Celebration Sunday-Genealogy Happy Dance! FamilySearch Full-Text Search Adding to the Story.

 

 You know the dance. You know you've done it. The one every researcher does after finding something new. The one where you want to jump up and down and shout to everyone that you found the document, contacted a cousin with the family Bible, made a DNA connection, or found a new branch to your tree. The one that is met with glazed stares and eye rolls.

                                                          Celebration Sunday is a place to share your discoveries. 

This weekly series enables everyone to tell about their Genealogy Happy Dance moment. 

Share by scrolling 

down and add your story to the comments section, or you may also link to a blog post about what you had dancing this week.

My Happy Dance Moment for the Week:

I have told the story many times of my grandfather and his two brothers being killed in WWII, and their family receiving telegrams within a few months of each other. A devastating time for the family.

Collecting articles and newspaper accounts is important to me as I try to combine and share their stories so they are not forgotten.

FamilySearch Full -Text Search came through for me again this week!

When I entered my grandfather, Gilbert E. Roberts' name into the search engine, a newspaper article I hadn't seen before came up in the results. 

This time it was published in a North Carolina newspaper. 

Gilbert lived in Charlotte, where he worked in the local cotton mill before enlisting in the Army. His parents and brothers worked there, too, so it is no surprise that the news of their deaths was considered newsworthy, even though the family had moved to South Carolina by the time of their deaths. This is an article I had not seen before and adds a different twist to the story.

Source: Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BB-779C-4?view=explore : May 4, 2025), image 630 of 911; NewsBank (Naples, Florida). Image Group Number: 101338724

Each report is a little different. According to this announcement of the deaths, Wilbert's death was reported to the family before Gilbert's. Gilbert died in September and Wilbert in October. Either order of telegram doesn't change the fact that this tragedy affected generations of the Roberts family.

Full-test search does it again! Have you tried it yet?

What have you discovered?

Share your Happy Dance Moment for the week, and let's celebrate together!

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This Week On My Family History Calendar-Remembering a Grandfather and Great Great Grandmother

 

Sept. 29~

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr., died 80 years ago. 

He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII and is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

October 2~

Frances "Fannie" Virginia (McRady) McManus (1856-1903), my maternal great-great-grandmother, was born 168 years ago in Sumter County, South Carolina. 

She was the daughter of Thomas J. McRady (1821-1896) and Mary Jane (Brown) McRady (1821-1894).                                                                                                                                                 

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar: Remembering Some Greats and a Grandfather.

 

Sept. 24

 Manning David Daughrity, Sr., my 2nd maternal great-grandfather, would be 179 years old. He was born in Sumter County, SC, in 1844. He was the son of William J. Dorrity (1820-1897) and Martha (Mathis) Dorrity (1820-1905).

Sept. 27~

 The 147th anniversary of the death of my paternal 3rd great-grandmother. Matilda Caroline (Splawn) Martin died in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina in 1876. She is buried in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery.

Matilda C. Mathis Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, NC

Sept. 29~

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr., died 79 years ago. He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII.  He is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

Sept. 27~

 The 146th anniversary of the death of my paternal 3rd great-grandmother. Matilda Caroline (Splawn) Martin died in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina, in 1876. She is buried in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery.

Matilda C. Mathis Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, NC

Sept. 29~

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr., died 78 years ago. He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII.  He is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

March 1~

 My maternal uncle Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Jr. (1944-1999) would be 78 years old on this day.  

Uncle Gil was the son of Gilbert Ernest Roberts. Sr. (1920-1944) and Azile Juanita (Daughrity) Roberts Sullivan (1921-2009).           He was born in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina.

Gil Roberts

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Oct. 6~

   The 81st anniversary of the wedding of my maternal grandparents Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944), and Azile Juanita Daughrity (1921-2009).  Gilbert was 20 and Azile 18 when they married in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1940.

Gilbert and Azile Roberts 
About 1940
Original Photo owned by Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Sept. 27~

 The 145th anniversary of the death of my paternal 3rd great-grandmother. Matilda Caroline (Splawn) Martin died in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina in 1876. She is buried in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery.

Matilda C. Mathis Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, NC

Sept. 29~

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr., died 77 years ago. He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII.  He is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

October 2~

Frances "Fannie" Virginia (McRady) McManus (1856-1903), my maternal great great grandmother, was born 165 years ago. She was born in Sumter County, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Thomas J. McRady (1821-1896) and Mary Jane (Brown) McRady (1821-1894).                                                                                                                                                 

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

August 24~
 My maternal grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944) would be 101 years old on this day. He was born in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina to parents William Treadford Roberts (1894-1959) and Beulah Mae (Price) Roberts (1897-1980).

Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr.
1943
©Cheri Hudson Passey

August 28~
 My maternal great-grandmother, Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993), was born in Sumter County, South Carolina 120 years ago. Ruth was the daughter of Arthur Wellington Baker (1857-1940) and Martha Victoria (Bradford) Baker (1852-947). 
Happy Birthday, Mama!

Emma Ruth (Baker) Early
1980s
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Oct. 6~

   The 80th anniversary of the wedding of my maternal grandparents Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944), and Azile Juanita Daughrity (1921-2009).  Gilbert was 20 and Azile 18 when they married in Lancaster, South Carolina in 1940.

Gilbert and Azile Roberts 
About 1940

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

 

Sept. 27~

 The 144th anniversary of the death of my paternal 3rd great-grandmother. Matilda C. Martin died in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina in 1876. She is buried in Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery.

Matilda C. Mathis Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, NC

Sept. 29~

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. died 76 years ago. He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII.  He is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

October 2~

Frances "Fannie" Virginia (McRady) McManus (1856-1903), my maternal great great grandmother, was born 164 years ago. She was born in Sumter County, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Thomas J. McRady (1821-1896) and Mary Jane (Brown) McRady (1821-1894).                                                                                                                                                 

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

August 22-August 30

August 24~
 My maternal grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944) would be 100 years old on this day. He was born in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina to parents William Treadford Roberts (1894-1959) and Beulah Mae (Price) Roberts (1897-1980).

Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr.
1943
©Cheri Hudson Passey

August 28~
 My maternal great-grandmother, Emma Ruth (Baker) Early (1901-1993), was born in Sumter County, South Carolina 119 years ago. Ruth was the daughter of Arthur Wellington Baker (1857-1940) and Martha Victoria (Bradford) Baker (1852-947). 
Happy Birthday, Mama!

Emma Ruth (Baker) Early
1980s
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

September 29-October 5

Sept. 29~

  

  My maternal Grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. died 75 years ago. He was killed in action on the island of Peleliu while serving in the Marines during WWII.  He is buried in Quaker Cemetery, Kershaw, Camden, South Carolina. 

Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-1944)

October 2~
Frances "Fannie" Virginia (McRady) McManus (1856-1903), my maternal great great grandmother, was born 163 years ago. She was born in Sumter County, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Thomas J. McRady (1821-1896) and Mary Jane (Brown) McRady (1821-1894).                                                                                                                                                 

Fannie McManus
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

August 18-August 24

Aug. 20~

 Mary Jane Brown McRady (1821-1894), my maternal 3rd great-grandmother,  would have been 198 years old on this day. Jane was from the Sumter County, South Carolina area and may have been born there. 

Martha Jane Brown McRady
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
Photo Credit: Remember Me-Findagrave.com
Used with permission

Also on this day~

My paternal 3rd great grandmother, Matilda C. (_____) Martin (1812-1876), was born, possibly in the Iredell County area of North Carolina, 207 years ago.
Matilda's maiden name is unknown to me at this time.

Matilda C. Martin
Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina
Photo Credit: Joy Steele-Findagrave.com
Used with permission

  


August 24~
 My maternal grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944) would be 99 years old on this day. He was born in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina to parents William Treadford Roberts (1894-1959) and Beulah Mae (Price) (1897-1980).

Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr.
1943
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week on My Family History Calendar

August 19-August 26

Aug. 20~

 Mary Jane Brown McRady (1821-1894), my maternal 3rd great-grandmother,  would have been 197 years old on this day. Jane was from the Sumter County, South Carolina area and may have been born there. 

Martha Jane Brown McRady
Headstone
Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina
Photo Credit: Remember Me-Findagrave.com
Used with permission

Also on this day~

My paternal 3rd great grandmother, Matilda C. (_____) Martin (1812-1876), was born, possibly in the Iredell County area of North Carolina, 206 years ago.
Matilda's maiden name is unknown to me at this time.

Matilda C. Martin
Headstone
Bethesda Presbyterian Cemetery
Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina
Photo Credit: Joy Steele-Findagrave.com
Used with permission

  


August 24~
 My maternal grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr. (1920-1944) would be 98 years old on this day. He was born in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina to parents William Treadford Roberts (1894-1959) and Beulah Mae (Price) (1897-1980).

Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Sr.
1943
©Cheri Hudson Passey

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This Week On My Family History Calendar

February 25-March 3

                                                                                                                                                                    

March 1~

 My maternal uncle Gilbert Ernest Roberts, Jr. (1944-1999) would be 74 years old on this day.  

Uncle Gil was the son of Gilbert Ernest Roberts. Sr. (1920-1944) and Azile Juanita (Daughrity) Roberts Sullivan (1921-2009).  

He was born in Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina.

Gil Roberts

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The Dog Tag

Dog Tags are issued to soldiers as a form of identification. 

When my maternal grandfather, Gilbert Ernest Roberts (1920-19144) entered the Marines in 1943, he received his set. 

If the soldier is killed in action, one tag stays with the body and the other with the Company Officer.  

Gilbert Ernest Roberts
1944
Before shipping off to the South Pacific

The dog tag in the image below was returned to Gilbert's wife Azile after his death on the island of Peleliu in September of 1944, just a few months after shipping out.

Gilbert Ernest Roberts
Dog Tag
WWII

Photos, stories, letters, and the telegraph informing the family of his death have been passed down to his descendants. 
The Dog Tag makes it more real. 
Something tangible to hold. 
An heirloom that once hung around his neck.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice, 


This post was written for week 8 -"Heirloom" from Amy Johnson Crow's series 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.


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