The History of Our Family Reunions
The family reunion concept is an extension of the family branch reunions of the past. In 1954, the Coggs and Rice families had a family picnic at the Coggs home in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ten years later, the eight children of Will Ross went to the family home in Malvern, Arkansas to celebrate the 70th birthday of their father. In 1965, the five children of Dr. and Mrs. Tandy W. Coggs commemorated the 50th wedding anniversary of their parents in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two members of the original birthday party were present, Mrs. Lula Anderson and Mrs. Kathryn Stewart.
In August 1968, Mrs. Minnie Richardson (daughter of Della and Mack Crowe) summoned the relatives from Arkansas, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma to her home near Tulsa for a family gathering. Those present vowed that the long wish of George Ross (the oldest child of Benjamin and Harriett) would be realized. George's oldest grandson, T.W. Owens, Jr. (son of Gladys and T.W. Owens Sr.) Clarence Crowe (son of Mack and Della), Clarence Harris (son of Lillie) and William Ross Jr. (son of Will) insisted that the memory of their ancestors would be kept alive.
The First National Rice Family Reunion was held in August 1971 at the Sheraton Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. William Ross, Jr. served as chairperson. The Family Tree was designed and introduced at this gathering.
The Second Reunion, three years later in 1974, was held at the Airport Park Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Miss Eloise Coggs was chairperson and introduced our first family church service at the Progressive Baptist Church, where her brother, Rev.erend T.W. Coggs was the pastor.
The Third Reunion was held in 1977 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Reverend Clarence Harris served as Chairperson. A day was spent in Okolona, Arkansas where services were held in the local church and a visit to the family graveyard.
The Fourth Reunion was held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1980. Mrs. Nancy Green served as Chairperson and introduced the first Souvenir program.
The Fifth Family Reunion was held at the Holiday Inn - Chicago City Centre in 1983 in Chicago, Illinois with Mrs. Doris Butler and Miss Nanette Coggs as Co-Chairpersons. All present received a copy of our first family Telephone Directory.
The Sixth Family Reunion held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1986 was grace by Mrs. Kathryn R. Stewart, the matriarch of the family as its Honorary Chairperson, Dr. William Ross Jr. served as Chairperson.
The Seventh Reunion was held in Washington, District of Columbia, our Nation's Capital. The rich history embodied in this city served as a fine backdrop to the Black family and our family gathering. What better place could there be for family fellowship, fun and excitement? Barbara Brooks Atkinson and Louis Coggs served as Co-Chairpersons.
The Eight Family Reunion was held in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1992, the Home State of President Bill Clinton. Reverend Clarence Harris and his son, Reverend Johnny Harris served as Co-Chairpersons.
The Ninth Reunion was held in the "Motor City", Detroit, Michigan. We were given a tour of the city including a visit to the first Black Church built in Detroit by former slaves. We dedicated this reunion to Dr. William Ross, Jr. who died July 7th, 1994. He was instrumental in starting our First National Reunion in 1971.
The Tenth Family Reunion was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. This reunion was dedicated to Mrs. Minnie Richardson (the daughter of Della Ross Crowe) who had a vision of continual family awareness and togetherness.
In 2001, the family met in Dallas, Texas for our Eleventh Family Reunion and first National Rice-Stovall Family Reunion. Mack Harris served as chairperson and we enjoyed our family picnic at Southfork, the home of J.R. and the rest of the Ewing clan.
The reunion was a great success!
The Twelfth Family Reunion returned to the Star of the South and the birthplace of Mollie Stovall, Atlanta, Georgia. The committee consisted of Nancy Green, Neiger Green, Precious Green, Barbara Jackson, Ebony Jackson, Jasper Jackson, Anthony Bellamy, Jonathan Bellamy Patricia Bellamy, Thomas Bellamy, Thomas Bellamy, Lawrence Bellamy and Mable Green. The pride continued.
The Thirteenth Family Reunion returned to Arkansas the home State of former President Bill Clinton and the resting place of many family members. Arkansas holds many of our forefathers and foremothers.
The Fourteenth Family Reunion location is Los Angeles, California which is known for the studios of Hollywood. Let's enjoy the cool mornings, warm days, cool nights and ocean breezes as we reunite in love and friendship. Lights, Camera, Action!
The Fifteenth Family Reunion returned to Detroit for the third time in 2013. Detroit is the birthplace of the first car - the Model T, built by Henry Ford. We toured Historical and famous sites like Hitsville USA, a recording studio. We had a picnic on Belle Isle, which sits in the Detroit River between the United States and Canada.
The Sixteenth Family Reunion is scheduled to be in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2016.
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The Seventeenth Family Reunion was held in Malvern, Arkansas in 2019.
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The Eighteenth Family Reunion will be held in Chicago, Illinois in 2023. (Stay tuned for updates)