Excitement, enthusiasm with finding area ancestors

New Georgia Society regent wants to help families explore roots.

Joyce Ball Patton gets every bit as excited discovering that someone else’s relative fought in the American Revolution as she does her own. “I found your ancestor,” the Lake Spivey resident likes to say, “and isn’t that just fabulous?” And it is, when you stop to think that someone in your family had a role in this country’s founding. Patton recently was sworn in as the new State Regent of The Georgia Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. In other words, for the next two years, she will head up the organization’s 110 Georgia chapters, with 7,800 members. She talked about her plans and why it is an honor to be a Daughter of the American Revolution.

What is the purpose of your group?

The national society began in October 1890 and is one of the oldest lineage societies in this country. The Sons of the America Revolution started before we did and had discussed women joining but they wanted to choose who could become a member. A gentleman named William McDowell decided to help us form a society for the daughters. The mission 125 years ago and today is historic preservation, education and patriotism. a soldier or patriot who fought or gave aid in the American Revolution. There are men and women patriots and a few women who secretly fought as well. What about your family? I have 10 ancestors who gave service in the Revolution. My dad had always heard that we were related to George Washington. Although we have not been able to prove or disprove this story, I will continue to look for records. The Southern states are handicapped because so many courthouses that held family records were burned.

Do you have a diverse membership?

Of course we do. We have a black member in our chapter who has proven her own lineage to a Revolutionary soldier through a white grandfather. She was one of the first to use DNA to help prove her lineage.

What about your organization’s civic efforts?

We work to preserve historic documents and buildings and historic places. Since 1901, the Augusta chapter and the Georgia Daughters have supported Meadow Garden, home of George Walton, one of three Georgians to sign the Declaration of Independence. He also served as Georgia’s governor, chief justice and represented us in Congress. The national society gave us a grant to help restore the windows at Meadow Garden. We offer many scholarships and awards for students who participate in an essay contest every year. This year, the national society broke the Guinness World Records for the most letters written to our service men and women.

What else do you hope to accomplish?

Bringing more public interest to Meadow Garden and increasing our membership. We want each Georgia chapter to have several members qualified to help with the organization’s new genealogy education program.

Why is tracing your ancestors such a big deal?

It brings your family to life, from your oldest proven ancestor to your own children and grandchildren. Sharing the family stories will give roots to your children who live in a mobile society. I truly believe knowing your family history gives you roots to grow and allows you to be a better person and citizen.

Construction update given on SunTrust Park

During his monthly public report on Tuesday, Cobb County Manager David Hankerson said more of the work is moving inside now on SunTrust Park as the cranes have been removed.

With 75 percent complete, $365.5 million has been spent.

There are 1,100 workers on site at the ballpark and 265 workers on the mixed-use site.

Through July, more than 2,489 million man hours have been expended with no lost-time injuries.

To date, total work contracted is $406 million for the ballpark.

Work to Cobb County companies is $263 million at nearly 65 percent and $75 million for 18.5 percent to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms with the remainder to other companies.

Information: youtube.com/ watch?v=A8DlxUnbK2U, BravesUpdate.com.

Ex-mayor worried about traffic from apartments

Last week S.J. Collins announced its proposed development at North Decatur Road and Church Street will include 285 apartments. Atlantic Realty has already opened The Reserve on Milscott Drive with 300 apartments while Fuqua’s 27-acre project and proposed 960 apartments on North Decatur/Scott Boulevard is well underway.

By fall 2018 about 1,545 apartments will lie along the city’s northern perimeter, within a quarter mile of each other and a half-mile outside Decatur city limits.

Former Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd, now managing director for the DeKalb Municipal Association, says he’s worried about the top-heavy impact of these three new mixed-use projects.

“There is no transit close to these developments,” he said. “These developments are all car-oriented and that concerns me.”

There is not yet a population projection for this development area. All three have previously been included on Decatur’s annexation wish list, but the city maintains that no new annexation map exists.

‘I truly believe knowing your family history gives you roots to grow and allows you to be a better person and citizen.’