Wilson Reunion
Memphis, Tn
June 9-10, 2006
They came from Washington, California, Texas, Wisconsin, New
Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia,
Missouri, New York, South Carolina, and Mississippi. The lobby of
Wingage Inn in Memphis, TN, was the initial gathering place for
the second family reunion of this Wilson family - descendents of
Dixon Lee Wilson and Francis Elizabeth Bidldle Wilson of Attala
County Mississippi. As family members trickled in there were hugs,
hellos, and handshakes galore among many whom just a few weeks
before didn’t know each other existed.
This glorious gathering gained impetus from a somewhat spontaneous
get together of a smaller number in 05 in Grenada, MS when a “few
cousins” decided it was time for family to refresh relationships
too long neglected. As far as we knew our family had never
gathered for reunion. As word got out among extended family a
surprising interest was expressed and the handful of us swelled to
a group of 32. It didn’t take long to decide that we needed to
plan more in advance and track down more kinfolk known to be
scattered far and wide. Thus the coordinating torch was passed
from Bill Thompson to Saranell Dickerson with a view toward
reaching as far as the phone, snail mail, and the internet would
reach.
The response and interest were overwhelming as various family
members began to share names of extended family scattered all over
the country. While our family roots are in and around Attala
County, MS they have in 5 generations encompassed virtually the
entire country. The lack of any significant family genealogy has
contributed to loosening of family ties and loss of contact among
the various branches. This is a problem we sincerely hope to
remedy.
Our branch of Wilsons consists of the following children of Dixon
L. and Francis E. Wilson: Ed, John, Isom, Abijah, Fanny, Dixie,
Helen, and Ada. Of inestimable value to identifying the fountain
heads of those gathered was a 1920s photograph of the entire
family except for Ada and John. The picture was brought and
reproduced by Gina Wilson. What a treasure it proved to be. Few
had ever seen a photo of our great grand parents.
The Memphis vicinity “colonial estate” of cousins Richard and
Diane Copley was the site of a grand BBQ Saturday afternoon. To
the sounds of merry melodies from talented kin we established and
renewed relationships, discovered characters, shared shenanigans,
took pictures, and pigged out to our hearts’ content. The eldest
in attendance was Aunt Nellie Lord, age 94. The youngest was
Hannah Grace Hand at 8 months. The largest family grouping was 21
descendents of Grandaddy John F. Wilson.
Consensus of the group was to come together again in 2 years, next
in 08 in Baltimore, MD to be coordinated by cousin Madalyn
Ball.
Bill Thompson