Hello,
I just had a quick story that was heartwarming as a volunteer.
Everyone I have volunteered for has been grateful and happy to receive pictures I have sent but
a recent one was especially sweet.
A woman requested headstone pictures of a relative and his two sons as she was writing a book on her family history. I knew the cemetery she was asking about was in terrible shape and I warned her I may not be able to find anything but, I'd give it a try. She knew the records for this town had burned years ago and getting these pictures was important.
I also knew I would have to have reinforcements for this search so my 9 yr old granddaughter, who has accompanied me on my searches for years and is a budding headstone hunter, my partner, and our best friend headed out to the cemetery.
We tore through brambles and bushes and hidden headstones until we, miraculously found the
headstones. It was pretty remarkable these three stones were standing as the majority were not. We took the pictures and sent them off.
This is the email I received from her:
Darlene, I don't know how to express how much you have helped me with these pictures! I'm sitting here squealing!
Do you know? none of the cemetery transcriptions online or in any books said Nancy was on the tombstone with Henry? None! I had no information on when she died or anything else!!!
I had figured my book was only going to be able to include my branch of Henry's son's family
(a HUGE branch, to be sure...) but was not sure if I'd ever be able to get back further, with the Newfield records burnt.
YOU ARE A GODDNESS! =)
If there is anything I can do to return the favor in Texas, let me know. Can I send you anything for mileage, or anything else? I just want you to know that you are incredibly valued, and that I could KISS your right now.
Thanks again for a job well done.
end...
It is so rewarding to know that I can help others while I am having a grand time running around cemeteries. It is like getting paid to do a job you love!
Darlene, Volunteer in Tompkins Co. NY
We hope you enjoyed this volunteer's story!
Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore
RAOGK Volunteer
raogk.org
Comments (1)
this is a wonderful story. Genealogy is a wonderful thing when it comes to helping others no matter how small the help is, I have had so much help from lots of Folks I don't even know and made good Friends with them now. Just keep up the good work with the help U give everyone.
Of late I helped a Lady in Scotland to track down her Father she had never seen, but alas he had passed on, but at least she got some history of him, and another friend was made of a kinswoman.
Aye Yours Jock in Australia.
Posted by John Allen AKA Aussiejock | September 2, 2007 6:10 PM
Posted on September 2, 2007 18:10