Possible Cherokee connection

According to my mother, my family is part Cherokee Indian. Her grandfather’s name is Howard Jefferson Beaman from North Carolina; born in the 1850’s-1870’s. His wife’s name was Katie Herring-Beaman. Also, on my father’s side, my great grandmother was from South Carolina, her name was Mary Frances Godfrey. She also may be of Cherokee descent, born in the late 1880’s- 1900’s. I just need to know if this is true…