HOWARD FAMILY REUNION - CINCINNATI, OH 1985

Rebecca Spivey, daughter of Alonzo, put together this reunion. She arranged a Friday-night gathering in which we all enjoyed a good meal, listened to music and got re-acquainted. Unfortunately, some of us were in different hotels and were not able to visit each other’s rooms as much as we’d like.

Saturday was a nasty day. It rained heavily, and we were all sure that the day’s activity would be spoiled. As we waited for the rain to stop, some family members hung out in the hotel bar, others remained in their rooms and some ventured out.

By the afternoon, the rain stopped and we all went to an amusement park. At the park, we broke up into small groups and headed into different directions. It was daylight when we got there and nightfall when we left. We hung around until midnight for the fireworks display.

It was a night to be a kid again.

We went to church on Sunday, with one group accompanying Rebecca to her church and another going with Floyd Howard, son of Alonzo, and wife Lucille to their church.

Our Sunday meal was delicious, and the program was insightful. Rebecca gave the greeting. Sherry Howard of Raleigh, NC, daughter of Abbie Lee Howard, daughter of Alonzo, gave the history of Annie Lee and Alonzo. Oliver Howard related the history of his father Guss Howard, who was a successful small businessman in Detroit.

Later that night, Floyd, Lucille, their children, all from Cincinnati, and several other cousins dropped by the Macon clan’s hotel. We laughed a lot, and we kidded a lot. 

We just had fun – listening to Raymond Goolsby of Macon, son of Ceola Goolsby, daughter of Alonzo, tell his outrageous stories: about the pet hog he used to saddle and ride like a horse when we lived in Lizella, GA. Or us feeling slightly embarrassed as he told some unflattering story – never quite true but always embellished – from our childhood. Or just laughing along with him as he taunted us about the way we looked or the way we talked.

It was also on that Saturday night in Cincinnati when Al Howard of Macon, son of Arthur Lee, son of Alonzo, and his cousins were hassled by some white guys at a burger joint. They had gone there for food, and these guys – with nothing better to do on a Saturday night – started talking at them. They got their food and left, hopefully learning that racism and bigotry are inescapable.