Category Archives: ‘Her-story lesson

The forgotten stories of “Black Magnolias” from Oakland Cemetery

First in a series Jihan Hurse, guide, Atlanta, GA.’s Oakland Cemetery’s “Black Magnolias” tour Atlanta, GA — On a chilly Saturday winter morning, Oakland Cemetery’s “Black Magnolias” Tour Guide and Author Jihan Hurse, excitedly gives highlights of the Black women who lie among its 70,000 “residents” in the city’s historic cemetery. The hour allotted forContinue reading “The forgotten stories of “Black Magnolias” from Oakland Cemetery”

Grandmas’ hands creatively cooked cuisine in Nebraska kitchens

The Good Genes Genealogy team share maternal grandmothers. We benefited from tasty treats and meals from our Great-Grandmother Edna Wilkes Robinson, and equally great dinners and gatherings at the home of her daughter, our Grandmother Helen Wilkes Owen Douthy. In honor of the New Year, our thoughts and gratitude are in honor of both grandmothers’Continue reading “Grandmas’ hands creatively cooked cuisine in Nebraska kitchens”

“Negroes catching small catfish with their hands. Bait to be used in shoals of Little River near Eatonton, Georgia” — U.S. Library of Congress

It’s time for you to dig those old photos out of boxes, closets and other places to display for us to share in your family history. Check out Putnam County. Let’s guess the year!

Our Creative, Progressive Ancestor: Mama Helen

To summarize my maternal grandmother’s life: She did the most. In the winter months during 1963, my Maternal Grandmother, Helen Mary Wilkes (and also spelled Wilks), was donning a thinly clad garment and acting in the Greek tragedy, “Antigone.” That in of itself is nothing spectacular. That is, except that “Mama Helen” (as were toldContinue reading “Our Creative, Progressive Ancestor: Mama Helen”

Aunt Ancestor Still Leading me on Genealogy Journey

On this annual day of Epiphany, it is also the birth of my most cheriished ancestor. Today, Jan. 6, 2022, would have been my Paternal Aunt Beverly Ann Wead Blackburn Jones’ 85th birthday. She transitioned in 1973 at the age of 36. I was 15 years old. It was the first family death that left anContinue reading “Aunt Ancestor Still Leading me on Genealogy Journey”

#32 My recommended great reads: African American history

My bookshelf is stocked with a great variety of good reads. They are loosely categorized by subject areas that include “Health and Healing,” “African American History, ” “International and Domestic Finance/Business,” “Black Authors,” “Book Publishing,” and “Media and Journalism” and “Other.” I also have personal journals that date back a few decades. Over the years,Continue reading “#32 My recommended great reads: African American history”