Lula Ellen "Mama Lou" Sherfield
1891-1974
Lula Ellen "Mama Lou" Sherfield
Lula Ellen Sherfield was born in Kentucky on March 9, 1891 to parents John A. and Charlotte P. (Riley) Sherfield. There is some question as to the year of Lula’s birth. She always gave 1891 as her year of birth and that is the way her headstone reads. However, in the 1900 Forest Grove School census, it lists Lula’s birth as March 9, 1888. (In an effort to enroll her in school, her father may have altered her age).
About 1896, Lula's mother Charlotte, who was blind, passed away and her father moved the family to Hayti, Missouri to be closer to other Sherfield relatives. Before long, her brother James Amos “Tige” returned to Tolu, Crittenden County, Kentucky to care for the horses on the Dowell family farm. Lula would ultimately follow, where she too gained employment with Dowell family. Sadly her father also passed away in 1903, leaving her an orphan.
On November 29, 1908 Lula married Lawrence Tackwell, the son of William and Mary (Moore) Tackwell in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois. Lawrence was born on August 29, 1885 in Crittenden County, Kentucky. Lawrence owned and operated a Black Smith Shop, and later a Tolu General Store. This union produced 5 children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Lula and Lawrence were married 22 years until Lawrence’s death on February 3, 1930.
About 1896, Lula's mother Charlotte, who was blind, passed away and her father moved the family to Hayti, Missouri to be closer to other Sherfield relatives. Before long, her brother James Amos “Tige” returned to Tolu, Crittenden County, Kentucky to care for the horses on the Dowell family farm. Lula would ultimately follow, where she too gained employment with Dowell family. Sadly her father also passed away in 1903, leaving her an orphan.
On November 29, 1908 Lula married Lawrence Tackwell, the son of William and Mary (Moore) Tackwell in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois. Lawrence was born on August 29, 1885 in Crittenden County, Kentucky. Lawrence owned and operated a Black Smith Shop, and later a Tolu General Store. This union produced 5 children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Lula and Lawrence were married 22 years until Lawrence’s death on February 3, 1930.
Children of Lawrence and Lula:
After Lawrence passed away, Lula remained in the family home for a number of years. She ultimately married a lawyer from Marion, Kentucky, Trice C. Bennett (abt 1934), the son of Adoniram and Mary (Wallace) Bennett. Trice was born December 11, 1886 in Kentucky. Lula and Trice continued to live in the Tolu home until Trice passed away on February 4, 1944.
Widowed again, Lula continued to live in the family home, often visiting her daughter Gladys and her family in Chicago. Many years later Lula re-connected with Morris Carty. Morris moved to California as a young man and was now a widower. The couple had known one another as young adults and renewed their friendship. They were married on Oct 19, 1958 and happily lived in California until his death in 1970.
After Morris' death Lula returned to Kentucky and lived near her daughter Gladys in Paducah, Kentucky. She ultimately moved to Marion, Kentucky where she fell and broke her hip, never completely recovering. Lula passed away at the Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky on March 23, 1974.
Lula, known as "Mamma Lou" to her friends and family was a handsome lady, tiny in stature with dark red hair. She was energetic and feisty. Her second husband Trice C. Bennett’s children and grandchildren from his previous two marriages also considered Mamma Lou as their Mother and Grandmother. They remained close long after Trice’s death. All that knew her loved her.
Mamma Lou is buried at Whites Chapel Cemetery in Crittenden County, Kentucky next to her first husband Lawrence Tackwell and their son William Eugene Tackwell. Their daughter Gladys (Tackwell) Lowery is buried nearby next to her husband, Thomas Lowery.
Widowed again, Lula continued to live in the family home, often visiting her daughter Gladys and her family in Chicago. Many years later Lula re-connected with Morris Carty. Morris moved to California as a young man and was now a widower. The couple had known one another as young adults and renewed their friendship. They were married on Oct 19, 1958 and happily lived in California until his death in 1970.
After Morris' death Lula returned to Kentucky and lived near her daughter Gladys in Paducah, Kentucky. She ultimately moved to Marion, Kentucky where she fell and broke her hip, never completely recovering. Lula passed away at the Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky on March 23, 1974.
Lula, known as "Mamma Lou" to her friends and family was a handsome lady, tiny in stature with dark red hair. She was energetic and feisty. Her second husband Trice C. Bennett’s children and grandchildren from his previous two marriages also considered Mamma Lou as their Mother and Grandmother. They remained close long after Trice’s death. All that knew her loved her.
Mamma Lou is buried at Whites Chapel Cemetery in Crittenden County, Kentucky next to her first husband Lawrence Tackwell and their son William Eugene Tackwell. Their daughter Gladys (Tackwell) Lowery is buried nearby next to her husband, Thomas Lowery.
Source:
Oral family history and family recollections from Pat Koetting
All photos provided by Pat Koetting
United States Census
Hardin County, Illinois Marriages (Tackwell)
Crittenden County, Kentucky Marriages (Carty)
White Chapel Cemetery, Irma, Crittenden, Kentucky
Non-surviving children sources:
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 10 Feb 1912. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 10493, Death Volume Year: 1912
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 20 Jul 1915. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 34218, Death Volume Year: 1915
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 13 Jan 1917. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 1182, Death Volume Year: 1917
Oral family history and family recollections from Pat Koetting
All photos provided by Pat Koetting
United States Census
Hardin County, Illinois Marriages (Tackwell)
Crittenden County, Kentucky Marriages (Carty)
White Chapel Cemetery, Irma, Crittenden, Kentucky
Non-surviving children sources:
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 10 Feb 1912. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 10493, Death Volume Year: 1912
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 20 Jul 1915. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 34218, Death Volume Year: 1915
Lawrence Tackwell: Birth 13 Jan 1917. KY Vital Statistics: Certificate: 1182, Death Volume Year: 1917