“I’m glad I did!”
I hired a professional genealogist, Terri Sellers, and am so glad I did! Using Ancestry.com, searching the U.S. Census beginning 1850 I was able to find enough information about my father’s father and was able to establish the line back before the American Revolution in 1770s. But his mother’s line was a bit elusive. My grandmother, Lillian Elizabeth Burney, was the daughter of Lillian Bryant Smith and Noah H Burney. Noah’s parents were easily identified. Lillian Bryant Smith was the daughter of Isham A. Smith & Mary Elizabeth Byrd Smith. I found Isham on the 1880 US Census and the Florida 1885 State Census. Then he totally disappeared! Meeting with “My” pro, we discussed scope of research and I signed an agreement. She then went to work: accessing (among others) newspapers.com, land records and probate records that I had not looked at. She went behind me on census to see if there was a usable tidbit that I did not see/use. Being such a prominent member of the community, I would think, there would be info... but the time frame shrunk from 5 years to less than 3 months! Thank you, genealogy pro!!
Full review posted in “Past and Present”, the Newsletter of the North Florida Genealogical Society. July 2026 edition. nfgen.org
— V.B. of Florida
“Had me research his father's surname line as a surprise 70th birthday gift.”
I’ve been meaning to text you since that night. He loved it. I took your report and had it made into a hardback book. And he and my mom and several other relatives spent the evening of his party looking through it, talking about it. Thanks again. We were very happy with everything you did. It was wonderful.
— A.H. from Indiana
“I cannot recommend Terri Jordan-Sellers highly enough. After my father’s passing, I needed help locating records and piecing together information about his life and our family history. What felt overwhelming and emotional quickly became manageable thanks to her expertise, patience, and genuine care. Not only was she thorough and detail-oriented in tracking down documentation, but she also approached the entire process with compassion, respect, and genuine interest. Genealogy is more than just names and dates, it’s about understanding your roots and preserving your family’s story, and she truly understands that. Because of her dedication and skill, I now have a much clearer picture of my father’s history and our family lineage. Her work is professional, timely, and incredibly meaningful to me personally. If you are looking for someone who combines deep research ability with empathy and integrity, I wholeheartedly recommend her services”
— T.H. from Florida
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Terri Sellers for all of her expertise in my genealogy process. Her research capabilities are amazing, her respect for the person and family she is working with is very professional and considerate. She has been a guide through my family's history, she answers all of our questions and provides answers to questions we didn't even know how to ask. As generations pass, the family story becomes lost or less clear, the people like me who are the family historians have tried to carry on the family's story but the sources of the story many times have died. Terri is that link to restore that source or history. Thanks again for all that you provide and do to keep these histories alive.”
— G.S from Missouri
"When a parent can't or won't talk about their lives, it can leave a person with many unanswered questions and misunderstandings about their parent. When they have passed on, it can feel as though all is lost. In a brief session with Teri, I was able to answer many questions spanning four generations. It helped me piece together stories I had been told, and gave me better insight into the lives of my paternal grandmother and grandfather. I am deeply grateful for this information."
— M.T from California