Cherokee Indian-- Help

I need help-- Let me tell you a story.With the Facts that I have that attend it.According to My Great Uncle(still living)His grandmother was Cherokee Indian.Her name was Emma Landrum. She-- according to what I can peace togather was actually 1/2 Cherokee.--The Story as my Great Uncle was told was that his greatgrandmother was Left on the trail of tears to die, and a family came along andsaved her, raised her and then she ended up married to their son.Now here are the facts I do have.Emma Landrum's parents were:Jud. and Elizabeth Landrum ( I do not know what the JUD stands for in the 1860 Census it just has JUD.I have not found him anywhere else yet.)Any wayJUD was born in 1832 in Georgia and Elizabeth born about 1832 in Georgia.They were living in Sumter Georgia in 1860, and Flint River Decatur Ga in 1870.In the 1860 Census they have 3 children listed William, Emma, and Wesley.Now the next place I findElizabeth is in the 1900 Indian Population Census-Cherokee Nation It list Elizabeth Landrum as head of household birth place Georgia Feb 1833, it shows her as head of household with three children listed Ada, Charles,and Leissila( hold to read this one--it is a son-I am probably spelling it wrong).It says that she was the mother to 12 children.Now going on the assumption that I am on the right trail-- I have found an Elizabeth Landrum in the 1896 Index to Payment Roll of Old Settler Cherokee-- this shows her last name as Woodard and her other name as Landrum.

Now here are my questions: 1. does anyone understand the Indian rolls? HOw do they work.
2.Does anyone have a familiar story in their family.If she had 12 children then surly someone else has heard this, had it passed down.My Great Uncle said that his grandmother, Emma was not allowed to be buried in the christian plot with her husband due to her Indian blood.I will be visiting her grave next week and I am hoping her parents, because she is buried near where she grow up.so maybe I will learn something there.

I'm sorry this is so long, I am trying to follow this and I'm not sure of my next step, so any help you can give me would be greatly appricated.
Thanks
Iline Norton