I am trying to help my cousin find her family in SW Virginia. She is related to the Barnett and Turner families of that area, especially Russell, Tazewell, Buchanan and perhaps Dickensen Counties.   Her grandfather was John Melvin Barnett of Raven. No one in the family knows his ancestry, because he was "adopted" (probably not legally) where he appeared in the 1920 census as John Newberry, age 14, adopted son of George and Lizzie Newberry of New Garden, Russell County. He married Lilly Adline Turner in the early 1920s, both being very young (he 15, she 11 - 1930 census). She was a daughter of John Tazewell Turner (5 Apr 1863-17 Jan 1941) and mother Laurie Katherine (--?--) of Russell County. (I've not traced this family back any farther, either.) John Melvin Barnett was born 4 Jul 1906 and died 24 Nov 1974 (SSDI, Newberry Cemetery, Horton Ridge).   Russell County births shows a Gary Barnett born 13 Sep 1883 to Melvin H. and Virginia Barnett. What's interesting about this is that Melvin is John's middle name and his daughter was named Virginia. I am theorizing that they are his grandparents.   I have no familiarity with the records of SW Virginia. Before writing to the Division of Vital Records in Richmond, I wanted to explore some other sources.   Do you have anything on these families? Do you have any suggestions regarding doing research in SW Virginia?   Genealogically yours,   Bud Dorr