"IF YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED IF THE DEAD TALK TO THE LIVING I WANT TO LET YOU  KNOW THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ME"

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That is exactly how I've felt from the first moment I began researching my  family tree in October of 2005.  I know the research continues because our  NORRIS Ancestors truly want to be found, they want to be introduced to future  generations and most of all they want to be remembered by us all.  From the  cradle to the grave we shall find, count and gather them all to our breast.   They cry out to us from the still waters of Caddoe Lake to the bottom land  where they slumber at Taylor all in rows, from the chattle of slavery to the  sweet breath of freedom they cry out.  From the stoop of New Town to the  hallways of Pemberton, from the corridors of Wiley to the metropolis of Dallas  and beyond, they cry out "seek us out for we would have you know of us".

I am the Great Great Great Grandaughter of ELIZA and BUCK NORRIS who were born  slaves in the early 1800's of South Carolina. In 1860 they were either sold or  moved to Marsall, Texas.  My mother, grandmother and great grandmother were  all born and raised in Harrison County, Marshall, Texas and my great great  grandmother was born a breath away in Upshur County.

Researching the tree of NORRIS has since consumed and transformed my life in  ways to wonderous to count.  In 2006 I went to my first NORRIS Family Reunion  in Dallas, Texas and experienced what I can only describe as a 'baptism of  family'.  For me, the research will never end as long as Norris descendants  are being born.

In July, 2008 I attended my second Norris Family Reunion.  Was blessed again to be  able to visit the family burial ground, Taylor Cemetery.  While there I found the  grave of Nancy Pinter, born ca. 1815, the mother of Eliza.  Yes, I touched the grave  of my great great great great grandmother.  Stone said she died in June, 1882 and  right across from her was Susan Smith.  Susan was the sister of Eliza and beside  Susan was one of her sons, James S. Smith!  I pray my strength holds out until I find  the others.

No doubt that 100 or 200 years from now, another will come just as I came, one  of our descendants will come in search again with an open heart and a clear  mind and I plan to have a treasure chest and a lavish of love waiting for  them.  Our story which will in time become their story.  YES, I would have  them know of us and all that we shall be.

If you have an addition and/or correction of ANY information found here,  please do not hesitate to bring it to the attention of the WEB MISTRESS  because this is NOT mythology, it's Our Story.  The Story of NORRIS and all  blood ties thereof.  The seed of this tree is NORRIS and a few of the larger  branches are COLLIER, LACY, TAYLOR, BREWSTER, JOHNSON, BUOY/BOWIE, FIELDS,  MILLER, COATS and we're discovering more every day.

For delightful family stories, poems, family bulletins and events of interest  to the Clan of Norris please visit "Mocha Diva's Ancestral Blog":

Thank you and know that I love you and I'm having the time of my life on this  wonderous journey of finding as many of my kinfolks as possible in my life time.

P.S.  Meet me by the big Oak Tree on the River in Heaven.  I pray to be  sitting there with Eliza, Lucy Sallie, Sadie, Louise, and Baby passing a nice  summer afternoon.