In 1989 I began to research my family history with heightened interest upon the coming birth of my son. After losing my grandmother, Bertha Anna Rakestraw Richey, who had lived with our family (the Willis Richey Family), I realized that so much of our family history was left unrecorded. Although she had left a few photos, a family Bible and some newspaper clippings, the gaps were wide. My mother and I began to travel the back roads of Union County, Mississippi, speaking with anyone willing to help in our quest. Meeting those relatives to fill in those gaps has been a great and exciting journey to our family's past. I have met so many precious people who genuinely treasure family and history. Feb 2014