Photographs by Marion Barnes

The weather cooperated with this year’s family reunion plans.  Friday’s pre-Fourth of July fish fry was well under way and near its end when a summer cloud burst wrapped things up for the evening.

On Saturday while the rain poured down, the family celebrated by listening to  the Vines Sisters and Family sing “Still Have Joy” and the family’s favorite, “We Will Work.”  Later, the family listened to a reading of the family tree for each of Pa Bob and Ma Lillie’s children.

Just before the dinner was served, the family listened to Bishop Carlton “CD” Gay, husband of Delois Wilson Gay, and son of Herman and Dannie Ruth Gay, deliver the keynote speech.  Bishop Carlton Gay warned and advised the family to stay and stand with the Lord.  Golden Skillet of Plymouth, NC cooked the tasty fried and roasted chicken, pork barbecue, cole slaw, hush puppies, and seasoned green beans, and prepared iced tea.

After dinner, presentations included honoring members of the family who served in the military, a brief talk by Faylene Gay Cooper, daughter of Uncle Albert and Aunt Odessa, and an announcement that headstones were placed at Pa Bob’s and Ma Lillie’s graves on Friday, July 3rd.

The dinner closed with reflections from Aunt Arie, Uncle Rob, and Uncle Dave, along with comments from Edith Gay Barnes and Uncle Rob about October plans for a formal celebration for Aunt Arie and Uncle Dave to be held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, located on Allen Road.

For more Marion Barnes photographs from the fish fry and the reunion dinner, watch this 2015 reunion slideshow.