Only thing I had so far was the social security death stuff showing that Falvey Sandidge Jr was born Apr 20, 1924 and died Jan 1970 Norfolk, VA. This same Social Sec Death Index showed several Pearls: * PEARL SANDIDGE 01/11/1885 - 12/00/1966 Of Lynchburg, Virginia * PEARL SANDIDGE 06/28/1897 - 04/00/1977 Of Water Valley, Miss; SSN obtained in Tenn * PEARL SANDIDGE 09/10/1899 - 11/00/1972 Of Norfolk, Virginia going by her description I would assume that the one in Norfolk is her grandmother, but considering the comment about the Bible, then possibly the 2nd one could be -- since she didn't mention any dates for Pearl I don't know which of these was Falvey Sr's wife. With the social security info and numbers she can request (using form ss-5) the info under freedom of information act and privacy act and ask for the parents' names, birthdates and places, etc. Costs around $8 with the number and $15 without the number for each one you request info on -- but it can be a treasure-trove sometimes. You can get the social security numbers for Falvey and Pearl by going to http://www.ancestry.com and using their free database search of social security numbers. As for her Smith's -- lots of luck as I have Smiths in my family from NY and trying to trace that name is sometimes like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Best advice for her on that is just step backwards by first getting info from her parents' things (birthdates and places, marriage place, etc.) then do the grandparents -- since her father was born in 1924 he wouldn't show up on the census that is out, but the grandparents should show on the 1920 census with their parents (if they had not already married) -- so she may wish to try starting there in the counties she knows they lived (in that case Norfolk, VA area and also see if she can't find marriage for them too -- sometimes marriage has the parents' names as well as dates of birth and place of birth. Then go to 1910 and 1900 census', etc. If she has any other old papers besides the Bible, see if she can't find some names, dates, places in them -- old letters are sometimes wonderful as well as old pictures with notes on their backs. Old phone bills with numbers they called a lot are helpful; same with old address books and the address' from old letters they have. Sometimes friends who are still alive can help tell you about your own parents and grandparents and the older folks just LOVE to get mail or visits. Take along a tape recorder if you do visit, though -- they will ramble and change subjects and tell such wonderful tales you won't want to miss anything!!! If Pat knows any of her aunts and uncles or gr-aunts and uncles and where they lived you can sometimes look in the phone books and see if any of their children are still living -- letters or phone calls can sometimes be helpful there too. First off explain WHO you are and who your parents and grandparents are -- then explain that you are starting to find out about your roots and ask if they know of anyone in the family who has already done any work on the family. This way you not only identify yourself, but it shows you are NOT someone trying to sell them something, etc. and shows you really ARE family. My phone index shows a David and an M. H. both still living in Norfolk, VA. Good luck, Pat, in your hunt, Judy M. >Hello "cousins", > >A new cousin has joined our list. Her name is Pat. She sent me the following >about her branch. If anyone can help Pat, please share through the Sandidge >list. >Thanks, Rita > > >"As to what branch of the family I belong to, that is a good question. >I'll tell you what I know. My father was Falvey McKee Sandidge Jr. the >only child of F.M. Sandidge and Pearl Ruth McPeak. My father was a >naval aviator, born in 1924 and died in 1970. I never knew my >grandfather as he died the year before I was born (1945) in Norfolk, >Virginia. He was a barber by trade and a Mason. The only information I >have on his family is contained in a copy of a page from his mother's >Bible. Her name was Mary Emma Smith, I think that the family was located >in Mississippi, but the Bible page was registered in Tennessee. Grandad had >four brothers and sisters: Maggie, Lottie, Hugh, and John. The Bible >says they were baptized according to Methodist Right and Rule. > >I've just seriously begun tracing my roots, so this is a new experience >for me. I hope to find lots of cousins and family members, because I >know ya'll are out there. I'm looking forward to being a part of the >group. > >Pat" > > >