My Natural Roots — A Sacred Part of God’s Story

Introduction

When I first discovered my mother’s handwritten family tree, I didn’t think much of it. I believed I already knew my family — if I didn’t grow up with you, I assumed you weren’t part of us. Like many, my understanding of family was shaped by childhood experiences: grandparents who loved us, cousins at family gatherings, and those closest to us during life’s celebrations.

I also believed, based on what little history we were taught and Alex Haley’s Roots, that my family story must mirror the collective narrative of African Americans — descendants of enslaved ancestors with limited records and lost identities. I asked myself, What more is there to know?

A Question I Never Knew I Needed Answered

My mother — an educator, devoted wife, faithful daughter, and woman of purpose — knew there was more to uncover. Some pieces of her lineage remained unclear, especially on her father’s side. Though I didn’t get the chance to ask her what she hoped to find, I now realize she sensed there was a deeper story waiting to be told.

Genealogy Tip: Don’t wait. Ask your elders meaningful, respectful questions about family history — and write it down. These conversations become priceless gifts.

The spark that ignited my own journey came when I recognized names on my father's side, the Driver family, stretching back into the early 1800s. That discovery stunned me. These were men and women identified in historical records as “Free People of Color.” That phrase alone challenged everything I believed about Black history and my own identity.

As a proud graduate of Cheyney University, I remember lessons from the brilliant Dr. Ruth Ellen Johnson, who taught African-American entrepreneurship prior to 1866. Even then, it never occurred to me that my ancestors might have been among those free, pioneering souls. That realization changed everything — and ultimately led to my first published work, “The Road Back to Route 606 — The History of the Driver Family from Gloucester County, Virginia.”

Family Names — Part One

Today, I begin with the roots I knew personally — the ones closest to my heart:

Paternal Line — DRIVER Family

My father, Earl Donald Driver, Sr., was the son of Hobert Edwin Douglass Driver and Mary Gladys Jackman.

Maternal Line — JACKSON Family

My mother, Geraldine Willanet Jackson, was the daughter of William Joseph Jackson, Sr., and Josephine Mapp.

These are the names and faces that shaped my early world. Yet, their stories — their struggles, triumphs, and faith — remained largely unknown to me until after they were gone. Genealogy became my bridge back to them, allowing me to see the threads of history, love, and resilience that carried our family forward.

In future posts, I will explore my great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, and beyond. Each branch reveals a testimony, and together they form a powerful narrative of identity and inheritance.

Lessons from the Past — And Hope for the Future

This journey has taught me something profound: There are natural roots and spiritual destinies — and both shape who we are.

As a Christian, I hold this truth:

• Birth gives you history.
  Faith gives you destiny.

• Your biological heritage reveals your origins.
  Your spiritual calling reveals where God is leading you — and who He places along the way.

• Both matter. Both are sacred.

A Final Comparative Reflection

• Earthly Family vs Spiritual Family

• Bloodline (DNA) vs Faith-line

• History vs Destiny

• Inheritance vs Eternal inheritance

• Culture vs Kingdom culture

• Biological roots vs Kingdom roots

Have you thought about your roots and how they relate to your journey?