I have been researching my family since 1980 and I have written three books on my ancestors: "New Lands, New Dreams: The Beginnings" (about the history of the Blansett and Spears families), "The Alabama Blansett's" (about the Blansett families in Jackson County, AL, from about 1818 to the Civil War), and "New Lands, New Dreams: The Dream Fulfilled" (the story of my parents, who represent the Blansett and Spears sides). I have contributed my family tree to Ancestry.com and I enlarge it from time to time.

I started creating memorials for findagrave.com after both my parents died and I became interested in memorializing them and other members of my family. For the most part, my memorials honor those who are buried in the Farmington Memorial Cemetery, The Drais Family Cemetery, and Blocks 27 and 36 of the Stockton Rural Cemetery. About 90% of those buried in Blocks 27 and 36 do not have grave markers. Through the cooperation of the staff at the Stockton Rural Cemetery, those buried without grave markers have been memorialized on findagrave.com.

Whenever I create a memorial for those buried in the three cemeteries mentioned above, I don't just put in basic birth and death data. I attempt to include a biographical sketch, when information is available, and photos. Some of the biographical sketches are extensive; others are shorter. I try to notify other family researchers when I discover a deceased person who has previously been unknown to those researchers or if the researchers do not know where the deceased died. I have always appreciated the trails others have blazed for me; I want to return the favor whenever I can.

P.S. The photo of me was taken at my senior prom in high school many moons ago.