Gray Genealogy

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detective • historian • storyteller

Lizz Gray is a family historian and genealogist and has 8 years of experience in the research industry. In addition to being her family’s historian, and working as a leader in Learning & Development for a global consumer goods company, Lizz serves as Vice Chair of the Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission. Lizz keeps accounts on Facebook and Instagram at .genealogy where she shares tips f

or more effective family history work and discoveries from her research.

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Vice Chair of the Kennesaw City Cemetery Preservation Commission

The Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the City Cemetery (established circa 1863), a valuable historical resource located in the heart of downtown Kennesaw’s Historic District. Commission members are also responsible for delivering educational opportunities regarding cemetery preservation and maintenance for the community.

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Member of the following associations and societies:
- National Genealogical Society
- Alabama Genealogical Society
- Alabama: Morgan County Genealogical Society
- Georgia Genealogical Society
- Georgia: Cobb County Genealogical Society
- Virginia Genealogical Society

It’s okay to ask family members if they’re interested in items.It’s not okay to pressure them to take on what you know y...
03/03/2026

It’s okay to ask family members if they’re interested in items.

It’s not okay to pressure them to take on what you know you need to release.

Keeping something “in the family” isn’t helpful if it becomes someone else’s responsibility to manage.

Offer.
Accept the answer.
Let it go.
That’s stewardship, too.

When emotions run high, decisions get harder. A simple framework helps.✔ Sell what truly makes sense✔ Donate what’s usab...
02/23/2026

When emotions run high, decisions get harder. A simple framework helps.

✔ Sell what truly makes sense
✔ Donate what’s usable and appropriate
✔ Junk what’s broken, worn, or unusable

This isn’t about being careless.
It’s about being honest and humane.

Clearing an estate makes room — for new stories, new memories, and what comes next.

When volume feels overwhelming, donation pickup can be a huge relief.Some organizations will schedule pickups, including...
02/23/2026

When volume feels overwhelming, donation pickup can be a huge relief.

Some organizations will schedule pickups, including:
• Goodwill Industries International
• The Salvation Army USA
• Pickup Please

Pros:
✔ No hauling
✔ No removal fees
✔ Fast clearing

Things to keep in mind:
• They won’t take everything
• You usually need a large volume ready
• Some items (mattresses, pianos, etc.) are excluded

This option works best when you’re ready to clear an entire space at once.

Bulk donation drop-off works well when you want flexibility.You can:• Donate carload by carload• Move at a manageable pa...
02/16/2026

Bulk donation drop-off works well when you want flexibility.

You can:
• Donate carload by carload
• Move at a manageable pace
• Clear space gradually

I personally prefer MUST Ministries here in the Atlanta area, but Goodwill and similar organizations can also be helpful.

Benefits include:
✔ Items leaving the house
✔ Helping others
✔ Possible tax write-off

Donate usable items — not worn-out or broken ones — and move forward with confidence.

Yard sales are best when:• You have a large volume ready to go• You’re prepared to clear items all at once• It’s peak se...
02/04/2026

Yard sales are best when:
• You have a large volume ready to go
• You’re prepared to clear items all at once
• It’s peak season (i.e., Summer)

The tradeoff is clear:
• Prices will be low
• Time and energy are required

BUT the benefit is big — people pay you to carry items away, without hiring removal.

When holding a yard sale, keep the goal in focus:
👉 Clearing out
👉 Not pricing for top dollar

Speed and relief matter more than profit.

Sometimes vintage or antique items don’t make sense to sell — but still deserve thoughtful placement.Some antique malls ...
02/02/2026

Sometimes vintage or antique items don’t make sense to sell — but still deserve thoughtful placement.

Some antique malls or vintage spaces will accept donations, especially small items or ephemera, allowing sellers to pick from them.

Items that may work well:
• Postcards
• Cross-stitched pieces
• Old brochures (especially pre-1950s)
• Paper ephemera and “smalls”

Not every place will accept donations, and many are selective — but if you want items appreciated without selling, it’s worth asking.

This can be a meaningful alternative to donating to a traditional thrift store (e.g., Goodwill) where history may be lost.

If you’re holding a lot of similar items, selling directly to an antique dealer can be a smart, respectful option.This w...
01/30/2026

If you’re holding a lot of similar items, selling directly to an antique dealer can be a smart, respectful option.

This works best when items naturally belong together and are in good condition, such as:
• Vintage Pyrex
• Records
• Vintage clothing
• Cast iron
• Solid wood furniture in good condition

Visit an antique mall, speak with management, and ask to be connected with a seller who specializes in that category.

The benefit isn’t just financial — it’s knowing your items will end up with someone who understands, values, and ultimately passes them on to the right buyer.

This option reduces time, storage, and emotional load.

Selling estate items online can be helpful — but only in very specific situations.This is not about starting an eBay or ...
01/29/2026

Selling estate items online can be helpful — but only in very specific situations.

This is not about starting an eBay or Etsy business. It’s about selectively selling a few items that meet clear criteria:

✔ Small and easy to store until it sells
✔ Valuable today, not someday
✔ Shipping won’t drain profits
✔ Worth the time and mental energy

If selling pulls you into endless research, pricing stress, or storage delays, it’s okay to skip it.

Examples that often make sense:
• Sterling or souvenir travel spoons
• Costume jewelry by known designers
• Vintage postcards sold in themed lots
• Compact cameras

The goal isn’t maximum profit.
The goal is making progress without overwhelm.

Clearing an estate is already emotional.You're already doing this with care.What often isn’t clear are the practical opt...
01/27/2026

Clearing an estate is already emotional.
You're already doing this with care.

What often isn’t clear are the practical options for what to do with everything that remains.

This series isn’t about doing it “right.”
It’s about understanding your options—so you can move forward without creating new burdens for yourself or others.

Over the next several posts, I’ll walk through realistic ways to let items go while clearing estates, including:

• when selling makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
• donation options beyond traditional thrift stores
• ways to clear volume efficiently
• and how to set boundaries that prevent passing the burden forward

Not everything needs to be kept.
Not everything needs to be sold.
And letting go doesn’t mean forgetting.

These are practical paths forward, grounded in the reality of estate clearing and the care that’s already present.

📌 Save or follow along if this is something you’re navigating now—or expect to face in the future.

Estate Cleaning Reminder: Guilt Is Not a Reason to Keep ThingsIf you’re struggling, remember:• Their memory lives on in ...
01/27/2026

Estate Cleaning Reminder: Guilt Is Not a Reason to Keep Things

If you’re struggling, remember:
• Their memory lives on in people, not objects
• Letting go isn’t disrespect
• Keeping fewer things often honors them better
• Your job is curation, not preservation of everything

Family history should fit in furniture, not rooms. If your inheritance requires a basement, storage unit, or spare bedro...
01/26/2026

Family history should fit in furniture, not rooms. If your inheritance requires a basement, storage unit, or spare bedroom—it’s too much.

Future generations don’t want volume.
They want:
• Stories
• Names
• Context
• A few meaningful objects

Preservation isn’t about keeping everything.
It’s about keeping enough.

Estate Cleaning: Not Everything Deserves the Same RulesDifferent items need different decisions.Quick guidelines:• Dishe...
01/14/2026

Estate Cleaning: Not Everything Deserves the Same Rules

Different items need different decisions.

Quick guidelines:
• Dishes: 1 meaningful set (or 2–4 place settings)
• Papers: keep originals only if handwritten or unique
• Photos: keep identified, high-quality originals—scan the rest
• Objects: a small set per person that reflects different parts of their life

If it represents the house, not the person, let it go.

This is how you avoid inheriting five dish sets and 20 boxes of “misc.”

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