Tidewater Genealogical Society

Virginia Horsfall Rollings was born in Claremont, Virginia, on 20 February 1921 to Alfred Lafayette Horsfall and Matilda Augusta Kropfganz. She graduated from Claremont High in 1938 and attended Blackstone Teacher's College for one semester, eventually earning her degree in Sociology from Christopher Newport College in 1972. She was a tireless community volunteer and a well-known historian and genealogist. Virginia was an honored speaker at many historical societies and founded the Tidewater Genealogical Society (Hugh S. Watson, Jr. Genealogical Society of Tidewater Virginia) with members of her 1969 genealogy class. She served as president from 1969-1977. She was respected as one of the foremost experts on the people and happenings of the Peninsula. Her encyclopedic knowledge of family history spanned the globe. She aided many people in their search for their ancestors in her role as Director of the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Virginia married James Robert Rollings, Jr. of Surry, Virginia, in 1939. They had three children. Virginia died 14 June 2011 at the age of ninety.

Dr. Franklin Harris Farmer, TGS Second President

He was born in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, to the late Franklin and Kora Harris Farmer. His grandparents were Walter E. and Florence G. McKown Farmer and the late Lincoln M. and Daisy L. Jackson Harris. His first wife of 30 years, Joyce Howard Farmer preceded him in death. Dr. Farmer was educated at Tufts University with a B.S. in Biology in 1960, Virginia Tech with a M.S. in Bacteriology and a PhD Food Service in 1976 and a M.A. in Anthropology from William and Mary in 1985. Dr. Farmer was employed by the U.S. Navy from 1960-1962 and NASA Langley Research Center from 1965-2004. He was also a Commander in the Naval Reserves for 28 years. He had many interests during his life and very active in doing genealogy, family history, local Maine history as well as doing local archeology in Maine and Virginia. He was president of the Virginia Tidewater Genealogical Society from 1978-1983. He passed away on 12 March 2007 and is buried in Deckers Cemetery, Southport, Maine.

Bettye J. Overby was president for the Society for 1984-1986.

She had served as trip coordinator and secretary. She was also active in the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society in North Carolina, serving as treasurer. Bettye was a native of Columbia, Alabama and the daughter of E. D. and Marie Melton Johnson. She and her husband, Bob Overby, lived on the peninsula until they moved to North Carolina. She was also active as a member of the Central United Methodist Church. Bettye passed away 17 December 1995 at her home. She was survived by her husband, daughters, Diane C. Overby of Asheville, NC and Susan E. DeVincentis of Garland, TX; brother, Ewell Page Johnson of Dothan, AL; sisters, Sue Watson of Ashford, AL, Annie Tom Ready of Columbia, AL and one grandson.

Samuel Jones was president for 1986-1988 and was active in other aspects of the society. He retired to Arizona.

William (Bill) Hankins was president for 1993-1994.

He was born 29 August 1924 in his maternal grandmother's home in Salisbury, NC to Rachel Elizabeth Hope Miller and William Brevard Hankins. He graduated from Lexington High School and spent a year at North Carolina state, he then attended the U. S. Military Academy and was commissioned an Infantry Officer in June 1945. He served for 30 years with a Legion of Merit with 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other awards. He was a veteran of World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War. He married Dorothy Ann Granholm and had four children. They retired to Williamsburg and lived there for 28 years. They moved to Texas in 2008. He and Dorothy shared a passion for genealogy and together they spent thousands of hours researching their ancestors and their stories. Bill was active in the Society. Bill and Dorothy loved to travel and loved the American West. Bill passed away 19 October 2016 at the Army Residence community at San Antonio, Texas. He was buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.

Elinor Antis was president from 1990-1992.

James Sivells was president from 1995-1996.

He was active in the society and attended several national conventions on genealogy. James received a master's degree in engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He was the primary designer of the Four-Foot Wind Tunnel used by NASA. He spent the majority of his professional career developing and managing a similar facility in Tullahoma, TN. Jim passed away on 12 August 1997, at his home. Jim was survived by his son, Jim Sivells and his wife, Lynn and grandchildren. His wife and one son predeceased him.

Thomas Sale was TGS president for one year, 1997, having assumed the presidency because of the illness and death of James Sivells.

Dr. Thomas Wirt Sale, Jr. was born on 26 February 1926, Hampton, VA to Thomas Wirt Sale, Sr. and Mildred Fields. He graduated from Hampton High School and a 1952 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia as a general surgeon. He retired in 1994. Thomas served in the Fifth Infantry Division of Patton's third army. His division fought in the Battle of the Bulge, breakthrough the Siegfried Line. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge. He was a member of many genealogical and patriotic organizations. Thomas passed away 17 June 2012. He was survived by his wife and sons, Thomas W. Sale, III, Carter Woodward Sale, John Cabell Sale and his daughter, Sidney Sale Bland.

Jill Russell served as president from 1998-2000.

Jill is a genealogist with over fifty years of research experience on her ancestry and that of others. A graduate of Syracuse University, she moved to York County in 1989 and joined the Tidewater Genealogical Society about 1992. She worked with Everett Hogg, John Quarstein and the City of Newport News to obtain the lease for the first floor of the Warwick County 1884 Courthouse for the use of the Society. Jill has had Registrar experience with the Charles Parish Chapter, DAR, since 2000, and with the Colonial Dames XVII Century since 2013. She is also a member of New England Women, Daughters of the American Colonists, United States Daughters of 1812, Descendants of Early Quakers and Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery. Jill has visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for each of the last twenty years and is the trip coordinator for the Linder-Seagraves Research Group that visits the library each fall.

Rod MacDonald was president from 2000-2001.

He was a Navy "Senior Chief Petty Officer" who joined TGS in the early 1980s. He was asked by President Bill Hankins to serve as membership chair when Bill recognized that Rod was skilled at computer use, a skill set not yet widespread among the membership. About the same time Rod started assisting another TGS member, Dave Johnston, conducting classes on the use of the newly introduced computer program, Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and the commercially available alternatives, Family Tree Maker [ver.1], Brother's Keeper and Family Origins [the predecessor to Roots Magic]. This led to the establishment of a monthly Computer Interest Group and many discussions on the Internet. Later Rod assumed the responsibility of editor of the TGS Quarterly after Barbara Senecal retired from editing it after a ten or fifteen year timespan. Rod assisted TGS president Tom Sale and Jill Russell in the planning and negotiation with the city of Newport News to acquire a lease on a portion of the 1884 Warwick Courthouse. The first-floor rooms became the TGS Library. He was president during the renovation and upgrading the 1884 Courthouse. There were many cold and noisy Saturdays during this time. Volunteers kept the library open on many Saturdays during the renovation. After being president, Rod assisted the new president, Bill Lester, in setting up and maintaining our computer lab and keeping the computers operating for patron's use. When requested, he spoke at TGS monthly meetings usually presenting information on computer related internet searching and popular genealogical websites and software.

Merle Kimball was president from 2002-2003. See below.

William H. Lester, Jr. was president from 2004-2006.

William died Wednesday, 24 December 2014. He retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant after 24 years of service. He was a Vietnam Veteran. He is survived by his parents, W. Harold Lester, Sr. and Jeanne Lester, wife, Linda M. Lester, daughter, Cassie Sillaro, sons, Bill Lester III and Tim Lester. Brothers Noel Lester, Charles Lester and Tim Lester. Grandchildren: Ian Lester and Jennifer Lester. Daughters-in-laws: Thao Lester and Becky Lester and his son-in-law, Paul Sillaro. He was buried in Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery.

Alice Cox Phillips was president from 2007-2009.

She is married to Daniel M. Phillips, Jr. and the mother of three adult children and five grandchildren. She has been active in genealogy since 1976. After retiring from the business world in 1995, she attended her first NGS Conference. She holds a certificate from the National Institute of Genealogical Research. Alice received her BCG certification in 1999. Alice is a member of NGS, the Association of Professional Genealogists and several lineage organizations. She served as first vice-president of the Tidewater Genealogical Society where she volunteers regularly in the genealogical library. She enjoys all research and family history, but is particularly interested in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods.

Emily McDonald.

I was the youngest of four children, the only one born in a hospital. We lived in Hampton, Florida but the hospital was in the county seat of Bradford County, Starke, Florida. My brother, W. H. (Hubbie) was six. He always said 1947 was a very bad year for him! I was born in August and he had to start school in September. We did not own a TV until I was fifteen years old. My Dad and his sister often visited on Sunday afternoons. They knew the oral histories of most of the folks in Bradford County. My cousin and I were so bored with this! Especially when they got to the "goop parts", they talked with their eyes and bodies so we knew we were missing something but we just did not know enough to figure it out! So, it is amazing that I ever had any interest in genealogy! After seeing "Roots" on TV, Rod, my husband was stationed in Key West, Florida. I read that there was to be a certified genealogist (one of only 50 in the U.S. at that time, 1978), speaking at the Monroe County Public Library. We attended, learned how to get started, and off we went on this wonderful hobby! I had never enjoyed history until I began to put "my people" in these historical events. Later when Rod was stationed in various duty stations in the Tidewater area, we both became active with the Tidewater Genealogical Society. We both served as membership chairman (at different times). We also took our turns at Vice-President and President. I also served as Treasurer. We are now living in Dayton, Ohio, near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where Rod works as a contractor. Our only child, Amanda, works in civil service here in Ohio. I keep busy with Bible studies and assisting friends, family and my fellow members in the Kettering Church of Christ.

Kay Smith.

Katherine Anna Neese Stewart Smith (Kay) was born 6 February 1938 in Norfolk, Virginia. An Ocean View gal who graduated in 1956 from Granby High School, she attended Mary Washington College from 1956-1958. On 30 August 1958 she married Paul Frederick Stewart and says the greatest gift from the marriage was her precious daughter, Katherine Lee Stewart. In 1971, Kay married Gary Neil Smith and moved to Newport News, Va. After a few volunteer jobs and 14 years of civil service, Kay attended Christopher Newport College, where she earned a degree in Psychology in 1984. Her four grandchildren started coming in 1986 and she has so enjoyed helping them grow up. Loving garage sales, she attended one in 2000 at the Old Warwick County courthouse, where she met Rod and Emily McDonald and got hooked on genealogy. Her research at the Tidewater Genealogical Society (TGS), helped her discover that her Garrow family had a general store right down the street from the Courthouse. She met Thelma Ironmonger Hansford and found out they were cousins. Kay found a cousin in Portsmouth whose wife was an experienced genealogist and sent her a considerable amount of information on the Stroud's of Portsmouth. This led to meeting a cousin from Richmond online who sent information on her ancestor, William Spencer who came to Jamestown in 1607. Kay followed up on all the resources given to her and joined all the genealogical clubs available. Recently she sent out a message about her grandmother, Virginia Hendron Parker Stroud Steele, and received a huge list of useful data. She often jokes that she does not have to do a lot of research - it is just handed to her! Kay says, "I think I held every office at TGS but served as President for just a short time, due to the death of my dear husband Gary, who always said he could not retire because he had to pay the dues of my many clubs. Kay passed away on May 10, 2023.

Merle Kimball, 2002-2003; 2016-2020.

Merle was born and raised on a ranch in Wyoming. She received a B.A. in history from the University of Wyoming and a master's degree in Library Science from Texas Woman's University. Her first professional position was at William Robertson Coe Library, University of Wyoming where she was a cataloger and then Serials Librarian for five years. An open position at Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary brought her to Williamsburg, where Merle progressed through various positions until she retired as Serials, Preservation, Microforms and Local History and Family Librarian. Merle was interested in genealogy and family history at an early age and had started researching her maternal and paternal families at the University of Wyoming Library. The wonderful history collection at Swem Library helped entice her to work at Swem Library. Her maternal great-grandparents moved into Wyoming in 1898 when outlaws were still around and she wanted to know who these people were and where they came from. Over the years she has taken many genealogical trips. Her biggest regret is not taking photographs of all the courthouses she has been in doing research, including the Library of Congress, DAR Library, the National Archives, and the Family History Library. Merle has edited her great-aunt's memoirs of growing up in Nebraska and Wyoming and had them privately published “Looking For the End of the Rainbow: Memoirs of Elizabeth Lea Rawson”. She helped her mother write and compile a biography of her mother, “Fannie Graves' Quilts: Memoirs of a Wyoming Ranch Wife” and had it self-published for the family. She has also written an article on Six Gorham Brothers of Connecticut and Vermont, published in Vermont Genealogy.

Elizabeth Pierce, 2022-2023.

My introduction to genealogical research began in my childhood, as I lurked in courthouse basements while my mother sought documents. That said, I was not the most enthusiastic of research assistants at that time. It was many years later as my son was graduating and I was realizing a need for personal pastimes, that I became consumed with chasing my ancestors for fun. My Grandmother had always believed the family lore passed down to her about her Mayflower roots. While she hired several researchers, they had not been able to prove this during her lifetime. I set out to do this, and by the grace of God and the timely internet posting of actual documents previously misfiled in an Alabama courthouse, got it done. And just like that, I was hooked!
My family is convoluted… and they were mobile…and some of them perhaps were long of limb and crafty… because some of my other lines have been particularly difficult to track. My hope is that as more and more documents make it into repositories, get archived, become available online, and as I grow as a researcher, I will be able to solve
my mysteries. It keeps me busy in Virginia and the Carolinas, all the way over to TX, and never in a straight path. I have recently broken through a very tough brick wall on the Georgia/Alabama border and am breaking one down in Kentucky which refocuses me back closer on Amherst County, Virginia. My husband’s family is very challenging to research due to record loss, so I am ever interested in North Carolina, back to early Virginia. At present, those are the main foci of my personal research, when I find time for it.