I have been blessed for the last four years to live with and care for my mother, who died in December of 2008. Living with her has been such a boon to my family history research. Mother was always willing to share her personal memories of growing up on Cook Hill with a large and loving family, as well as the collective memories passed down to her by the generations who came before her.

Many people found it surprising that someone like Mother, alive in 2008, could have a father who was born in 1869, almost 140 years ago. Her grandfather didn't fight in the Civil War because he was already too old. Those are the priceless family memories that she handed down to me to cherish.

The paternal lines I am researching at the present include the Jackson, Thomas, Henry, Meador, Pratt, Elliott, and Evans families.

The materal lines I am currently researching include the Self, Franklin, Grimes, Bass, Miles, Cook, Tomlin, and Kite families.

I want to express my appreciation for two women who share my feeling about the importance of family.

The first is my cousin, Easter Louise Tomlin Minto, who documented her family history long before the advent of databases and the internet. Hers was a labor of love, and her chef-d'œuvre, Descendants of William Patrick Tomlin and Ollie Kite, has been invaluable to me.

The second is Sarah Locklin Taylor, who lovingly documented the records of my Jackson family in Texas, and graciously transferred their records to me, because she knew I loved them. Thank you, Sarah, for the example you've set for me.

I have been blessed for the last four years to live with and care for my mother, who died in December of 2008. Living with her has been such a boon to my family history research. Mother was always willing to share her personal memories of growing up on Cook Hill with a large and loving family, as well as the collective memories passed down to her by the generations who came before her.

Many people found it surprising that someone like Mother, alive in 2008, could have a father who was born in 1869, almost 140 years ago. Her grandfather didn't fight in the Civil War because he was already too old. Those are the priceless family memories that she handed down to me to cherish.

The paternal lines I am researching at the present include the Jackson, Thomas, Henry, Meador, Pratt, Elliott, and Evans families.

The materal lines I am currently researching include the Self, Franklin, Grimes, Bass, Miles, Cook, Tomlin, and Kite families.

I want to express my appreciation for two women who share my feeling about the importance of family.

The first is my cousin, Easter Louise Tomlin Minto, who documented her family history long before the advent of databases and the internet. Hers was a labor of love, and her chef-d'œuvre, Descendants of William Patrick Tomlin and Ollie Kite, has been invaluable to me.

The second is Sarah Locklin Taylor, who lovingly documented the records of my Jackson family in Texas, and graciously transferred their records to me, because she knew I loved them. Thank you, Sarah, for the example you've set for me.