The Adams Family Reunion – United In Love, was held in Brookhaven, Mississippi, July 6 through July 8, 2007. We started with a fish fry on Friday evening at the home of Lena Mae Henderson. There was a good turn out of lateral and collateral descendants of Mingo & Rachel Adams and Mingo & Melvina Adams. Most were from the “Branch” of Harvey and Mary Sims Adams and Harvey and Mary Jane Johnson Adams. The food was wonderful. There was approximately 150 plus people coming and going. (a conservative estimate).

Saturday morning, we had a family picnic at Lena Mae’s. Talking about food. Wow! The food was great. It was wonderful meeting and talking with relatives. Some, I knew, and some, I met for the first time.

Saturday evening, we had a dinner dance at the National Guard Armory in Brookhaven. Deborah Manning gave the Welcome. Louis “Jack” Adams did the prayer. The group went to a classroom where we viewed the CD, The Family History of Edward Adams by Edward B. Adams with music added by my son, Ed Adams. My sincere thanks to Sergeant Lucius Washington of the Mississippi National Guard who set up his laptop and data projector and played the CD for us. It was awesome! We returned to the main hall after viewing the CD.

Sabrinia Commodore led us in the reading of The Black Family Pledge.

Black Family Pledge

Because we have forgotten our ancestors,
Our children no longer give us honor

Because we have lost the path our ancestors cleared,
Our children cannot find their way

Because we have banished the God of our ancestors,
Our children can not pray

Because we have forgotten how to parent,
Our children are giving birth to children they don’t want

Because we have forgotten how to love,
The adversary is within our gates

Therefore, we pledge to bind ourselves to one another, To embrace
our lowliest, visit our lonely, and educate our illiterate

We further pledge to feed our starving, clothe our ragged,
To do all Good things

Knowing we are more than keepers of our brothers and sisters
We are our brothers and sisters

To honor those who toiled and implored God for favor,
In gratitude of the same God who granted that request

The God that brought us out of hopeless desolation
We as a family make this pledge - Author Unknown

Dana and Danielle Manning read the Special Recognitions for:

Ronnie LaSalle Adams and Paula Adams Family News – Texas

Versie and Pat Adams – Nevada

Rose Adkison – Texas

Sylvester Drain - Mississippi

Dan and Deborah Manning – Texas

Kendall Noel Williams – Illinois

Rose Adkison opened the presentation of Recognition of Family Legends

ADAMS FAMILY LEGENDS
2007

All too often we fail to take the time to honor our family members. This year’s Legends have made significant contributions to other family members, or has made distinct difference in their communities, their churches, has made accomplishments in their work place or in their professional lives.

Ronnie Adams - Submitted by Paula Adams

Rose Adkison - Submitted by Sabrinia Comodore

Lena Henderson - Submitted by Rose Adkison

Gertrude Hill - Submitted by Patricia Rollins

Deborah Manning - Submitted by Dana Manning

Christine Tucker - Submitted by Revelia Powell

Special Thanks……….

To those who served on the planning committee for their dedication and unselfish contributions to make this 2007 Adams Family Reunion a success.

Ed Adams
Rose Adkison
Carolyn Crump
Deborah Manning
Revelia (Vickie) Powell
Michelle Patrice Remson
Patricia Rollins

The whole experience will be well remembered by me. I stayed another day and spent the time searching for cemeteries in the Brookhaven and Wesson areas. I even drove to the area of Union Church in Jefferson County. I spent the major part of Monday morning and afternoon in the genealogy section of the library in Brookhaven. The library staff was very helpful. I must make a trip to the Mississippi Archives in Jackson, MS to obtain copies of documents involving Mingo, Rachel, and other Adams ancestors.

The Adams Family members in attendance at the picnic held a business meeting and it was voted to establish a family scholarship program. We also voted that our next family reunion will be in July 2009 in the Chicago, IL area. I will chair the event. This year was a heartwarming experience for me.

Photos and articles pertaining to this year’s reunion are posted on the Adams Family site at: www.adamstreenews.com

Ed Adams