Organizers said the third annual Ebb and Polly Dunaway Morgan Family Reunion was a huge success on Oct. 12, bringing together the descendants of the pioneering Marion County family.
More than 65 people were in attendance. They came from Chicago, Covington and Folsom, Louisiana, Canton, Pearl, Foxworth, Sandy Hook, Picayune and Columbia.
Helping host and set up the event was Joseph Keller and Rachel and Bethany Davis.
People started arriving by 10 at the Marion County Extension Service; arriving first beside the host were Tommy and Vernon Beal and Norma Jean Carr. A family sheet was available for them to fill out as well as a 30-foot family tree made by Lynn Powell.
Sherron Bailey Davis started off with having a memorial service for family members who passed away, Nell Smith, C.M. Roberts, David Sauls, Ola Mae Jenkins and Ricky Bourn. Their kin were given photos in a frame and a certificate.
Certificates were given to the oldest member attending, Helen Bourn Lavergne, the 89-year-old daughter of Sina Morgan Bourn and Robert Bourn. Sina was the youngest daughter of Ebb and Polly. The youngest in attendance was Aiden Lee Beasley, 5-month-old son of Jennifer Leann Beasley and Eric Reeves. Aiden is the great-great-great grandson of Henry Morgan, son of Ebb and Polly Morgan. The one that traveled the farthest was Christopher David Fitzsimons from Chicago.
After the awards were given out Kathy Morgan, Angelee Morgan and Joseph Keller started the food line. Everyone enjoy a potluck dinner prepared by attendees.
“I think our grandparents would be proud of their descendants,” said Sherron Bailey Davis, who organized the reunion.
Cheryl Bulluck Coolman said she enjoys finding out the history of her family and meeting new people, and Charlie Morgan said he really enjoyed himself and seeing his cousins he had not seen in a while.
Davis said next year they hope to change it to the last Saturday in September if they can get that date.
