Staff Reports
The 48th annual reunion of the Alvin and Maudie Davis Murphy family was Aug. 22 in the annex at Crothersville United Methodist Church with 14 people in attendance.
Everyone brought their own sack lunch. A small turnout was attributed to the heat and COVID-19 on the rise again.
Trina Willard gave the dinner invocation.
Leroy Davis II called the reunion to order by having the office elections for 2022. Officers are Davis, president; Savanna Smith, vice president; Eunice Lacey, secretary and treasurer; Edie Thompson, Loretta Riehl and Missy Shunney, entertainment committee; and Karen Davis and Betsy Ackeret, refreshment committee.
Jo Ann Webster will continue to buy the flowers for the grave of Alvin and Maudie Murphy around Memorial Day.
There has been one death in the family since last year, Larry Leahigh, husband of Sundra (Sage), son-in-law of Eva and Ross Sage and great-grandson-in-law of Maudie and Alvin Murphy. He died of COVID-19.
Lacey distributed a booklet giving information on how Maudie and Alvin Murphy’s life was like when their children were growing up, a sheet where Maudie and Alvin’s children are buried with dates of birthdays and deaths and a copy of Alvin Murphy’s registry from Kovener Funeral Home when he died.
The entertainment committee gave prizes to the oldest man present, LeRoy Davis; youngest present, Savana Smith; closest birthday, Donna Davis; and having the most red on, Webster. The rest of the gifts were given away.
The rest of the day was spent looking at pictures of years past and taking pictures.
Attendees also heard more of the story of the Pigeon Roost massacre. The Indians massacred 24 settlers shortly after the war Sept. 3, 1812. Those were the mother, wife and child of John Morris; Henry Collings and his wife; the wife and seven children of Richard Collings; Elias Payne, his wife and seven children; and Isaac Coffman. The British reward offered $5 for each scalp. There are different stories told of the massacre.
The reunion will be next year at 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Crothersville United Methodist Church annex.