My Legacy

Good Afternoon/Evening Alford Family Members

I would like to take this time to thank all family members and friends that took part in the opening of the Alford Family Exhibit at the Morgan County African American Museum. And just as a reminder, the Exhibit will be on display at the Museum until November so if you are in the Morgan County Georgia area, stop past the Museum. Once again, thank you to everyone.

Thank you

Gregory Williams

President

Alford African American Family of Georgia

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We call them Historians. They were eager to talk, tell stories, take notes, learn how to research family history in order to reveal and preserve the essence of our lives, strengthen the connections between generations, and begin to write our legacy. Cora Mae Alford Williams and Jacquelyn A. Alford had that beginning conversation in the late 1980s.

By 1995, Cora’s youngest daughter Eula and Jacquelyn encouraged other family members to come to Los Vegas, Nevada for our first reunion. We were excited about learning more about our family, and Jacquelyn had produced a family tree which covered one whole wall in our hospitality room. Of course, we all lingered around the chart which confirmed our connection to each other.

Since that time, a direct line of descendants representing nine generations from the late 1700’s to the present have been found, Our earliest identified ancestor is Lydia Alford; 1780 – 1880.

Other Family Reunions have been held in the following cities: 1997 Madison, Ga., 1999 Pittsburgh, Pa., 2001 Atlanta, Ga., and a mini Reunion was held in Madison, Ga., in 2012. Cora Mae, affectionately known as “Grand Ma” and Jacquelyn have both departed this earth, but will never be forgotten. Cora Mae provided the oral history, and left us a lesson… “that family coming together was only a beginning, but keeping us together is a lifetime journey”. Jacquelyn took the oral history and confirmed it on genealogy research sites, and her zeal for researching our family history soared.

The torch has now been lifted by Gregory Williams, who will carry on the tradition of continuing to research our family history. Gregory is the grandson of Cora Mae Alford Williams. He now serves as President of the Alford African American Family Association. Gregory has taken several trips to Georgia, and has woven the threads of our history through several counties. He like Jacquelyn, has mastered key computer techniques toward painting a clearer picture of our family roots.

Several of our young family members have assisted in planning this exhibition. Our past Historians would say “job well done”; and as coordinator of this project, I concur, and salute the following family members; Sheila Williams, Dell Meriwether, Eric Williams, Jacqueline Stanfield, Michael Alford, Percy Meriwether, Sara Williams, Jennifer Hackney, Keisha Jones, and a host of senior family members.

Brenda Alford, Coordinator

Unite, as we reveal and preserve the essence of our lives… the time we’ve lived in, the people and events that have helped to shape us, How and whom we’ve loved, what has inspired us, how we’ve survived, and how we’ve kept the connections between generations as we write and collect our legacy stories.