AUGUSTA, Ga. - Two sisters who didn't know the other existed for 40 years met for the first time at the Augusta Regional Airport, Friday.

When Bridget Payne saw her sister, Jackie Galloway walking out of the terminal she couldn’t stop smiling. She has been waiting for this moment since she found out about her sister Jackie this past May.

“I’m happy to see you too,” Jackie said after running and embracing her sister.

“You’re so beautiful, Jackie said to her sister.

“It’s in our genes,” Bridget responded.

When asked how they were feeling the ladies said they overwhelmed and anxious.

Both women were born in Los Angeles, California.

Bridget’s husband, Marc Payne says one of the reasons they were separated is partially due to her father being in the military.

"Because of the military and the personal things that happen with men and women, things happen and children are born out of wedlock,” Marc said.

These women used the popular networking site known as Facebook to find each other.

“On Facebook, I decided to do a search, for a Jacquelyn Galloway and I didn’t say anything about my background, just that I was looking for a Jacquelyn that was 40, that could be my sister,” said Bridget.

She received a positive response.

Jackie wrote back: “Hi Bridget, Yes, I am African American, you may be my sister. I really don’t know my family except for my father’s side.”

Bridget said after recognizing the names Jackie mentioned in her message she knew she found her sister.

She wrote back:

“Jackie, I am screaming and in tears. I just ran downstairs to tell my husband what I read of your response. You are my sister.”

“I was so excited. I was jumping with joy. I was just like is this true, is this real?” Jackie exclaimed.

Bridget and Jackie are three years apart, Bridget being the eldest.

Bridget was raised mostly in Michigan by her father and grandmother and Jackie was raised by an adopted mother in California.

"We've have a lot of talking to do, a lot of catching up to do, a lot of pictures to see," Jackie said.

Bridget lives in Augusta, which is why they decided to meet each other here.

After meeting each other, the ladies said they now know more information about their biological mother.

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