Our Initiatives
Descendant Engagement
Descendant engagement is a critical aspect of our work at the Shelton Heritage Society of Georgia & Historic Possum Trot, Inc. For several years, our organization's founder has been reaching out to potential descendants, founding a Facebook group for descendants of both her Cathey and Shelton family lines, and using both traditional research methods and modern DNA analysis to discover unknown family members and reconnect them with their shared history. Including helping many rediscover their ancestral roots, it has also helped family members form lasting bonds. Considered a sacred part of our work as our family has been separated for many years, we will work to ensure family bonds are strengthened.
Photo Credit: Deidra Roberson - Descendant
The Shelton Family Settlement at Possum Trot - Berry College - Historical Preservation /Advocacy Team & Family Reunion
Since 2015, our organization's founder has been actively engaged in conducting extensive research on the full history of the Shelton family, including their legacy at Possum Trot, to include collaboration with Berry College in 2016 to the present along with other descendants. Research began before the formation of the Shelton family's collaborative preservation/advocacy team and the nonprofit and became more targeted and focused after the team was established with efforts continuing to the present. The team’s efforts have been instrumental in significant achievements, such as the renaming of the family cemetery, the installation of a historical marker honoring the family's presence on the land, and a commitment by the college to allow a family reunion every five years, beginning in 2022. Due to a slight change, the family’s next reunion will be in 2026. Our organization looks forward to its involvement and its founder’s continued involvement in ensuring that the family’s rich history at Possum Trot is honored, preserved, and shared with future generations.
In-Depth Research
Advancing in-depth research on the full history of the Shelton family is a key component of our mission. This includes not only the history of the Shelton family in Rome and the state of Georgia but also across the country and within the African diaspora. Through collaboration with experts both within and outside of our Besa Saka Historical Research and Preservation Advisory Council, as well as community experts from our Sankofa Advisory Council, we will continue to uncover and preserve our family’s rich history.
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
Historical Preservation, Collaboration, & Awareness
Through community and descendant engagement, including the creation of effective educational initiatives that inspire other descendant communities to explore their family histories, SHS seeks to protect and document the stories, artifacts, and sites tied to our family’s legacy. By raising awareness, encouraging public discourse, and collaborating with or assisting other descendant communities, SHS hopes to inspire future generations and transform communities and families.
Cathey-Shelton Family Settlement of New Baden, Texas Initiative
The preservation, documentation, and honoring of the settlement founded by Lee and Frances “Fannie” Shelton Cathey in New Baden/Franklin, Texas after leaving Georgia in the mid-1890s, is also central to our mission. Through historical preservation and public awareness efforts, supported by three key initiatives, we will continue uncovering the history of their homestead in New Baden, Texas, as well as the interments associated with our family in Owensville West Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.
Photo Credit: Descendants - Owensville West Cemetery, Franklin, Texas 2022
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
Restorative Practices
At the core of SHS is the fundamental belief that, to effectively conduct meaningful research and build engagement among descendants and the public, we must embrace restoration. The work of the Shelton Heritage Society is rooted in restorative practices aimed at rebuilding and healing. As part of this commitment, we will engage in restorative discussions and activities that promote healing, unity, and understanding.
Our ancestors, Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton, appear to have been community-minded individuals who instilled a love for their communities and the cultivation of land. Inspired by their legacy, SHS is committed to giving back through community service and will provide scholarships and grants to individuals across the nation, ensuring that the spirit of philanthropy continues to thrive in our family.
