This newsletter profiles Mary Idell Shaw Ennis, the last surviving grandchild of Francis Marion and Rachel Moore Allen Shaw, who lived for an extraordinary 104 years. Born in Georgia, Mary Idell left home at 15 for Jacksonville, Florida, due to disagreements with her strict father. She navigated various jobs, from a cigar factory to a potato chip company, before meeting and marrying Clifford Lewis Ennis in 1930. Despite personal hardships, including a challenging marriage marked by her husband's gambling and a temporary separation, and later his abandonment and eventual divorce, Mary Idell demonstrated remarkable resilience and self-determination. She built a successful career through hard work, holding significant positions in companies like Tillman Laundry, the Naval Air Station, and Florida Milk Producers, often praised for her honesty and bookkeeping skills. A devoted mother, she cared for her only son, Clifford Jr., until his death in 1999. Mary Idell remained vibrant and independent into her later years, purchasing a new car at 93 and building a new home for her "retirement". She passed away in 2014, marking the end of her generation in the Shaw-Allen family.

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