Okay, tonight I found out that a gal I went to high school with died a few months ago. Neither her or I were particularly close in high school, but I’d kind of like to know what happened to her. There were only 57 in my graduating class, and AFAIK, she’s the first one to die since graduation. I checked my hometown newspaper’s website and for a fee, I could find out, but like I said, she and I weren’t particularly close, so I don’t want to shell out the money just to find out what happened (or when, since I don’t have the specific date for that, either).
You can try your library (or Nashville Main) for a couple of things:
Is it possible that they will have a copy of the town newspaper (either print or microfilm)?
If not, will they be able to get a copy for you through inter-library loan? This is generally a free service, but you’re likely going to need to know the specific item that you need to get.
Well, I tried the SS Death Index, but didn’t find her, so I’m assuming that she got married and changed her last name (only 1 hit under her first and last name and that was someone who died in 1978 at the age of 75, so definately not her), which will make it a mite bit harder. (A google search under her first and last name turns up a ton of hits all talking about a British actress/director.) Lsura, its doubtful your suggestion would work, since I grew up in Ohio, so it’s unlikely that any libraries here would either have a copy of the paper or be able to get it.
Actually the inter-library loan will get you microfilm from other states - I’ve used it at the Nashville main branch before, a couple years ago. I think there is a small charge for it, though.
I don’t think the Mormons are going to have something that recent. They don’t get records until someone microfilms them and sends them in.
Your best and cheapest bet is probably to just email or write the newspaper and ask them for a copy of the obituary. People do it all the time. They aren’t going to charge you for just one obituary.
I don’t know what this person means to you, but it may be worthwhile to check. When I was young (and living in Europe), I was told by mutual friends that someone close to me had died. It was 20 years before we reunited. She believed I didn’t want to talk to her anymore (there were reasons). I believed she was dead. Much mutual self-kicking ensued. Violent kicking of others should have followed.
Beware of internet search sites.
I’ve tried a few with poor results, or they located the wrong person with a sort-of-similar name, and they refused to answer requests for refunds.
If it was a recent death, within 6 months, the internet sites might not have an updated SS Death index yet.
It should have been recorded under her maiden name. Try variations on the spelling of her name. Also, it would be recorded under her last known address, so the state recorded with it, might be different then you think.
Well, it’s been less than six months, I’m guessing (the only date I have is “fall”). I didn’t do a search using the state option since I’ve no idea where she was living when she died. She also had a sister about my age, so it might have been her sister and not her who died. (Mom only remembered the last name, not the first.)
The edition of the Social Security Death Index available to subscribers to the genealogy site Ancestry.com is usually the most recent. As I write, Ancestry’s SSDI has deaths reported to the Social Security Administration through September 2003. Many public libraries now have subscriptions to Ancestry Plus, the library version of their online genealogy service.
No, not necessarily. The Social Security Administration uses whatever name a woman prefers, either her maiden name or her married name. Most married women in the SSDI appear under their married name.