Wfate Volume 1 2003 Number 1 A "focus" is a center of activity or ALL ROADS LEAD attention. It is a point at which energy TO RICHMOND and interest are directed and from which JULY 24-27,2003 rays emerge. As such, members of the committee felt that the term was an All roads lead to Richmond, Virginia appropriate one for the title of the family for the Tenth Biennial White Family newsletter. It is hoped that the newsletter Reunion to be held July 24-27, 2003, at will be a family focus and will become the Omni Richmond Hotel. This will be central to the fabric of the family. the first White family reunion held in the United States since 1997. With less than The purposes of the newsletter are to five months to go until the reunion, the provide a forum through which family planning committee is hard at work to members can be informed and stay in make this one of the largest and most touch, to share family heritage and create engaging White family gatherings ever. connections, and to document family history as it is happening. These Among the activities planned is a purposes can best be served if all family screening of the film Honour Before members assert ownership and respon- Kyra Patterson, right, in the D.C. marathon Glory (based on the World War I diary of sibility for the newsletter by submitting . (See Relative Tidbits, page 5) William Andrew White) with a talk by articles and suggestions as requested filmmaker Anthony Sherwood. A myriad below. of activities, including a family round ARTICLES AND TOPICS table, museum tours, and a family ZION BAPTIST CHURCH INVITED FOR NEWSLETTER auction, will capture the imagination of NOTE CARDS AVAILABLE persons of all ages. Family members will Family members are asked to submit also have the opportunity to participate in articles for the newsletter as well as to Note cards with the picture of Zion Homecoming Services at Zion Baptist suggest topics that might be covered in Baptist Church, King and Queen County, Church in King and Queen County, the upcoming issues. We are also seeking Virginia, are now available for purchase. White family home church. news items and photographs for Andrew and Isabella White were among inclusion. Therefore, please advise us of the founders of Zion in 1869. The The reunion will begin on Thursday any items about which you think family photograph of Zion on the note cards was evening and will end on Sunday members would like to hear. Include taken by Emerson Blair White, a great afternoon. So be sure to arrange your births, deaths, marriages, special grandson of Andrew and Isabella. These schedules so as not to miss a single birthdays and special anniversaries, 4" x 6" cards are identical to those used minute of the festivities. Watch your mail promotions, new positions, retirements, for the "Mark Your Calendar" card for for reunion registration materials which commendations, awards, etc. Do help to the 2003 reunion, except that they are will be mailed within the next month. make the newsletter as informative, blank. The cards are ideal for thank-you inspirational, and inclusive of the entire notes and other personal correspondence. family as possible. Please submit your FAMILY PUBLICATION Attractively packaged in cellophane with articles, news items, and suggestions by ribbon, they make an ideal gift. A LAUNCHED April 30, 2003, to White Family Focus, package of eight cards and matching INAUGURAL ISSUE OF P.O. Box 6009, Richmond, Virginia envelopes is $7.00 plus $1.75 shipping WHITE FAMILY Focus 23222, or to [email protected]. and handling for a total of $8.75 (US The goal is to publish the newsletter on a Dollars). Orders from outside of the Welcome to the inaugural issue of The quarterly basis. United States should be sent by American White Family Focus. Members of the Express money order in US dollars. Send 2003 White Family Reunion Planning Reunion registration materials orders to White Family Reunion, P.O. Committee are delighted to have played a to be mailed soon Box 6009, Richmond, Virginia 23222. part in making possible this first-ever Watch your mail! Place yolur order promptly as the supply newsletter of the White family. Be one of the first ten persons to of cards is limited. register and receive a family memento MA RAINEY THEATRE PARTY duction - a real "must see." A revival of Bladen-White, Dorothy Bruce, Wanda the 1984 Broadway production of the and Orlanda Burks, Darlene Byrd, is HUGE SUCCESS play is currently playing on Broadway Jimmy Byrd, Tonya Byrd, Adrian Byrd- with Whoopi Goldberg and Charles S. Pina and Anthony Pina, Tommy Cole, R. On Saturday, November 23, 2002, Dutton. Myrtle Cole, Gloria Cones, Lillie Davis, forty family members and friends from Thurman and Loretta Davis, Mary the District of Columbia, Maryland, and The day in Washington was a "win- Dillard, S. Philip Dillard, Jr., Stanley and Virginia, assembled at Arena Stage, win" occasion - provocative Bernice Dillard, Mary Ellen White Washington, D.C. to see Ma Rainey's entertainment, great time with family and Dungee, Elaine and Earl Edwards, Black Bottom. This play with music by friends, delicious food - and we raised Lawrence and Paula Hamm, Louanna award winning playwright August Wilson $650 for the family treasury. Thanks to Hamm, Fannie Harris, Alice Harris, and represents the 1920s in Wilson's series all family members and friends who Andrew Harms, Blanche Holmes, Paul of plays about African-American life in supported the effort. Wouldn't it be Holmes, and Sheila Holmes, E. Carl each decade of the twentieth century. wonderful if we made this an annual Lawrence, Sarah Lawrence, Delores Following the show, members of the event? Lawton-Scarlett, Patrice Livingston, John group enjoyed dinner at Red, Hot, and Little and "in memory" of Emily Little, Blue. By Myra White-Gray George Thomas and Elizabeth Meade, Jacquie Nettles and Kali Dudley, Evelyn The play describes a day in the life of DUES HELP TO DEFRAY Parker, Kahisha Patterson and Michael blues pioneer, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, COST OF REUNION Hightower, Kyra Patterson, Vanessa who was known as the "Mother of the Patterson, and Esther Patterson, Hilda Blues." The play takes place in 1927 at a Robinson, Terrence Taylor, Estalena At its first meeting, the 2003 White Chicago recording studio and is a portrait Thompson, David Wells, Juanita, Joe and Family Reunion Planning Committee of black musicians in the 1920s and the Brenda Wells, Albert White, Amanda established family dues for 2002-2003 at barriers to self-expression imposed on White, Andrea Lynne White and Philip $25 per adult family member (for persons them by the white establishment. As it Saul, Andrew White, Jr. and Sheryl living in the United States only). Dues unfolds, the audience gets to know these White, Andrew White, Sr. and Gracie help to defray ongoing family expenses musicians and their debilitating hurts and White, Bessida White and Philip Bladen, such as the newsletter and other mailings, insecurities. Claud and Evelyn White, Elizabeth and provide the foundation for the family White, Garland and Wilma White, reunion budget. Dues should be paid by One of the musicians, Levee, aspires George Alfred and Bernice White, Karen family members, their spouses, and to have a band someday playing a newer White, Lillie White, Randolph and style of music. His desire and the power significant others. Because of the Gladys White, Roberta White, Robin conflicts between Ma Rainey and the exchange rate the committee has not white manager are the central conflicts of White and Thomas Bowles, Romney asked persons who live outside of the this production. She is intent on showing White and Andrea Palmeri, Verdell and United States to pay dues. everyone who's the boss by flaunting her Linda White, Virginia White and Virginia romantic involvement with a younger Scott, and Myra White-Gray and woman. She also insists that her Thanks go to the almost ninety stuttering nephew be given a speaking Odyssey Gray. part in one of the songs. These scenes persons who have already paid their dues. Those who have not done so are provide some of the more comical aspects The White Family Focus of the play. encouraged to mail their dues payment as P.O. Box 6009 soon as possible to allow the planning Richmond, Virginia 23222 The other musicians represent their committee to make appropriate financial (804)321-1206 own distinct experiences and viewpoints plans for the reunion. The goal is to keep [email protected] seamlessly. The explosive conclusion of Bessida Cauthorne White, Editor reunion registration fees as low as Contributors the play reveals the severe impact of possible. Checks made payable to White Jeanette Beard Levee's debilitating hurts and in- Family Reunion should be mailed to Mary Ellen White Dungee securities on his life experience. You Elaine White Edwards Hilda Robinson, 292 Wellfords Wharf H. Juanita T. Wells leave understanding the profound Road, Warsaw, Virginia 22572. Lisa M. White disappointment of the oppressed and how Vivian White Myra White-Gray sometimes it is negatively channeled. Persons who have paid dues to date are: Beatrice Ball, James Barkerville Special Thanks: Lauren Bladen-White, Dorothy This was an excellent, excellent pro- Bruce, Linda White Hall, Marian Jones & Virginia II, Marlene White Baskerville, Lauren Scott Page 2 which Yvonne herself auditioned - laughs and bows. without success. "I was told I was too Yvonne still sings in public. Each year, good," she chuckles. she and friend Joyce Whittier Chaplin give fund-raising concerts for churches Yvonne's father was also remembered, and other good causes.