The Hineston Chronicles Volume 9 Number 2

The Hineston Chronicles 

Volume 9 Number 2

Photo added to

Historic Hineston

Facebook group

by 

Brenda Perry Mills

Carolyn's Corner

                     Which DNA Company Should you Test With?

During the course of a week I get ask this question several times.  While there are several companies available, I will mention the five of the major genealogy testing companies.  Sometimes we think the DNA testing is the goal in the genealogy journey. Sometimes it leaves us with additional questions.   What I like to think is DNA testing is another tool in the toolbox to help us with the DNA journey. Use DNA testing together with more traditional online and paper genealogy to open doors to relatives you didn’t know existed.

There are four terms I want to mention:

Autosomal DNA - Autosomal DNA tests can be used to confirm relationships with a high level of accuracy for parent/child relationships and all relationships up to the second cousin level. For all relationships additional contextual and genealogical information is required to confirm the nature of the relationship. 

yDNA - The Y chromosome is transmitted from father to son. Testing the Y chromosome provides information about the direct male line, meaning the father to his father, etc.    

mtDNA – mitochondrial (mtDNA) – each person inherits mitochondrial DNA from his or her mother.   mtDNA test traces your direct maternal line – mother to mother to mother, etc. 

Haplogroup – is a king of ancient population group which you get in the form of an alphanumeric code such as R1b.  

I will discuss the companies in Alphabetical order:  

23AndMe -  They advertise on ethnic heritage and genetic traits (such as curly hair).   Some of this company’s features are: primarily examines the autosomal DNA, but results do include information about your paternal (for male testers) and maternal line haplogroups.    If you are a woman you can see your paternal haplogroup if a male-line relative has tested and is connected to you on the site

ANCESTRY DNA - Its database holds the most test results of the DNA services.   That alone makes this a company you should test with If you’re looking for relatives.   There are a few drawbacks – is you’ll only see autosomal DNA test results here. They do have the Migration feature and shows you historical timelines for your migrations.    It is a good way to educate yourself about when, where and why people of your heritage groups migrated. This is particularly important for those in America, a nation of immigrants, to find clues about family origins and migration patterns.    Recently Ancestry has rolled out several new tools to help us with our journey. Also, if one is looking for a father / mother / sibling, etc., DNA with the large data base is a company you would want to consider.   

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) – FTDNA is the longest running DNA testing company .   It is also the only company currently selling tests for ALL types of DNA:   autosomal, yDNA, and mtDNA. Because of all these offerings, once you submit your DNA to the company, it holds onto your sample.   If you want to take one test and want to upgrade to another test, your DNA is on file there. The Autosomal test for FTDNA is called Family Finder. The site also lets you view family information that your matches have supplied, such as last names, ancestors’ birthplaces and even GEDCOM’s.   

Living DNA – Britain-based Living DNA started selling tests in 2016.  It promised information about the direct maternal line and for men the direct paternal line.   It stated the test could narrow the UK regions where the roots lie – but keep in mind – that’s only the United Kingdom.   At the present time, Living DNA doesn’t provide takers with a list of matches – has been promised to start. To date, I don’t have any matches – and – I took the test in 2016.  But I am hoping for the promises to start.      

My Heritage DNA – MyHeritage began offering DNA testing in November 2016 much more recently than the other US based testing companies.   Several features make the company stand out. Like FTDNA, it offers a chromosome browser. My Heritage results are integrated into the site’s family trees.   Having all of the data for you and your match on one page is pretty cool.   

There is another tool I will mention, and it is GEDMATCH.   Once you have tested with a company, you can upload your raw DNA to this website.  Anyone who has tested with any other company that has uploaded their DNA to this company, you could match with that person.    

So, what is the best test for you?    Each of these five companies Is unique, which makes it tricky to answer – which is the best?   In my opinion, the answer depends on what you want to get out of the test. Personally, I tested with all five of the companies.    Remember taking a DNA test is for you and your family, and make the journey fun and educational. Once you test, your relatives may be interested in your results – which is a great thing.  Because they inherited different parts of your common ancestors’ DNA than you did, they’ll have different matches that add to your understanding of your family tree.

Reunions                                             

NESSMITH Reunion Saturday, April 29, 2019, 10am - 2pm. New Hope Baptist Church. Covered dish. Bring family pictures & stories.
Evelyn Wells

MONK Reunion -1st Sat in May will be at the home of Jason Taylor in Gardner Debbie Chandler McDaniell or Jason Taylor
GOLEMON/WALLACE Reunion is always third Saturday in May. It falls on May 18,2019. Virginia Golemon

ROBINSON Reunion May 25th Lone Star Baptist Church. Phyllis Robinson Crooks

BONNETTE Reunion - June 8th - the 2nd Saturday in June. Melany Whiddon will give us the place for the reunion. Carolyn Dyess Bales

OAK HILL 80's Reunion - July 20th - 6:00 p.m. - Best Western Alexandria. Eric Miller

BROOKS, ROBINSON, HUGHES, DAVIS Relatives, and Friends - Last Sunday in June every year at Leesville Municipal Golf Course and Park. From 10 am till around 2 pm. Bring a covered dish and your favorite dessert. The 2019 reunion will be the 24th annual reunion. Lana Davis

The BERT SMITH Reunion is always on the 4th of July across from the Smith cemetery on Big Creek Rd off of Tolbert Loop. Belinda Afeman Smith

PERKINS Family Reunion - Saturday before Labor Day. Usually at the Calvary Baptist Church, Gardner - I will update if location changes.

IVEY FAMILY Reunion every year on the second Saturday in September. This year it will be September 14th at Sieper Community Church in Sieper. Debbie Chandler McDaniel

DESCENDANTS of EDMOND D. DYESS and MAGARET MATHIS DYESS Cousins Luncheon - Calvary Baptist Church - September 14, 2019. 10AM - Covered Dishes - Bring pictures / Stories! Linda Dyess Stewart or Carolyn Dyess Bales.

LEWIS Reunion - September 21st - the 3rd Saturday in September -Gardner Baptist Church - 10AM - 2PM. Covered dish. Bring family pictures and stories. Carolyn Dyess Bales

MORRISON Reunion - Sept 21, 2019. Big Hammock Baptist Church, Hwy 121, Leander, La. For more information contact Alva Lee Morrison Lucy Darlene Morrison Long

BOB & ANNIE SERMONS BUNCH Reunion- October 12th ( 2nd Saturday of October each year.) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Belgian American Club House. Hot Wells Rd Hwy 121, Boyce. Debra Sermons Cook

MEYLIAN Reunion - 3rd Saturday in October every year. Usually at the Fellowship Methodist Church Pavilion, Hineston - I will update if location changes. Kathy Squyres Meylian.

SMITH Reunion - October 19th - the 3rd Saturday in October - Bentley UPC Church - 10am - 2pm. Covered Dish - bring family pictures and stories. Carolyn Dyess Bales

Deaths

Charlene "Sissy" Guidry, 54, of Mittie, passed away on April 7, 2019. Burial was in   Simmons Cemetery, Mittie, LA.

W.H. Lewis, 67, of Alderbranch, TX, passed away on April, 10 2019. Burial was in  Providence Cemetery, Elkhart, TX.

Ruth Aline Hardcastle, 93, of Pasadena, TX, passed away on April, 10 2019. Burial was in  Grand View Cemeteries, Pasadena, TX.

Jerry C. Dousay, 70, of Elmer, passed away on April 16, 2019. Burial was in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, Calcasieu, LA.

Joe C. “Jody” Melder, Sr., 89 of Glenmora, passed  away on April 17, 2019. Burial was in  Campground Cemetery, Glenmora, LA.

Barry Leon Rine, 56, of Glenmora, passed away on April 19, 2019. A memorial services was held at Amiable Baptist Church, Melder, LA.

Tressie "Nanny" Opal Miller Monk, 94, LaCamp, passed away on May 5, 2019. Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Lacamp, LA.

Linda Gail Perkins, 77, of Gardner, passed away on May 9, 2019. A memorial services was  held at Gardner Baptist Church, Gardner, LA.

Elizabeth Jane Pickering Hall, 60, of LaCamp, passed away on May 14, 2019. Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery, LaCamp LA.

Steven Emery Funderburk, 38 of Woodworth, passed away on May 21, 2019. Burial was in  Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball, LA.

Joe Kenneth Newton, Sr., 77, of Tallulah, passed away on May 29, 2019 . Burial was in  Newton Community Cemetery, Delhi, LA.

Johnny Leon Hunnicutt Sr., Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 8, 2019. 

Ada Lee Wilson, 80, of Shreveport, passed away on May 30, 2019. Burial was in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Hineston, LA.

Leon K. Rudisill, 70, of Hico, Texas, passed away on May 30, 2019. Burial was in Hemphill Star Cemetery, Boyce, LA.

Henry A. Hilton, 86, of Fairbanks, LA, passed away on June 8, 2019. Burial was in Liberty Cemetery, Haile, LA.

Clay Curtis Kinchen, 48, of LaCamp, passed away on June 8, 2019. Burial was in LaCamp Church of God Cemetery, LaCamp, LA.

Carolyn Roberts Greer, 77, of Gardner, passed from away on June 23, 2019. Burial was in Masonic Cemetery, Rayville, LA.