Genealogy conference wraps up a week of research events in Lufkin

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) –

16 years ago Angelina County dedicated
one day to genealogy now the conference has transformed into a three day event.

“Everything that we are, is based
on what we’ve learned in our lifetime and what are ancestors have passed on to
us,” said Debbie Parker Wayne, Certified Genealogist.

With eight speakers and 24 different
sessions the conference offered tips on searching for your ancestors, through
census records, birth, marriage and death records and even cemetery locations.

“We have DNA, we have land
records, we have courthouse records, we have cemetery records almost anything
that would have to do with genealogy and genealogy covers everything,”
said Trevie Beverly, Conference Coordinator.

Conference coordinator Trevie Beverly
started researching her family history in the 9th grade. 30 years later has
been able to trace her family all the way back to the 1600’s.

 Beverly encourages those just starting out to
take advantage of every possible resource.

 “A lot of what is on the internet is
absolutely wonderful but nothing takes the place of a good library or the archives,”
said Beverly.

For those who’ve hit a brick wall
experts were on hand to offer a different perspective.

“We use the less used records
more often things like tax records and things like that people wouldn’t have thought
of if they’re newer to genealogy we can send people off to look at those kinds
of records,” said Wayne.

The journey into history starts with
you and once you look into the past, you can look forward to the future.    

“If we don’t know where we came
from we don’t know where we’re going,” said Wayne.

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