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'''Mary Smith Gleason''' (June 21, 1899 — June 3, 1967) was an interim [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. She served from 1959 to 1960, after the death in office of her husband, [[E. D. Gleason]].  She was named to complete the remaining eight months of her husband's second term by then [[Governor] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] because insufficient time existed to call a [[special election]] for the position.

'''Mary Smith Gleason''' (June 21, 1899 — June 3, 1967) was an interim [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. She served from 1959 to 1960, after the death in office of her husband, [[E. D. Gleason]].  She was named to complete the remaining eight months of her husband's second term by then [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]] because insufficient time existed to call a [[special election]] for the position.

The Gleasons resided in the Evergreen Community south of [[rural]] Shongaloo in central Webster Parish. They had three sons, Thomas D. Gleason (1924–1944, killed during [[World War II]]), educator William Ernest "Cotton" Gleason, Sr. (1919-1980), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and later Plaquemine in Iberville Parish, and Charles E. Gleason, later of [[Shreveport]].

The Gleasons resided in the Evergreen Community south of [[rural]] Shongaloo in central Webster Parish. They had three sons, Thomas D. Gleason (1924–1944, killed during [[World War II]]), educator William Ernest "Cotton" Gleason, Sr. (1919-1980), of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] and later Plaquemine in Iberville Parish, and Charles E. Gleason, later of [[Shreveport]].

Mrs. Gleason did not seek a full term in the 1959-1960 [[primary election|primaries]]. Instead, her son, William, ran for the seat.<ref>"W.E. Gleason to Seek State Rep. Post", ''Minden Herald'', August 3, 1959, p. 1</ref> However, William Gleason finished in fourth place. In a runoff election, Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011), a businessman from Shongaloo, defeated the Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> by sixteen votes. Branton held the seat until 1972; he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in the 1971 Democratic primary.

Mrs. Gleason did not seek a full term in the 1959-1960 [[primary]]. Instead, her son, William, ran for the seat.<ref>"W.E. Gleason to Seek State Rep. Post," ''Minden Herald,'' August 3, 1959, p. 1.</ref> However, William Gleason finished in fourth place. In a runoff election, Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011), a businessman from Shongaloo, defeated by sixteen votes the Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of Sarepta in central Webster Parish,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>"Rites Yesterday for Mrs. Gleason," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' June 5, 1967, p. 7.</ref>

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.<ref>"Rites Yesterday for Mrs. Gleason," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' June 5, 1967, p. 7.</ref>