Remembering Our Past

Restoration For the Present

Rejoicing For Our Future

The Huggins Family Reunion

Charleston, South CarolinaJuly 2-6, 2009

Tonight, we meet on theanniversary of our nation’s birth.

A day our Union pauses to reflect on the sacrifices of men and women

who fought tyranny and demanded the inalienable rights

of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

But it would take100 years beforeAfricans enslaved in America

would receive those freedoms in our laws.

And the journey towards justice, civility and fairness for God’s

children remainsone we march even until today.

We celebrate the courageous and resilient few who survived the Middle Passage, among them were Jane and

Ansel Huggins.

We are their sons and daughters.

For without their sacrifice, their relentless will to survive, and their

faith, we would not be here.

Christmas Huggins,Son of Jane and Ansel Huggins

Minda Kinnery,Wife of Christmas Huggins and Daughter-In-Law of Jane and Ansel Huggins

William Sheppard and Mary Huggins,Son-In-Law and Daughter of Ansel and Jane Huggins

From those two couples over the last one hundred fifty years were born hundreds of men, women,

boys and girls.

We are their sons and daughters.

They survived Jim Crow and Black Codes.

They faced the threat of lynching, were prohibited from attaining an education,

learning how to read and write, and own property.

We are their sons and daughters.

They fought in World Wars 1,2 the Korean War, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and

Iraq.

We are their sons and daughters.

They witnessed the senseless assassinations of martyrs, Martin,

Malcom and Medgar. They built and supported houses of worship that empowered and sustained poor

communities.

We are their sons and daughters.

In the 1970s they let the hair grow naturally.

And they said it loud:“I AM BLACK and I’M PROUD”

We are their sons and daughters.

As the walls of segregation beganto crumble and universities opened their

doors, hearts and minds, they earned college and graduate degrees. They

became doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, senior vice presidents,

engineers, investment professionals, software designers, accountants and

many more.

We are their sons and daughters.

And in July 2009, we remember them, we celebrate them and we prepare our

children for a brighter future and a better tomorrow.

We are their sons and daughters.

Reflecting Back on theFamily Reunions of the Last 30

Years

1980s

Reflecting on the Family Reunions &

Other Historic Moments

1990s

Reflecting Back on theFamily Reunions of the Last 30

Years

2000s

So what memories will YOU make at this reunion?

START NOW.