Dear Ancestor
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.

It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
By: Twisted Twigs on Quartered Branches

I was born at Travis AFB in Fairfield, California. My father was born in Iowa and my mother in Texas. I've now lived in both states. Currently in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I'm married with two grown sons and one granddaughter.

I'm a twenty year breast cancer survivor and volunteer through the American Cancer Society as a Reach to Recovery advocate. It is my hope through education and research there will someday be a cure for all cancers. Until then, I will continue to be a volunteer, support those who are currently fighting the battle, celebrate survivors, and honor the memory of those who are no longer with us.

I retired in 2010. Although I began doing genealogy before retiring the additional time off has certainly increased my time spent on the family tree. Helping others locate family and connecting with distant relatives through this site is such a wonderful thing. I find myself connecting the dots on family I'm not related to and enjoy that almost as much as searching for my own family.

Recently I began volunteering at Oakland Cemetery in Dallas. There are several involved in restoration efforts. This cemetery has been neglected for such a long time. They have been working so very hard to uncover headstones either hidden by brush, trees, soil and also reset those which have fallen. A similar situation has happened in Fanning Cemetery in Franklin County, Tennessee. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find anyone to help there. It is a very small cemetery owned by a developer who developed Fanning Bend. If you are reading this and know of anyone in that area which might be able to help, please let me know. My ggg grandfather, Benjamin Fanning is buried there and I'm sure he owned this land at some point in time.

I became a member of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lucretia Council Cochran Chapter in Arlington, TX on October 6, 2012. My gggg grandfather, Samuel R. Reynolds #A095841 served four tours in the Revolutionary War. The first beginning March 16, 1780 in Spartanburg Dist SC, under Capt. Benjamin Kilgore. He served three other tours under the following officers: Capt. Nesbit, Col. William Fair, Lt. Cliff Casey, Maj. John Ford and William Blossingame.

I'm currently seeking information for the Bahlmanns, Malzahns, Hagedorns and Bremers from Germany and Bremer/Chickasaw Counties in Iowa; Banks, Taylor, Jones, Reynolds, Fanning, Roberson and Elliott families from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Hunt County Texas.

Please feel free to use any of the photos I've posted. Contact me for any corrections or transfers.

"Remember me in the family tree; my name, my days, my strife. Then I'll ride upon the wings of time and live an endless life." by Linda Groetsch

Dear Ancestor
Your tombstone stands among the rest;
Neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished, marbled stone.

It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved,
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot,
And come to visit you.
By: Twisted Twigs on Quartered Branches

I was born at Travis AFB in Fairfield, California. My father was born in Iowa and my mother in Texas. I've now lived in both states. Currently in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I'm married with two grown sons and one granddaughter.

I'm a twenty year breast cancer survivor and volunteer through the American Cancer Society as a Reach to Recovery advocate. It is my hope through education and research there will someday be a cure for all cancers. Until then, I will continue to be a volunteer, support those who are currently fighting the battle, celebrate survivors, and honor the memory of those who are no longer with us.

I retired in 2010. Although I began doing genealogy before retiring the additional time off has certainly increased my time spent on the family tree. Helping others locate family and connecting with distant relatives through this site is such a wonderful thing. I find myself connecting the dots on family I'm not related to and enjoy that almost as much as searching for my own family.

Recently I began volunteering at Oakland Cemetery in Dallas. There are several involved in restoration efforts. This cemetery has been neglected for such a long time. They have been working so very hard to uncover headstones either hidden by brush, trees, soil and also reset those which have fallen. A similar situation has happened in Fanning Cemetery in Franklin County, Tennessee. Unfortunately, I'm unable to find anyone to help there. It is a very small cemetery owned by a developer who developed Fanning Bend. If you are reading this and know of anyone in that area which might be able to help, please let me know. My ggg grandfather, Benjamin Fanning is buried there and I'm sure he owned this land at some point in time.

I became a member of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lucretia Council Cochran Chapter in Arlington, TX on October 6, 2012. My gggg grandfather, Samuel R. Reynolds #A095841 served four tours in the Revolutionary War. The first beginning March 16, 1780 in Spartanburg Dist SC, under Capt. Benjamin Kilgore. He served three other tours under the following officers: Capt. Nesbit, Col. William Fair, Lt. Cliff Casey, Maj. John Ford and William Blossingame.

I'm currently seeking information for the Bahlmanns, Malzahns, Hagedorns and Bremers from Germany and Bremer/Chickasaw Counties in Iowa; Banks, Taylor, Jones, Reynolds, Fanning, Roberson and Elliott families from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Hunt County Texas.

Please feel free to use any of the photos I've posted. Contact me for any corrections or transfers.

"Remember me in the family tree; my name, my days, my strife. Then I'll ride upon the wings of time and live an endless life." by Linda Groetsch