Mary Elizabeth Churchman

• Sex: F
• Born: March 13, 1862 in Jefferson County, Kentucky
• Died: November 8, 1948 in Jefferson County, Kentucky
• Buried: In Schardein Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Notes: Mary Elizabeth was known as "Mamie". Her mother died when Mamie was only thirteen. Mamie took over raising her siblings with the help of two former slaves that chose to stay with the family.
  
  Henry was head electrician at a streetcar wheel company. During an electrical storm, Henry came home and asked Mamie for some soup to take back to work for a sick friend. He took the soup back, and the lights were out. He climbed up on an elevator to make repairs, and while he was there, someone turned on the electricity, electrocuting him. His daughter, Grace, had recently given birth to Dorothy and was unable to see her father or attend his funeral.
  
  Mamie and Henry lived at 7th and Magnolia. After Henry died, Mamie rented part of her home out as sleeping rooms to streetcar motormen and other workers. To make ends meet, she and Abbie stretched curtains, quilted, etc. Abbie cared for her mother many years.

Father: Cyrus Churchman, b. January 13, 1836 in Jefferson County, Kentucky

Mother: Abigail Hunter Tabbs Smoot, b. December 11, 1841 in Jefferson County, KY -- d. October 7, 1875 in Jefferson County, KY -- daughter of Philip Barton Smoot and Mary Elizabeth King -- buried in the family cemetery on Henry Street in Louisville, Kentucky

Family 1: Henry Joseph McDonald, b. August 8, ?? in Madison, IN -- d. July 28, 1910 in Jefferson County, KY -- buried in Schardein Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky

• Married: October 4, 1883 in Jefferson County, KY

1. Bertie Lee McDonald, b. April 26, 1885 in Jefferson County, KY -- d. September, 1901 in Jefferson County, KY
2. Abbie E. McDonald, b. September 24, 1887 in Jefferson County, KY -- d. April 20, 1982 in Jefferson County, KY
3. Grace Eugene McDonald, b. August 31, 1891 in Jefferson County, KY -- d. June 20, 1953 in Jefferson County, KY

Sources:

1. "Churchmans of Kentucky" by Charles R. Churchman