I need help!

My great grandmother was Mamie Ann Robertson. (who married William Herbert Watkins, born 1905, Ky) I have been told growing up she was 50% Cherokee. She was born in 1907 in Virginia. She never ever talked about her life as a youth and rarely of the past itself. There is no doubt she was Cherokee. Nor my grandmother, or my father or myself. The genetics surfaced in a very strong and visible way. We all get the social benefits and disadvantages of our looks. (mostly disadvantages) My “uncle” Frank in WV used to talk about our heritage. I was so young tho. Not even 10. My remaining living family took no interest in any of this. I have tried in the past to connect the dots and I run into wall after wall. Not only did the gov make it near impossible to trace this. ‘my’ own people are distrusting because every Tom Dick and Harry wants some sorta benefit. I’m not in this for that! Dear god! Someone help me, please! It feels like I’m looking for a needle in a haystack with a blindfold on. So maybe I’m going about this wrong or I’m not looking in the right places. I tried this in the past and it nearly drove me to the brink of insanity. I’m not giving up this time. Thank you to anyone that bothers to read this and provide and help hints or clues! <3