BRIAN SHEFFEY & DONYA WILLIAMS
Brian Sheffey is the founder and host of the popular online genealogy website and program Genealogy Adventures (genealogyadventures.net). Genealogy Adventures provides a mix of genealogy research strategies for people with a multi-ethnic family history – with a particular emphasis on researching enslaved families. The show, co-presented with genealogist and author Donya Williams, also covers various aspects of African American history.
An engaging and thought-provoking public speaker, Brian has expertise in DNA, mid-Atlantic & Southern research, with an emphasis on the intersection of white, black, and Native American genealogy. He has used his knowledge to solve cases of unknown parentage from Colonial America to the present-day utilizing DNA and paper trail evidence. Behind his passion for research lies the belief that genealogy is an opportunity to connect with Americans from different backgrounds to enable them to connect with each other – and make connections around the globe.
Brian is the author of two award-winning best-selling (Amazon) genealogy books: Practical Genealogy: 50 Simple Steps to Research Your Diverse Family History and Family Tree Workbook: 30+ Step-by-Step Worksheets to Build Your Family History.
DONYA WILLIAMS
Donya Williams is the co-host of the popular online genealogy show, Genealogy Adventures Live and the COO and Managing Genealogist for the Genealogy Adventures researching team. For the past four years, Donya has enjoyed interviews with her cousin and Founder of Genealogy Adventures Brian Sheffey. She is best known on the show for her no-nonsense, straightforward, and honest attitude on Genealogy Adventures Live. Donya is proud of being a part of bringing awareness to the stories of our ancestors while showing the parallel of the past and what African Americans still go through today.
Donya’s researching expertise is strongest with families in the Southern states with an emphasis on families that have a huge number of endogamic relationships. She uses DNA, documents (paper trail), and common sense to solve and break down the infamous brick wall. Donya believes that Genealogy has been requesting her attention since a little girl, but it was not until 1996 that she would finally begin to answer the call. Since then she has been placed on a journey that she would not trade for the world.
Donya has submitted articles to the oldest running newspaper in South Carolina; the leader to bringing all branches of her family together, as well as the appointed lead, to form a new AAHGS chapter for the Edgefield County area. In 2017 Donya wrote a popular book called Comes to the Light: Learning About the Entangled Families of Edgefield, South Carolina.