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 Hurrah for the Red, White, and Blue
Reunion of the House of Josey/Jossey family in Valdosta, Georgia, April
25-27, 2003! If you were there, you know what a wonderful, patriotic reunion
it was. If you were not there, shame on you! You missed a great one. The
theme for this year's reunion was Patriotic Family Ties, a theme our
president, Ray Josey, and wife, Janeen, demonstrated beautifully at each
event.
Upon arrival each attendee registered and received a goody bag, maps, agenda,
and a Scavenger Hunt Guide - the Scavenger Hunt turned out to be a popular activity. Our
secretary/treasurer, Jackie Helfrich, had every detail of registration
carefully planned and her team of volunteers (Rachel, Winnie, Bessie, Lisa,
Jean and Pansy) moved over 100 of us through the process smoothly and
quickly, so we could get on to the "visiting" with relatives we had
not seen for two years. As always her husband, Chuck, served as
trouble-shooter. What would we do without Chuck? He is our most devoted HOJJ
volunteer. (If you didn't make it to the Reunion, be sure to contact Jackie
regarding your HOJJ dues for 2003-2004.)
Friday night we all gathered at the screened pavilion on the grounds of the
Comfort Inn for a traditional southern BBQ dinner. The BBQ ribs and chicken
prepared by the folks at Austin's Cattle Company Restaurant were the stars of
this fantastic meal. After a warm welcome by Ray to his hometown of Valdosta,
our Friday night event saw the start of what will surely be a HOJJ
reunion tradition: door prizes! Lots of folks brought handmade pieces and
items representing their home area to be used as door prizes, and what a hit
this was! (Swapping prizes afterwards was almost as much fan as winning a
prize.) Matt Smith of Tifton, Georgia was in charge of door prizes and he did
a fantastic job, handing out dozens and dozens of prizes during the weekend.
Thanks, Matt. After the dinner, family members got re-acquainted and caught
up on the news of the last two years.
Saturday morning, Ray led a group on a driving tour of Valdosta, a beautiful
town anytime, but  especially in the spring. Other family
members gathered in the hospitality suite to chat & enjoy the dozens of
wonderful teacakes provided by Faye Josey. When was the last time you had a
homemade teacake? These were great. Let's hope they become a reunion tradition
too - please, Faye? Bud & Marion Josey set up their computer in the
hospitality suite & were busy all weekend updating Josey/Jossey family
files, and selling CDs containing the updated HOJJ books. All 8 volumes are
now available on CDs to those people who have longed for a copy of their
family's book. If you want to buy a CD or if there have been births, deaths,
or marriages in your family recently, be sure to let Bud know. It's almost
worth a trip to the reunion just to hear Bud laugh, something he does well
and often. Thanks, Bud!
After Bud addressed our Saturday afternoon genealogy and history meeting, a
real treat this year was meeting family historian, William "Bill"
Downing of Washington state. As he explained it, "Your family owned my
family." Colonel Downing is a descendant of Joseys who were slaves owned
by the J. J. Josey family in Texas. When he addressed our Saturday afternoon
meeting, it was immediately clear that he had done a great deal of
genealogical research on his family and was a history scholar as well.
 If you have attended a HOJJ national
reunion before, you know that Saturday night is our big banquet event and
this year's banquet was truly outstanding! In keeping with our theme of
Patriotic Family Ties, the banquet hall of the Woman's Building was
beautifully decorated by Janeen and her team (Emily Hunt, Sheila Koldenhoven
and Mary/Chip Adams) with balloons, flags and table decorations in red,
white, and blue, and most attendees were dressed in our patriotic colors as
well. The total effect was stunning. The Valdosta High
NJROTC provided a color guard, and Valdosta Mayor Jimmy Rainwater welcomed us
all to Valdosta. He read a proclamation declaring Saturday, April 26, 2003,
House of Jossey/Josey Day in Valdosta! That has to be a first for us, and a
much appreciated honor.
Will Josey, of Sterling, Alaska, led our recognition of our HOJJ veterans and
members of the military and National Guard. Several veterans from WWII were
in attendance, as well as representatives from most American wars since then.
(Don't forget to check out the Veterans page on our website.) Foster and Joan
Josey, of Red Level, Alabama, conducted a Memorial Service for HOJJ members
who had died since our last reunion. As many of you will recall, our
immediate past president, Martha Josey Larsen, died of cancer last year and
was certainly missed at this Reunion. After Bob Josey of Marietta, Georgia,
gave the invocation, we enjoyed a delicious buffet - my mother is still
trying to track down the chef's recipe for Chicken Valdosta.
 We gave lots of prizes and awards at this
year's banquet. Jackie presented the Top Recruiter award to Margaret Josey
Howard of Union Point, GA. Julia Josey (Bartow, GA), Jean Josey Bonneau
(Galveston, TX), and Neline Josey Farmer (Milledgeville, GA) were the judges
for our costume contest and John Ryan Josey (St. Simons Island, GA) helped
keep the contest organized. Winners were: Best Era - Melinda Josey Haynes of
Lucedale, MS; Most Patriotic - George "Bob" and Karin Josey of
Crestview, FL; Best Husband & Wife Costumes - George Michael
"Mike" and Priscilla Josey Knight of Gautier, MS; and Best Landmark
- Myrtle Josey Fowler of Holt, FL. The judges insist that they were not
intimidated by the shotgun carried by Mike Knight, but they may have been
influenced by the jug of what he claimed was White Lightning!
Trophies
were given in the following categories:
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 Oldest
Attendee - Elsie Ferguson, Bud's mother
(We had 3 family members over age 80 in attendance)
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Ray presented three awards and I
was delighted to be the recipient of his Appreciation Award. He said it was
because I had been a mentor, coach, and sounding board to him, but I
think it was  really because I let him con me into
writing these articles! He inaugurated the President's Award, which was
presented to our tireless secretary-treasurer, Jackie Helfrich, for all of
her hard work on our behalf. In addition to getting out the newsletters,
Jackie is the Webmaster for our HOJJ website. If you have not already done
so, be sure to check it out. She has done a fantastic job! A very special
award was begun this year, the J. Edward "Bud" and Marion Josey
Distinguished Service Award. This award will be presented to persons who have
served the interests and pursued the goals of the Jossey/Josey family for
many years. Ray explained that his inspiration was the saying "You make
a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give".
Certainly no two people have done more for the House of Jossey/Josey for many
years than Bud and Marion Josey, so it was appropriate that the award was
presented in this its inaugural year to Bud and Marion. If you would like to
nominate someone to be a future recipient of this award, notify Ray.
Throughout our banquet, Joel Hunt entertained us beautifully on the piano.
Thank you Joel - you were great and quite a relief. When Ray said "my
son-in-law will play the piano", we were not sure what to expect. No
wonder he was so proud of you!
In appreciation of the fine job Ray Josey has done as president, the HOJJ
family presented to him a framed, crocheted "JOSEY" made by a woman
from the county where he grew up, Washington County, Georgia. We also gave
him and Janeen a huge card signed by all attendees.
 After all of our awards were presented,
Matt gave out more door prizes, and William Josey conducted our live auction
of items made and contributed by family members. The auction earned the HOJJ
almost $700 and was more fun than I could begin to relate - you just had to
be there!
We had lots of first timers at this reunion, and at least 4 people who had
attended every HOJJ Reunion we have had since 1989. Lots of people had
attended 4 or more Reunions - does that tell
you something? Why don't YOU plan NOW to be at the next Reunion. Don't let
the rest of us have all the fun. See you in Biloxi in 2005!
J. Diane Josey
J. Diane Josey
Vice President
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Row 1 - Windom
H. Josey, William G. Josey, Sr., Donna Josey Bowen, Amy Bowen Juarez,
Baby Catalina Juarez, Myrtle Josey Fowler, Myola Josey Powell, Mary Josey
Inlow, Margaret Josey Howard
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Row 2- Linda Lamb,
Jane Summerlin, Emily Josey Hunt, Lisa R. Josey, Winnie Josey McIlvried,
Cathy M. Neal, Jean Bonneau, Suzanne Sykes, Virginia Stader, Carla
Lowery,
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Row 3 -
Teresa J. Morton, Alice N. Josey, Robert S. Josey, Herbert A. Josey, Jr.,
Sheila Koldenhoven, Melinda Josey Haynes, Priscilla Josey Knight, Julia
M. Josey, Norma Josey-Camel, Heather Stader, Brittney Lowery, ????,
Jacqueline Josey Helfrich, J. Edward (Bud) Josey
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Row 4 -
Bessie J. Glover, Mary Rogers Adams, Steven Josey, ?????
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Row 5 - Bill
Downey, Ray Josey, Matt Smith, Henry R. Smith, Rachel J. Meadows, Allen
Josey, Jr., Diane Josey, Newman Smith, Foster Josey, Cromwell Josey
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Row 6 -
Verlon E. Josey, Bob & Karin Josey, William Willard Josey, Lisanne
Leeds, Patricia DePriest, Will Josey
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