The beginning of our family legacy.
Before you read a single word watch this. This is where we come from.
The story of the Mays family is deeply rooted in the legacy of the Dantzler family of Orangeburg County, South Carolina
a lineage defined by resilience, leadership, and generational excellence.
At the center of this connection is Rebecca Dantzler Mays,
the bridge between two powerful family lines.
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Our story is not just history, it is a living legacy rooted in strength, resilience, and unity.
The journey begins in the late 1800s with two powerful foundations.
On one side, the legacy of Alexander David Dantzler, born in 1846, who rose from slavery to freedom, securing land, building businesses, and establishing a foundation of independence and leadership in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. His legacy became one of faith, perseverance, and generational empowerment that shaped countless lives to follow.
On the other side, the union of William Arthur Mays and Emma Fersner, whose marriage around 1895 marked the beginning of a beautiful journey rooted in love, family, and lasting memories. Their foundation created a legacy centered on connection, growth, and the power of family bonds that would stretch across generations.
Where the Legacies Unite
At the heart of this story stands Rebecca Dantzler Mays, the bridge between two powerful family lines.
Born into the historic Dantzler lineage, Rebecca carried forward a legacy built on resilience and achievement. Through her marriage to Dannie Mays of Orangeburg, South Carolina, she united the strength of the Dantzler heritage with the love and foundation of the Mays family, creating a connection that continues to define our family today.
Through this union, the Mays-Fersner-Dantzler legacy was born, not as separate histories, but as one unified story.
From Orangeburg, South Carolina to cities across the United States,
the descendants of this union have continued to grow, evolve, and thrive.
Our family includes:
Builders of communities
Leaders in their fields
Entrepreneurs, Educators, and Professionals
Families rooted in love, unity, and legacy
More Than History-This Is Who We Are
We don’t just remember William and Emma.
We also honor Alexander Dantzler and Georgianna Kittrell
Check out this great video
Honoring the Mays-Fersner-Dantzler Legacy
The legacy of Dannie Mays, Rebecca Dantzler Mays, Alexander David Dantzler, and Georgianna Kittrell reflects the strength, love, and unity that continue to shape our family today. Through their lives and the generations that followed,
the Mays-Fersner-Dantzler name has grown into
a powerful tribute to heritage, connection, and resilience.
To know where you're going, you have to know where you come from.
This book exists because someone refused to let names be forgotten.
For years, family members have volunteered their time — searching records, chasing documents, and digging through archives — to ensure every branch of this tree is documented and preserved.
Flip through the pages. Find your grandmother. Find your grandfather. Find the branch that belongs to you.
That's not the end of the story — that's your invitation to write the next chapter.
Every missing name is a gap in the record. Every unsubmitted photo is a face that history won't remember. Every family that doesn't update their information leaves their children out of a document that will outlast all of us.
And the Heritage Book?
That's not just a keepsake. It's a record. A living document of who we are and where we come from. When you don't submit your family information, you're not just leaving out your name — you're leaving your children and their children out of the story. You're leaving your parents out of the story. You're letting your branch of this tree go undocumented.
That's not just a missed opportunity. It's a disrespect to the ancestors who fought to make sure you exist.
So update your information using the links below. Submit your photos. Tell your story.
Because your branch of this family matters — and it belongs in the record.
Submit your family for the Heritage Book update:
• Your current photo
• Your family unit — spouse, children, grandchildren
• Where you live now
• How you connect to the Mays-Fersner line
TOGETHER WE RISE
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