On Saturday, October 7, 2023 the Williams Family held its 120th Annual Reunion at the Galilee United Methodist Church, located in Graceville. Bruce Williams and Peggy Williams greeted and welcomed guests with true southern hospitality to the heartwarming event.
The ceremony began with Reunion Chairman, Jon Steverson, welcoming all those in attendance and delivering a report for the William Family Association. He began by asking all the board members to stand for an ovation from the crowd before explaining their role and asking Chairman-Elect Manely Cummings to ratify the officer positions.
Manley Cummings, is in charge of the nominating committee, noted that the association has “a full board right now, but are always looking for people that are… interested in becoming a part of the board.” Officer nominations included Jon Steverson for Chairman, Tom Bowen for Secretary, Bill Williams as treasurer, and Gil Williams as historian. The nominees were ap- proved with support from all those in attendance.
Chairman Jon Steverson then discussed the late State Senator Robert Williams, who first explored the idea and benefits of establishing a Family Association. Sadly, Senator Williams passed on before seeing his idea come into existence. Later, a group “chaired by DB Williams” resurrected the idea and fi- nally organized the Family Association in October of 1995, and it became tax exempt in September of 1997, explained Steverson.
The Association has a board of directors consisting of 20 people, and a board of trustees consisting of 7 people. The Association has expanded the line of communication to the fam- ily as it dispersed across the nation over the years, and increased contributions “to intensify ongoing gene- alogical research and provid- ing funds necessary for the Williams Family newsletter.”
The Williams Family Association also gives scholarships to deserving and qualified high school seniors. “We can do nothing better than to support our young people,” explained Steverson. “We need more like-minded individuals that are of direct bloodline de- scendant of Andrew Williams willing to serve on the board,” stated Jon Steverson urging attendees to become involved. Board members have two meetings to attend; the spring planning meeting in May and the business meeting the night before the reunion. He encouraged consideration and conver- sation on becoming a mem- ber of the Williams Family Association.
Moving on, Steverson referred to the writings of Beau Williams noting the Williams Family Reunion as being “close to becoming a part of American history.” The Williams family brought the customs of frontier America upon settling in the rural area. Their beliefs and lifestyles were strength- ened by isolation and de- veloped into a distinct sub- culture, explained Steverson. The Williams Clan’s “deep Christian faith, love of family and community, and deep belief in self made them very independent people that were hardworking, honest, and believed they could make a better life for themselves through their own efforts,” said Steverson. These traits and traditions were passed down and the reunion helps maintain their “moral compass, sense of belonging, and identity that is sadly missing in today’s ruthless and [pleasure-seeking] society, we are much better for it,” Steverson read.
The first organized reunion was held in 1803 on Reddick Mill family property. Following other reunions in which no records were kept, the event rotated locations year after year leading to confusion, so in the 1930s the meeting place was fixed at Galilee United Methodist Church in Graceville, which was given by George Franklin Williams Senior and is the final resting place for many family members. The 1918 food epidemic and 2020 Covid pandemic are the only interruptions to the reunion in the past 120 years. The Williams Family Reunion has brought together as many as 3000 attendees over the years, with governors and senators attending along with other politicians. Steverson went on to say that Congressman Bob Sikes was adopted by the Williams Clan and often referred to himself as Bob Williams-Sikes. Sikes was one of the only nonrelatives that was allowed to be a keynote speaker at the Reunion.
Many articles have been written over the years by many media outlets, proclaiming the event as “America’s happiest family reunion.” Though the family has dispersed around the nation and times have changed, they have preserved their history and are called back to the local area the family first settled in, each year preserving their treasured alliance through their commitment to this tradition. They find peace in knowing that no matter where their children are later in life, they can come to Galilee United Methodist Church to find family gathered the first week of every October, explained Steverson.
Jon Steverson then introduced treasurer Bill Williams who led the invocation and remembrance of deceased family members. Before beginning, Bill Williams recognized all of those attending the Williams Family Reunion for the first time, greeting them with a warm round of applause as he urged the family to welcome and engage these new attendees. Those that have passed on included Charter Board Member Doug Williams, Earl Williams who always attended the reunions, and Martha McKnight who passed away this summer at 102 years of age. The crowd then stood for a moment of silence and prayer in remembrance of those the family has lost before joining together in The Pledge of Allegiance.
Lamar Faircloth and his children in attendance gathered on stage to recite The Pledge of Allegiance together, with the crowd joining in support behind them. Before beginning, Lamar Faircloth noted how important family is, especially in modern times. After The Pledge, Teresa Farkas and Alice Hall joined Lamar Faircloth in leading the congregation in singing “God Bless America,” followed by “Amazing Grace.” After the songs, Mr. Faircloth speculated that the angels above likely fell quite to listen to the crowd rejoice.
Next, Bruce Williams took to the podium to lead the group in the Williams Family Prayer. A prayer focused on showing gratitude, strength, and happiness in the togetherness that comes with the family bond established so long ago by the Williams Clan.
Sherri Mitchell then took to the podium to give a report on the scholarships the Williams Family Association awards each year to deserving and qualifying senior students. This year, they were able to award two scholarships to “two amazing young ladies.” The $2500 scholarship was awarded to Bella Capaldo from Houston Academy in Dothan Alabama. Bella Capaldo is currently attending the University of Alabama in Birmingham, majoring in bioengineering, specializing in neural engineering. She is entered into this prestigious program that only accepts 50 students. She has also won several other scholarships. The Association also awarded a $1500 scholarship to Lilian Williams from Vidalia Heritage Academy in Vidalia, Georgia. She is currently attending Georgia Southern University, where she also received the Georgia Southern University President’s Scholarship. Lilian Williams has been accepted to the University of Georgia for her second year. She accrued 13 college credits while still in high school.
Andrew Williams then took to the podium to give special recognition to the attendees. He began with recognizing all those present that had never missed a family reunion in their lifetime, bringing applauds to Tessi Meyers, age 62, whose late father had also never missed a reunion prior to his recent death at the age of 84. Next, Andrew Williams called to recognition the oldest attendee at this year’s reunions, 95-year-old Jerry Williams and 90-year-old Brenda Williams. Andrew Williams then called on the youngest attendee to be recognized, a sweet little girl in her first year of life, Meredith Vickers. Then, Andrew Williams recognized those traveling the furthest distance to attend to Williams Family Reunion, which included families from Norfolk, Virginia; Rockwell, Maryland; and Loudoun County, Virgina. Andrew Williams then asked the various families that make up the Williams Clan to rise in recognition of their branch of the family tree, including those that are descendant’s of Andrew Elton Willliams, Martha Brett, and Cerena Underwood.
Family historian and editor of the newsletter, Gil Williams, then explained the family history that drives the Williams Family Reunion. Gil Williams noted that he is working on updating the Family History Book and urged all to sign up at the registration table to bring the record up to date. Gil Williams is hoping to implement an online form by Thanksgiving that will allow a simple submission of information with the Williams Family Association to help preserve this historical record. Devoted to his role as historian, Gil Williams has been working with the Huxford Genealogical Society to fulfill his duties, noting that “there just is so much history” to the Williams family that he is working on at this time. Before encouraging all that are interested to come to him with any questions or information.
Chairman Jon Steverson then took the podium for closing remarks, reading a passage from the writings of “Al Burke’. One passage in which the author describes the Williams Family Reunion as a “festival of love, enthusiastic praying, and no-hold feasting, panhandle style.” The passage pays respect to the devotion and ethics of the Williams Clan and their commitment to their history. Still today, the Williams Family Reunion remains true to the ritual and organization of this long-standing ceremony that has kept their family bond strong and loyal after all this time.
Teresa Farkas, Alice Hall, and Lamar Faircloth then led the group once more in song, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” To conclude the event, benediction and Grace was led by Chairman-Elect, Manely Cummings. After, those in attendance gathered for a group photo before enjoying the many delicious dishes of a potluck lunch aimed to please any palate, as many brought some of their best recipes to be enjoyed while everyone visited amongst themselves. Some sharing memories, some mourning losses, and some meeting their extended families for the first time.