"To all of my Whitley kinfolk…we’re only 30 days away from the 150th anniversary of one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) consecutive family reunions in the history United States. (no one has challenged us yet as the longest consecutive running and oldest reunion!)
When Elisha Everette Whitley returned to his home in the Como/Winborne’s Mill area after the Civil War in the spring of 1865, his family celebrated his homecoming on his birthday which was July 4th. He asked that it be continued every year and since 1865, the descendants of Elisha Everette Whitley gather together each July 4th to celebrate our nation’s freedom as well as the ties that bind our family.
Today hundreds of Whitley heirs trace their roots back to Elisha Everette and Sallie Ann Whitley. They include farmers, storekeepers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, contractors, teachers, civil servants, students, housewives, ministers, artists, nurses, technicians, soldiers, athletes, and even an Olympic Gold Medalist.
Come join us on Friday, July 4, 2014 at the Charles R. Younts American Legion Hall (Post 73) at 935 Armory Dr. Franklin, VA 23851. For more details you can go to www.whitleyfamily.org."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/100456556268/ Whitley Facebook page
