Finding Daisy: From the Deep South to the Promised Land

FINDING DAISY
From the Deep South to the Promised Land

Why did Grandma Daisy lie about where she was born?

Driven by a desire for truth, author Kathy Marshall set out to uncover the secrets shrouded in her grandmother’s past. What began as a simple question quickly spiraled into a gripping, multi-state adventure—tracing Daisy’s footprints from the rugged dirt roads of the Deep South to the bustling streets of St. Louis and Cleveland.

Along the way, Marshall uncovers the extraordinary life of a woman who refused to be defined by her circumstances. Daisy made her mark as a fierce civic leader, a trailblazing embalmer, and a dedicated nurse. She was a force of nature—famous for her legendary cooking, her razor-sharp discipline, her beastly anger, and her undisputed, unconditional love. But her greatest test was yet to come.

Finding Daisy is a triumphant, deeply poignant story of resilience, hidden truths, and the quiet power of inner fortitude.

Want to uncover your own roots? The special chapter “Solving Your Mystery” provides practical, step-by-step guidance to help you research and write your own family’s story.

Winner of Multiple Book Awards:

• Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage

• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS)

• Northern California Publishers and Authors

Kathy Lynne Marshall is an acclaimed Black Ancestor Biographer who writes on behalf of those whose stories were nearly lost to time. Through her books, workshops, and consulting—including engagements with the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage and the Beverly Heritage Center—she elevates the American historical record by restoring thoroughly researched accounts of African American women and underrepresented voices.