The 12th Biennial National Jessee Family Reunion
sponsored by the
Jessee Historical Foundation
was held:

Saturday Oct. 1, 2016
from 10 am – 6 pm at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol, Va.

NEXT REUNION SATURDAY OCTOBER 6, 2018--DETAILS WILL COME

This is a great time to meet relatives from around the country, to share family history, stories, photos, and mementos. We also have a special guest (and family member) attending this year.
Lunch, including BBQ/chicken, sides and dessert, will be served at noon. The cost is $10/person. Meals are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. RSVP required by Sept. 1. Mail payment and list of attendees to: Carmen Blevins at 425 Oakland St., Abingdon, VA, 24210.
The Quality Inn in Abingdon will have some rooms available at a special rate. Please contact the hotel at (276) 676-9090 and mention the Jessee Reunion to make reservations.

Sugar Hollow is located off Exit 7 on Interstate 81 at the Bristol, Va., limits on Highway 11 (Lee Highway).
The next reunion won’t happen until 2018 so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Free Membership!
The Jessee Family Foundation is offering free membership that is good until the 2018 reunion! All you need to do is fill out the new JHF application form (or provide the information below) and submit it before this year’s reunion. Even if you are a current member, please fill out a new form to make sure your info is up to date. The new form is available at the Jessee Historical Foundation Facebook page. The JHF is also giving you the option of receiving future communications via email. If interested, simply check the box on the membership form.

If you’re going to the reunion, send the membership form with your lunch payment. Otherwise, mail the form to: Carmen Blevins at 425 Oakland St., Abingdon, VA, 24210.

Our guest at this year’s reunion is Thomas Lee Jessee, a descendant of John Jr. and Archer who portrays Robert E. Lee in Civil War reenactments.
A native Virginian, he was drawn to military history while living in Hamilton, Va., the heart of Mosby’s Rangers country. After moving to Florida, he joined a reenactment unit in 1969, starting out as a Private before working his way up to General. He attends reenactments across the U.S., commanding troops at many national events.
Thomas has attended every Olustee Reenactment in Florida since 1977. Early on, he was given command of Confederate troops. By the early 1980s, he became Commanding General of the Confederate Forces, a position he still holds. Last year, Thomas was approved by the National Park Service to portray Gen. Lee at the 150th anniversary of the Appomattox reenactment.
Thomas and his wife, Gail Rebecca, have been married for 31 years. They live in Lakeland, Fla.

Please join the Jessee Historical Foundation - The Jessee Historical Foundation extends an invitation and warm welcome to new members and welcomes your renewal. Membership will run from reunion to reunion every two years. Dues will be collected by mail and at the biennial reunion for the following two years. JHF membership dues may be mailed to the Membership Secretary below at any time.

There are three categories of membership: Anyone age 81 or older may request free lifetime membership. The fee is $10 per person for regular membership for two years but free this year until 2018. It is always free for associate and junior membership, so add your sibling and children, even adult children so they get the newsletter and announcements, too.  Free regular membership if you are simply unable to pay, just ask to be a member.
1. Regular Member: If you have a Jessee, Jesse, Jessey or Jessie surname, or are an adult Jessee descendant you are eligible to be a regular member with
full voting privileges. Please provide your Jesse(e) lineage, if able, to help connect you to the family.
2. Associate Member: Non-voting spouses, related family, or friends of a regular member are welcome.
3. Junior Member: Non-voting family members under age 18.

Provide the following information for each person: name, street or PO Box address, city, state, ZIP, phone, e-mail address, and brief Jessee lineage, back to one or more of the 15 original children, if able.  Please send your information and check, payable to Jessee Historical Foundation, Inc., for $10 per person for regular membership (Free for Associate and Junior) to the membership secretary, at the following address.

Membership Secretary
Jessee Historical Foundation
425 Oakland St.
Abingdon, VA, 24210