Students in the 1935 class of Red Hill School pose for a group photo. Several members of the Horton family attended the school before its consolidation with Warrenton Elementary in 1946.  

Most families have longstanding traditions, be it Christmas stockings on the mantel, birthday dinners at specific restaurants or playing a certain game at gatherings.

Mike Bailey’s family is no exception. It started off simple enough, with a Horton family gathering for food and fellowship. Now the gathering has become a full-blown family reunion, covering seven generations of history and lasting most of Labor Day weekend this year.

“I don’t know exactly how many are coming (this year), but we’ve got family in about 30 different states,” said Bailey, who serves as chairman of the Horton Family Reunion.

When they arrive, Bailey and his group have a full weekend planned.

“We’re gonna have a sack race for the kids, we’re gonna have bingo, we’re gonna have a slideshow of past and present, and we’re gonna have a memorial for all the family members who are deceased,” Bailey said. “… We have a greeting night to give everyone the packet and T-shirts.”

That packet includes the family history, which Bailey said dates all the way back to Virginia in the 1700s. Historic documents list the Horton family as one of the first black families to settle in Elkmont.

“I’ve been looking into this for 20 years,” Bailey said, adding he’s always looking for more information to share.

The reunion will also include a hayride and tour that covers significant sites in the family’s history. These include Greenhill School, where many family members attended; Smithfield Cemetery, where several ancestors are buried; and a store that was often used for trade by the families.

These were no small families, either. Robert and Martha Horton, who lived in the area during the mid-1800s, were believed to have had 11 children. Bailey is one of 15 children in his family.

“Most of the older ones had large families,” Bailey said, adding the oldest member to attend this year will be almost 100 and will be arriving from Houston, Texas. Marcus Flannigan, the 97-year-old patriarch of the family, assumed the title of oldest living relative after family matriarch Alberta Martin of California passed away at 100.

The 2017 Houston Family Reunion will take place Sept. 1-3 this year. Cost is $15 per person to attend, plus $10 for a T-shirt. Children 10 and under are admitted free but still have to pay for a shirt. Bailey said T-shirts are free for those 80 and older who attend.

Those who wish to RSVP or want more information can reach Bailey at 256-874-0565. His home at 700 Coleman Ave. in Athens will serve as headquarters for the event, he said.