Changes

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

Cleveland was born in Lena Station in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/> His first wife, the former Willie Mae Dean (1903-1973), was a daughter of F. B. Dean (1861-1927) and the former Florence Nugent (1863-1935) and a native of Colfax in Grant Parish, north of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cleveland&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1109&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=141306289&df=all&|title=Willie Mae Dean Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Willie Mae Cleveland was an aunt of the Louisiana cartoonist [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10965603|title=Florence Nugent Dean|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}</ref>

Cleveland was born in Lena Station in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana.<ref name=findagrave/> His first wife, the former Willie Mae Dean (1903-1973), was a daughter of F. B. Dean (1861-1927) and the former Florence Nugent (1863-1935) and a native of Colfax in Grant Parish, north of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cleveland&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1109&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=141306289&df=all&|title=Willie Mae Dean Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Willie Mae Cleveland was an aunt of the Louisiana cartoonist [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.'' Dean's paternal aunt, Willie Mae Cleveland (1903-1973) of Crowley,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141306289/willie-mae-cleveland|title=Willie Mae Dean Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

The couple had three children, Willie Mae "Billie" Cleveland Fulkerson (1924-2009); William Cleveland, Jr., known as "Jennings"; and Ella Florence Cleveland, all deceased. Willie Mae Fulkerson, a member of the Christian Church, served for eight years on the Crowley City Council and was instrumental in having her city designated as the first "Tree City" in the state. She was a member of the Acadia Parish Democratic Executive Committee. In 1956, she traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], and met with [[U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] as a member of the first Women's Congress of Housing. After her father's defeat, Governor Edwards appointed her to the Louisiana Prison Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geesey-ferguson.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=786248|title=Willie Mae Cleveland Fulkerson Life Legacy|publisher=geesey-ferguson.com|date=September 15, 2009|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

The couple had three children, Willie Mae "Billie" Cleveland Fulkerson (1924-2009); William Cleveland, Jr., known as "Jennings"; and Ella Florence Cleveland, all deceased. Willie Mae Fulkerson, a member of the Christian Church, served for eight years on the Crowley City Council and was instrumental in having her city designated as the first "Tree City" in the state. She was a member of the Acadia Parish Democratic Executive Committee. In 1956, she traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], and met with [[U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] as a member of the first Women's Congress of Housing. After her father's defeat, Governor Edwards appointed her to the Louisiana Prison Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geesey-ferguson.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=786248|title=Willie Mae Cleveland Fulkerson Life Legacy|publisher=geesey-ferguson.com|date=September 15, 2009|accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>