Our Biennial Reunion Tradition . . .

On the second Sunday in May “Mother’s Day” of the year 1949, Aunt Lizzie, also known as “Aunt Baby” attended service at Friendship Baptist Church in Hamilton, GA. Aunt Baby was the youngest child of Isaac and Georgiann. After service, as Aunt Baby walked down the steps and spotted Gradie’s widow, Lillie rushed down the steps to greet her with a huge hug. Gradie was Aunt Baby’s older brother who had passed away a few years earlier.

“Oh Sis Lillie, I’m so glad to see you!” said Aunt Baby with her eyes filled with tears. Lillie said, “I never see any of you since Gradie has gone and none of the family comes to see me,” with a tear trickling down her cheek. Aunt Baby said, “Sis Lillie, I tell you what we are going to do. We are going to visit you once a year just to let you know that you are not forgotten and that you are still a part of the family.”

How it happened . . .

Friendship Baptist Church

Aunt Baby began to tell different family members that a voice came down from heaven as she stood in the yard of Friendship Baptist Church. This voice gave her a very special idea that would keep the family together. The first member of the family she contacted was her sister Rosie via telephone. Aunt Baby said, “Rosie, I tell you what we should do after revival and after service one Sunday afternoon; we should plan to go visit Lillie. We can cook at home and take the food, dishes and plates with us to her house.” Rosie, with enthusiasm and excitement said, “Oh, yes Baby! That would be nice.” Aunt Baby then wrote Lillie’s daughter in Luthersville, GA who undoubtedly agreed that this was a great idea. The date was set for September 18, 1949, the third Sunday.

That Sunday afternoon, Aunt Baby, her husband (Aldena), and her son (Horace) loaded the food into the car. They first drove to Cataula, GA to meet Rosie and her husband, Zan, and then to Lillie’s home. As they were driving through Cataula, the devil tried to stop the family get-together before it even started. A policeman, who lived on the hill near the main road on which Horace was driving, was proceeding to enter that road with no intention of stopping. Horace honked his horn and passed in front of him.

We will not be moved . . .

*There is always more to every story, but for now, we will just say that – if you close a door on a Williams Hudson, they will learn how to fly! Case in point: Our own Capt. Edward J. Williams – Tuskeegee Airman

The policeman immediately turned on his flashing lights signaling for Horace to pull over. Horace pulled over and the policeman approached the window wanting to know why Horace honked his horn and where he was going. The policeman made it very clear that you are not supposed to honk your horn at a policeman. In a nice and calm voice, Horace told him that he did not know he was a policeman and that he was on his way to Zan Johnson’s house. Feeling cheap at the fact that he knew Zan Johnson, he told Horace, “Go ahead. I thought you were one of those smart boys that knew me.” God put a halt to the devil’s work.

A family with an unbreakable bond will live on . . .

Aunt Baby got into the car with Rosie and Zan. All who traveled to Lillie’s house made it there safely. They had a delicious meal and enjoyed each other’s presence. As the evening wound down. Horace and Aldena went home. Aunt Baby went over to Rosie’s house and stayed a while. Bo and Nettie Paul brought her home later. Everyone enjoyed the get-together so much that they decided to do it again the following year on the same day at Lillie’s son, Charlie Henry’s house. Although he was sick, he still enjoyed being in the company of his family. Eddie Lee asked for the get-together to be at her home the next year, however, it was held at Ethel’s home. Nettie Paul would host the next get-together. It had gotten to be such a wonderful experience and the gathering grew larger and larger. Bonnie’s daughter, Laverne, suggested: “You all know one thing? There are getting to be too many of us to have the get-together at someone’s house; next year, we should have it at a park.” Everyone agreed and the gathering was held at Flat Rock Park in Columbus, GA. A family member from Birmingham, AL suggested that we should title our gathering Williams-Hudson Family Reunion. Someone later suggested that we should change the date from the third Sunday in September to either the last of July or the beginning of August.

Sharon Giddens, the granddaughter of Purnell Williams, asked that the reunion be held in Birmingham, AL in 1984. This marked the first time we left home after 35 years. It was decided that instead of having the reunions annually, it would be held biennially, every second year.

We have come a long way since 1949. There have been many obstacles and roadblocks placed before us. but we have endured and persevered. No one and nothing can stop us from reuniting. A family with an unbreakable bond will live on . . .

Aunt Baby
Submitted by Horace Thompson
for the 2018 Reunion in Washington, DC – Souvenier Booklet