Monthly Archives: April 2013

Some people are social activists; some are political activists. David “Uncle Dave” Gay is the Gay-Parker Family reunion activist.

Since the Gay-Parker Family reunions of the late 1970‘s and early 1980‘s, Uncle Dave, the youngest member of the Gay-Parker second generation, has been a hard working member and often the coordinator of the reunion planning committee.

Everybody knows one thing about Uncle Dave and the family reunion:  the fish fry, the reunion dinner, and program will take place on the first Friday evening and first Saturday in July.  Uncle Dave, the Gay-Parker Family reunion activist, will make sure of that.

Here’s a photograph from the 1980’s of Uncle Dave, Aunt Mary and 5 Children and 1 Grandchild

A recent photograph of Aunt Arie Gay VinesArtis

A recent photograph of Bishop Robert Gay

Here’s a 2001 reunion photograph of Aunt Jennie and Uncle Dave

Here’s a photograph from the 1990’s of Aunt Lu and Aunt Erma

Photograph of Morris Gay and his Mother Lucille Gay Blow

2001 reunion photograph of Bishop Willie Phillips, husband of Aunt Jennie Gay Phillips

2001 reunion photograph of Candy & William Gay, son of George Gay and Alice Hemby

2001 reunion photograph of Herman Humorris Gay, oldest son of Herman and Danny Ruth Gay

Two 4th generation sisters Crystal & Angela Gay, daughters of Eunice Gay

Family reunions can sometimes be more than just an opportunity to see the family, talk, and eat.  The reunion can also be a time for reflection and to be blunt: a time to tell the truth and face a few realities.

That’s exactly what Pastor James Phillips, son of Jennie Gay and Willie Phillips, did at the 2011 reunion.

Here’s the link to Pastor James Phillips’ sermonette on youtube.

An article from the late 1980’s about the Vines Sisters

The Glorifying Vines Sisters

A video of the Vines Sisters performing at the 2001 GayParker Family Reunion in Farmville.

A video of the 4th and 5th generation Vines singers performing at the 2011 GayParker Family Reunion.

Three women from the 3rd generation:

Dorothy, Barbara, & Alice

From the 2nd generation: Mother Arie Gay-Vines-Artis and Mother Erma Gay Anderson; From the 3rd generation: Douglas Anderson

2010 and 2011

Some cousins, some brothers: Ronald Gay, Joseph Gay, Bob Gay, Melvin Gay, Tim Gay, Morris Gay, David “Little Dave Gay, Robert “Bud” Gay

Pa and Ma left traces of their family’s growth and changes as the decades passed. The census reports for 1920, 1930, and 1940 show some of the changes.

Bob Gay and Lillie Parker-1920

Robert Gay and Lillie Parker, 1930 census

Robert Gay and Lillie Parker, 1940-1

Robert Gay and Lillie Parker, 1940-2

One long standing relic that still withstands time’s onslaught is that old red house on Stantonsburg Road.

The Old Red House

Here’s a poem about that old red house.

Home, the red house———

.

At the time of the 1900 Census, Pa’s mother, Arie Gay revealed that she had given birth to 10 children and that five were living. We learn that she is 36 years old and single.

Robert Gay, 1900 census

Bob Gay Military Record

Pa’s Brother Jacob’s 1920 census record

Jacob Gay death certificate

African Americans have the modern conveniences of vital statistics that are required by law.  As a result, you can find a person’s date of birth, marriage, and death.

In the late 1890’s and early 20th century, your only sources were the family Bible and the US Census. Check out the two census reports and you will learn the names, ages and a few other tidbits about Lillie Parker(Ma).

The 1880 Census report gives names of Ma’s mother, grandmother, and her grandfather, Dempsey Parker.

Viney Parker–Ma’s Grandmother

Ma & her Momma living with Viney in 1900

Lillie Parker, 1900 census

We celebrated the first GayParker Family Reunion in the late 1970’s. It was a one-day affair that established a program format that really has become the family’s signature: barbecue, gospel singing, recollections of family history, and praising the Lord.”

The yard at Uncle Dave’s would be full of cars and kinfolks: Gays, Parkers, Vines, Barretts, Phillips, Andersons, and so many others.

Long lines waited for plates to be piled up with chicken, barbecue, ribs, collards, cake, pie, and if you were lucky, a few of the ribs from that freshly cooked pig.

Singing meant one group: the Vines Sisters and later, the Vines Family.  And from their singing and recordings the theme song “We Will Work” became the unofficial family anthem.

During the late 1990’s, the choir from Bishop Gay’s (Uncle Rob’s) church in Bridgeport/New Haven, Connecticut performed a concert.

Always, and without a doubt always, there would family roll call.  That meant at least one member of each family stood and delivered a statement of family updates or made the shout out of all the names.  At that moment, we heard the voice of the family history inside the family history.