2017 NOV Reunion

Viola Wells (Henry Tip Smith's Great Granddaughter) hosted the bi-annual
Thanksgiving Day Dinner at her home in Natchez, MS

Family from across the U.S. came to join in the celebration.
(California, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and of course
good'ol Mississippi)

Belinda Chambers (Henry Tip Smiths Great GrandDaughter) cooked multiple delicious side dishes and brought them all the way from Vicksburg, MS. A 2-hour drive to Natchez.

...and the guys brought pies! :)

Naomi (Viola's sister).  Naomi's Granddaughter Makiya and Grandson Kason
(aka Shotgun) lol

...no parking restrictions.

Meet-&-Greet time...

Michael Jackson in from McDonough GA happy to see his niece Makiya.  
 

By-the-way, Makiya is the family celebrity. 
She's on the hit TV show "BRING IT! Dancing Dolls"

Michael Jackson, Carol (Viola's daughter) and Kenneth & Aimee (Viola's son & daughter-in-law) displaying their excitement!

Marion Randolph (NE), Robert Foster (GA), Lillie Downs (VA), and Reggie Smith (CA)

Ritchie Baltimore's family greeted by Marion

The Baltimore Family (Mary Perkins heirs). 
Tesia, Patricia, Ritchie Jr. and little Laila Soto visiting from Nashville, Tennessee

Patricia Baltimore, her 7 yr-old grandson Zacheriah, and Marion Randolph.

18 yr-old Amri (Charlie Smith's daughter) and 4 yr-old Laila (Baltimore's granddaughter)

Reggie Smith, Melvin Wells Jr., and Ritchie Baltimore Jr.

Carol (Viola's daughter) & Lillie (Gladys' daughter)

 Lovely in-laws: Lisa, Christine, Indra, and Tamara

Michael & Tamara Jackson visiting from McDonough, GA

Naomi (Viola's baby sister)

Once again, the Baltimore Grandkids, Zacheriah & Laila Soto. Excited about what lies ahead. :)

Time to bless the food--give God the Glory--and acknowledge the blessings.

...giving Thanks on Thanksgiving Day!

Mother Tesia & daughter Laila

Ricardo (Baltimore's friend), Zacheriah, Ritchie Balitmore Jr.

Instructed by Viola to line up and help yourself to all the delicious food!

...lined up like soldiers ready to battle the feast! lol

Viola's beautiful & tasty turkey

Greenbeans, fried-turkey, mac-&-cheese, ham, rice, greens, potato salad...

 

OMG!
Dessert...dessert...and more dessert! 

The biggest apple pie ever!
...that's why it can't fit inside the picture (lol)

...sweet & moist cake

Cinnamon cake

Wow, this monster pecan pie was out-of-this-world!

Yummy Peach Cobbler

Enjoying the meal and conversating...

Ed Downs opened the family dialogue acknowledging the love of his life (wife Gladys) and praised God that he was able to attend and represent on her behalf.
 

A wonderful Thanksgivng gathering.  Everyone was enjoying themselves.  
Conversation was plentiful as well as the food.

Ricardo (Baltimore's Family friend), Viola, and Patricia (aka Pat)

The youngsters having their own personal gathering :)

"Hey Ms. Indra, let me borrow your phone. Need to call my little rascal friends" :)

...sharing war stories

The Darlin' Divas: Bobbie, Lillie, Lisa, Tamara, Indra, Christine

Amri made this the "Perfect Photo-Bomb"

Vogue! Strike a pose! lol

Girls Gone Wild! 

Really?! That's what I have to aspire to be like?! (Smh)

Soon-to-be Newlyweds Reggie & Christine

Reggie Smith led family to the living room to partake in the traditional
"Sharing what you are thankful for"
 

Up first, Reggie!

Kenneth, you can sit down now.  "Wait, Whaaat? I didn't say nuttin yet!" (lol)

Interrupted by Hilbert Jackson (aka Pat) and Charlie Smith (the family Hunter's) late arrival. Both are Henry Tip Smith's Great Grandsons.

Their LOUD grand entrance! :)

Hilbert letting us know they caught two deer...

...and Charlie describing how they hunted'em down! Yee-haw! :)

Greeted by their wives.
Henry & Valencia (Lisa) and Charlie & Indra

Charlie expresses his thanks...

...with an emotional speech.  
According to family, he carry's his heart on his sleeve. Heartfelt!

...thanked Viola for opening up her home & preparing the food.

Next?...

Naomi shared what she was grateful for...

Melvin Jr. (Viola's grandson) shared his heartfelt & emotional story by thanking all the men in the room who has inspired him throughout his life.  Wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Although it took a bit of encouragement by all the family, Charlie's beautiful daughter Amri shyly stood up and shared what she's grateful for.  
(Great job, Amri! Stay encouraged and remain confident.)

Lillie listening intently to all the touching stories

Estate Chaplain Michael Jackson & wife Minister Tamara Jackson

Kenneth & Aimee

Next group of pics taken at the "Friday Fish Fry"

This beautiful scene is about to get rawled-up for the bi-annual Post Thanksgiving "Friday Fish Fry" at Rebecca & Robert Madison's home in Natchez, MS.

Are you thinking like me? ...is that Hawaiian punch? :)

The Baltimore's definitely don't operate on CP time! First to arrive!
Thank you Baltimore family for representing!!! :)

Host Rebecca (far left), Carol & her husband Derrick Smith

Rebecca's adorable grandkids, Jayce Michael & Lynnsie Bleu Smith with their Aunt Carol

Patricia & her son Ritchie Baltimore Jr.

Gifts for the kids

Kids playing in the yard brought back old school memories

Marion Randolph quickly claimed her seat nearest the heater
..was quite cold in Sippy that day! :)

Michael Jackson (Violas' brother) & Robert Foster (Bobbie's husband) frying up the fish

Time to eat! 

OMG! The fish was so good!!! :)

1st of many plate fulls

DJs ready to give us a taste of old school and new vibe. 
They ROCKED the house! :)

Once again "The Baltimore's" led by example. 1st up on the dance floor.

Reggie joins in to give the Baltimore's a taste of L.A. style

Lillie rollin in with DC style

Charlie bumped it up a notch with ATL style. BAM! :)

Ok Charlie, YOU WIN!!! :)

..Ooooh wait-a-minute...it ain't over yet...Bobbie got up to do her thang!...watch'it now...Cabbage patch...heyyy...turn' it up DJ...and let her turn it out! (lol)

..what? Yaw ain't gonna vote for me?!?
I prayed over your food and you do me like this? Yaw need JESUS! :)

 Michael seeking dance move advice from Lynncord (Rebecca's son).
"Look man, I need to learn hip-hop, tap, jazz, anything...just help a brotha out" (lol)

...the heck with hip-hop...let me show'em my laid back smooth groove style! 

Oh Lord!...Ministers/siblings, Michael & Bobbie gettin' their new style praise on.
Caught the holy ghost dance moves!

...and everybody in the church joined in. (lol)
"Let's get this party started--right! ...let's get this party started quickly!"

Pumpin' it up and jammin' hard!

Robert Foster (Bobbie's husband) coolin' it down a notch

Marion taking it all in...getting ready to show everybody she 'bout to bust'da move too! (lol)

Go Marion...Go Marion...Go Marion!!!

Indra ready to jump on board the Charlie train!

Reggie & Christine practicing for their big wedding day in MAR 2018!

Happy Friday, Belinda!!! :)

Lillie dancing off the 7 lbs she gained in 2-days

Derrick Smith (Carol's husband) saying to himself
"Yaw gonna need to clear the dance floor cause I'm 'bout to throw down with my
cool swag style..."

What I tell ya! 

Indra, Charlie, and Lisa

Lillie and her Dad Ed Downs thanking everyone for the wonderful time! :)

Here's what happened before
Thanksgiving & Fish Fry

Cousin Ervin Smith (Lee Smith's Great Grandson) greeted us at the airport, then led us to his beautiful home in Madison, MS.  He and his lovely wife Gwen welcomed us with warm southern hospitality and filled our belly's with tasty BBQ sausage, ribs, potatoes, and beans. OMG!

Fired up and ready to go! :)

Hmmm yummy! 

...and Ervin's wife Gwen made the most delicious beans ever
(black-eyed & lima with hamhock)

Marion can't get over the tasty food...especially amazed that Gwen used only 1 hamhock to season the big pot of beans and wowed by the oversized bake potatos.

Finger lickin' good!

Later arrived at Viola's lovely quaint home in Natchez, MS.
Invited us for a "little bite to eat" for lunch.

Viola's definition of "just-a-little" lunch!
(baked chicken, yams, greens, potato sald, cornbread)

Best jelly cake ever! 

Gotcha! :)

Viola educating us on what Mississippi "little bite-to-eat" means

A family that prays together--stays together.
Thanksgiving 2017 is now a part of the Ed Smith Estate history.
Amen, amen, and amen!