Roots + Wings Genealogy Research Services

12/10/2025

Have you ever walked through your local cemetery and seen the symbols engraved on tombstones and wondered what they meant? 🪦

Those carvings — anchors, hands clasped in farewell, urns, lambs, doves — are more than decoration. They’re whispers from the past, offering clues about who our ancestors were, what they believed, and how they lived.

We found this thoughtful article from Family Tree Magazine about the hidden meanings behind gravestone symbols: a compelling read for anyone curious about the stories etched in stone.

At Roots and Wings Genealogy Research Services, we believe those gravestones hold the keys to deeper family history. We’d love to help you:
🔍 Interpret cemetery symbols and understand their significance
📜 Trace the lives and stories of ancestors resting in historic cemeteries
🌳 Build a richer family tree with context and meaning
🎯 Turn headstone clues into real-life stories you can share with loved ones

If you’ve ever wondered about the square and compass, the lamb, or the willow tree — or if you simply want to uncover who’s buried in your family’s past — reach out to us.

Let’s honor those who came before by bringing their stories into the present. 🕯️✨

Flowers, angels, birds. Just pretty tombstone carvings...or do they reveal something more? Learn the meanings behind twenty common gravestone symbols. A walk through the cemetery may just uncover some genealogy secrets for you.

12/06/2025

🔎 Stuck on a tough ancestor who seems to have vanished from history? You’re not alone — many genealogists run into what’s known as a “brick wall.” But with the right approach, those walls don’t have to stop you.

Here’s how Roots & Wings Genealogy Research Services help turn brick walls into breakthroughs:

* 🧾 We re-examine every known record — sometimes the clue was there all along, just overlooked.
* 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 We expand research beyond the individual — exploring relatives, neighbors, associates, and descendants to discover indirect evidence.
* 🌐 We dig into alternate name spellings, spelling variants, migration-driven record gaps, and location changes — since ancestors often moved, renamed, or emigrated.
* 🏛️ We search local and often overlooked sources: land deeds, church ledgers, newspapers, probate files, and regional archives — the “hidden records” most people miss.

👉 If you’ve hit a dead end in your family tree and don’t know where to turn — **Roots & Wings** is here to help. Together, we’ll look beyond the obvious, re-examine every possibility, and see whether your ancestors left more clues than you thought.

Message us today and let’s break down that wall in your family history — your story deserves to be found. 🌳✨

Got a frustrating ancestry research problem? Follow these six timeless tips from genealogy experts to work through brick walls and build your family tree.

12/05/2025

🎄✨ December is here — and it's a perfect time to reconnect with your roots!

We came across this great article from Family Tree Magazine: “5 Genealogy Activities to Do in December” — a wonderful guide to blending family history research with holiday traditions.
familytreemagazine.com

At Roots and Wings Genealogy Research Services, we believe there’s no better gift this season than the gift of family history.

Here are a few ideas from the article — and how we can help you make them happen:

🎁 Create a Family-History Ornament — Turn your ancestor photos or names into custom holiday ornaments that can be passed down through generations.
📸 Organize and Digitize Old Photos & Documents — December’s slower pace makes it a great time to scan, label, and preserve family archives.
📝 Start a Family History Journal or Memory Book — Write down stories, traditions, memories and share with loved ones.
👪 Host a Family Storytelling Session — Gather family (in-person or online) to share memories, traditions, and discoveries.
📚 Research Holiday Customs from Your Ancestors’ Homelands — Explore where your family's traditions originated and give them new life in your celebrations.

If you’ve ever thought about digging deeper — building a comprehensive family tree, uncovering long-lost ancestors, organizing old photos, or preserving memories for future generations — we’re here to help.

📞 Reach out to us this month and let’s make your family history part of your holiday joy.

Wishing you a festive season filled with stories, memories, and connections. 🕯️

Learn how to build your family tree with genealogy tips, free charts and forms, what to do with DNA tests, family history projects and more!

12/04/2025

🍪 Happy National Cookie Day! 🍪
Today we’re celebrating the sweetest traditions of all — Grandma’s cookie recipe and the generations of family favorites passed down through time.

Just like a good genealogy search, every family cookie recipe has a story, a keeper, and a special place in our hearts. Whether it’s the secret ingredient Grandma never wrote down or the holiday cookies baked for decades, these delicious memories help us connect with the past.

✨ Here’s to the recipes — and the relatives — that make life a little sweeter.
Share your family’s famous cookie in the comments! 🍪💕

12/03/2025

🌳✨ When building your family tree, don’t forget the branches that stretch beyond your direct ancestors! Cousins, aunts, uncles, great-aunts/uncles, and those “once-removed” relatives you’re not quite sure how to chart — these collateral relatives can be the key to unlocking family mysteries.

Why explore collateral lines?

🕵️‍♀️ They often leave behind records, photos, and clues that your direct ancestors didn’t.

🔎 They can help you break through brick walls in your research.

🧬 They bring depth, richness, and context to your family’s story.

💬 They can even lead you to living cousins and new connections!

And here’s the best part: You don’t have to tackle it alone.
✨ Roots and Wings Genealogy Research Services specializes in digging into both direct and collateral family lines to uncover the details, documents, and discoveries that might otherwise stay hidden.

Whether you're stuck, overwhelmed, or just getting started, Roots and Wings can help you uncover the stories woven through every branch of your family tree.

Ready to explore the relatives who can unlock your past?
📬 Send a message or comment below — your story is waiting to be found. 🌿

Your family tree should include more than direct-line ancestors. Learn who collateral relatives are and how they can help your research.

10/23/2025

Christmas List Wishes..

06/03/2025

01/02/2024

Happy New Year!

If you or someone you know is interested in genealogy services, please reach out to me.

I am putting this up so that I can get correct information for all individuals in my family tree.

11/06/2023

Have any interesting stories in your family history? Contact me to find out!

Lauren Hodges
(864) 550-6011

In the early 1900s, some parents shipped their children through the United States Post Office. Learn more on our blog.

02/09/2023

This is a great article from Genealogy Researcher and blogger Carol, of The Piedmont Trails.

https://piedmonttrails.com/2022/09/18/ground-research-the-dos-the-not-so-much/

If you are looking for someone to help with "Ground Research" let me know - I'd love to chat about your genealogy journey.

Lauren Hodges
rootswingsgenealogyresearch@gmail.com

What’s the secret to ground research? Three words quickly come to mind. Some of you would say, plan ahead, stick to a schedule, and create a goal. Ha, are you serious? Why is it not a good id…

02/07/2023

I said it, but I definitely didn't mean it.

This has been what I've been trying to tell myself every night for the past week. I'll run into the library, complete a quick search or complete one item on my checklist and then leave...

Roots + Wings Genealogy Research Services is a developing business of mine. I'd love to work with you and help you trace your family roots.

Give me a call!
(864) 550-6011

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