Bun Heads Unite (Against Cemeteries)

When I came into this family history project I already knew that professionals in other fields looked down their noses at genealogists. I called we genealogists little old lady bun heads myself. But I didn’t mean it dismissively, I meant it as a source of pride. Me! A bun head, too!

Many people actually do think of genealogists derisively, including professionals in government.  They also recognize us as VERY LOUD humans with buns. We are a downright movement.

But I’ve run into two other groups of “professionals” where I’ve been treated not-so-well and it’s ticking me off.

First, the City of Flint. At least, the department of the City of Flint that runs the cemeteries, particularly Avondale Cemetery, where we Schryers have a rather large family plot area. Thanks to the Flint Genealogical Society (GO! GO! GO!) I have a plot map that details where my family members are.

My Third Cuz took a picture of the cemetery during one of her serious genealogical research trips (I feel like a bald head when I consider the other genealogists in my family):

I’m not sure what it says about me when I get teary-eyed and put headstone photos up as my desktop background. But I mean, those are MY ancestors, and we have a substantive headstone. A real headstone. A headstone that tells everyone who we are. That’s my name and we are still here. Here I thought we were poor sawyers and farmers in unmarked graves somewhere.

In researching this cemetery I was treated very poorly by the Flint cemetery authority who specifically told me they didn’t work with family historians. I’m like DUDE, who do you think paid for those cemeteries? YEAH, FAMILIES, and if I need 15 minutes of your time you can spend it on the phone with me. We had 3 brief conversations that she left after a few minutes each with the barest of thin apologies about her time and other duties.

She never did tell me if we had a headstone but did ask if I wished to purchase one, as if magical information would rain down upon my head if the answer were yes. Considering how many of my family members are buried there I should I have told her I wanted a baker’s dozen and seen where that would have gotten me.

Well nanner, nanner, Flint cemetery authority. Thanks for the photos and the trip Ann! Here we rest in peace.