FORDYCE, ARKANSAS AND CALAWAY CEMETERY
EVENT THAT YOU AND ALL YOUR RELATIVES WILL WANT TO ATTEND A VERY SPECIAL REUNION OF ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF COLUMBUS (LUM) AND ELIZABETH ELLIS WILL BE HELD MEMORIAL DAY WEEK-END AT THE VERY PLACE THAT IT ALL BEGAN. MANY ACTIVITIES WILL MAKE THIS A SPECIAL .
Calaway cemeter y (est. 1855) is where GrandPa and GrandMa Ellis and most of their 17 children are buried. The reunion will be held in connection with "Decoration Day" at the cemetery. A feature of the week-end will be an historical pagaent, "Tombstone Talk" or "This is your life Lum, Elizabeth and Miss Fanny Ellis", which will be a reenactment (in the cemetery) of many of the highlights from the early years of your ancestors. Each branch of the family tree is asked to designate a person(s) to dress in period attire and participate in the skit. Planning and rehearsal will be Friday night under the direction of Ron Evans (Your cousin from Mississippi Public Television).
It is likely that Arkansas Educational Television will be taping this tabloid for a presentation featuring the Old Cemeteries of Arkansas. You will not want to miss this entertaining and educational experience.
The Days Inn at Fordyce, Arkansas will be the headquarters. 20 Rooms have been reserved, but must be confirmed by you by March 15, 2008 (First come, first served $75/room/night). Those with RV's may stay at Jacinto Community Campground (about 15 miles from Fordyce) for $5.
Friday afternoon there will be check-in, welcome and hospitality at Days Inn followed by a fried fish and chicken supper catered at the Jacinto Campground followed by Pagaent planning and rehearsal. There will also be a variety show featuring the talent in your family. The campground is a beautiful, unique, country place.
Saturday all day will be spent at Calaway Cemetery and the Providence Community. There will be tours of the area with stops at significant places, including the Ellis homestead, where the old picture was taken, and the home places of the Ellis clan who lived in the community, the church and one room school location, etc. For the children (and young at heart) there will be horse back rides, horse and wagon rides, toe-sack and 3 legged races, face painting and other activities typical of the generation we are honoring.
Each year the Calaway Cemetery Association (President Ellis Evans, your cousin) holds a Decoration Day and our reunion will be in conjuction with that activity. There is an old fashioned dinner on the ground to which people bring covered dishes. Some of our men will be cooking to cover our contribution of food.
Sunday morning there will be a continental breakfast (brunch) and farewell at the Days Inn at Fordyce. We will salute those of our family who have served in the wars and conflicts of our country. Only one of the 80 (?) second generation cousins was killed in WW II (J. C. Ellis, Uncle Robert's son). Plans will be made for the next reunion. Hosting rotates among the descendants of each of the first generation children. 13 of the 17 children grew to adulthood. An ELLIS REUNION BLOG has been established on the internet. ( ellisreunion2008blogspot) Visit it and make any suggestions, ask questions and share pictures and any interesting family legends, myths and history that might be included in the pagaent. Our ambition is to stimulate as much interest in Ellis history, geneology, legacy and traditions as possible. The Arkansas and Calhoun County Historical Societies will participate. Visit the blog as more information comes in. The drama is going to share lots of genetic, social and cultural family information which is important to you even if you are in the 5th generation of descendents.
For this reunion to be successful, we need the cooperation and support of all our cousins. Be sure that everyone on your part of the family tree gets the word and encourage all to set aside May 23-25, 2008 for a fun time of history, culture and tradition. You will truly be stepping back in time.
