I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. My husband and I moved to the Texas Hill Country in 1986. We lived in Llano and Burnet Counties before moving north of Houston to Montgomery County in 2002.

I have been so fortunate to have been living in the areas of Texas where many of my ancestors also lived. Visiting their graves and areas where they settled has been truly rewarding.

Some of mine and my husband's ancestral surnames are:

Thomasson -- (NC, TN & TX)

Ripley (TN & TX)

Blassingame (TX, MS, SC)

Mize (TN & TX)

Perry (TX, AL, GA, NC)

Copeland (TX & TN)

Ball (TX, AL, SC, VA)

Overby (TX, SC, VA)

Seale (TX, MS, SC)

Cartwright (TX & TN)

Lane (TN & TX)

McClure (TN)

Bass (TX & GA)

Bourke (TX)

Myers (TX)

Smyer (TX & GA)

Simpson (TX, MS, SC)

Kempe (TX & GERMANY)

Swails (TX, FLA, SC)

Harkey (TX, ARK, NC)

Carpenter (TX, GA, NC)

and many more....

If I manage a Findagrave memorial that is not within my family or my husband's or one that I don't have a special attachment to, I will be more than happy to transfer to a requesting family member.

You are welcome to use photos that I have posted but I ask that you PLEASE give proper credit. I strive to do the same and hope others do as well. It is not only a common courtesy, but it is also a source for your family records.

I do not mind a Death Certificate being added to memorials. In my opinion, they are an excellent documentation pertaining to an individual's name, parentage, place of residence, burial, especially if there is no headstone. I would require that if it is a more recent death certificate, please redact any confidential, personal information such as name of a living individual or address. And please be very cautious and mindful of the cause of death.

And last, but not least, a word to the wise:

VERIFY EVERYTHING! SPECULATION and ERRORS ABOUND!!!!