WILSON- LAKE-HERBERT FAMILY CIRCLE
REUNION HISTORY
In October 1968, at the passing of Arthur (Red) Wilson, the oldest son of Ned and Lou Wilson, Mr. Demosthenes (Mac) McDow, the husband of Arthur’s baby sister, Sarah (Jannie) Wilson McDow, told the rest of the close family present at the time –James Wilson, Sr., Joe Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, Lillie Wilson, and Marcellus Brooks to name a few, that he wanted to meet at James Wilson, Sr.’s home to discuss some family matters.
At this gathering, which was held at 435 Park Road, N.W., Washington, D.C., McDow stated that he would like to see the family start a reunion because the family should not wait for someone to pass before the family got together, but meet on happy occasions as well. Mr. McDow suggested having the reunion at his and Sarah’s home – 2609 Evergreen Road, Odenton, M.D. Sarah immediately volunteered to prepare Christmas dinner at their home to further discuss the matter with other family members. At this dinner, Sarah told everyone how important it was to have a family reunion because many of the family cousins did not know their kindred. It was decided that the Labor Day Holiday would always be the date.
Mr. James Wilson, Sr. interceded in getting the Lake Family to come down to Mac’s and Sarah’s home to help clean up and clear off the land for the reunion. James Wilson, Sr. was elected President, James Wilson, Jr. was elected 1st Treasurer, Lossie Mae Lake was elected 2nd Treasurer, Sarah McDow was elected Financial Secretary, Raymond Wilson was elected Recording Secretary.
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Thus, the first reunion was held during the Labor Day Holiday, September 1969, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Demonsthenes McDow. The menu for this awe-inspiring occasion included roast pig, barbecue goat, turkey, ham, chicken and a variety of other tasteful dishes. At this reunion, all the meats were cooked by Mac and some of the Lakes – Horatio, George, Jr., Willie B, Willie James, Timothy and Andrew to name a few. The salads and vegetables were prepared by Sarah McDow, Gladys Lake, Dorothy (Dot) Lake, Laura Lake, Patricia Lake and Doris Wilson to name a few. There were a host of relatives and friends in attendance at this event – bus loads of family and friends came in from Newberry and Greenville, SC and Philadelphia, PA. In addition, family members came from Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Detroit and California as well. Ernestine Lake’s son, James Williams, had a band and they played music on the back porch. All the young people danced in the back yard. Family slept on the floor and camped-out in the yard. James (Brother) Wilson, Jr. was the supervisor at the Masonic Hall at 10th and U Streets, N.W. where the first dinner was held on Sunday.
At the first reunion, the family circle consisted of only Wilson’s and Lakes. However, in 1971, at the third reunion, in Greenville, SC, the Herbert’s joined the circle. As a result, the Wilson-Lake-Herbert Family Reunion Circle was formed!
This Is Our Family Tree. Will You Be A Living Branch And Connect With It?
The Wilson, Lake and Herbert Family Reunion Circle