I was born in Gastonia, NC in 1954 but didn't stay there long. I am the son of Emory Lee Dillard, Jr. of Willets, NC and my momma is Nancy Jane Parris of Addie, NC. Grand parents are Emory Lee Dillard, Sr. and May Melinda Godfrey and on my momma's side they are Buford Earl (Dud) Parris and Kathleen Jones. I was raised in Waynesville, NC then the family moved to Toronto, Canada in 1967. A year later the family was back down south in Johnson City, TN. I served our country in the USMC from '72-'75 and then attended ETSU. After graduation, I worked for the TVA and eventually ended up in Florence, AL. where I married an Alabama gal and raised 2 daughters. I really miss the mountains of WNC and ETN. I have been a photographer most of my life but never did much professional work. I've always enjoyed genealogy and visiting graves. I am very thankful to my relatives that did all the tedious research and work to provides my family with a good knowledge of where they come from. And to the Find A Grave members that appear to have already documented every square inch of every cemetery in the world-THANK YOU!

I was born in Gastonia, NC in 1954 but didn't stay there long. I am the son of Emory Lee Dillard, Jr. of Willets, NC and my momma is Nancy Jane Parris of Addie, NC. Grand parents are Emory Lee Dillard, Sr. and May Melinda Godfrey and on my momma's side they are Buford Earl (Dud) Parris and Kathleen Jones. I was raised in Waynesville, NC then the family moved to Toronto, Canada in 1967. A year later the family was back down south in Johnson City, TN. I served our country in the USMC from '72-'75 and then attended ETSU. After graduation, I worked for the TVA and eventually ended up in Florence, AL. where I married an Alabama gal and raised 2 daughters. I really miss the mountains of WNC and ETN. I have been a photographer most of my life but never did much professional work. I've always enjoyed genealogy and visiting graves. I am very thankful to my relatives that did all the tedious research and work to provides my family with a good knowledge of where they come from. And to the Find A Grave members that appear to have already documented every square inch of every cemetery in the world-THANK YOU!