Mary Shelton Powell
The Family of Peter and Mary Shelton Powell
Calvin Walter Powell, Son of Peter and Mary Powell Source: Family of Calvin Walter Powell
Origins
Peter Powell and Mary Shelton, a daughter of Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton, were married on December 22, 1880 in Rome, Georgia. Their lives were rooted in the same landscape that shaped the broader Shelton family, with strong ties to the land that would become known as Possum Trot.
Together, they established a family grounded in land, labor, and continuity during a period of transition for many families following emancipation.
Migrations
While Peter and Mary remained closely connected to Possum Trot—where they owned land—their family’s path would eventually extend beyond Rome. Following changes within the family, Peter later relocated to Chattooga County, Georgia, before the next generation carried the family’s story outward with migrations extending to the east coast and midwest, forming connections across regions while maintaining ties to their origins.
Family
Peter Powell and Mary Shelton were the parents of ten known children, including Helen, Kale, Lillie Mae, Lawrance, Milo, Harmony, Calvin Walter, Alton, Ervin, and Louise. Their children were born at Possum Trot, where the family’s life was firmly rooted in land and community.
Through these children, the Powell line expanded across generations, forming connections through marriage and community while continuing the legacy established in Rome and Possum Trot.
Following Mary’s passing, Peter’s life would continue to reflect the interconnected nature of the family, with later unions that further tied the Powell and Shelton lines together. Two members of this line intermarried with the Freemantown families.
Peter and Mary are laid to rest at Possum Trot, remaining connected to the land that shaped their lives and legacy.
Rooted in land and family, their story moved outward through generations, while remaining tied to the place it began.
This story continues to unfold through deeper connections, names, and discoveries still being brought to light.
Find out more at our gathering.