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?

164th Edition

 Peace and Continued Grace.

 Just look at us Family, we made it into 2026!

If I may take a minute to share just how important each of you are to the family.  Although many of us who receive this newsletter have never physically met, we are bound by a love that defies meaning.  Because our journey represents the hopes and dreams of our ancestors !

You already know, we are because of who they were.  We keep the light of the Ancestors love shinning by keeping our connections going.  Although we live far from one another, just showing an interest in one another, sharing our successes or lending a hand when we can serves to strengthen our bond.

Many of you are carry the sentiment that "I don't want people in my business".  Well  our concern is to let you know you don't have to be alone. We believe everyone needs to feel love, be loved and know they are a source of love. We're not being noisy because we care; we legitimately want you to know you are important to us. Our caring for you is genuine.  We are here to celebrate your good times and uplift in your bad times,

So family, again, I ask you to step out on faith, grasp hold onto this wacky family and be loved by the memories we create.  We're not trying to get in your business we just want you to know you are not alone .  On this the seventh day of Kwanzaa I greet you with Habari Gani? "what's the news"  and today the news is Imani " which means faith"   I have faith in you as members of our illustrious family.   We have every day to build on Our Faith.  Happy New Year Family 

                                      Faith, Family, Hope and Community

Good News

We congratulate the last child of an only child. Send some love to Tenisha Michael Felton, daughter of the late Robert." bobby" Michael  for graduating from Nursing school. Tenisha the granddaughter of Rachel Stroud Michael

Congratulations goes out to Emmanuel Raheem McCullough in San Diego California for achieving a perfect score on the State Exams. Emanuel is the son of the late Kendall McCullough  and Tiffanie V Bartley 

Happy 45th Birthday to Mikal Raheem Royster in Ocoee, Florida. Raheem the son of Michael "Mikal" Royster and the former Paulette Bartley Royster.

Congratulations to Victor Fuller who was accepted into Thomas Edison State University Master of Science Degree Program

Prayer Warriors

Entering into 2026 we send Prayers out for our Elders for good health.

We extend our Condolences to the Family of Doreen  Chesson Richburg who made her transition on Dec 28th. in Westchester County, New York.   We are awaiting the details from her brother Charles Chesson Jr. and her son Wayne Richburg

We extend prayers for a speedy recovery for Mary Royster Harris who is home  from the hospital  recovering from the flu. Mary is home in Las Vegas, Nevada. She's always giving, so let's show her some love. 

Special prayers going out to Tyrone Haden who was hospitalized New Years eve for Angina.  He will be in the hospital a few more days at Montefiore in the Bronx, NY.

Prayers for continued healing go out to Ronald Fuller who was released from the hospital in Miami Florida. 

Wider Horizon Book Club