Blvd., Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee. Stacie wrote in her bible "On a Sunday afternoon in Feb 1917 my sister Ora and I went in the front door to a Christian Endeavor meeting and I met Louis C. Shelby who became my husband that Aug 15, 1917." They were married by Dr. Walter M. White at the home of Augustus G. Smith, on Waldron Blvd. Louis Coffman Shelby passed away on May 23, 1969. They were married 3 months short of 52 years when Louis died.5,6

ResidenceStacie Beatrice SMITH and Louis Coffman SHELBY lived after 15 August 1917 in 1088 Vollentine Avenue, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee. 
Census 1920Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1920 census of Louis Coffman SHELBY on 16 January 1920 in 930 Crockett Place, Memphis Ward 21, Dist 181, Shelby, Tennessee; Louis Shelby 31, wife Stacie 22 and daughter Stacie L. 11 months.7
Census 1930Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1930 census of Louis Coffman SHELBY on 2 April 1930 in 5590 Summer Avenue, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Louis C. Shelby, wife Stacie B., daughters Stacie L., Martha E. and Joy E.8
Residence*Stacie Beatrice SMITH and Louis Coffman SHELBY lived in 1931; In 1931 Memphis City Directory, Louis C. and Stacie Shelby are listed as living at 5590 Summer Avenue and he is listed as an agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. 
NewspaperMr. and Mrs. L. C. Shelby and small daughter, Joy, will arrive on Saturday from their home in Memphis, Tenn., for a visit with their brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest McGregor. -- The Shreveport Journal, Shreveport, Louisiana, Friday, August 12, 1932, page 8. 
NewspaperMr. and Mrs. Louis C. Shelby and children of 362 North Montgomery, have returned after a motor tour that included Charlottesville, Va; Baltimore, Washington, Jamestown and a stay at Virginia Beach -- The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday, July 29, 1936, page 8. 
Census 1940Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1940 census of Louis Coffman SHELBY on 3 April 1940 in 362 North Montgomery, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Louis Shelby 52, wife Stacie 42, daughter Stacie 20, daughter Joy 12. They also had several couples renting space.9
OccupationStacie worked in the Fine Jewelry Department at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City while her daughter Joy was dancing with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes at the age of 16. 
Photo
Christmas 1949 - Memphis, Tennessee.


 
Census 1950Stacie Beatrice SMITH appeared on the 1950 census of Louis Coffman SHELBY on 1 April 1950 in 362 Montgomery, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Louis C. Shelby 61, wife Stacie B. 52.10
Newspaper*THE SHELBY GIRLS ARE MOVING AROUND -- As far as the Louis C. Shelby family is concerned, everybody is on the move! Stacie Portmann (Mrs. Ralph) and her two young children flew in from Cleveland, Ohio, where they visited Ralph's parents, Dr. and Mrs. U. V. Portmann. Mr. Portmann will join his family here Saturday, and they will fly to Mexico City, where they will live for the next five years. Joy and Capt. R. E. Hairston and their two children have just given up their home in Shreveport and have been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hairston Jr. of Crawford, Miss. Bob will leave next week for London, England, and Joy and the children will join him there soon. Martha McDermott (Mrs. Austin Jr.) and her son , Austin III, are flying in from Waco, Texas, where the McDermotts recently moved from Maryland. -- The Memphis Press-Scimitar, Tuesday, October 24, 1950, page 8. 
PhotoStacie Beatrice SMITH was photographed

about 1960. 
Photo*50th Wedding Anniversary of Stacie and Louis Shelby - August 1967: left to right sitting: Stacie Shelby Portmann, Joy Shelby Hairston, standing: Jessica Portmann, Kirk Portmann, Stacie Smith Shelby, Ralph Portmann, Louis Coffman Shelby, Martha Shelby McDermott, Austin McDermott, Robert E. Hairston, Jr.


. 
Death*She died on 15 February 1977 in Melbourne, Brevard, Florida, at age 79.1,2 
Obituary*Mrs. Stacie Shelby, Civic Leader, Dies - Mrs. Stacie Smith Shelby 79, the widow of the late Louis C. Shelby, died Tuesday night in a nursing home in Melbourne, Fla. Mrs. Shelby, long active in Memphis civic affairs, was a member of Lindenwood Christian Church at the time of her death. Mrs. Shelby’s husband was a descendant of the family for which Shelby County was named. She was president of the woman’s council at Lindenwood and a representative of the National Council of Churches on several occasions. She and her husband were the first “gray couple” for the Shelby County Red Cross. Mrs. Shelby was also on the board of the City Beautiful Commission, an active member in the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities and a member of the American Mothers Committee of Tennessee for which she was named outstanding mother. She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Ralph Portmann of Seattle, Wash., Mrs. A. J. McDermott of Teheran, Iran, and Mrs. Robert E. Hairston of Miami, Fla. and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Elmwood Cemetery. Memphis Funeral Home on Union has charge. - Obituary, Memphis Press-Scimitar, Thursday, February 17, 1977. 
Burial*She was buried in Section Turley, Lot 81, Grave 12, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee.1

 

Family

Louis Coffman SHELBY b. 25 Apr 1888, d. 23 May 1969
Children

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S256] Interment Records, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
  2. [S51] Death Certificate.
  3. [S1900] 1900 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  4. [S1910] 1910 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  5. [S52] Marriage Certificate or Register.
  6. [S164] Shelby. Bible - Shelby Family 1826-1970. N.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date. Martha Carroll, unknown location.
  7. [S1920] 1920 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  8. [S1930] 1930 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  9. [S1940] 1940 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  10. [S1950] 1950 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
Last Edited25 Jun 2026