The annual Smith Reunion took place Saturday, May 14 at the Mountain Community Center in South Mountain Community east of Gatesville, Texas. One newly located cousin, George Barnes, traveled the farthest to attend by driving from Orange, Texas and one of the 36 attendees of 2016 Smith Reunion included descendants of Walter (1967-1947) and Berry (1864-1918) Smith and family friends. Walter and Berry were 2 of 5 children of Jackson (1825-1896) and Ester Greer (1830-1909) Smith who moved to the Purmela Community in 1874. For many years the reunion has been a gathering of the descendants of Walter A and Cynthia Eva (Risinger) Smith who married in 1886. Their children were Flora Jones, Newton Smith, Mary Burton, Jake Smith, Mike Smith, Bertha Spencer, Walt Smith, Belle Chitwood, Bailey Smith and Curtis Smith. In recent years, however, the group has grown to also include descendants of Berry J and Mary Emma “Mollie” (Blakley) Smith who married in 1888. Their children were Lillian Meyers, Franklin Smith, Jim Smith, Clyde Smith, Katherine Tally, William Smith, Henry Smith and Mary Smith.
Participants came from as far as Athens, Terrell and McKinney. Besides plenty of conversation, the group enjoyed a pot luck meal and a time for family story telling. If you realize you may be related to this family contact Glenda Dennison at 247-6558 for more information.