The Royster Chronicle

Summer revelations “Footsteps mark a person's life course and the impact of their journey on others.” May is typically the month when I start tackling home projects, sort of like a “Brian to-do list.” In years past, I looked forward to this alone time because it let me reflect, get work done at home, and gave me a few months until the end of the summer to finish everything. However, this year was different. Unfortunately, as we get older, many of our bodies begin to break down, and I am no exception. Menial tasks became arduous. Due to back and knee issues, my confidence in moving and lifting items diminished, and my workload decreased, giving me ample time to do a little family research and focus on current events.   In a previous essay, “The Hickerson Slave Legacy,” I wrote about discovering who was responsible for “naming” my ancestors. For some, this might not be important, but I was curious for my children so they would have every documented fact about where they come from on ...

                                     “The institution of slavery produced offspring whose fathers considered them as property.” The Hickerson Slave Legacy Knowing where you come from should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds as they reflect on their heritage. Ancestors’ lives are the building blocks of future foundations. We are all born of two parents, and each side has its own story. On my father’s side, I know his name, that he was born in Mississippi, and that he served in World War II. I recall meeting his mother when I was about five years old, but that is about all I remember, because he abandoned the family shortly thereafter.  On my mother’s side, I come from the Martin family on her mother’s side and the Hickerson family on her father’s side. Over the years, I asked my mother as many questions as possible to better understand our history. The Martin family is well documente...