The descendents of William and Callie Dollins will celebrate another reunion this weekend at Bass Hollow. William and Callie Dollins raised their nine children in Jean. The family began gathering in 1932 and have continued the tradition since then. Six generations of the Dollins' family are expected at the reunion. (Courtesy photo)
Dollins family reunion this weekend
(Posted 7/27/2010 03:59 pm)
The descendents of William and Callie Dollins will celebrate another reunion at Bass Hollow. The reunion will be held Friday through Sunday, July 30, through Aug. 1. Family members will be traveling from Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, South Carolina and all parts of Texas.
William and Callie Dollins raised their nine children at Jean, 14 miles north of Graham. The first reunion was held in Jean in 1932. The reunion included William and Callie, and their children, Myrtle Huckobey, Stella Douglas, Zeta Newman, Bud Dollins, Lena Grubbs, Oma Dollins, Olen Dollins, Chloteele Ballard, Dora Lee Yancy and their families. All together about 55 family members and friends attended.
The reunion was eventually moved to Possum Kingdom Lake and for the past 50 years the reunion has been located at Bass Hollow. William and Callie Dollins’ wish was for the reunion to continue each year at the same time and to have as many members try to attend this celebration of family. They have been honored by their descendents who continue to gather each year to celebrate their great family.
Throughout the reunion, elder members of the family as well as younger generations, spend lots of time conversing with each other and enjoying each other’s stories. The family swims, boats and eats delicious meals together. The big event for the weekend is the family auction of homemade items, family antiques and some joke-type items. The receipts from the auction fund the reunion for the present year and will fund the reunion for years to come.
The family members make it a point to put the reunion on their calendars a year ahead of time, and at all costs, will put the reunion before any type of vacation. This year will be William and Callie Dollins’ family’s 79th reunion. More than 150 descendents are expected to attend, which represents six generations of the William and Callie Dollins’ family.
