Remembering Joe ... we've lost a great one

I was both shocked and saddened Tuesday night after receiving a phone call from a Carroll/Douglas county cousin, Liz Dial, who told me of the recent death of fellow researcher Joe Baggett. Anyone who has done research on the Internet has seen Joe's messages and history lessons on most southside counties.

Here is the obituary which Liz sent me from one of the Douglas County newspapers. I believe it was The Sentinel:

"Joe Baggett, 55, of Douglasville, died April 27, 2002. He was born in 1946.

"He was a graduate of Douglas County High School and had been a writer and historian about Douglas County and Douglasville history. He was the publisher of Douglas County, Georgia Genealogy and a member of several genealogical and historical societies. He was a recognized expert on Douglas County and surrounding areas history.

"Survivors include his brother, Jimmy Baggett of Magnolia Springs, Ala., and Neal Baggett of Bishop, Ga., and several cousins.

"A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. at Rosehaven Cemetery today with Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home of Douglasville in charge of arrangements."

This hardly touches on the person who was Joe Baggett. Although I had never met him in person and had not even known him that long, he had earned my respect and admiration not only for his knowledge, but also for his overwhelming willingness to go out of his way to help researchers ... both old-timers and newcomers.

Joe and I first stumbled across each other about two years ago when I was browsing the Genforum messages in Meriwether County and came across a message he had left on a Boyd family.

I was really new back then and still a bit timid about leaving messages, but this one would correct a bad link and hopefully open up the correct path to my Boyds who ended up in Carroll County. So, boldly, I responded.

Within a few minutes, Joe wrote back in a personal e-mail with the information I needed. Friendly banter followed and we discovered that we were newspaper cohorts and had newspaper friends in common.

Joe told me he was formerly the editor of the Douglas County Neighbor. We discussed our families and he told me he was an old bachelor with two brothers, one who was a farrier (that's a person who puts shoes on horses, for those of you who are non-horse people) and we were off talking horses since my daughter was into the horse show world when she was in elementary and high school.

I felt as if I not only had found a great researcher, but also a new friend. We discussed family lines and even found a few surnames in common. From that time on, whenever I would sign my e-mails, I would say, "Are we cuzzes yet?"

One of the last replies I received from Joe was, (and this is copied and quoted from the e-mail I saved) "If we keep digging I'll turn out to be your great-grandfather's long-lost stepchild by his third wife's brother, who went West and was never heard from again!" That was typical Joe.

He was so encouraging to me in those early days. Told me I had good hunches and excellent research skills (thanks to all those years with the newspaper) and I just glowed.

Back in the 1970s, Joe wrote the book, "Who Was Who in Douglas County" which was a vast source of information on Douglas County residents, their lineages, and their stories, from the early days to the present. I asked if he happened to have an old unsold copy lying around anywhere that he would part with and he replied that there were so many mistakes in it he wouldn't even give me one if he had it.

Joe was a stickler about having the correct information. I'm sure, if there were mistakes in the book, it drove him crazy after it was published.

About a year ago, he revived his newsletter, "Douglas County, Georgia Genealogy" and published it faithfully every two weeks. As usual, it was excellent and shared his vast knowledge of Douglas, Carroll and Campbell County history and genealogy. A few weeks ago, we received a notice that the next issue would be late and would be mailed May 1. One can't help but wonder if he had become ill.

Just two weeks ago, Liz and I went trudging through a few Douglas County cemeteries and discussed Joe and his place in the genealogy society. We drove through the intersection of the main drag in Douglasville where it crosses Rose Avenue and I immediately thought about Joe, since that's the street he lived on. Liz said she had been told that his home was a genealogy library of sorts unto itself and people went there to avail themselves of his research material. I meant to write him when I got home and ask if his ears were burning, but I didn't. I wish I had. My last contact with him was when he helped me straighten out my Lamberts. I was getting ready to ask him about my Richards and maybe place a query in his newsletter. As usual, I am a day late and a dollar short.

Tuesday, after Liz sent me the obit, I posted it to the Campbell, Carroll, Douglas and Georgia (state) Roots-L lists since I had not seen anything on the net and I knew people would want to know. I hope it was picked up by other lists and passed on. Joe's reputation in genealogy went far and wide, I'm sure, and his help and knowledge will be missed from coast to coast.

Someone wrote and asked if there was a memorial fund set up and I had no answer. I certainly hope that Joe's material will be preserved somewhere so that others can take advantage of it.

I am certain that Joe is up there in heaven with all these ancestors we are trying to find. He now knows all the answers and is probably mad as heck because he can't let us know about them. Of course, my question would be, as always, "Are we cuzzes yet?" Who knows what answer he could come up with now.

We will miss you, Joe, but will be eternally grateful for all the knowledge you left behind. Farewell, my friend.

If you're looking for your Georgia ancestors or have a local family history to share, write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Back to the Citizen Home Page