A Joint Project of the Sam Rayburn House Historic Site and the Fannin County Historical Commission

Celebrating America 250 with Spotlights of Fannin County Citizens Who Participated In or Witnessed Historical Events

Fannin County, Texas -- Lucinda “Miss Lou” Rayburn was born to William Marion and Martha “Matt” Clementine (Waller) Rayburn on January 14, 1875, in Roane County, TN. She was the fourth of 11 children born to the couple, and the second of three daughters. The Rayburn family moved to Flag Springs in Fannin County, TX, in 1887.

Her parents, her brothers Tom and Sam, and Lucinda all moved to a home that the family built west of Bonham, TX, around 1916 (now the Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site). Lucinda lived in this house for the rest of her life, caring for her parents, her siblings, and the homestead.

After the death of her mother in 1927, Lucinda became the head of the household and held the deed to the family land in 1938. She raised turkeys and chickens, maintained a garden, and was a member of the Bonham Garden Club, the Current Literature Club, and the First Baptist Church. She was also a trustee of the Sam Rayburn Foundation and a sponsor for the Horizon Clubs in Bonham, part of the Camp Fire Girls (now Camp Fire USA) organization.

She balanced her tall, regal bearing and red hair with a warm personality, truthfulness, and a no-nonsense attitude. For her brother Sam Rayburn, who was a U.S. congressman from 1913 – 1961, Lucinda provided invaluable service as a confidant and voice of reason. During the Washington, D.C., social season in January, Lucinda attended formal gatherings as Sam’s official hostess. Unlike her other sisters, Lucinda preferred the social aspects of political life rather than the politics, and she maintained a diary and scrapbook about the events she attended.

Photo from the Fannin County GenWeb site
“Miss Lucinda Rayburn, sister of Speaker Sam Rayburn has returned to her home here after an eight-weeks visit with the speaker in Washington.  Miss Rayburn, whose graciousness and charm made her many new friends there was the guest of President and Mrs. Roosevelt at two dinners at the White House  . . . “

Lucinda died from cancer on May 26, 1956, in Bonham. She was honored with special messages during a session of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Morgan Beatty of NBC Radio’s News of the World credited Lucinda with inspiring Sam’s legislative decisions. Sam Rayburn carried Lucinda’s locket alongside his pocket watch after her death, and the Lucinda Rayburn Memorial Gardens are located at the Sam Rayburn Museum. Lucinda is buried at Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham.

This information was obtained from the Fannin Co., Texas GenWeb (txfannin.org}. The Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site presented this information at their 2021 Cemetery Walking Tour. For a copy of the 2021 Cemetery Walking Tour guide or for other information, contact the Sam Rayburn House at (903) 583-5558 or email Margo.McCutcheon@thc.texas.gov.