Episode Summary:Have you ever wondered about your family’s history? In this episode of Your Life Over 50, Jean sits down with Kathy Lynn Marshall, a genealogy expert who turned her love of research into a mission to help people uncover their roots.

Kathy shares how she spent 40 years gathering family documents before realizing she could use the skills from her career to organize everything and write books about her ancestors. She explains how anyone—no matter their background—can start tracing their family history, even if they don’t know much.

In this episode, you’ll learn:✅ How to start your own genealogy search, even if your elders have passed✅ The best free and paid tools to help you find family records✅ Why DNA testing can reveal surprising (and sometimes shocking) family connections✅ How to organize documents and turn them into a family history book✅ Kathy’s discoveries, including a story of an enslaved ancestor’s journey to freedom

Whether you're curious about your ancestors or want to leave a legacy for your children, this episode is full of inspiration and practical advice. Kathy makes genealogy feel exciting, like solving a mystery—because, in many ways, it is!

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

FamilySearch.org – Free genealogy research tool

GEDmatch.com – DNA comparison database

Kathy Lynn Marshall’s Books – Available on Amazon

Afro-American Family History Seminar (AAFHSS) – Annual genealogy event

Dr. Shelle Murphy's fun Freedmen's Bureau Fridays

Bernice Bennett's amazing research shows

Genealogy Adventures on TV360

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