(Originally posted on Facebook, February 14, 2026)
The most unique names in my family (other than mine) are Exie/Exa, Telda and Weary/Werry.
Exie Murdoch Dent is my 3rd great grandmother. She was born in 1854, probably in Talbot County, GA. Her parents were Wilson Edmund Murdoch (born 1837) and Agnes (born either 1827 or 1837).
I ran into an Exie once while in Orlando. I was there for a Microsoft conference and they opened the park for us. The bus driver’s name was Exie. I wanted to stop and talk to her because genealogist only need one commonality to want to run down our family history with somebody
.
Next is Telda. Now, Telda showed up in the 1880 US Census record as the mother of Exie’s father, Wilson. But in 1900, his mother was listed as Hannah, so I have to pick that research back up and figure out which one it is.
Weary/Werry McGill is my paternal grandfather’s father. My great grandfather. He was born in 1875 in Williamsburg County, SC. He was a farmer and when I found this branch of my family and did a second visit with my brother, I was able to walk the land that farm was on. Powerful feeling.
I heard from several of the elders who lived with him that he was a very kind person. I like to think that is a trait that passed down to my brother because I revere him in the same way.