Notable Burials: Francis Hynds Blythe

Francis Ellen Hynds Blythe

Picture shows headstone of Frances Blythe

Francis was the mother of seven children. Her fourth child was William "Willie" Jefferson, born Jan. 21, 1882 in Mississippi and married Birchie Lou Ayers in August 1906. Willie and Birchie moved from Mississippi to Wise County, Texas with their two young sons between 1909-1911 and soon after, lived in Howe, Texas at the Oscar Kirk place. Here they had three more children. In 1918, they moved to Sherman, bought land and had another son, William "Bill" Jefferson II. After a while, they purchased what is now known as the “old Blythe place” on North Travis in Sherman and had three more children. Willie died of cancer in 1935. His mother, Frances Blythe, died in 1936.

Their son, William “Bill” Jefferson II, married Virginia Cassidy. Bill was killed in a car accident in June, 1946, in Sikeston, Missouri while en route from Chicago to Hope, Arkansas to visit Virginia, who was expecting their first child in August. Their son, William Jefferson III was born August 19, 1946. A few years later, Virginia married Roger Clinton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. At age 16, William Jefferson III changed his name from Blythe to Clinton.

William Jefferson Clinton served as Arkansas Attorney General from 1977 - 1979; Governor of Arkansas from 1979 - 1981 but is probably best known as the 42nd President of the United States.

To simplify: President Clinton’s paternal great-great grandmother, Frances Blythe, is buried in our Holloway Cemetery.