In memory of Laura Wilkerson

In October of this year, The Owen News carried an article written by Dixie Richardson about the Genealogy and Local History Department of the Owen County Public Library, and about library genealogist, Laura Wilkerson, specifically.

Ms. Richardson had no idea when she wrote her article, just how timely it would be, or how fortunate it was that it was published in time for Laura to read it.

Laura Wilkerson passed away just a little over a month later, on Nov. 9, 2024. The article was a fitting tribute to Laura who had worked at the library since 1996.

Since becoming the library genealogy specialist, there is no telling how many people she has assisted in learning about their family history, as well as answering reference questions on an unbelievably wide range of topics. She received a great deal of correspondence by mail and email, as well as by phone and in person, and she faithfully answered each request with as much information as she could find for them, with a great deal of attention to the accuracy of the information she shared.

Her life is full of notes of appreciation, some of which I will quote:

"Thank you so much for all the effort you put in. You definitely went above and beyond... thanks again for all you have done. You are a true professional." K. R.

"Laura, my goodness, you are a gem. How rare and wonderful you are. To be so helpful from such a distance, and to have so much information. I give you my sincere ovation. I am so thrilled. Thank you so much, sincerely." H. in Canada

"You have exceeded my expectations in all the information you were able to gather, and you are one of the finest that I've ever encountered in the analysis of the data. I really appreciate your effort... you have cleared up a lot of family questions for us." T. H. San Jose, California

"Thank you for your valuable time. You are an asset to your library and your county." H. W.

"Thank you for the printed copies. There is a lot to go through... I really appreciate the work you did. I find the fee... not nearly enough for the work involved." B.K.

"I am so very grateful for all your help... Most of us who write for help really don't know what we need, and I found that you go way beyond what you have to do. It's people like you that makes this such a wonderful world, and make genealogy so much fun..." L.H.

The next one is longer, but so beautifully written that I have to include at least part of it:

"Dear Laura. As a landscape architect/ builder, I am often told that I have changed lives, transformed spaces that have improved the lives, transformed the better by another, I have to acknowledge and give thanks. I don't have to tell you that of yourself, but to me of how family, you are a change agent, a very positive change agent... in my view, I've sprinkled the dust of history into the blocks of stone that are our lives, and in so doing, have anchored us a little bit closer to the earth... I am proud of my family, those living and those long dead. In so many pictures, they have saved out at me through sentimental gatherings, I have recognized, asking to have a name and a time for their lives yet I never had the facility to do anything to further that wish... until receiving your post. Filled with names, places, starting points for further exploration and context... I now have untold hours of research ahead of me fueled by the pages you've sent... we... hope someday to come that way... and to be able to meet and thank you in person. Until then, please accept my thanks from the entire... family." R.R.

Many of our library patrons will remember seeing Laura at her desk, or rummaging through the files of the genealogy vault, or studiously examining the contents of a newspaper on microfilm, and probably had no idea how professional and far-reaching her influence has been; how many peoples' lives she has touched both near and far away.

Though her demeanor was most often quite serious, we, her co-workers, always enjoyed when she graced us with a smile, a laugh, or a rare personal story. She sometimes unexpectedly would surprise a co-worker with a small gift that demonstrated a very sweet thoughtfulness, and the attention she had paid to the persons' likes and interests.

The empty chair at her desk will be a sad reminder of her absence, and she will be missed and thought of with fondness by her patrons, and we, the staff at OCPL.