The 2011 Henson/Nevels family reunion was a wonderful success. Family members poured in from around Michigan and few from Canada. This year, we included the Simmons family in the festivities. Don’t get the connection? Well, Ronald Dean, a son of the late Mary Madeline (Nevels) Dean, was married to the late JoAnn Simmons; and, Ronald’s sister, Helen Minerva Dean was married to JoAnn’s brother, the late Elmer “Sonny” Simmons.
We shared photos and stories, played games, enjoyed the weather (before the rain came), and a fabulous family dinner. Talk about a barbecue! There was chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, and steaks. If you missed, well… you missed it. There were salads, baked beans, cakes, brownies, and much, much more.
Children enjoyed a bouncy thingamabob, relay races, and a water balloon toss. College students entered their names in a drawing to win money toward their school books. Wayne State University student Shalee Carpenter, who’s studying social work, won a cash prize of $150.
Speaking of drawings… we held a raffle, of course. There were four levels of winners. The grand-prize winner took home a $50 Marathon gas station gift card. Our second-prize winner got a well-stocked picnic basket. Didn’t win? Maybe next year.
None of this could have been possible without help from a host of volunteers and your family dues. In brief, volunteers donated their time and planned (and purchased supplies for) the games, selected the reunion location, took photos, sent out invites, licked envelopes… Family members gave dues — $15 for individuals and $25 for families — to add to our reunion resources. We collected $770, $440 after expenses, which will go toward future reunions.
If you were there, it was wonderful seeing you again. If you didn’t make it, know that we missed you and hope to see you soon.