Welcome from the Chair

It is with a full heart and great joy that I welcome you to the rebirth of the Elder, Griffieth, Robinson, Smith, Tory Family Reunion, to be held August 14 - 16, 2026. As chairperson, I am truly elated that we are coming together again—across generations, branches, and distances—to reconnect, reflect, and rejoice in who we are.

 

Black family reunions have always been more than gatherings. They are acts of remembrance, resistance, and restoration. Historically, they were born out of a need to reclaim what slavery and segregation tried to erase—names, stories, bloodlines, and belonging. Our reunions have been sacred spaces where history was spoken aloud, where elders passed wisdom to the young, and where love filled in the gaps that history left behind.

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Our family roots run deep in Morgan County, Georgia, and the Apalachee community during the late 1800s—particularly in the years following emancipation around 1865–1868. These were times of profound transition, hardship, faith, and determination. Our ancestors built lives, families, and communities during an era when freedom was newly declared but not easily lived. Their strength, resilience, and commitment to one another laid the foundation we now stand upon.

 

This year’s theme, “Rooted in Love, Bound by Blood,” speaks to that truth. We are connected by lineage, but it is love, respect, and intentional care for one another that sustains us. It reminds us that while we may not all know each other well, we belong to one another—and that belonging carries responsibility: to listen, to honor differences, to respect one another, and to love across generations.

 

Knowing our history grounds us. Connecting it to our present empowers us. And carrying it forward ensures that our future generations will not have to search for where they come from—they will already know. Our roots are strong, and when we stay connected, we continue to grow, heal, and thrive.

 

I look forward to the stories, the laughter, the learning, and the reconnection that August 2026 will bring. May this reunion be a celebration of our past, a strengthening of our present bonds, and a blessing for our future.

 

With love and gratitude,

Sonya Hope

Chairperson

2026 Elder Griffith Robinson Smith Tory Family Reunion Committee