WILSONS  AGLOW  IN  TUPELO
JUNE 22-23, 2012
by Bill Thompson

What a blast!! Cousin Sue Thomas coordinated our super gathering in Tupelo, MS. We gathered mostly in the lobby of Farifield Inn & Suites and enjoyed a great meal at Harvey's Restaurant. Most arrived Friday afternoon with some additions joining us around noon and following on Saturday.

Since our whole affair was one huge highlight it is difficult to characterize any event as “special” or more special than another. How neat to meet some new additions to our extended family and see “old” cousins we only get to see at these family gatherings. We relished every tidbit of reports from/about family members who were unable to be with us. While it is obvious that our extended family have many challenges to deal with, one is struck by the extent to which they not only survive but thrive even in circumstances that pose major obstacles to distant traveling.

For the sake of a bit of chronology our youngest attendee was Cayleigh Campbell, 10 months - daughter of Katie & David Campbell; great, great, great granddaughter of our progenitors, Dixon L. and Elizabeth B. Wilson. Our oldest attendee was Billie Jean Felder Baker, 83, granddaughter of Dixon and Elizabeth Wilson.

Cousin Donny Barton continues to keep us on the cutting edge of electronic “togetherness” by way of the Wilson Family Website ( http://dixonleewilson.net ) which we hope everyone online will check out periodically for family information. There are found pictures, videos, reports of family events, information about future gatherings, etc.

Cousin Madelyn Ball emerged as our premiere story teller as she shared true stories from her branch of the family tree. Hopefully her hilarious rendering of her “dog psychic” and “Mexican connection” will find their way onto the family website or otherwise be shared for all to enjoy.

We were saddened as we noted the death of cousin Saranell Dickerson having lost her battle with leukemia on Monday prior to the reunion. Our hearts and prayers go out to her immediate family, some of whom had planned to be with us.  Saranell was a primary mover/shaker in getting us together these past few years. She was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by our whole family.

We will next gather the second week of June 2014 in Plano, TX near Dallas with cousins Margie and Donny Barton coordinating.

To quote Barbara Walters, “we're in touch, so you'll be in touch”;
Cousin Bill Thompson