Oliver Springs, TN resident Sherry Broaddus was cleaning out her late grandmother's attic in Oak Ridge, TN when she stumbled upon two baby keepsake books and several photos. Broaddus said the books had been in the attic in a box since at least the early 1970's, and her grandparents had never mentioned it.
Using social media, word of mouth and West Kentucky Star to get the word out about her discovery, Broaddus was recently able to locate Jennifer Holoman-Davis, now living in South Carolina, and reunite her with the treasure.
Davis said she was thrilled to receive the book, which she had no idea existed before Broaddus contacted her. "I was not aware that it existed at all. Part of it is recorded by my mother and part of it by my sister, so that was really special," Davis said. "It's just very exciting and sentimental. it was really neat to see my sister's handwriting, and my mother's. I called my sister as soon as I got it, and she went through the story about the day I was born. It brought back memories to her and to me."
Davis said the memories came rushing back when she was finally able to pour over the notes, lovingly hand-written by her mother and older sister. "It's a recording of developmental milestones and the little personal things you put in a baby book," Davis said. The picture of the little toddler is my sister, and the picture of the teenager is a cousin of mine. The little picture of me is when I was in third or fourth grade."
Davis' family lived in Mayfield when she was a little girl, when her father was transferred from Paducah's Gaseus Diffusion Plant to a facility in Oak Ridge. Her family then moved back to the area when she was in high school. "We lived in Mayfield until I was ready to start first grade," Davis said. "My dad was transferred to Tennessee, then transferred back when I was ready to start eleventh grade."
Davis said it meant a lot that so many people were working together to try to find her, and that she is forever grateful to have such a priceless heirloom to remind her of her childhood. "The book itself and everything it means is very special, but then also all the story involved with everybody who was trying to find me, and then the connection back to my high school when people were looking for me too," Davis said. "The whole thing is just really special."
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