56th Witherspoon-Strain Family Reunion

Family Togetherness
Pop- Ups From Vegas To Carolina

Hello Family!

Happy New Year! We hope 2017 is treating you well and that everyone is staying warm! We, the committee, have planned
a festive and different family reunion for you. We hope to see each of you at the Family Reunion. In the Witherspoon-
Strain Spirit of family love, spontaneity, and moving forward as well as paying homage to tradition, we continue to press
forward by trying new things and celebrating our history. We will be together no matter what; no matter the place
Pop-ups from Vegas to Carolinas.

July 16 20, 2017 Pre-Reunion Las Vegas Trip

July 21 23, 2017 Family Reunion in Charlotte, NC
http://wsfamilyreunion.weebly.com

Please make your plans to participate There is no other event like it We are in this TOGETHER!

In Family Love,

Stevie Johnson Lisa Jones Jerry Jones, Jr. Angela Lindsay Verta W. Looper (financial secretary) Fred Witherspoon
Larry Witherspoon Odell Witherspoon, Jr. (treasurer) Natasha Witherspoon Vera Mauvene Witherspoon Timothy
Williams Alexster Witherspoon Dawn Witherspoon (Coordinator) 704.839.1378 dpwitherspoon@yahoo.com

Family Dues

Calling all familiesWe are happy to report that more families have paid their family dues! We thank those of you who
have paid, but we URGE everyone to send in their dues. We encourage you to remit your family dues TODAY, even if you
are unsure if you will attend the reunion. Currently, family dues pay for mailings, hotel deposits, Friday night meet and
greet, start up money for next years reunion, and other miscellaneous expenses. We are in this together and the success
of the reunion depends on everyones support. The reunion will be what we make it! Submit your $30.00 family dues
to: Verta W. Looper6483 Witherspoon Trail Lancaster, SC 29720 o visit website to pay online via PayPal -
http://wsfamilyreunion.weebly.com Thank You!

Pre-Reunion Trip to Las Vegas, Nevada

The Family and Friends Trip to Las Vegas promises to be a fantastic trip full of fun, fellowship, and sight-seeing. Annie and
Kevin, Lisa and Todd, Verta, and Jean have confirmed their reservations with Sylvia Proctor, Cruise One Travel Agency,
843-650-5386. Melody (Walt Lee's daughter) confirmed 4 travelers, and Ecola Davis. We plan to arrive in Vegas on July
16th and depart on July 20th. Interested family and friends may arrange their individual plans and/or compare with Sylvia
Proctor's arrangements. Most of the family is staying at the MGM Grand Hotel. During February, the group will discuss
tours; we do plan to travel to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. Join us, and add another cherished memory to your
repertoire. For more information, contact Verta, 404-408-4075, vwlooper@aol.com.

Weekend Activities: Friday - Sunday

We have planned a weekend of non-stop fun. We keep some of the traditional fun but pack on lots of new festivities to
celebrate our familya family full of talented, imaginative, and focused people. We are definitely making our ancestors
proud.

What can you expect throughout the weekend? Hold on to your hats!
 Friday, 7/20/17: Lets Get to Know Our Family Meet and Greet. Meet us at the DoubleTree tent/pavilion from
6:00 to 9:00 PM. We will have family games, gifts, food, and music. At the Meet and Greet, we want family
members to introduce themselves and talk with at least three to five family members that they do not know. To
help accomplish this, we will play the Baby Photo Game. Family members will try to match up the pictures with
the guests. Please submit your baby/childhood photo no later than Friday, July 13, 2017, by email
(J3jbow@verizon.net ) or by mail (Jerry Jones 13928, Westview Forest Drive Bowie, MD 20720) or by Dropbox
(see website) http://wsfamilyreunion.weebly.com

Saturday, 7/21/17: Keep on Movin Our family loves to move and make moves! This year we include some new
activities to stretch ourselves. Enjoy a nice, healthy breakfast and then lets move (former FLOTUS will be so
proud of us!). We will take care of ourselves first by completing a morning run/walk at DoubleTree. Look for more
information at the meet & greet. Following the exercise, we will continue our attention to our well-being; Novant
Health will sponsor a session, Family Focused Health. Stay tuned; you will be surprised by what we have
planned. After we take care of our physical health, we will unwind with fun and fellowship at the Witherspoon-
Strain Day Party the CIAA doesnt have anything on us. Join us at the tent/pavilion. Our very own, Stevie
Johnson will be on the 1s and 2s! Come ready to bust a move, enjoy a great meal, and kick back with the fam!.
And, the fun doesnt stop there. You know we like to keep moving.Saturday evening we have pop-up events
for everyone kids night, cards & mingling, and for the artistic (or not so) ones, we have Paint Night.
Show your skills and just have fun together.

Sunday, 7/22/17: A Family that Prays Together Stays Together. Our family is full of the faithful. We will worship
together at the family church, Steele Hill AME Zion Church. Our mother-son preaching duo Rev. Vera & Rev.
Dr. Monte Witherspoon-Brown will tag team and share the Word. You dont want to miss it. Following our soul-
stirring worship service, we will commune together with food at K&W in Pineville. Come ready to eat a hearty,
Southern Mealbut dont forget about those things we learned on Saturday. We want to be a healthy family!

Hotel Information: FRED PLEASE UPDATE

Double Tree Suites @ Southpark 6300 Morrison Blvd.. Charlotte NC 28211 704.364.2400
http://charlottesouthparksuites.doubletree.com/

Hotel: All hotel rooms are suites which include 2 separate rooms (living area, bedroom, full kitchen or kitchenette)

Room Block/Rate: 1 Bedroom Suite (1 King or 2 Double Beds with sofa bed): $132 2 Bedroom Suite (King/2 Double
Beds with sofa bed) Room rates are quoted exclusive of applicable state and local taxes (which are currently 15.25%)

Room Reservation Cut-Off Date: June 26, 2017 (Availability nor rate can be guaranteed after this date)

Reservation Instructions: Call Hyatt Central Reservations 704.927.0014 or 800.993.4751 and provide Group Name:
Witherspoon Strain Family Reunion, Group Code WSF or visit our Family Reservation Page
(see website - http://wsfamilyreunion.weebly.com

Reunion Schedule of Activities

Thursday, July 20 Check-In and Free Time

Friday, July 21 Breakfast in Hotel

9:00 AM 10:00 PM
1:00 PM Lunch (On your own)

3:00 PM 6:00 PM Check In and Free Time

6:00 PM 9:00 PM Meet n Greet (Hotel with light to heavy hors d oeuvres; Games)
Complimentary with paid family dues
Dont forget to send in your baby picture!
Saturday, July 22 Breakfast in Hotel T-Shirt Day Wear your favorite W-S t-shirt

10:00 AM 12 noon (Hotel) Health & Wellness Family Fit & Novant Health Health Focused Family

12 noon 2:30 PM Free Time

Lunch (On your own: Food Court in Southpark Mall and numerous nice restaurants
in area

3:00 PM 6:00 PM Family Reunion Day Party (Hotel; Attire: Business Casual)

7:00 PM 10:00 PM Family Reunion Pop-ups

Kids Night | Cards & Mingling
Paint Night | Painting with a Twist
(http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/charlotte)

10:00 PM UNTIL Oh, Its Party Time! Fun on your own

Sunday, July 23 Breakfast in Hotel/Check-Out

11:00 AM 1:30 PM Morning Worship Steele Hill AME Zion Church Family Church
6201 Charlotte HighwayLancaster SC 803.285.7850

1:30 3:00 PM Family Lunch/Fellowship

K&W Cafeteria 8652 Pineville-Matthews Rd. Pineville, NC 28134

Monday, July 24 Optional: Travel to Winston-Salem, NC to visit elderly relatives

th
2018: 58 Witherspoon Strain Family Reunion Now is the time to start planning. We are going to Chicago, IL.
Please look for more information from Donald Jackson & Alexster Witherspoon.

Additional Information

If you will need ground transportation to the hotel, please contact Fred Witherspoon as soon as possible
to make arrangements. Fred: witherspoonstrain@gmail.com or 704.488.5008 or Uber

Useful Websites

Family Reunion: http://wsfamilyreunion.weebly.com (#1 Source for Reunion Info)

Double Tree Hotel: http://charlottesouthparksuites.doubletree.com (Use the family reunion page to make
an online reservation)
South Park Mall: http://www.simon.com/mall/southpark
Painting With A Twist: http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/charlotte/
Family Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wsfamilyreunion
Steele Hill A.M.E. Zion Church: http://steelehillamez.org
K&W Cafeteria: http://www.kwcafeterias.biz/charlotte-nc/ (Pineville Location)
PayPal: Pay dues and registration online
Dropbox: Upload your baby picture to Jerry Jones, Jr.

Questions

Contact A Committee Member or start with Dawn and she will direct you, or email
witherspoonstrain@gmail.com
 2017 Registration Form (PLEASE PRINT AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT)
Name____________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address____________________________________________________________________________________

City_______________________________________State_______________Zip Code___________________________

Phone Number_________________________ Email Address______________________________________________

Please indicate names that you registering for:___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deadline to Submit Registration Form and Fees: June 20, 2017

Payable to Witherspoon-Strain Family Reunion | Mail: Verta W. Looper | 6483 Witherspoon Trail Lancaster, SC 29720

Event/Item Cost Number Total

Dues are Due Family Dues $30.00

ASAP! Friday Meet & Greet N/A

**payment of family dues required
Saturday Day Party

Adults $40.00

Ages 4 -11 $26.50

Children (4 and Under) $0.00

Saturday Pop-Ups

Kids Corner --
Activity Money
Cards & Mingling --
Due June 30, 2017
Paint Night $35.00
**Adults ONLY; Wine included
Sunday Lunch Pay @ K&W
**Provide # attending
Total

This Is WSN Witherspoon Strain Network!

What exciting news do you have to share with the WS family? Please share exciting news as it relates to:

Name __________________________________________________________________________________________

Parents Name ________________________________Grandparents Name__________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone__________________________________ Email ___________________________________________________

News___________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Please submit this form with your family dues and registration information. One form per individual. Thank You!

Lillie Mae Witherspoon Jones Courage Award Nomination

Lillie Mae Witherspoon Jones (April 24, 1931 March 25, 2012) was born in Richmond, VA to the late Olie Witherspoon
and Sarah Faye. She was raised by her grandparents, the late Will and Lula Ivey Witherspoon in the Waxhaw, NC area.
Lillie Mae was married to Jerry, Sr. and they had 4 children: Jerry Jr., Ross, Keith, and Lisa. Even though Lillie Mae was
diagnosed with diabetes, it did not stop her from supporting and attending the family reunion.
Purpose: To recognize a family member who has demonstrated courage when faced with lifes challenges. The definition
of courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty
Motivation for Award:
1. Lillie Mae was always okay; she remained positive about her life and her family.
2. Lillie Maes commitment and dedication to family and the Witherspoon Strain Family Reunion
3. Lillie Mae and family scheduled her dialysis in the reunion city so that she would be able to attend the reunion. This
demonstrated her determination to attend the reunion no matter the obstacle.
4. Award provides an opportunity to learn more about our family members
To recognize the legacy of Lillie Mae and to recognize family members who display courage as defined in the Purpose,
we will honor a family member with the Lillie Mae Witherspoon Jones Courage Award at the 56th Witherspoon Strain
Family Reunion. The Honorary Lillie Mae Jones Courage Award was presented in Annapolis, MD to Lillie Maes Family
and Annie Mae Wright.
Criteria for Nominee:
1. Be a member of the Witherspoon-Strain Family
2. Must be 18 years old at date of nomination
3. Ability to maintain a positive, can do attitude no matter the challenge
4. Demonstrate dedication to family reunion
5. Display courage when faced with challenge (personal, health, family, career, etc.)
6. Dedication to family
7. Lives the Creed: It is not what happens, but what you do about it
8. Turns stumbling blocks into stepping stones
Nomination Process:
1. Witherspoon -Strain family member MUST makes nomination
2. Write 100 word (or less) paragraph describing acts of courage and why nominee should receive award
3. Submit ALL materials by June 20, 2017.
Selection Process:
Nominations will be received and reviewed by Lisa Jones (lisajones24@comcast.com). Final selection will be made by
members of the Lillie Mae Jones Courage Award Subcommittee.

Please complete and return this attachment by June 20, 2017 to Lisa Jones, lisajones24@comcast.com
Nominee Name ___________________________________________________________________

Nominee Address_________________________________________________________________

City _________________________State _________________________ Zip _________________

Telephone __________________________ Email ______________________________________

Nominees Parents Name _________________________________________________________

Nominees Grandparents Name ____________________________________________________

Nominated By: __________________________________________________________________

Telephone________________________________ Email ________________________________

Describe, in 100 words or less, how your nominee has demonstrated Courage. Include this on a separate sheet.
Completed nomination application will include this completed form along with 100 word description.