Edwards-Hawkins Family Reunion
It is our pleasure to announce an Edwards Family Reunion in Albany GA, September 4-6, 2026
our story
For as long as we can remember, extended members of the Edwards and Hawkins families have gathered at mother and da's farmhouse down that dusty dirt road.Those early gatherings morphed into structured reunions in the 1970s and, as the family expanded, the reunions joyfully did too. While the family continues to gather informally and for major life events, our last family reunion was in 2002. Far too long ago!!Reunion 2026 is long overdue, and we are absolutely thrilled for us to gather over the long Labor Day weekend. A variety of activities are planned over three days. Come enjoy family, fellowship and food as we celebrate all that makes us Edwards and Hawkins.Let's rekindle those memories. Visits to the farm during the hot South Georgia summer. Driving down that long Georgia clay road only to land at mother and da's house, and the sights, sounds, and smells that followed--forever implanted vividly in our minds. The greeting and barks of Jip; the memory of mother snapping peas in a big metal bowl while cooking dinner on that old gas stove; and the comforting sound of rainstorms hitting the tin roof.The homestead is a place where nourishing food, hearty laughs, great stories, and multiple generations of family abound. You come depleted and leave with your spirit and soul full. Let's rekindle that feeling in Albany and on the farm this September.Start planning to attend now!!With enthusiasm, your reunion committee
The siblings (Inez, Al, Pearl, Vera, Hazel) & the cousins (Ilene, Audrey, Yolanda, Earl, Sondra, Porscha, Portia, Lesley)
reunion details, sept 4-6
The reunion will kick off with an evening welcome party around the motel pool on Day 1. Come reconnect, meet and greet.Day 2 begins with a journey to the family homestead where we will hear about life growing up on the farm and in the segregated south before taking a hayride tour of the property. While there we will try our hand at harvesting crops by hand, and have a BBQ at Mt Olive Church. Our reunion gala will take place at Merry Acres event center that evening.Finally, we'll spend Day 3 at a local park activity hall beginning with a family-led worship service and Sunday meal before concluding with friendly sporting competitions -- fishing in the pond, participating in family field day games, or cheering on those who do!
register . buy merch . motel
Start planning to attend now!!
Both registration and our room block open March 1.Register + Pay The registration fee is $100 per person, with no cost for children 6 and under. We are pleased to offer a number of payment options as well - cash, credit card, and buy now pay later. Please register and pay using the hyperlink below, if you are able.
Mail-in registration remains available for all others using our printable registration form and following its mail-in registration and payment instructions. Registration is complete once you complete the registration form, pay, and receive confirmation of both. This summer, we will forward periodic updates and additional last-minute details.Buy Merchandise Themed merchandise is available for preorder purchase and will be ready for pick up at the reunion. Reunion t-shirts, 8x10 inch copies of our group photo, souvenir programs (that will include detailed history and an address book), and a 2027 calendar (complete with family members' birthdays and family recipes). Prepurchase here or via mail for those who complete mail-in registration. To cut down on overage, we plan to purchase a finite number of each product. To guarantee you get the items you want, we have established a 1 July prepurchase cutoff.Accomodations We are thrilled to be staying at the Merry Acres Inn. The Inn is centrally located and boasts a swimming pool, pub open daily 4-9pm, and bar with curated cocktails open daily 4-10pm, as well as event space where we will hold two of four reunion events. Your stay includes complimentary continental breakfast and shuttle service to/from the Albany airport. When you register, use the code EDWARDSREUNION to access our special room rate of $115/ngt. Each room sleeps 4 and you can select between a room with two queens or a king and sleeper sofa.
Thank You
We cannot wait to see you this September!
Your reunion committee