Our Story
Our family reunions began in 1972, Joseph had a discussion with PJ, his wife about how to keep in touch with his eleven brothers and sisters.? He said to PJ; "I don't want to have my brother or sister look across the room and not know who that person is".
The first Demps/Reid family reunion was held in Rockledge, FL in the home of Joseph and Priscilla (PJ) Demps. Now 47 years later, only one year was noted that the family did not gather at a reunion. Each year from the oldest Margaret (Louise) Faison to the youngest Elijah (Gene) Demps a sibling of the twelve Demps hosts the reunion and sometimes other members of the Reids have stepped in and hosted the reunion; Pelhams, Fosters. The family is diligent in keeping up the reunions steeped in tradition.
Although most reunions have been hosted in Cocoa, FL and Jacksonville, FL the family has traveled to many different places for family gatherings:
1989 - Killeen, TX
???? - Cocoa, FL
199? - Hopewell, VA?
1999 - St. Louis, MO
2006 - Orlando, FL
2007 - Bartow, FL
2009 - Bahamas Cruise Royal Caribbean
2010 - Plant City, FL
2011 - Fernandina Beach, FL
2012 - Savannah, GA
2013 - Melbourne, FL
2014 - Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge, TN
2016 - Orlando, FL
2017 - Bahamas Cruise Carnival
2018 - Jacksonville, FL
2019 - Jacksonville Beach, FL
2020 - Virtual
2021 - Virtual
2022 - Jacksonville FL
2023 - Melbourne FL
2024 - Orlando FL
Each year brings more excitement than the last as our families connect.? We have come a long way since Charlie & Bettie Hawkins Clark and Rev. Joseph and Donnie Foster Reid. We are Demps, Reid’s, Moore’s, Fosters and Clarks!