This is the time of the year when most people think of a gift as a package with beautiful wrapping and a distinctive bow. It is received with excitement and joy. And they are excited to rip it open and see what’s inside.
The gifts we help unwrap are those passed down by an ancestor and we know that they don’t come wrapped in fancy paper and bright bows. Those of us who have worked diligently to trace our heritage learn differently.
Gifts come in many forms. I like to believe that I inherited a love of flowers from my maternal line. My grandfather grew roses and other flowers and in turn my mother was good with flowers and passed that love (gift) on to me. I love growing my own as well as visiting nurseries to see new species.
Some ancestors pass on their gift of music, whether it be playing, singing or writing it. Many families have passed on the gift of healing through the doctors, nurses and other medical professions that are part of their family. Whether the gift is engineering, oration, writing, cooking, flying and many other wonderful skills, they are indeed a gift if you gained your passion for that field from an ancestor.
As you study the history of your family, you may find numerous examples of gifts being passed down through the generations. And sometimes it does skip a generation.
Through records you can learn if your ancestor was a sailor and somewhere back through the ages his ancestor was an admiral in some Navy. The Army private may be descended from a foot soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Our volunteers enjoy helping visitors unwrap the gifts left to them by their ancestors. We invite you to visit the library located in the Crockett Building, 107 Court Street (second floor). We are open on THURSDAY and FRIDAY (except prior to a holiday) from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (please call if you’ll arrive after 3 p.m.). You may contact us at tatehistory@hotmail.com or call 662-562-0390 and leave a message on voice mail with brief details of your request and we will answer. You can also find us on Facebook.
