Why were you invited to this newsletter?   Everybody comes from somebody! This is what all of us have in common.    In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia. 

   You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war.  Why is this important to Our family?  Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war.  Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail. 

  You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family!  Some of our new readers may still ask: Why  is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud.  Well, hold on, Dock  and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael,  Ford and Wyatt Family.  Need I say more?

167th Edition

Blessings family,

Spring has sprung and we are busting through the cold of winter into the warmth of a new month. Yes indeed, we are like flowers breaking through the ground and rising to our full potential. Take this time to take a chance to challenge yourself to push into unchartered waters. Believe beyond your present situation and dare to dream a Dreamers Dream!

And while you are busting loose share what little you have in order to reap the Blessing of a Lot. We've all been told what you send out; you will get back. So as you climb, push or pull someone else along with you. It can be lonely at the top!

So today while you step out on faith, and share what little you have, know that your acts of kindness will have a rippling effect. Your dreams require action, action provides opportunity. Opportunity will be met with challenges and challenges can yield success. And with success comes responsibility; responsibility to bring others along. So if I succeed, you succeed; we succeed! Bring someone along to the finish line.

Be blessed and know that you are loved. Happy Spring time

This newsletter serves to put an exclamation mark on the lives our Ancestors hoped we would have.  The messages in this newsletter is to offer hope, encouragement  and acknowledgement.  So I hope you will reach out to one another and share victories, desires and needs.  We can only trust you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us.  Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer.

   Please help by asking questions, volunteering information or writing an article

Family Challenge:

Ask your children and or Grandchildren, what do they know about your life?

Did you get any surprises by their answers? Do they really know you? Will you share what you learned by asking this question/ or how you felt about their response?

Good News:

We told you she was coming and just look at her. Family, welcome, Naylani. daughter of Mercedes Davis on 3/20/2026. She is the Granddaughter of Kim Morefield and Marvin Davis and Great granddaughter of Carol Tucker and Brian Morefield. She is the Great great granddaughter of Harry Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.

Special shout out Mercedes who also celebrated her 40th Birthday 4 days after delivery.

 

Congratulations to the Wider Horizon Book Club, for celebrating 5 years of uninterrupted Virtual meetings. The group founded by Mary Royster Harris of Nevada and Terri Haden Boone, of Texas is a virtual Book Club that meets the last Saturday of each month via Zoom. Mary is the daughter of the late Walter and Helen Haden Royster. Terri is the daughter of the late Clarence and Barbara Glover Haden. Both are the granddaughters of the late Lloyd Sr. and Janie Stroud Haden.

We are sharing the news that our own Micheala Hougabook is home after receiving a Kidney transplant. Micheala was on the waiting list for three years and to the blessing of the Most High she came through the procedure and doing well for the most part. Please keep her in your prayers. Micheala has be a friend of the family for so many years that she can't be denied as being Family. Here's praying you return to the Vibrant, fun loving and Healthy women you were.

Prayer Warriors:

First and foremost, giving all honor and Praise to the Most High for another day. We pray for Peace in our homes and hearts.

We ask that you include in your prayers family members who have children in the military. Pray for protection, guidance and strength.

As always we pray for all those going through illnesses known and unknown.

We ask that All Prayer Warriors extend a prayer for our Elders, keep their names lifted up and grant them good health and Wisdom. Ask for extended Grace for our Elder Elizabeth "Betty" Tucker Scotland as she approaches her 90th birthday on April 22nd.

Wider Horizon Book Club

The meeting date is changed for this month. We will meet on May 2nd instead at 4pm Est.

Aprils book is : ImPerfect Women A Novel by Araminta Hall

Join us via Zoom as we meet the 4th Saturday of each month at 4pm eastern time, to discuss and share our monthly readings.

Just click the link below :ID: 827 9641 9692 with the same Password: HORIZONS.

• Virtual Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82796419692

Stop in and see what this group is all about. Bring your glass. We believe you will be pleasantly surprised and drawn into joining us again. All ages are welcome to join us.

!     

Please Support:

Nellie Penn created a fundraiser for AUTISM SPEAKS INC.

March 14 at 4:48 PM ·Facebook fundraisers ·

https://www.facebook.com/donate/2368699203630116/26733899269540983/

                                                       

Scholarships:

The Ford Foundation     J Charles  Levine Scholarship    L A Grant Scholarship  Fund 

Domino Pizza Scholarship Fund   The John Lewis Scholarship    Footlocker Foundation  

Blacks at Microsoft   The Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship    USDA 1890 Scholarship 

The Congressional Black Caucus Scholarship The American Chemical Scholarship 

L A Grant Foundation   $5,000 The Williams-Franklin Foundation     Frazine K Taylor's legacy in genealogy

McDonald's Black and Positively Golden  Scholarship    The NAACP Scholarship 

  Skeechers Scholarship   First Financial  Scholarship   David Putter Scholarship   

Think for Yourself Scholarship   Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Scholarships.com

Our History:

We've been able to share members of our family lineage from Mable Haden a prominent  D. C. Lawyer, Ned Stroud an early  Ancestor who testified against a white Governor and KKK member as well as Berry O'kelly who opened the first black school in Method, North Carolina and worked alongside of  W. E. Bois and Carter G Woodson in the fight for racial equality.

 Today, we want to share with you a contemporary Ford DNA Cousin.   Meet if you will Cousin Faith Johnson Crumby and her husband Ed Crumby, of Mableton Georgia. We had the pleasure  of meeting Faith and Ed at a Family reunion held in Culpeper Virginia some 8 or 9 years ago.  The Crumby's are an excellent representation of what love looks like at the age of  80.  The Crumby's serve as the cataylist for bringing the extended families together. They continue to motivate and educate the younger generation on their connections and the value of family.  Faith is the Great Granddaughter of Sarah Myrtle Ford ( 1881-1938)   who served tirelessly as a midwife in Culpeper, Virginia.  We extend greetings of happiness to Faith and Ed, much love to you.

=

 Why were you invited to this newsletter?   Everybody comes from somebody! This is what all of us have in common.    In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia. 

   You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war.  Why is this important to Our family?  Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war.  Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail. 

  You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family!  Some of our new readers may still ask: Why  is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud.  Well, hold on, Dock  and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael,  Ford and Wyatt Family.  Need I say more?

166th Edition

Peace and love Family,

We are stepping out on Faith each and everyday and just look at us now! Welcome to March and Women's History Month. We have so much to celebrate and beam with pride about when we think about the women in our Family. They are known for being able to be whatever they want to be!!

We wish to impress upon you the road traveled and strength the woman of our family exhibited! It took faith, Stamina and a core belief in family values to bring us to this point in our lives. This is in no way to suggest they were perfect, just saying they were perfectly design to be the vessels from which we came from.

In many instances they took what little they had to nurture and care for a generation that exist today as lawyers, doctors, nurses, lab techs, teachers, reformed addicts, husbands, wives, farmers, entreprenuers, community advocates, servants and minister. They held that family unit together despite the pushing and pulling that was going on around them.

We cannot hate our women when we look at all they endured and how damn good we turned out, We cannot minimized the roles they've played in protecting our very existence. Oh to those, who have not come to that moment in their lives when they have to say: "if it weren't for my mother, my Grandmother, my Aunts or my Ancestors.

It's a humbling moment when you recognize what a job they did! So let Women's History Month take on a more reflective meaning to each of us. While we wait for our men to heal from their wounds, transverse through the minefield of blockades and for the children to grow up, it's that Woman holding down the fort. It doesn't take away from the accomplishments you've made, it's the exclamation mark in your journey.

Much love to each of you and Happy Women's History month.

Stroud The Sisters and their mother Mary T top is right. Rachael Stroud Michael top left. Gustava Stroud Ford center, Jannie Stroud Haden bottom left and Helen Stroud Tucker bottom right

This newsletter serves to put an exclamation mark on the lives our Ancestors hoped we would have.  The messages in this newsletter is to offer hope, encouragement  and acknowledgement.  So I hope you will reach out to one another and share victories, desires and needs.  We can only trust you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us.  Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer.

Good News:

This is a heads up announcement. Our reigning Matriarch will be turning 90 years old in April. So mark your calendars our Matriarch Elizabeth "Betty" tucker Scotland will be 90 year on April 22nd. And she and husband Norman "Mickey" Scotland's will be celebrating their Anniversary in April. These are big Milestones for or reigning Matriarch.

For some of us who are members of the older generation it is hard to accept how easily the younger generation rely on Door dash, Uber and Uber eats. Well family you are never to old to learn to appreciate something new. I sat facetime with my 5 year old Grandson who lives in California. He was eating ice cream and I playfully said " I want some. " Well, Mr. Khimahr went to his mother and No More than twenty minutes later delivered to my doorstep in Florida was a cup of my favorite Butter Pecan ice cream. So thank you Uber Eats and Khimahr Benjamin.

Welcome home Carla Tucker from your cruise on Wonder of the Seas. We can tell you enjoyed yourself and getting ready for the next one. You look absolutely radiant!

Happy Birthday Teresa Haden Boone.in Belville, Texas , It's a long way from New York and Rhode Island .

Prayer Warriors:

On behalf of everyone who is going through something and we are unaware of, Thank you for your prayers. The message has been received .

We ask for your Prayers for our own Micheala Hougabook. After being on a liver donor list for three years Micheala got that long awaited call. Let your prayers ask for successful recovery.

Congratulations on Celebrating 5 years as Virtual book Club.

Wider Horizon Book Club

Join us via Zoom as we meet the 4th Saturday of each month at 4pm eastern time, to discuss and share our monthly readings. March 28th our Book reading is: "In Praise of Difficult Women by Karen Karbo.

Just click the link below :ID: 827 9641 9692 with the same Password: HORIZONS.

• Virtual Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82796419692

Stop in and see what this group is all about. Bring your glass. We believe you will be pleasantly surprised and drawn into joining us again. All ages are welcome to join us.

Our History

We have shared with you the importance of an area called Culpeper, Virginia, where our ancestors presided. Remember Jane Ford and Mathew Marshall Ford had 17 children. One of their offsprings brings us to a DNA connection to Mariah Washington.

Here's Mariah's story shared by her Great Grandson Jeffrey "Straight Arrow" Shanks

February 18 at 2:13 PM

 ·Front Royal, VA ·

Black American History continues for me. My Grandfather Gabriel would always tell me stories of our ancestors and how powerful they were and was always fighting. That Warrior's spirit! I can remember my Great Uncle Tecumseh(my grandfather's brother)would visit us from SW Virginia close to Kentucky and tell the story of his 3x great uncle who he called The Black Panther crossing, kind of ironic would you say. What a story of a true warrior and he would never settle always resisting to give in even until death in 1813. The mighty Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was mighty in battle and in spirit! Family always knows who you are and whose you are!! I honor my 2X great grandmother Annie Mariah Williams- Washington(b.1831) and my beautiful mother Mary Washington-Shanks today and our ancestor my 5x great uncle Tecumseh b.1768. Keeper of the faith and truth blessings to our ancestors.

 Why were you invited to this newsletter?   Everybody comes from somebody! This is what all of us have in common.    In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia. 

   You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war.  Why is this important to Our family?  Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war.  Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail. 

  You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family!  Some of our new readers may still ask: Why  is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud.  Well, hold on, Dock  and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael,  Ford and Wyatt Family.  Need I say more?

165th Edition

Peace, love and Strength Family,

If we've never shared anything else of importance to you let us do so now!  During the month of February there will be lots of discussion about Black History.  What should stand out in your mind  is, "Slavery is white history.  How we survived it, is Black History. "  So live your truth and your history as a survivor of a horrific chain of events that couldn't and didn't kill us. There's so much power in recognizing how strong you are; when strong was all that could save you.

   We encourage you to protect your children and Grandchildren:  Teach them well!

The bigger picture for our family unit is we are puzzle pieces that make up the whole puzzle.  Should we leave one piece out the puzzle is noticeably incomplete.  Our Ancestors created the outer border of the puzzle and we fill in the middle.  This newsletter serves to bring these pieces together and honors the valuable place each of you holds in the puzzle.

 Your experiences, good, bad, overwhelming, well accomplished, tramatizing and fulfilling, makes us who we are today.  Because despite of all the distance, discord, disconnect, isolation;  here we are receiving this family Newsletter.  It was by design that we have all reconnected. 

So in acknowledgement of  Black History,  you are encouraged to celebrate your victories. Be your own hero. Sing your own praises.  You are indeed Somebody!  Your experiences have value and worth and who you are deserves to be honored.  What you didn't have, who you didn't know, how you got here in spite of or because of; is Your Black History!

We salute each and everyone of you and encourage you to continue reconnecting and sharing your piece of the puzzle. Our History is not a color, it's who we are and  how we made it.  Black History is how we survived!  

                           I Am Black History  24, 7, 365 !

Welcome February, cheerfully known and shared as Black History month. They'll tear down monuments and tear up documents, but there's no overlooking our existence.  Live and love your truth because weaker people would have die!  

Welcome February, gleefully celebrating Valentines day.  Love yourselves, love your families and share your love with others.

This newsletter serves to put an exclamation mark on the lives our Ancestors hoped we would have.  The messages in this newsletter is to offer hope, encouragement  and acknowledgement.  So I hope you will reach out to one another and share victories, desires and needs.  We can only trust you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us.  Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer.

Prayer Warriors.  

During these trying times we ask that you keep the entire family in your prayers.  Our family is made up of a  mosaic of different cultures and here in the U.S. they are under constant attack.  Pray for strength, protection and Grace.

We couldn't go a day without keeping our Elders uplifted in our prayers.  Their roles as head of our community can be daunting.  We pray for good health and wisdom.

Please keep all of our family members who have health issues in your prayers as well.

Finally, please keep Cousin Wayne Richburg and family in your prayers as he continues to adjust to the passing of his mother Doreen Chesson Richburg.  It is also of great importance to keep Doreen's only surviving brother, Charles Chesson Jr. in your prayers.

Good News:

Happy 18th Birthday to Charles E Tucker III in Danbury, Connecticut.  "Trey " as he is fondly referred as is the son of Charles Jr and Shaynele Tripp Tucker .   He is the grandson of the late Charles Sr and Marie Pittman Tucker.  Trey is the Great Grandson of  Harry P Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.  We extend a loud and Proud Birthday shout out to Trey and look forward to seeing him move forward in his New Season. 

Well family, I've heard the phrase "What's love got to do with it?". Well we have to congratulate  these love birds on their upcoming child birth.  Yes, New York, your own  Mercedes Davis is preparing for the entry of a baby at anytime time.  She is the daughter of Kim Morefield Davis and Marvin Davis.  and the Granddaughter of Carole Tucker and Bernard Morefield

.  She is the Great Granddaughter of  the late Harry P. Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.

With a great sense of relief we able to report that Cousin Tyrone Haden has been released from the hospital earlier this month and will be returning to week within a week.   Tyrone was blessed to be strong enough to celebrate his daughter Nijah's birthday on Jan. 29th.  Tyrone is the son of the late Cecelia Haden and Tyrone Phelps.  He is the grandson of the Late Lloyd Jr. and Dorothy McKelvey Haden. He is the Great Grandson of Lloyd Sr. and Janie Stroud Haden

 It couldn't get any better for a Father and son.   On Jan. 23rd in San Diego California  Horatio Green traveled from Florida to Pin his son Malik Green, who is a member of the US Navy.   He is now an NC1.and his father pinned his ribbon on his uniform. The ribbon symbolizes his promotion and role Counselor for his Shipmates  Malik, is the son of Horatio and Katherine Johnson Green and grandson of the late  Gloria Tucker Green and .Brad Jones.  He is the great Grandson of the late Wilbur Tucker and Lillie  ,  he is the Great Great Grandson of Harry P Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker,

Our History:

A message from the Ancestors:  You are the best part of our Story

Remember Mathew Marshall your ancestor was a slave and here you are today showing that slavery was not his whole story. 

The following chart lists the original Stroud sisters and their parents.  The Chart branches out showing their ancestors.  The following chart is created and supported by DNA matches.

Earlier in our Newsletters' we talked about Ned who lived to be shy of 100 yrs old, with 21 children and was once enslaved.  This chart symbolizes that our history goes far beyond the boundaries of Enslavement.  Ned was a defiant as well as brave Black man.  In 1871, he served as a witness in the courts of 12 white men who had come to his home in Alamance County, North Carolina.  They lured him out of his home under the guise that they wouldn't hurt him.  Once he came out they took his gun tied him to a tree and whipped him.  Ned testified that one man gave him the 25 lashes, while 8 of his children watched.  

Ned testified to serve notice that he wasn't scared!

Wider Horizon Book Club

Join us of Feb 28th at 4 pm Est  for our Virtual Book Club meet.   We will be discussing the book The Good Wife   by Meredith Lavendar  and Kendall Shore .  We will take time out sharing a Black History Presentation.  

So grab a glass find your happy place and join us via zoom.  Just click the link and the password is HORIZONS

  https://bookclubs.com/wider-horizons-book-club/join/