I am a retired Division Chief from the Tangible Division of the Duval County Property Appraiser's Office after 30 long years of service.

When I was around 10 years old, Leida Gaines Miles, my grandmother, Lucie Gaines Kokinakis, my great aunt, Mary Gaines Caffery, a great aunt, and a distant cousin Frances Payne Gaines sparked my interest in genealogy with stories of many ancestors, their accomplishments, their failures, and their lives.

Aunt Mary would tell me stories about her grandfather, my great, great grandfather James Jackson Hunt in Yalobusha County, MS.

Fortunately due to my interest, I traveled to these locations in my 20's and photographed remaining living relatives, and audiotaped interviewes with these family members. Back then, we did not have computers, scanners, etc. so my family members would graciously loan me their original photos where I would bring them home and have 4" x 6" negatives shot of tintypes, old cardboard photos, etc. Now, as time has passed and these old family members have died off, I have no idea where many of these photographs have ended up. Fortunately, copies exist and I try to post as many of these old photographs on this teriffic website.

I am a retired Division Chief from the Tangible Division of the Duval County Property Appraiser's Office after 30 long years of service.

When I was around 10 years old, Leida Gaines Miles, my grandmother, Lucie Gaines Kokinakis, my great aunt, Mary Gaines Caffery, a great aunt, and a distant cousin Frances Payne Gaines sparked my interest in genealogy with stories of many ancestors, their accomplishments, their failures, and their lives.

Aunt Mary would tell me stories about her grandfather, my great, great grandfather James Jackson Hunt in Yalobusha County, MS.

Fortunately due to my interest, I traveled to these locations in my 20's and photographed remaining living relatives, and audiotaped interviewes with these family members. Back then, we did not have computers, scanners, etc. so my family members would graciously loan me their original photos where I would bring them home and have 4" x 6" negatives shot of tintypes, old cardboard photos, etc. Now, as time has passed and these old family members have died off, I have no idea where many of these photographs have ended up. Fortunately, copies exist and I try to post as many of these old photographs on this teriffic website.