Changes

| occupation=[[Business]]woman​

| occupation=[[Business]]woman​

| religion=[[Episcopalian]]​​

| religion=[[Episcopalian]]​​

| alma_mater=Clifton Ellis Byrd High School<br>

| alma_mater=[[Clifton Ellis Byrd]] High School<br>

Stephens College<br>

Stephens College (Columbia, [[Missouri]])<br>

Centenary College of Louisiana<br>

Centenary College of Louisiana<br>

[[Southern Methodist University]]​

[[Southern Methodist University]]​

}}​​

}}​​

'''Virginia Ruth Kilpatrick Shehee''' (July 12, 1923 &ndash; July 6, 2015) was a [[business]]woman, civic leader, and patron of the arts from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. She was from 1976 to 1980 the state senator for District 38 in Caddo and DeSoto parishes. [6] Shehee won her seat in the 1975 [[general election]] by twenty-three votes over incumbent fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Cecil Kay Carter, Jr. [7] [8] She was defeated in her bid for a second term in 1979 by another Democrat, Richard G. Neeson, who retained the seat until 1992.

'''Virginia Ruth Kilpatrick Shehee''' (July 12, 1923 &ndash; July 6, 2015) was a [[business]]woman, civic leader, and patron of the arts from [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]]. She was from 1976 to 1980 the state senator for District 38 in Caddo and DeSoto parishes. [6] Shehee won her seat in the 1975 [[general election]] by twenty-three votes over incumbent fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[C. Kay Carter, Jr.]]] [7] [8] She was defeated in her bid for a second term in 1979 by another Democrat, Richard Grady Neeson, who retained the seat until 1992.

Sheehee was the first woman elected to the Louisiana Senate without succeeding a husband. Doris Rhodes Holland of St. Helena Parish in southeastern Louisiana, was appointed to the state Senate upon the death of her husband, Thomas Myers Holland. Thereafter, Doris Holland then won a [[special election]] for the seat. [9]  

Sheehee was the first woman elected to the Louisiana Senate without succeeding a husband. Doris Rhodes Holland of St. Helena Parish in southeastern Louisiana, was appointed to the state Senate upon the death of her husband, Thomas Myers Holland. Thereafter, Doris Holland then won a [[special election]] for the seat. [9]  

Shreveport Community Council "Special Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Service"<br>

Shreveport Community Council "Special Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Service"<br>

Clyde Edward Fant Memorial Award for Community Service<br>

[[Clyde Fant|Clyde Edward Fant]] Memorial Award for Community Service<br>

Designated "Mr. Shreveport" by the Optimist Club; often called "The First Lady of Shreveport."<br>

Designated "Mr. Shreveport" by the Optimist Club; often called "The First Lady of Shreveport."<br>

==Service and philanthropy==

==Service and philanthropy==

Shehee served on the Louisiana Committee of 100 (for economic development), Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal, and the Louisiana Board of Regents Foundation. She first attended Stephens College, an all-female institute in Columbia, [[Missouri]], where one of her classmates was the later socialite [[Susybelle Lyons]], also a Byrd alumnae, and later the daughter-in-law of GOP pioneer [[Charlton Lyons]]. Shehee's father begged her to return to Shreveport, [11] where she finished her bachelor's degree at the [[United Methodist]] Centenary College of Louisiana, of which she years later served as a trustee. Many of her family members graduated from Centenary as well.[15]  

Shehee served on the Louisiana Committee of 100 (for economic development), Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal, and the Louisiana Board of Regents Foundation. She graduated from [[Clifton Ellis Byrd]] High School and attended Stephens College, an all-female institute in Columbia, [[Missouri]], where one of her classmates was the later socialite [[Susybelle Lyons]], also a Byrd alumnae, and later the daughter-in-law of GOP pioneer [[Charlton Lyons]]. Shehee's father begged her to return to Shreveport, [11] where she finished her bachelor's degree at the [[United Methodist]] Centenary College of Louisiana, of which she years later served as a trustee. Many of her family members graduated from Centenary as well.[15]  

Shehee subsequently studied for the Master of Social Work at [[Southern Methodist University]] in University Park, near [[Dallas]], Texas. She is a former chairman of the orchestra board of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and worked with other community figures, such as journalist Jim Montgomery of ''The Shreveport Times''' [11] to restore the historic Strand Theatre in downtown Shreveport. She was active in other downtown renewal projects as well. [15] Shehee was a member of Beta Iota Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha soroity and supported the collegiate chapter, as well as the national organization. She was a loyal and active Centenary alumnae. She was also a member of the [[Louisiana State University]] Board of Supervisors and a booster of LSU sports.[11]  

Shehee subsequently studied for the Master of Social Work at [[Southern Methodist University]] in University Park, near [[Dallas]], Texas. She is a former chairman of the orchestra board of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and worked with other community figures, such as journalist Jim Montgomery of ''The Shreveport Times''' [11] to restore the historic Strand Theatre in downtown Shreveport. She was active in other downtown renewal projects as well. [15] Shehee was a member of Beta Iota Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha soroity and supported the collegiate chapter, as well as the national organization. She was a loyal and active Centenary alumnae. She was also a member of the [[Louisiana State University]] Board of Supervisors and a booster of LSU sports.[11]  

==Family==

==Family==

After [[World War II]], Shehee went to [[Germany]] at the time of the [[Berlin Airlift]] to visit friends and began working for the [[Red Cross]]. She married John Andrew Guy, and the couple moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] After their divorce, she returned to Shreveport with their three children, Ann Shane Shehee, Andrew Michael Shehee, and Nell Elizabeth Sheehee, since Nell Kramer, wife of Graham Kramer, to resume work in the family businesses as a funeral director a

After [[World War II]], Shehee went to [[Germany]] at the time of the [[Berlin Airlift]] to visit friends and began working for the [[Red Cross]]. She married John Andrew Guy, and the couple moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] After their divorce, she returned to Shreveport with their three children, Ann Shane Shehee, Andrew Michael Shehee, and Nell Elizabeth Sheehee, since Nell Kramer, wife of Graham Kramer, to resume work in the family businesses as a funeral director and insurance agent. She later married William Peyton Shehee, Jr., who died in 2004. The couple had a daughter, Margaret Scott Shehee Cole, wife of David Cole. [11]  

and insurance agent. She later married William Peyton Shehee, Jr., who died in 2004. The couple had a daughter, Margaret Scott Shehee Cole, wife of David Cole. [11]  

Shehee's younger sister, Ann Kilpatrick Peters (1937–2011), was co-owner and a director of both Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Rose-Neath Funeral Homes. Ann also had a professional career as a mezzo-sopranto in [[New York City]], having appeared at the [[Metropolitan Opera]], Lincoln Center and the New York City Opera. On her return to Shreveport, Ann like her sister became a devotee of the arts. [17]  

Shehee's younger sister, Ann Kilpatrick Peters (1937–2011), was co-owner and a director of both Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company and Rose-Neath Funeral Homes. Ann also had a professional career as a mezzo-sopranto in [[New York City]], having appeared at the [[Metropolitan Opera]], Lincoln Center and the New York City Opera. On her return to Shreveport, Ann like her sister became a devotee of the arts. [17]