Melvinia Shields

"MELVINIA SHIELDS

1844 -- 1938

THIS MEMORIAL MARKS THE GRAVE OF
MELVINIA 'MATTIE' SHIELDS McGRUDER

SHE WAS BORN A SLAVE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1844.

AT AGE 8 SHE WAS BROUGHT TO
THE SHIELDS FARM NEAR
WHAT IS NOW
REX, CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA.

IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY
SHE MOVED TO KINGSTON
TO BE NEAR HER PEOPLE.

HER FAMILY WOULD ENDURE A
FIVE-GENERATION JOURNEY
THAT BEGAN IN OPPRESSION AND
WOULD LEAD HER DESCENDENT
TO BECOME

FIRST LADY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

MELVINIA'S STORY IS ONE OF HOME

A MEMBER OF QUEEN CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH'