Dear Family,
I wanted to
do something a little different this year and at first we discussed just
mailing a post card with the date and time of the reunion. You may not know
this reunion has been going on for at least 40+ years, and for the past I can’t
remember how many years it has always been the last Sunday in October. We did
change churches from
As I was
mowing the grass this past Thursday evening, I did a lot of thinking; mowing
grass tends to help me focus, and I thought how can I get the younger
generation involved? To be honest, I didn’t come up with much, so I ask for
your help. I asked myself why do I go and why do I feel it is important that my
own children attend these reunions? There is only one simple answer - so they
can get to know their extended family. It used to be that when you went to the
store and you ran into this person or that person, you knew if they were kin to
you and to ask how _?_ was doing.
Today our
world is fast paced and we may be so geographically divergent that even if we
were to run into someone in the store, we might not realize we were related to
them or even how to ask about any specific member of their family by name. So
many of the original families have passed away and we are several generations
removed from the settlers of “Bettstown,” but remember that their blood runs in
each and every one of us.
Then it hit
me, the theme of the 2008 reunion should be Luke
I know the
world today is a chaotic and fast-moving place full of duties and
responsibilities, but don’t we have a duty and responsibility to our parents,
our children and our grandchildren, which should come before the responsibility
to others? I think the answer is yes, we all do! This is why I am writing such a
heartfelt letter to all my family members. Please do your part and lead by
example, attend and get your children and grandchildren to attend so that they
can meet cousins that they may not even know are cousins. Let’s begin to
reinvent this world just a little to be one that remains focused at least for
one day out of each year on the importance of the ties that bind and the blood
that flows through each of our veins. Let us all do this in remembrance. Make
every day count.
God Bless,
Lamar Leynes
When:
Where:
Bainbridge
Church Services
Covered Dish Luncheon
Presentation: Seminole Ramblings’
Jack Wingate
Please bring a dish large enough to feed your family plus one.
Out-of-town families need not bring anything but your smiling
faces.
There is always one hour between the end church service and the
beginning of the luncheon to allow those who choose to attend their own
churches time to arrive.
There will be new pages to add to the Betts Book this year, so bring
yours.
Also bring any pictures or documents you might like to have included in
next year’s update.
One final thing, think about someone you would like to give a moment’s
tribute for as I will give each of you the opportunity this year.
Information Contacts:
Lamar Leynes (850) 510-3298 email: leynesl@fairpoint.net
Linda Scruggs (850) 627-6347
Nancy Suber (229) 246-7709 email: ivybanks@bellsouth.net
Ed Duke email: eduke@surfsouth.com
Betts Reunion Website: http://www.fairpoint.net/~betts_reunion/
Betts Reunion Email: betts_reunion@fairpoint.net
We are always looking for new and interesting content to add to the website and the Betts Book. If you have anything, please bring it to the reunion or send it to any of the email addresses above.