My Genealogy Story Part 5: New Discoveries
In life, there is always hope and the opportunity to be better as human beings. We are fortunate to live in this time and generation to not only live but to grow. The 21st century is here and 2030 is about to come up soon. Growing means treating people right, helping our neighbors, caring about ideals of justice and truth, and being a light for righteousness. A long time ago, I always wondered about my ancestry beyond my grandparents. I tried to research my family tree at a higher level in 2015 and 2016, but the project back then wasn't very successful. Everything changed in 2018. That year, I went to Ancestry.com to find information about my ancestry. I took many DNA tests from Ancestry.com and from 23 and Me. In that year, I found out more information than I could ever imagine. I discovered that I was a descendant of both Zilphy Claud and George Perkins. I understood the concept of a haplogroup as it relates to humanity and DNA. From 2018 to the present, I learned about so many of my cousins. I found many of my cousins being found in places from across the world, some are activists, some are teachers, some are celebrities, and others are athletes. Yet, we share the common bond of being part of one single family. Families make the world go around, and I appreciate learning this information at the right time. Like always, learning doesn't stop. Even in 2023, I learned even more information about my relatives found in the four corners of the Earth.
In genealogical research, people want to know about haplogroups and how it relates to DNA. Haplogroup is a scientific term that describes a group of mitochondrial or Y-Chromosome sequences that are closely related to one another and to other sequences. The haplogroup is a combination of haplotype and group. There are maternal haplogroups and paternal haplogroups. In this context, haplotype refers either to the DNA sequence of one's mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited from one's mother, or to the DNA sequence of one's Y chromosome, which is passed from fathers to their sons. The mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome contain information about your maternal and paternal lines, respectively. But together, they make up less than 1% of all your DNA, and only represent a small fraction of your ancestry. Everyone can trace their maternal ancestry back to a single woman, but members of a mitochondrial (maternal) haplogroup can trace their maternal ancestry back to a more recent common ancestor, and the same applies to paternal ancestry and the Y chromosome for males. So, in the bigger picture, a haplotype is a group of alleles in an organism that are inherited together from a single parent. A haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation. A haplogroup (or made up of similar haplotypes) is a combination of alleles at different chromosomal regions that are closely linked and tend to be inherited together. Haplogroups pertain to a single line of descent. By any individual, it relies on a relatively small proportion of the genetic material possessed by that individual.
Each haplogroup came from and remains part of a preceding single haplogroup (or paragroup). Haplogroups can be identified by an initial letter of the alphabet and refinements are made up of additional number and letter combinations like A, A1, and A1a. In human genetics, the haplogroups heavily studied are the Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) haplogroups and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups that are used to define genetic populations. Y-DNA is passed solely by the patrilineal line from father to son. The mtDNA is passed down to the matrilineal line, from the mother to the offspring of both sexes. Y-DNA and mtDNA don't recombine. So, they only change by chance mutation at each generation with no intermixture between parents' genetic material. Mitochondria are small organelles that are found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells, like those of humans. It has mtDNA (or mitochondrial DNA). A majority of a human's DNA is found in the chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell, except for the mtDNA. Human Y chromosomes only exist in males. Human Y chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) haplogroups are named from A to T. They are subdivided into numbers and lower-case letters. Y-chromosomal Adam is the name given by researchers to the male who is the most recent common patrilineal (male-lineage) ancestors of all living humans. There is Haplogroup A representing Khoisan and Nioletes, and Haplogroup B (representing Pygmies, and Hadzabee, etc.).
Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups are from the women ancestor lettered from A to Z. Mitochondrial Eve is the name given by researchers to the women which is the most recent common matrilineal (woman-lineage) ancestor of all living human beings. Haplogroups can be geographically oriented in mtDNA haplogroups. African maternal haplogroups have L0, L1, L2, and to L6. We have West Eurasian in H,T, U, V, X, K, I, J, and W. We have East Eurasian in A, B, C, D, E, F, G, Y, Z. Native Americans have Haplogroups of A, B, C, D, and X. Australo-Melanesian have haplogroups of P, Q, and S. There are macro maternal haplogroups of N and M. So, first, we have haplogroups. They are made up of haplotypes. A haplotype is a group of alleles in an organism. An allele is a variation of the same sequence of nucleotides at the same place on a long DNA molecule. The DNA molecule is formed into structures called chromosomes. A single length of DNA is wrapped many times around many proteins called histones to form structures called nucleosomes. These nucleosomes coil up to form chromatin loops. The chromatin loops are then wrapped around each other to make a full chromosome. Each chromosome has 2 short arms and 2 longer arms helped together by a centromere at the center. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total) from our mother and our father. XX chromosomes are for women and XY is for men. The DNA making up each of our chromosomes has thousands of genes. Telomeres are the sections of DNA at the ends of each of our chromosomes. Telomeres protect the ends of the chromosomes during DNA replication by forming a cap like a plastic tip on a shoelace. Improving the human telomeres (via exercise and eating healthy foods plus reducing stress) will slow down the aging process. Now, a gene is a unity of heredity transferred from parent to offspring. A gene is made up of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome. Genes are made up of DNA. Therefore, you have DNA at first, then genes, and then chromosomes, and then the chromosomes are found in the nucleus, and the nucleus is found in the human cell. We know that the cell reads the DNA code in groups of three bases. These triplet of bases is called a codon which specifies which amino acids will be added next during protein synthesis. The 20 different amino acids are the building blocks of proteins helping to develop the human phenotype from arms to skin color. The genotype and phenotype are not the same, but they are related to each other. From these cells, the human body develops and grows. Also, we should realize how blessed we are as said by a great scholar:
"Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do best."
-Marva Collins
The Smallwood and Whitted families (and other Paternal Relatives)
The Smallwood and Whitted families came from my paternal family. Many of them are descendants of my 4th great grandparents of George Perkins I (b. 1816) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). They had a child named George Perkins II (1847-1932). George Perkins II married Fannie Lou Blackstock in 1868. Later, George Perkins II and Fannie Lou Blackstock (1848-1949) had a child named Sophronia Perkins (1870-1926). She was my 1st cousin. She married Sam Casey (1863-1938) in 1899. One of their children was Nannie Rebecca Casey (1890-1943). She married Charles W. Smallwood (1888-1966) in 1907 at Rockingham, North Carolina. Their children are the following people of: Alex Zander Smallwood (1909-1981), Ellis Smallwood (b. 1910), Lettie Mae Smallwood (1914-1972), Charles Walker Smallwood Jr. (1915-1975), James Bethel Smallwood (1920-1974), Helen Eve Smallwood (1925-1961), Ruby Smallwood Cole (1926-2008), Lucy Smallwood (b. 1927), and Paul Soloman Smallwood (1929-1974). My late 3rd cousin Helen Eve Smallwood married William Campbell Whitted Sr. (1920-1984), and the couple lived in Fayetteville, West Virginia. The couple had 4 children whose names are William Campbell Whitted (1945-2014), Maria Helen Lucretia Whitted (1947-2019), Michael Charles Whitted (1947-2009), and Nancy Whitted Peabody (1952-2021). Helen Eve Smallwood Whitted lived a life filled with power and inspiration. She was born on November 27, 1925, at Glen Ferris, Fayette County, West Virginia. He passed away on August 10, 1961, at Portsmouth, Virginia. Her burial was found at Roosevelt Memorial Park at Chesapeake, Virginia. She was only 35 years old when she passed away. She had a long illness before her transition to the Most High God. Helen was a Crestwood High School teacher. She lived in Norfolk, Virginia too.
As a 1943 graduate of West Virginia State College, Institute in West Virginia, Helen Eve Smallwood Whitted was highly educated. Also, she took graduate work t Virginia State University (in Petersburg, Virginia), and Temple University (at Philadelphia). She loved to be part of Crestwood Baptist Church. She was a member of the Women's Federated Clubs, Norfolk County Teachers Association, Virginia Teachers Association, and the National Education Association (NEA).
My 4th cousin Wiliam Campbell Whitted Jr. (1945-2014) lived from December 24, 1945, at Santa Cruz, California to August 11, 2014, at Ohio. He married Sharon Whitted, and their child is William C. Whitted III. He lived in Columbus, Ohio. William Campbell Whitted Jr. was known as a great teacher of technology at Walnut Ridge High School. Staff, students, and friends always praise his great personality and eagerness to present education to students. Maria Helen Lucretia Whitted was born on February 3, 1947, at Oakland, Alameda, California, and she passed away on January 29, 2019, in Decatur, Georgia. Maria Helen Whitted married William Thomas Phinizy Sr. (1938-1998) and their child is my 5th cousin William Thomas Phinizy Jr. (b. 1981). My 4th cousin Michael Charles Whitted (1947-2009) lived from February 3, 1947, in Alameda, California to November 16, 2009, in Fairfax, Virginia. He married Toni Levonne Rhem on June 13, 1970 in Norfolk, Virginia. Their children are my 5th cousins who are: Michelle Whitted Emerson (b. 1969), Tonya Renee Whitted (b. 1975. She is married to Leonard McCray Kenon, and the couple like in Fredericksburg, Virginia. That location is in Northern Virginia), and Michael C. Whitted II (b. 1976). Michelle Whitted Emerson married Kcaremba A. Emerson Jr. (b. 1968) and their children are Szounjie Lachez Emerson (b. 1998) and Zhaleen Sibonet Emerson (b. 2003). My 4th cousin Nancy Anne Whitted Peabody lived from January 2, 1952, at Norfolk, Virginia to July 18, 2021, in Georgia. Her daughter is my 5th cousin named Kari Aminah Peabody (b. 1983).
I recently found out about my late paternal 4th cousin named Gladys Mae Baines Ivey. She lived from December 2, 1937, to February 18, 2020. She was born on the Eastern Shore of Virginia like tons of my paternal relatives. We are 4th cousins because we descended from George and Esther Perkins (who are my 4th great-grandparents). Her parents are Cleveland Baines (b. 1910) and Rosa May Bailey (1916-2008). Rosa Mae Biley's parents are Noah Bailey and Helen Bailey (b. 1894). Noah Bailey's parents were Cobb Bailey (b. 1864) and Mary Susan Brickhouse (1873-1945). Mary Susan Brickhouse's parents are Benjamine Brickhouse III (b. 1844) and Mary Perkins (b. 1844). Mary Perkins's parents are George Perkins and Esther Perkins. She has many children like Margaret Ann Baines (b. 1953) whose father is Thomas Satchell. She had 2 children with Hughland Edward Ivey (who she married on October 2, 1954) who are Hughland Ivey Jr. (b. 1955) and Lawrence Ivey. She married Horace Lee Smaw Sr. (1938-1991) on October 23, 1967 at Cheriton, Virginia. Their son is Horace Lee Smaw Jr. (b. 1970), and their daughter is Shirley Mae Smaw Hudson (b. 1973). Horace Lee Smaw Jr. had a child with Tari Pleshette Daniel (b. 1970) named Tabitha Helen Smaw (b. 1994). Tabith Helen Smaw (b. 1994) is my 5th cousin, and Ancestry.com confirmed that we are related genetically and genealogically. Now, Horace Lee Smaw Jr. is married to Tammy A. Baines (b. 1969). Gladys Mae Baines Ivey's final husband was William T. Trower. My 5th cousin Shirley Mae Smaw Hudson was born in May 1973, and she married Marvin Terell Hudson on August 10, 1966, in Norfolk, Virginia. Their children are Mariah Hope Hudson (b. 1998) and Rebecca Hudson.
New stories about my family tree are being revealed all of the time. My 1st cousin Lucy May Peel lived from March 1, 1922, in North Carolina to May 22, 2002, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Connecticut is a state where many of my distant paternal and maternal cousins live at. Lucy Peele was my paternal 1st cousin. Lucy May Peele married Mathew Haywood Peele (1919-1984) on July 9, 1938, in Martin, North Carolina. Lucy and Matthew Haywood Peele had many children. According to the 1950 Census, their children are Haywood Peele Jr., Bobby Ray Peele, Lola Peele, and Lorainne Peele. Haywood Earl Peele (1939-1999) married Johnnie Mae Graham (b. 1938) on January 16, 1957, at Edgecombe, North Carolina. They divorced on May 2, 1960 at Norfolk, Virginia. Haywood Peele married Portia Guy in August 1974. Later, Haywood Peele had a child with Lucinda Williams named Jordan H. Peele (1979). Yes, that Jordan Peele, who is the famous actor, comedian, and director of films like Nope, etc. Jordan Peele and I share the same ancestor of Adam D. Bobby Ray Peele lived from October 4, 1940, in North Carolina to June 9, 2012. Bobby Ray Peele married Beatrice Thomas (b. 1942) on December 2, 1957, in Martin, North Carolina. Lorraine Sutrina Peele married James Davis (who was born on March 1945) in Manhattan, New York City in 1966. Dr. James Robert Davis is a religious author, and he wrote a book entitled, "The Need for Rapid Deployment is Now."
Darthetia Frances Turner's Descendants
The late Darthelia Frances Turner was born in ca. 1844. She is a very important ancestor as her descendants were part of many families. To start, the research documents her parents as being Betsy Woodson and Edwin D. Turner (both descendants of the Nottoway people in Southampton County, Virginia). Betsy Woodson is a descendant of my 7th great grandmother Nancy Woodson (who was a Nottoway Native American). Nancy's daughter was Winny Woodson, Winny Woodson's daughter was Mary Woodson-Williams, and Mary Woodson-Williams' daughter was Betsy Woodson (husband of Edwin D. Turner). Darthelia Frances Turner married John Harrison Jr. (b. 1852) on January 4, 1877, in Southampton County Virginia. The couple had one daughter named Rosa Ellen Sykes (1884-1972). She was my 2nd cousin. Rosa Ellen Sykes lived to be 91 years old, and she was a member of St. James United Methodist Church in Salisbury, Maryland. She was a former member of the Byrant Baptist Church in Courtland, Virginia. Rosa married Joseph Robert Sykes (1883-1930). Their children are Erdy Frances White (1911-1997), George Henry Sykes (b. 1912), William Sykes (b. 1915), Frank Sykes (1915-1921), Lucy M. Sykes (1917-1931), Hattie L. Sykes (1919-1960), Mattie V. Sykes (1922-1975), and Harwood H. Sykes (b. 1924). My 3rd cousin Hattie L. Sykes married Joe Ben Stith (1919-1974), and she lived to be 41 years old. She lived in Salisbury, Maryland. Hattie L. Sykes and Joe Ben Stith's children are: Mary L. Sykes (b. 1934), Sarah Sykes (b. 1938), Joseph Wesley Sykes (1940-1988), Christine Sykes (1942-1942), Edieth Mae Sykes (1942-1969), Benjamin P. Stith (b. 1944), Annette Stith (b. 1948), Diana Robinson Stith Hitch Brooks (1949-2020), and Ernest Sykes. My 4th cousin John Welsey Sykes married Elizabeth Ann Hudson (1938-2003) in 1961, and their children are: Broderick L. Sykes (b. 1959), Joseph Welsey Sykes Jr. (1961-2005), Ronald Lakeith Sykes (b. 1963), and Michael Lorin Sykes Sr. (b. 1966).
Arizona (involving my Distant Paternal Relatives)
Many of my distant cousins do live in Arizona. Arizona is a southwestern state with a lot of diverse people, and it has gone blue during the 2020 election. It has tons of progressive, strong people. On my Ancestry.com account, a person shown to be related to me by DNA is a human being named Gladys Manuela Burton who was born on May 18, 1967, in Tuscon, Arizona. Their shared matches are people on my father's side, so Gladys Burton is my paternal distant cousin. Most of Gladys Burton's DNA is Indigenous American from Mexico, Nigeria, Western Africa, etc. This is obviously true as her father was African American and her mother is Mexican American. Gladys is my 4th cousin as we share the same ancestors of George and Esther Perkins I (who were my 4th great grandparents). George and Esther Perkins had a child named Julia Perkins (b. 1835). My 3rd great grandmother Julia Perkins married Johnson Brickson (b. 1826) and one of their children was Esther Brickhouse Bailey (1862-1955) or my 2nd great grandmother. Esther's sister of my 2nd great-grandaunt was Ann Eliza Brickhouse (1857-1921). She had 2 husbands whose names are James Kelly (b. 1848) and James Burton (1848-1931). One of the sons of Ann Aliza Brickhouse and James Burton was Preston Burton (1888-1957). Preston Burton married Sallie Upshur on July 14, 1909, in Northampton County, Virginia. The couple had many children, and one was Lloyd (or Lessie) Burton (1917-1985). Lloyd L. Burton married Gladys Thomas, and they had a child named Lessie Burton Jr. (1935-1996). Later in life, Lloyd L. Burton married Mary Burton. Lessie Burton Jr. was born on September 8, 1935 at Nesswaters, Virginia, and he passed away on November 6, 1996 at Tuscon, Arizona. He married an Latina American woman named Maria Rosario Delrosario Burton (b. 1943). Their children are: William Burton (1963-1970), Julia Luisa Burton Demetrius (b. 1964), Dora Hilda Burton (1967-1983), Gladys Manuela Burton, Leslie Mary Ellen Burton (1980-2021), Lestine Burton, Jose Burton, and William H. Burton. The Arizona Daily Star on November 6, 1996, Page 26 showed the obituary of Lessie Burton's life as he lived for 61 years. My 4th cousin Gladys Burton married David Rios, and their child is my 4th cousin named Sarai Pilar Burton-Rios. My 4th cousin Juila Demetrius and Terry E. Dodd (b. 1963) had a child named April Jennifer Dodd (b. 1982). April Dodd is my 4th cousin who married Abraham Torrestorija, and their child is Dora Torrestorija (or my 4th cousin too). April Dodd's paternal grandparents are Terry C. Dodd (1937-2102) and Jeanetta Huff Dodd (b. 1932).
Curtis L. Flowers
Curtis L. Flowers was my late 1st cousin who lived from March 22, 1949, to September 3, 2005. He passed away at the Bronx, New York City. He is the son of Alberta D. Flowers (1932-2000). Alberta is the granddaughter of Carl D. (1886-1968), and she is the great grandfather of my 2nd great grandfather Adam D. (b. 1862). Curtis Lee Flowers (whose parents are Ronnie L. Edwards and Alberta D. Flowers. Curtis Lee Flowers was born at Charleston, Virginia) married Patty M. Milligan at Lakewood Township, Ocean New Jersey in July 1975. Curtis Lee Flowers lived in New York City, Lakewood, New Jersey, and in Philadelphia. He passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2005, at Philadelphia (at the age of 56 years old). Curtis Lee Flowers had a son named Curtis Flowers Jr. of Lakewood, New Jersey. His 2 daughters are Debra Flowers of Burlington and Lisa Marshall of Lakewood, New Jersey. His five brothers are Carter, Jerome, Timothy, Richard, and Antonio. His four sisters are Alice Jackson, Rhonda, Angela, and Robin from New York. He had at least 9 grandchildren too. My 2nd cousin Rhonda A. Flowers-Edwards was born on October 20, 1961, and she has lived all over New York City. Curtis Lee Flowers Jr. (the son of the late Curtis Lee Flowers) was born on December 8, 1980.
Jesse Lee Shields and Geneva D. Shields
It is important to write about the Shields family more on the paternal side of my family. My great-grand aunt named Geneva Shields. She lived from 1927 to 2016. Her parents are my 2nd great-grandfather Adam D. and Nancy Reynolds. She married Jessie Lee Shields on March 12, 1946, in Norfolk, Virginia. Jessie Lee Shields's parents are Jimmie Shields and Robert McNeer. Geneva Shields lived at 1039 Calvert Street in Norfolk, Virginia, and Jimme Lee Shields lived at 1029 Chapel Street in Norfolk, Virginia. Geneva was 19 years old, and Jessie was 26 years old. Geneva and Jessie Shields' children are: Carolyn Maxine Shields Ruffin (b. 1945), Marian Jean Shields (b. 1946), James Lee Shields Jr. (b. 1949), Clarence Edward Shields (1949-1949), Annie Marie Shields (b. 1950), William Earl Shields, Paulette Shields Melton, and Dianne Shields-Harris. Paulette Shields Mellon lived from December 14, 1953, to February 26, 2017. She was the youngest daughter of Jesse and Geneva Shields. Paulette attended Brawley School in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. She loved her childhood and teenage years in North Carolina with her siblings and family. By 1969, she moved with her family to Spring Valley, New York. Paulette attended and graduated from Ramapo High School. She met and married Leroy Smith as her first husband. Later, Paulette worked as a nurse's aide at the Dr. Yeager Health Center in Pomona, New York for 10 years. She moved back to her home at Scotland Neck, North Carolina by the early 1990's where she worked at the Scotland Neck Manor Nursing Home for years. She gave tender care to the sick and elderly. Paulette loved to take care of people. She fellowshipped and worship as a member of Shiloh Baptist Church. She loved to dance, play games with her family and friends, and hold events for the holidays at her home. She also cooked and baked goodies. The children of Paulette and Leroy Smith were Tyrone Smith, Lamont Smith, and Lakeisha Smith (who was a cheerleader when she was a child). Leroy and Tyrone played football before. Paulette Shields Melton's last husband was Renzalo Melton. Tyrone Smith's wife is Michelle Smith, and Lamont Smith's wife is Veronica Smith. Paulette's grandchildren are Shaqora Parker, Shaquan Smith, Taron Smith, Tianna Smith, Tyreke Smith, Tieha Smith, Le'onnie Smith, and Quana'asia Whyte. She has one great-grandchild named Noel Kellaman.
Jesse Lee Shields Sr. by the 1980's lived in Spring Valley, New York state. One daughter of Jesse and Geneva Shields is Dianne Shields-Harris, who was born on August 25, 1952. She married Carl L. Harris Sr. (who passed away in 2016). Their children are Angelina L. Harris (b. 1982) and Carl L. Harris Jr. (b. 1987).
Abby Woodson-Bozeman
There is a mystery about Abby Woodson for a time. A while ago, one person from Ancestry.com mentioned information about Abby Woodson. According to Virginia Census records, her parents were Thomas Crocker (who was an African American freeman) and Patsy (Betsy) Woodson. Patsy Woodson and her relatives were descendants of the Nottoway Native American people in Virginia. Patsy's parents are the black freeman Burwell Williams and the Nottoway Native American Winifred Woodson, who were my 6th great-grandparents. The farmer Thomas Crocker lived from ca. 1814 to 1877. According to the United States 1850 Census, her mother was Mima Crocker, who was born in ca. 1780. Winifred Woodson was born in ca. 1791. Thomas Crocker and my 5th great-grandaunt Patsy Williams Crocker (1810-1870) had many children like Martha (Patsy) Crocker (b. 1828), Indiana Bozeman Crocker (1831-1896), and Caroline Bozeman-Crocker (b. 1831). Abby Woodson-Crocker was born in 1847 in Virginia. Later, she married a man named Sam Marshall (b. 1846) on September 23, 1877, at Charles City, Virginia. The family moved to Dodge, Georgia by the year of 1880. In the 1880 United States Census, Abby Woodson and Sam Marshall had the following children: Joseph Marshall (b. 1863), Hillary Marshall (b. 1864), John Marshall (b. 1865), Anderson J. Marshall (b. 1869), Susa Marshall (b. 1871), Maggie Marshall (1875-1919), Emma Marshall (b. 1877), and James Marshall (b. 1880). These children are my 2nd cousins. My 2nd cousin John Marshall married Emma Reaves (1874-1961) on November 6, 1891, at Wilcox, Georgia. Their children are Ruby Marshall Brown (1898-1988), Moses Marshall (1903-1986), Donella Marshall Reid (1892-1969), and Bertha Marshall Adams (1896-1991). These are my 3rd cousins. My 3rd cousin Johnnie Bell Wilcox was born in September 22, 1903, at Rhine, Dodge, Georgia. She married Dan Johnson and had the following children of : Cleopatra Johnson (1922-1986), Roya J. Johnson (b. 1925), Estalla L. Johson (b. 1927), Bernice Lucile Johnson (b. 1933), and Oquin Johnson Wilcox (1935-2002). These are my 4th cousins. Many of these distant cousins moved from Georgia into New Jersey and Florida too.
Indiana Bozeman Crocker and Morefield Hurst (and their Descendants)
In Virginia genealogical research, one ancestor that keeps on coming up was Indiana Woodson-Bozeman Crocker. She was my first cousin who lived from ca. 1831, in Sussex, Virginia to July 9, 1896, in Sussex, Virginia. Her siblings are Martha (Patsy) Crocker (b. 1828), Abby Woodson-Crocker (b. 1847), and Caroline Crocker (b. 1831). Indiana's parents were Patsy Woodson-Williams and the free black man Thomas Crocker. Pasty Woodson-Williams' parents are Burwell Williams (who was a free black man) and Nottoway descendant Winny Woodson. Winny's parents are Nanny Woodson and Mike Bozeman. Indiana's mother or Patsy Woodson-Williams was ca. 29 years old when she and her siblings requested allotment lands in 1840. Patsy's husband, Thomas Crocker repurchased many tracts of land after Patsy sold her allotments. Thomas Crocker purchases 41 acres of Turner-Woodson allotments and some lands from Mason Scholar. Thomas Crocker's sister labored at the Rose Hill plantation. He lived near the Artis and Hill families. Many marriages happened between Artis, Hill, and Nottoway families back centuries ago. Thomas Crocker was a farm owner too. Thomas Crocker and Patsy Woodson-Williams adopted a child named Robert Chavis (who was a descendant of the Nottoway Scholar family. He adopted the name of James Robert Crocker). My first cousin Indiana Bozeman Crocker married a man named William Artis. In the 1880 United States Federal Census and other sources, they listed the children of Indiana Bozeman Crocker and William Artis as the following: Benjamin Thomas Artis (1852-1936), Caroline M. Artis (b. 1852), William W. Artis (b. 1863), Washington Artis (1859-1920), Ben Joe Artis (1856-1933), Clara J. Artis (b. b. 1868), Henrietta Artis (1873-1977), and George Washington Artis (1870-1916).
Benjamin Thomas Artis (1852-1936) was the son of Indiana Bozeman Crocker (1831-1896) and William Artis (b. 1841). Benjamin Thomas Artis married Indiana Briggs (1855-1923) in January 11, 1877, in Sussex, Virginia. Their children are Martha E. Artis (b. 1878), Willie L. Artis (b. 1881), Indiana Virginia Bulock (1887-1945), Benjamin Thomas Artis Jr. (1888-1958), Laura Lee Artis Newsome (1892-1982), Mary Artis, and Bessie M. Artis (1901-1974). These children are my 3rd cousins as we share the same ancestor as Winny Woodson and Burwell Williams. Laura Lee Artis Newsome married Joseph Felton Newsome (b. 1884) and had the following children of: Thomas Moyler Newsome (1917-1982), Catherin Newsome (b. 1920), Joseph Frederick Newsome (1920-1991), Josephine Newsome (b. 1921), Viola Newsome (b. 1926), Irene C. Newsome (1927-2012), Annie Laura Newsome (b. 1930), and Carl Bernard Newsome (1933-2006). Joseph Frederick Newsome married Marion Cornelia Lowry on July 9, 1949, in Petersburg, Virgnia. Their children are Eloise Virginia Cornelia Newsom (b. 1949) and Jerome Angelo Newsome (b. 1953).
Many of the Artis family (who are descendants of Indiana Bozeman Crocker) live in New York City. Diane B. Artis Wilcox was born in New York City on July 8, 1943, and she is my 5th cousin. Her children with the late Stephen Arrington Sr. (1938-1986) are Stephanie R. Arrington Woods (b. 1960) and Stephen H. Arrington Jr. (b. 1946). Diana's son with the late Jacox Wilcox (1933-2008) is Brian L. Wilcox (b. 1976). Many of this family live in Jamaica Queens and St. Albans, Queens too. My 6th cousin Brian L. Wilcox is married to Taysha L. Olds. Diane B. Artis' sister is Sheila Artis Green. Their parents are William J. Artis Jr. (1920-1995) and Elizabeth Bell (1920-2008). My 4th cousin William J. Artis Jr.'s parents were Willie Artis (1890-1949) and Estelle Lesty Artis (b. 1892). Their children are Doris Artis (b. 1923), Charles Artis (b. 1924), Neoma Artis (1927-1999), Norma Artis (1927-2010), and Lissette Artis (b. 1932). Willie Artis' parents were Washington Artis (1859-1920) and Laura Stewart (b. 1857). Washington Artis' parents were Indiana Bozeman Crocker (1831-1896) and William Artis (b. 1841).
Also, I found out that Stacey Long Simmons is my 6th cousin as we both share the same ancestors of my 6th great grandparents of Winifred Woodson-Bozeman and Burwell Williams. Winifred Woodson-Bozeman and Burwell Williams had a child named Pasty Williams, and Patsy Williams married a man named Thoams Crocker. The couple had a children named Indiana Bozeman Crocker, and William Artist had a child named Washington Artist (1859-1920). Washington Artist married a woman named Laura Stewart (b. 1857), and their child was Willie Artis (1890-1949). Willie Artis married Estelle Lesty Artis (b. 1892), and their child was Neoma Artis (1927-1999). She married Richard Arthur Montgomery Jr., and their children are Gail Long, Hassan Babatunji, Hassan, Gail, and Larry. Gail Long married William Alton Long, and their child is Stacey Long Simmons. So, it goes all into full circle.
Norma Artis Morton was my 4th cousin who lived from February 5, 1927, in Pennsylvania to August 15, 2010, in Jamaica Queens, New York City. She married the late Harry Morton Sr., and they had many children. Some of their children are Harry B. Morton Jr. (b. 1952), Bernard Louis Morton (1953-2003), Maureen V. Morton (b. 1961), Evan Morton, and Adrienne C. Morton George. My 3rd cousin Elliot Artis has a long history. She lived from 1898 to 1968. Her parents are Benjamin Joe Artis and Annie B. Lewis Artis. Their children are Madelean Artis (1894-1935), Annie L. Artis (b. 1900), May Artis (b. 1902), Maude Artis (b. 1907), Prince Edward Artis (1909-1972), Miriam Artis (b. 1912), Thaddeus Wilson Artis (1913-1968), Lewis A. Artis (B. 1917), Elliot Artis (1898-1968), and Jo Bill Artis. Elliot Artis married Julia Ann Wyche on December 28, 1924, in Virginia. Their children are Ella Beatrice Artis (1925-1927), Irma Artist (b. 1929), Virginia Artis (1929-1992), Elliot Benjamin Artis Jr. (1931-2003), Edward Artis (b. 1932), Mabel Artis (b. 1933), George E. Artis Sr. (1936-2003), Florence E. Artis (b. 1940), Lloyd Artis (b. 1942), Minnie Artis (B. 1943), and Anthony Artis (b. 1947). Elliot Artis's son was George Artis. George Artis married Bessie Mae Branch. Bessie Mae Branch's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Branch. Elliot Artis lived in Ossining, New York state. The ceremony was performed on February 20th, 1960, in a home. The bride Bessie Branch was employed at Beckley Hospital before going to New York. Her sister, Julia Branch, was the maid of honor. Her bridesmaids were Miss Alberta Knight, Miss Jane Murray of Brooklyn, NYC, and Miss Daisy Lee of New York including Miss Myrtle Merchant of Tuskegee, Alabama. Lloyd Artis is the brother of George Artis, and he was the best man.
Recently, Passion Lowe has information about my ancestors. I found out that she is my 6th cousin living in California. We both are descendants of my 6th great-grandfather parents of the free African American Burwell Williams and Winifred Woodson-Bozeman (b. 1791) from Southampton County, Virginia. So, how did the journey start? Long ago, my maternal ancestors lived in Southampton County, Virginia. Burwell Williams and Winifred Woodson-Bozeman had a son named John Burwell Williams (b. 1815), and his wife was Mary Williams (b. 1824). Their daughter was my 1st cousin named Mary L. Williams (1855-1905). She had a child with Eddie Drew Kello named Roa Lester Kelle Williams (1876-1920). He lived from October 22, 1876, to November 13, 1920. In the 1880 United States Federal Census Records, we find that Rao Williams was raised by Mary Williams at Berlin and Ivor, Southampton County, Virginia. He was also known as Rassie Williams too. He married Violet Ramsey (b. 1887) and their following children are: Susie Kelle Williams (b. 1900), Claudia Ann Williams (1902-1936), Samuel B. Williams (b. 1904), Ras C. Williams (b. 1906), Daisey D. Williams (1910-1976), Carrie Elizabeth Hunt Williams (b. 1911), and Sylvia Margaret Davis (1912-1994). Claudia Ann Williams lived from 1902 to 1936. She married Charlie Foster and had the daughter of Marion Elizabeth Foster (1920-2014). Marion Elizabeth Foster lived from October 5, 1920, at Newport News, Virginia to February 21, 2014. She married Arceanious Herbert Felton in Norfolk, Virginia on July 24, 1936. Their child was LaVonne Harriet Felton (1936-2001). Marion had a child with Enrich Alfred Jasper (b. 1919) named Enrick Alfred Jasper Jr. (1944-2009. He was a military veteran). She married Joseph Murphy (b. 1918) and George Foster (1921-1996). She made a child with Rufus C. Wheeler named Ruthie Charlesetta Wheeler (1951-2005). Marion Elizabeth Foster's son with Joseph David Murphy Sr. was Joseph David Murphy Jr. (1964-2009). Marion Elizabeth Foster's child of Ruthie Charlesetta Wheeler married Lemuel Kinney (B. 1948). Their son is Lemuel Kinney Jr. (b. 1966). Marion also married Hary Irvin Wells (1925-2010) later on in her life, and they have the child of Passion D. Wells Lowe (b. 1985). By the time of Marion Foster and Passion Lowe, this family lives in California in San Diego and other cities in Southern California. Passion Desiree Lowe is my 6th cousin.
Maryland and My Relatives
Maryland is a unique state. It's much more Northern than Virginia culturally, but it has some Southern cultural roots found in the Maryland part of the Eastern Shore and in other places in Maryland. It has Appalachian culture in rural Western Maryland. Its areas of Baltimore and near D.C. has a Northeastern culture too. It is going through many political changes. Maryland borders Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Its largest city of Maryland is located at Baltimore and its capital is Annapolis. It has been a mostly progressive state for years, and it is a state where relatives on both sides of my family live at. Tons of African Americans live in Baltimore, Prince George County, and the southern Maryland region of the Eastern Shore. One of late relatives who have lived in Maryland for years was Fannie B. Moses Brittingham. She lived from November 28, 1928 to May 11, 2004 at Salisbury, Maryland. Her ancestors came from Southampton County, Virginia (where my maternal ancestors came from). So, she and her descendants are related to my maternal side of my family. One of her grandchildren is Kimberly Antionette Ponder-Duffy, who is my 3rd cousin. She was born on February 27, 1983 at Westover, Somerset, Maryland. We are third cousins, because we share the same ancestor of Charles and Fannie Peeples. Also, Ancestry.com confirmed our DNA relationship as she is found in my Ancestry.com DNA matches. Not mention, that we have shared matches with my maternal cousins like Tonya Peeples, Abdul-Rashad Diaab (who is related to the Peeples' family), the late Theophilus Moses, Jessica Lawrence (who is a descendant of Charles and Fannie Peeples), etc. So, DNA is the truth. Now, Kimberly Ponder-Mayfield is married to Rayfield F. Duffy. Her parents are Carl Ponder and Annettee Denise Moses (b. 1962). Annette Moses's parents are Vernon Archie Hope (b. 1930) and Fannie B. Moses Brittingham (1928-2004). Fannie's parents are Levin A. Moses Jr. and Viola Emily Jones (1909-1958). Viola Emily Jones' parents are Jessie Jones and Lizzie Peeples (1887-1964). Lizzie traveled from Southampton County, Virginia to Dublin, Somerset, Maryland. Lizzie's child was Viola Jones, and Lizzie's grandchildren were Moses Jones, Ralph Moses, and Fannie B. Moses Brittingham. Lizzie Peeples is the daughter of Charles Peeples and Fannie Peeples. Lizzie Peeples married Jessie Jones first and had the children of Viola Jones and John Mason. Lizzie's 2nd husband was a man named Thomas Spady.
This information was recorded by my late grandaunt Leara Smith as it was told by my ancestor Hollie Peeples (1908-1996) in 1991. Hollie Peeples was my great grandmother, and Leara Smith was her daughter. Viola Emily Jones married Levin Moses on October 15, 1927, at Northampton County, Virginia. Their children are Ralph Ealie Moses Sr. (1927-2011) and Fannie B. Moses Brittingham (1928-2004). Viola E. Jones passed in 1958, and she was buried at Wes Pocomoke, Somerset County, Maryland. Ralph Ealie Moses Sr. lived to be 84 years old, and he departed on Saturday, December 24, 2011 in Salisbury, Maryland. He was born in December 9, 1927. He loved his wife of 61 years whose name is Lottie Polk-Moses. Their seven children are Ralph Moses Jr. (1952-2021), Claudius Moses (1956-2012), Timothy Price Moses (b. 1974), Patricia Moses, Virginia Corbin, Brenda Dale, and Victoria Handy. My 3rd cousin Ralph Moses Jr. married Ophelia Moses (b. 1950) with the children of Tiffany N. Moses (b. 1975), Ralph Ealie Moses III (1978-2006. He married Andrea Jones-Moses, and their children are Anesha Moses, Elijah Moses, and Jair Pittman), Myra White, and Ericka Moses Johnson. Claudius Moses married Carrie Clark Moses and had the following children of: Claudia Moses, Claudius Moses Jr. (b. 1997), Shayla Moses, La Teeshe Moses, and Elisha Moses.
According to the Daily Times newspaper, Fannie B. Moses Brittingham's parents are Otis Winslow and Viola Jones Moses. Her brother was Ralph Moses Sr. Her children are Arnelda (Omra) Redding, Arvenia (Williams Jr.) Saunders, Annettee (Carl) Moses, and Theophilius (Ginger) Moses. She has 10 grandchildren and one on the way and 14 grandchildren. My 3rd cousin Annette Denise Moses was born in February 1962.Annette's parents are Vernon Archie Hope (1930-2021) and Fannie B. Moses Brittingham (1928-2004). Vernon Archie Hope was a known police officer from the Maryland Eastern Shore. He had a sense of humor, and his family plus peers respected him a great deal. Vernon Archie Hope's devoted wife is Recie Hope. Vernon Hope has two daughters, Annette (Carl) and Shalinda (Robert); three grandchildren, Nicole, Tykeshia and Kimberly (Rayfield); four great grandchildren, Tirrell, Daelynn, Sanaa, and Lon'dyn; and two sisters, Lince Brown and Eula Becket.
Annette Denise Moses has the following children with Carl Ponder named: Tykeshia Raynell Ponder (b. 1980. Her child is named Tirrell Copes Jr.) and Kimberly Antionette Ponder (b. 1983). These daughters are my 3rd cousins. Kimberly Antionette Ponder has a daughter named Daelynn Johnson. Kimberly Ponder married Rayfield F. Duffy.
More about the Peeples Family
Vernell Peeples Jr. lived from July 15, 1942, to July 21, 2021. He was the son of Bettie and Vernell Peeples Sr. As a member of the Peeples family, Vernell Franklin Peeples Jr. was my 2nd cousin. He passed away at the Sentara Hospice House in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was educated in the Portsmouth public school system. He later moved to New York City to start a new chapter of his life. Later, he met the love of his life in NYC named Olivia Jennie Lindsey (b. 1944). They married in New York City in 1976, and Olivia's nickname was called "Libby." They would start a family and be married for many decades. Their two children are Shelton N. Peeples (b. 1969. He is married to Teri Nicole Harris Peeples who was born in 1969. They live in Bayonne, New Jersey), and Darnell Peeples (b. 1970. He is married to Monique Peeples and the couple lives in Hiram, Georgia). Vernell Peeples Jr. worked hard in the hospitality sector. He had a great sense of humor. Vernell Peeples Jr. has the following siblings of Dollie Wells of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Geraldine Epps (who is married to Robert Epps) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Elsie Whitehead (who is married to Moses Whitehead) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Carolyn Parker (who is married to Larry Parker) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Sharon Sampson of Portsmouth, Virginia, James Wilson Peeples (who is married to Barbara Peeples) of Norfolk, Virginia, Matthew Peeples (of Virginia Beach, Virginia), Lloyd Henry Peeples (1944-1947), and Milton Frank Peeples (who is married to Sheri Peeples) of Portsmouth, Virginia, and the late Bettie Jean Boone.
Kim Denise Kuykendall Smith is my cousin too who is related to the Peeples family. She lived from September 4, 1958, to November 20, 2021. She passed away in Norfolk, Virginia. She was born to the parents of Dollie Mae Peeples Wells and the late Ronald Dean Kuykendall. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1976 in Portsmouth, Virginia. She attended Norfolk State University and worked for the federal government as an inventory management specialist at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center in Norfolk, Virginia for over 32 years. She also worked part-time at QVC in Virginia Beach. She loved to read books and worked at the library during her retirement. Her niece is my cousin Kourtney D. Cagle- Johnson (she is married to Jordan Cagle-Johnson) and Keith Jamal Pulliam. Her great niece is Charlotte Lynn Cagle-Johnson.
More on My Maternal Relatives
I found out that Venisha Deanna Rodgers Doran is my 5th cousin as we share the same ancestor of Zilphy Claud. She married James Melvin Doran Sr. on August 23, 1991 at Portsmouth, Virginia. Her parents are Johnny Nathaniel Whitehead and Gloria Lavern Rodgers (1956-1996). Johnny Nathaniel Whitehead's parents are Johnnie Odie Whitehead Junior (1928-2006) and Lula Queen Britt (1927-2015). Johnnie's parents are Johnnie Odie Whitehead (1893-1942) and Ella M. Joyner (b. 1892). My 3rd cousin's Johnnie Odie Whitehead's parents are James L. Whitehead (b. 1857) and Lula Claud (1869-1928). Lula Claud's parents were George Washington Claud (1849-1923) and Martha Velvin-Furgerson (b. 1830). George Washington Claud's mother was Zilphy Claud (1820-1893).
There are many distant cousins that I didn't know about until late December 2022. This is the research that I have found. I am related to many members of the Branch family and the Pierce family. Here is the story. As many know, my 5th great grandmother Ziply Claud (1820-1893) was a former slave in Southampton County, Virginia. One of her daughters was my 4th great grandaunt named Lydia Claud (b. 1842). She married Willis Sykes in 1867 in Virginia. Later, they had many children who were Philip Sykes (b. 1861), James Sykes (b. 1865), Percy H. Sykes (1872-1948), Mattie Sue Sykes (1874-1942), Louisa A. Sykes (1876-1955), Jennie (Virginia) Sykes (b. 1880), Willie Corean Sykes (1881-1949), Mobie Lee Sykes (1886-1932), and Walter Sykes. My first cousin Mattie Sue Sykes married George Washington Branch (1864-1963) on January 18, 1893 at Southampton County, Virginia. Their children were Raymond Herbert Branch (1894-1973), Marvin George Branch (1895-1982), Mark C. Branch Sr. (1896-1953), Iolia Helen Branch (1900-1971), Alphonso Lee Branch (1901-1996), Willie Clayton Branch (1903-1965), Otis Maryland Branch (1906-1986), James Percell Branch (1909-1996), Jasper Branch, Walter Branch, and Philip Branch. My 2nd cousin Marvin George Branch married Junie D. Copeland (b. 1905) on July 5, 1923 at Virginia. Their daughter was Eleanor L. Branch (1925-2013). My late 3rd cousin Eleanor L. Branch married William H. Pierce (b. 1924). Their children are Caroline Pierce (b. 1944), Paulette Pierce Harris (b. 1945), Howard William Pierce (1947-2007), Harold H. Pierce (1947-1995), and Joyce Pierce (b. 1948). My 4th cousin Harold H. Pierce married Laura Vascones in 1972 at Manhattan, New York City. Their children are my 5th cousins who are: Timothy Howard Pierce Vascones (b. 1970), Caesar Wayne Pierce (b. 1972), and Hilda Laura Pierce Felix (b. 1978). Laura Vascones Pierce's parents are WWII veteran Alberto Vascones (1926-2017) and Tomasa Trinidad Gonzalez. Alberto Vascones came from Puerto Rico. Now you know the truth.
Teresa Lorraine Hicks (b. 1976) is my 4th cousin, and we share the same ancestor of my 4th great grandparents Morefield Hurst Turner (1827-1918) and Miley Woodson Bozeman (1830-1910). My 4th great grandparents' daughter was Josephine T. Hurst (1868-1929), who was my 3rd great-grandaunt. Josephine T. Hurst married Kenneth Sykes on December 5, 1888 at Southampton County, Virginia. Their daughter was Annie Bell Sykes (1892-1987). She married John Stanley Everett (b. 1892). They had many children who were: James Madison Everett (1918-1981), Ethel Lee Everett Goodwin (1919-2007), Joe Anderson Everett (1921-2000), Georganna Everett (b. 1922), Thelma Laurene Everett (b. 1924), Timothy Everett (1925-2015), Theodore Everett (1926-2012), Dorothy Louise Everett (b. 1929), Inez Ruby Everett Midley (1930-2016), Lucy Everett (b. 1932), and Christine Elizabeth Everett Garrison (1933-2006). Thelma Laurence Everett married Ralph R. Hicks Sr. (1923-1988) on January 18, 1949 at Suffolk, Virginia. Their children are Ralph Roosevelt Hicks Jr. (1949-1971), Dwight Darnell Hicks (b. 1950), and Anita Laurine Hick (b. 1953). These are my 3rd cousins. Dwight Hicks lived in many places like New Mexico. He married Kayong Hae Hicks (b. 1952), and their child is Teresa Lorraine Hicks (b. 1976). Teresa Lorraine Hicks is a very accomplished person. Her hometown is Las Cruces, New Mexico, and she lives in Camp Springs, Maryland. She graduated from Las Cruces High School at Las Cruces, New Mexico in May 1995. Teresa Hicks is an MPA and is a survey statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau. MPA stands for Master of Public Administration. She earned her New Mexico State University B.A. in sociology. She was in the NMSU Pride Marching Band and won the Distinguished Black Scholar Award. She has a Townson University of the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections. She went to the George Washington University School of Business and the Walden University (where she earned her MPA).
More Information on My Paternal Relatives
One of my greatest relatives was Ernest Lee D. Sr. (1935-2015). She lived from June 29, 1935, in Halifax, North Carolina to July 10, 2015, in Cranbury, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He was my paternal 1st cousin. Many of my paternal relatives came from Halifax, North Carolina at Scotland Neck. Later, many of them migrated from North Carolina to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, other places of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and other places in the United States of America. In April 1955, Ernest Lee D. Sr. married Myrna Mae Wilson (1939-2002) at Cranbury Township, Middlesex, New Jersey. Ernest D. Sr. was a great man. He was employed as a truck driver with LTL Services in Dayton, New Jersey for many years. He was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and nephew. He always gave back to his family and his community. His parents were Annie Mae D. (1910-1984) and Herbert Lee (1908-1976). Ernest Lee D. Sr. and Annie Mae Wilson had the following children of: Clifford A. D. (1956-2014), Gwendolyn Merle D., Sandra E. D. (1958-2022), Dorothy L. Bing (b. 1952), Ernest L. D. Jr. (b. 1954), Anthony Q. D, James D. D. (b. 1961), and Carl R. D. (b. 1966). Ernest D. Sr. had 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Ernest's wife of Annie Mae Wilson lived to be 62 years old and was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Also, she lived in Cranbury for the majority of her life being a crossing guard at Cranbury Township for many years. Her parents are Carrie and Reginald S. Wilson Dr. Her brother is Reginald S. Wilson Jr. Ernest Lee D. Sr. and Annie Mae Wilson's grandchildren are: Kyndrich Rashad D., Brittany D., Michael D., Regina D., Matthew D., Ernest L. D. III, Danielle Bing, Latoya Bing, and Beanna Bing.
On Ancestry.com, on my paternal side, DNA results found out that I am related to a woman named Coffina Bontivia Harmon (b. 1979), who is my 4th cousin. We share the same ancestors as George and Esther Perkins. To start, Coffina Harmon was born on March 27, 1979, in Queens, New York City. She once married Daryle Dwayne Watson (b. 1980) on March 28, 2006, in Tarrant, Texas. Her father is part of the Harmon family, and his mother was the late Juilet Judy Hye (who passed away in 1994). Her father's parents were Henry L. Harmon (b. 1918), and Julia May Savage (1926-2008). The later Julia May Savage had 11 children, 31 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and five great great grandchilden. Julia May Savage was my 2nd cousin. Her parents were George Savage (b. 1887) and Corinthia Upshur (b. 1897). Corinthia Upshur's parents were Henry Upshur (1858-1940) and Caroline Perkins (1862-1927). My 3rd great grandaunt Caroline Upshur's parents were George Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). These parents are my 4th great grandparents who were from Virginia. Therefore, these human beings migrated from Virginia to New York City over the course of over 100 years. It is important to note by Coffina Harmon is related to my 4th cousins of Theadocia Boney (b. 1969), Charles Boney Jr. (b. 1970), Kevin Boney (1972-2012), and Nicole J. Boney (b. 1974). These human beings are sons and daughters of Charles Boney Sr. (1941-2000) and Rosalie Harmon (b. 1948). Rosalie Harmon is the aunt of Coffine Harmon.
On my Ancestry.com DNA matches, I found out that I have a 5th paternal cousin named Vivian Chantel Showell (who was born on May 3, 1988). She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston is the state capital of Massachusetts with a population of 675,647 human beings. The new mayor of Boston is Michelle Wu, who is the first elected Asian American mayor of Boston. Boston is a New England city home to growing institutions that deal with education, technology, philanthropy, and other aspects of vital social living. Historically, Boston has a strong history of African Americans standing up for freedom and justice. For example, Eliza Ann Gardner (1831-1922) was a black American abolitionist, religious leader, and women's movement leader from Boston. She founded the missionary society of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ). Pauline Hopkins (1859-1930) was one of the greatest novelists, journalists, playwrights, historians, and editors in American history. She lived in Boston for a majority of her life. Bostonians like Melnea Cass and James Breeden were active in the civil rights movement of the 20th century. We know about Ayanna Pressley being the first black woman to be elected to the Boston City Council and to be elected to represent Massachusetts in Congress. By 2021, Kim Janey was the first African American mayor of Boston. Vivian Chantel Showell and I share the same ancestors of George and Esther Perkins (who are from Virginia). Vivian Chantel Showell's parents are Clifton James Showell Jr. (b. 1956) and Vivian Frances Douglin Showell (b. 1958). Clifton James Showell Jr.'s parents are Clifton James Showell Sr. (1937-1996) and Madeline Morris (1939). Charles Showell Sr. was 59 years old when he passed away. He was a truck driver and chicken catcher for Perdue Farms Inc. and later Mountaire of Delmarva in Selbyville, Delaware. He retired in February of 1996. Clifton Showell Jr.'s siblings (or the children of Clifton Showell Sr. and Madeline Morris) are Carlton E. Showell (b. 1959), Odessa V. Showell (b. 1957), Shelly R. Morris (b. 1968), Wanda M. Showell (b. 1960), Martha E. Morris (b. 1955), Shelton D. Showell (b. 1965), and Horace E. Showell (b. 1961). By 1996, Charles Showell Sr. has 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Also, it is important to acknowledge the memory of my late 5th cousin Edwin Leanel Showell (1975-2015). He lived to be 40 years old filled with compassion and honor. He was born on May 3, 1975, in Wilmington, Delaware and passed away on July 8, 2015, at Salisbury, Maryland. His parents were Martha E. Morris (b. 1955) and Edward Henry Jr. He graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 1993. He worked hard throughout his life. He worked for the State of Maryland, State Highway Administration (SHA), Princess Anne, Maryland. He retired from SHA on April 30, 2014. He loved his wife Tonekia Showell of Fruitland, Maryland. Edwin Leanel Showell had many children whose names are: Tamara Showell of Washington, D.C. De'Asiah Molock of Cambridge, Maryland, Ramel Showell of Berlin, Maryland, Keyshon Showell of Princess Anne, Maryland, Akeem McBride of Salisbury, Maryland, and Keshawn Marhsall of Salisbury, Maryland. The Showell family has lived in Virginia, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
One very important late cousin of mine was Walter Lee Trice of Scotland Neck, North Carolina. He lived from 1956 to 2017. He was nicknamed Pete and born on October 29, 1956, to Gladys and the late Collins Trice Sr. in Palmyra, North Carolina. He was the 5th of six children. He accepted the faith of Jesus Christ, was baptized, and attended church, Sunday School, and Bible class. He enjoyed spiritual activities and talking to fellow human beings. He was educated in the Halifax Public school system. Walter Lee Trice enjoyed operating the visual media equipment, especially the movie projector. His sister is Virginia Dell Trice, who was born on July 12, 1950. Later, she lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband John Henry Grice (b. 1946). Their children are Melvin Anthony Grice (b. 1968) and Veronique Darcel Harris Grice (b. 1969). There are more interesting facts about my distant paternal 3rd cousin Veronique Darcel Grice. She is a singer and songwriter. She is a friend to the singer Nina Simone Neal. Veronique's brother Melvin Anthony Grice is married to Carrie Lorrise Rhoades (b. 1969). Melvin Anthony Grice is a religious man who has lived across America including in Anchorage, Alaska. Melvin Grice is the Youth Pastor and Administrator at New Season Christian Center, based in Anchorage, Alaska. He has made gospel music too.
The parents of my 3rd cousin Madeline Morris were Willard O. Morris (1916-2005) and Odessa Stanley (b. 1921). Madeline Morris's sister was Mary Georgina Morris (1937-1999). My 2nd cousin Willard O. Morris's parents are James Willard Morris and Roxyana Upshur. I am related heavily to many people of the African American Upshur family. Willard O. Morris married Dessie Stanley on October 4, 1936, in Northampton County, Virginia (in the Eastern Shore of Virginia). The parents of my 1st cousin Roxyanna Upshur (b. 1895) were Henry Upshur (1858-1940) and Caroline Perkins (1862-1927). Roxyanna Upshur and James Willard Morris's children were: Willard O. Morris (1916-2005), William L. Morris (b. 1918), Ruth Ann Morris (1919-1988), Ethel Grace Robinson (1920-1997), Mytris E. Morris (b. 1921), Morten E. Morris (b. 1921), Thomas H. Morris (b. 1922), V. Roher Morris (b. 1924), Upshur James Morris (b. 1924), Clarence Linwood Morris (1926-1989), George Morris (b. 1930), and A. Morris. My 3rd great grandaunt Caroline Perkins's parents were George Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). From George and Esther Perkins came Julia Perkins (b. 1835), then her daughter was Esther Brickhouse Bailey (1862-1955), and her daughter was Effie Sarah Bailey Bryant (1891-1977), and her daughter was my grandmother, and many generations later, I existed.
My late 4th paternal cousin Annie Teresa Coston-Torney lived from May 29, 1961 to July 27, 2017. She passed away at Fruitland, and she was born in Exmore, Virginia. She was the daughter of Harold Strand Sr. and Margaret Richardson. Her husband was Jospeh Torney. A. Teresa Coston-Torney was a Registered Nurse and nursing Supervisor at Adventist Healthcare in Cambridge, Maryland. I have been to Cambridge, Maryland before. By 1994, she earned her degree in registered Nursing form Wor-Wic Community College. She recieved an Associate's degree in Biblical Studies from Christian World College of Theology in 2003. She attended Weeping Mary Full Gospel Baptist Church and New Beginning, both in Salisbury, Maryland. Her son is C. Terrell Scofield. Her two daughters are Tia Johnson and Myeisha Scofield. Her grandchild is Michaelen Scofield. Her three brothers are Rodney Coston (Tammy), Carlos Coston (Michelle), and THomas Coston. Her sisters are Mildred Coston and Phyllis White.
Recently, I discovered more of my paternal distant cousin. One human being, who is my 4th cousin, is Robert James Barber, and he was born in October 1968. We share the same ancestor of my late 3rd great grandfather Isam Tillery (b. 1835 in North Carolina). Robert James Barber's parents are Robert J. Barber and Charlene Denise Ayres-Britt (b. 1951). Charlene Denise Ayres-Britt was born on February 6, 1951, in Northampton County, Virginia (on the Eastern Shore). She married Robert J. Barber in June 1968 in Trenton, New Jersey. Charlene's parents are Elton Douglas Garland Ayres (1930-1983) and Vivian Garfield Beech (b. 1931). My 2nd cousin Vivian Garfield Beech was born on August 5, 1931, in Northampton County, Virginia. She married Elton Douglas Garland Ayres on September 18, 1950, in Northampton County, Virginia. Vivian and Elton Douglas Garland Ayres's children are Charlene Denise Ayres-Britt, Darisel Darcel Ayres (1952-1953), Elton Douglas Ayres Jr. (b. 1953), Bessie Teresa Ayres (b. 1954), Ernestine Ayres Dean (1955-2004), and Carolyn Louise Ayres (b. 1957). Vivian Garfield Beech's parents are Walker Dumas Beech Jr. (1885-1966) and Cora Lee Tillery (1895-1955). My first cousin Cora Lee Tillery was born on June 15, 1895, in North Carolina, and she married Walker Dumas Beech Jr. on September 21, 1911, in Northampton County, Virginia. Cora Lee Tillery and Walker Dumas Beech Jr.'s children are Dumas Beech Jr. (1914-1921), Rose E. Beech (1916-1939), Melvin Thomas Beech (1917-1968), Earl Dale Beech (1919-1991), Lois Carolyn Beech (1923-2020), Darrel Morgan Beech (1926-1991), Carrie Webster Beech (b. 1930), Philbert Dutel Beech (b. 1930), Barbara Ann Beech (1934-1998), and Vivian Garfield Beech (b. 1931). Cora Lee Tillery's parents are Walter Tiller (1868-1927) and Sallie Gary (b. 1869). Cora's parents are my 3rd great-grandparents of Isam Tillery (b. 1835) and Martha Jane Randolf (b. 1847). Louise Edwards is my 2nd cousin whose parents are Leroy Edwards (1911-1978) and Bessie L. Tillery (1917-1978). Bessie L. Tiller's parents are Walter Tillery (1868-1927) and Anna Page (b. 1886). Walter Tillery was my 2nd great granduncle. Walter Tillery's parents were Isam Tillery (b. 1835) and Martha Jane Randolf (b. 1847).
More Descendants of Zilphy Claud
The Claud family is everywhere in America and throughout the world. Recently, I found out about more of my distant cousins who are in the Claud family. One person was found in my Ancestry.com account as a match. Her screen name is tcab100910. For over a year, I didn't know how she was related to me until now. Her name is Tonya Paulette Claude Austin-Braxton and she was born in November 27, 1968. She is married to Thomas Austin-Braxton. Tonya is very close to her mother, who is my 4th cousin Carolyn Claude (she was born in October 7, 1944). Her ancestors migrated from Southampton County, Virginia into Philadelphia and across the nation of the United States of America. Carolyn has a sister who is Judith Claude (born in 1946). Carolyn's parents are Christopher Claud (1920-1985) and Doretha Brown (1925-1986). Tonya's grandfather Christopher Claud loved dogs, and Tonya is known for loving dogs too. Christopher Claud's parents are Joseph James Claud (1894-1988) and Georgia Bynum (1893-1975). Joseph James Claude lived for over 90 years, and his children (with his wife Georgia Bynum) were: Amos Columbus Claud (1916-1965), Ella Lou Claud (1918-1971), Christopher Claud (1920-1985), Ruth Victoria CLaude (1923-2009), Bishop Lloyd C. Claud (1926-2011), and Frank Daniel Claude (1929-1988). Joseph James Claud's parents are Frank Thomas Claude (1856-1948) and Elizabeth Whitehead. Frank Thomas Claude is a direct descendant of my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). Tonay Claude Austin-Braxton has been involved in walks, political activism, and she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Deacon Charles Allen Claud lived form June 25, 1949 to September 17, 2021. His nickname was "Bro" short for Borther. He was born in Franklin, Virginia to the parents of the late Willie and Ruth Jenkins Claud of Capron, Virginia. Charles went to Southampton County Schools until his final year where he graduated from Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. He worked in many jobs like being a substitute bus school driver for Southampton High School, at the Newport News Shipayard in the Painting Department, and driving cabs in the city of New York City. At NYC, he met a woman named Mertis McMillan. They married in the Bronx, NYC in 1981. Their children are Tyranne MCMillan, Charles Claude Jr., and the late Kibmerly Nicole Clau. He worked at the Allen Pavillion in New York. He helped his brother Willie Lloyd. Charles Allen Claud worked with hsi son, Rev. Dr. Tyranne McMillan. Charles' other son is Shawn Manning (Janet) of Richmond, Virginia. Charles Allen Claud has two sisters, Mary Walker of Richmond, VA, and Martha Vann of Chesapeake, VA; two brothers, Alexander Claud of Capron, VA and Lewis Claud of Stony Creek, VA; ten grandchildren, Janae Manning, Janera Manning, and Shannon Manning of Richmond, VA, Kimberly McMillan and Abigail McMillan of New York, NY, Bethany McMillan, and Rachel McMillan of Lothian, MD, Desmond Claude, Jalen Claude of Connecticut, and Ocian Claude of Texas; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
There are even more descendants of Sarah Claud that are spread across the world. Luther Williams is a descendant of Sarah Claud and Thomas Hill. His parents were James Edward Williams (1879-1950) and Miranda Spurlock Williams (1880-1964). Luther's grandparents were my third great aunt Adeline Hill (1862-1930) and John Henry Williams (1857-1921. He was a descendant of Nottoway Native Americans). Adeline Hill's parents were my 4th great grandmother Sarah Claud (1842-1892) and Thomas Hill 1838-1915). Luther Williams married Vernia Britt in August 22, 1932 at Southampton County, Virginia. The children of Luther Williams and Vernia Britt are Luther Cochester Williams (b. 1933) and Pearly Dimples Williams (1935-1990). Luther Williams had a child named Ernest Williams. Luther Williams passed away after he moved from Virginia to Brooklyn, New York City. He passed away on January 2, 2003 at Brooklyn, New York City. Luther was also a WWII era military veteran. Pearly Dimples Williams was my 3rd cousin, and she married Ronald Daniels Byrd on June 20, 1959 at Nasemond, Virginia (or Suffolk). Pearly Dimples Byrd lived to be 56 years old. She was a memer of the East End Baptist Chruch where she was on the tithing commmittee. She was part of the Las Munecas Cluba and University Woman's Club. For 23 years, she was a teacher at Suffolk PUblic Schools. She had three daughters with Ronald Daniels Byrd. Their names are: Zenova Renee Byrd Hammond (b. 1961), Charlene Anita Byrd (b. 1962), and Darelen Byrd Lascano (b. 1962). Zenova Hammond married William Joenathan Hammond (1960-2004) on June 14, 1986 at Suffolk, Virginia. Their children are Zalicia Latsha Hammon (1989) and Zavia Simone Hammond (b. 1993). Charlene Anita Byrd married Victor Alan Motley (b. 1953) on March 14, 1987 at Suffolks, Virgnia. Darlene Byrd Lascano married Juan Bosco Lascano (b. 1956. He is Afro-Panamanian) on June 14, 1986 at Suffolk, Virginia. Their children are Juan Lascano Jr. (b. 1990) and Bianca Lascano (b. 1990). Both children are my 5th cousins. Juan Lascano Jr is married to Jasmine Lascano, and Bianca Lascano is married to Jonathan R. Nixon.
There are tons of facts shown about history all of the time. Nettie B. Claud lived from October 7, 1926 to March 1, 2021. She was born to the late Curnel Owens Turner and Rosa Lee Ralph of Drewryville, Virginia. Nettie was one of eleven siblings whose names are: Curnel Turner Jr. (1930-2003), James Owens Turner (b. 1928), Henry Wilbert Turner (1934-2020), Roosevelt Turner, Mae Belle Turner (1919-2004), Anna Rose Claude (1921-2011), Mamie (Katherine) Joyner, Lula Bishop, Essie Mae Turner (b. 1931), and Vivian Claud (1936-2013). Nettie B. Claud joined the Apostolic Fath and was a missionary. She was the Virginia State Supervisor of the Women's Department for over 30 years. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia after doing night school in 1996 at the age of 70 years old.
Nettie B. Turner married my cousin Willie Claud (who is a descendant of my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud) in Norfolk, Virginia on April 9, 1948. They had 2 children whose names are Jean Melvone Claud Ward (1949-2017) and Leon Claude (b. 1951). My fourth cousin Jean Melvone Claud married Bobby Perkins Ward (b. 1951) in Norfolk, Virginia on November 21, 1976. Their children are Cornelius Jude Ward (b. 1979) and Apollos Lamont Ward (b. 1981). My 5th cousin Cornelius Jude Ward is with Nadina Lynn. Jean Ward spent her career working for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and retired after 33 years in 2006. Getting bored, and needing something to do, a few months later she began working as a substitute teacher with the children at James Ryder Randall Elementary School. Jean Melvone Ward's grandchildren are Tionne Shundien, Magnolia Jude, and Nautica Mathias. My 5th cousin Apollos Lamont Ward married Tekeia Monique Epps (b. 1982). My 4th cousin Leon Claude married Linda Juanita Ford (b. 1953) on June 19, 1973, in Chesapeake, Virginia. Their children are: Prinston Guyon Claud (b. 1974. He is married to Sharon Ann Lumas), Lovell Leon Claud (b. 1976. He is married to Ebony R. Claud), and Hosea Gerar Claud (b. 1979. He is married to Cheree Annette Armstrong). Nettie B. Claud has 11 great-grandchildren too. Recently on 23 and Me, there was a new person named Veronica Denise Claud shown there being related to me based on DNA evidence. Many people of the Claud family are related to me as found on Ancestry.com and 23 and Me. She is my 4th cousin born on July 14, 1959, in Northampton, North Carolina. She married Jerman Toro (b. 1959) on July 30, 1986, in Newport News, Virginia. Veronica Denise Claud is a descendant of Frank Thomas Claud (1856-1948) and Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). I am also related to the late Cynthia Marie Battle (July 14, 1946 - August 7, 2021) as we both are descendants of Zilphy Claud too.
Learning about my family tree doesn't stop. In the past few days, I found out about more of my distant cousins related to my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893). On Ancestry.com, I found facts about a new person related to me named Talitha Simmons. We share the same ancestor of Zilphy Claud. Zilphy Claud had a son named George Washington Claud (1849-1923), who was my 4th great-granduncle. He married Martha Velvin-Ferguson (b. 1830), and their children are Lula Claud (1869-1928), Martha Lou Nettie Whitehead (b. 1869), and Richard Washington Claud (1874-1945). George Washington Claud's 2nd wife was Flora Ann Ash (1861-1930) with the children of Hester C. Ash (b. 1890) and Georgia W. Claud (1901-1984). My 1st cousin Richard Washington Claud married Ann Elizabeth Claud (1876-1960) on January 26, 1898, at Virginia. Their children are William F. Claud (1898-1976), Bertha C. Claud (1900-1987), Lizzie Virginia Claud (1903-1928), Callie Lee Claud (b. 1906), Thomas Jefferson Claud (1907-1997), Rosa M. Claud (1909-1985), Eva Claud (b. 1910), Ralph Elijiah Claud (1912-1965), Richard Washington Claud Jr. (1914-1986), and Etta Claud (1919-2016). My 2nd cousin Ralph Elijiah Claud married Gussie Estell Claud (1914-1985) and had the following children of Edna Violer Claud (b. 1934), Mary Lizzie Claud (b. 1936), George Thomas Claud (1938-1958), Lillie M. Claud (b. 1941), Frank B. Claud (b. 1944), Sarah Jane Claud (1945-2022), Katie Lee Claude (b. 1948), Elsie Mead Claud (b. 1949), Selena Estell Claude (b. 1953). Sarah Jane Claud was my 3rd cousin who lived from February 21, 1945, at Capron, Southampton, Virginia to January 29, 2022. She married Jesse Calvin Watson. Sarah Jane Claud's last husband is Reverend Donald Pollard Sr. Mary Jane Claud Pollard was my 3rd cousin who was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was the 9th of 13 children. Her daughter is Talitha Faye Claude Simmons (b. 1967), who is my 4th cousin. She is married to Joseph Erick Simmons (b. 1960) with the child of Ericka Simmons, and her other daughter is Quanisha Lee Claude (b. 1994. Her father is Howard L. Bickley, born in 1960). Sarah Jane Claud's son is Quentin Alanza Claude Sr. (b. 1984). Sarah Jane Claude Pollard was a faithful member of Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, which is one of the most prominent African American churches in America. She worked in the Norfolk Naval Base, CBN University in the mailroom, One Lift Fitness, and A Touch of Heaven. Her living siblings are Edna Claude and Mary Ridley of Capron, Virginia, Katie Parker of Chesapeake, Virginia, Selena Barnes of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Elsie Claude of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Lillie Whitefield of Norfolk, Virginia, Frank Claude (Delphine) of Norfolk, Virginia, and Lloyd Claude of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her other grandchild is Quentin Alanza Claude Sr. (b. 1984).
Calvin Ronald Wilson lived from March 10, 1942, in Portsmouth Virginia to November 6, 2022, in Suffolk, Virginia. He was the husband of my 4th cousin Barbara Jean Powell (b. 1945. Barbara Powell is related to the Claud family). Calvin Ronald Wilson married Barbara Jean Powell on October 2, 1965, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Calvin's parents are Joseph C. Wilson and Lucy R. Wilson. He attended both Portsmouth and Chesapeake schools. Also, he graduated from I.C. Norcom High School (in Portsmouth) in 1961. Clavin joined the United States Air Force and graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard as an Electrician and Supervisor. He married Barbara Powell for 55 years. He is known for his sense of humor, loving the Norfolk States Spartans, and being a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers too. Calvin Ronald Wilson and Barbara Jean Powell have 5 children whose names are: Calvin Ranaldo Wilson (b. 1965. His wife is Pamela Cheri Jackson Wilson who was born in 1966), Matthan Cornelius Wilson (b. 1967. His wife is Niricoel Wilson), Kimberly Dawn Wilson (b. 1972. Her husband is Robert Thompson), Anah Wynn (b. 1969. She is married to Quentin Ray Wynn who was born in 1969), and Omega Julian Wilson (b. 1974. He is married to Lisa Diann Robinson). Calvin Ronald Wilson's grandchildren are Whitney (who is with Jason), Ashley, Clavin (who is with Cam), Daniel, DaeJaun, Angel Rebekah, Rayna, Chase, Rachel, Allison, and Christopher. He has 5 great-grandchildren too.
Theodore Ernest Freeman (b. 1982) is also my 5th cousin who is a descendant of Zilphy Claud. Her parents are Earnest Alphonza Freeman (b. 1958) and Allie Elaine Branch (b. 1960). He is married to Jessica Rafaila Torres (b. 1984). The parents of Earnest Alponza Freeman are Raleigh Freeman Jr. (1933-1991) and Genteilia Providence (1939-1984). Earnest's siblings are Glenda Darlene Freeman (1959-2005), Tony Eugene Freeman (b. 1960), and Patricia Anell Freeman (b. 1961. Her first husband was George Washington Blow Jr., and their child is George Eugene Blow. He was born in 1984. Patricia Anell Freeman's daughter is Patrice Lashunda Freeman, being born in 1980). My 4th cousin Glenda Darlene Freeman married Willie Lee Branch on December 1, 1973, in Southampton County, Virginia. Their children are Dewayne Branch, Keith Branch, Leann Branch, and Pamela Branch. Raleigh Freeman Jr.'s siblings are Alfred W. Freeman (b. 1924) Christine Freeman (b. 1928), Ellen Elizabeth Freeman (b. 1931), Hannah M. Freeman (b. 1936), and Joe Willie Freeman (b. 1939). My 3rd cousin Raleigh Freeman Jr.'s parents are Raleigh Freeman (b. 1901) and Hattie Bell Freeman (1903-1957). My 2nd cousin Hattie Bell Freeman's parents are James L. Whitehead (b. 1857) and Lula Claud (1869-1928). Hattie Bell Freeman's siblings are George Washington Whitehead (1886-1945), Willie Thomas Whitehead (1890-1931), John Odie Whitehead (1893-1942), Annie Beulah Whitehead (1895-1963), Joe Franklin Whitehead (1898-1979), Bessie Whitehead (1900-1920), No Name Whitehead (b. 1900), Lonnie Whitehead (1907-1978), Martha Whitehead (b. 1909), Mattie Mary Whitehead (1910-1931), and Emmett L. Whitehead (1912-1924). Lula Claud's parents are George Washington Claud (1849-1923) and Martha Velvin-Furgerson (b. 1830). Lula Claud's mother was Zilphy Claud (1820-1893).
There is the story of Mary Rosalyn Spurlock that must be shown too. She was my late 3rd cousin. She was born on April 11, 1942, in Suffolk, Virginia. She passed away on July 10, 2017. She was a direct descendant of my 5th grandmother Zilphy Claud. She married Leavell E. Ricks Jr. (1940-2001), Their 2 children are my 4th cousins who are David Keith Ricks (b. 1961) and Derek Leavell Ricks Sr. (b. 1963). Mary Rosalyn Spurlock's grandsons are Derek Leavell Ricks Jr. (b. 1990. His parents are Derek Leavell Ricks Sr. and Diahnn Renee Ricks. Diahann was born in 1966) and Demetrius. Mary Spurlock Rick's siblings are Thomas Lawrence McGlore Spurlock Jr. (1938-2018), Larry Nelson Spurlock (b. 1952-2020. Larry's daughter is Angel Edwards from the Washington, D.C. area), and Kenneth Stuart Spurlock Sr. (1940-2020). My late 3rd cousin Kenneth Stuart Spurlock Sr. married Shirley Odessa Greene (b. 1938) on June 13, 1961, in Suffolk, Virginia. Their child is Kenneth Stuart Spurlock Jr. (b. 1961). The couple of Kenneth and Shirley Spurlock divorced on July 13, 1966, in Suffolk, Virginia. So, Mary Rosalyn Spurlock's father was Lawrence McGlore Spurlock (1917-1996). Mary's grandmother was Mary Lee Williams (1890-1938). Mary's great grandmother was Adaline Hill (1862-1930). Mary's 2nd great grandfather was Tom Hill (1838-1915), and her 2nd great grandmother was Sarah Claud. Mary's 3rd great grandmother was Zilphy Claud (1820-1893).
Recently, on Ancestry.com, I found another maternal distant 4th cousin named Carrie Denise Spurlock Burton (b. 1972). I knew that she was a maternal relative because now Ancestry.com can divide matches based on parents now. Parent 1 is my paternal relatives, and Parent 2 is my maternal relatives. Carrie Burton's parents are Roland Junius Spurlock (1944-2016) and Andrea J. Spurlock (b. 1948). Roland Junius Spurlock's parents (or Carrie's grandparents on her father's side) are Robert Spurlock Jr. (1911-1979) and Hannah Louise Yates (1924-1993). Robert Spurlock Jr.'s parents are Robert Spurlock (b. 1888) and Mary Lee Williams (1890-1938). Mary Lee Williams' parents are John Henry Williams (1857-1921. He was a descendant of African and Nottoway peoples) and Adaline Hill (1862-1930). My 3rd great grandaunt Adeline Hill's parents are Sarah Claud (1842-1892) and Tom Hill (1838-1915). Tom Hill was a freeman and Sarah Claud was born a slave (at the Rose Hill plantation) in Southampton County, Virginia. My 4th great-grandmother Sarah Claud's mother was Zilphy Claud or my 5th great-grandmother. That is why Carrie Burton (who has a lot of family in the state of Delaware and other places in America) has shared matches among me with members of the Claud, as both of us are blood relatives of the African American Claud family.
Developments in My Home state of Virginia
By November of 2022, Pharrell and others participated in the Mighty Dream Forum. This forum is about bringing Hampton Roads, Virginia into the next level. That means economic developing, fighting poverty and economic inequality, ending discrimination and oppression of any form, and giving people basic human rights to live in joy, happiness, liberty, and justice. Desiree Backus was at the forum, and she said that, "It's just nice to see that people actually care about the community, and care about the people who are trying to better the community." Nick and Patrice Morant came to the event from Yorktown and support local businesses. The goal is for all of Hampton Roads to come together in unity to make sure that its growth is based on sincere goals. Pharrell is also promoting his plan to transform the Military Circle area in Norfolk to have an arena, homes, a school, and other businesses that will help thousands of people in the area. During the forum, Pharrell made the announcement that he will return the festival of Something in the Water to Virginia Beach, Virgina on April 28-30, 2023.
Recently, Missy Elliot gave the keynote speech at Norfolk State University's graduation ceremony on Saturday. She told the crowd that she is proud of the graduating students. She praised the students for working hard and gave them encouraging words to focus their efforts on contributing positively to society. Missy Elliot also earned an honorary doctorate at the graduation and donated $20,000 to the university. This class is part of NSU's Fall 2022 commencement ceremony. Missy Elliot has been showing innovative music and music videos for over 25 years now, and she is 51 years old. Missy Elliot wore a gown with the school's green and gold colors. She said to the crowd of people that, "I'm looking around and I see innovators, visionaries, leaders created in here...I want to see these same faces years from now saying...I became famous, I became President, I became a lawyer, All of those things." Missy Elliot was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. A street in Portsmouth, Virginia was named after Missy Elliot too. On August 9, 2022, Portsmouth City Council unanimously voted to remain a street. Its new name is "Missy Elliot Boulevard." The street is currently titled McLean Street and is adjacent to the Victory Crossing Shopping Center and Tidewater Community College.
The Carnival Sunshine is set to sail year-round from Norfolk, Virginia starting in 2025. The Carnival Cruise Line will offer year-round sailings from Norfolk starting on February 18, 2025. The 3,000-passenger Carnival Sunshine will offer six-day sailing to the Bahamas and eight-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries. This is the first time that the state of Virginia will have year-round cruise service. Carnival expanded cruise service is expected to bring more than 280,000 unique passenger visits to Norfolk in 2025. The city is developing an increase of pre and post cruise hotel stays, transportation needs, and passenger spending at local restaurants plus retail businesses. Each cruise passenger spends about $125 while in port. Norfolk Mayor Dr. Kenneth Cooper Alexander has praised the decision as having a major economic impact in the region. The cruise will stop at Nassau, Freeport, Bimini, and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. It will stop in other places too.
Honoring Africa
With life, you always need to honor Africa. Without Africa, no one of any background would exist on this Earth as the Motherland of Africa is the origin of all in the human race. For over 2 decades now, I have known about Africa in its history, cultural diversity, fauna, flora, and other components. During ancient times, there were the great Bantu Migration, ancient Egyptian dynasties forming (for the record, many black sub-Saharan people did live in ancient Egypt proven by DNA evidence, human migration, papyrus, and other research), and Nubia existing. The complex West African civilizations of Ghana, Nok, Mali, and Songhai has influenced the world in numerous ways. Then, the Maafa, colonialism, and imperialism harmed millions of our black people in the harshest, evil form of slavery in all of human history. Yet, life has miracles. Miraculously, people stood up to abolish the Maafa and the trans-Atlantic slave trade via courage, activism, self-defense, and protests. No one should forget about Harriet Tubman's heroism to free people from bondage in Maryland. No one should omit how William T. Still was one of many leaders in the large Underground Railroad system that caused a lot of black human beings to be free from the pernicious injustice of slavery. Sojourner fought for voting rights too. By the 20th century, anti-colonial efforts by leaders like Patrice Lumumba caused many African nations to get their rightful independence from the barbarism of colonialism and imperialism. Patrice Lumumba spoke about desiring the independence of the Congo. He loved his wife and children with honor and dignity.
One large legacy of Africa is resiliency and the African Diaspora. The more that I study about the African Diaspora, the more I gain an insight into my people. Our people exist globally not just in one nation or one region of the world. We exist globally with diverse cultures, nationalities, creeds, and backgrounds. Yet, we are unified in being part of one human race and having the same goal of liberty, happiness, and justice that we earnestly desire. One of the largest communities of the African Diaspora in the world are Afro-Latinos. They exist in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and North America too. They can speak the languages of Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, creole languages, etc. The common myth is that black people never came into the Americas until 1619. The truth is that black people were in the Americas long before 1619, black Africans were in Europe long before 1500 too. DNA evidence confirm that sub-Saharan black African people lived in Europe during the days of the Renaissance, during the days of the Roman Empire, etc. By the 21st century, there is more of a cultural visibility of Afro-Latino people in international culture. From Pele, Nene, Benedita da Silva, and Sonia Guimarães, Afro-Latino people have made great contributions in human history. In life, you have to make contributions to help the lives of fellow people. I believe that life has a purpose as we are more than cells and biochemical functions. We have a soul and a mind that can establish great things via effort and strong insights of wisdom.
As the Pan Africanist revolutionary leader Patrice Lumumba has written in a letter from Thysville Prison to his wife Mrs. Lumumba:
"The day will come when history will speak. But it will not be the history which will be taught in Brussels, Paris, Washington or the United Nations...Africa will write its own historyand in both north and south it will be a history of glory and dignity."
Today, in the 21st century, Africa has tons of technological advancements, growth of its population, and many experts in numerous fields from STEM to governmental leadership. There is a growth of African Americans living in Ghana now for the sake of many of us desiring to grow a cultural link to the Motherland of Africa. Time is going forward now. Today, Generation X include people in their 40s and 50s. My Generation of Generation Y (or Millennials) includes human beings who are in their 30s and 40s. Everything isn't perfect in the world. We still have to deal with racism, sexism, xenophobia, climate change, and other issues. Yet, we have black people of many ages coming together to see that the only people who can free us ultimately are us. We have that innate power via strength, courage, and self-determination to change the world positively as our ancestors have done.
Epilogue
Being 39 years old is a blessing. In life, you constantly learn new information in a stark fashion. That is why after many years of studying my family tree, I constantly discover new facts about where I come from and the human beings to whom I'm related too. I have shared information about where I came from with many people, both relatives and non-relatives alike. Diversity is a key part of family too. Families are diverse in political views, ages, backgrounds, birthplaces, and other avenues. Yet, we are similar in that we are from the same family, we are all humans, and we all love truth and justice. Recently, I learned about the Navy's first black yeowomen called the Golden Fourteen. These black women were the first black yeowomen to serve in the U.S. Navy which occurred during World War One. Their story has been written by Kelly Miller. One of the people in the Navy were Armelda H. Greene (who enlisted on August 13, 1918), Kathryn Eugenia Boyd (nee Fench), Pocohontas A. Jackson, Fannie A. Foote, Ruth Davis, Olga F. Jones, Sarah Davis, Sarah E. Howard, Marie E. Mitchell, Anna G. Smallwood, Maud C. Williams, Carol E. Washington, Josei B. Washington, and Inez B. McIntosh. My family tree is made up of doctors, educators, military veterans, a fighter in Normandy during WWII, activists, even some celebrities, and other heroic individuals.
For example, one person who lived a long life was my late distant maternal 2nd cousin Eunice Virginia Wiggins of Suffolk, Virginia. She lived to be 91 years old and passed away in 2017. She transitioned on Centerbrooke Lane, Suffolk, Virginia. She passed away on Thursday, July 13, 2017, at Sentara Hospice House in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Rosa Wiggins. We share the same ancestor as Millie Woodson Turner. Eunice was preceded in death by her son, Ronald. Thomas Sr., and her two brothers of Casper L. Wiggins and William H. Wiggins. Eunice Virginia Wiggins earned her B.S. Degree from Elizabeth City State University and Master of Arts Degree from New York University in Early Childhood. She attended College of William and Mary and Old Dominion University. She retired in 1988 after 37 years of being an elementary school teacher. She worked in the school systems of Southampton County, Prince William County, and Suffolk Public Schools. She was a member of the Canaan Baptist Church where was in the J.E. Arrington Choir, Senior and Gospel Choir, teacher of the 6th Bible class, Pastor's Aid, Home mission, Missionary Circle, Mothers Board Ministry, Women's Ministry, and Assistant Church Clerk for over 30 years. She was part of the NAACP and other organizations Her daughters are Barbara J. Gates (Lester) of Portsmouth, Virginia, and Sheila R. Williams (Frank) of Suffolk, Virginia. She has 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law is Barbara Thomas of Suffolk. Her friend is Ernestine Langston of Suffolk. Her daughter-in-law Dianne Thomas is from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and her son-in-law Norman H. Wilson is from Blackwood, New Jersey. Eunice's parents are Benjamin Wiggins (1896-1957) and Rosa Darden (1901-1992). Her grandparents are John Henry Wiggins (b. 1853) and Corelia (Candy) Turner (who was my 3rd great-aunt who lived from 1860-1934). Cordelia Turner's parents are my 4th great-grandparents Morefield Hurst Turner (1827-1918) and Milly Woodson Bozeman (1830-1910).
I have seen a lot of things in my life, and I will continue to see more life in the years and decades in the future, God willing. Fundamentally, people learn that life has a purpose. We are more than atoms and molecules. We have intrinsic value, we have intellectual strength, we have emotions, and we have a soul in my opinion. Finding that purpose basically is about following what is right and desiring the joy and happiness that we all seek. We reject bigotry and oppression as these two nefarious evils are antithetical to truth and common sense. We realize how far we have to go when affirmative action, voting rights, and other human rights are threatened. Yet, hope is in the Universe when tons of young people (who are much younger than me) including older folks are sacrificing their time and efforts to help the poor, stand up for the oppressed, and seek solutions in a complex world.
By Timothy
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