Our Twig on the Wilson Family Tree

By Bill Thompson

Our twig on the Wilson Family Tree (descendants of Dixon Lewis Wilson and Elizabeth Biddle Wilson) gathered for reunion in Plano, TX June 13-14, 2014.  We hailed from Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.  For the 2 full days we visited, told family stories, shared information about many who were unable to attend, and dined on fabulous Tex-Mex cuisine on 3 occasions.

While our entire gathering was one super highlight most of us were thoroughly impressed with the Sixth Floor Museum in the Book Depository Building from which Oswald shot President John F. Kennedy.  Dallas sports many historic and cultural attractions and most of us would attest that a looksee at this museum is a must see for anyone visiting the Big D.  We rode to downtown Dallas on the DART train, Dallas’ version of a subway without the sub. 

This year’s affair was coordinated by cousins Donny and Margie Barton of Plano.  The visitor packets they presented were crammed with interesting items the crown jewel of which was a mug decorated with a picture of our Dixon/Elizabeth family.

The dominant theme of our conversation was family, near and far particularly those dealing with challenging health issues preventing many from attending this year.  Cousin Madelyn Ball shared a fascinating account of her trip to China this past year.  It was obvious that us Wilsons are very critter-conscious with entertaining experiences with dogs, cats, birds, turtles, skunks, squirrels, raccoons, and the like.

For those of a genealogical ilk cousin Diane Copley shared her “discoveries” of 2 generations back past Dixon L. Wilson.  We are in hopes this information will find its way into publication and posting on the family website.  Speaking of additional Wilson kin, cousin Donny Barton and I have made contact with a Wilson descendent of William Ransom Wilson, a brother of our great grandfather, Dixon.  She is MiChal Hall and had planned to join us in Plano until a family medical problem intervened.  We very much hope she can be with us when next we gather.

As we shared about kinfolk who have passed away and others with aging and health issues a consensus was reached to meet again in 2015.  Cousins Gerald and Shirley Strickland have agreed to coordinate a gathering in north GA.

Those attending this year included:  Madelyn Ball;  Rhonda and Keith Rawls and their children, Sharon and Jesse;  Ken Jr and Pam Frame;  Richard and Diane Copley; Sue and George Thomas and Sue’s son Jacob McVay;  Donny (Sonny) and Margie Barton;  Bill & Helen Thompson.