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2001 Grissom Reunion Recap |
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Here's What Happened:
The Reunion was held in the Conference Lodge of Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, TN on Saturday. August 4, 2001. Many relatives came early to visit. It was so good to see Delores Russell looking well after a rough winter. Aunt Zelma Lee Grissom has made a good recovery and was busy visiting with all the relation. She is always the "queen" of the party and as sweet as ever. Donald Sanders made the trip from Lincoln Park MI with his wife, Jeanell, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. We were so glad to have them with us. The room was decorated with a large banner proclaiming "The Grissom Family Reunion 2001". There was a "family tree" where everyone could place their name on their appropriate branch. Attractive young Grissom ladies greeted the family members as they arrived. Susan Opel, Lauren and Karen Skop handed out name tags and collected the registration fee. Janis Hillis helped people find their ancestor on the tree. Paul Opel had a laptop computer available where all could view our Grissom Family website on the internet. A popular spot was a display table full of genealogy information that Sylva Hildebrandt has gathered over the years about the Grissom Family. Sylva also provided candy bars at each place setting with specially printed wrappers which depicted John and Florence Grissom, the reunion date and a little poem about the importance of family. Marvin Rigsby led the group in prayer before the catered meal was served and enjoyed by all.
Corrine Opel, chairman of the Reunion, gave opening remarks. We were happy to have visitors at our reunion. Jeff Grissom and his father, Larry, had seen our Grissom website on the internet and wondered if they were somehow related to us. Corrine and Sylva had corresponded with Jeff and although we cannot find a connection, we thought it was nice that they joined us. Jeff is from Nashville and Larry from Lewisburg, TN. They got a kick out of everything and I think they just wish they were related to this great group of people. We liked them, too. We had a "get acquainted" activity where people were divided into eleven groups, mixing up the families. People were asked to interview the person next to them. They found out their name, hometown and occupation. There were also two questions to ask: 1) Who would be the person they wished most would be able to attend this reunion? and 2) What was their earliest childhood memory? The results were fascinating and it was good to get to know each other a little better. It was interesting how many of our group are teachers, former teachers and teachers-to-be. Many people wished their parents or grandparents could to be here, others longed for those who have passed away or for whatever reason were not able to attend this year. It was good to look back. As for childhood memories there was a great variety, some good, some not so good. Many people remembered when younger siblings were born. Some remembered thunderstorms, house fires, when the cow ran dry, doing things with their siblings, visits from relatives, vacations and trips to Grandma's. And that one little girl will always be traumatized by her uncle throwing her Baby Ruth candy bar out of the truck into the river!
Melvin Grissom was glad to report that as far as we know all Grissoms made it through the last two years and there were no deaths. The little ones keep coming and we were glad to add David (the little boy with the broken leg) and Jonathan Opel, Charlotte Lemke and Matthew Rigsby to our family tree. By special request Beth, Paul, Kurt and Susan Opel sang the Reunion Song. They had to change the words a little since we no longer meet in Shelbyville. They had not rehearsed and didn't have their accompaniment tape along, but it still sounded great. The folks gave them a big hand for their efforts. Many people were curious about the recent movie "The Green Mile" and the suggestion that part of it was filmed on Aunt Carrie and Uncle Lester's farm in Chapel Hill. Their granddaughter, Tricia McBride, explained which parts of the movie were made at their house and movie goers were fascinated to know this actually took place. Corrine announced that the next reunion will be Saturday, August 2, 2003 here at Henry Horton Conference Lodge again. Hope to see y'all then. She was given a round of applause for her work in organizing this event. This was followed by the ritual of making pictures. Cameras were flashing right and left. There was a shot of the grandchildren of John and Florence Grissom. Grandchildren included Sylva Hildebrandt, Corrine Opel, Eva Hillis, Judy Hillis, Delores Russell, Dick Grissom, Melvin Grissom, Odell Grissom, Nola Klein and Goodwin Scott. Then their children gathered for a photo. Then their children's children gathered. We have two little ones in the fourth generation, Thelma and Sterling Rigsby's great-grand children, Riley Swoape and Matthew Rigsby. There was also a picture made of Aunt Zelma Lee and the littlest kids. That was a wiggly bunch and we had to make it quick before they crawled away. We are glad to report Aunt Zelma Lee sat nice and still! Here's The 63 People That Attended:
Much love and success to all of you, WE
ARE THE GRISSOMS!! | ||||||||||
Page designed and created by Corrine, Elizabeth and Paul
Opel |
