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William (Mack) Jeffers
Born:  April 21, 1898
Died:  May 13, 1987
WWVA Original Jamboree

About The Artist

Mack Jeffers and his Fiddlin' Farmers were on WWVA's Jamboree out of Wheeling, WV back in the 1940s. An old souvenir folio published by Mack in 1940 indicates that "Mack" was born in Scott County, Tennessee near the town of Oneida. He played the five-string banjo with the band. He married Georgia Carter in Norma, Tennessee on January 13, 1918. They had two sons, "Slick" and "Sleepy".

"Slick" started with the Fiddlin' Farmers from the time they started up - 1931. He was born on June 24, 1919 near Oneida in Scott County, Tennessee. Was said to be a natural born musician, never taking lessons on the guitar and didn't read music.

"Sleepy" had been with the Fiddlin' Farmers for about 7 years in 1940, having started in radio at a very early age. He was born on February 15, 1922, in the same town as his brother. He also has never taken lessons and doesn't read music, and played the guitar in the band.

"Shorty" or "Hiram Hayseed" was the comedy portion of the Fiddlin' Farmers. You can read about him elsewhere on this site. He had been in show business since 1916 when he was part of this act in 1940.

"Cricket" was the newest member of the Fiddlin' Farmers in 1940. She was born on September 15, 1923 in Neffs, Ohio. She had started in radio in 1939, appearing on WHIS out of Bluefield, WV.

Mack was five feet eleven inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds with brown hair and grey eyes.

Timeline and Trivia Notes

Group Members included:

  • William H. "Mack" Jeffers, Sr. - banjo
  • William M. "Slick" Jeffers, Jr. - guitar
  • George "Sleepy" Jeffers - guitar
  • William H. "Shorty" Godwin, also known as Hiram Hayseed
  • Cecelia "Cricket" Mauri