A closer pic of my great grandparents, Wilson Washington Dilley and Lucy Anetta (Ray) Dilley, who was Tuckahoe Cherokee. She is smiling in this photo, but he seems more serious.

The family historian/genealogist, Norma Gray Ellis, used to live with them when she was a little girl. She said back in the day, it was hush-hush about my great grandmother's ancestry because people looked down on anyone who was Native American. Then again, there are plenty of people to this day who still make hurtful remarks. It's a shame, isn't it?

Meet my great grandparents!

Last night I put a crow feather into my hair. Forgot to take it out while I slept and it was still in my hair when I woke up. My hair was all mussed and I mentioned how I forgot to take it out of my hair last night. Tara said, "You look Indian!"

What she said made me smile, because my great grandmother on my birth mother's side, Lucy Anetta Ray, was Tuckahoe Cherokee (as confirmed by Norma Gray Ellis, the family historian/genealogist).

The vast majority of my DNA is Northern European, but at least someone sees the Tuckahoe Cherokee shining through, even if it's a little bit. :-)

Below is a pic of my great grandmother and grandfather. You can definitely see the Cherokee/Native American in my great grandmother's facial structure (high cheekbones)—and her neck looks long, too! Their daughter, Mary Dilley, was my grandmother (my birth mother's mom).