On a sunny March day, in a historic schoolhouse about thirty minutes south of Sacramento, CA the Peters family prepares to celebrate the 85th birthday of mother, grandmother, and friend, Claudean Thomas. You might recognize Claudean as the baton-twirling firecracker from Trust & Will’s social media videos last year. You may also know her as the grandmother of our Director of Content, Molly Peters.
In the same room, we had three generations of women: Molly, her mother Jill, and Claudean. “What am I, chopped liver?” retorted Mike Peters, Molly’s dad, as the photographer snapped photos of Molly and Jill kissing Claudean’s cheeks.
The legacy of this family extends beyond a party and beyond photographs, and into the land itself. Claudean and her husband, Dave, have lived there for over forty years. The party itself was set in a restored schoolhouse that recently created a town buzz when it was picked up and moved to a new location. The magic of the 1883 Clarksburg Schoolhouse is preserved by volunteer groups and the extensive literature that papers the walls. Ironically, Clarksburg is a town that prides itself on oral tradition. “There have never been any local newspapers,” according to Clarksburg’s Oral History Project. “Our history is passed down orally through our legacy families. Precious elderly individuals are leaving us without passing on their stories and memories. We have a time-sensitive opportunity to capture this invaluable information.” Which makes it all the more special to be exchanging memories, photographs, videos, and song lyrics on its foundation.
The party was attended by a crowd of lifelong friends, neighbors, family, partners, and, of course, the King of Legacy himself: the Elvis Presley…impersonator. Claudean didn’t miss a beat dancing with–and smooching on–the gyrating performer. Elvis was the talent, but Claudean was clearly the star; a beloved icon watched and joined by her tribe. Jill and Molly matched Claudean’s sweeping, freestyle dance motions, singing along to “Jailhouse Rock” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” breaking off every so often to dance with their significant others and friends, but always returning back to one another.
In an interview with the Peters/Thomas family, they credited much of their understanding of life to one another. It became clear that each generation took Claudean’s approach to life–passionate about fun, full of love, and kindness-forward–and built the foundation of their own lives upon it. Even Mike, who–not unlike chopped liver–is deeply supportive, rich in energy, and relays a beautiful vision of his family (did you know chopped liver is good for your vision, by the way?). In a family conversation, Mike shares his admiration for his wife’s generosity and its impact on his own life. Jill describes her daughter Molly as “fiercely independent,” a phrasing that makes Molly roll her eyes, but the irony is not lost as she characterizes her own grandmother as someone who “doesn’t take no crap.” And to take us home, Jill remarks on Claudean’s passion for life and for fun.
This was apparent in that this three-hour function was juiced for maximum fun. No time was wasted–even Elvis squeezed in two sets, and more than one rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes.” Claudean sipped on champagne while family members pulled up vintage family photos on an iPad. Photoshoots were taken with a large group of neighbors, laughing as they tried to fit everyone into the photo. Claudean ended her day singing her favorite song, “Amazing Grace,” with her friends, family, and Elvis, in a structure that belongs to a town in which she’s engrained.
In the interview with her family, Claudean said that nearly every day, she wakes up and says, “Here I am.”
“Legacy” is a lot of things, and protecting a legacy doesn’t just mean allocating money. Perhaps true legacy is passing down stories of a restored schoolhouse, or the legend of July 4th baton-twirling. Maybe it’s a street named after lifelong residents of a small town, or passing down a family home. Maybe its song lyrics that generations can sing together under one roof. Or maybe, when we gather with friends in one room or simply think about them as we revisit old photos, “legacy” is the preservation of an outlook on life: “here I am,” because of who came before.
Your family’s life lessons and stories deserve to be preserved and passed down for generations. An estate plan is more than a set of documents—it’s a vessel for your legacy. It ensures that the memories, values, traditions, and tangible pieces of your life are protected and thoughtfully handed down. Whether it’s a family recipe, a cherished heirloom, or life lessons, estate planning gives you the power to preserve what matters most. It’s a way to say, “this is who we are,” and to honor the lives that came before while shaping the future for those who come next.
At Trust & Will, we’re here to help keep things simple. You can create a fully customizable, state-specific estate plan from the comfort of your own home. Take our free quiz to see where you should get started, or compare our different estate planning and settlement options today!
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