Newsome descendants gather for reunion at Ebenezer Aug. 4

The 54th annual reunion of the descendants of Joseph Thomas "Tom" Newsome and Susan "Susie" Reynolds Newsome was held Saturday, August 4, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Aonia.

Tom Newsome (b. 1835) was the son of Crawford and Elizabeth Newsome. Crawford was descended from William Newsome of England who came to Jamestown in 1635. Tom and Susie Newsome were the parents of 15 children who produced over 100 grandchildren. The only known surviving grandchildren are Grace Newsome Speer of Tampa, Fla., daughter of Alex S. Newsome, and Marilyn Newsome Turner of Gainesville, daughter of Adam B. Newsome.

Lunch was served in the fellowship hall and consisted of Frank Bentley's barbecue and Randolph Garrard's Brunswick stew along with side dishes and desserts prepared by the family members.

Dining tables held vases of mixed garden flowers grown by Marilyn Newsome and Beatrice Sherrer and arranged by Jean N. Casey.

Those assisting with reunion preparations were Mike and Debra Sherrer, Jack E. Newsome, Graham and Kohen Wolfe, G.B. Newsome Jr., Mary Ann Garrard, Matha Jo Collins, Jean and James Casey, and Jack Newsome. John Bailey served as photographer. Mary Ann Garrard is reunion treasurer and Jean Casey is family historian.

Around 105 descendants and family connections attended, the eldest being Kitty Reese Newsome, age 89, of Cocoa, Fla., wife of the late Elmo Newsome, son of "Willie" C. Newsome. Other octogenarians present were Lillian N. Sherman of Augusta and Jenelle C. Newsome and Beatrice N. Sherrer of Washington. The youngest attending was Cole Burton, two-month-old son of Jim and Nikki Burton of Cleveland, Tenn., and great-great-grandson of A.J. "Jack" Newsome. Traveling the greatest distance was Sandi Schechter of Denver, Colo., greatgranddaughter of A. J. Newsome.

Decendants and family connections of Andrew Jackson "Jack" Newsome attending were Jenelle C. Newsome, Beatrice N. Sherrer, Jack and Marilyn T. Newsome, Warren and Ann B. Newsome, G.B. and Sherry W. Newsome, Walter and Sharon Turner, Tom and Melanie C. Wells, Tommy Wells, Billy and Kelli Craycraft, Ben, Rett, Cailyn and Maggie, Jack and Mary Lois Newsome, Graham and Kohen, Burt Newsome and Nick Reville, all of Washington; Sandra Schechter of Denver, Colo., Beverly S. Bristow, Justin and Elizabeth Bristow of Champaign, Ill., Colleen T. Griffin of Matthews, N.C., Tony and Dianne Cooper and Kay of Charleston, S.C., Jim and Nikki Burton, Callaway and Cole, of Cleveland, Tenn., Harry and Gloria T. Cooper and Ann Cooper of Louisville, James and Jean N. Casey, Greg and Janice C. Shelley and Joan C. Mitchell of Cedartown, John and Jackie T. Bailey of Austell, Lisa N. Meister of Harlem, Kerry and Angie Herndon and Drew of Athens, Travis Newsome, Christa and Julia, of Crawford, Shane N. Gaines, Trace and Tanner of Winterville, Mike and Debra Sherrer and Whitney of Rayle, Shannon N. Thomason and Taylor McAvoy of Danburg.

Members of the Robert Vickers "Bob" Newsome family present were Mary Ann Garrard, David Garrard, Hammond Garrard, Hilda McCarty, Angela M. McGill and Robert , John and Frances C. Reed, all of Washington, Lillian N. Sherman of Augusta, Amaryllis N. Tyler and Vickers Harrelson of Allendale, S.C., John Thomas Newsome of Atlanta, Martha Jo G. Collins of Watkinsville, Vera N. Ansley of Thomson, Randolph Garrard of Brooks, Randy and Penny Garrard of Carrollton, and Bobby Newsome of Warrenton.

From the William Crawford Newsome family were Adelle G. Dehill, Dennis and Laurie Dehil, Freddy and Peggy D. Brown, Margaret Ann Locklair and Hunter, Tim and Bridget Ray and Dominic, all of Washington, Kitty R. Newsome and Harold Newsome of Cocoa, Fla., Jack and Joann N. Cathey and Jan C. Knight of Buckhead.

Four granddaughters of Alice Newsome Corbin attending were Sandra D. Swain, Mae D. Milligan and Ann D. Darby of Thomson and Polly Dent of Lilburn.

The oldest child of Tom and Susan Newsome was Amanda Newsome Smith. Her descendants attending were Donald and Joanne Screws Holtz of Midville and Nick and Carole Kraus of Twin City.

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