Author: cmb12

FindingthingsforU, LLC is owned/founded by Char McCargo-Bah. She is the author of two books, and you can find those books on amazon.com by putting a search on her name. She became a Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2014.

Two Unlikely Activists Made History

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “Two Unlikely Activists Made History”– dated May 30-June 5, 2019.

Can you a lone make a difference? Yes you can. Two women from two different backgrounds brought national attention to an unknown cemetery. Their community activism impacted thousands of descendants of the Alexandria’s Freedmen’s Cemetery.

Left to Right: Lillie Finkle, former, Mayor Euille and Louise Massoud

Without these ladies efforts, I would not have known about the Freedmen’s Cemetery. And, I would not have been able to make my contribution to the Freedmen’s project in locating the descendants. So I am indebted to Lillian Finkle and Louise Massoud for all their dedicated work for the Friends of the Freedmen Cemetery.

Check out the article on “Two Unlikely Activists Made History” – dated May 30 – June 5, 2019 in the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 12 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2019/052919/Alexandria.pdf. Also you can read behind the scene of this article on my blog at http://www.theotheralexandria.com.

Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article – “A Mother’s Unconditional Love”

Carolyn Phillips-McCrae
Foster daughter of Mrs. Jennie Bell-Cantey

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “A Mother’s Unconditional Love”– dated May 2-8, 2019.

Mrs. Carolyn Phillips-McCrae was extremely lucky that her mother made a decision to hand her over to Mrs. Jennie Settle Travis-Bell Cantey. She had the ability to love so many children like they were her own. It is believed that Mrs. Jennie was not raised by her own mother but whatever her childhood situation was, she impacted the lives of 44-children in a positive way.

Mrs. Carolyn heard numerous stories from Mrs. Jennie “Mama” about Fauquier County, Virginia where Mrs. Carolyn thought that was where Mama was born. Through genealogical research, I found that Mama was born in Rappahannock, Virginia. On her marriage license to her first husband, she stated that she was born in Rappahannock, Virginia. She and her first husband married in Fauquier, VA where he was born.

Check out the article on “A Mother’s Unconditional Love”– dated May 2-8, 2019 in the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 12 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2019/050119/Alexandria.pdf. Also you can read behind the scene of this article on my blog at http://www.theotheralexandria.com.

Alexandria, VA – Parker-Gray School’s Project

I am looking for people or/and their relatives who attended Alexandria, Virginia’s Parker-Gray School from 1920 – 1965. Please see my flyer for my contact information. Parker-GraySchool flyer3SocialMedia. Thanks.

California Firefighter with Family Ties in Alexandria, VA

California’s Firefighter with Family Ties from Alexandria, Virginia.

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “Reuben Anthony Burton – “Making His Ancestors Proud” dated April 18, 2019.

Reuben Anthony Burton

Alexandria descendants are located throughout the United States, they are doing remarkable things across the United States. One young man with strong family ties in Alexandria, Reuben Anthony Burton is a California Firefighter. Reuben’s mother, Frances Norton-Burton who also lives in California has several generations of her Norton, Carter and Robinson families who had made Alexandria their home. Although Reuben was not born in Alexandria, his mother made sure that he knew his Alexandria roots. Reuben was christened at the Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church which is the home church of the Carter/Robinson families since the Civil War. Reuben’s grandfather, Arthur Norton and his family had been members of Shiloh Baptist Church in Alexandria since the Civil War.

Just like Reuben’s Alexandria cousins, Clayton Thompson and Kendall Thompson, they all

In honor of the fallen 9-11 victims.

decided to be firefighters. As a child Reuben wanted to be a firefighter, he found out what he needed to do to make it happen and he did it. He is an inspiration to all young people that wants to make their dreams a reality through obtaining the necessary skills to achieve their goal.

Check out a California’s Firefighter with Family Ties from Alexandria – “Making His Ancestors Proud” can be read in the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s newspaper on page 13 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2019/041719/Alexandria.pdf.