So tonight, just as I’d decided to log-out due to such sadness in my heart, witnessing the devastation in Haiti via CNN (and fearing the worst come Sunrise) and hearing the family report from Dominique, I by chance checked my email one last time to find the correspondence below from Marcia STAMPS HENDON waiting for me!

I am sure Marcia Hendon has no idea of how she has touched my heart this night.

I honestly don’t know why the Ancestors chose me to do this work. The urge is relentless and unyielding — and I am sure, not of this world.

I can’t explain my need to pursue the unknown to anyone outside of the Genealogy world with any hope of getting them to understand. I regularly forgo sleep, food, dates and yes, sometimes a shower just for one last search in the hope that the next “epiphany” will bring down one of my many brick walls.

But for me, what I love most, are the Elders. Those Elders who I’ve loved deepest have crossed over. Yes, they are with me (always), but not here… where I am still blessed to hear or read their words.

It so blesses me to read the words Marcia Hendon took the time to write me tonight. She is a daughter of Wilkes County and a relative no doubt — the names LM, Heard, Favors, Bolton, Smith all ring familiar throughout my line — let alone Daniels.

There is much invaluable, family Oral History in her writing (we MUST capture every bit!) and the kindness she showed me was like salve to an open wound tonight.

Earlier via Twitter I told @Matfam42 to celebrate her newest connection because the Ancestors were speaking.

Little did I know, they were sending Marcia Hendon my way with an encouraging word. Guess they know what we need and when.

This is why I cannot quit. This is why I am here.

Bless you Marcia — I sure would like to give you a big ole, southern girl, bear hug!:-)

Luckie.

Marcia Stamps Hendon wrote:

i noticed your bolton interview and we are so glad to clear this pictoral mystery.

thanks, as we were told this was our uncle pierce, a well known basketweaver from wilkes ga.

our uncle made chairs and baskets as a source of income, horace calloway would sell them for him

i ‘m told there are some wilkes baskets in the museum in atlanta. we have yet to determine if they were made by family.

there is a family member in detroit mich named nathan bolton. he was raised by ” daddy Joe Bolton of wilkes ga. we do not know all of the history , but he and willie robert smith were both wards of ” daddy joebolton.

regarding the daniels name ,

my aunt sallie mary smith daniels married samuel daniels , they had six children they left rayle and migrated to Seaforth Delaware in 1943.

her children are as listed

mary lee daniels (deceased )

david l. daniles of north carolina

jimmie l. daniels of philadelphia

doris daniels rogers of new jersey

delphia a. daniels  seaford

carolyn d. daniels williams  seaford

a sister in law susie daniels , frances beasley, mary magetine heard , and lily rene daniels of ga

my aunt was the daughter of lm and mary bush smith of wilkes georgia.

i am so proud of your beautiful writing gift. i am doubly proud of the way God has blessed the young generations of our families.

what is the connection of your daniels name and is this your married name. your family pictures are really beautiful.

also, one of my ancestors was a relative to the favors, i can’t find my paperwork as i’m still trying to locate the smith slavemaster of wilkes and oglethorpe county ga.

i will let you know of any additional info i may have .

i ‘m off to work.

marcia lee smith hendon

daughter of clifford smith

gd of lm smith and mary bush smith

ggd of john ( burrell smith ) and mary p. hanson smith.

late note . i have a copy of the deed of property donated by margaret hanson. this propery was donated to the lyonsville church.

thanks, again, for assisting us  “old folks ” who would like to know our hx. before we move to the next chapter of our lives.

God bless and a happy encouraging new year to you and yours.

Well it looks like I’ll be heading to Wilkes County soon to visit the Cemetery at Lyonsville Baptist Church in Rayle.

From what LaKisha {my new found, could be cousin!:-} tells me, Lyonsville is a family cemetery of sorts and many FAVER/FAVOR-BOLTON Ancestors are resting in the Church Cemetery.

If my Annie FAVER is connected to this line, there is a good chance she could be to!

Grandma Annie would have passed away after 1900 but before 1910 — as she is found in the 1900 Pento, Wilkes County Census living with Grandpa Phil but by 1910 Grandpa Phil is widowed living in Atlanta’s 4th Ward.

Because she died before 1919 there is no Georgia Death Certificate to reference.

Could Grandma Annie and other FAVER-CARTER Ancestors be buried at Lyonsville? Quite possibly — I sure hope so.

My Faver-Carter family is the biggest remaining GeneaMystery I have. It would be a blessing to know more about her and my other kin folks from that line.

I’m still crossing my fingers that the Faver/Favor genealogy compiled by the late Paris Favors of North Carolina will make its way to me. I’m anxious to see what questions I am able to answer!

I’ll keep you posted…

Luckie.