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September 20, 2008

Dear Family,

 

I wanted to do something a little different this year and at first we discussed just mailing a post card with the date and time of the reunion. You may not know this reunion has been going on for at least 40+ years, and for the past I can’t remember how many years it has always been the last Sunday in October. We did change churches from Hopewell to Franklin, but both of these churches are tied to our family history in so many ways. The significance of Franklin is that it was built with Betts grown materials, Betts grown labor and love.

As I was mowing the grass this past Thursday evening, I did a lot of thinking; mowing grass tends to help me focus, and I thought how can I get the younger generation involved? To be honest, I didn’t come up with much, so I ask for your help. I asked myself why do I go and why do I feel it is important that my own children attend these reunions? There is only one simple answer - so they can get to know their extended family. It used to be that when you went to the store and you ran into this person or that person, you knew if they were kin to you and to ask how _?_ was doing.

Today our world is fast paced and we may be so geographically divergent that even if we were to run into someone in the store, we might not realize we were related to them or even how to ask about any specific member of their family by name. So many of the original families have passed away and we are several generations removed from the settlers of “Bettstown,” but remember that their blood runs in each and every one of us.

Then it hit me, the theme of the 2008 reunion should be Luke 22:19, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” In all honesty, isn’t this why we have a reunion, to remember our forefathers? I think that today we might need to shift the focus just a bit and also do it in remembrance of our own children and grandchildren; and by whatever means necessary, get them involved. 

I know the world today is a chaotic and fast-moving place full of duties and responsibilities, but don’t we have a duty and responsibility to our parents, our children and our grandchildren, which should come before the responsibility to others? I think the answer is yes, we all do! This is why I am writing such a heartfelt letter to all my family members. Please do your part and lead by example, attend and get your children and grandchildren to attend so that they can meet cousins that they may not even know are cousins. Let’s begin to reinvent this world just a little to be one that remains focused at least for one day out of each year on the importance of the ties that bind and the blood that flows through each of our veins. Let us all do this in remembrance. Make every day count. Reunion details are on the back of this page.

 

God Bless,

 

Lamar Leynes


 

When:     October 26, 2008
Where:   
Franklin Baptist Church

1002 Bettstown Road,

Bainbridge Georgia 39819
                Church Services
11:00-12:00
                Covered Dish Luncheon
1:00 - 1:30 PM

Presentation: Seminole Ramblings’

Jack Wingate 1:30 – UNTIL

 



Please bring a dish large enough to feed your family plus one.

Out-of-town families need not bring anything but your smiling faces.

 

There is always one hour between the end church service and the beginning of the luncheon to allow those who choose to attend their own churches time to arrive.

 

There will be new pages to add to the Betts Book this year, so bring yours.

 

Also bring any pictures or documents you might like to have included in next year’s update.

 

One final thing, think about someone you would like to give a moment’s tribute for as I will give each of you the opportunity this year.

 

 

Information Contacts:

Lamar Leynes   (850) 510-3298  email: leynesl@fairpoint.net

Linda Scruggs (850) 627-6347

Nancy Suber    (229) 246-7709  email: ivybanks@bellsouth.net

Ed Duke           email: eduke@surfsouth.com

 

Betts Reunion Website: http://www.fairpoint.net/~betts_reunion/

Betts Reunion Email: betts_reunion@fairpoint.net

 

We are always looking for new and interesting content to add to the website and the Betts Book. If you have anything, please bring it to the reunion or send it to any of the email addresses above.