George Wilkins Family

Wilkins Reunion 2011

2011-07-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, another year has come and gone, and I'm just updating the Wilkins blog. Had a great reunion and I will be posting the pictures. Thanks to Velda for her family group photos.

Wilkins Reunion 2010

2010-07-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Finally figured out what I was doing wrong, so here are pictures from the 2010 Reunion!!

Reunion 2010

2010-07-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, and I heard others comment the same, this was one of the best family reunions we have had in some years. First, we took time for each person present to share a memory or two; secondly, I videotaped the gathering and will be sharing those DVDs when I figure out how to use my new software that will allow me to copy the movie tape to a DVD. Oh the favorite memory or at least the quickest to come to mind was the $1 giveaway by Uncle Fed.

Here are the candid photos I took. If others, such as Chris Edwards, will share theirs, I will post them on the blog as well. Maybe that way I might actually get to show that I was present!!

For those who weren't able to make the reunion, we sure missed you!!

WILKINS REUNION 2010

2010-06-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to the reunion on Saturday, July 10, at the Vinemont Boy Scout Hut. The meat will be provided at the noon meal, but we ask the families to bring sides, drinks, and desserts to share. Each family is being asked to bring an index card with a "Family Memory" to share with the group. Then I plan to post these memories on this blog and perhaps on Ancestry.com with the Family Tree. We are aware that Aunt Peg will not be able to join us this year. She is the last living child of George and Elon Wilkins - and we wish she could be with us!! Please keep her and her children particularly in your prayers.

Also remember Debbie and Danny Brown in your prayers, her leukemia has returned. Sister Stephanie has organized a bone marrow drive for Saturday, June 19, at the Cullman Church of Christ. Unfortunately, Rex has been ruled out as a possible donor.

George and Elon Wilkins - mid 1940's

2009-10-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

George Henry Wilkins and Elon Bell Bryans - Wedding Day

2009-10-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

Wilkins Siblings at Wilkins Home on Hwy 69, Fairview, AL

2009-10-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

I plan to post pictures both to the Wilkins blog, but also on the Scott/Benton Family Tree on Ancestry.com. Those in the picture are:
l-r Front Row: Fed, Ralph, Peg, Sue
l-r Back Row: Polly, Jim, Bert, Heart, Bess, Henry, John.

If you will share your family pictures with me (already scanned would be quicker), I will be glad to add them to the family tree on Ancestry, and on this blog. If you catch any errors, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Help Needed to Date these Pics

2009-10-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

More Pics of Jim Wilkins

2009-10-18T06:46:00.001-07:00

Clomer Eugene "Jim" Wilkins

2009-10-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Debbie Johnson Brown for sharing this picture of Jim and Inez on their wedding day!

Clomer Eugene (Jim) Wilkins 1927-2009

2009-10-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

We lost Uncle Jim yesterday after a valiant struggle following several heart surgeries. The best news is we know he is with his Lord and Savior in a much better place where there is no sadness and no pain, and reunited with those family members who have gone before! That can put a big smile on your face, just thinking of that wonderful reunion, and we get to join them soon. (I do believe our time here is getting shorter!)

One of the best traditions of the Wilkins' family was their annual reunion. I remember the first one I attended after Barron and I married. The reunion locations alternated between Georgia and Alabama each year and this particular time the event was near Lake Jackson, GA. The strange thing was that Barron, having been away in Vietnam for several years, didn't recognize some of his distant kin so I didn't feel quite the stranger, and years later I still remember some just from that event, and got to know some much better over the years.

One thing you knew you would enjoy at the reunion was the Sunday dinner. Those ladies (and sometimes men, as my husband is one of the best cooks around these parts) knew how to cook downhome southern style, and there was always a very large assortment - from fried okra to sweet corn to fried chicken to wonderful desserts - sometimes even homemade ice cream.

My leap into family genealogy came out of the family reunions. My mother-in-law had particularly asked me to trace her family tree, so I would come prepared to these gatherings with notebook and pen, and strive to get as much info as I could from people I was just beginning to know. I continue to pursue genealogy and especially learning more about our families, where they came from, how they worked, raised their families, worshipped.

Uncle Jim -- you were loved by your wife and children, your parents and siblings, your extended family, your church fellowship. You will be lovingly missed!!

If anyone reading this blog has any pictures of the Wilkins family or of the Wilkins reunions, I would be grateful if you shared them with me. I did find some from years past that our daughter used in the "genealogy scrapbooks" she lovingly did for her parents. I'll dig some out and scan and put on this blog.

Pictures Available

2009-07-26T12:45:00.001-07:00

I have received the cd from Joshua and his release letter. I had no trouble whatsoever making copies at CVS. They were ready in 5 minutes!

Cemetery pics/old pics

2009-07-16T08:50:00.001-07:00

I would like to start adding more stuff to this blog. Is there anyone who would like to help with this project? I want to add all the cemetery pictures we have or can go take, and also old family pictures. As many of you saw at the reunion, our daughter made her Daddy a scrapbook and lots of the old pictures we had are in it. I just need to make time to scan them so I can include them. But I would also want to include old pictures that you might have as well, so check your photo albums and let me know what you can provide.

First Generation Picture at Wilkins home

2009-07-16T08:39:00.001-07:00

In the picture are L-R first row: Mary Wilkins Collum (Jim), Sandy Scott Hicks (Sue), Kinard "Tiny" Latham (Polly), Barron "Freddie" Scott (Sue), Nava Jean Wilkins Parker (Heard), Glenda Wright Quattlebaum (Bess), Elaine Wilkins Edwards (Bert), Dianne Wilkins Fay (Bert); second row: Velda Wilkins Rogers (Jim), Joe Wright (Bess), Stancell "Nip" Latham (Polly), Charles "Butch" Wilkins (Bert), Terry Wright (Bess), Randy Wilkins (Bert).

Didn't this turn out well? Just this morning, Joshua sent me some pics via email but the big plan is for him to send me a CD with all the original pics - I'll scan the original picture and include that - and I will gladly copy them onto a cd to each family that provides me mailing info. Josh will be providing a release form so you won't have any problem duplicating them for your various family members. I plan to put the two pics together, the original siblings and now the 1st generation, for a composite group picture. The pictures of the various families turned out super well also.

Please let Joshua know how much you appreciate his hard work. You can email him through his website: www.joshuablackwilkins.com. or blackboots24@hotmail.com.

2009 Wilkins Reunion is over

2009-07-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

What a great time was had by all that attended, and it was very well attended. I think we had between 50-60 people at the Chesley Oaks Country Club. After much eating and talking, and everyone being introduced to everyone else, the crowd reconvened at the George Wilkins home for picture taking. Joshua (son of Butch and Barbara Wilkins)was kind enough to bring his professional equipment and do the honors of taking the group and family pictures. We are hoping to make the prints available soon.

For 2010, I hope you will go ahead and put the date on your calendar so you won't miss out. Butch and Barbara have agreed to be the keepers of the mailing lists, so if you have any changes this next year, please contact them. Barron (Freddie to most of you) had enough money remaining this year (since the country club refunded our deposit) to go ahead and reserve the Scout Hut in Vinemont for next year!

A Get Well card was signed by all attendees to send to Uncle Jim. We hate that his aortic valve replacement surgery kept him from attending but delighted that he is now on his way to a full recovery. A separate journal was signed and is being sent to Aunt Peg. As you know, these are the last two surviving siblings. We have not been able to be in touch with her and her family, so if you have information regarding her health, please let me know. Midge Ratliffe, the oldest cousin, is not able to come to the reunions due to her health situation, but is always glad to have visitors at the Hanceville Nursing Home.

Thanks to each one who came to the reunion and we anticipate seeing you again next year -- and hope those who didn't make it this year will do so in 2010. Mark your calendar now for Sunday, July 11 !!

Sad news

2009-07-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry to be late getting this on the blog, but unfortunately Joey's wife miscarried. Please remember this couple in your prayers.

New Grandbaby for Lori Wyatt

2009-06-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Received via email dated June 18, 2009: Just wanted to let you all know that I am going to be a Grandma again. Just found out this evening and my son Joe is expecting another child. That's about all I know at this point. No due date yet, but I figure sometime in February (2010). -- Lori

Laurel Wilkins Wyatt

2009-05-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

Heard from Lori that she and J.R. will not be financially able to come to Alabama for the Wilkins reunion (said they would be visiting the grandkids if there was money for travel - and we certainly can identify with that!). I told her I would publish the pictures of Joey's son that she shared with me.

Wilkins Family Reunion 2009

2009-05-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

It's that time again and we hope you have put it on your calendar and plan to be here! It will be covered dish on Saturday, July 11, from 11:00-?? (usually eat about Noon). This year it is being held at Chesley Oaks Country Club on Hwy 69 - just up the road from Concord Baptist Church. Following the meal, we will move to the house George Wilkins built for their homeplace (now part of Spring Arbor Baptist Church) so that family pictures can be made.

Some of you may have the print of the Wilkins siblings (John to Peg) made outside this house -- and we thought a reproduction of that with the next generation or so would be exciting! Joshua (Butch and Barbara's son) has agreed to make photos for us.

So plan now to join us for this exciting time. Any genealogy information you have to share would also be appreciated! Bring photo albums to show too!!

Oak Level Cemetery - Cullman

2008-08-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Barron and I drove only a few miles from our temporary house and visited the gravesites of Bobby "Scoots" Latham and son, Stanley, in Oak Level Cemetery. As some in the family know, Scoots suffered from TB (as did brother Stancell "Nip") and had lost a lot of his lung capacity. He died of pneumonia at age 29 in 1963. Then two years later, little Stanley died as a result of an automobile accident.

We'll try to take another trip over that way and I'll take the camera with me so I can post pictures of the headstones. Please feel free to share any photos or stories you have about our Wilkins relatives! (Please let me know of any corrections to my info!)

Family Reunion 2008

2008-07-17T16:44:00.001-07:00

What a great time was had by everyone -- and all that food!! We did miss those of you who could not make it this time and look forward to seeing you next year. As some of you know, I started working on the family tree many years back at Sue's request and the information I have has been uploaded to Ancestry.com and you can go to our blog (www.janbscott.blogspot.com) and just click to see what I have. I brought copies of the information to the reunion and asked that you let me know of any changes, deletions, corrections and additions. Thought perhaps this blog might be an easy way for you to get that information to me.

Barron/Freddie would like to do a "video" family tree and so this is our first attempt to get this started. As you share your information with us, I will add it to the Family Tree Maker genealogy I have and hopefully by next year's reunion, we will have something on CD that can be shared with you and your children and their children.

I know Barbara has worked on the genealogy and now that we are in Cullman, I anticipate that we can corroborate together. Others of you may have done some research and I hope you will share that with us as well.