Family Griot just after barefootin' in the creek
at Ben's Corner. Yes that is mud and muck!

One of the things that the Washington Rounds Family enjoys the most when gathering for reunions is to enjoy various outdoor activities. At the Washington-Rounds picnic this year at Ben’s Corner the children and a few adventurous adults hopped in a cousin’s pickup truck and rode down to the creek that runs through the property. This is a fun  activity that has become tradition at family reunions held at Ben's Corner.



The creek at Ben's Corner. One of
our favorite places to go on the property.

 Many of us took off our shoes and jumped into the warm creek water. A female cousin who is known for never going without a pair of shoes joined us in the creek. We all had a good laugh about that!


What??!! No Shoes??!!



Family Griot "On The Road Genealogy" 2011

In 2009, I did my first "On The Road Genealogy" research trip. I'm happy to say that I will be conducting my second "On The Road Genealogy" trip in late June of this year.  Armed with more research information than on my initial trip, I plan to delve deeper into the history of my maternal family in Mississippi. I'll be visiting Adams County, MS and Wilkinson County, MS. My plans are to visit Mt. Olive Baptist Church and cemetery in Sibley, MS, visit Adams and Wilkinson County courthouses and to interview at least three elders in my family. 

I've taken many lessons from my first trip. One, never go on a research trip too close to a major national holiday, not much is likely to be open. (I learned that the hard way.) Two, have a list of records you are specifically looking for and what range of years you are looking in. Three, be prepared to spend a good part of your day at the courthouse. Four, pay attention to detail. Finally number five, don't forget to show gratitude to the people who assist you with your research.

I have my Genealogist Tool Kit and my cemetery research Kit (thank you Angela Walton-Raji) packed and ready to go! More to come in August!

Family Griot

Wordless Wednesday: Running of the Bulls

The Washington-Rounds family gathers bi-annually to celebrate family reunions. Many of our reunions are held out in 'the country' at Ben's Corner Farm in Mississippi. Several activites the children and adults enjoy are horseback riding, four-wheeling and wading in the creek that runs through the family property. At this particular reunion, we tried something new and had our version of the "Running of the Bulls"!!!

Genealogy Road Trip: The Reunion

I'm officially back from my family reunion/vacation/genealogy research trip! What an enjoyable yet busy trip it was. On Saturday the 4th of July, the Washington-Rounds-Earls family met on Ben's Corner to celebrate with barbecue, truck rides, swimming and meeting up with one another after two years apart. I must say that my cousin, Micki (Garland) threw down on the barbecue again this year. I packed some extra barbecued chicken & ribs and potato salad to eat during the week I was staying there. It was delicious!



The children and some adults went down to take a dip in the creek that runs through Ben's Corner.



Our family also celebrated the wedding of Mary Alice and Kenneth on the 5th of July. Kenneth married into the Washington-Rounds Family. Mary Alice is the granddaughter of
Saint Arby Washington-Thompson.








I also was able to meet a cousin who was raised by Jane Letcher-Ivory, my great-grandfather Will Washington's older sister.

Me, cousin Jane's daughter & my mom






And some other photos from the Washington Rounds Reunion. . .