2013 Latham Family Reunion
~Newport News, VA~
Photos of the 2013 Latham Family Reunion
The 2013 Latham Family Reunion (LFR), as with most reunions, required a great deal of planning, communications and labor. I volunteered my sisters (Patricia Jackson, Annette Harville and Jeanette Latham) to host the 2013 reunion at the 2011 LFR held in Oklahoma. They were the push I needed to get things rolling and the glue I needed to keep things together—they have always been there for me and this time was no different. With all my heart and soul I thank them and my nieces and nephews--Kovolcik Latham, Chauncey Harville, Katina Scott, and Cedric Harville. During our two year journey, they supported me, encouraged me, gave up their Sunday afternoons for conference calls, participated, gave inputs/recommendations, volunteered themselves and their children to participate and showed their love for me. I love you. Thank you a trillion times.
The 2013 Reunion Committee would like to acknowledge the LFR National Chapter. This reunion could not have happened without the help of the National Chapter. Thank you so much for your support, help, advice and words of encouragement throughout the last 2 years as we planned, prepared and implemented our plans for the 2013 Reunion.
La Donna Mc Duffie deserves huge kudos for setting up our wonderful website and for helping in so many ways. She sent us information from previous reunions and advertised for the reunion. La Donna also spent numerous hours proofing information and sending out tidbits to keep everyone informed. Thank you so much, La Donna!
If you were not able to make it to the 2013 Reunion, perhaps you will be able to make it to the 2015 LFR in Cincinnati, Ohio. To everyone that attended, we thank you so much for attending and we pray that you and your family had a wonderful time. Everyone seemed to have a good time catching up and meeting each other’s families. There were 81 family members in attendance (93 registered to attend). Pretty impressive! We thank God for each of you!
The seed for this reunion was planted in the fall of 2011. My sister, Patricia, came up with the theme; “Honoring our Heritage, while Embracing our Future", the colors (purple and white) and the logo. She and her husband, Willie James, gave up their weekends to come to the Hampton Roads area to visit hotels.
Ever wonder what your heritage is? Webster defines heritage as: Our whole life-- our family's background and history and the traditions that our family follow because of its past. Family, like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions; yet our roots remain as one.
At the meet and greet on Friday night, everyone was seated according to the color of the rainbow block handed to each person as they entered the room. Rainbows have many meanings and are a symbol of peace, hope, and unity. As we stated during the reunion:
Red: Life's blood and represent bravery. You are willing to fight for a cause. You bring the fire we need in our blood. You are the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia. Without you, the Latham Family would be empty.
Orange: You are the color of health and strength. The color of carrots, pumpkins, oranges and mangoes and you carry important vitamin. You do not hang around all the time, but when you fill the sky at sunrise or sunset your beauty is so striking that the Latham Family needs you in great portions.
Yellow: When others are so serious, you bring laughter and warmth into our FAMILY. The sun, the moon, the stars. Every time we look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without you there would be no fun in the Latham Family.
Green: You are the sign of life and of hope. God chose you for grass, trees and leaves. Without you, humans and animals would die. Look over the United States and you will see lots of members of the Latham Family.
Blue: You make up the sky, the sea, the earth and water. You provide the basis of life and bring space, serenity and peace. Without peace the Latham Family would be torn apart.
Indigo: You are the color of silence. Some in the Latham Family hardly notices you, but without you, we could become superficial. You represent thought and reflection. The Latham Family needs you for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.
Purple: You are the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen you for authority and wisdom. The Latham Family does not question you, we listen and obey.
Just like the rainbow, we are all connected; we are all different and unique in beauty and design, yet a vital part of the Latham Family. Although over the years we have grown in different ways and directions, our Latham Family roots remains as one. It was an honor and a privilege to host this year's reunion. What an honor it is to be a part of this Latham Family!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
Diann Latham (2013 Latham Family Reunion Committee)
The 2013 Reunion Committee would like to acknowledge the LFR National Chapter. This reunion could not have happened without the help of the National Chapter. Thank you so much for your support, help, advice and words of encouragement throughout the last 2 years as we planned, prepared and implemented our plans for the 2013 Reunion.
La Donna Mc Duffie deserves huge kudos for setting up our wonderful website and for helping in so many ways. She sent us information from previous reunions and advertised for the reunion. La Donna also spent numerous hours proofing information and sending out tidbits to keep everyone informed. Thank you so much, La Donna!
If you were not able to make it to the 2013 Reunion, perhaps you will be able to make it to the 2015 LFR in Cincinnati, Ohio. To everyone that attended, we thank you so much for attending and we pray that you and your family had a wonderful time. Everyone seemed to have a good time catching up and meeting each other’s families. There were 81 family members in attendance (93 registered to attend). Pretty impressive! We thank God for each of you!
The seed for this reunion was planted in the fall of 2011. My sister, Patricia, came up with the theme; “Honoring our Heritage, while Embracing our Future", the colors (purple and white) and the logo. She and her husband, Willie James, gave up their weekends to come to the Hampton Roads area to visit hotels.
Ever wonder what your heritage is? Webster defines heritage as: Our whole life-- our family's background and history and the traditions that our family follow because of its past. Family, like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions; yet our roots remain as one.
At the meet and greet on Friday night, everyone was seated according to the color of the rainbow block handed to each person as they entered the room. Rainbows have many meanings and are a symbol of peace, hope, and unity. As we stated during the reunion:
Red: Life's blood and represent bravery. You are willing to fight for a cause. You bring the fire we need in our blood. You are the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia. Without you, the Latham Family would be empty.
Orange: You are the color of health and strength. The color of carrots, pumpkins, oranges and mangoes and you carry important vitamin. You do not hang around all the time, but when you fill the sky at sunrise or sunset your beauty is so striking that the Latham Family needs you in great portions.
Yellow: When others are so serious, you bring laughter and warmth into our FAMILY. The sun, the moon, the stars. Every time we look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without you there would be no fun in the Latham Family.
Green: You are the sign of life and of hope. God chose you for grass, trees and leaves. Without you, humans and animals would die. Look over the United States and you will see lots of members of the Latham Family.
Blue: You make up the sky, the sea, the earth and water. You provide the basis of life and bring space, serenity and peace. Without peace the Latham Family would be torn apart.
Indigo: You are the color of silence. Some in the Latham Family hardly notices you, but without you, we could become superficial. You represent thought and reflection. The Latham Family needs you for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.
Purple: You are the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen you for authority and wisdom. The Latham Family does not question you, we listen and obey.
Just like the rainbow, we are all connected; we are all different and unique in beauty and design, yet a vital part of the Latham Family. Although over the years we have grown in different ways and directions, our Latham Family roots remains as one. It was an honor and a privilege to host this year's reunion. What an honor it is to be a part of this Latham Family!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
Diann Latham (2013 Latham Family Reunion Committee)