Living in the southeastern part of the United States has proven to be very beneficial for this genealogy buff. I've known for years that one day I would take this journey, but had no idea where it would lead. Since 1838 my paternal roots have grown deeply and flourished in DeKalb County, Alabama. Looking back in time has made me keenly aware of where I came from and it has given me new direction for the rest of this life's journey. My paternal lines are: BRAY, WHITE, SMITH, KEITH, HICKS, BEASLEY, COOK, WILKS, & JONES.
My maternal EPPERSON family have made their mark in history coming from France and being some of the first settelers into Albemarle County,Va. Later generations migrated on into Charleston and Athens, Tn. Some made their way on to Oklahoma and Ca.This family has been documented back to the 1400's. Other names I'm researching out of Bradley and McMinn County, Tn. are:
MARTIN, MORGAN, McALISTER, MOORE, HAMMONTREE, MANN, HICKS

• "Jim" James Harrison Epperson (84 KB)
  Born 1839 & Died in 1935. Age here 21 years, in CSA uniform. "Jim" was my great grandfather.
• Jim and Emma Jane Morgan Epperson with family (51 KB)
  The little boy on the left end is my grandfather, John Edward Epperson, born 1898.
• Collage of Epperson pictures (74 KB)
  This is a collection of several photos that I've borrowed and scanned.
• Sheffield Hicks (65 KB)
  This is Emory Sheffield Hicks with his second wife, Texas Scott. The baby is their son, Roscoe. Sheffield in my g grandfather on my Dad's mother's side of our family.
• Johnny Bray (64 KB)
  This is my Dad in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan at a place called "The Flower Box".
• Zelda "Poggie" Epperson Bray (37 KB)
  This is my mother at 16 years old.
• Stella Martin Epperson (39 KB)
  This is my grandmother. She was born in 1901 in Athens, Tn. and died in 1985. She is the daughter of "ED" (William Edgar )Martin and Martha Elizabeth McAlister. Her name was Stella Jackson at the time of her death.
• John Lee Bray with his mother, Lillie Hicks Bray (56 KB)
  Picture made about 1910. This is one of only two photos that can be located of my grandmother. She died when Dad was five years old.
• Family of Floyd Stephen Epperson (100 KB)
  This is my grandfather John Edward Epperson's half brother's family.

Linda Bray York
lbrayyork@AOL.com

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