Category Archives: Genealogy

Me, James Earl Jones, and WikiTree

Posted on April 3, 2025 | Leave a comment

I have to admit, until recently I have only dabbled on WikiTree, but lately I’ve been using it to add names to my tree. When I hit a roadblock I go into WikiTree and see if it has info I don’t. I ALWAYS find things that help me with my research. I get names and places and so much more that I use to find references and documents for citations. I feel like I have so much catching up to do.

Like today, I added James Earl Jones to my tree. A lot of people ask me why I “bother” with genealogy. They say “it’s not like it’s a real tree.” Ack! It couldn’t be more real. A family tree is a road map of where you come from to where you are. I am particularly interested in “famous” ancestors because it feeds my imagination.

Mr. Jones is a stepping stone for me to see if I can build any other connections with my Jones lines. I have the indirect link, but I am at a roadblock with my 3rd great grandfather on my father’s side. It’s a long shot, but an avenue I have not tried before.

If anyone has any connections to George Henry Jones b. 26 May 1926, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee > Eugene Franklin Jones b. 8 Sep 1896, Tunica, Mississippi > Israel Jones b. Dec 1872, Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee > Washington Jones b. c 1831, Rockingham, North Carolina, please let me know.

Puzzle Piece Found

Posted on March 25, 2018 | 1 comment

That’s my daddy! George Henry Jones.

As some of you may know, I have been working on my family tree for about 30 years now. This has been no easy task since I have just mixed ethnicity. For those not in the know, My father was a Negro and my mother was Dutch. I have had great success in tracking my mother’s lines, but my father’s have been…challenging.

Over the last three weeks, my friend and I have been driving from state to state searching our roots. One of my most difficult line is my father’s lines. The are Negros from Mississippi, North, Carolina, and Tennessee during the slave era. OY.

Karen, Michael, and Jeannie Jones 2018

At any rate, this past week I went to Lansing, MI to see my sister and brother. Jeannie, Michael, and I share a father. I got to spend a week with my sister about 30 years ago, but had never met my brother. Last week was the first time the three of us had EVER been together at the same time. To tell you it was incredible does not do it justice. It was like finding a part of myself.

Jones_George_Henry-Karen_Louise-1967-MI As my sister and I sat looking through pictures, I found something I had long ago given up hope of finding. Jeannie had run across a picture and she didn’t know who it was. I knew immediately upon looking at it that it was me and my father. I felt like I had won the lottery. My whole life I have ever only had one picture of my father, none of us together.

For nearly three weeks, we drove across so many states and hit so many libraries, and the last night of my trip I discover the piece of the puzzle I have been missing. Actual proof of me and my father together. What a glorious feeling.

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Posted in Blatherings, Genealogy, Just for Fun, Karen's Family Tree

Digital Photo Restoration by Deborah Collin (Review)

Posted on November 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

Digital Photo Restoration: What to Do and How to Do It by Deborah Collin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another excellent resource from Deborah Collin. This time, she is giving us the inside scoop on how to deal with photos and images when working on genealogy or any other projects. One of the biggest problems I have run across is figuring out how to restore old images that I have rescued from some evil box. In the past, I have tinkered, but could never quite figure out exactly how to make the outcome worth all the time I had invested in the image.

Ms. Collin gives solid and practical instructions on exactly what to do. I do not follow instructions well, but hers were clear enough that I actually understood them. Her insight into various graphic programs is excellent. I have learned of several new programs that just might save me from more gray hair.

As usual, Deborah Collin has written a book that is good enough to be worthwhile and still simple enoough for anyone to use. I especially like a writer who doesn’t feel the need to talk down to readers. I always feel like she is talking “to me” as she explains things and that makes learning easier.

View all my reviews