Florida Reedy reunion report

updated Sept 22, 2003

Read some stories told at the reunion

MARCH 15, 2003, REEDY REUNION

Irving Reedy served as our Master of Ceremonies this year. After introducing himself, he commented that, because Jim Reedy had done such a great job as the emcee at the 2001 Reunion, we’d have him "on the payroll" forever. However, Jim was unable to attend this year, so Irving agreed to do the honors.

He called attention to the Registration table and name tags, and explained that numbers corresponding to numbers on the nametags would be drawn for door prizes. He also made a plea for people to leave their email addresses, and to keep them updated, so that we can save money on postage.

He commented on our new meeting place (the Eustis Community Center) that we had outgrown the Umatilla Community Center and these facilities were not only larger but newer and nicer.

Irving officially opened the Reunion meeting by asking everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing to sing God Bless America.

After explaining that he would call for people to go to the buffet line by table number, he asked the blessing.

After everyone enjoyed the sort of wonderful food that Reedy Reunions always provide, Irving asked people to return to their tables for the program. He noticed a child’s rocker on the stage beside the podium, and remarked that it was not for him, saying "I’m short, but not that short". Buford Junior explained that he had brought the chair, which had belonged to "Little George" and was brought to Florida when George and Martha Reedy moved here.

Irving announced that there were numerous items for sale: pictures of ancestors, written information about genealogy, other printed material, and coffee mugs inscribed in gold lettering with the names of Hezekiah and Lovada Reedy, and their wedding date.
He introduced the people involved in the planning of the Reunion: Martha Louise Shattles, food and setup; Mary Koevenig, decorations and signs; E.A. Reedy, treasurer; Debbie Conn, list of Hezekiah and Lovada’s descendants; Jennifer Leffew, music; Betty Reedy and Joanne Hafeli, genealogy; Shirley Reich, communications and program; Rosemary Mahlkuch , music and meeting place.

E.A. Reedy gave the Treasurer’s Report, saying that we had $51.62 left from the last Reunion, and that this one has cost $463.00, which includes hall rental and mailings during the last 2 years. He called attention to the decorated receptacles on each table for the collection of contributions toward these expenses. He announced that Dennis Reedy, descendant of one of Hezekiah’s brothers, contributed a book for auction.

This book is called A SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HISTORY OF DICKENSON CO., VIRGINIA. In the 1920 and 30’s, teachers were asked to interview the oldest people in their school area and write a history of these people and events that they remembered. Several years ago, Dennis, , a teacher in Dickenson County, found these handwritten manuscripts and got permission to edit them and publish them in cooperation with the local historical society. The result was this book which mentions many Reedys and McFalls, and other relatives. E.A. then opened the bidding at $20.00 , and after spirited bidding it went to Frank Lisle for $50.00.

Betty Reedy then gave a brief report on recent genealogy investigations. (See below) She ended her report with a reminder to everyone that we need to "write our story" and save and label our pictures.

As we always do, Deaths and Births since the 2001 Reunion were reported:
Clyde Reedy, son of Emory Reedy died October 5, 2001;
Johnny Connell, son of Ethel Connell died September 12, 2002;
Carrie Reedy, Rosemary Mahlkuch’s mother, died November 23, 2002;
Maude Hawkins, daughter of Letty Alice Reedy (date of death unknown)

There were many births announced:
Alex Isbell, grandson of E.A. and Connie Reedy, born October 25, 2001;
Ashley Hafeli, granddaughter of Joanne and Alan Hafeli, born June 9, 2001; Dale Barnes (?) born March 8, 2002; Daniel Krafft, grandson of Patti and Bob Krafft, born August 2, 2002; Nathan Krafft, grandson of Patty and Bob Krafft, born August 8, 2002; Isabella Darling Jackson, born February 6, 2003; Elizabeth Johnson, granddaughter of Rosemary Mahlkuch, born January 7, 2003;

NOTE: The system of calling out births and deaths at the time of the meeting leads to errors and omissions. Next Reunion there will be forms on each table for persons present to record such information, or it can be sent to Shirley Reich at any time before 2005.

First-time attendees at the Reunion were introduced: Wayne Jackson; Jim and Sue DeRudder; Floyd Allen Reedy and wife; Floyd’s sister Rebecca and husband.

Awards were presented as follows:
Oldest person present Merle Kilker, 90 years;
Youngest person Isabella Darling Jackson 5 weeks;
Couple married longest Buford and Louise Reedy 70 years;
Person who traveled farthest Joyce Curman Seattle, Washington.
Each winner was given a Hezekiah and Lovada Reedy coffee mug with a small plant in it.

Jennifer Leffew then led the audience in a sing-along of: What a Friend We Have in Jesus, "Love Lifted me", "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace". Rosemary Mahlkuch accompanied her on the keyboard.

STORY TIME followed, with stories told by Irving Reedy, Buford Reedy, Jr., James Reedy and Shirley Reich. (See attached)

Irving asked for volunteers for help with future Reunions, commenting on the fact that the pay is good, and we would like for younger folks to be involved.

Jennifer led the audience in singing "America the Beautiful", then sang a solo "We Shall Behold Him", which she dedicated to her grandmother, Zettie Reedy.

The 2003 Reedy Reunion closed with everyone joining in the hymn "God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again".

REUNION GENEALOGY REPORT

Betty began by pointing out that much of the information we have is due to the work of Joanne Hafeli, who is a dedicated researcher in libraries, court houses and on the Internet.
However, Joanne has a problem with her voice and prefers to let someone else do the reporting for her. It was through her efforts that contact has been made with the descendants of John Madison McFall, Lovada’s father, who took his family, except for Lovada, who was married to Hezekiah, and went to Texas after the Civil War, where he changed his name to John Dictson.
The Dictson relatives in Texas did not know about the Reedy relatives in Virginia until Joanne contacted them.
One of those Texas Dictsons has provided important information to us.
Betty reported that she had attended a McFall reunion in North Carolina, and that Joanne had attended a McHone reunion, also in North Carolina. We think that Lovada’s mother was a McHone, but it is not yet proved.
Betty related the following story about a great-great-great-grandfather of Irving’s:
Many of the histories of the counties on the southwestern Virginia and North Carolina border tell about Arthur McFall, called ‘Old Arter’.
He was an Indian fighter, and at the time of the Revolutionary War, was known to be a Tory on the British side rather than the side of the American Patriots. His brother, John, was hanged after the Battle of King’s Mountain by the Patriots, and Arthur was also captured, but because of some good deed was released under the promise that he would from thence forward support the Patriot cause, not the British.
This he apparently did, since his widow got a Revolutionary War Pension because of his service. This fact is documented from Revolutionary War records.
The stories say that at some point Arthur’s wife was scalped by the Indians, but that she did not die. However, she was so disfigured that Arthur would have nothing more to do with her. This made her family so angry that they set out to get him, but he fled to the mountains.
There he took up with an Indian woman named Teak, or Teekena, and perhaps had some children by her. At some point he married Emzay Hollifield, who was the recipient of the war pension.
That marriage is recorded, but we have not found a record of his first marriage. Now this is a good story, but it has no documentation beyond that of his last marriage and his Revolutionary War service.

Well, lo and behold this summer comes an email from one of those McFall connections which includes a copy of a letter to Old Arter from James Pitman. It is on a scrap of paper with torn edges, and printed in a rough manner with phonic spelling and it says: (Nina McFall explains that the family Bible gives his name as Cornelius Arthur McFall.)

‘Neal Arter Alford McFaul Sir, Blessens be pon ye in respect and regret fer sistir Mary Jane an uv dayz passed on. Me ben old and redy to gret the gate: I hur bi ofer a lettr ov fergivens fer mi hellborn ways I lashed pon ye Ben I wuz watchn mi der sistir suffr herts undr ye hands Sir aftrr the injn scalp her hed. Them injns wuz diservon uv dith fer that I thank ye Sir. I wuz wishin ta kil ye for takn Teekena and for pushn forthwith awa mi Mary. I herbi fergive ye Sir. James Pitman’

So now we have reason to believe the county histories and another grandmother to research – Mary Jane Pitman.

Irving added a genealogical note that five of the children of Hezekiah and Lovada Reedy married five of the children of Sam Cook. Wesley Reedy married Alice Cook; George Reedy married Martha Cook; Arlena Reedy married Jonce Cook; Emory Reedy married Amanda Cook, and Henry Reedy married Rachel Cook. That makes for a lot of double first cousins more cousins than you can shake a stick at.

Submitted by Shirley Reich

Read some stories told at the reunion

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