My name is Bernardino Bernardette White - (first name is pronounced phonetically, Ber-nar-di-no). I am a 48 year old black female and the youngest of four children. I have two older bothers. My oldest brother, Archie L. Jackson's father's name is Willie or William Walker Jr. Mr. Walker recently passed away in Okolona of cancer, sometime between the early 80s to the mid 90s. Mr. Walker was in his 70s (I believe). Mr. Walker has a sister still living by the name of Idella Walker Booker. Mrs. Booker is around my mother's age. I think, Mrs. Booker told me that she was 84. Mrs. Idella (W) Booker is currently residing in Washington, DC. My brother's father never claimed him as his son, therefore my mother never gave him his father's surname. Mrs. Booker and my mom still correspond today. My second oldest brother Randolph L. Jackson (who's real father's name is Robert Jackson of Gary Indiana (I think)), and an older sister Sandra L. White (who we have the same father by then name of Marcellus Prayer/White of Memphis, TN). I am trying to create a family tree based on my mother's, mother's side of the family and expand from there. As you can see, I have a lot of research to do. I visited the Record's Center here in Daly City of Northern California over a year ago. I traced my Great Grandfather, Anthony Darden and Great Grandmother Harriet Saddler/Darden of Chickasaw County back to the 1800s. Because of obstacles in my life for the past couple of years, I was not able to pursue my family history any further at that time. My great grandmother (Harriet Saddler/Darden had a sister by the name of Leatha (not sure of spelling) who also married one of my great grandfather, Anthony Darden's brothers, (Borey Darden). There is another sister to my great grandmother whom I can not recall her name at this time. I will have to consult my mother for that information. Lim Darden is another one of my great grandfather Anthony Darden's brothers and I understand there are other brothers, not sure if there are any sisters. I will have to question my mother for more information. My Grandmother's name is Louvinia Darden. Married to George Stovall. Although, George Stovall is my grandmother's husband, my mother's father was a white Irishman by the last name of Connelly or O'Connelly or Connally or perhaps spelled with one "l","n" rather than two. (I am not sure of the spelling). My mother only saw her father approximately twice in her life, when she was approximately 2 years of age. So she has very little recollection of him. She was told that she has half sisters, perhaps brothers on her real father's side, but because of society at that time, she had no way of finding out who they are/were. My mother said that she was told that her father was a meter reader for I suppose the gas or electric company or perhaps both in Okolona, MS. I suppose even in Chickasaw County. I was told that my grandmother met my mother's father when she was temporarily separated from her husband George, while she was working in town at a restaurant (as a cook) or at a hotel (where she worked in house keeping). Although, George Stovall was not my mother's father, he loved and raised my mother as his own. My mother carries his name as her maiden name, as George Stovall is the only father my mother has ever known. As well as the only grandfather I knew. George Stovall passed away in 1965/1966 or perhaps 1967. I am currently searching for the burial records. I do remember his death and attending his funeral in East St. Louis, Illinois, and burial in St. Louis, Missouri. I am not definite on the exact year. My grandmother (Louvinia Darden/Stovall) has an older sister by the name or Rebecca Darden/Hunt who married James Hunt (both died from Tuberculosis). He died in St. Louis (I believe) and my great aunt Rebecca died approximately six months to a year later (I think back home in Okolona, MS or may in St. Louis). Aunt Rebecca and Uncle James (both died before I was born) had three children (Eloise Hunt (died in Chicago in 1996 or 1997, Hattie Hunt/Martin (died a week after her sister in Louisville, KY) and James Hunt Jr. has been missing since April or May of 1978 or 1979, presumed dead). My grandmother's older brother by the name of Sam Darden of Okolona, MS, (father of 12 children) passed away at age 92 in a nursing home in, I believe, Albany, New York. He was moved to New York by one of his daughters when he was no longer able to care for himself. I will have to question my mother about his wife's name and all of the names of his children. My great uncle Sam Darden built the "Darden Chapel" in Okolona, Mississippi. My grandmother bore five living children, Archie Stovall (born and died in Okolona, MS, at age 18 from some sort of aneurysm or tumor in the brain), Anthony Stovall (born an invalid (infantile parallisis) in Okolona, MS, died in St. Louis, Missouri, just before his 55th birthday), Morrison Dowed Stovall (born in Okolona, MS, died in St. Louis, Missouri in October of 1980) Gladys Delores Stovall/White (my mother, age 85, born in Okolona, MS, currently living in Millbrae, CA.), Dorothy Beatrice Stovall/Boyer (age 71, born in Okolona, MS, currently living in St. Louis, Missouri). There were I believe 3 still borns and one who died shortly after birth. I believe that my mother was born with the help of a midwife as probably the rest of her siblings were. My grandmother died at age 77 while living with us in St. Louis, Missouri in September, 1964. Just by surfing the Net, I happened upon the (Chickasaw Peace Treaty Feeler -1782) which sparked my interest once more for more history of my family. My mother and all of her siblings were born in Okolona, MS, in Chickasaw County. My mother (Gladys Stovall/White) born August 10, 1913. My mother and her sister (Dorothy Stovall/Boyer) are the last known living relatives of that generation. Unfortunately, through the years, no one saw fit to keep a running history on our family, and now it is somewhat difficult to piece together all the scenarios because of strained relations between my aunt and myself and my mom's memory. I have always known (or have been told) that we have Indian heritage but have not been able to research it until now. I was told that my great/great grandmother on my great grandmother's side was a full blooded Creek Indian, very dark with very long flowing black hair, down to her feet (I was told). From what I can piece together, my great grandfather (Anthony Darden and his brothers) were half white, fathered by his mother's master. Since I found the Chickasaw County WEB Site, I have extracted most of the information there in. I will resume my search for more information on my family history at the Record's Center here in Daly City. But, I would relish any information you can provide. I am also preparing to write the Chickasaw County, County Courthouse for any information they can provide as well. Being as that my mother's, mother's side of the family is the only real lead I have to trace my family, I am interested in "any" Census reports on the History of Chickasaw County. Respectfully Bernardino B. White 1655-A Marina CT. San Mateo, CA. 94403 (650) 349-6638 (voice mail) bwhite@netwiz