Mary Smith Gleason

Mary Smith Gleason
Louisiana State Representative from Webster Parish
In office 1959 – 1960
Preceded by	E.D. Gleason
Succeeded by	Parey P. Branton
Personal details
Born	June 21, 1899(1899-06-21)
Died	June 3, 1967(1967-06-03) (aged 67) Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Ernest Dewey Gleason
Children	Thomas E. Gleason William E. Gleason Charles E. Gleason
Residence	Shongaloo, Webster Parish
Religion	Baptist

Mary Smith Gleason (June 21, 1899—June 3, 1967) was an interim Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Webster Parish, who served from 1959–1960, after the death in office of her husband, E.D. Gleason.

Mrs. Gleason was named to complete the remaining eight months of her husband's second term by then Governor Earl Kemp Long because insufficient time existed to call a special election for the position.

The Gleasons resided in the Evergreen Community south of Shongaloo in central Webster Parish. They had three sons, Thomas D. Gleason (1924–1944, killed during World War II), educator William E. Gleason of Minden and later Plaquemine, and Charles E. Gleason, later of Shreveport.

Mrs. Gleason did not seek a full term in the 1959-1960 primaries. Instead, her son, William, ran for the seat.^[1] However, William Gleason finished in fourth place. In a runoff election, Parey P. Branton, a businessman from Shongaloo, defeated the Minden attorney Henry G. Hobbs by sixteen votes. Branton held the seat until 1972; he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in the 1971 Democratic primary.

Mrs. Gleason died in Plaquemine shortly before what would have been her 68th birthday. Services were held at the Evergreen Baptist Church, and interment followed at the Minden Cemetery. In addition to her sons William and Charles, she was survived by two sisters and two brothers.^[2]

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Political offices
Preceded by E.D. Gleason	State Representative from Webster Parish Mary Smith Gleason 1959–1960	Succeeded by Parey P. Branton

References

1. ^ "W.E. Gleason to Seek State Rep. Post", Minden Herald, August 3, 1959, p. 1
2. ^ "Rites Yesterday for Mrs. Gleason", Minden Press-Herald, June 5, 1967, p. 7

Persondata
Name	Gleason, Mary Smith
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 21, 1899
Place of birth
Date of death	June 3, 1967
Place of death	Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana