County to host large family reunion

By Staff
Melissa Cason
NEAR BELGREEN – In two days, Franklin County will be the site for a large family reunion.
Organizer Betty Starnes said the reunion began as a Bolton family reunion 13 years ago, and now includes several families including Bolton, Bonds, Carpenter, Jones, Massey, McKinney, Strickland and any connecting families.
"We call this the Franklin County Reunion now," Starnes said. "Because about 50 percent of the people who see this will be connected to the family."
Starnes said the families date back to 1840.
"Our families' names were on the 1840 census," Starnes said.
The reunion will begin on Friday with a Family Research Day at the Rustic Youth Camp, located north of Belgreen.
"This is the day when we have a people come out and research their family," Starnes said. "We are always looking for people with more information on our families. So if you even think you might be connected, we want to meet you."
The second day will also be at the Rustic Youth Camp. Everyone is asked to bring a covered dish, and have a meal with relatives. Lunch will be served at noon.
"We usually have more people there on the second day," Starnes said. "We have had as many as 250 people from 13 different states before. We are hoping for at least 100 people this year."
While the event is about learning about the family and getting to know different relatives, Starnes said everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the event even if they are not a relative.
"Franklin County is such a special place," Starnes said "We always look forward to meeting new people."
For more information, call Brenda Thorn at 356-8934 or Chris Ozbirn at 332-8827.