Terri Sellers
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Family History Research
- Military
- DNA
- Family History Research
- Available for in-person events
- Available for virtual events
Terri Sellers is the owner of Jordan Genealogy and has been researching family history for more than 30 years.
Her interest in genealogy began unexpectedly in 1994 during a trip to Salt Lake City. With time to spare between NCAA basketball tournament games, Terri's mother suggested that she visit the Family History Library and see what she could learn about the maternal grandfather her mother had lost as a young child. What began as a single search quickly grew into a lifelong passion for discovering and documenting family stories.
Terri's own research has uncovered ancestors and family stories spanning centuries, including a Mayflower passenger, two ancestors executed during the Salem witch trials, and a great-great-grandfather whose experiences she traced throughout his Civil War service.
A scientist by training, Terri brings the same analytical approach to genealogy that she used throughout more than 29 years as a federal environmental professional. She also taught environmental science at the collegiate level for more than 18 years. Terri holds bachelor's degrees in biology and marine biology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and a master's degree in environmental policy from American University in Washington, D.C.
Terri’s research interests include 18th- and 19th-century U.S. genealogy, immigrant and migration research, military records, and Irish, English, Swedish and German and Swiss catholic ancestry. She has experience reconstructing families through a combination of civil, church, probate, land, military, and other historical records, incorporating DNA evidence when appropriate.
Her scientific background shapes her approach to genealogical research: developing research questions, evaluating evidence, carefully documenting sources, resolving conflicting information, and drawing conclusions supported by the available evidence. Her training in biology also provides a valuable foundation for incorporating DNA evidence into traditional genealogical research.
Terri is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, where she serves on the Continuing Education Committee, as well as the National Genealogical Society and the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches.
Through Jordan Genealogy, Terri helps clients uncover, document, and understand their family histories. For her, genealogy is more than identifying names and dates—it is about reconstructing the lives of the people behind them and placing their stories within the historical world in which they lived.
International
SW Ireland
England
Sweden
Germany (southern catholics)
Switzerland
United States
Missouri
Kentucky
Tennessee
Alabama (NW)
North Carolina
"When a parent can't or won't talk about their lives, it can leave a person with many unanswered questions and misunderstandings about their parent. When they have passed on, it can feel like all is lost. In a brief session with Terri, I was able to answer many questions spanning four generations. It helped me piece together stories I had been told and gave me better insights into the life of my paterna grandmother and grandfather. I am deeply grateful for this information." - MT in California.
"I cannot recommend Terri Sellers highly enough. After my father's passing, I needed help locating records and piecing together information about his life and our family history. What felt overwhelming and emotional, quickly became manageable due to her expertise, patience and genuine care. Not only was she thorough and detail-oriented in tracking down documentation, but she also approached the entire process with compassion, respect and genuine interest. " - TB in Florida
US Civil War
APG Southeast Chapter Newsletter - March 2026. "Walt Disney said it all started with a mouse. For me it all started with a family story and a scrap of paper."
Basics of DNA and Using it to Answer Genealogy Questions
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
English and some French
Member - Associated Daughters of Early American Witches
Member - National Genealogical Society
Member - Saint Louis Genealogical Society (St. Louis, Mo)
Member - N FL Genealogical Society
B.S. Biology & Marine Biology
M.A. Environmental Policy