The Thomasson Traces Family Association held its annual reunion on Saturday, August 4, 2018, in Andalusia, Ala. This was the 40th year since the first reunion in this series. Relatives from several states gathered to enjoy fellowship and sharing of family history with kinfolks. The attendees were those from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. All but a few quests and the spouses were descendants of Thomas Randolph Thomasson and his wife, Sarah (Roach), natives of South Carolina.

Thomas Randolph and Sarah Thomasson were the ancestors who migrated from South Carolina to Madison, Morgan County, Ga., in 1832. After about seven years there, they moved into Alabama and settled in the Post Oak community of Pike County circa 1839. Some 15 years later, family moved on to Covington County and located near Red Level in 1854.

Thomas Randolph was the son of William Pollard Thomasson and Mary Ann (Reeves), the daughter of William Reeves. William Pollard was a native of Louisa County, Va., where his immigrant ancestor, Thomas Thomasson, settled. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War from North Carolina, and in 1782, he was married to Mary Ann in Granville County, N.C., which was her home. They later moved to York District, S.C., where he died in 1818 and was buried in the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Rock Hill, S.C. Some of his descendants including his son, Thomas Randolph Thomasson, migrated south and eventually settled in Covington County, Ala.

The reunion activities followed the usual schedule of registering and visiting during the morning along with viewing pictures and the family memorabilia, which was displayed throughout the fellowship room. Following a welcome and introductory comments by Curtis H. Thomasson, great grandson of Jefferson Sylvanus Thomasson, an invocation was led by Dorrell Thomasson, a great, great grandson of Cornelius Starr Thomasson. The assembly next enjoyed the buffet dinner which included a wide variety of delicious dishes brought by those in attendance.

Following the meal, everyone gathered for a program of family history and special recognitions. Frank Lester Thomasson, the oldest person present, was applauded for his being 100 years old. Lester is still in reasonably good health and enjoys his relatives. His son, Dorrell Thomasson, resides with him in his home on Dahlia Drive in Andalusia. His cousin, Wyley Donald Ward, who is a noted local historian and genealogist, dropped by to visit with Lester.

While there were no infants present, Chappell Thomasson Clanton was found to be the youngest present at seven years of age. Hazel Thomasson Ehnes of Cabot, Ark., was recognized for having traveled the farthest. Two ladies present, Martha Inman and Sue Cowger, residents of Tallahassee, Fla., volunteered to provide gifts for any recognitions at the 2019 reunion, which is scheduled for the first Saturday in August.

The family association memorabilia were reviewed. These included a framed water color picture of the first Thomasson family home in Virginia, which was painted by Martha (Thomason) Richey. Also, hanging on the wall was an oil painting of the Thomasson family crest, which was painted by Dot Burkett, an adopted Thomasson cousin. Still another treasured item displayed was a quilted wall hanging of the family crest, which was made by Charlotte (Thomasson) Thompson. Two special items beautifully encased in shadow boxes are a foundation or chimney stone collected by Stephen Hise from the site of the original Thomasson home in Virginia and a Confederate Battle Flag. Stephen’s great grandfather, Cornelius Starr Thomasson, was a veteran of the War Between the States, serving in Company E, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Some years earlier, Stephen toured the Gettysburg Battlefield carrying this flag with him in honor of his ancestor’s service during that battle.

Of course, there were many photos of ancestors and previous reunions on display. Copies of the family’s published history, Thomasson Traces—Lineages, Volume I, were available for purchase. These may be ordered from Curtis Thomasson at his address listed at the end of this column.

Another highlight of the program was the display of family heirloom quilts and the owners sharing a brief history of each. A butterfly and dragonfly design using keepsake hankies was exceptional. It was made by Oleta (Frazier) Williams, daughter of Freddie Loretta (Thomasson) Frazier. Oleta’s daughters, Margie (Williams) Jordan and Barbara (Williams) Tisdale showed a quilt they had made in 2013 entitled “The Underground Railroad.” Jean (Bowers) Hendrix and her nieces, Janice (Bowers) Wallace and Marcia (Bowers) Grant, displayed several quilts including two in the tulip pattern, which were made by Jean’s mother, Albrena (Alsabrooks) Bowers. Albrena’s grandson, Vaughn Bowers, showed quilts in strawberry, sailboat and sunflower designs she had made as wedding gifts for his children. Danny Thomason, descendant of Cornelius Starr Thomasson, shared an attractive, functional quilt made by his ancestors along with a set of cotton cards used in the quilting process. Audrey (Thomasson) Wilson showed a quilt made in the pattern called “Grandmother’s Rose Garden,” The small pieces were about an inch in diameter and were all quilted by the piece by her mother, Ruby (Stokes) Thomasson, circa 1925. Hazel (Thomasson) Ehnes had on display a wall hanging of a quilt square in the tulip pattern, which was pieced by her aunt, Runie (Hare) Thomasson.

Earlier, everyone present was introduced according to their ancestor who was one of the children of the featured ancestors, Thomas Randolph and Sarah (Roach) Thomasson. This was done by the order of birth of their children.

The oldest son who had descendants present was Trezevant Fernandes Thomasson and his second wife, Philura Massengale (Read) who resided in Montgomery and Patsburg, Ala. These included a granddaughter, Martha (Thomason) Richey and her daughter, Janice Snow; Virginia Thomason, grand daughter-in-law, and three of her children: Diane and Len Black, Mike Thomason, and Lori and Scott Lawrence, all of Birmingham, Ala.

The second oldest son who had descendants present was James Franklin Thomason and his wife, Julia Ann (Shaw): They were Jo Thomason Manis and her daughter, Laurie and Steven Wells; and Edna Thomason Capri, all of Panama City, Fla.

The third oldest son to have descendants present was Cornelius Starr Thomasson and his wife, Susannah (Henley). These included the following: Lester Thomasson and his son, Dorrell Thomasson of Andalusia; Sue Cowger and Martha Inman, both of Tallahassee, Fla.; and Danny Thomason and Barbara Crawford of Cocoa, Fla.

The youngest son who had the most descendants in attendance was Jefferson Sylvanus Thomasson and his wife, Rebecah (Butler). These included the following: Descendants of James Franklin Thomasson II were Audrey Thomasson and husband, Roy Wilson; Curtis H. Thomasson and daughter, Christy (Thomasson) and husband, Andy Clanton, and sons, Hamp and Chappell Clanton, all of Andalusia; Hazel Thomasson Ehnes of Cabot, Ark., and her sister, Patricia Jane Thomasson Busbee of Ft. Myers, Fla., and their nephew, Mike Paul, of Andalusia; Reggie Thomasson and wife, Bobbie, of Demopolis, Ala., and his sisters, Valencia (Thomasson) and husband, Larry Call of St. Mary’s, Ga., and Sandra (Thomasson) and husband, Johnie Blaick, of Panama City, Fla.; Roddy Thomasson of Andalusia; and Wynette (Moore) Mullen of Evergreen. Descendants of Freddie Loretta (Thomasson) Alsabrooks Frazier included Jean (Bowers) Hendrix of Geneva, Ala., and her nephew, Vaughn Bowers of Opp, and nieces, Janice (Bowers) Wallace of Newnan, Ga., and Marcia (Bowers) Grant, of Opp, Ala.; Margie (Frazier) Williams and her sister, Barbara (Frazier) Tisdale, and their brother, Larry Williams, and wife Blinda (Stokes), all of Opp.

The youngest child and only daughter to have descendants present was Mary Ann Abbagail (Thomasson) and her husband, Mike Henley. These included the following: Evelyn H. Henley of Troy, Ala. and her daughter, Melissa and Robert Parsons, of Ozark, Ala.; Larry Henley and wife, Kathy, of Ft. Walton, Fla.; and Lynn Henley and wife, Susan, of Shalimar, Fla.

Linda Castleberry, representing the Thomas Randolph Thomasson Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, was a special guest. Linda also works at the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia, so she gave a brief report of some of the related activities and items for sale there. She also gave a summary of the achievements and service projects of the UDC chapter during the past year. A number of the members of the local chapter who are Thomasson descendants and were recognized.

The program was concluded with plans to continue the reunions on the same date, the first Saturday of August 2019.

Anyone who might have questions regarding the reunion or this summary is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357, Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting a 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.