'Incredible Journey': Statham Native Researches Family History

Tirrany Thurmond was at the on Monday, Aug. 15, perusing land deeds.

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, she sat down to look through historical records at the .

Both were stops on what Thurmond calls a journey to learn more about her family history, particularly the Thurmond family lineage here in Barrow County.

The 24-year-old Statham native, who now lives and works in Statesboro, has been researching her ancestry for about a year. While working for the Census Bureau in 2010, Thurmond was talking with a Statham resident who told her she was standing on land her family had once owned.

"It’s been an incredible journey since then," she said.

On Tuesday, Thurmond found information on her fourth great-grandfather on her mother's side in records held at the Barrow County Museum. 

"Either he was being sued by L. L. Moore for a debt that he owed or he needed some money and sold two of his mules for $175 in 1921," Thurmond said. "I have found a lot of incredible stuff."

The museum is open weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings for anyone who would like to research family histories or just see what's on display.