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My mother, Eugena Reba Akers, was Virginia born. I was born in Iowa, my three sons in NE. My son,Dale, was stationed in VA while in the Air Force and I began thinking seriously about tracing my Mother's family originating in Floyd County and/or Montgomery County. Dale was also going to college and when his A.F. tour was over and the degree earned, I began talking with him about the opportunity we had in finding out more about his Grandma Jean's Virginia family. Still very busy with his own life, a new job in Alexandria, VA and the prospect of marriage, he still managed a few days in Floyd County and Montgomery County with astonishing results. With this son's trip to Floyd County, VA, he provided me with precious information. Copies of my Grandma Aker's marriage certificate, census reports that provided me with 'written down names' of people I had only heard about. He met people who were kind to him, and generous with advice. This was in 1988. Other wonderful people of Iowa, including a cousin, Gordan Hans, provided me with copies of Obit., pictures and personal recollections. This was in response to a letter I sent to Lakota, IA, hoping that if there wasn't a newspaper in Lakota itself, there would be one nearby that residents of Lakota would read. Many responded.My heartfelt thanks to whoever it was that found the right newspaper and submitted my letter. It would be nearly ten years later before I would continue my search, but it was well worth the wait as I discovered the internet. I found that others had already done the hard part that provided me with the first five generations of Lesters. I can never thank the Flentje & Daly families enough, their Lester genealogy page was a dream come true. Through them, I had the pleasure of reading Jerry Lester's history of the Lester family, and then Robert Lester's history in which my grandma Akers was first mentioned. What a thrill, as was seeing the Lester cemetery in which the original grandparents are buried. My son had told me of a Mrs. Tise that I had to contact. I now have the Tise book "The Lester Family" and would recommend it to all decendents of John and Christine Lester. With the birth of my Virginia granddaughter, Melissa Jean, I feel very close to my mother, gone since 1975 and wonder what she might think at knowing that in two generations, another Virginia girl has been born. But this journey back in time was not just for the newest daughter of Virginia, it was also for me, for my three sons and my other grandchildren, Jennifer and Trevor, children of David and Wendy. My husband, Harold and I have made many trips to Virginia, to visit our son, to see him marry his Amy and then to know our granddaughter, Melissa. It is said that all Americans are Virginians and this Iowa born woman, who has loved her Nebraska home, would agree.
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