Sentimental Sunday: Jollett Reunions

Sentimental Sunday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that asks us to discuss a sentimental story or memory about an ancestor, or maybe even a family tradition.

To Mary Frances Jollett Davis, the family reunion was the most important event of the year.  In fact, when her son-in-law came running to proclaim the news that the war (WWII) had ended, she just glared at him and said, “Don’t you know that TODAY is the Jollett reunion?”  It would take more than some armistice to rain on her parade!

The number of photos left behind by aunts and grandparents are proof positive of the special place that the reunion held in the hearts of the Jolletts.  Also there is the following newspaper article:

Shenandoah, Sept 5, 1929 - -

The fourteenth Jollett Reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett, near Harriston, VA, on Sunday September 1^st in honor of James F. Jollett’s 94^th birthday.

The members of the family began to gather around the large and beautiful spring about 9 a.m. and continued to come until 1:30 p.m. and it was indeed a great pleasure to see Mr. Jollett greet each of his relatives as they began to gather in and as it has always been in the past they were greeted with a smile and many kind and loving words spoken to them and many talks of olden time were told to each with each hand clasp.

At 1:00 p.m. lunch was spread with GrandFather Jollett offering up praise and thanks to God for the wonderful repast set before him and for sparing his life and each one present so that they may again enjoy the company of each relative and friend.

Business meeting was called to order by President Millard Davis at 2:30 p.m. and it was decided to hold the Reunions yearly at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett as long as the Lord spared Mr. Jollett’s life and permitted him to be present.  The meeting opened with the song “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” after which Miss Virginia Maiden of Dayton College, Va, gave a reading followed by Prayer by Mr. W. J. Sullivan.  Mr. James F. Jollett and Dr. A. L. Maiden of Dayton College each gave an address and from the expression on the faces of those present they more than enjoyed each of their remarks.  The meeting then came to a close by singing “God be with You Until We Meet Again” after which the crowd began to wind their way to their respective homes each promising to meet the other at the next reunion and each promising to try and make the next reunion as near 100 percent in attendance as it is possible to do so.

Here are some photos from various reunions.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Arthur Maiden,
James Franklin Jollett,
Emma Jollett Coleman

1919 in Harriston, Virginia
James Franklin Jollett surrounded by his children
and their spouses

Ulysses Jollett, Victoria Breeden, Sallie Clift,
Mary Frances Davis, Leanna Knight, Laura Sullivan,
Emma Coleman, Burton Lewis Jollett, James Franklin Jollett

1919 - James Franklin Jollett's grandchildren

Jollett grandchildren and great-grandchildren