Kelly Tyus of Fairfield recently received the certificate and monetary award from Texas State Genealogical Society. Ms. Tyus entered and won second place in the 2025 TxSGS contest category “Books by a Non-Professional / Family History” for her family history book titled “The Legacy of Robert Malone Tyus: Sussex County, Virginia to Freestone County, Texas.
The goal of “The Legacy of Robert Malone Tyus” book was to preserve the Tyus family legacy and rich heritage for future generations. The book begins with the Tyus lineage from England to America. Then the focus is on Robert Malone Tyus who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, served as a Texas Ranger, became a citizen and veteran of the Republic of Texas, and was an influential part of Freestone County history.
The Tyus book contains 996 pages which includes the Tyus family lineage; family history of Robert M. Tyus and wife Amanda C. Haynie; their son Wiliam Thomas Tyus and wife Texana Winkler; grandson Walter Atlee Tyus and wife Mattie B. Fail; great grandson, Haynie Barns Tyus and wife Kerry L. McAdams. The book includes over 700 descendants of Robert and Amanda Tyus from the first generation in 1851 to the current fifth generation in 2025.
Ms. Tyus is standing next to the Tyus Cemetery Historical Marker which was certified and declared as a Historic Texas Cemetery in 2023 by the Texas Historical Commission. The large tombstone to the right in the background is the grave of Robert Malone Tyus and Amanda C. Haynie. The smaller tombstone is the gravesite of William Thomas Tyus and Texanna Winkler.
Ms. Tyus is a member of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Sterling C. Robertson Chapter in Waco; Former Texas Ranger Association; The Daughters of the American Revolution; Freestone County Historical Commission and The Freestone County Historical Museum.
The TxSGS judge’s comment was “A great deal of research was done for this compilation. What a great resource for the author’s family!”
