Reunion History

         years ago our family began to formally gather in the summer of 1975 when Pattie FREEMAN (née HAGANS) who was the youngest of 13 children said “We should gather for occasions other than funerals and weddings.”  Thus, Daniel “Dan” FREEMAN (the 11th of her 13 children) started the first reunion in Wilson, NC at the former Holiday Inn located on US 301.  Dan invited family and friends from both sides of the family which resulted in well over 150 attendees. It was decided the family should gather biennially (which means this is our 25th gathering!) and with the exception of 2021 (due to COVID) we have continued to do so. 

Please see the list of Past Reunions for year, location and host and hostesses.  If anyone has pictures they would like us to include on the website, please use the Contact Us page and we create a page and post  them.  

Pattie’s husband was Julius Franklin FREEMAN, Jr. (1887-1960) and depending on different records, we think he was 6th of as many as 18 children (we have only been able to identify 12 children who survived to adulthood.)   Julius was a gifted brick mason who graduated as class valedictorian in 1911 from what is now known as Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL.  Together Pattie and Julius had 13 children, only one of whom is still alive, Lillian Bernice "Bunny” BARBEE (née FREEMAN).    

The first two reunions were held in Wilson, NC.  After Pattie FREEMAN died in 1977, her eldest daughter, Doris JAMES (née FREEMAN) (1920-2003) who lived with her went to live in Morehead City, NC.  It was then decided the reunion would be held in Morehead City, NC so Doris could easily participate *she loved to eat at "Captain Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant”).  The reunions were held in Morehead City, NC from 1979 until 1997 after which it has been held in a variety of cities and states.   Initially the reunions were hosted by one or more of Pattie’s children but subsequently (except for one reunion) they have been hosted by a variety of her grandchildren.      

née is an adjective defined as “originally called; used especially
to add a woman’s maiden name after her married name

Biennial is an adjective used when the event occurs every other year

Pattie FREEMAN
1899-1977