121st Horn reunion held in Glenwood
Published 5:33 pm Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Pictured with her six children is Willie Annette Raley Horn “Mama Horn” (front) who married longtime Crenshaw County resident Lennie Franklin Horn of Luverne. Pictured (from left to right) Mary Elizabeth Horn Alford, Ray M. Horn, Frances Horn Boswell, Green Horn, Estelle Horn Hansford, and Hayward Horn.
Anslee Tranum and friend.
Becky Horn Rogers and her nephew Wade Weaver prepare drinks.
Descendants of former sheriff Ray M. Horn pose for a group picture. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Erin Jeffreys, Becky Horn Rogers, Jill Weaver, and Madge Sims; (middle row, left to right) Eric Jeffreys, Danny Rogers, aWade Weaver, and Skeeter Sims; (third row,left to right) Stan Horn, Ray Horn, Nina McGinnis and Steve McGinnis.
First cousins, Madge Sims of Ohatchee and Erin Jeffreys of Panama City, FL (granddaughters of Ray M. Horn) catch up and discuss days gone by.
Wayne Gibson of Glenwood (left) visits with David Garner of Lake Martin (right).
Steve and Wanda Horn of Sylaucauga.
By Haley Mitchell Godwin
The 121st annual Horn Family Reunion was held July 16 at the Glenwood Community Center. Horn relatives and friends gathered at the center, formerly the historic Glenwood Schoolhouse, for family fun, great food and fellowship.
Held traditionally each third Sunday in July, the reunion is the oldest consecutive family gathering recorded in Alabama history. Proudly representing the family’s rich heritage, attendees traveled from various parts of Alabama and neighboring states to take part in this joyous occasion.
Mary Frances Garner, daughter of Frances Horn Boswell, expressed immense pride in the Horn family’s abundant heritage and strong connections to Crenshaw County.
“We enjoy being able to recognize our family’s long history with the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Department,” Garner said. “For more than 50 years, the position of Crenshaw County Sheriff was held by a Horn family member. We are all very proud of our roots, our family’s memories, and the wonderful times we’ve shared at our annual Horn Family Reunion. I look forward to seeing everyone next year.”
The reunion brought together descendants and kin of Richard Whitehead Horn and Rebecca Cox Horn, whose roots trace back to 1826 when they settled in what was then Pike County and later becoming Crenshaw County in 1867. The reunion’s origins can be traced back to 1903 when it first took place at the historic Horn Shelter in Glenwood.
The reunion commenced at approximately 11 a.m. and joyous festivities continued until around 3:30 p.m. A brief but significant business meeting ,presided over by Becky Horn Rogers, daughter of former Sheriff Ray M. Horn, took place at noon. Following the meeting, lunch was served, offering an opportunity for everyone to bond over shared stories and memories.
During the reunion special recognitions were given, honoring the youngest and oldest Horn family members in attendance. Sixteen-year-old Stevie Anne McGinnis from Weaver proudly held the title of the youngest Horn present, accompanied by her grandparents Nina and Steve McGinnis from Ohatchee. Meanwhile, Wayne Gibson, 86 years old from Glenwood, was warmly acknowledged as the oldest living Horn relative at the gathering.
Plans are underway for the next Horn Reunion scheduled for July 21, 2024. Follow the Horns-a-Plenty Descendants of Richard Whitehead Horn on Facebook for updates. For more information, contact Mary Frances Garner at (334) 318-0596, Becky Horn Rogers at (334) 300-2581 or Ray Horn at (334) 315-1112.
