Strange Family Folklore
Strange Family Folklore
Strange Narrative Quilt
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For this special episode, I've quilted together 21 narratives from the descendants of Jesse Strange the Elder on Saturday, June 28th. When I first started, I just pulled everyone who'd come early to set up field day activities for the kids and light snacks. As the day progressed, I ensnared more descendants. The changing background sounds add texture of bringing the present to the narratives as family reminisce about the past.
My great grandfather, Jesse Strange, was born a slave and freed when he was 13. His 12 children were born free, and referred to as "The First Freeborn Generation." In this podcast series, I interview Jesse Strange's descendants in order to document our stories. This is Strange Family Folklore.
For this special episode, I've quilted together 21 narratives from the descendants of Jesse Strange the Elder on Saturday, June 28th, 2025. When I first started, I just pulled everyone who'd come early to set up field day activities for the kids and light snacks. As the day progressed, I ensnared more descendants. The changing background sounds add texture of bringing the present to the narratives as family reminisce about the past.
Teresa Roberson
Thank you, Nicholas, for joining me. I know you were so busy, but can you please introduce yourself?
Nicholas
I appreciate this, this opportunity. My name is Nicholas Brown. I am the son of Sonia Strange Jackson, the grandson of Theodore Strange Junior and Eunice Thomas Strange, and the great grandson of Jesse Strange and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
Tell me what's your role this year in the family reunion?
Nicholas
This year, we are hosting our first family Field Day. I took initiative with a lot of my cousins to bring an event where our younger generation can experience an event for them. So that's what we're kind of setting up for right now.
Teresa Roberson
This is our 84th family reunion. Is this the biggest role you've played? Last year for our 83rd, you were the emcee.
Nicholas
Last year was a bigger role, being the emcee of the event. I think this year is more of a background role. Just kind of allowing other people to take leads, helping out wherever I can. I don't look at it as big or little. I think there's so many different things that we can do as a family to get involved. I'm glad we have opportunity kind of to do that.
Teresa Roberson
Last year there was a flag contest. Can you tell me about your participation with that?
Nicholas
I think all the flags that were submitted were absolutely amazing. Had great meaning behind them and I'm glad we're able tofly all of them. Very honored to have mine picked and represent the family with Jesse, Lucy and Anna on there. Kind of have something for generations to look back at and bring this together. Hopefully, this year we can have something where we reveal that flag to the family as well, and then have some words that go with it, maybe a creed or pledge might possibly be coming along a little later on in the reunion.
Teresa Roberson
Now, since this is a podcast, we don't have visuals. Can you please tell us the elements of what you put in your flag design?
Nicholas
Yeah, of course. It is an all black flag, straight black. I took concepts from biblical notions in regards to personification of animals. Our elders, our ancestors, are represented as animals that I think really bring out the essence of them. So, we have a bear on there. We have the eagle on there for intelligence. Leopards on there for intelligence as well, too. They're on Earth. There's stars that are above them that are essentially looking down, that I believe, represent the children. There's a group of stars that are above that, that have all of our 12 branches. There's a tree on there as well too, with the roots that are planted down on there. It really encompasses where we started, and also where we're going as well, too. And kind of gives us a guide as to what our ancestors had and their person and their character. I think it's a great privilege to be able to be picked. I'm just glad that we have something that we can look back on.
Teresa Roberson
So, the 12 stars that you talk about with the ancestors' names, those are the first generation of free born Stranges, which we all identify as a branch. Well, there's a lot of Theodores in your branch, so I could just say "Theodore," and I'm talking about...
Nicholas
Roughly four people.
Teresa Roberson
Four different people. The youngest is actually younger than you are.
Nicholas
Yes, we actually call him "Q" because he is the fourth.
Teresa Roberson
For the Theodore branch, he is number 12 out of 12. My grandfather, Floyd Strange, was number 11 out of 12. I like that you put the other stars for the future ones that came from that original 12. I do like that your flag has the elements of both the roots that we came from and also the future. Above all of that, I wanted to ask you, what's the green plant? What's the significance of that?
Nicholas
The green plants, and the tree is a representation of life. There are 33 of them, and that represents, the life of Jesus on there as well too. I think 33 is a very important number. Green essentially, is really meaning the life that is surrounding us that brings us together. I think it's important for us to document things. So, it's good when we have opportunities like this flag, and like interviews like this and podcasts like this to have things documented in a way where people can look back, especially family members, can look back and have a sense of grounding. We have a beacon of light to look forward to. I think that's what the Strange family does so well, is document. We have a historical society within our family as well too. We really document our history, and we pride ourselves in that history. It's just an honor to be a member of this family, ultimately.
Teresa Roberson
One last question. Well, not a last question, because you know me, Stranges, we love to talk. Field Day. What do you have planned for, basically, the kids, but I know the adults are kids at heart too.
Nicholas
This is our first Field Day this year. We have a different array of games. We have a volleyball game planned. Essentially, we're really just going to let the kids kind of decide where they want to go. We have a three-on-three basketball tournament planned. I'm looking at some corn hole over there as well, too. We have a dodge ball game plan. We have hacky sack race. We have egg toss, and possibly, don't tell the kids. Don't tell the kids. But we got some water balloons, but we're going to hit the kids with the water balloons. They're not hitting us with the water balloons. This year, we wanted to bridge the gap. I think we have a lot of new faces at the reunion that we want to get to know them better. I think events like this really brings people together. We're able to meet some of the younger cousins. It's going to be a great time. We'll have a lot of fun.
Teresa Roberson
Well, thank you so much for sitting down and talking with me. I appreciate you.
Nicholas
I appreciate you. Thank you for this. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Des, thank you so much for sitting down and talking with me. I literally pulled you from whatever it was you were doing...
Desmond
Very important stuff for the kids.
Teresa Roberson
Water balloons. Yes. Can you please introduce yourself?
Desmond
I'm Desmond Wilson, the son of Pleas and Deborah Wilson. My grandmother was Kathleen Wilson, Grandfather Pleas Wilson. And I'm a descendant of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Desmond is also the great grandson of Jessie and Mary Strange.
Teresa Roberson
Fantastic. I see that you're helping out here on the 84th Strange family reunion. What's your role?
Desmond
My role is to make sure all the kids that show up this morning have a great time.
Teresa Roberson
What activities do you guys have planned?
Desmond
We plan on having us a water balloon toss, which will probably turn into a water balloon fight. Also, we're gonna do some basketball, some volleyball, cornhole, possibly some dodge ball, and I want to say we're going to do some musical chairs later on today. Hoping to have a pretty good turnout with the kids to come out. I know it's going to be hot, but we do have water. We have fruit. We're definitely going to be taking breaks with the heat just to make sure everybody stays hydrated. It. But overall, I think it's gonna be a great time. We all like to have a good time, so hopefully our energy passes on to the kids’ energy as well.
Teresa Roberson
Is this the first year that you've been on the committee?
Desmond
I have been on the committee since, I think before I actually had a committee. Growing up, I would usually be out here with my dad, setting up the speaker systems, getting out tables and chairs. I know my Saturday mornings always look like that when I came out for the family reunion. Whether it was getting out the chairs, cleaning up the basketball court, getting up the trash from the night before. As far as the committee this year, Nick pulled me and a couple other guys to do this this morning. So, I told him, it's nothing different for us to wake up in the morning to come down here and do whatever needs to be done, whether it was setting up tents or getting the tables ready and start decorating.
Teresa Roberson
The fact that this is 84th continuous years, that means I basically watched you grow up one year at a time, every family reunion that I made it.
Desmond
I might have missed one due to work.
Teresa Roberson
Seems like I've always seen you here.
Desmond
If Pleas was here, I was here majority of the time. When I actually lived out here, I was definitely here every morning. But once I moved up to Northern Virginia, I tried to make it every year. The opportunity to see the family does not always present itself throughout the year. So, this is that one time that everybody can get together. See what's been going on in our lives. What's new. See new family members, new additions to the family. Just see how everybody's doing and growing. So, it's definitely a great time of the year to be around family. I try to create the time and space for me to be here.
Teresa Roberson
Technology has just grown by leaps and bounds. What's the difference between the years that we had the family reunion virtually versus in person?
Desmond
Virtually was great and I was glad that we had the innovation in the world to be able to do that and still like during the COVID times, to present something and create an outlet for everybody, just to be able to express themselves and communicate with each other through that terrible time. Technology has been a blessing to the family. It was definitely great to come back together and get to see everybody's faces in person.
Teresa Roberson
Despite technology, it's still better to be in person?
Desmond
Oh, of course, I like to hug. I want to hug my family. I can't hug them through a computer screen.
Teresa Roberson
That's always one of the considerations for some family members. Our epicenter is here in Cascade, Virginia, but we have branched out through the military or even nonmilitary, and some people feel like they could only participate...
Desmond
Virtually?
Teresa Roberson
Virtually.
Desmond
If that's the only option, they have that still puts them closer to family than not being able to see anybody at all. If you don't have that capability, even a phone call, so just hearing somebody's voice, I mean, bring some warmth to your heart. But technology has been a great advancement.
Teresa Roberson
Thank you so much for talking with me. MUSIC INTERLUDE Welcome, Travis. Go ahead and introduce yourself.
Travis
Travis Waller, the son of Lawrence and Sherita Waller, the grandson of Pleas and Kathleen Wilson, the great grandson of Jessie and Mary Strange and the great great grandson of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
You grew up coming to these reunions just about every year. Have you missed a single reunion?
Travis
I did miss a few when I moved to Texas. So of course, like 22 hours away, so little more difficult to fly in, in the middle of the summer, dealing with work and everything. But up until like that eight-year span? No, I never missed a reunion.
Teresa Roberson
Okay, set the record straight. Did you move to Texas because I persuaded you, or because of your brother?
Travis
It was easier to move there because he was there and I had family there, but after I graduated college, I'm gonna venture out and go see the world.
Teresa Roberson
Because your mother blames me. I encouraged you. I thought, now he does have an older brother.
Travis
I was with him for like, a year and a half out there.
Teresa Roberson
What did you study in school and what actually brought you to Texas?
Travis
Electrical Engineering Technology is what I studied at Old Dominion. Like I was saying before, just kind of wanting to leave the state, kind of see something new. I enjoyed Texas while I was there. I'd probably be in Houston if situations were different.
Teresa Roberson
I lived in Austin for 14 years. I have never been able to find good brisket outside of Texas. How about you?
Travis
It's not the same.
Teresa Roberson
I would like to say 84 years. That is very significant. What does that mean to you? Bringing your family
Travis
It's great because you just get to show my extended family, my wife's family now, just like, hey, this is what has been built by my family for like, 84 years. You don't see this almost anywhere. I'll tell coworkers and stuff about it and other people and they're like, “Oh, that's great.”
Travis
It's pretty significant actually.
Teresa Roberson
When you're talking to your coworkers about this, do you tell them about your branch color?
Travis
Not typically, no. I'll just loosely tell them like this, it's a lot of us. I'll tell them it's probably 1000 of us. All of us don't show up.
Teresa Roberson
That's one statistic that I also tell other people. I said I have 1000 at least living relatives on my mother's side, not even including my father's side of the family. Then, I will tell them about the branch colors, and they'll just think, wow, that's very organized. Do you feel that you've had a growing role in the organization and planning and execution of the reunions?
Travis
This year more so. The past years, it's just helping out with my uncles and whoever needs, like clean up and set up. Definitely with the field day. It's been a bigger ordeal. Trying to make sure we actually execute. Hopefully, all the kids enjoy it, and we have a good turnout. We need to probably reassess how early we do things in the future.
Teresa Roberson
Last year you were one of my tech guys. You still know that you're coming back into the country because Wi Fi is unreliable, which is why I said, "Nope, not this year." As you can see, I have my phone and we are talking, and that is easy technology there. So basically, it seems like you are the tech guy and also the muscle and get in where you fit in.
Travis
It's the same with a lot of my other cousins. They've been doing this for years. We kind of just grew up in it because one, I mean, grandmother's house is right out there. So, this is the backyard of her house. I'm walking distance from here. It's just an extension of home.
Teresa Roberson
Travis, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule. I definitely just pulled all the guys setting up field day. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Franz, I literally just pulled you out the kitchen. Can you please introduce yourself?
Franz
Yes. My name is Franz Watkins. I'm the daughter of Geneva, and Joe Louis Watkins, the granddaughter of Frank and Mabel Adams and the great grandparents are Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
What were you about to do in the kitchen when I pulled you out?
Franz
Do the prep for breakfast. For the brunch. I mean, for the little snacks we’re having.
Teresa Roberson
But you do more.
Franz
Yeah, I cook. I'm the treasurer for the Strange Family Association.
Teresa Roberson
So you're good with food and good with money?
Franz
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Do you own your own restaurant or a catering business?
Franz
No, I don't own a restaurant, but I love to cook. I cook for people whenever they need something done, I’ll do my best to get it done.
Teresa Roberson
See, you're actually part of the family who loves to cook.
Franz
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
That's not me, but I know my sister does. My mother does. My other sister, as a matter of fact, she likes to order takeout. So anytime I say, "I'm cooking like Renee," that's what I'm doing. Some of us love to cook and have a passion for it. What's your favorite genre of food?
Franz
I like soul food. I love doing soul food. People ask for recipes. I don't go by recipes. I just go by my taste. I can't give you no measurements. All I can give you measurements on is baking. But as far as beef, vegetables and stuff like that, no. No recipe. Come from the heart.
Teresa Roberson
Just like my mother and my grandmother, Mama Bea. They always gave me the same answer, "I don't measure, I just cook." If I were to come to your house and you wanted to make just a signature dish, what would be your go to?
Franz
Spaghetti, lasagna. I also do Tuscan chicken. That's one that I can get done in no time.
Teresa Roberson
Tuscan chicken? What is that?
Franz
It's the pasta with the spinach and the red peppers, red tomatoes. Also, it's a white sauce.
Teresa Roberson
These are not Cascade dishes.
Franz
If I go to a restaurant and there's something that I like, I will go home and perfect it.
Teresa Roberson
Does that mean different seasoning or more seasoning?
Franz
I put my own little twist to it. It depends on how I like it.
Teresa Roberson
Growing up, were you eating Italian food?
Franz
No. Growing up, I ate nothing but pure country food. My grandmother would fix a full breakfast, fried chicken, gravy, potatoes, biscuits, everything. We never had cereal. Only when I got older, did we have rice.
Teresa Roberson
Did you have rice more as a dessert or something savory?
Franz
Something savory.
Teresa Roberson
That's interesting because my grandmother only ever made rice as a rice pudding.
Franz
I don't eat rice pudding, but when I eat my rice, I have it with sugar and butter. That’s it.
Teresa Roberson
That's how I grew up, eating like that. Tell us more about being the treasurer. What all is involved with running a family reunion?
Franz
It's complicated because you get people sending in for the dues. People send in for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We try to have a deadline for them to get it in at a certain time so we can have time to work everything out. But it's kind of frustrating when we get the week of, last minute people trying to get in. This year we have a caterer. It was hard this year because we had to tell people, we got beyond our capacity. Our family, we love them. They wait to the last minute, though. The week of, or the day of, they'll come and say, well I want to go. They couldn't because well they couldn't go to the banquet part becausewe'd already reached our max or deadline was June 8. And, hey, it's the June 27th, 28th and you're trying to get in now.
Franz
But we love them. You want to please everyone. We do our best.
Teresa Roberson
Saturday dinner is just one part of what's happening.
Franz
Prepare what was for Friday, and then prepare for what's for Sunday, then the cleanup part.
Teresa Roberson
It's a lot of planning. A little bit of headache. Why do you do it year after year?
Franz
I love it. I love my family. I love doing stuff like that. Even if it's not family. If a friend or somebody call me and say, "Can you do this for me, or can you cook this for me," I'll do it. Everybody like you really need to learn how to say no. When you enjoy doing it and you like to please people.
Teresa Roberson
Well, thank you so much, Franz. I'll let you go back to the kitchen. I know I delayed you enough. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Jennifer, can you please introduce yourself to the family?
Jennifer
I'm Jennifer Watkins, and I'm the daughter of Geneva Adams Watkins and the late Joe Lewis Watkins. My grandparents were Annie Mabel Strange Adams and Frank Adams. And my great grandparents were Jesse and Lucy Strange.
After our interview, Jennifer requested the following correction: Jennifer Watkins is the daughter of Geneva Adams Watkins and the late Joe Lewis Watkins. The granddaughter of Annie Mabel Strange Adams and Frank Adams. The great granddaughter of Jessie and Mary Tinsley Strange. The great great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
This is our 84th Strange, family reunion. What has been your role?
Jennifer
The past couple of years I've been the financial secretary. Then this past year, helping on the planning committee.
Teresa Roberson
So, how does that make your role different from Franz'?
Jennifer
I do more of the actual writing everything down and tallying everything up, and we just compare notes.
Teresa Roberson
So, you're the money women basically. The engine that kind of makes everything run. What's the most challenging thing about your role?
Jennifer
People waiting until the last to send their money. Other than that, it's just calculating everything up. Stuff has to be paid out of the operating budget to keep the actual facilities going. Just encouraging people to actually pay. Get an understanding of what Cash App is, what PayPal is. That you can write a check and you can do cash.
Teresa Roberson
Write a check.
Jennifer
Some people still write checks.
Teresa Roberson
I live with a woman who still writes checks, ie my mother.
Jennifer
Overall, it’s not been too challenging, but just to get people to do it and not wait to the last.
Teresa Roberson
What's been most rewarding about your participation?
Jennifer
Getting to interact and see family. Every year, somebody new that I'm meeting. I may have met him last year. One kid is out there playing ball earlier.
Teresa Roberson
The younger descendants. Some of the younger generation, I can look in their faces and tell who their parents are, but I don't know them.
Jennifer
OK got you.
Teresa Roberson
Why don't we do name tags?
Jennifer
We have done name tags. That's the other piece. You do name tags. They want to question you why. Everything is a why. Why am I? Why do I need to put my name? People know me. Well, everybody don't know you. You ask people to do that, they won't put them on. Just like yesterday, we ask people to fill out the name, email address, telephone number. There's still people to this day that says, "Oh, I don't receive anything." So, we want you to write it down now. People don't want to do that either. So that's another challenge. I'm sorry, that's a challenge, right there.
Jennifer
People don't like change. None of us do.
Teresa Roberson
I was really proud of the family during the COVID years because we did change.
Jennifer
That was a change, because we have more participation, as far as with the meetings and everything. Members always been meeting down here on a Sunday, and then people out of town not able to interact. So now you have a lot of people that's out of town that can, because they able to get on the phone, get on the Zoom call. You're right, that was a good change.
Teresa Roberson
So, our family has historically been resilient, and that is a recent example. Part of the reason I'm doing the podcast, I'm not specifically part of the historical society, but I do lean on our book to find out this, that and the other. What are some of the things that you treasure about our family reunions?
Jennifer
I treasure the fact that we have the land and the actual building. A lot of families don't.
Teresa Roberson
What's your vision for the future of our reunions?
Jennifer
That expands more. We meet more family. This whole building right here expands.We meet family that we haven't met. We know it's so many out there, but everybody doesn't participate. More participation and expansion of the building. Upgrade and do everything out here to this building. I would like to see that.
Teresa Roberson
Final words. What would you like to say to the family?
Jennifer
Love you guys. MUSIC INTERLUDE Jordan, thank you so much for joining us. Can you please introduce yourself?
Jordyn
My name is Jordyn Strange, and I am the daughter of Dina Strange and Theodore Roosevelt Strange III and then his father is Theodore Roosevelt Strange, Jr, and he's married to Barbara Strange, and then his father is Theodore Roosevelt Strange, Sr, and his wife is Anna Strange, and then we have Jesse and Lucy.
Teresa Roberson
feel for you younger generation. I'm the third generation. I don't have to go back, but so far. That's wonderful. You can trace your lineage back.
Jordyn
I'm glad we know.
Teresa Roberson
Exactly. This is the 84th year of the Strange Family reunion. What has that meant to you?
Jordyn
I'm really happy that we even have the chance to do this and that we all know our family. I realize a lot of people don't really have family reunions. They're not even able to trace their family back that far. I think my grandpa will be 84 this year. I was just thinking on this last year about how it's so cool that he probably went to every single one. I just hope me, and my kids can do that.
Teresa Roberson
It's very tangible. Do you feel like since you grew up, that you're having a more active role in participating in the family reunion?
Jordyn
I would say yes. One of my favorite parts of the family union is on Sundays. Normally, they ask my family and I to sing, so that's really fun. The preparation for it is something that I feel like we all look forward to. Then today, we're out here for the field day. Kind of setting up. Just making sure that everybody's ready and able to come and have fun.
Teresa Roberson
The first time I ever heard you sing, or that I paid attention to your singing, was when we had our virtual family reunion. You were singing, I think with your father. Do you remember that?
Jordyn
Hmm, I do remember our virtual family reunion. Were we singing in person, or was it a video?
Teresa Roberson
No, it was you guys singing for the family reunion. It was on that Sunday. You sing so much.
Jordyn
I remember that year we were doing so much singing on Zoom because of COVID, and I was part of the gospel choir. I was always asked to sing everywhere during that time period and it was always on Zoom, but I'm sure when we did it, it was really fun, because I enjoy singing with my dad.
Teresa Roberson
Is that something that you're pursuing in college?
Jordyn
I wouldn't say "pursuing." I'm actually going to start my masters at Virginia Tech in August. I'm going to be studying nutrition and dietetics, because I want to become a dietitian. When I was at North Carolina A and T, I did sing on the gospel choir, but I wouldn't say it was something that I was pursuing specifically. If a singing career does happen, I would enjoy that, but I'm actually pursuing a dietetics career.
Teresa Roberson
OK. You're helping to set up field day. Is that the first time you've done that?
Jordyn
Yeah, that's the first time. It's actually so fun.
Teresa Roberson
Well, I remember last year you guys had cowboy attire.
Jordyn
Oh yeah, that was so fun. I was going to say maybe we did "Boots on the Ground," but I feel like that wasn't out back then. That was a fun rodeo, though, yeah.
Teresa Roberson
Thank you so much for interviewing with us, Jordyn. MUSIC INTERLUDE Gwen, I snagged you because you came up to the shelter screaming and yelling, but you always had a voice. Can you please introduce yourself to everyone?
Gwen
I am Gwen Strange. I am the descendant of Jesse and Mary Tinsley Strange. My father was Bobby Jo Strange. My mother was Margaret Martin Strange. I am the great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
You have been a very enthusiastic participant in the committee for the Strange Family Reunion. How many years did you serve as the secretary?
Gwen
It's approximately 13 years.I do know a lot of the people through calls, texts, emails, et cetera. I was in the first meeting when they decided to build the shelter. It was at my Aunt Cat's house. I can remember it just like sitting here today, just visualizing that we were in her living room. We had some company. It was Annie and Ben Wilson I think they donated $5, which that was a lot of money at that time. They were talking about getting the shelter built. Uncle Clyde and Herbert was a great spearhead of getting everything started. Throughout the years, we have built on that solid foundation from the tree to here.
Teresa Roberson
So that was to literally build what we're sitting in right now, pour the concrete, the roof everything. I know it has improved. Originally, it didn't have a kitchen, for example. We didn't have the bathroom facility. People had to just go to someone's house. I do remember that part from when I was a child, but you were also here during the transition of us just being a family reunion, yearly gathering to becoming an LLC.
Gwen
Yes, I was part of that committee being the secretary, I knew a lot of the ins and outs of what we had agreed upon throughout the LLC. Pay input on what used to be, not what always gotta be, and that's what we gotta get our family to understand, that change is inevitable, because you gotta move forward.
Teresa Roberson
You've seen the changes, both from the inside and the outside. Do you feel like we have progressed?
Gwen
Sure. We're in the right direction.
Teresa Roberson
A few of the second generation, ie my mother...
Gwen
Don't call her out like that.
Teresa Roberson
She would do the same to me. They feel like we're losing some of the traditions of the family reunions of the past. How do you address that criticism?
Gwen
Well, they gotta know that we're revolving. This is a whole new generation. I'm in the third. Now, we got fourth, fifth, and we probably got some sixth. So, we gotta bridge the gap. We can't throw out all the old, but we got to bring in some of the new to keep them interested. We got some brilliant young people. We can't stay on that mindset y'all chaps, go sit down, be quiet. You don't know nothing. In the Bible, Josiah was eight years old, and he became a king of Judah. He was the most godliest king. So, by him being eight years old, that mean that God got a purpose for everyone, even before he was born, it was a seed set that he would be the king. Even though these kids are smart. They technology based. We also say they get weaker and wiser. They might be weaker in some points, but they are still wiser. We need to learn how to bring their input in. They are of value, because if we don't, they going to stray away and say they don't want to hear anything we gotta say. So, we have to come to the table, and we have to sit and listen to our youth and see what their interests are, because if you don't bring them in what you think they're gonna do?
Teresa Roberson
They're gonna do something.
Gwen
They're gonna flee because they feel like they're no value. So, it's not to discredit anything that our ancestors did. It's like your mom's generation, because they brought us through to this far.
Gwen
Change is hard for some people, but change is needed. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Mark
Mark
Good morning.
Teresa Roberson
One of the loudest of the loud mouths. You got a lot of competitors. I'll put it to you that way, myself included. Please introduce yourself.
Mark
Good morning, everyone. I'm Mark Wilkerson. I am the son of Gladys and Ernest Wilkerson. I am the grandson of Jesse and Mary Strange, and the great grandson of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
Now, you've been the Strange Family Reunion president for how many years?
Mark
This is the third year.
Teresa Roberson
Why did you step up to the plate? Why did you want to be president?
Mark
I didn't want to be president, but I was asked. There was time for a change. People want to see a change. Just like any organization, we have to change with the times. Right around that time that I was elected, we had our first virtual family reunion, which we had never had before. It brought a lot of things to life, as far as using technology. I'm a third generation. We've been looking back and always depending on what the first generation did and second generation did. Of course, the first generation is gone, but the second generation is dwindling out. It's time for people to step up and make changes, or to bring in our own thoughts and ideas.
Teresa Roberson
You became president right after COVID. When the world was opening up again.
Mark
Right during COVID.
Teresa Roberson
Was that also right around the time when we became an LLC?
Mark
All that happened during that same year. We became an LLC right before that. COVID hit. We had our first reunion during that time.
Teresa Roberson
Virtually.
Mark
Virtually.
Teresa Roberson
Even though you've been president for three years, every year, has been tremendous change.
Mark
There has been a tremendous change, but it's also been progress. We've had a lot of improvements to the Strange Family Park. We've had a lot of improvements to how we do things, how we operate, when it comes to fundraising, and how we've handled our finances. A lot of that's changed. Everything is transparent. We've added some things like the Mary Strange Harris Education Fund. Last year, we gave away 100 backpacks. This year we're giving away 150 backpacks. This young lady that came up with the idea was all over the paper last year. This year, the school board will be attendance, along with the police fire, and we also have a helicopter coming to this event. Because we're family oriented, we're so, so large, 900 plus, we try to do things to involve the community, along with keeping the original identity of the Strange family. Look around. The park is still the same, but it's just the things that we do within the park, it's different and changed. The thing they doing now it's called Tent City. Where you come down and camp out to have campfire, the bonfire, all that's going to be down here, and this is going to be during the time of Halloween.
Teresa Roberson
Have you been the tour guide for the hayride?
Mark
Only when I'm on. I don't do it all the time.
Teresa Roberson
Were you mixing facts and fiction.
Mark
I'm a Strange. It comes naturally.
Teresa Roberson
OK. I tried to get some recordings of our songs.
Mark
The songs yesterday were...we can practice on that. I was the only one on there that could really sing. I'm working on it. As president, that's my job. To ensure that everyone's able to sing. We're gonna lift every voice.
Teresa Roberson
That's right, at least know the lyrics.
Mark
Yeah, that's true. I, we can make them up too.
Teresa Roberson
We had a lot of creativity with some of the songs. At one point I looked at my nephew, I was like, "We're the only ones who know the verse."
WADE IN THE WATER CLIP
Mark
Again, this is a Strange Reunion. Just kind of keep that in mind as you go through the day. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Tonya, thank you so much for sitting down with me this morning. Can you please introduce yourself?
Tonya
My name is Tonya Walton. I am the daughter of Carlton and Annie Walton, granddaughter of Frank and Mabel Adams and great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
What has been your role this year for the family reunion?
Tonya
This year, I will be doing wellness. I'll be doing blood pressure checks.
Teresa Roberson
Really? You're in the healthcare...
Tonya
Health and wellness.
Teresa Roberson
Are you a fitness trainer? You're looking really buff.
Tonya
Yes, I'm in the fitness industry. Been doing it for over 30 plus years. I'm a fitness professional, a senior fitness specialist, balance and fall prevention specialist. I also do finances on the side.
Teresa Roberson
Your particular branch of the family always says, "and money." No matter what else. It's like to cook and deal with money.
Tonya
Funny. Yeah, we do it from the beginning to the end.
Teresa Roberson
You are primarily talking about fitness, but you're also going to set up a station to take everybody's blood pressure?
Tonya
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
How is that related to the family? What would you like for the family to take away from this?
Tonya
That your health is your wealth. No matter how much money you might make if you're injured, you can't enjoy it. If you can prevent this, then you won't have these issues down the road. So, I'm a big advocate of eating fruits and vegetables from the garden, practicing strength, being strong, which long term and functional fitness, meaning, how can you function properly in order to live independently if you don't have longevity.
Teresa Roberson
I'm going to push back a little bit. I've been coming to the family reunion since I was a child, and one of the biggest draws has always been the food. It has evolved. I remember everybody was bringing potluck.
Tonya
Yes, I remember that.
Teresa Roberson
It's kind of tricky to think about health and fitness when you see all this food. We flavor the food with pork, and then the desserts are slamming. Then we have the lemonade, which is legendary, and I know it has sugar. How do you balance that with the family reunion?
Tonya
Food, culturally, it's a thing to bring people together. For the family reunion, it's good because people have that special dessert they bring. So, people look forward to whoever's making what dessert, because it's their specialty. It's just a weekend thing. I don't consider it something that you do every single day. So, moderation.
Teresa Roberson
Are you a fan of diets?
Tonya
No, I don't believe in diets at all.
Teresa Roberson
What should people do for longevity?
Tonya
Longevity? Get the mind right first. If your mind's not right, then it's not gonna work. It's just simple things. We make things complicated with your health.Do be consistent in the small things, walking, drinking water, getting adequate sleep and movement. What has happened over probably the last 30-40, years, we have lack of movement. Therefore, it's causing the body shut down. If you look back at prior generations, they were working, we did a little more manual labor, so our body was moving all the time. Therefore, we didn't have the issues. You didn't hear as many people in their 30s with diabetes or having amputations. You didn't have the high blood pressure and stuff, even though a lot more people in the prior generation smoked, you didn't have those issues, because the body was moving and the constant moving, and they were probably drinking more water. Plus, within the last, I'd say, 30 years, 35 years, the food that we eat have changed. So, a lot of people don't know that the food has been preserved and the additives been modified. We have more gut health issues than regular. We don't know where it's coming from. I'm eating properly, but why my body's acting like? This is because they have changed the food, the seeds, and how it's produced.
Teresa Roberson
I think this is the first time I remember someone actually checking our blood pressure. Is this something you want to see expand?
Tonya
I did it years ago. I haven't been every year, but when I came prior years, I had a station set up.
Teresa Roberson
I must have been absent then.
Tonya
A lot of times high blood pressure is a silent killer. A lot of times it's stress. Sometimes you can look fine, but when you take that blood pressure something's going on.
Teresa Roberson
You have any final words for the family?
Tonya
Smile, breathe, laugh, love one another and pass on good habits and longevity to the next generation.
Teresa Roberson
All right, amen. MUSIC INTERLUDE Thank you, Universe, would you please introduce yourself?
Universe Strange
I'm Michael Universe Strange, son of Olander Strange and Gladys, grandson of Floyd and Beatrice Strange, great grandson of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
You have been the vice president of the Strange family reunion for how many years?
Universe Strange
This is '25, so I'm gonna say about three years.
Teresa Roberson
What motivated you to step up to the plate?
Universe Strange
I already, because of my Mama Bea and my papa, right? I'm already geared up to do anything for the family. I'm a team player for the family. So, Uncle Herbert was getting old, and he had done it for probably 20 years, and they needed some next generation to step up. People was mentioning to me. I'm not like the executive person, but whatever we need, then I'm there for it. That's how I began to take those reins.
Teresa Roberson
In the past years, you also made contributions to the family before you even became vice president. Can you tell us about that?
Teresa Roberson
That's because of my Mama Bea and my papa. They have trained and raised me. I was right down the road. Every time they got ready for some of this, we all had to pitch in. I was trained as a youth. So now as I'm older, it's just falling in. I know what I supposed to do. Plus, my family is special. We have a special thing here. I've traveled around the world. I've been in other states. They don't have this connection that we have. I'm proud to be a part of this. I want to do my part as a person of the Strange family. So, with me, it's about pride. It's about honor and respect of our elders, of what they taught us, and knowing what to do. So, I want to carry that on and pass it to the next generation.
Teresa Roberson
How have you seen the family reunion evolve?
Universe
We got this great executive board and the managers. We're a little younger, so we was able to bring different ideals, different ingenuity because a lot of us are up on the technology today. Because we're younger, we able to stay in contact with some of our younger youth, knowing what they were like or what would they do. By us coming down a generation helps to keep going with the rest of the family that we can connect. We're that for the older we connect, and the younger we connect. Because of technology and what we learned from our ancestors, we're able to take that and grow and elevate. We don't want to stay where we were. We're going to elevate. Never forget what you was taught.
Teresa Roberson
I know that we really became tech savvy, as far as the reunions were concerned, when we shut down in COVID.
Universe Strange
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Now that the world has opened up and we're resumed having in-person reunions, how can we both maintain tradition while also implementing newer technologies?
Universe Strange
We're going to have to merge both, because it's part of our reality. We can't get out of touch with what's real. We're gonna have to merge some of the technology and not leaving your roots. You can do both. You can merge both. We'll be using great sense from technology that can help us stay together, stay in contact, stay in tune with information.
Teresa Roberson
Universe, thank you so much for sitting down with me.
Teresa Roberson
You mighty welcome. You're one of the greatest journalists I know. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Good morning, Shorty, thank you so much for sitting down with me. Can you introduce yourself?
Sherman
My name is Sherman Lee Adams. I'm the son of Clyde and Lucille Strange Adams. I'm the grandson of Jesse and Mary Strange. The great grandson of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
This is our 84th Strange Family Reunion, and throughout the years, you've played a pivotal role in the execution of the family reunion. Can you tell everybody just the various roles you have performed?
Sherman
Well, first of all, I was one of the cooks. I purchased all of the food, picked it up, put it up, and cooked it up. I used to fry the chicken itself. I would wash it and fry it. Right out there under the shed and the fish. Sometimes I get somebody to help wash the fish, but we had help. But it still was a lot. A lot on me. I didn't get to enjoy the family reunion at all. I worked the whole time. I was glad to get relief. A lot of this work down there, down here, was done by my hands.
Teresa Roberson
The actual building?
Sherman
The actual building. I built that deck right there, practically by myself. That boardwalk right there, I built it. When I remodeled the kitchen when it burned out, I did it with a little help. It still looks good.
Teresa Roberson
It does. The family greatly appreciates it. Even if they don't know, they know now.
Sherman
They know now. That's right. The outdoor shed? I built the back end of it. Where they store, the tables and chairs at, I built that. Also remodeled the bathrooms, put down ceramic tile. It wasn't an easy job. A lot of people were working, but I get up in the morning, come down and work. I used to mow all this grass by myself. I burned up two of my lawn mowers. But you know, I’m retired. I don't regret a minute of it.
Teresa Roberson
You were happy to hand over the reins.
Sherman
Happy, glad. I'm proud of the ones that looked and seen what was going on so they could pick up the trait and continue the legacy. I can just sit back and enjoy.
Teresa Roberson
I can tell by your face, that you take a lot of pride in...
Sherman
Oh, yeah, I do. I do. All these shades. I put them up.
Teresa Roberson
Any final words you'd like to say to the family?
Sherman
Continue what we are doing, and we'll get bigger and better. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Pleas, thank you so much for sitting down and talk to me. Can you please introduce yourself?
Pleas
I am Pleas Wilson Jr, the son of Pleas and Kathleen Strange Wilson. I'm the grandson of Jessie and Mary Strange and the great grandson of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
This is our 84th consecutive Strange Family Reunion. Over the years, what has this family reunion meant to you?
Pleas
When I was, I'd say nine years old, when I started having it in the backyard of my mom's house. So, it's been a blessing to be a part of the Strange family. I've seen so many that came through that I learned from a lot from all of them. Anything that they taught us all the respect for our uncles, aunts and family, relatives. It's been a blessing.
Teresa Roberson
I remember many years, the family reunion, what that meant for me was having a buffet under a tent and then going to your mother's house porch.
Pleas
That was just coming through the yard. When we did that, we had not like now, we got an open space, but it was like trees just running through the woods and having fun.
Teresa Roberson
Over the years, your participation has grown. How do you see that your contribution has changed?
Pleas
Before I took it over, my Aunt Gladys, she was the vice president of the Strange family. Herbert was president. When she couldn't serve anymore, then that's when I took it. So, I served as vice president behind Herbert for like, 30 years. We started off as coming out from under the tents, and having the shelter actually built. We just had to shelter during that time. So, after that, kitchen built, bathrooms built, basketball court and so on. The land was donated back then from Floyd Strange, your grandfather. So, he donated the land for us to actually start the shelter. After that was donated, Herbert came along, and donated some more. That's when we added the kitchen, bathroom, basketball court. It's been a blessing to see it open up like it is now. So, we planted the twelve trees to represent all the brothers and sisters. Then, the graveyard was added with Mary Strange.
Teresa Roberson
In addition to the planning of the shelter and everything, you also helped build it?
Pleas
We helped build the additional deck. We had a friend that helped us out during that time. Bonnie Wilson. He built their first edition. We had all our meetings here in the kitchen.
Teresa Roberson
I'm happy that those went virtual, personally.
Pleas
It was a lot trying to get our older generation to get on board for the zoom calls and stuff like that. We always had a very big amount of people. Sometimes, we have 300-400 people here. That's just under the shelter
Teresa Roberson
Thank you so much, Pleas. People have been bugging you throughout this entire interview.
Pleas
That's because they love me. One thing about our Strange family, we really have stuck together as far as our family reunion. I talk to a lot of people that wish they had the reunion that we have because they always tell me their families don't get together.
Teresa Roberson
You know what? It takes a lot of muscle and thick skin.
Pleas
It does. Our forefathers that wanted to see this happen.
Teresa Roberson
I'll let you get back to your fans. MUSIC INTERLUDE Cousin Thel, thank you so much for sitting down and interviewing with me. Can you introduce yourself please?
Thel Strange
Walter Theldon Strange.
Teresa Roberson
Who are your parents?
Thel Strange
Jessie and Mary Strange.
Teresa Roberson
And you're the grandson of?
Thel Strange
I'm the grandson of an old, old man, Jesse Strange.
Teresa Roberson
And his wife?
Thel Strange
Lucy.
Teresa Roberson
You are the oldest living relative.
Thel Strange
I'm the onliest one that clean this off and built it.
Teresa Roberson
You're the OG. The old goat.
Thel Strange
That's right, I'm the old goat of the old time.
Teresa Roberson
What's been your contribution?
Thel Strange
Everything?
Teresa Roberson
We've had these family reunions for 80 years.
Thel Strange
You was here.
Teresa Roberson
I wasn't here at the beginning. How old are you, Thel?
Thel Strange
21.
Teresa Roberson
You are not.
Thel Strange
I am ninety years old.
Teresa Roberson
Ninety. So, you were here before we even started.
Thel Strange
I tried to tell all of them I've been looking up a mule’s hind parts before they was even born.
Teresa Roberson
Back in the day, what did the family reunion look like?
Thel Strange
Didn't see none of them until we cleaned this off. They wanted to have a family reunion. I give them a spot right here. I had plants growing here at first.
Teresa Roberson
On the land that we're sitting on?
Thel Strange
Right. Tobacco plants. I would pull them, plant them. I was a young, honest Black man. Sold tobacco for $2 and 5-10, cents. White folks couldn't sell it for that. Their tobacco wouldn't bring but $1 and 70 cents. Maybe 65 cents. Mine's 2.05.
Teresa Roberson
How were you able to negotiate a better price for your tobacco?
Thel Strange
'Cause I worked mines at night while they were asleep.
Teresa Roberson
So, it was better quality?
Thel Strange
That's exactly right. I knowed how to work mine, and they didn't.
Teresa Roberson
So, our shelter is sitting upon your old tobacco field?
Thel Strange
Right.
Teresa Roberson
That's what they often say: Successful people do the thing that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.
Thel Strange
Right. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Please introduce yourself.
Angie
My name is Angela Strange Wade. I'm the daughter of Walter Strange and Shirley Strange, the granddaughter of Jessie Strange and Mary Tinsley and the great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
We are sitting here today at the 84th consecutive Strange Family Reunion on land that we own, on a shelter that we own and built. I have been coming to this family reunion since I was a child. You and I were playing.
Angie
Together, yes.
Teresa Roberson
And now, we're middle aged. You a little bit younger than me.
Angie
Oh,yeah. I still got ways to go.
Teresa Roberson
We both do. Your father is actually the oldest living...
Angie
Eighty-nine. He's 89.
Teresa Roberson
He told me he was 90-something.
Angie
He likes to play. He's 89 just had a birthday June 6.
Teresa Roberson
This is why I need to get you to correct the record. What has been your recent contribution to running the Strange Family Reunion?
Angie
I was asked to help out. If I would help out in the kitchen. Yeah, I’ll help out.
Teresa
Do you actually love cooking?
Angie
I do like cooking, but it's got to be my way.
Teresa Roberson
What's your way?
Angie
Like how I like it. Don't tell me how to cook. I know what I'm doing.
Teresa Roberson
What type of foods do you like?
Angie
Well, they tell me I got a famous meatloaf. We had it here last year. Me and my mom one year we did baked chicken, and that was really good, too. It's been years ago though.
Teresa Roberson
This year, you're drawing to contribute to the family quilt.
Angie
My son draw, but I don't draw, so I don't know what it's gonna look like when it finishes.
Teresa Roberson
Why is it important for you to have a square on the quilt?
Angie
Just to see it, I guess.
Teresa Roberson
You've been coming to the family reunion...
Angie
For many years.
Teresa Roberson
What do you enjoy about it and how have you seen it changed?
Angie
Everybody coming together. The family we haven't seen that was near and far. Everybody getting reacquainted. Just coming together, having fun, laughter, enjoying each other. The food, of course, and just being able to be with our people.
Teresa Roberson
When I talk to other people about their family reunions, it's nowhere near ours.
Angie
We got a big family. It goes from the Stranges, the Williams, the Adams, the Wilsons. Everybody in Cascade mostly kin. Some people I know, living in Cascade, didn't know I was related to.
Teresa Roberson
We have definitely branched out.
Angie
Oh yes, we have. Very much.
Teresa Roberson
I say this at every reunion: I wish we had name tags.
Angie
So, everybody know who you are.
Teresa Roberson
That's why I start off every interview that I'm doing now...
Angie
With the names.
Teresa Roberson
Full introduction.
Angie
Exactly.
Teresa Roberson
Any final words you like to say to the family?
Angie
Love your family. Dearly love on them. Love on your family.
Teresa Roberson
That is very good advice.
Angie
Because I miss my brother and my mom so much. Love them while they're here, because when they're gone, they're gone. We still gonna remember them, though. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Tan thank you so much for sitting down and talking to me. Can you please introduce yourself?
Tan
I am Tanya Strange Easley. I am the daughter of Percy and Annabelle Strange and the granddaughter of Jessie and Mary, and the great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy.
Teresa Roberson
We have had a family reunion for 84 consecutive years. You have been a part of that legacy. What has been your contribution?
Tan
I'm the manager of the kitchen.
Teresa Roberson
You have a passion for cooking.
Tan
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Which I don't have. I didn't get that gene What's your cooking specialty?
Tan
Beef roast. Gravy. Anything. I could cook, anything.
Teresa Roberson
You go by recipes? You look those up?
Tan
No. I do it my way. I put the extra touch to it. Sometimes I look up recipes.
Teresa Roberson
So, you're one of those people who you go to a restaurant, if you like something, you'll duplicate it
You've been coming to the family reunion since you were a child. How have you seen it evolve?
Tan
It's a lot of work put into itwe need changes.
Teresa Roberson
I've heard from other people who I've interviewed that we Stranges like to wait to the last minute.
Tan
They do. Definitely the last minute.
Teresa Roberson
You have been participating in the kitchen for years.
Tan
Yes. I help out all I can.
Teresa Roberson
So, what brings you back year after year? I know we could be a headache. You're not telling me anything new.
Tan
Definitely that. I come back for family because I love to see family together. Everybody trying to work together.
Teresa Roberson
As a child, I didn't realize how special we were. I just assumed every family basically did this. What do you think our secret sauce is?
Tan
Love, dedication, motivation.
Teresa Roberson
There's enough of us who are dedicated and motivated. Do you know about how many living relatives we have from this branch of the family?
Tan
About 900 and something?
Teresa Roberson
Right. We all have that working number. I would even say 1000.
Tan
Might be more than that. All these chaps.
Teresa Roberson
Any final words you'd like to say to the family?
Tan
Everybody needs to step up and help out. It's a teamwork effort. If we can get more people involved in doing things here, then it'll be a lot easier on us.
Teresa Roberson
I would especially say the younger generation. I'm quite sure most of them don't wake up in the morning and they got this mysterious pain in the low back. I appreciate you coming over. I'll let you go back to your quilt. I think it's a beautiful square you are designing. I look forward to seeing it in the family quilt.
Tan
Okay, thank you. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Sandra, thank you so much for sitting down with me for this interview. Can you please introduce yourself?
Sandra
Absolutely. I am Sandra Jackson, the daughter of Herbert and Dorothy Strange, the granddaughter of Floyd and Beatrice Strange, and the great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
You have been coming to these family reunions since you were a child.
Sandra
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Your father was president for about thirty years. You got to see behind the scenes growing up, of putting the family reunion together.
Sandra
He was the president, probably for 30 plus years. After graduating from high school, I have been away from home, so I didn't see a lot of behind the scenes there. Growing up, we don't always appreciate family as much as we do later in life. My hat does go off to my dad for just his leadership with the family during that time. I always feel like my heart gets a big hug after every reunion or during the reunion, because it's just wonderful to see so many family members come in.
Teresa Roberson
You're on the historical committee.
Sandra
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Can you tell us about that?
Sandra
This probably started way back in 2005. Somehow, we were talking, Ted, Theodore Strange and Barbara Jean Strange Clark from the second generation. They had knowledge of the family. And it was just great to hear them talk and give us a lot of history. Everybody brought different strengths to the table. That is another dimension of just loving the Strange family. How we can come together and grow and learn from one another.
I think we did the book first, and then we did the calendar. Or maybe vice versa, and then we did the second calendar. We've had a few changes in the committee, but more people are interested. There's some more things to uncover. In a few more years, we'll get together and do another project.
Teresa Roberson
I have had previous interviews today, and several people have said we have 900 plus family members. Think it was our first virtual family reunion, and you shared that number. That was one fact that I know that you taught so many of us.
Sandra
And it hit home.
Teresa Roberson
Yes.I remember when you're saying, "with all these relatives, there's nothing that we can't accomplish.
Sandra
Absolutely.
Teresa Roberson
That was just a beautiful sentiment. You and I are part of the extended family who are going to Ghana.
Sandra
Yes.
Teresa Roberson
Why did we choose that country?
Sandra
We took the DNA from the second generation, and I think we had one from a little distance removed, but from the first generation. We were trying to get the oldest relative. That's when we started learning more where our roots began. So, Ghana showed up, and it's like, oh, an opportunity to go to Ghana with family. I mean, how can we pass that up?
Teresa Roberson
So, you're an armchair historian. You didn't do that professionally?
Sandra
No, no, I didn't. I think there's so much value to it. Somebody has to have that labor of love to just bring it together to share with the family so others can be inspired to learn more about their family.
Teresa Roberson
MUSIC INTERLUDE Hey, Cassandra, thank you so much for sitting down with me. Can you please introduce yourself?
Cassandra
My name is Cassandra Denise Williams. I am the daughter of Cheryl Wilson Williams and Bill Williams. I'm the granddaughter of Kathleen Strange Wilson and Pleas Wilson, Senior. I am the great granddaughter of Jessie Strange and Mary Strange. I'm the great, great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
I remember a couple of family reunions ago. I was running around like, "Oh, we gotta find out so and so's birthday." You were clicking it off...
Cassandra
I'm pretty good with that stuff.
Teresa Roberson
... like an encyclopedia. I was amazed.
Cassandra
Birthdays and things that happened, like in years, like, "Oh, 1999 this happened, or something like that."
Teresa Roberson
It’s the way your brain's wired, which is fantastic. That makes you a natural historian.
Cassandra
I wish I could have gone with y'all to, could go with y'all to Africa.
Teresa Roberson
We hope to bring back as much knowledge as we can and perhaps do a little presentation. Who knows for the next family. That's one thing that I like about our family reunion. We've been doing it for 84 years. Every year a little bit different.
Teresa Roberson
You and I have been attending since we were children.
Cassandra
Absolutely.
Teresa Roberson
What have you enjoyed from being a child and now an adult?
Cassandra
Before the shelter was here, the shelter was built, I think, in '85 and before that, this was just basically woods. We had a dirt basketball court. I remember all of that and just running around here, no shelter. We didn't have all this modern stuff. Our grandparents and all great grandparents, they all did this stuff naturally. I do remember going down, before our house was there. It was just woods. So, we would go either in the path to get to Aunt Bea's. We weren't allowed to go on the road, so we would basically go in the path. Bryant and Junior had a playhouse in the woods right here. They had a tree house.
Teresa Roberson
I never knew that.
Cassandra
Girl, yes.
Teresa Roberson
Ya'll never took me.
Angie
They had a tree house in that little wooden part right there. We used to go on trails. We had a path to get to Lawrence's house. They had chickens running in the yard. We had hogs down there.
Teresa Roberson
I remember making a plate down here under a tent.
Cassandra
They had tents.
Teresa Roberson
Going to your grandmother's house. Over the years, you've been in the fashion shows for the family reunion. That was a big thing that your mother introduced.
Cassandra
Yes, mom and Hope they did it together. They did a wonderful job. They started that in the 90s. They had one at the Broswell fire department. I think that was the first one. My Aunt Deborah, Pleas' wife, she did a play. They had that at the fire department. When they had it here under the shelter, they had put this black plastic up because they did charge for the fashion show. The kitchen was sectioned off. The guys went in one section, and the girls dressed in the other section. We'd go in, change out our clothes, come out, do the little walk and all. And I was a part of that. I was much younger then. But hey.
Teresa Roberson
I remember participating three distinct times: once when I was skinny, once when I was fat, once when I lost the weight, but I was the emcee.
Cassandra
OK.
Teresa Roberson
So, I know that I did the fashion show.
Cassandra
Yes, yes. I think I did all the fashion shows. We had a great time. It was love and fun. That's what we need to keep in it is love and fun. Love is the main thing. We need to love one another and just have fun with it. Love is fun. Love is life. MUSIC INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Barbara Jean, thank you so much for sitting down with me. Can you please introduce yourself.
BARBARA JEAN
Good morning. My name is Barbara Jean Strange. I am the daughter of Jessie and Mary Strange, the granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Currently, she is known as Barbara Jean Strange Clark. She’s one of the second generation of freeborn Stranges.
Teresa Roberson
You come to nearly every single reunion.
BARBARA JEAN
I believe I've been to every one, even when I was a baby.
Teresa Roberson
Really, you haven't missed a one?
BARBARA JEAN
I have not missed one.
Teresa Roberson
That's amazing.
BARBARA JEAN
Even when I didn't know I was here, I was running in the yard, not even knowing where I was at your grandmother's house.
Teresa Roberson
You remember it when it was just held at my grandparents’ house.
BARBARA JEAN
Yes, your grandparents' house, that's where we have all the family reunions. It expanded after the children, like my sister, had built a house next to your grandmother and grandfather. Then, things start expanding after your grandparents' children, and my father's children, grew up. So, they were a little older than me.
Teresa Roberson
Are you excited about how long our family reunions have been sustaining?
BARBARA JEAN
I am very excited, especially at this moment, because I had never dreamed of living this long to see an 84th anniversary of a family reunion.
Teresa Roberson
Over the years, what has been your contribution to the reunion?
BARBARA JEAN
I hope my contribution has been something worthy of. I have tried to help them as much as I could. In the beginning, my siblings were the one that contributed most of everything, until after I got married. Whatever I could do, whatever they asked me to do. Only thing we did at that particular time was make sure that we were here and we had food, we paid our dues and we came and celebrated. That was just everything at that time. I had no idea that it would expand to this degree. I always wished that someone would write about this family.
Teresa Roberson
We as a family have been doing that. You have contributed to the Strange Historical Society. Are you officially a member of that, or a resource?
BARBARA JEAN
I don't know how I fit in to tell you the truth since I have the books. I helped to write the first book that we had. I'm just all over the place.
Teresa Roberson
But you've been a valuable resource. You and my mother.
BARBARA JEAN
I hope so. I guess we were. I give ourselves the utmost credit for starting this family reunion history. I never will forget all the papers and notes on my wall. I think we missed one Saturday without meeting. We met every Saturday. We wrote something to be put in this book. A lady told me, we still could put this book in the Library of Congress.
Teresa Roberson
What would be your message to the family for this reunion?
BARBARA JEAN
The first foundation was actually laid back many, many years ago. We are the foundation that can build a greater house on this foundation.
Teresa Roberson
MUSIC INTERLUDE Carolyn, thank you so much for interviewing with me. Can you please introduce yourself?
Carolyn
My name is Carolyn Adams Clark. I am the daughter of Clyde O. Adams and Carrie Lucille Strange Adams. I am the granddaughter of Jessie and Mary Strange, the great granddaughter of Jesse and Lucy Strange.
Teresa Roberson
You have been coming to these family reunions since you were born.
Carolyn
Right. Nothing like getting together with your family at a reunion. Everybody should get together with their family at reunion instead of a funeral.
Teresa Roberson
A lot of people make excuses. They don't have time. They're always busy. Why do you think our family has been doing it for 84 years?
Carolyn
They had strong genes. They had real strong genes. My grandfather, Jessie, that man, had strong genes. He didn't let nothing come between him and his family. He stayed with my mom. My mom kept him for a long time until he passed away. We used to have this oak tree. My grandfather would go under that tree every morning. Sit there with his cane and just kill a bunch of yellow jacks. Just pile them up with his shades on. This man came by one day and was selling pictures. My grandfather asked him, "What are you selling?" He said, "I'm selling a picture of Jesus." He said, "A picture of Jesus?" He said, "Yeah." He said, "Well, man, why are you selling Jesus?" That man left.
Teresa Roberson
I still remember him sitting under the tree with his cane.
Carolyn
Yeah, sitting under the tree with his cane killing the bees. He would rake them all up, and then he would put them in a pile with his sunglasses on. Never took his sunglasses off. He never looked at you.
Teresa Roberson
I never saw him a gray hair either.
Carolyn
One thing about my granddad, you won't going to see him a gray hair because my granddaddy dyed that hair. He loved to keep that black hair dyed.
Teresa Roberson
Did you ever dye this hair?
Carolyn
No, I didn't dye it. Jerine used to dye his hair all the time. He only let Jerine dye his hair. Black. He kept his hair black. I had a good grandfather. I wouldn't have traded him for no other.
Teresa Roberson
What did your grandfather teach you about?
Carolyn
One thing he taught me about was how to farm and help cook and clean and do.
Teresa Roberson
What were you farming?
Carolyn
My grandfather raised tobacco with Thel and all them. I'll never forget, my grandfather had a possum. He had caught a possum and put it in a trap and set it beside the smokehouse. And he kept that possum for a long time. He told mom, he was going to get her to cook that possum. Mom said, "If you don't take that possum and throw it down the hill, I'll kill you."
Teresa Roberson
All these chickens and hogs and...
Carolyn
Yes. My grandmother, she raised the chicken. She used to get them chickens on the yard. She would take them chickens and ring them chickens by the neck and throw them chickens out in the yard, and then go back and get them chickens and pluck them chickens. The best chickens you could eat was on the yard.
Teresa Roberson
Nowadays, they call them "free range" and it cost a lot of money.
Carolyn
Yes, my grandmother and grandfather, they raised a lot of chickens and things.
Teresa Roberson
What lasting word would you like to say to the family?
Carolyn
Family, we all need to get together. Family that prays together stays together. We only have family union once a year. Everybody should be able to save up enough money and stuff to come to the family reunion and be with the family instead of coming when it's a funeral. It's too late then. MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Hey, Rikkia, thank you so much for interviewing with me this afternoon. Can you please introduce yourself?
Rikkia
My name is Rikkia Ben Yehuda. I am the daughter of Zelfia Nita Strange, and my father is Richard Hunter. My grandparents are Olander Strange and Novella. My great grandparents are Floyd and Beatrice Strange. And my great great grandparents are Jesse and Lucy.
Teresa Roberson
Have you been coming to the family reunions since you were a child? Or is this a relatively new experience?
Rikkia
I came down because I was living in the South when I was about 9-10 in North Carolina. So, I did come spend summers here with my great grandmother, Mama Bea, and grandpa Floyd. Then more recently, my mom started coming, and I started coming. Me and my brother came down maybe like in the 2000s. I just had my son, who's 20, and that's it. But since I've had my kids, I have three, and we live in Connecticut, I haven't been able to come down. So, I came last year, and this year.
Teresa Roberson
I feel like I only got to know you last year.
Teresa Roberson
That's one of the fabulous things about family reunions. There was a period of time that I stopped coming because I was living outside the States. So, I never really had an opportunity to meet you until recently.
Rikkia
Right. Your mom, Aunt Velma,was in Fayetteville with my mom. That's why I was keeping in contact with her. Then got to know you guys, her daughters recently.
Teresa Roberson
I would say my mother's generation was the last of the human beings who were the internet before the internet was invented. They were the go-to people. As time marches on, that's one of the pieces that we are missing among our generation.
Rikkia
Like oral history, or just to know...
Teresa Roberson
What everybody doing.
Rikkia
Oh, just information. They would keep up with people. That's true. They would, and then when you talk to them, they would say, you know, so and so and so and so just got married and so and so, just had a baby and all that stuff. So, yeah, you're right. That's how you pass down information.
Teresa Roberson
Part of it is really challenging because there's now over 900 of us. it is very challenging for any one person to keep up with everything, which is why we use technology. You probably came to the first Strange Family Reunion when you were nine or 10. What do you remember between when you were a child and now?
Rikkia
I feel like a lot has stayed the same because it's in the same place and I said, "That's my great grandmother's house. He asked specifically, "Oh, Mom, does it look any different?" I said, "No, it looks exactly the same." He goes, "Well, how does it look so nice?" I said, "Well, the family's been living in it, and they've been keeping it up. I think there's a lot of preservation. Happy to be a part of this family because I think that we preserved our space and our time together. That's really a good feeling to know that when you come back to something, that it's the same. It's comforting.
Teresa Roberson
Our family reunions changed drastically during COVID. We had to have them virtual. Did you attend any of the virtual?
Rikkia
I did attend that one. I left that one out. I attended that one. Me and my kids were in Connecticut, and my mom and her husband were in Fayetteville, North Carolina, yes. That's how we got to be on the calendar. The calendar has the picture from the virtual. Then, we most recently did Christmas together, and that was fun. I like that because of the virtual, everybody has the ability to stay more connected. We can have monthly meetings, or we could have some kind of celebration together, all in our separate places.
Teresa Roberson
Any final words for the family?
Rikkia
I just hope that we continue to strive to always come together. I think it's so important. Recognize the strength that we have between us and amongst us. It's really powerful, and it's very encouraging. MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Teresa Roberson
Renee, thank you so much for interviewing with me. Can you please introduce yourself?
Renee
Yes, I am Etzetta Renee Purcell. I am the sister of the person that is interviewing me, Teresa Yvonne Roberson, formerly known as Tweety Bird or T-bird. My parents are Karl and Velma Roberson. She's the daughter of my grandparents, which is Floyd and Beatrice Strange. Great grandparents is Jesse and Lucy.
Teresa Roberson
Just like an Aquarius. You gotta make something so simple, complex. Are you proud of yourself, Renee?
Renee
Yes, I am.
Teresa Roberson
Also, my older sister, who thinks she's my mother. Let me make this as complicated as possible, so I'm not really following my younger sister's instructions. That's why I saved you 'til last. I knew you were gonna be the worst. You've been coming to these family reunions since you were a child. How have you seen it change?
Renee
Since we had our elders, which is the first generation, it has changed as far as accommodations of the shelter and all of the amenities that we have acquired since then. We've grown as little kids. We've always had the love there. We've always had the camaraderie there. We have always had this tradition, come rain or shine. However, during COVID. What did we do? About two years? Two or three years? In reference to doing it on Zoom. Anything that survived, you always have to step back, evaluate, reevaluate, and come up with solutions. So that year of 2020, we were almost missing our family reunion. That's when somebody came up with this idea of having it on zoom. That saved us because we wanted to always come together as a family. I commend everyone that participated on our first Strange Family Reunion via Zoom. That idea just blossomed.
Renee
To make sure we met people where they were.
Teresa Roberson
For 2023 was when the whole group came back and we honored the 12 members of the second generation.
Renee
Yes, and we still had it via zoom at that time as well because we still wanted to make sure that every family member was included.
Teresa Roberson
I specifically remember 2023 because that's when you roped me into being part of the planning committee although I was never really officially, but I got roped in by you.
Renee
Yep.
Teresa Roberson
Because we were honoring the second generation, of which our mother is a part of, Velma Mae Strange Roberson. You were also one of the founding members of the Historical Society and also marketing. Can you tell us about those too?
Renee
We wanted to document family history, so we formed the Strange Family Historical Society. We've had quite a few members. We created our very first Strange family book. We captured a lot of history in that book, and without that us coming together, we would have lost a lot of history from our elders. We were very grateful we had them to give us more information about where we came from, where we're going, and how we arrived where we are. After that, we started doing calendars because we still wanted to capture more memories, more substance, and to keep the family together. We collected pictures. We also honored our first generation. In our last calendar, we honored our second generation because we wanted to make sure we have all of that documented for our families. The little ones, they need to know about our history. Since we have all of this technology, we're able to put it in written form, picture form, and now we have a quilt that one of our family members, Joan, is doing. People are doing quilting squares to represent what the family reunion or the family mean to them. That's documenting history.
Teresa Roberson
How did the Marketing Committee come about?
Renee
We wanted to get the information out to a lot of family members. I can't remember when we started, but that's when we had emails, phone numbers, so we can send text messages out. We had a website. We want to keep the family informed about what's happening, not only as us as a family, but groups within the family. We meet once a month, except for we change it up now, after the family reunion, we're meeting closer to the holidays, like October, November and December. That's when we start gearing up for the family reunion for the following year.
Renee
Any final words for the family?
Renee
The Strange family has always been for love and togetherness. MUSIC FINAL