Changes

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 [[cartoon]]ist [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.''  

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 [[cartoon]]ist [[Pap Dean]], affiliated for many years with ''The Shreveport Times.''  

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>"Willie Mae Cleveland Fulkerson Life Legacy," geesey-ferguson.com, September 15, 2009; obituary no longer accessible on-line.</ref>

After Cleveland and Willie Mae divorced, he married the former Patricia Jean Williamson (c. 1930-2010). They had a daughter, Doris Anne Cleveland Stark (born c. 1966)<ref name=patcleve/> and a son, Thomas  William Cleveland (1967-1982). Thomas was born in  [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], and died at the age of fifteen in Kaplan in Vermilion Parish.<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=6024082&df=all&|title=Thomas William Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Cleveland acquired a stepson, Patrick James Barber (born c. 1955), a St. Louis native who was as of 2004 a real estate developer in Gulfport, [[Mississippi]]. Barber described his stepfather, who was also in the construction business, as a devotee of a strong work ethic.<ref>Timothy Boone, "Barber Deserves an Encore, ''The Biloxi ([[Mississippi]]) Sun-Herald,'' May 19, 2004.</ref> When Patricia Cleveland died of a brief illness in the summer of 2010 in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], her son, Patrick, and his wife, Stacey, and her daughter, Doris, and Doris's husband, Tim, were also living in Dallas.<ref name=patcleve>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?pid=144798301|title=Patricia Jean Williamson Cleveland|publisher=''The Dallas Morning News''|date=August 19, 2010|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

After Cleveland and Willie Mae divorced, he married the former Patricia Jean Williamson (c. 1930-2010). They had a daughter, Doris Anne Cleveland Stark (born c. 1966)<ref name=patcleve/> and a son, Thomas  William Cleveland (1967-1982). Thomas was born in  [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], and died at the age of fifteen in Kaplan in Vermilion Parish.<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=6024082&df=all&|title=Thomas William Cleveland|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Cleveland acquired a stepson, Patrick James Barber (born c. 1955), a St. Louis native who was as of 2004 a real estate developer in Gulfport, [[Mississippi]]. Barber described his stepfather, who was also in the construction business, as a devotee of a strong work ethic.<ref>Timothy Boone, "Barber Deserves an Encore, ''The Biloxi ([[Mississippi]]) Sun-Herald,'' May 19, 2004.</ref> When Patricia Cleveland died of a brief illness in the summer of 2010 in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], her son, Patrick, and his wife, Stacey, and her daughter, Doris, and Doris's husband, Tim, were also living in Dallas.<ref name=patcleve>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?pid=144798301|title=Patricia Jean Williamson Cleveland|publisher=''The Dallas Morning News''|date=August 19, 2010|accessdate=July 28, 2020}}</ref>