When Lucy Pearl Deskins was born on 25 September 1897, in Grundy, Buchanan, Virginia, United States, her father, John Witten Deskins, was 42 and her mother, Ada Zumach Ratliff, was 36. She married William Cleveland McKinley Shortridge on 15 May 1914, in Grundy, Buchanan, Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Grundy District, Buchanan, Virginia, United States in 1940. She died on 18 October 1971, in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie, Florida, United States, at the age of 74, and was buried in White City Cemetery, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie, Florida, United States.