Sampson County, NC - HISTORY OF THE FRYAR-BEST FAMILY REUNION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HISTORY OF THE FRYAR-BEST FAMILY REUNION AUGUST 1943 – AUGUST 2003 CLINTON, NORTH CAROLINA, SAMPSON COUNTY We had just buried our Mother, Ida Best Fryar during the summer of 1942, a little over a year before we had buried our Father, Reverend Dudley J. Fryar. Robbie, our baby brother had past away at the age of two. As most of the eight children, Eliza Jane (Near), Walter, Willie, Edmund, Daniel, Albert, Ella Mae and a few cousins, Nedar Raynor, Addie Kirby and Ida’s youngest sister, Lillie Graham sat around the fire talking and remembering; Patrick, the youngest son came into the room and said, “We are all together again!” “Let us not ever separate. Let us come back once each year and have a family reunion. When Pat said that, it went up like a light. Everyone agreed! The next question was what time of year must we meet together. Brother Dan, who was living and farming in Oxford, NC suggested the month of August, which was after his tobacco crop, had been harvested and sold and he would have traveling money. Someone made the statement that it would be close to Brother Edmund’s Birthday who will be celebrating his 97th this year. So, at that moment they agreed that the family would meet the third Sunday in August and bring a basket of food to share and the next year in August 1943, the family did just that. The first reunion was held at the old home place, across from Issac Weeks Road, among the pine trees and apple grove where children would pick apples and have a grand ole time eating, playing, listening to old folk tales from our elders, and enjoying the food and camaraderie of each other. Brother Willie, Bill as he was called, a Reverend following the footsteps of his father always lead the family in Prayer at the beginning of the feast. The oldest brother Walt, for as long as he lived, always barbecued a pig. The oldest daughter, Eliza Jane always had the “celebrities” in her kitchen with her Japanese fruitcake, the most mouth-watering Coconut cake and other cooked goodies. Aunt Hattie, Brother Bill’s wife brought all of her tasty cakes and pies that tickled her children and everyone else. Ella Mae always brought collard greens and fried chicken, not to mention her sweet potato scuffle, much to her children’s delight. Cousin Mammie & Mrs. Annie C. Sampson, always-great friends, had scrumptious cakes & pies and turkey in their baskets. Nedar Raynor always made a special chocolate cake with lots of other goodies to enjoy. Cousin Lessie Boykin always had great food; she was a real good cook. And of course, Cousin Babe and Cousin Addie always brought large baskets filled with hot and tempting delights. At the conclusion of the weekend filled with activities, the Family would hold a spiritual gathering; Brother Edmund would always say his favorite speech. “The old man went to a meeting, his feet was slow and feeble, when he got to the meeting he saw a notice over the meeting door, “Pastor on vacation, meeting is closed til his return, but when I get to heaven, I want see a little notice above the Golden door, Jesus will be waiting to take me in forever more”. Cousin Hubert also had a favorite poem that he sang. The highlight of the end of each reunion was when the family would gather to sing songs and notes (Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do) that was lead by the brothers. Uncle Albert, now, a retired Chemist, brought a special kind of love to each affair that has enabled this family to remain strong throughout the years. We always dispersed with great hugs and kisses and the anticipation of returning the next year. For about ten years before its sale, the family celebrated the Reunion at the old home place and then moved the reunion to different homes of family and relatives. For 15 to 20 years after the sale, we enjoyed the surroundings of Olin Fryar’s place out on Fayetteville Road between the rows of huge oak trees in the very site of the current Sampson Community College. After Olin passed, the family continued to bring baskets of home cooked food until about twenty years ago when the family began looking for indoor accommodations and having the event catered. During the same period, the Family began to honor a special member of the family at the event starting with the elders. During the later years, the family used such locations as the vacated Sampson Elementary School building, the Elks Home, Brown’s Chapel Missionary Church, the Agri-Expo Center, with the 50th Reunion at the Sampson Middle School. Around 10 years ago, the family created a “Family Quilt” that now hangs annually during the month of August in the Clinton City Library. Today, 60 years later, the extended family of Ida Best and Dudley J. Fryar continue to honor the great teachings of their parents and kindred. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Gale Sampson ___________________________________________________________________