Born Ada Virginia Estes, to a prominent West TN clan (Sen. Estes Kefauver was a close cousin), Ada, as she was called by family, loved travel and dramatics. Ill-suited to the retiring, staid domestic life, she fled the South, with her father in the grave from a gunshot, a baby in tow, and freshly-inked divorce. Landing in Tinseltown during the bustling Silent Era, she started in bit parts and extra work, but soon made her way into features, as her IMDB page (screen name: "Virginia Bradford" ) can attest. Another brief marriage followed, and a 2nd son entered the picture. Parts dried up with the advent of "talkies", which was just as well. A sojourn in Britain awaited her, as the wife of the titled writer, critic, and sometime-spy, Cedric Belfrage. The third time, however, did not prove the charm, and back state-side, she married once more. Son William Estes Lyons, her eldest, grew up and remained in Hollywood, at one point having membership in SAG. Her younger son, Frederick Minter, Jr., became a well-respected physician. Ada and her boys lived long lives, of purpose and passion. The sons benefitted greatly from Ada's mother's guidance and support, as a stable influence. Mrs. Estes McGuire stepped in often, while her daughter lived a life of adventure. At 95 years, what a life it was!
Born Ada Virginia Estes, to a prominent West TN clan (Sen. Estes Kefauver was a close cousin), Ada, as she was called by family, loved travel and dramatics. Ill-suited to the retiring, staid domestic life, she fled the South, with her father in the grave from a gunshot, a baby in tow, and freshly-inked divorce. Landing in Tinseltown during the bustling Silent Era, she started in bit parts and extra work, but soon made her way into features, as her IMDB page (screen name: "Virginia Bradford" ) can attest. Another brief marriage followed, and a 2nd son entered the picture. Parts dried up with the advent of "talkies", which was just as well. A sojourn in Britain awaited her, as the wife of the titled writer, critic, and sometime-spy, Cedric Belfrage. The third time, however, did not prove the charm, and back state-side, she married once more. Son William Estes Lyons, her eldest, grew up and remained in Hollywood, at one point having membership in SAG. Her younger son, Frederick Minter, Jr., became a well-respected physician. Ada and her boys lived long lives, of purpose and passion. The sons benefitted greatly from Ada's mother's guidance and support, as a stable influence. Mrs. Estes McGuire stepped in often, while her daughter lived a life of adventure. At 95 years, what a life it was!
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