Our Life In Pictures

As a personal historian I spend a great deal of time thinking and reflecting on the impact of the men and women who came before me who have made tangible contributions that have touched my life directly and indirectly.

I recently attended a funeral of a someone who lived a remarkable life. Watching her "Memorial Video" made the experience of celebrating her life all the more personal and offered an even deeper insight into who she was beyond my casual "hello" at church on Sunday mornings. 

To look into someone's life, see their childhood, watch them grow into adulthood, see them marry, witness their children grow to adulthood- all these things and more, was truly a beautiful experience and one that touched me deeply.  And so this experience gave me pause to consider what "To Live" means to me? What do the pictures of my life reflect? What memories will I leave behind for others to share on my behalf?  What am I doing now that will be remembered when I am gone?

To quote the cliche, "Life is short, live it to the fullest", seems a tremendous understatement this holiday season, yet it seems all the more pertinent for me, as I consider the past 48 hours; one funeral, one resurrection observation and one lasting message... each of us has something valuable to offer to the world, including me... time to get to work, time to make a difference.

Ryan J. Heathcock

Once Upon A Time

"Recording your story in your own words for the generations to come."

202-270-0790 Email 

It's Our Responsibility To Tell The Stories

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) held their 90^th Annual Luncheon this past February in Washington, DC.  There was some fear that with the organization in transition with leadership that the event may be somewhat muted this year. Those not expecting to be blown out of their seats, were truly in for a shock… when they discovered they were.

I had never had the pleasure of meeting this years keynote speak, Dr. Kaye Whitehead. I had heard her speak briefly at the 89^th luncheon one year ago. This year, as I sat just a few feet from her along the front row, I barely noticed that I had a teardrop welling up in the corner of my eye. I realized in that moment, I was suppose to be in that room, listening to that woman, educate and implore each of us there that we had a solemn responsibility to continue the work of Dr. Woodson and raise the bar when it comes to educating the world, our children, about the contributions of African Americans in the United States and around the world.

To feel your heart beating through your chest… a Color Purple moment when Celie sees her sister standing on the horizon after years of separation, was something I felt when I sat listening, doing all I could to hold my camera steady. For all of us in the room that day, it was a coming together to celebrate our shared history, one with another; and recognizing that it is indeed our responsibility to keep, to hold and to share this history with the world. If we don’t, then who will?  Thank you ASALH, thank you Dr. Whitehead. Thank you Dr. Woodson.

Ryan J. Heathcock

Once Upon A Time

"Recording your story in your own words for the generations to come."

202-270-0790 Email 

The Drive...

What’s interesting when you get in the car with my mother is that you know this is going to be another moment in time that you are sure you will savor and cherish for the rest of your, life, especially at age 44. For as long as I can remember, I have always been my mother’s “road dog” as she and I have driven for thousands of miles since I first got my license at 17.   November, 2015 we set off on another road trip to Beaufort, South Carolina on a journey that can only be defined as destiny; a journey into our collective past to discover who we are and from where we came; the Heritage Days Festival on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

During the drive I took the time to listen carefully and ask just the right questions, Is the music ok?, Am I driving too fast? And oh by the way, just what do you know about Beaufort, other than what Aunt Margaret told us?”  Mom’s answers were short, direct yet insightful and it felt to me that she was taking in as much of the time together with me, her son, as she was lost in thought about what she may discover on this journey for herself.

When we arrived I discovered a magnificent and beautiful place that felt more like home than where I had been living for the past 6 years.  It was eerily strange and overwhelmingly loving from the first “hello” from someone who seemed more like a distant relation than a perfect stranger. It was three days of cultural education and personal discovery where I met some of the most amazing and beautiful people, was adopted by a 93 year old woman as her newest grandson (whom I still call and keep in touch with to this day) and I discovered that my first ancestor to arrive from Africa as a slave, arrived on St. Helena Island in 1820, just shy of 200 years before my arrival, with my mother.

Ryan J. Heathcock

Once Upon A Time

"Recording your story in your own words for the generations to come."

202-270-0790 Email 

Once upon a time….

It was at my cousin’s funeral…

My cousin Jeanne Jarvis, wife of more than 50 years to Norman Jarvis was laid to rest in Washington, DC in February 2015.  Her husband for more than 45 years, Norman Jarvis, preceded her in death by just 6 weeks.

In 2008 I was researching my dad’s genealogy and I sat down with Norman to ask him about his family history and how he and Jeanne came to live with my dad and grandmother after her husbands untimely passing in 1960. You see, my dad’s story began in Southern Germany in 1946 where he was born to a German woman, but was taken to an orphanage for post war children.  He was later adopted and brought to the US by a upper middle class African American family in Washington, DC in 1952.  But this particular story for another time; the focus here stays with my cousin Norman and our conversation in 2008.

During the course of our “recorded” conversation, Norman shared with me the history of the Jarvis family dating back to before the Civil War. When I shared the recording with his children, as they had not known he had made this recording, it was expressed to me then that what I had given them was the greatest gift possible being that in the last several years of Norman’s life he suffered from dementia and spoke little to not at all. Now, the family has his personality and words recorded for all time to share not only in his memory but his legacy and the legacy of their family that will now be passed on to future generations.

I use this story as the starting point for sharing with you in this Blog what Once Upon a Time is truly all about and why I work with individuals and organizations to preserve and to pass down their history for future generations. I always say to my clients,  “Don’t allow others to tell your story for you, tell your story in your own words while you can.”