A Durham resident who just loves Halloween has a great interest, appropriately enough, in the paranormal.

Tia Howe, a member of the Durham Historical Society, calls hera “spirit seeker.” She happens to live in the same town where famed horror novelist Stephen King grew up near a former Methodist church that some say is haunted. And Howe, 38, a Durham resident since 1998, is also a member of the Durham Cemetery Committee.

Growing up in Bradley and Milford, in the Bangor area, Howe graduated from Old Town High School in 1996. She recently married Greg Wilson, who hails from Maryland, and the couple live in a 190-year-old house. Between them they have four children. Kirston, 17, Hunter, 14, (another) Hunter, 12, and  Eliza, 12.

Wilson spoke about her interest in spirit-seeking with the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: What defines a spirit seeker?

A: For me, I am not a medium. I don’t claim to hold special abilities, but I will tell you I am very empathetic. I have been this way since I was a small child. Because of this, I have always been interested in cemeteries, genealogy and research. And I’m also am very interested in paranormal investigations. I think the true term, “spirit seeker,” defines those of us who are interested in the unknown, and we want to study and involve ourselves with it as much as we can.

Q: What do you do in that capacity and how often?

A: Like I said, I hold no powers. For me it is about the research of the unknown, and wanting to know as much as I can in order to embrace the mysteries behind it. I truly make this a part of my everyday life.

Q: Do you do this at people’s requests?

A: I am part of a paranormal investigation team, which has been to several locations to investigate spirits that home or business owners claim are inhabiting these locations. The house I live in is loaded with spirits, and I have caught spirit activity while investigating with the team. We do this upon request and free of charge.

Q: How does the spirit manifest itself?

A: Since I was a child, I have had deceased family members come to me, mostly in my dreams, with messages to be told. Others come while I am wide awake. Both grandfathers from the maternal and paternal sides have come to me while I am fully awake. I feel truly blessed to be able to experience this. I have also seen a friend’s grandmother, who I have never met who has passed. I saw both of my grandfathers as they were young and healthy. One grandfather I had never met, and the other, I saw him just how I remembered him back when I was a young child.

Q: Who or what (else) have you been able to contact? What has been the most special in that regard?

A: I am also positive I knew my sister before she was born. When I was younger, I had an imaginary friend named Judy. She was with me all the time. I always assumed she was imaginary until later in life. My sister was born when I was 3, and when she was born, Judy immediately disappeared. As my sister grew, I realized who I was looking at was my imaginary friend, Judy. My sister and I have always been close on so many levels. I truly believe some souls are connected. I feel as though my sister’s and my souls have been connected since the beginning of time. I know I have been with her with every life I have ever lived. I truly feel this way about my husband Greg, too. You just know when you have that connection. It is a feeling like no other.

Q: What is your role with the Durham Historical Society?

A: As of right now I am the secretary. We have very few members and are always looking for new people to join. I find myself researching Durham history on a daily basis. This is one reason I joined the historical society and the cemetery committee. I am a tombstone tourist, better known as a “taphophile.” The best way to describe it is an individual who has a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries, epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of deaths. Along with the historical society web page, I also run Facebook page called “Quest For The Unknown.”

Q: Is Halloween a special time?

A: Heck, ya! It is by far my favorite holiday. Of course, I would love anything creepy.

Spirit seeker Tia Howe of Durham gets special visits.