The Ancestor Detector

02/02/2026

02/01/2026

📸 HISTORIC PHOTO OF THE MONTH: This month’s historic photo is of Marie Head Nellums in front of her home on Main Street.
(The below history was written by Benny Jett, President of the SHH&GS.)

Standing by her mailbox, Marie Nellums is pictured here in 1986 holding a copy of the Spring Hill Morning Sun newspaper. Marie was a longtime hairdresser in Spring Hill and operated Marie’s Beauty Shop out of her home on Main Street. She lived next door to Mattie Laura Harris, whose home is now the Fainting Goat Coffee Co. Marie’s home was torn down around 2014 and the property is now the coffee shop’s parking lot. Marie was the daughter of B.B. Head, who owned and operated a grocery store on Main Street for many years until he passed away in 1964. If you lived in Spring Hill before her passing in 2009, it is very likely that you knew Marie, talked to Marie, or got your hair done at Marie’s Beauty Shop.

01/24/2026

There are many more pictures like these in the book, Spring Hill: A Pictorial History! Be sure to purchase your copy from the Spring Hill Public Library before they run out of copies. Each copy of the book costs $30 and benefits the building of a new library.

01/23/2026

Today I received the resolution that the TN State House of Representatives passed in my honor! I am extremely proud and honored to have received this from Rep. Warner’s office.

Included with the resolution was an American flag flown over the TN State Capitol in my honor and a certificate of authenticity signed by the Governor.

The good part of this weekend’s snow/ice storm? I have plenty of time to plan where I am going to put these on my wall! 😂

01/14/2026

This morning, I received an email from State Rep. Todd Warner’s office that a House Resolution was written in my honor and passed 91-0! HR140 was written because of the D.A.R. recently awarding me the Mary Desha Medal for Youth. I am extremely amazed and proud! (Please see the below links to read the resolution.)

Everyone is invited to attend the D.A.R. award ceremony on February 24, 2026 at 6:00pm, at Spring Hill City Hall. I hope to see you there!

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HR0140

https://capitol.tn.gov//Bills/114/Bill/HR0140.pdf

12/23/2025

It's not too late to sign up! https://springhilltn.libcal.com/event/15865483

12/21/2025

We are now selling original (11x17) copies of this 1994 print of Haynes Haven! The print was created by former Franklin, TN artist, Marvin Stalnaker, who was well-known for his artwork depicting Franklin history. We have 250 of these original prints, and you can purchase one for $10. If you are interested in purchasing one (or more,) please comment below or email us at SpringHillTNHGS@outlook.com. Prints will also be available for purchase at our monthly gatherings.
If you would like to purchase one before Christmas, we can definitely try to set something up!

12/19/2025

On February 24, 2026, the Brigadier General Richard Winn Chapter, DAR will be hosting an award ceremony to present me with the Mary Desha Medal for Youth! The medal is a National award given to people under the age of 21 for outstanding service to community, state or nation through participation and/or leadership. The ceremony will start at 6:30pm and will be held at Spring Hill City Hall.
Below is the invitation/flyer for the award ceremony. I hope to see you there!
(RSVP encouraged.)

11/28/2025

11/19/2025

10/21/2025

Here lately I have been putting together an event called Meeting Adjourned: An Evening with Spring Hill’s Former Mayors and I decided to clean City Hall’s front plaque which states the names of two of my late friends, Naomi Derryberry and Billy Kinnard. The result? Me getting caught of guard with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City and forgetting how to do everything but breathe at tonight’s BOMA meeting. 😂 Watch the meeting video online and my actions will prove to you how caught of guard I was. Thank you so much to the Mayor, City Administrator, and all of our Aldermen for this certificate! There is going to be a new frame on my wall very soon.