Daily Archives: 2 January 2026

Passing of Lucille Osborne, Presiding Spirit of the Alabama Black McGruders

It has been a very sad year for McGruthers, McGruders, Magruders, and all who care about our history. In February, we lost Sue Emerson, author of the monumental genealogy project, Magruders in America. In October, Duncan (Don) McGruther left us. Back in the 1990s, Don’s thorough search of Scottish records disproved the American belief that Alexander the Immigrant was a member of Clan Gregor. He actually set out to prove the relationship, but found nothing to support it and much to suggest it was impossible. Along the way he uncovered the details of MacGrouther history–all 500 years of it.

(Both Don’s book, Wha’s Like Us? : MacGrouthers in Scotland before 1855 and Sue’s Magruders in America will soon be available through this site. Watch for an update.)

Now Lucille Osborne, matriarch and grand spirit of the Alabama McGruder tribe, has departed this earth.

If you don’t recall Miss Lucille, you can meet her in my 2021 post “Miss Lucille & the Alabama Black McGruders win an Emmy!” or read her profile in the pages of J.R. Rothstein’s 2022 book, The Alabama Black McGruders. Through decades of shared research by the family, Lucille’s memories and discoveries, her encouragement, her persistence, and her positive attitude helped keep the ball rolling and the work joyful.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 3, 10:00 Eastern time, at the Church of the Holy Family in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and live streamed on the church’s YouTube channel.

I understand that Miss Lucille’s obituary will be published after the service. I will update here with a link.

Magruder’s Landing Is Back!

Sincere apologies to everyone who has supported this site over the years, and to new visitors who may have been wondering if it has gone dead. 2025 was a very bad year for me personally, but I think I have my head back above water and can start afresh with the new year, once again posting research news, queries, and Magruder news.

Let this be a reminder to those of you who persist in believing that Magruder’s Landing has staff. Oh, don’t I wish! Maybe a professional genealogist, maybe a correspondence editor? No, friends, it’s just me–my obsessions, my curiosities, my hope to help those looking for ancestors and the contexts in which they lived.

Despite not posting, I have tried to keep up on messages and approving comments. If I missed you, please write again. And please keep the messages coming.

As you’ll see in my next post, it has been a hard road, as well, for the whole McGruther / McGruder / Magruder community. We have lost three trailblazers, visionaries who were also indefatigable researchers. They have given us the foundations, so let’s work together to keep the discoveries coming.