Past Reunions

2004 Jessee Reunion--Very Rewarding for the Jim Jessee Family

Nelda and I had the great pleasure of attending the 2004 Reunion with my first cousin Richard Jessee, and with his son, Larry, and grandson, Peter Jessee. It was like having new eyes, as I had the pleasure of showing my fellow Butte Co., CA cousins, Russell Co., VA and the Jessee and Bickley sites, as well as the beauty of this country. We were made more than welcome at the Out-of-Towners Reception, Thursday night at the Quality Inn, the Research Day, Friday at the Russell Co. Library, and at the Picnic on Saturday. We give special thanks to Joy Malone, Mary Akers, Helen Reedy, Bill and Fay Jessee, and Doodle and Ernestine for their help, warmth, and hospitality. We felt so welcome, and we loved our time with you.

There are many to thank for making the reunion another success, very enjoyable for all. I will surely leave some out, to whom I apologize, but I know Joe Jessee, Toby Jessee, JC and Nellie Jessee, Vernon and Pauline Salyers, Mary Akers, Helen Reedy, Norma McHone, Tip Jessee, Karen Hall, and their helpers did all the organizing and heavy lifting for the rest of us. Thank you for your time and trouble.

2003 Jessee Reunion and Research Day Well Done

Mary Akers provides this report on the 2003 Reunion

[mailto:phoenix@naxs.com]

Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003

With regard to the picnic, as close to an estimate that we could get 179 people attended. There were 20 states represented. The 2004 picnic will be held at the Coomes Recreation Center in Abingdon on June 19, 2004. Everyone appeared to have a good time. There were many compliments given. After people had eaten they were still there socializing and having a good time.

If you could put in your newsletter that the 2004 membership dues will be payable from June 21, 2003 to June 19, 2004. We thought it would be easier for people to remember that ... to run it from picnic to picnic. You were certainly missed. Several people were looking for information on their family line.

Irene Perry donated a beautiful winter scene painting of the mill of which I am the proud owner. I don't know if you could also include in your newsletter that we needed lots more items for the silent auction.

Second Annual National Jessee Family Reunion 2001 and First Jessee Historical Foundation Annual Meeting, August 4, 2002
is a HUGE Success.

The 2001 and second National Jessee Family Reunion was held at the Russell Co. Fair Grounds, St. Paul, VA, on Saturday, August 4, 2001. The Fair Grounds was a change from the Sugar Hollow Picnic Ground in Bristol, where the first Jessee reunions were held. The first 1993 annual reunion was a George Lea Jessee family reunion, which went so well over the years its organizers decided to go annual and national and invite all Jessees from the entire country for the First "National" Reunion in 2000. The response so great, that we got too big for Sugar Hollow, and the Russell Co. Fairgrounds was secured for this, the 2001 and second annual national reunion.

The Jessee Historical Foundation with its President, Joe Jessee, as well as the significant contributions of Toby Jessee, Mike and Joy Malone, Mary Akers, Norma McHone, and Rev. Cecil Jessee, to name a few (please let me know the names of others to be credited here and forgive my ommissions), were the sponsors, chief organizers, financiers, and labor for the 2nd National Jessee Family Reunion, held August 4, 2001. They have much to be proud of and we owe them our thanks. By any measure, both the Jessee Research Day and Reunion/Picnic were a huge success. About 100 attended the Research Day on Friday, and over 400 attended the Jessee Reunion and Picnic on Saturday. Former town manager and citizen extraordinaire, Harold Joseph "Doodle" Jessee gave his official count of 408 attendees. A great time was reported by all. Even the teens and children had a good time with the planned activities, entertainment, and incredible deserts, as the adults talked their heads off..

The Fairgrounds accommodated us well. That fact was achieved only by the heroic efforts by Joe and Toby Jessee, to get broken water mains fixed, the lawns mowed, the facilities substantially cleaned, and to get the tables, chairs, and picnic benches put into place. Many family members pitched in Saturday morning to set-up and staff the several registration, auction, genealogy, and of course food tables, as well as the entertainment and other activities for the children and adults. Doodle's wife, Ernestine Honaker Jessee helped organize the food set-up and service, with much help from many an excellent family cook. But Toby Jessee had done much of the work in preparation the week before, and he deserves the mertorious service award. He led the charge on Saturday morning, too, bringing it all together. Thanks go to him and the many others for giving a helping hand and making this venue so nice for the occassion..

We believe that descendants from 8-10 of the 15 children of John Jessee were represented at the research day, picnic, and reunion, including descendants of: John Jessee, Jr., Archer Jessee, David Jessee, Frances Jessee Stone, George Lea Jessee, Mary "Polly"Jessee Kiser, Martin Jessee, and James Jessee. Reunion participants came from many states that included CA, FL, GA, LA, TX, WI, MD, NC, SC, KY, OH, TN, IA, IL, IN, and, of course, VA. We were glad to see such a large gathering of Jessees and friends from the St. Paul/Castlewood area that attended the picnic.

A very large group of descendants from the Phillip and Gabriel Jessee’s family of Russell Co., VA attended and have been instrumental in establishing the Jessee Historical Foundation, handling important roles on the board, fund raising, and the planning and staffing of events and activities. Irene Jessee Perry's, daughter, Brenda Robinson, and her children virtually took charge of all the children's activities. Children of all ages participated in the drawing and coloring,ring toss, and hula hoop contests, and much more. Each child went home with many prizes. The auction of Irene's painting of Jessee's Mill was a highlight of the day.

The facilities at the Russell Co. Fairgrounds were more than adequate, the parking good, and the weather reasonably cooperative, at least it could have been much worse. Many new activities were offered, including a silent auction, a genealogy research table, children's games and activities, and on-going musical entertainment in the adjacent pavillion. Franklin W. Horton, the Chair of the Russell Co. Board of Supervisors welcomed us with opening remarks. Russell Co. Sheriff Trigg Fields and his blue grass band "The Russell Co. Boys," entertained us wonderfully throughout the day, and were joined by some Jessee family members at times.

All photos thanks to Mike Malone.

The Family Historical Foundation held its annual meeting in the morning, and the By-Laws, Board Members, and Officers were duly passed and elected. At noon a huge potluck picnic feast was held, with more good food than could reasonably be eaten in one day. Rev. Cecil Jessee provided an opening prayer.

After lunch an auction was held for the Irene Jessee Perry painting of Jessee's Mill. The bidding was competitive, and the painting sold for $2,950 to Norma McHone. All proceeds go to the History Foundation.
(left to right in the photo below are: Toby Jessee, auctioneer, Norma McHone, Irene Jessee Perry, and Joe Jessee.)

A Silent Auction was held throughout the day and the highest bidders announced in the afternoon (learn more details and how you can help under next years Silent Auction on the 2002 Reunion information page). Many homemade jams, jellies, and honey, arts and crafts, including a commemorative quilt, afghans, pillows, wood carvings, prints, and much more were donated for the silent auction. These were on display for bidding all day with a bid list for each item. You could see who had the highest bid. After the not-so-silent auction of the The Jessee's Mill painting, the results of the silent auction were announced and this too raise several hundred dollars. With new memberships to the foundation, it is believed we may have raised over $5000 that day. A complete treasurer's report will be provided to the Foundation Board later and included in future Foundation Newsletters.

In the afternoon, group photos were taken of the various branches of the family (See below). Family photo albums, pedigree and descendants charts, and lots of family lore was shared throughout the day. Everyone attending said they had a great time. We thank all those who came and participated, and especially those who made this a special occassion through their donations of time, talent, arts and crafts, money, and labor.

While the fairgrounds was more than adequate for parking and a good place to hold the events, still the temperatures were soaring, and so the search may go on for an air-conditioned venue that could handle up to 500 Jessees next year, and provide facilities for a board meeting, children's and adult's activities, musical entertainment, an auction, and the other various activities planned. Stay tuned for more on this as the year goes along.

The SECOND ANNUAL JESSEE FAMILY RESEARCH DAY was held at the Russell County Public Library in Lebanon, VA on Friday, August 3, 2001. Orr research goal: "Connecting the Future by Remembering th Past." There were about 100 participants, and all reported a very educational and enjoyable time. We doubled the 2000 1st Annual Research Day attendance. The Russell Co. Genealogy Group sent volunteers to assist family members use the library's research facilities. We send thanks to the group for their support and special thanks to Barry Hess, Vernon and Pauline Salyers, Jane Oakes, Sunset Salyers, and Janice Busic for their help.

The tables were a buzz with information exchange and conversation all day. Mike and Joy Malone, along with Jim Jessee, provided considerable genealogy assistance and information for those present. Vernon and Pauline Salyers simply astounded many with their extensive photograph collection of 1000's of family tomb stones, all well indexed and annotated. The high quality of Vernon's research and work was well noted by many. Many participants brought their own genealogy information, photograph albums, and other documents and displays. Items shared included a tombstone marker and a beautiful wooden horse carving which was later donated for the reunion silent auction. Mary Akers staffed the Jessee Historical Foundation Membership table and was busy getting Jessee family signatures on the signature quilt she made and donated as part of the reunion fund raising activities. We thank J. C. Jessee for taking several interested participants to see the North Hill Cemetery that is known as the "Lost Cemetery of Lebanon." J. C. Jessee also documented this cemetery and proveded a copy of the information to the library history room. Research Day activities also included drawings for a copy of the Temple Hill Cemetery Book and several 2001 Jessee Reunion Tee-Shirts. Congrats to the winners!

We would like to thank the Russell County Public Library for a wonderful facility and all the help they provided in making this research day a success. Special thanks to Mike and Joy Malone for organizing the entire day, providing the food and refreshements, organizing the excellent exhibits which ringed the large conference room, and simply making this event possible.

The 2002 Third Annual Jessee Research Day will be held on Friday August, 2, 2002 at the Russell Co. Library in Lebanon, VA. Volunteers to help are needed, Please plan to join us as our success depends on your help. You can help welcome family members, sign-in attendees and pin on badges, keep the coffee pot going, and much more. To volunteer please contact Mike and Joy Malone at: PO Box 291899, Davie, FL 33329-1800; Phone or FAX 954-476-1148; Email drjoym@bellsouth.net.

Here are some highlights of the Jessee Research Day 2001.

Your editor, Jim Jessee, far right, is seen here helping family members discover their roots. Standing behind are left to right are Jim and Bill Jessee, descendants of the John Jessee, Jr. via his son Jefferson Jessee.

All photos thanks to Mike Malone.