Original Find-A-Grave member #46928674 [Aug 2007]

I've been a ROOTS lady for about 48 years and have always enjoyed helping others find their roots also. I transcribed the early Jasper County, Texas Marriage Records back in the 80's and donated them to the Southeast Texas Genealogical & Historical Society and was their editor for "Yellowed Pages" for a few years until family health issues stepped in the way.

My first "online" adventure was learning how to hand code html when I took the responsibility for 10 southeast Texas counties under the TXGenWeb Project and didn't have a clue about coding websites. It took some fast learning.

I soon became a "Cluster Genealogist". A person's cluster consists of the extended family, friends, neighbors, and other associates such as people buried in the same cemetery, business partners, etc.. Researching the lives of an ancestor's cluster leads to a more complete and more accurate picture of the ancestor's life.

About 15 years ago I started hosting tombstone photos online and had about 14,000 back when hosting space was pretty expensive. After my Mom became ill and needed extensive care, my husband and I cared for her at our home for three years and I closed the hosting account during that time frame.

It's great to see the effort behind Find-A-Grave and I'm pleased to see there are so many "gravers" around the country. The "linking" system is wonderful for connecting families when properly used.

Thank God for computers, the internet & and digital cameras !! From spending hours & hours in courthouses, cemeteries & libraries to transcribing census records & visiting cemeteries in my jammies. GenLife is wonderful & rewarding.

Please leave public messages for additions, corrections, additional comments or transfer requests.

TODAY I VISITED YESTERDAY
by Pat Conner Rice

Today I visited yesterday,
And walked among the graves
Of family and friends from long ago,
Whose memory had begun to fade.
The graves were unattended,
As were my thoughts of them.
When a vision of the ages past,
Brought back my sense of kin.
The vision showed the church lawn,
On a crisp summer day.
The table spread, the food prepared,
And friends who would break bread.
All my relatives were there- Both young and old........
Grandma and I walked hand and hand,
Sharing stories never told.
We laughed and cried and shared our thoughts.
And I found the friend I thought I'd lost.
As the sun began to fade...
The church bell rang out clear.
Grandma and the others slowly disappeared...
Today I visited yesterday,
And now the memory is strong -
Of the family from which I came AND NOW BELONG...
-------------

"Nothing is ended until it is forgotten".

Original Find-A-Grave member #46928674 [Aug 2007]

I've been a ROOTS lady for about 48 years and have always enjoyed helping others find their roots also. I transcribed the early Jasper County, Texas Marriage Records back in the 80's and donated them to the Southeast Texas Genealogical & Historical Society and was their editor for "Yellowed Pages" for a few years until family health issues stepped in the way.

My first "online" adventure was learning how to hand code html when I took the responsibility for 10 southeast Texas counties under the TXGenWeb Project and didn't have a clue about coding websites. It took some fast learning.

I soon became a "Cluster Genealogist". A person's cluster consists of the extended family, friends, neighbors, and other associates such as people buried in the same cemetery, business partners, etc.. Researching the lives of an ancestor's cluster leads to a more complete and more accurate picture of the ancestor's life.

About 15 years ago I started hosting tombstone photos online and had about 14,000 back when hosting space was pretty expensive. After my Mom became ill and needed extensive care, my husband and I cared for her at our home for three years and I closed the hosting account during that time frame.

It's great to see the effort behind Find-A-Grave and I'm pleased to see there are so many "gravers" around the country. The "linking" system is wonderful for connecting families when properly used.

Thank God for computers, the internet & and digital cameras !! From spending hours & hours in courthouses, cemeteries & libraries to transcribing census records & visiting cemeteries in my jammies. GenLife is wonderful & rewarding.

Please leave public messages for additions, corrections, additional comments or transfer requests.

TODAY I VISITED YESTERDAY
by Pat Conner Rice

Today I visited yesterday,
And walked among the graves
Of family and friends from long ago,
Whose memory had begun to fade.
The graves were unattended,
As were my thoughts of them.
When a vision of the ages past,
Brought back my sense of kin.
The vision showed the church lawn,
On a crisp summer day.
The table spread, the food prepared,
And friends who would break bread.
All my relatives were there- Both young and old........
Grandma and I walked hand and hand,
Sharing stories never told.
We laughed and cried and shared our thoughts.
And I found the friend I thought I'd lost.
As the sun began to fade...
The church bell rang out clear.
Grandma and the others slowly disappeared...
Today I visited yesterday,
And now the memory is strong -
Of the family from which I came AND NOW BELONG...
-------------

"Nothing is ended until it is forgotten".