2013 Fortenberry Reunion was a bustling get-together! We had about 90 Fortenberrys and friends rubbing elbows and catching up in the Rosspoint Community Center. A slide show of old photos played in the back, and everyone updated their family posters. Kids played ball outside, colored, played with dolls and cars. The auction was a rousing success, and made $240. There were so many items brought that we ran out of bid sheets and space to put them! And, of course, food. Lots of delicious Fortenberry cooking.
Prizes were given for the oldest, youngest and the person who traveled the farthest. There were several in the running for each category. Becky’s grandson, Case was born Sept. 8. Claire’s granddaughter, Harper, was born Sept. 19. But, Jan’s grandson, Diesel, got in under the wire at 2 weeks! He was born Oct. 12 and won the stuffed elephant from Thailand.
Longevity runs in our family, so we had quite a group of 80 year-olds and above. Waymon Pannell is 86, Ann just turned 88. Bill Gage came in at 93. The winner was one of our visitors from Floydada. Alta Mae Higgins, at 97, made the trip from west Texas with her sister, Kate Bradley and cousin, Norma Dean Welch (Oliver Rice-John Cephus branch). We were thrilled to see them and send home the bag of old-fashioned candy with Alta Mae!
Kate Bradley came all the way from Adrian, which is 350 miles from Rosston. Jack Slayton (Uncle Beer’s bunch) came from Albequerque, NM – 600 miles. Sally Fortenberry Nibbelink traveled 760 miles to be with us. The winner got on a plane a flew 1400 miles to come to the Fortenberry Reunion – Beth Fortenberry! She will fly home with the travel cup initialed with an F, coffee, and a key ring with the F initial.
Jack Hall, one of our family genealogists, gave some background history and updates on new information. With DNA and research, there is always something new to add to the family history.
Phil’s hat was passed, and generous Fortenberrys tossed in $360 toward next year’s reunion and the Fortenberry Scholarship. We will have more information on the scholarship soon.
There is nothing more fun than a roomful of Fortenberrys! See you all next year, if not before!