Credit Where Credit is Due
Our motto here at GeneaBlogie is “Learn, Share, En joy, Appreciate!” To which we often add, “Express Gratitude!” Today, I am grateful for the following:
In early February, I went on the site Find-A-Grave.com to update some family grave postings there. While I was there, I thought it would be nice to add photographs of two gravesites in particular: those of my great-grandparents, Otis Manson and Betty Sanford Manson. I knew both were buried in Fairview Cemetery in Midland, Texas. The only problem was that I didn’t have any such photographs.
Find-A-Grave has a feature that allows users to request a photograph be taken by a volunteer near the cemetery which contains the particular grave. Likewise, users can make known their availability and willingness to take photographs. As we used to say when I was in the credit union business, it’s “people helping people.”
I requested a photograph of the graves of Otis and Betty. Yesterday, I was thrilled to find a message from Find-A-Grave that there was a photograph for me! At the page for Otis Manson, I found that someone had posted this photo:
Gravesite of Otis Manson and Betty Sanford Manson, Fairview Cemetery, Midland, Texas
The same photo was posted on Betty’s page. The photographer and poster was identified by the Find-A-Grave pseudonym, Knightchow. This is the inveterate Find-A-Grave contributor and occasional GeneaBlogie reader named “Michelle.” I immediately went to her Find-A-Grave profile page and left her a message thanking her for this kindness. Then I conitnued surfing through Find-A-Grave. I came to the page for one Ed Featherstone, and (“Saints preserve us!”), there was this picture:
Grave of Ed Featherstone, Fairview Cemetery, Midland, Texas. He apparently was born in 1911, not 1920 as the headstone says.
Posted by the self-same Knightchow! Indeed, she had created the entire page back in 2007, and somehow I had never come across it. Ed Featherstone was married to Myrtle Serrita Manson (1906-1987), daughter of Otis and Betty.
I wrote her again to thank her for this photo. I asked her to transfer the page to my ownership, which she did cheerfully and almost instantly.
This experience was just great! So today we recognize Michelle with the first-ever Geneablogie “Gibraltar Award.”
Thank You!
April 24, 2009 Friday at 2:13 pm
Craig 5 Responses to “Credit Where Credit is Due”
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Craig, great news! I’ve been a fan of Find A Grave for 8 1/2 years and I continue to be amazed at the growth of the site and the kindness of strangers. Congratulations to Michelle.
i love FindAGrave too for this same reason. you never know when you’ll find someone you’re looking for.
The people who contribute to Findagrave are so nice. And I love your new award – that’s a great idea!
Aptly named and well-deserved award.
Michelle was a chip off the original rock. Find A Grave. Find A Grave is a wonderful site and so are their contributors.
Thank you for acknowledging their work.
-fM
Craig,
Thanks for this! I just googled “knightchow” and found this.
I appreciate it so much! Glad to have helped you. I haven’t ran across the other Manson you are searching for