stAfr photo by ooug
THE BENNETTS gather for a family portrait during their 25th annual reunion last week. Pictured are (front row, from left) Jason Bennett, David Bennett, Tiffany Batten, Daniel Batten, Jordan Rigdon,
Jeremy Rigdon, Benjamin Benditz, Nathan Benditz, Stephen Bennett, Patricia Breed, Jessica Rigdon; second row, Jerry Rigdon, ImVou Rigdon, Marie Batten, Audrey Thompson, Curtie Bennett, Winifred
Benditz, Kelly Richardson, Theresa I^ee, trances Bennett, Deetra Thompson, Glenda Colbe; third row, Patricia Mosley, A J. Maxwell, Joslyn Maxwell, Bonnie Miller, Jimmie Bennett, Mildred Miller, Jason
Bennett, Brian Needham, Wanda Edwards, James Thompson, Janellen Bennett, Sammie Miller; back row, Rocky Mosley, Eddie Bennett, Russel Bennett, Bill Breed, Edsel Bennett, dinger Bennett, Brenda
Bennett, Rudolph Bennett, Marvin Miller, Barbara Bennett, Frank Benditz, Johnnie Benditz, Linda Juda and Pat Benditz.
Bennett Family Gathers For 25th Reunion At Holden Beach
M
BY DOUG RUTTER
Lois of families hold annual reunions at Ihc beach.
Large bankers hanging from the front porches of
beach cottages announcing reunions aren't uncommon
during summer in the South Brunswick Islands.
But few families, if any, can boast the reunion record
of the Bennetts, who have been getting together at
Holden Beach every- year since 1966.
Curtie Bennett, a 91 -year-old resident of Ash, is the
matriarch of the family, which features two sets of five
generations and 79 people overall.
Mrs. Bennett, who was married to the late James
Marvin Bennett, has nine children, 22 grandchildren, 22
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Another great-great-grandchild is due in September.
The Bennetts began the family reunion on their 50th
wedding anniversary, choosing Holden Beach because it
was a family-oriented community and located close to
Ash.
Approximately 30 people attended the first reunion,
and it has grown bigger every year.
Sixty-five people filling eight rental houses on Ocean
Boulevard East came this year front Florida, Georgia,
North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania anil New Jersey.
The nine Bennett children, listed from oldest to
youngest with their hometown, arc Mildred Miller, Wil
mington; Audrey Thompson, Greensboro: Winifred
Bcnditz, Greensboro; Rudolph Bennett, Ncwnatn, Ga.;
Edscl Bennett, Jacksonville; Joslyn Maxwell. Jackson
ville, Fla.; Jimmy Bennett, Orlando, Fla.; Ken Bennett,
Ash; and Carol Bland, Elizabcthtown.
So what do five dozen kinfolk who haven't seen each
other since the last reunion do during their week at die
beach?
"We sit around and do a lot of talking and do a lot
of eating," explained Mrs. Maxwell, the sixth child in
the Bennett chain.
Even though it's a family reunion, Mrs. Maxwell
said the live generations like to spend time with their
own age group. "We separate parents from the children
and let them do their own thing," she said.
As a group, however, the Bennetts hold a family
sing every year and show slides from previous re
unions. They added a moonlight boal cruise to die agen
da this year.
"We used to have a fish fry but the family got too
large for that," Mrs. Maxwell said. In recent years, the
entire crowd has gone out to a seafood restaurant one
night during the week.
Sincc family members are spread up and down the
East Coast, the summer reunion is the only time most of
them can get together to relive memories and share a
few laughs.
"This is our week together to visit," Mrs. Maxwell
said. "The week just flics by."
To commemorate the 25th reunion, each family
member received a bright blue T-shirt promoting the an
nual affair that started in 1966.
On the backs of the shirts were the words "We Arc
Family" and a screened print of a tree showing the last
names of the family members.
"It'll be a good souvenir when we outgrow them,"
said Mrs. Benilitz. the third oldest Bennett child.
Family members agreed that many things have
changed at Holdcn Beach since the first reunion.
Houses rented for S50 a week back then, and there
were no conveniences like air conditioners or automatic
dishwashers.
The water supply wasn't as good as it is now. Only
one person could lake a shower or get a drink at a time
when the island depended on wells.
The Bennett children said they used to plav
and volleyball at the reunions, but the younger genera
tion likes miniature golf and waterslidcs.
Mrs. Curtie Bennett said her favorite part of the an
nual reunion is sitting around talking and seeing the
young children. "I just think it's great that w e all can be
together. That's the reason 1 come."
She said she never dreamed the reunion would still
be going strong alter 25 years. "Every time we'd come
here, we'd just fix it for another year."
Charity Ball Set Sept. 27
At Sea Trail Clubhouse
The ihird annual Charity Ball will
be presented by the Prescription for
Excellencc Foundation Friday, Sept.
27, at the Jones/Byrd Clubhouse
and Convention Center at Sea Trail
Plantation.
Spokesman Dr. Lee Langston
said music for dancing will be pro
vided by the Dick Goodwin Big
Band, which has performed at ma
jor social events in the Carolinas,
Georgia and Virginia.
The Foundation provides the
Brunswick Cc.'nty Public Schools
with a motivational program for
adolescents called Pathways to
Excellencc. The program teaches
personal accountability, improved
self-image and goal orientation as
the pathway to greater success and
happiness. The goal of the program
is to foster the full development of
each student's God-given talents.
Also, in 1990 the Foundation pre
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