10/25/2026
Happy Birthday to Lala Williams Long!
Lala was born on to James Shelby "Sheb" Williams and Alice Pierson on October 25, 1873 in Paris, TX. Lala would marry Sam Bell Maxey Long, great-nephew of Sam Bell Maxey, on December 12, 1894. Soon after, Sam and Lala moved into the Maxey House where both would live for the rest of their lives. Sam and Lala loved to travel, going to St. Augustine, FL and New Orleans, LA on their honeymoon as well as Lake Rosseau in Canada, New York, and many other places. In 1912, Sam and Lala remodeled the house, adding a sewing room above the sunroom and a bathroom to their suite on the second floor as well as combining the two separate men's and women's parlors on the first floor to make one large parlor.
Sam and Lala were involved with the Paris community, especially after the devastating fire of 1916. The couple received an alabaster lamp commissioned by Mr. Culbertson himself, the man the Culbertson fountain in downtown Paris is named after, in thanks for their contributions. The lamp can be seen at the Maxey House today. Lala also personally received a silver "loving cup" for her help to the community, an honor showing the respect Paris had for her. Lala was also active in the Red Cross during WWII, along with her husband and his cousin, Sallie Lee Lightfoot, who lived with them. The two women hosted one of the many Victory Tea Parties that took place in Paris in 1942. Lala was active in many other organizations including the DAR and the Lotus Club.
In 1948, Sam Bell Maxey Long passed away, and Lala and Sallie Lee lived together until Lala's death on September 29, 1965 at the age of 91. Sallie Lee would pass away the next year, leaving the house to her young cousin, Alice Fairfax Stone, who then gave it to the city as a museum.
Photos courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
