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.