This is a picture of my grandmother Mattie Kemp Alexander taken in 1912 in Greenwood County, South Carolina. I never knew Mattie because she passed away in 1832, yet my father had several pictures of his mother to share with the family. I ventured on a journey in 2004 to find my South Carolina Kin and found Mattie's brothers children. In addition, I was successful in going all of the way back to slavery and met the slave owners descendant of my great great grandfather Andrew Kemp. — Bernice Alexander Bennett

This picture was taken around 1920 and is the only picture my father (a small boy) had with his mother and father.  This is Mattie Kemp, the same woman in the 1912 portrait. —Bernice Alexander Bennett

This is a picture of my newly found cousins and the slave owner descendant.  Janice Woods in the colorful shirt is my twin sister; next to Janice is Dr. Constance McNeil - the slave owner's descendant; next to Connie is Joyce Robinson and Sheryl Bailey - my newly discovered cousins;  I am next in line in the white shirt and standing next to me is John Ebo (deceased) another newly discovered cousin.  This picture was taken at the Tompkins Library - the home of the Old Edgefield Historical and Genealogical Society, and Connie is the President of the South Carolina Genealogical and Historical Society. —Bernice Alexander Bennett