JAMES VANN COMER, PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST SINCE JUNE 13, 1984.
Contact James
.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Smaller Project (Under $500.00 total) Minimum Payment- $200.00 per installment.
Medium Project ($500.00 - $1,000.00) Minimum Payment- $250.00 per installment.
Larger Project (Over $1,000.00 total) Minimum Payment- $300.00 per installment.
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
General Research (leg work- locating and copying material at various centers housing original
source material) Rate- $25.00 per hour per family line.
Consultation (persons drawing from my personal files and knowledge via office visits and / or
telephone conversations) Rate- $30.00 per hour per surname.
Compilation (developing into typed paragraph format from original source materials) Rate- $30.00
per hour per project.
The research fee will be deducted from each payment until the amount is depleted, at which
time, another minimum payment (see chart above) is required in order to continue the project.
If travel is involved during the course of research, the general research rate of $25.00 per
hour will be charged. The time to and from the center(s) housing the information will be deducted
from each payment. Gasoline fees, Parking fees, Meals and Tips (as well as time expended during
meal), Motel and Hotel expenses, etc. will also be deducted on longer trips.
The average project requires 70% at the general rate ($25.00 per hour) and 30% in compilation
time ($30.00 per hour). The division in rates occurs along concentration bounds, which explains
the difference.
Copies of all material will be placed on file automatically, copied at the expense of the client
at $.30 per file copy (8 ½" x 11" ), $.35 per file copy (8 ½" x 14" ) and $.40 per copy (11" x 17" ).
The client should submit a brief summary of the family to be researched (including: group sheets,
pedigree charts, copies of documents, etc.) and as many clues (via oral tradition, family papers, etc.)
as possible. Keep in mind " the more material you include in the initial package the easier for me to
begin" and send the descriptions of only one family (and / or surname) at a time.
REMIT TO
Please make all checks payable to: James Vann Comer and forward all material to: Comer Genealogical
Services, P.O. Box 2681, Sanford, North Carolina 27331-2681.
I welcome anyone to try my services and would appreciate any information to add to my rapidly growing
Central North Carolina Collection (microfilmed by NC State Archives in 1995: Miscellaneous Collections
Local History Z.1.66.1-30) which consists of family letters, newspaper(s) clippings, Masonic lodge records,
church information, courthouse fire material, family Bible information and other miscellaneous genealogical
material (with full index compiled by Jerry L. Cross, Research Branch, NC State Archives in 1996 on Reel 31).
JAMES VANN COMER
P.O. Box 2681
Sanford, North Carolina 27331-2681
(919) 775-5763
Email- jvcomer@alltel.net
EDUCATION
May, 1985 Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Major: Political Science. Minor: History.
June, 1981 Graduate, Lee County Senior High School, Sanford, North Carolina.
Grade 9. West Lee County Junior High School, Sanford, North Carolina.
Grades 1-8. Greenwood High School, Lemon Springs, North Carolina.
Nov., 1985 Genealogical Research II (Advanced Genealogy)
Central Carolina Technical College (now CCCC), Sanford, North Carolina.
Instructor: Sandra McKee.
Sept., 1985 Genealogical Research I (Introduction to Genealogy)
Central Carolina Technical College (now CCCC), Sanford, North Carolina.
Instructor: Sandra McKee.
TEACHING BACKGROUND
CENTRAL CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (now CCCC), Sanford, NC:
Genealogical Research I (Introduction to Genealogy)
January, 1986 April, 1987 September, 1988
March, 1986 January, 1988 September, 2000
Genealogical Research II (Advanced Genealogy) June, 1986
History of Central North Carolina (Local History) September, 1999
SANDHILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Pinehurst, NC:
Genealogical Research I (Introduction to Genealogy)
September, 1989 September, 1998
An Overview / History of the Sandhills (Central North Carolina Local History)
January, 1998
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
Hobby: Genealogy and Moore County / NC Research (1972-1983)
Comer Genealogical Services: Professional (June 13, 1984- Present)
NC State Archives: Approved Researcher (July 8, 1985- Present)
NC Professional Genealogists' Network: Member (April 30, 1996- Present)
POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP
Genealogical, Historical and Patriotic Societies
Mecklenburg (NC) Genealogical Society (now Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society)
Active Member (1984).
Moore County Genealogical Society, Inc.
Active Member (1985- Present)
Vice President (March 25, 1986- March 15, 1988)
Executive Committee (Mar. 25, 1986- Mar. 15, 1988; Mar. 17, 1990- Mar. 21, 1992)
Compiled *** Moore County Bible Project (Volumes I, II & III) for Society.
***NC Society of Historians- Malcolm Fowler Society Award (1996): MCGS
President (March 15, 1988- March 17, 1990)
Chairman, Executive Committee (March 15, 1988- March 17, 1990)
Newsletter Editor (March 15, 1988- March 17, 1990)
Program Chairman (March 15, 1988- January 1, 1989)
Mail Coordinator (March 15, 1988- August 30, 1990)
Board of Directors (March 21, 1992- December 31, 1993)
Lee County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc.
Organizer (Monday, November 4, 1985)
Active Member (1985- Present)
Program Chairman (1986)
Board of Directors (Jan. 1, 1986 - April 13, 1989 & Jan. 1, 1999 - Dec. 31, 2000)
Nominating Committee (1986 & 1999)
President (Jan. 1, 1987- Dec. 31, 1987 & Jan. 1, 1998- Dec. 31, 1998)
Chairman, Board of Directors (Jan. 1, 1987 - Dec. 31, 1987 & Jan. 1, 1998 - Dec. 31, 1998)
Corresponding Secretary (January 1, 1988- April 13, 1989)
Microfilm Committee (1989)
Library Committee (1986-1990 & 1997-Present)
Nominating Committee (1992 & 1997)
Co-Vice President / Program Chairman (2002)
Paid Editor & Publisher of The Times Quarterly Journal (October 2002 - April 2004 issues)
Chatham County Historical Association, Inc.
Active Member (1988- Present)
Railroad House Historical Association, Inc.
Active Member (1989- Present)
Board of Directors (April 24, 1989- December 31, 1993)
Historical Consultant- Lee County Architectural Survey (1991-1992)
Sons of the Revolution in the State of North Carolina, Inc.
Membership papers submitted (November 5, 1988)
Proof of Lineage submitted (August 3, 1989)
Membership papers approved (February 24, 1990)
Assistant Registrar (June 1, 1990- June 8, 1991)
Registrar (June 8, 1991- December 31, 1993)
Jonesboro Historical Society, Inc.
Active Member (1990- Present)
Consultant- Jonesboro High School (1881-1951) for Society.
Consultant- Jonesboro Library / Museum, High School and Memorial Park Monuments.
Harnett County Historical Society
Active Member (1993- Present)
North Carolina Society of Historians, Inc.
Awarded 1991-2002 [21 awards in 10 categories]
Active Member (1996- Present)
*Historian of the Year Award (1995)
North Carolina Professional Genealogists' Network
Active Member (1996- Present)
MISCELLANEOUS
Religious, Community and Central NC Newspapers
Cameron Baptist Church, Cameron, North Carolina (1963-1988)
Church Historian (1984-1988)
Church Clerk (October, 1986- October, 1987)
Crain's Creek Cemetery Committee (1984- Life Member)
First Baptist Church, Sanford, North Carolina (1988-2001)
History Committee (1988- 2002)
Co-Chairman, History Committee (1991-1994)
Compiled *First Baptist Church of Sanford, NC (1893-1993) 100th for Church.
NC Society of Historians- Religious History Book Award (1994)
Single Adult Ministry Committee (1996- 1999)
Deacon (Ordination: Sunday, October 19, 1997; 4 Year Term: 1997- 2001)
Sandy Creek Baptist Association, Sanford, North Carolina
History Committee (1994 - 2001)
Chairman, History Committee (1997- 2001)
Member, Executive Council (1997- 2001)
Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, Harnett County, North Carolina (2002- Present)
Communications Committee (2002- Present) & Youth Committee (2003- Present)
Alderman Family Association
Active Member (1980- Present)
President (June 28, 1987- June 25, 1989)
Lee County Constitution Bicentennial Committee, Sanford, North Carolina
Committee Member (1988- 1989)
" Downtown- Your Town" Committee, Sanford, North Carolina
Committee Member (1988) Submitted information on the Lee Furniture Company Building (corner of
Steele and Carthage Streets) for a book for Lee County's 4th graders.
Boy Scouts of America, Occoneechee Council, Three Rivers District
Merit Badge Counselor: Genealogy (November 15, 1990- Present)
Depot Park Steering Committee, Sanford, North Carolina.
Committee Member (February 1998- Present)
*The Sanford Herald Newspaper, Sanford, North Carolina. Provided photographs for Vignette(s)
from the Past column and contributed historical articles (July 21, 1988- June 2, 1998).
**NC Society of Historians- D.T. Smithwick Newspaper & Magazine Article Award (1997) newspaper
article by James Vann Comer entitled: " Weekend Event Will Harken Back To Old-Time Camp Meeting
(Jimmie Comber story), Bicentennial: Buffalo Presbyterian Celebration Continues" printed on
the Feature Page on Wednesday, May 21, 1997.
*The Pilot Newspaper, Southern Pines, North Carolina. Provided photographs for Moore History
column and contributed historical articles (July 23, 1990- April 20,1998).
*The Harnett Leader Newspaper, Lillington, North Carolina. Provided photographs for A Glimpse
of the Past column (February 23, 1994- June 1, 1994) and Looking Back column (June 22, 1994-
November 30, 1994).
*NC Society of Historians- Historical Newspaper Article Award (1994)
Hawkins Run Property Owners Association, Sanford, North Carolina.
Board of Directors (3-Year Term: 2000-2002) & TH Committee of Seven (2000-2003)
PUBLICATIONS
Booklets (size 8 ½" x 11" )
June 1985 Blow(e)- Jenkins Families of Hertford / Gates / Bertie Counties. 87 pages.
July 1985 Bright Family of Chatham County, NC. 30 pages.
Aug. 1985 Douglas- Cox Families of Lee / Moore / Harnett Counties. 45 pages.
Nov. 1985 Paul Family of Horry County, SC. 62 pages.
Dec. 1985 Thomas- Judd Families of Lee / Moore Counties. 58 pages.
Mar. 1986 Wall Family of Rockingham County, NC. 57 pages.
Mar. 1986 Comer Genealogical Services- Genealogical Research Handbooklet for Genealogical
Research I class. 51 pages.
Mar. 1988 Bridges Family of Chatham County, NC. 79 pages.
May 1988 Leslie Family of Harnett / Wake / Moore Counties. 45 pages.
Dec. 1989 Williamson Family of Upper Moore County, NC. 50 pages.
Dec. 1989 Kennedy Family of Upper Moore County, NC. 83 pages.
June 1991 Descendants of Colonel Archibald McDugald, Sr. and Rebecca Buie of Cumberland / Harnett
/ Moore Counties. 121 pages.
Oct. 1991 Descendants of Solomon Arnold, Sr. and Mary Gurley of Bute/ Franklin / Warren / Moore
/ Harnett Counties. 150 pages.
Dec. 1991 Norman Family History (Abbreviated) of Yadkin County, NC. 57 pages.
July 1994 Duncan McLeod and Barbara Kelly and Their Descendants of Isle of Skye, Scotland / Moore
/ Lee Counties. 92 pages.
June 1996 Ancestors and Descendants of Sheriff Kenneth Henderson Worthy of Moore County, NC. 130 pages.
*" The Worthy House" brochure- A Brief History compiled by James V. Comer.
* North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (2001)
Oct. 1996 Descendants of Harmon Brewer and Janie Grubbs of Cumberland / Moore Counties, North Carolina
and Central North Carolina Brewers covering Chatham, Lee, Moore and Randolph Counties. iii + 163 pages.
Books (size 8 ½" x 11" )
May 1986 Gone and Almost Forgotten: Crain's Creek Community. iii + 115 pages.
Mar. 1987 Moore County Bible Project (Volume I) for MCGS. iii + 58 pages.
June 1987 When Things Were Simple in the Town of Cameron, NC (Volume I / 1875-1910)
iii + 121 pages.
Aug. 1987 Rogers: Our Common Bond. iv + 491 pages.
Oct. 1988 When Things Were Simple in the Town of Cameron, NC (Volume II / 1910-1988) iv + 155 pages.
June 1989 *Jonesboro, Moore County, NC (Volume I / 1860- 1907) v + 164 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- The History Book Award (1991)
Oct. 1989 Moore County Bible Project (Volume II) for MCGS. iii + 60 pages.
Jan. 1990 Sons of the Revolution in the State of North Carolina, Inc. and Its Predecessor: North
Carolina Society of the Sons of the Revolution for Cyril Gray Cogswell.
ii + 176 pages.
Dec. 1990 *Jonesboro, Lee County, NC (Volume II / 1908- 1947) iii + 121 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- The History Book Award (1991)
Nov. 1993 *First Baptist Church of Sanford, NC (1893-1993) v + 90 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Religious History Book Award (1994)
Sept. 1995 *Moore County Bible Project (Volume III) for MCGS. iv + 71 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Willie Parker Peace History Book Award (1996)
June 1997 *The Bountiful Legacy Of A Mother: Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Buffalo Community /
Sanford, North Carolina (1797- 1997) vii + 222 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Ethel Twiford Religious History Book Award (1997)
Sept. 1999 *Old Moore County, N.C. Vital Statistics (1784- 1890) iv + 255 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Willie Parker Peace History Book Award (1999)
Aug. 2001 *Central North Carolina Vital Statistics (1784-1913) iv + 229 pages.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Willie Parker Peace History Book Award (2001)
*North Carolina Genealogical Society- Award For Excellence in Publishing (2001)
Periodicals (size 8 ½" x 11" )
Mar. 1986 Lee County Genealogical & Historical Society Newsletter (Quarterly Newsletter)
Primary Contributor of Material (March 1986- December 1988)
Contributor of Material (January 1, 1998- Present)
The Times (Paid Editor & Publisher- October 2002 - Present)
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Joe M. McLaurin Award (2003 & 2004)
Mar. 1988 Moore County Genealogical Society Newsletter (Bi-Monthly Newsletter)
Editor (March 15, 1988- March 17, 1990)
Mar. 1990 *Central North Carolina Journal (Quarterly Journal) xxxv + 526 pages
Editor and Publisher (January 1, 1990- December 1994)
*North Carolina Society of Historians- The Journal Award (1992, 1993 & 1994)
Feb. 1998 *Alltel Directory (Annual) Contributor of old photographs for Our Hometown and Area
Attractions historical pages (February 1998 & February 1999)
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (1998)
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (1999)
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (2000)
* North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (2001)
Periodicals (size 7 ¾" x 10 ¾" )
Feb. 1998 *Cape Fear Journal (Monthly / Bi-Monthly Journal) Averasboro Press, Erwin, NC
Contributor of photographs for Central North Carolina Collection of James Vann Comer historical
page (February 1998- March / April 1999)
*CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION
(Original files- Comer Genealogical Services, 410 Olde Towne Drive, Hawkins Run development, Sanford,
NC and Microfilm copy- North Carolina State Archives, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC, Search Room,
Microfilm Room, Miscellaneous Collections Local History Z.1.66.1-30)
1972-Present Microfilmed by NC State Archives (1995) Reels 1-30
Full Index compiled by Jerry L. Cross, Research Branch, NC State Archives (1996) Reel 31
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Jehu Barringer, Jr. & Sr. Special Award (1998)
NATIONAL REGISTER
1995-1999 *Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Cemeteries (Original White & Black Cemeteries and
Matthews Family Cemetery).
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (1998)
Certificate of Entry in the National Register of Historic Places- February 5, 1999.
GENETIC RESEARCH
2000-Present Family Genealogical / Medical Research with respect to the Alzheimer's Disease.
*North Carolina Society of Historians- Paul Green Multi-Media Award (2000)
Go to Old Moore County, NC Vital Statistics
Go to Introduction to Buffalo Church
Go to Comer's Book Summaries
Go to Euphronia Presbyterian Church History
Go to Unknown Resources for Scottish-American Research in Central NC & Upper Cape Fear Region
Return to Myrtle's Genealogy Page