Strangers No More... A Family Reunion
Exploring the roots of our shared heritage
How do you prepare to meet cousins you didn’t know existed until recently?
In 2018, I discovered a new branch of my family tree thanks to AncestryDNA. Since then, we’ve corresponded by email, text, and phone, sharing stories and photos. I even had the chance to meet one cousin from that part of the family, Becca, in February 2020 during a work trip to Massachusetts.
This year, we began talking about all getting together in person, so I proposed an idea - meeting in Floyd County, Virginia, where our common ancestor was born and raised. I planned a jam-packed two-day itinerary to immerse ourselves in the local history and culture, connecting us to our shared heritage. I wanted to give them a taste of the community today and show how we connect to the people and land in years gone by.
An emotional reunion and a warm welcome
Our adventure began with lunch at Parkway Grill in Floyd, where we met in person for the first time. Harvey and his daughters Liza and Rachael walked through the door and I could immediately see tears welling up in their eyes. Although I was hopeful for an immediate connection, it was even better than I could’ve imagined.
Conversation flowed easily as we got to know each other, sharing smiles and laughs. There was a sense of anticipation in the air as we prepared to start our journey together.
Before we dove into our “official” itinerary, we made a quick detour in search of a local history book. An autobiography, in fact. I’d recently found an article uin the Floyd Press that mentioned The Autobiography of T.U. Reed, a man who grew up in the same area at the same time as the ancestor who tied me to my newfound cousins. I asked the Floyd County Genealogy Facebook group if anyone had a copy of the book, and sure enough! One of his descendants, Gary, had a copy and was willing to let me scan it. We met Gary at the Floyd Country Store and got to know each other while I furiously scanned the 115-page book using the Genius Scan app on my phone (which I HIGHLY recommend!). We expressed our gratitude to Gary and made our way to the first stop on our schedule… the Old Church Gallery, a cultural arts museum.
Exploring our shared heritage
The Old Church Gallery was full of handcrafted works from the past to the present, shining a light on the cultural heritage of the region. From a contemporary art exhibit featuring Buffalo Mountain to historic artifacts like a loom and a telephone switchboard, the museum paints a picture of life in Floyd County over several generations.
We continued our exploration of what life was like for our ancestors by visiting the Floyd County Historical Society. The current exhibit showcases the rich musical heritage of the community and even featured a piece on our cousins Barry and Garry Collins. Our next stop gave us the chance to hear Barry play live!
We headed back to the Floyd Country Store to take in the weekly Bluegrass Jam, led by our cousin Barry Collins, which is open to any musician who wants to play. Sitting in a circle, they take turns playing music on various instruments from guitars to fiddles and banjos. After the show, we visited with Barry and shared the story of how we all met. Barry’s late father Paul played a big part in solving this family mystery, so I know he was smiling down on us all being together.
After checking into our hotels, we met up for dinner at Dogtown Roadhouse. Since it was our last activity for the day, we were able to relax and enjoy each other’s company without being rushed. We even closed down the restaurant! The staff was kind enough to let us stay past their official closing time.
More cousins!
Day two of our adventure brought the local history closer to home. We started our day by indulging in a hearty breakfast at the Blue Ridge Diner (get the biscuits and gravy!).
What Harvey, Liza, and Rachael didn’t know was that we would be sitting next to a photograph of their ancestor. Hanging on the wall by our booth was a photograph of Harvey’s grandmother (Dessie Dulaney) and her daughter Rushie (my great-grandmother). I donated the photo to the diner a few years ago when they requested local historic pictures to decorate the restaurant. My newfound cousins were instantly brought to tears.
After breakfast, we walked across the street to the Floyd County Courthouse to do hands-on research with primary sources. I showed them examples of records mentioning our family in deed books, chancery records, and more. I loved seeing the amazement on their faces!
Next on our tour was a visit with cousin Bessie Altizer, who welcomed our new cousins with open arms. We sat around her living room and listened to stories about our extended family and the tangled ways they’re all related!
Bessie lives near the historic Altizer cemetery, which is the final resting place of our Revolutionary War ancestor Emera Altizer, so that was our next destination. When I offered to take a photo of Harvey, Liza, and Rachael standing next to the headstone, I saw the hesitation and puzzled looks on their faces. I explained that in my family, it was commonplace to pose for photos with the headstones of our deceased ancestors. I vividly remember my grandparents taking pictures of me at cemeteries when I was a kid! Once I eased their concerns, they happily posed for a photograph. I’m glad we captured that moment of “meeting” their 18th-century ancestor!
Stepping back in time at the family homestead
One of the most anticipated stops on our agenda was the Dulaney family homestead. The property originally included more than 100 acres along Little River and Lost Bent Creek and today, the current owners reside on about 40 acres of the original homestead. Thanks to the generosity of those owners, I’ve been blessed to visit the property a few times. This time, I had the chance to share the magic with my extended family. Driving to the property is an adventure, as it sits several miles from paved roads. Much of the journey is a one lane dirt and gravel washboard road, a jarring experience for even the seasoned driver. But the reward is worth the bumpy journey. As you approach Lost Bent Creek, you’re surrounded by a soothing tree canopy. Due to the current drought, the creek was not as bubbling as I’ve seen it before, but it still gives you the feeling that you’ve arrived “home.” My great-grandmother used to tell me stories about that creek, how if it was too high, she couldn’t walk to school (which was two miles away!). As you meander down the road, you pull into a driveway and see a clearing - the site of the homestead. Although the only original structure still on the property is barn built by Albert Dulaney, the land still offers a sense of belonging. My cousins felt it too. One of the new structures on the property is “The Happy Shack,” Selena McColley’s art studio. She is a gifted artist (check out her work!) and a generous spirit. Although she wasn’t able to meet us there that day, she provided lunch for us at the studio! Harvey, Rachael, Liza, and I enjoyed each other’s company while gazing out the windows and imagining what daily life was like for our ancestors on that very land. It made me smile to see apples growing on the trees, as I remembered my great-grandmother sharing fond memories of the orchard and the bountiful fruit it provided.
The last stop of our grand adventure took us up the steep slope of Alum Ridge to the White Rock Church of the Brethen and cemetery. Our ancestors helped build that church in the 1890s and it still stands today. You can even see the namesake white boulder nestled at the corner of the church. Just across the road is an old general store, a former staple of the community. I was heartbroken to see it was going to be sold at auction. I hope whoever buys the property can preserve the building and pay homage to the history of the Carthage/White Rock community. We ended our tour at the White Rock cemetery, where many of our ancestors are buried. It was bittersweet for me, as it’s also the final resting place for my longtime genealogy partner in crime, Paul Collins. It was the first time I’d been since his passing. In the midst of my sadness, I also smiled, because I know how proud he’d be to see Dessie’s family come “back home.”
As we said our goodbyes at the cemetery, I was filled with a sense of peace. This wasn’t a one-time gathering. This was a family tree growing deeper roots.
Reflections
It’s been a couple weeks since we took this trip together and I’m still processing all the emotions that came with it. One of the things that struck me recently is the feeling that I’ve gained a grandparent. Harvey is technically my first cousin twice removed, but he has become a grandfather figure to me. Both my grandfathers passed away recently (2021 and 2023), so having Harvey come into my life during this season has been a beautiful blessing.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your stories regarding your genealogy journey, but this one really hit home.
When my daughter Victoria and I started researching my mothers biological family 4 years ago we truly had no idea where it would lead us.
We have had zoom meetings with some of her maternal relatives and were able to acquire photos of her mom which was really special.
The identity of her biological father was discovered and along with it, a loving welcoming family, despite less than welcome circumstances.
At the age of 90, mom for the first time met "blood relatives" It was ruly a special moment.
Oh man, all the feels! And it kicked me in the pants to *finally* plan that extended family reunion I’ve been thinking about. Thanks!