The Williams-Rivers Family Reunion 2008

The notices have gone out to selected family members announcing the 2008 Williams-Rivers Family Reunion. I am reproducing it here at the Descendants of Mandi webiste for those of us who are not on the official family mailing list. It will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on August 1, 2, and 3 2008 at the Marriott Hotel (Details about the host hotel are forthcoming).

It has been 30 years since the first family reunion in 1978 and the theme of the reunion is "30 Years Later". According to the initial announcement, the reunion will include a get aquainted night with videos of years gone by and a tour of Nashville as well as a formal banquet on Saturday night.Sunday will include church with our Nashville relatives at the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church where Julius Williams and Cloreace Williams Eppinger are the assistant pastor and associate pastor, repsectively.

Registration fees are as follows: $100.00 for adults 16 years olda nd up, $50.00 for children 6 to 15 years old, and children 5 years old and under are free. Registrations are being sent to the following Family Members: Lenford Carr, 94 W. Maple Street, Humboldt TN, 38343 (731-784-5565); Bunice Robinson, 16714 Kentfield, Detroit MI, 48219 (313-538-8673); Julius Williams, 1182 Mt. Vernon Lane, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 (615-754-9978). The Reunion Committee is asking everyone to register by March 15, 2008. They are also asking that photos be sent to Bunice Robinson by April 1, 2008. T-shirts are being offered at $10.00 or youth sizes and $12.00 for adult sizes (cotact Julius Williams for t-shirts).

The Family Reuinion Commitee consists of the following members: Lenford Carr, Chairman, Bridgett Hill, Marquita Patterson, Bunice Robinson, Julius Williams, Cloreace Williams Eppinger, Costella Williams, Alphonso Williams, Clinton Williams, Curtis Williams, Eric Dickerson, William Carr, Vincent Carr, Nana Kweku Carr Asante.

African American Lives 2 on PBS

One of the more fascinating and inspiring shows to appear during the Black History Month cycle on PBS is AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, a show which focuses on African American Genealogy from the perpective of a dozen black celebrities. We saw an earlier version of this show in 2007 and were struck with how similar the stories are to those within our own family. Genealogy is not everyone's bag, but we highly recommend this show.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, a new four-part PBS series, explores roots, race and identity through the ancestry of remarkable individuals. Premiering February 6th and 13th.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/aal2

Joining Professor Gates in the new broadcast are poet Maya Angelou, author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, rock 'n' roll legend Tina Turner and college administrator Kathleen Henderson, who was selected from more than 2,000 applicants to have her family history researched and DNA tested alongside the series' well-known guests.

Calvin Willie Claxton, Sr. 1924-2008

Most of you have probably heard the very sad news of the recent passing of Calvin Claxton Sr. in Memphis Tennessee on January 26, 2008. With the passing of Mr. Claxton, the Descendants of Mandi mourn the loss of another cherished family elder. The past year has seen the transition of several precious family elders, each loss has been felt with deep feelings of loss and sadness. Calvin Willie Claxton Sr. was 83 years old, he was the son of William Claxton, Jr.

He had 10 known children named Immogene Claxton, Calvin Claxton, Jr., James Claxton, Melvin Claxton, Deborah Claxton, Michael Claxton, Mary Claxton, Rosie Lee Claxton, Kimberly Claxton, and Carolyn Claxton.

His father, William , Jr. Claxton was the son of William Claxton and Liza Jane Williams. William Jr.'s siblings were T. J. Claxton, Robert Claxton.

Calvin Claxton Sr.'s connection to Mandi Williams came through his grandmother Liza Jane Williams who was born in Haywood County TN. She is the daughter of Jerry Williams (1848-1923) and Sallie Miller. Her siblings were Nellie Williams, Melissa Williams, Emmaline Williams, Anna Williams, Mary Helen Williams, Lucy Harriett Williams, Sam Williams, Eugene Williams, Jerry Williams, Roger Williams, Jasper Williams.

Cousin Calvin's family is very special to us because they are one of the few families that we have contact with that descend from Uncle Jerry Williams...who was, of course one of the son's of Harmon Williams (1825-?) and Harriet Elizabeth Rayner (1827-1918), Mandi's daughter.

Below are the final arrangements which were relayed to us by Kimberly Claxton through the Descendants of Mandi mailing list.

Saturday 1pm at Antioch Baptist Church @ 4715 New Allen Road, Memphis, TN 38128. The wake will be from 10:30am-12:30pm. The burial will be on Monday (February 4th) at National Cemetary on Jackson Ave. (in Memphis). The time has not been set as of yet.

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BELOW is a reprint of the notice which was published in the Memphis Commerical Appeal:

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Claxton, Calvin
CALVIN CLAXTON, 83, of Memphis, TN died January 26, 2008.
Services by: J. E. Herndon Funeral Home Golden Cross Chapel | 901-346-1291
Published in The Commercial Appeal on 1/29/2008.

Claxton Sr., Calvin Willie
MASTER SGT. CALVIN WILLIE CLAXTON, SR., 83, died January 26, 2008. Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 2 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 4716 New Allen Road, Memphis, TN. A veteran of the U. S. Air Force, Mr. Claxton leaves to cherish his memory children, Imogene C. Jones, Pastor Calvin W. Claxton Jr, Ronnie Murrell, Devat Umbles, Cherie Smith, Marilyn Smith, James, Deborah, Michael, Mary, and Kimberly Claxton, Rosa Cline, Aziz Shakoor, Karen Holmes, Eric Meeks and Mickey Falls; mother-in-law, R. Mary Meeks. sisters-in- laws, Fannie Langford, Frances Frazier, Omega Murrell, Permethia Washington, Rosie Murrell. 39 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren and a host of loving relatives and dear friends.

J. E. Herndon Funeral Home Golden Cross Chapel | 901-346-1291

Please join us in prayer tonight and during the coming weeks for the entire Claxton family.