On Saturday, June 18, 2016, the descendents of Austin Ballard Harvey and his wife, Mary Ann (Ellison) Harvey, met at the Summers County 4-H Camp for their annual reunion. A goodly number of family and friends were in attendance. After preliminary socializing, the reunion was opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing of “America.” A general welcome was extended to all present.
Mention was made that due to death in one of the families and illnesses in some others, that several who normally attend could not be in attendance. Also since our last reunion the last living grandchild of Austin and Mary Ann Harvey (to-wit: Mary Louise Harvey Lilly) passed away in August 2015. She lacked five months and 19 days of being 100 years old. Several others were mentioned who had passed since the last reunion. Some named during this time were: Alva Harvey, Juanita Smith, Willadene Pack Yarber, Lacy Lane, Stella Carol Harvey Gregory, Judy Harvey Lopri, Gary Marvin Deeds, Ervina Ramsey, Melba Wathall, Loretta Lilly Harvey and possibly others of family connection. After some appropriate remarks, a moment of silence was observed in memory of those who had passed since our prior reunion.
The oldest persons present were Wyatt Hinton, 97 and Myrtle Harvey, 90. The youngest present were twins; Ethan and Kennedy Carter who would observe their third birthday on June 20, two days following the reunion.
In addition to the previously named two oldest persons, the following were recognized as being 80 years old or better: Eugene Harvey, Irene Davis, Faye Miller, Pauline Harvey Meadows, Wallace Pritchett and Raymond Harvey. It was also noted that the two oldest living descendents of Austin and Mary Ann Harvey are Glenna (Harvey) Saunders who was 96 last October and Lloyd Harvey who was 96 last February.
The longest married couple present was Glen and Flossie Bennett. Those who traveled the farthest to attend the reunion were Scott Pritchett from Florida and Steve, Carol Nichole and Steven Meador from Georgia.
Our next reunion is scheduled for June 17, 2017 at the same place.
A group photo was taken by Mary Dameron. After the group photo, a blessing on the food was asked and the group repaired to the Andrew Campbell Dining Hall to partake of the bounteous food that was spread for our consumption.
The following list is not complete, but it contains the names of the majority of those in attendance. They were: Douglas Wayne Harvey, Faye Miller, Raymond Harvey, Gary and Marie Meadows, Myrtle Harvey, Wyatt Hinton, Ida Beth Miller, Samuel Miller, and Darrell Harvey all with Hinton, WV addresses; Hayden Cosner of Christiansburg, VA; Abby Rose of Riner, VA; Irene Harvey Davis and Susie Harvey of Christiansburg, VA; Gail Bain of Pilot, VA; Eugene C. Harvey of Ghent, WV; David and Patricia Crawford of Gap Mills, WV; Janice Deeds of Jumping Branch, WV; Mac and Jean Harvey of Ripplemead, VA; Wayne C. Harvey of Willis, VA; Buster Harvey, Gail O’Day and Doug Harvey of Christiansburg, VA; Patsy Day of Blacksburg, VA; Steven Clare of Pembroke, VA; Lacy L. and Margaret miller or Cool Ridge, WV; Basil G. Adkins of Shady Spring, WV; Dr. Charles and Jewell Field of Beckley, WV; Tom, Sarah, and Daniel Harvey of Forest Hill, WV; Richard and Becky Whitacre of Roanoke, VA; Monica Jenkins of Hardy, VA; Ricky Whitacre of Roanoke, VA; Linda and Mary Dameron of Gap Mills, WV; Scott Pritchett of Hollywood, FL; Pauline Harvey Meadows of Nimitz, WV; Edward and Althea Harvey of Forest Hill, WV; Glen and Flossie Bennett of Lewisburg, WV; Karen Foster of Fredericksburg, VA; Thomas and Phyllis Ratcliffe of Nimitz, WV; Medeta Watts of Justice, WV; Marilyn Harvey Carroll of Peterstown, WV; Vickie Anderson of Princeton, WV; Randy Harvey of Alderson, WV; Joe and Dottie Bennett of Nimitz, WV; Jeff, Sommer, Bailey, Jackson, Ethan and Kennedy Carter of Caldwell, WV; Beverly Harvey of Nimitz, WV; Daniel and Tim Harvey of Sandyville, WV; Steve, Carol and Steven Meador of Blairsville, GA; Shirley Minter of Vinton, VA; Phyllis and Sandy Comer of Nimitz, WV; Ethel Harvey of Radford, VA; Jack and Cathy Harvey of Nimitz, WV; Wallace Pritchett, Sally, Geoff, and Elaine Medeiros all of Verona, VA; Karen Harvey of Christiansburg, VA; Rex and Beth Hardy of Vinton, VA: Jason, Anna, Amelia and Sawyer Weiss of Lewisburg, WV; and perhaps others who failed to sign the register of attendance.
