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38 | southernfamilymag.com SOUTHERN FAMILY MAGAZINE southernfamilymag.com | 39JULY/AUGUST 2011
Home and Garden – Feature HomeHome and Garden – Feature Home
Epps Family Reunion
epitomizes Southern
hospitality
continued page 40
Forty-eight years ago, George and the
late Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Crovatt Epps and
George’s mother, Omie Williams Epps,
discussed what they could do to promote
family unity of the large Epps family.
What was needed was an annual occasion
important enough to attract everyone.
A spacious home was built, and the Third
of July Family Reunion, combined with a
Fourth of July celebration for family, friends
and associates, was born.
George and Dottie’s children are Kathy Trapp, Liz Epps and
Charlie Epps. Charlie and his wife Rhonda have three children:
Ben, 23, Sophie, 16, and Claire, 13. Liz’ husband is Bo Jennings.
Kathy’s two adult children are Luke Trapp and Sarah Gregory. Kevin
Humphrey is Dot’s son from her original marriage.
Today, George and his wife Dot, Ben, Charlie, Sophie, Kathy, Liz
and Luke Trapp are pilots, as was Dottie Epps. Practically all the
Atlanta branch of the family come to the reunion in brother Pat’s
airplanes. Pat owns and operates the !xed-base aircraft facility, Epps
Aviation, in Atlanta.
A week before July 4, the Epps cousins from 8 to 15 years old
gather for the “Work Camp,” Rhonda Epps said. Cousins who are
16 years old to 20-something serve as counselors. Adult, unmarried
cousins also are welcome.
Chores and sleeping arrangements are based on age. “If a cousin
complains, we’ll say, ‘No, it’s not fair, but she’s older than you.’ It
settles the dispute,” Rhonda said.
On July 3, the family and close friends gather for a catered
supper on the home’s lawn. Various relatives entertain with speeches
and a few tall tales. "ose with important life events in the past
year are recognized – from recent graduates to new babies. Young
couples who married since the last reunion are required to “jump
the broom.”
Also on hand that evening is “!e Outlaws Club,” composed of
spouses of Epps family members. Rhonda is club president. “"e
Outlaws Club’s goal is to improve the Epps’ gene pool,” Rhonda joked.
Before the picnic, the Epps family plants memorial trees for
relatives and special friends who passed away that year.
On July 4, up to 400 people – relatives, friends, acquaintances,
friends of friends and associates in the ambulance and aviation
industry – arrive for the picnic. For 30 years, Rick Jobe and his
band Tuxedo Junction have entertained from the gazebo. By the
gazebo, a 100-year time capsule contains letters, photographs and
family mementos.
After 48 years of consecutive reunions and celebrations,
the tradition ful!lls the original intent.
George and Dottie hosted the event until Dottie’s
death in 2001. George married Doris ‘Dot’ Humphrey
in 2002, and they have been hosting the event ever since.
"e reunion and celebration are held at the family farm in
Harvest, Ala.
Adjacent to the home, Epps Airpark accommodates
George’s interest in aviation and is a further attraction to
the Epps family’s very high interest in aviation. "e 2,600-
foot runway suits those who #y in for the reunion and
celebration.
"e passion for #ying traces back to George’s father, Ben
T. Epps Sr., who is recognized as Georgia’s !rst aviator.
At 19, Ben Epps owned a bicycle and motorcycle shop in
Athens, Ga., where he built and #ew the !rst airplane in the
state. He was the !rst inductee into the Georgia Aviation
Hall of Fame.
George’s brothers, Ben. Jr. and Pat Epps, have also been
inducted into that hall of fame. George has been inducted
into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame.
by Gregg Parker, Contributing Writer
40 | southernfamilymag.com SOUTHERN FAMILY MAGAZINE southernfamilymag.com | 41JULY/AUGUST 2011
Ar ts and Enter ta inmentHome and Garden
Epps Family Reunion continued
Many guests visit the hangars with Epps’ and friends’ airplanes or
take rides in the J-3 Piper Cub, circa 1946. A great attraction is the
hot-air balloon for tethered rides brought by Dan Fitzgarrald and
Ruth Swann.
Dot’s #ower garden and fountain attract nature lovers. Her talent
with landscaping and #ower is obvious over the entire property.
"e three-level tree house provides a great launching platform for
two zip lines, with a lower-level zip line for younger children. "e
tree house and zip lines are an ongoing six-year project, managed
and planned by Charlie Epps.
“"e really long zip line stretches way out across !eld and into
the woods,” Rhonda said. "e youngsters enjoy the plane train
with six winged, riding cars pulled by a small tractor.
“You can walk the trails through the Back 40 woods,” Rhonda
said. A volleyball net and the swimming pool attract younger
guests.
Re#ecting the farm’s old history, a guest house of stone was built
in the 1800s, it is thought. Stuart Trapp refurbished it about 30
years ago. Also original is the old bell tower used to sound meal
time many years ago.
At 4 p.m. at the Fourth of July celebration, the bell is sounded
for the serving of barbecue. George and Dot preside over the
serving lines welcoming each guest, who are then served by the
cousins.
For 48 years, the meal has consisted of pork barbecue, slaw,
baked beans and buns. Sweet tea is the most popular beverage.
Dessert tables are !lled with cakes, pies, brownies, cobblers, cookies
and ice cream, most brought by guests.
“As many as 50 people have slept in the house on the third of
July,” Rhonda said. “Of course, there are not that many beds, but
with sleeping bags and heavy quilts we manage.”
“I have to think of the rooms in terms of how the family uses the
house. "e Green Room got its nickname from its green carpet,”
Rhonda said.
“During Work Camp, the boys sleep in the basement, and the
girls sleep upstairs in the Green Room – as far away as possible.
Even the little girls who never saw the green carpet know where the
Green Room is.”
"e Green Room now has red carpet, but the nickname stuck.
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