Ryan’s recommendation

Jody, Bryce, and the Red Dirt team did so much more than giving us short videos. They gave us a legacy to pass on, memories for my grandmother to recall for the first time most of us had ever heard them, and a deeper appreciation of where we came from and the values our grandmother hopes we continue on with, come what may. Jody was masterful in her interview, making my grandmother comfortable; no small feat for a woman who has always hated attention. My grandmother was totally at ease throughout and every step of the way was a new gift, as we discovered photos, stories, and cherished moments that couldn’t be captured in words.

My 95 year grandmother’s life was uprooted to central Pennsylvania after a few falls that required us to move her closer to my family. Her loss of independence was coupled with a family-wide sense that our connections to the legacy stories that shaped the framework of our family’s founding would be left behind in the crooked valleys of Tennessee. Yet, when we discovered Red Dirt Recollective, that fear of loss became a deeper joy of gaining stories we had never heard.

Legacy and what matters in life is often elusive while a person is alive. Yet, Red Dirt Recollective’s ability to capture the roots of my grandmother’s life well lived is a priceless gift we will cherish forever. Thank you team! - Ryan