2025 Roberts Reunion

2025 Roberts Reunion Recap​

Family traveled far and near to celebrate our Roberts heritage!  We are calling the attendance to be about 80 people with descendants from multiple lines.  Great food, cornhole tournament and lots of fellowship made for a successful and fun reunion.  Here are some highlights:

​Family traveled from Alabama, California, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, West Virginia and all over to connect with their heritage.  Some of the out-of-towners met on Friday to seek out their family gravesites, tour Roberts Switch and learn more about their family. 

We have a wonderful new addition to our family connection.  Joy Schlatter was adopted at a young age and through the ancestry.com DNA testing, she discovered her biological Roberts’ family.  Joy’s line comes through Francis Marion Roberts.  What a joy it was to share our Roberts stories with her and help create new memories! 

We also were glad to see some Violet Roberts’ descendants, sisters Lori (Windfield) Taylor and Janet (Windfield) Adamczyk travel again from Michigan.  Janet’s daughter, Sarah, flew in from West Virginia to learn all about her Violet Roberts’ heritage. 

(l to r) Sarah and mom, Janet Adamczyk

We were excited to have John Harrison Roberts’ descendants travel from California and other points to connect with family.  They come through the John Harrison line via his son, “Uncle” Allen, which we have been eagerly wanting to connect with.  John Harrison was shot from ambush and killed in 1870 on Mine Lick Creek while plowing corn.  John lived 10 days before he died.  During this time, he gave his oldest son, Allen, his gun and told Allen to “remember the man who killed your daddy”.  About 1910 give or take, Uncle Allen disappeared.  There has always been speculation as to what happened to him.  No one knows for sure and probably never will.  Thanks to Uncle Allen’s descendants for bringing a box of photo albums for us to look at from the early 1900s.

Sherry (Herron) Honeycutt was another first-time attendee.  Her grandpa was Arvel “Slick” Herron and she comes through the Francis Marion Roberts’ line.  By the way, Sherry, I looked at my notes to be reminded that Tom Mayberry gave Arvil that nickname, something to do with a possum.  We loved having all these first-time attendees!​​

Saturday early morning rains made everything look so green and lush at the reunion location with blue skies showing up just in time for the noon potluck.  We  started with our group photo, a prayer and then lots of eating.  Thanks to Phil Loftis for taking the pictures again this year.  We also had others share photos as well.  The photos are posted in the gallery below for you to enjoy.

​After eating, Phil provided the financial report and we gave out the 2025 attendance award winners:

- Oldest: Bonnie (Cole) Pryzbylo who was born 2 May 1943...making her 82 years young!  She is the 3rd great granddaughter of Joseph Roberts through the Francis Marion line.  When she received her award, she pointed out how her mom, Ruth (Herren) Robinson, had also received the oldest award a few years back.

- Youngest:  This year we had dual winners.  Fenix Neal Fisher was born on 18 Sep 2023 and the son of Dylan and Rachel Fisher.  Fenix is the 5th great grandson of Joseph Roberts through the Francis Marion Roberts line.  The other winner was Nora Kate McBroom born on 23 Nov 2023.  Nora was born on her great-great grandparents’, Baxter and Millie (Palmer) Herd, 100th wedding anniversary!  Nora is 5th great granddaughter of Joseph Roberts through the Francis Marion Roberts line.

Fenix Neal Fisher

Nora Kate McBroom

- Farthest traveled:  The John Harrison Roberts group (Jane, Mike, Martin, Pamela and Martin Jr) had the furthest traveled honors having traveled from California.  Mike and Martin T. Roberts are the 4th great grandsons of Joseph Roberts.

After the presentations, Tommy #2 started the 2025 Cornhole Tournament.  This 6th annual tournament had 12 teams participate…the most ever!  We had the full spectrum of throwing abilities...lots of focus and laughs were had by the competitors.  The finals were defending champions Marci Roberts and son Ryan Roberts (the 5th great grandson of Joseph Roberts through the Francis Marion line) against Tommy #2 (4th great grandson of Joseph Roberts) and Phil Loftis 3rd great grandson of Joseph Roberts) both through the Francis Marion line.  Right in the final throws, rain hit us and we quickly moved the cornhole to under the barn…making it a different type of corn hole  Tommy and Phil won a close game.  The Harry family brought out their special t-shirts for the winners and the coveted cornhole trophy was presented!​

(l to r) Phil Loftis, Brenda Harry presenting the winner t-shirts, Tommy Roberts #2 and Angela Stout presenting the trophy.

(l to r) 2025 Champions Phil Loftis and Tommy Roberts #2

As most of you know, this was my last year to be the Reunion Hostess.  My dad was the host for about 25 years.  He passed it to me, and I have done it for the last 10 years.  It has surely been fun and interesting.  I want to thank all of you who contributed to the yearly success.  We have no volunteers to be host/hostess for next year’s reunion.  We hope someone will take on the challenge and keep our 40+ years going.  If you’re willing, just send an email to me or my dad and we’ll put it on the website so that everyone knows what is going on and can make plans.  

Be sure to read all about our heritage at www.robertsswitch.org.