My Genealogy Journey began the year my paternal GrandMother turned 85 years old. When we asked what she really wanted for her BirthDay Gift, she expressed a great desire to find out what had happened to her "Mother's People".
Wanting to please her, 'cause she has always been such a GREAT GrandMother, I wanted to find that info for her. We sat down at the kitchen table where I could take notes, while she talked about her kinfolks and the life she led while growing up. Her eyes sparkled as she recalled living in Haysi, Dickenson County, Virginia as a young girl; later moving with her Family to West Virginia where she ended up in Fayette County when she got married.
After her walk down Memory Lane, I was very eager to get home and on my computer.
I JUST KNEW that I could find something for her on the great, big "WWW". I found Cyndi's List and took it from there. I posted queries on every message board, scanned every site possible, trying to find information on our ROBINSON, LAMBERTs, JAMES, COLEMANs, KISERS...SUTHERLANDs, DEAL/DEELs, EDWARDS.... Boy! Was I ever busy on my computer.
At the time, I didn't know it, but I was getting a severe case of Genealogist's Disease. My Family knew something was wrong though. Our house was starting to get dusty, meals were being missed, weeds took over my flower beds.... I couldn't think about anything else. I was a Woman obsessed! I just had to find that information for my Dear GrandMother. Fayette County had an election coming up soon and I had to attend an evening Poll Worker's class at the courthouse. The night that I was scheduled to attend, was the same night that Geraldine WORKMAN was there. (We had worked a couple of times together at the Polls and I was hoping that we would do so again. She was very pleasant to work and always talked about Genealogy and History.) She invited me to sit with her and before "class" started, asked what had I been doing since I saw her last. I told her about "Project GrandMother" and she delighted in giving me some information that might be helpful in my research. After the class, we found that we would be working together again. I was thrilled to hear that! Now, anyone who has ever worked at a rural polling place, knows that the day can be SUPER BORING, while waiting for folks to come in and vote. Working with Mrs. WORKMAN & Mrs. June DENOFF, the day flew by, filled with conversations of Local Genealogy, History and of course, with Mrs. WORKMAN, the Fayette & Raleigh Counties Genealogical Society, of which she was a Member. The times we had worked together in the past, she ALWAYS Invited me to come over and "visit". Said they were a good group of people who could teach me a thing or two...LOL She was right about that, for sure! I made arrangements to "visit" FRGS at the next Oak Hill meeting. It was a very pleasant experience. Being with that many people who liked doing Genealogy was a new experience for me. And they were fun to be around. (Still are...) I was hooked! I became a MEMBER of FRGS.
Since that April Day, I have found out lots of info for my Dear GrandMother. We have taken a few trips back to Virginia, meeting with old cousins who were thought to be lost forever, while finding new cousins who were always looking for "us".
My GrandMother, at 92 years of age, has slowed way down, especially when it comes to traveling out of state. But I will always cherish the Memories we share of our Genealogy Journey and our trips together.
