Sharon Samples is a genealogist, art educator, and the founder of Leaf River Genealogy. Her work centers on the recovery and preservation of family histories, with a focus on the Gulf South, including Alabama and Mississippi.

Drawing from archival records, oral histories, and historical context, she helps individuals and families reconnect with their lineage—particularly stories that have been fragmented or obscured over time. Her practice is informed by her broader creative work, including Reclaiming the Gaze (The Keepers), where genealogy becomes both research and remembrance.