By Hortense Barber
FAMILY
Many people use technology as a tool to make connections — especially those looking to learn more about their past. Genealogy websites like ancestry.com, myheritage. com and familysearch.org have surged in popularity in recent years. The desire to discover family roots runs deep in the hearts of many Americans.
But for many African Americans, because of the effects of slavery and the lack written records, this kind of search can look a little different. In fact, the majority of Black Americans learn about their history by speaking to family members, according to a Pew Survey (https:// w w w. p e w r e s e a r c h . o r g / race-ethnicity/2022/04/14/ b l a c k – a m e r i c a n s – f a m – i l y – h i s t o r y – s l a v e r y – a n d – knowledge-of-black-history/)
A few years ago, Crystal Benjamin, a South
Carolina native, used both methods while on a personal quest to fill in the blanks of her family tree.
“I wanted to know more,” Benjamin said about her project, which she started in 2016. “I started wondering about family – aunties, cousins – and how I am related to people I’ve known all my life.” So, she started talking to relatives and using ancestry.com to see if any records existed.
A string of recent family deaths pushed Benjamin to prioritize the project. But her search would lead to even more questions, and kick-off a journey to solve a longtime mystery.
The Search for Geneva
In 2020, Benjamin contacted her cousin, Roberta (Bert) Harvin (the oldest daughter of a great uncle) for her project. Through their conversations, she learned that Harvin, a 93-year-old native of Clarendon County, had been
searching for her youngest sister, Geneva, for most of her life.
In 1938, Harvin’s mom, Liza Elizabeth Prince, died at age 24, leaving her father, Sam, both a widower and a single father. He then made the tough decision to give up his two youngest children – Russell (age 2) and Geneva (age 4 months) – via an informal adoption. The remaining three children were sent to live with various family members in both Sumter and Lee counties. Harvin, who was the oldest child, lived with family and attended Goodwill Presbyterian Church as well as Goodwill Parochial School. Sam went on to remarry and have five more children.
When she was a young adult, Harvin moved from South Carolina to Long Island, New York. It was around this time, in the 1950s, she says she was shocked and happy to receive a written letter
from none other than her long-lost sister, Geneva!
“After I came to Long Island, I didn’t think I would hear from her,” Harvin said. “I don’t know how she got my address.”
In the letter, which began with the greeting, “Dear Sister,” Geneva wrote that she was married and living in Effingham, South Carolina. She also shared that she had a daughter.
“And she named her after my other sister, Josephine,” Harvin said.
“She sent me a picture of her. And me and her look alike,” she added.
Unfortunately, Harvin says her home caught fire, destroying the letter and photo.
Harvin, who had three children of her own, has been looking for Geneva ever since. Over the years, she has reunited with eight of her siblings, including her younger brother Russell. Rusell was able to grow close to his brothers
and sisters until he passed away in 1998. Geneva is the only sibling Harvin and her family have not met.
“I would LOVE to find her,” Harvin said about Geneva who would be about 86 years old today. “Every time we have a family reunion [in South Carolina] … they would always have her name on the shirts.”
Using Technology to Fill in the Gaps
When Benjamin heard Harvin’s story in 2020, she wanted to help but was not able to make much progress on her own.
This year, she decided to turn to the organization, DNAAdoption (https:// dnaadoption.org/), for assistance.
Using census records from Turbeville and surrounding areas in Clarendon County, South Carolina, they were able to find a few people they believe match Geneva’s identity. And, while conducting additional research (using the internet, articles, and public records) they were able to locate Geneva’s possible living descendants.
However, her efforts to connect with anyone have been inconsistent.
“People are now in their 80s and 90s; time is of the essence,” Benjamin said about the project’s urgency. “The only way to find out [for sure] is through a DNA test of Geneva or one of the family members.”
The family hopes that one of Geneva’s relatives will read or hear about this story and reach out.
Are you a South Carolina native who has a relative named Geneva, who would currently be in her mid to late 80s? If so, we would love to hear from you! Please reach out to Crystal Benjamin at searchingforgeneva@gmail.com.