Susan Delilah Sheffield is the author's Great Grandmother. Her story was lost from the family record, thus preventing the creation of a family tree. A search of census and courthouse records revealed her past and enabled creating a genealogical record of "who begat whom." and, after much research, there are stories to tell.

In our search for Susan, we found that there were several notable Sheffields, and much has been written on the Sheffield family. Freeman's parents, Bryant and Nancy Paine Sheffield were pioneers in Early County, Georgia. Several cousins were politicians, lawyers, and physicians. Freeman's brother, Seaborn, was one of the richest men in West Georgia. Susan's father, Freeman, was absent from most documents. A census record listed Susan's mother, Celia, as "head of household and running the farm." Her father's occupation was "none," with the reason given as "fitified." Then, a brief death notice in the Atlanta Constitution newspaper indicated he "had one of his fits and fell into the fire."

Sheffield; Shuffield; Shuffill; Shuffild; Sheffel; Shuffel; Sherfiel; Shuffer; Shuffiel