The Shadow
Sunday, Aug. 12, 135 descendents of William Alexander and Rachel Haynes Deeds celebrated their 75th annual Deeds Reunion at Douthat State Park.
On April 14, 1876, William purchased 150 acres of land, on which is now the area of and around Douthat State Park Lake for $2.27, his heirs and assigns for ever for back taxes.
William and Rachel both died in the late 1800s and were buried in the family cemetery which was located near the present boat dock.
There are pictures of family members sitting on the steps of the home place there in the early 1900s while the family of John Lewis and Sarah Ellen Deeds were building their home, some five miles above Douthat Park which is still called the “Deeds Big House” as there was anywhere from three to six families living there off and on as work took the male member out of town for work and those that never married. This still remains in the family of Donald Barden, grandson of Henry and Daisy Brinkley Deeds.
When it was decided to place Civilian Conservations Corps in Bath and Alleghany County, land had to be obtained.
After hours of research, no record of this case was found in Bath or Alleghany clerk’s office records. A decision was reached and some land was donated, while other was purchased and work began in 1932.
Three CCC camps were built and most of the able bodied men worked there to support their families and met their wives on the Saturday night dances held at the camps. Robert Deeds was the only one who stayed on at the completion and he was Chief Ranger, until his retirement at age 65.
When the park was completed and dedicated in June of 1936, the descendents of William and Rachel got together and decided to hold gathering of the clan with a picnic lunch, light a candle for those departed ones since the last reunion, on the second Sunday of each year so families, scattered over many states could come together.
A committee was formed, officers elected, collection taken for post cards, cokes purchased and put on ice. Although officers changed over the years, Cecil Carter remained the master of ceremonies until his death. This committee was held together with the aid of Rosie Carter Ross (Stratton) Regina Carter Peters and Virginia Deeds. with aid of others depending on who was willing each year.
With the death of Virginia Deeds in 1976, the committee was composed of Caroline Deeds Wilson and husband, Silas, members of the Kenna and Hattie Brinkley family, the Ethel Deeds and Oscar Watts family, and the members of the Carrie and Joe Reynolds family.
Life changes and most of the older generation have died and the younger generation have so many things going on in his modern world in which we live that the crowd grows smaller and smaller and it becomes harder to get people to take responsibility of renting the shelter, seeing everything is set up each year. The state granted money and the park did a complete work over under the guidance of Forrest Gladden and horse shoe pits were installed, a bad mitten court installed and now only the large picnic shelter (Douthat) has tables.
Needing the tables to eat on, Silas Wilson built tables with folding legs and they are set up outside the shelter to put the food. Three large bulletin boards were built by Silas and display the last years reunion candid pictures, deaths, family members information from newspapers.
Blessing on the gathering and food was given by Ron Wilson, son of Silas and Caroline Wilson, and master of ceremonies, who accepted this position after the death of Cecil Carter.
At 1 p.m., the group gathered above the shelter for a group picture, tradition started in 2004, again by family member Robert Stoutamire and pictures were taken of family groups.
Mr. Scott, of Clifton Forge started this tradition in 1937, until his death, then Ernie Miller of Miller Studio took this over ,until his death, and the following years, candid pictures were taken by Caroline Wilson and displayed each year on bulletin boards. Seventy-five years of this family were displayed on bulletin boards and pictures albums and the History of the Deeds (Deitz) family from 1754 to 2006, researched, written and printed by Caroline Deeds Wilson, edited by son Ron. These will be kept to be passed on to future generations to come, with added information each year.
A memorial service was held with prayer by the Rev. Gene Peters and candles lit in memory of those who died since the last reunion: Genevia Roberts Franklin, 84; Arnold Lee Bradberry, 81; Marion “Kitty” Ross Hawkings, 84; Edwin “Tony” Ross, 76; Diana Ross Snipes, 70; Jamie Jeffries, 39; Doris Bocook, 84; and Carol Ross Wills Burns.
Old-fashioned crocks were placed on each end of the tables, filled with yellow and deep purple roses in memory of Arnold Bradberry by his wife, Betty Dressler Bradberry and family.
Tradition beginning with first reunion, and continuing today were gifts given to oldest, youngest descendent, purchased from the collection. After the death of Cecil Carter, master of ceremonies from the organization of the reunion until his death, these are donated in honor of Cecil Carter by his family. This year the following were recongnized: oldest male; T. R. Lawler, oldest female, Anne Jurgens Stoutamire, youngest female, Haleigh Clark, daughter of Ashley and Larry Clark, two years, youngest male, Graham Moore, nine-days old, son of Jeremy and Angela Moore, greatest distance, Brenda Kuykendell, of Lubbock, Texas,oldest male spouse, J. A. Winckler, spouse of the deceased Kathleen Deeds Winckler, oldest person attending, Lois Banks, Louise Garland Carter, widow of Cecil Edwin Carter.
The fifty-fifty ticket winner was Caroline Deeds Wilson.
Hand-painted articles donated by Talia Deeds, and childrens items were drawn from the 50/50 tickets and given out.
Discussion of future reunions was held with those in attendance and with some minor changes, which will be put in place for the reunion in 2013.
