Family Stories That May Be Lost Forever

Thank you Ancestry.com! I have made contact with family members I didn't even know existed. By researching the Cornett/ Sutherland heritage on the web site, I have connected with others who are researching the same family as I am and what do you know? They're actually family. This is very exciting! The branches of my tree have become so tangled and intertwined, but in such a good way. What a great way to share data gathered through web sites such as Ancestry, and being able to share that knowledge with your own family, is priceless.

Image Source: Family Stories

Photo Credit: Andrew Bret Wallis

I was just talking to my oldest son, John, who was recently asking about our ancestry. He has become somewhat curious about who his relations were back in the "old days". I was so excited that he even asked, that I think I may have bored him with my rantings of our family tree and what I had found so far. When I was his age, I "tuned out" my family when I heard the stories of ancestors past. Now I'm kicking myself for not paying attention! I went into my own little world of music and television so I didn't have to listen to boring stories that related to history of people I never even knew. Today, I really wished I had recorded their stories in some way. Now that the older generations in my family have passed on to a better place, there is no way I can get that history, or even the stories back. The stories seem to have died with them. 

Family stories casually chatted about at the dinner table, or told again and again at family gatherings can parallel great epics or notable short stories. The memorable stories of our lives and of others in our family take on special importance because they are true, even if everyone tells different versions of the same event. These tales are family heirlooms held in the heart not in the hand.


So knowing that I lost those memories forever, how do I continue my research into a quest for family stories that relate to my family? Any suggestions?

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Billy Edward Cornett-- Happy Father's Day!

Billy Edward Cornett was my father who was born March 15, 1944 and died April 28, 2001. Billy had epilepsy and had to take medication so he wouldn't have seizures. My parents divorced by the time I was 7 years old, and from what my mother, Carolyn has told me of him, he had worked for the state of Maryland for over 10 years. He worked on paving and repairing the roads and helped to winterize them so that everyone may travel safely during the cold, wintry season that Maryland is known to have.

He liked to go bowling and that is where he met my mother. She had joined a bowling league at that time and he was in the same bowling league as her. They started talking one night and he asked her to drive him and his close friend, Robert home. After that, they started dating every weekend. As far as I know, he couldn’t drive because the driver’s license office refused him, due to his epileptic seizures, so my mother drove him where he needed to go.


My sister Amy Cornett-Butler told me that, at his funeral a little girl probably about the age of 6 or 7 gave him back the stuffed frog he had given her,the little girl said she wanted him to have it. In a recent conversation, I mentioned how I wondered if he ever missed us. Apparently, he talked about my sister and I all the time and had photos of us and our children on his dresser. I never knew any of that. He died 10 years ago, but sometimes I just wish things could have turned out differently for us as a family. One day, I hope to honor him as he has honored me.


I remember a gift he had given me one year, I was probably about 8 years old. It was a Snoopy watch, weird how I remember exactly what it looks like to this day. I wish I still had it, but that was a long time ago. 

A funny story that my mom told me—one night Robert, my dad, and my mom went to a McDonalds and ordered milkshakes, back then the shakes were thick, not like what they are today- half melted by the time you get them. Robert was apparently having a hard time with his thick shake and his straw. Mom had asked him, “Are you getting any?” She said she didn’t get to finish her sentence because they both burst out laughing and were in tears.  I thought that was funny, a little dry humor, if you will.


A few memories from family and friends:
" I miss uncle Bill (FROG) too. Ice Tea and listening to the baseball games on the radio,sitting on the front porch at Gramaws house. That's where you could find him every summer." --- Cindy H.


"He was such a good man. He was always my favorite uncle! I have such great memories of him. U were very lucky to have a father who loved u and Amy so much." --- Karrieann C.


"Your dad and my dad were the best of friends, and I remember that he would always buy candy bars from me when I sold them for my youth bowling leagues!" --- Donna S.

He enjoyed America’s favorite pastime, baseball games. He loved the Baltimore Orioles. I remember him buying me a baseball jersey and I didn’t like it because it was scratchy on my skin, so I hardly wore it. Now, I wish I still had it. Those were the two sports he enjoyed the most, bowling and baseball.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy. Rest in Peace.

We love you dad!

Your loving daughters,

Kelly and Amy

** The photo included in this article is my own.

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Stuart "Marvin" Monroe Cornett

Stuart was my great grandfather and I believe he was also the grandson of James Monroe Cornett and Mary Ann Cornett. He was born on September 22, 1881 in Grayson County, Virginia and died on February 3, 1966 in Smythe County, Virginia at the age of 84. His immediate family includes his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long and their 14 children. The children's names are Della Pauline Cornett, Grover Cornett, Mary Frances Cornett, Anna Mae Cornett, Lucia Rose Cornett, Pearl Mildred Cornett, Elbert Wayne Cornett, Charles Estel Cornett, Lillie Edna Cornett, Carl Wesley Cornett, Ora Lee Cornett, James Donald Cornett, Billy Cornett, and Claude Scott Cornett. 

Stuart didn’t like his middle name of Monroe, so he changed it to "Marvin" (although his grandfather was named James Monroe Cornett). Stuart and his wife, Gincy Malinda Caroline Long were both born in the Flat Ridge area of Grayson County, VA and were married on April 5, 1905, by Johnson Stamper. At their wedding party they said they wanted 14 children like great-grandparents David Cornett and Feby Sutherland and great-great grandparents, William and Mary Hatfield Cornett— Stuart and Gincy did indeed have 14 children- 7 sons and 7 daughters! 

They began housekeeping in a little house just over the hill from his fathers farm. They had several children when they purchased a neighboring farm from Lucinda Nelson and her son, Jasper. This is where all the other children were born. About 1938, they built a new home just “hammering distance” away and this home and farm are now owned by their son, Carl Wesley. (Curtis Cornett bought the farm in 1993). 

Stuart was a hard working, honest man who was an affectionate but strict father. He had cancer of the shoulder bone and had his left arm removed in 1960, the doctors were amazed by his speedy recovery. He managed to do almost everything for himself and did not consider himself handicapped. His special fork had a “knife” tine on the edge and he seldom asked for any help at the table. He loaned money to his children when they needed it and charged the local ones 1% interest. His children living out of state had to pay 2% because he couldn't “see” what they were doing with the money! He and “Lindy” promised all their children $100 or a horse if they did not drink or smoke before they turned the age of 21. That was a lot of money back then and doubly hard when six sons went into service. (Some of the children claimed their prize.) 

Malinda was a good neighbor and mother who remembered each child’s favorite foods and made sure they were on the table during their visits. With 14 children, that was remarkable! She lost the sight of one eye after cataract surgery but she still quilted, embroidered, and crocheted. The family attended Bald Rock Methodist Church. Stuart, Malinda and their oldest daughter, Pauline Wright, are buried in Central Cemetery in Flat Ridge, Grayson County, Virginia.

Note:The information above was given to me by my father, Billy Cornett. I am not sure who compiled the given information, but I am thankful for it!

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