Future Farmers of America

 Headland High School

Gettysburg Address

Why the Gettysburg Address still matters

I had to recite it in front of my high school freshman history class.  All of us in the class did!  I waited till the very end to go up.  I don't recall even finishing it.  It wasn't one of my finest moments!

Buick & Magic

My grandfather Major loved Buicks, and I loved Magic Johnson and the LA Lakers.

Passion

source

I didn't always have this strong interest in family history.  It developed kind of slowly at first.  Several family members encouraged me to do more, and I enjoy the feedback and interaction I get from them as much as I do the research.  Connecting with your mom has been wonderful, for example.  Maybe I never would have connected with her, certainly to this degree, if we didn't share this passion.  Who knows?  

- response to a family member in 2013

Green Sage Cafe

source

Green Sage Cafe Merrimon

Asheville, NC

1964 Rams

Jonestown

source

The Jonestown Massacre occurred on November 14, 1978.  I read this book several years ago.  I checked it out at the UNCA library.  I didn't see the TV movie when it came out in 1980.  I was too young to watch it.

Willie Tullis, Basketball

Beverly (Espy) Dayries

Thanks to cousin Caroline for sharing this.

Mark Carroll Espy, Jr. & Beverly (Espy) Dayries on November 15, 2025

Thank you cousin Amy for that photo!

Robert and Martha (Gamble) Kennedy

my ggg-grandparents

aka Old City Cemetery

Abbeville, Alabama

Henry County

Find a Grave

Dr. Ruth

She died last summer.

I was pretty fortunate that the Dr. Ruth Show was part of our cable package in the '80s.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have learned much about anything.  Lol  

Obit

Shute Pecan Company

Shute Pecan Company

Dothan, Alabama

I remember one year going out to the Knowles Farm to pick up pecans.  It was in the Fall, and it was very breezy.  After I gathered a sack-full, I took them to Shute Pecan Company to sell.  I don't think I made very much, but it was an interesting experience.

The Best

I saw her in concert on this day, 40 years ago.

Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum

Auburn, Alabama

Last Fall I sent these items to my cousin, Natalie Woods.  Notice the Tina candle!  Natalie actually went to that same concert with me.  My sister, who was an Auburn student, organized it all.

Somewhere in North Asheville

Can you guess?

Betrayed

As the comedian George Carlin said, "I have been betrayed on three levels: God, Nation & Species."

Remembering the genius of George Carlin

Anticipation

This movie was released on November 5, 1982.  I remember seeing the trailer on TV.  My dad was really excited about it.  He loved horses!  I'm pretty sure we all went to see it at the theater in Dothan.

And since today is for voting, here's the Election Day Cocktail.

Brandy, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, sugar on rim

Carroll Relative

David Matthews

David is a gg-gs of Major Carroll.

Goes like this:

David Warren Matthews born 1987

William Bush Matthews, Jr. born 1956

William Bush Matthew, Sr. (1931-2002) and Florence Carroll (1931-2003)

Samuel Jones Carroll (1889-1946)

Major Carroll (1851-1917)

Thanks to cousin Charles for this info!

Texas Roadhouse Murals

Meet the Asheville artist behind the Texas Roadhouse murals

1992 Entre Nous

Samford University

Birmingham, Alabama

a selection of pages