1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do for work? Fun? Married? Kids? You get that idea.
I am Gladys Hodge Sherrer, granddaughter of Julia Ann Josephine Amason Williams, who is 1st, a grandmother (one daughter, one granddaughter) and a published author of fiction and nonfiction. My current project is a Civil War novel, currently undergoing peer review. I enjoy travel, spending time with family and other singles friends.
2. Do you have a favorite ancestor? Who? Why?
Grandma Julia (noted above) has always been a favorite, to the degree that I named my only daughter after her. Grandma Julia was very loving, always smiling and hugging and making me feel loved in unique ways, like as a child she would my art in her pantry, and my little crayon drawings stayed there for years and years. Today, my granddaughter’s art hangs in my pantry.
3. If you could be related to anyone in history, who would you want it to be and why?
I would be a descendant of biblical Joseph, as the incarnate Jesus (through Mary) descended from him. Maybe there is a chance of this, since I do have distant Jewish relatives?
4. What are your thoughts on the Global Family Reunion? Will you be attending?
I do appreciate the invitation and would like to attend, but not in New York. Hopefully there is a closer one being held, a place like Charleston, SC.
5. Do you come from a big family? Small family? Do you guys have family reunions and do you have any good family reunion stories?
We were a family of nine children, and all previous generations had an average of twelve or more, having annual family reunions, and other spontaneous gatherings of fifty or more.
6. Favorite color? Favorite food? Left-handed or right-handed? Do you like to have breakfast for dinner? Favorite book? Movie? TV show? Song/band? Quote?
Favorite color is yellow, yellow as in roses of that hue. Favorite food is ice cream with popcorn a close second. I’m right-handed. No breakfast for dinner, unless you count occasional bowls of cereal. Favorite book is the Bible.
7. Do you have any funny quirks that you’ve inherited from your family?
This isn’t a quirk per se, nor funny, but we are a long line of fiercely independent women.
8. Do you know much about your family history? Where do your ancestors come from? Would you want to visit the lands they hail from?
I recently researched Grandma Julia’s husband’s family, the Williams, and they are from Wales. Yes, I would like to visit the old country, but likely will not do so.
9. If you could get AJ to invite one person to the Global Family Reunion, who would it be and why?
I would like to meet some of the Browning family noted in your research for my Grandma Julia, and am interested in whether they are the same (a socially prominent) Browning family who lived in Savannah, GA in the 19th century.
10. AJ’s idea is that if the people of the world could see how interconnected we all are maybe we would be a little nicer to one another. What do you think about that?
I believe this to be a cousin 13 times removed from A. J. Jacobs. I am 68 years old. It’s a noble reason to try and connect people, and can only hope he is successful in his quest. Truth is
though, family can be crueler than strangers.
11. If you could share one message with your 7 billion cousins what would it be?
Stop all the fighting amongst yourselves; look at history and learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, and read your Bibles to see how we should live, loving God and others.