I thought it’d be fun to post a character bio of the heroine of The Lady Sheriff Series – yes, the series I’m always rambling about. I hope to do a character bio of each of the series regular characters.
Name: Claire Marie Roberts Williams
Nicknames: Doesn’t have one
Age: 32 at the start of the series
Gender: Female
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Birthdate: September 4, 1900
Height: 5”2
Parents: Harrison Roberts and Millicent Banks
Children: None
Body type: Thin and small boned
Skin tone: Caucasian – pale
Hair color: Dark Brown
Physical details: Large dark brown eyes, wide smile.
Clothing style: Claire’s dresses are neat, conservative, and maybe a few years out of style – it’s the Great Depression. While she has a job and might be better off than many in this era, times are still hard. She’s more likely to remake an old piece of clothing than buy something new. I don’t imagine her wearing pants, her shoes are often dressy but she does have a pair of sturdy boots to change into if she comes upon a muddy crime scene. She often carries a purse – even when she’s off-duty, she carries her badge, handcuffs, and a pencil and notepad in the purse just in case a crime occurs.
Likes: Mysteries, being in a position of authority, going to church and living out her Christian faith.
Dislikes: Crimes involving children, deceit, trickery, guns, smoking, alcohol, profanity, hypocrisy, chauvinism, dirty politics
Allergies: Most in Indiana are allergic to pollen, dust, or animal dander. She probably suffers from similar allergies.
Special Skills: Solving mysteries and crimes
Languages known: English
Religion: Christian
Occupation: Homemaker, Sheriff of Ouabache
Quirks: Didn’t know how to drive until after her husband’s death, when on receiving the position of sheriff, she taught herself. During Claire’s first few cases, she neglects to bring her handcuffs with her, which makes arrests awkward. She then carries them in her purse. Also, she is uncomfortable with guns but does learn to shoot for the sake of her job and for her own protection. Her morality is often in line with that of the era, due to her devout Christian faith. However, she becomes more open-minded as the series progresses.
Flaws: She can be biased; she often lets her personal feelings interfere with her judgment; she is willing to show mercy to some suspects but not others – depending on the crime/mystery. Though it is contrary to her religious beliefs, she will lie/mislead suspects to unearth the truth, assuring herself it is for the greater good.
Favorite Book: “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen
Favorite Movie: Little Women (1933)
Favorite Songs: “All Of Me,” by Ruth Etting; “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms;” “Will/Can the Circle Be Unbroken?”
Personality: Originally, Claire is reserved, mild-mannered, shy, the obedient homemaker/housewife. But when she receives the position of sheriff, she comes out of her shell and is more confident and independent. She firmly believes the Lord wants her to serve Ouabache, that He has given her this opportunity, and she is blessed with the unique ability to solve mysteries and crimes.
Backstory: Born in 1900, Claire Marie Roberts lived a typical life of a girl/woman in the early 20th century. She was a devoted daughter, good student, and went to church regularly. Her first and only beau was Reginald Williams. She wrote to him when he served in the Great War and they married not long after he returned. Claire settled into being a homemaker and expected to have children, but never did. The stock market crash happened in 1929, life changed for everyone. When Reginald decided to campaign to be sheriff of Ouabache in 1931/1932, she supported him and was happy for him when he was elected. Her world was turned upside down a few months later when he was killed in the line of duty. To her astonishment, the commissioner approached her and through Widow’s Succession, he offered her the position of sheriff. With no other means of support, she accepted. The position was likely meant to be symbolic – but Claire had other ideas. She took her job seriously and found she had a knack for solving mysteries and crimes. This often ruffles feathers in a Good Ol’ Boy era, when women were expected to be at home, raising children. But she is convinced she is meant for this position “for such a time as this.”
Appears in: Every Lady Sheriff Story
Veronica Leigh 