Our family tree is beautifully intertwined, rooted in the families of Charleston, Mississippi. Because our ancestors often married within the same close knit community, many of us are “double related.”
Here is how our four main branches—the Bland, Brown, Gordon, and Kirk families—became one unified circle:
“A few families from the Charleston, Mississippi area married into one another, and that is how we are double related. My mother, Ruthie Nunaley, married a Bland, who was my father, Nathaniel. My aunt, Minnie Kirk, also married a Bland, my uncle, James Jr. She is also my mother’s aunt because Ruthie’s mother, Addie Mae, was a Kirk who married Jack Nunaley. That explains the connection between the Bland and Kirk families.
The Brown family married into the Blands too, as Aunt Fannie Brown married James Bland Sr. The Gordon family joined us as well when Shelton Gordon married Hattie Bland. When we were growing up, we were all one family, so our parents always held our reunions together.“
Earl Bland
(born in 1956)
The start of BBGK
We know it can still feel a little confusing, but do not worry. We will be sharing more detailed breakdowns in future posts. For now, this is a great place to start as we begin to trace and celebrate our family connections.
Hi, Cousin!
Stay Connected!
