Memories, Reflections and A Promise
We will visit Charlotte, North Carolina for the second time in our Arthur/Brathwaite family reunion history. If you can remember, Charlotte was our second reunion and first family gathering celebrated outside New York City. The late Myra and Ancil Rock hosted the event in August 1994. Their beautiful daughter and only child Venecia Dionne was fifteen or sixteen years old during our memorable occasion.
As we walk down through memory lane we can remembered the “queen city” enhanced our joy as being together as a great family. Twenty-five people were in attendance as well as friends from the Rock’s church and community. It was an exciting time. On Friday, August 27th, the Rock family welcomed us to their lovely and cool home. As usual Myra, Ancil and Venecia greeted us with love and their adopted southern graciousness. The next day was humid and hot but beautiful because we were together as a group again. Green was our united color shirts and blouses we wear to show our Arthur/Brathwaite family unity. We took a tour of Charlotte and picnic at Jim and Tammy Bakker’s New Heritage USA Park. Sunday, August 29th, we worshipped together in the Rocks’ church. Our bi-annual banquet was held at the hotel where most of us stayed during our visit. Myra, Ancil and Venecia made the ballroom eloquent and well decorated.
Rita Loretta Tyrell Graves (1926-1995) wanted our family reunions to happen because her husband Theodore “Teddy” Clinton Graves’ (1925-2002) family had many reunions and she didn’t have one. She was so excited to come to Charlotte where she brought a contingent of eight of her closest family members. She was fighting cancer and was eager to attend and be happy. Unfortunately, Rita passed away the following year. We were fortunate that she gave us so much of our history, family stories and love before her demised. We are grateful for her participation and guidance.
We have another family heroic person who passed away young and unexpectedly. Myra Adina Lawrence Rock (1947-2000). We were grateful that the Lord blessed us with her divine presents for the next three family reunions (Atlanta, Toronto and Barbados) but just seven years after her Charlotte Arthur/Brathwaite family reunion, we celebrated Myra’s heavenly homecoming.
When we meet in Charlotte on August 2018, it will be almost a quarter century anniversary since our second family reunion. We will celebrate a little more than a generation has come into being. We pray that our generation will sharpen the next generation and they will better the following generations.
Kendra and Brandon Brathwaite, Karen Ford, Jennifer, Jonathan and Jillian Springer, Venecia Rock White, Robert Brathwaite, Cheryl Cumberbatch, Andrea Greenridge and Heather Greenridge Robinson are prime examples of sharpen steel products. They are involved in furthering our family stronger union with a brighter future.
It was Ethelred Albert Brathwaite (1924-1991) death that propelled the idea of our family needs to meet and celebrate our living than our death. Kendra and Brandon Brathwaite and Karen Ford, Albert’s grandchildren are now leading our family reunions. The welding powerful marriage of Kenneth and Elemina Lawrence continue to strengthen leadership through their grandchildren Jennifer, Jonathan and Jillian Springer. Ancil and Myra love in matrimony and their union of their families broaden the horizon of our hostess Venecia Rock White and her husband Lucius White, Jr. promise in life. The forging iron strength of leadership of Joseph and Vida Brathwaite and William Greenidge sharpened the leadership capabilities of Heather Robinson, Andrea Greenidge and Robert Brathwaite. Keith Lawrence and late Patricia “Patsy” Wiltshire Lawrence (1945-2017) metallic union has strengthened and guided our family gathering by Cheryl Lawrence Cumberbatch. We recently lost Patsy, who came to many of our Arthur/Brathwaite family reunions. In the summer of 2018 we must celebrate our family members who made us better.