HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRANDDADDY TOM ROGERS, BORN JUNE 11, 1894
       
       Our Rogers' Reunion was begun in 1955 at Athens Park. We had at least two reunions
there and then we changed to Trinidad for several years. After this we met at the Lion's club in
Malakoff. Eventually we began meeting at the Malakoff Community Center, which we did for a
number of years. Last year, 2019, the Community Center was under construction and we were
forced to change our site. Our choice was the Athens Fishery, which we found to be a good
choice, but it did not seem like "home", so for 2020 we were scheduled to meet back at the
Malakoff Community Center, alas it was not meant to be because of the virus scare, Here we are
celebrating online and virtually disconnected for 2020.
        Traditionally we always celebrated our reunion the 2nd week of June and that turned out to
be very close to Granddaddy Tom's birthday, June 11th. Mother would go pick up Granddaddy
and Mamma Wessie and bring them to stay with the Powers in Malakoff. During that time, Mother
would have a money tree for Granddaddy and our family would help him celebrate his birthday
the day before the reunion. The picture below is Granddaddy celebrating his 83rd birthday,
which was in 1977. I believe this picture was taken at the Powers in Malakoff, but it could have
been at Aunt Fay's at the Douglas home in Houston. Not sure, but where ever it was you can see
the Douglas family and the Morrison family gathered to help him celebrate.
L to R: Andy, Brenda, Aunt Fay, Shirley, Randy. Sitting: Tommy, Granddaddy Tom.
Another tradition we always had was to celebrate New Year's Eve, December 31, at Aunt
Fay's in Houston.
Here is Granddaddy playing an organ in 1963, we usually associated his musical talent
with a fiddle, but he played other instruments by ear as well. I believe this was at Mamma
Wessie's sister's home. He would have been about 69 when this was made.
L to R: Bob Jr., Beverly, Randy, Uncle Bob, Aunt Fay, Tommy, Shirley
Sitting: Brenda, Debra, Andy, Dec. 31, 1977