Shaking the Family Tree: Celebrate Genealogy & Heritage

Ever wonder why you were born in one part of the country rather than another, or where your peculiar middle name originated? Perhaps your family has a unique holiday tradition no one else seems to follow. Often, answers to these questions lie deep within your ancestry. Learning about your forebears—where they lived, how they survived, what cultural traditions they passed down—can be a rewarding and enlightening experience.

Dunwoody Pines resident Larry Dewberry is a shining example. Born and raised in Carroll County, Georgia, Larry recently uncovered new details about his family when his brother received a call from a man in Washington, DC—someone who knew astonishing facts about the Dewberry lineage. That call sparked a 50-year genealogy project that traced the Dewberry name back to 1665.

Why It’s Worth Doing

Exploring your family tree can bring clarity about who you are and where your family’s story began. It also helps preserve cherished memories for the next generation, giving your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a chance to learn about and take pride in their heritage.

The Modern Ease of Family Tree Research

Genealogy was once a laborious endeavor limited by paper records and word-of-mouth stories. Today, countless websites offer vast databases, making your family tree research both fun and accessible:

ancestry.com
familysearch.org
findmypast.com
findagrave.com

Even local libraries often provide free access to genealogy software. By searching official documents like immigration records, marriage certificates, and census data, you can follow your ancestors’ footprints in history.

A Real-Life Example: The Dewberry Family

Larry’s personal genealogy journey kicked off when his brother received that unexpected phone call. It turned out two men named Sidney Dewberry were compiling a comprehensive record of Dewberry families in America from 1665 to 2003. Their research spanned five decades, revealing around 10,000 relatives united by blood or marriage.

For Larry, the project was monumental:

“The book is a revelation that I cherish every day. I find it very satisfying to know all about where I came from.”

Their story exemplifies how family history can inspire respect and awe for the lives that paved the way for us.

Start Exploring Your Past

Not everyone’s family investigation will become a 50-year undertaking—nor does it need to. Even a brief dive into your roots with relatives can yield unexpected stories, greater self-understanding, and a fresh perspective on cultural traditions.

If your middle name is ‘Kowalski’ or your family always makes kolaches for Thanksgiving, you might soon discover an entire chapter of heritage you never knew existed.