Email from Laura Chrylser O., April 8, 2003:  Re: William Robert Givens and his wife, Delaney (Lanie) Barfield Givens.  

Delaney's grandfather, Renson Rabun was Laura's 3rd great grandfather.  Laura was inquiring about I obtained the birth date that I had, (1879); She had found the 1880 Emanuel County, Georgia Census, when Delaney's age was 6 years old (Birth Date would have been about 1874, in that case).  In the 1920 Bay County, FL Census, her age is 45 years (birth date would be about 1875).  

Various other questions were broached and I confess that I don't have any memory of how this all came down.  I see that I still don't have the mother of Delaney Barfield listed.  I guess I'd better get busy!

Thanks to the BCGS for indexing so many of the Bay County Records!

I am trying to pick up the bits and pieces of my genealogy journey with the Givens Family.  Bear with me, as these are not organized, but are randomly put together from past e-mails and conversations.

• Email from Mary Lou C., 14 May 2001: She is getting ready to take a trip to Germany to pursue the Kolmetz ancestry.  She asks me if I have any pictures of William Sherman Givens or his family.  [I don't think I had those at that point].  She also mentions that there is a Kolmetz reunion on the second Saturday of August, for which she will send more details later.

• August 1, 2001: E-mail from Sandi M.--She reminds me that "Diamond G" is the brand that "Old Bob" aka Robert or James Robert Givens used for his timber as they floated them down the river.  Her mother, Joyce, will send me a book about the Givens, for $25.  In the book is a list of all the places where the Givens lived, including Laurel Hill, Florida.  There is a page on the Octoberfest, also.

• Email from Suzanne R.: Suzanne states her relationship to the Givens and at that time her grandmother is still living, (23 Jun 2003).  Suzanne's maternal grandmother is Eva Dell Cutts, whose mother is Mary Louise Givens.  Mary Louise was the daughter of William Sherman Givens, son of John Witherspoon.

• From Claudia Brown, via email, 8 August, 2003:  Claudia Taylor Brown is the daughter of Angelyn Givens Taylor and Robert Perkins Taylor.  Angelyn was the 4th child born to Rose Emma Givens and Alexander (Alex) Givens.  Alex was the 2nd son of John Witherspoon Givens.  John, known as Bud, was the first son.  These two left home early to form their own business of naval store products and timber.  Alex and Rose (nee' Henley) Givens had 9 children, (6 girls and 3 boys).  None of the 9 are still living but many of Rose's grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still alive and kicking!  Claudia is 73 years old at this writing and has been married to husband Reese Brown (age 74) for 52 years.  Both went to Auburn, 1/2 century ago!  Claudia wrote the book "Patriarch of the Diamond G" about her uncle, Robert Givens, the 7th child of Rose Givens.  This book can be found at the Baker Block Museum and includes many family stories plus family photographs and a genealogy table.

 William E. Givens, son of William Sherman Givens

William E. Givens born 1891 and died 1950, is buried with his wife Bertha Mae Leonard

Red Oaks Cemetery, Covington County, Alabama.

See World War I Draft Registration

The pieces of the puzzle are really starting to come together as we get closer and closer to planning the reunion.  I've done a little research in the Panama City (Bay County's Millville, actually) Givens and now my cousin Patti has found a real flesh and blood relative from that group! 

Can you find the "Givens" surname in this newspaper?

Let me know if you find it!

County Commissioners Minutes forming Okaloosa County, Fla.

County Commissioners Minutes forming Okaloosa County, Fla. 

Dull reading unless you are interested in Okaloosa County history, OR have ancestors in Okaloosa County--even ancestors named "GIVENS".

Note: Unfortunately,  this information has been migrated to some other location (without my permission, I might add).  Try the link at the top if you are up to searching a bit!

Another year has passed

About a year has passed since I posted on this web site.  Now, I am happy to "announce" that a date and a place have have been chosen for the 2014 Givens Reunion.  In addition, Sandi M. says that when her husband retires in three years, they will be settling in Baldwin County and she will host another get together!  Some of may be able to meet with her for a cousins' lunch, this Fall of 2013 and discuss the upcoming reunion and our common connection with the Givens Family.  Excitement is in the air!

The 2014 Givens Reunion will happen on March 15th in Crestview, Florida.  

A tentative meeting was held recently to get the ball rolling.  Margaret (me) and Foye G. and Foye's husband met informally, (thanks for the yummy cupcakes, Foye), a couple of weeks ago and talked of "the olden days" and our family members.  We chose Crestview as the spot because it is convenient to the I-10 highway, the cemetery where John Witherspoon and others are buried,

Laurel Hill, and also a pretty straight shot to the Beaches of the Emerald Coast, plenty of shopping, etc.

In addition, features in our area that should interest family members include the Baker Block Museum, the Heritage Museum in Valparaiso, the Air Force Armament Museum, and other sites that I will try to post for you as the weeks go by.

A GivensCousins group has been formed at Facebook and if you're connected to this family we welcome your participation.