Photos and text submitted to the Hadley Society by Keturah Hadley.
Lavern Hadley & Rev. Theodis Hadley
at the Sunday luncheon
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Our 21st annual Hadley Family Reunion was held during the weekend of July 26-29, 2001 in New York City. This year the reunion was hosted by Keturah L. Hadley and Marvin Hadley, along with a few friends and our church family from Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.
On Thursday evening, July 26, a reception dinner was held at the Hampton Inn in Elmsford, New York, and on
Saturday afternoon, July 28, our Hadley Family Reunion Picnic was held at Tibbets Brook Park.
After church services on Sunday, July 29, at the Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, my brother Marvin had the church members
prepare a lunch for us.
(Interesting side note: Reverend Theodis Hadley is a retired minister of a
Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana. "Hadley Street" in Elkhart is named after him.)
Luncheon for the Hadley family held at
Memorial Baptist Church, Harlem, New York |
This year's reunion was truly a work of God. We had to charge each family member much more than usual because the reunion was held in the Big Apple. Due to the high fees, we had our lowest turnout ever. We had many obstacles, and had to cancel and rearrange many of our plans. There were times when we did not know where the money could come from, or how we would be able to pay for everything, but we prayed and trusted in God. Sure enough, God blessed us with all we needed, and everything went smoothly.
Donna Lyde & Keturah Hadley |
While less than twenty-five people attended the reunion, we were able to feed them all a full meal every day. (Try finding a caterer who will Bar-B-Que for 25 people!)
Clara Hadley &
Natasha Hadley-Graham |
Diane Huddleston &
Tyhé Hadley-Gerard |
We all had a great time, and those family members who attended were thankful and happy.
Larry Hadley, Casey Graham & Clara Hadley |
We had beautiful white T-shirts this year. Printed on the front was "Hadley Family Reunion 2001," and under a picture of New York City at night it said "Welcome to the Big Apple." On the back was the Hadley Family Crest printed in red with the Hadley family motto in Latin (Deo Auxilium Mini Est) on the left and English (God is My Help) on the right of the crest. If anyone would like to order a T-shirt with the Hadley Family Crest on the front, please contact Keturah.
Casey Graham & her stepsister, Tracey Brooks |
Our Hadley family in Texas has been having reunions since 1980. However, I consider the first official reunion to have been in 1995, when it was given in Mobile, Alabama by the following Hadley family members:
Louise Hadley Moseby
Frances Antoine
Frances Hadley Horton
Anna Hadley
L.H. Hadley
L.C. Hadley
Maurice Simmons with Matthew
Lyde & Lawrence Hadley |
There were over 100 members in attendance and five living children of Alfred and Ezell Hadley were present. The T-shirts at this reunion were blue and the design consisted of a circle on the front of the shirt with the words, "God is an honored member of our family circle."
Diane Huddleston, Tremaine Hadley, Helen Hadley
& Tyhé Hadley-Gerard |
Over 70 family members attended our 1997 Hadley family reunion, which was held in Elkhart, Indiana and hosted by Theodis Hadley and his family. Family came from Texas, Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Alabama and many other parts of the country.
Natasha Hadley-Graham with the
Chef & Patrick Graham |
That year, our T-shirts were grey with a picture of a Bible and a church on them. Inscribed in the Bible was "A good name is more desirable than great riches. Proverbs 22:1," and the bottom of the T-shirt read, "A family is built on a strong foundation."
Avery Nigel Hadley-Graham swings with
Luther Hadley |
All five living children of Alfred Hadley (L.H. Hadley, Theodis Hadley, Louise Hadley Moseby, Frances Hadley Horton, and L.C. Hadley) were in attendance, and once again, a wonderful time was had by all.
Tyhé Hadley-Gerard, Diane Huddleston,
Keturah Hadley, Patrick Graham, Helen
Hadley, Tremaine Hadley, Lavern Hadley
& Natasha Hadley-Graham
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The 1999 Reunion was held in Houston, Texas and was hosted by the children of L.H. Hadley. We had a huge turnout, with more than 95 family members who came from all over the United States. We enjoyed a basketball game with the "North" playing the "South." (I won't say who won for fear of starting another Civil War, let's just say it was a "close tie.")
Tremaine Hadley, Helen Hadley &
Avery Hadley-Graham |
Only two of Alfred Hadley's surviving children were able to attend this reunion. Reverend Theodis Hadley was there, and sadly, this was the last reunion for Louise Hadley Moseby, as she passed away on October 12, 2000.
Our 1999 Texas Reunion T-shirts were green and featured an outline of the State of Texas along with a church and a Bible. The verse written on the Bible read, "A family that prays together stays together."
Alfred Hadley was born on 15 March 1856 in Bromley, Alabama and died on 24 August 1949 in Mobile, Alabama. He was one of twelve children born to James (1820/30 - ??) and Frances (1825/35 - ??) Hadley.
Natasha Hadley-Graham, Diane Huddleston,
Tyhé Hadley-Gerard, Keturah Hadley,
Tremaine Hadley, Helen Hadley, Matthew
Lyde, Lavern Hadley, & Patrick Graham.
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Alfred Hadley was first united in marriage to Olivia Booker, and they were blessed with six children:
1. Mamie Hadley (July)
2. Willietta Hadley (Long)
3. Leslie Hadley
4. Clara Hadley (Holsey)
5. Joe Hadley
6. Green G. Hadley
Alfred Hadley's second marriage was to Louise Ezell. Alfred and Louise were blessed with fourteen children:
1. Blanche Hadley
2. Elmo Hadley
3. Prince Edward Hadley
4. Luretta Hadley (Isaac)
5. Ulysses Hadley
6. Maryetta Hadley (Leeks)
7. Louise Hadley (Moseby)
8. Frances Hadley (Horton)
9. James Hadley
10. Lawrence Henry Hadley
11. Quentell Hadley
12. Theodis Hadley
13. Luther Clayton Hadley
14. Jasper Hadley
Keturah Hadley with Avery Nigel
Hadley-Graham |
The origin of our surname is HADLEY. Each and every family member including spouses, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are proud to honor our HADLEY surname. During our lifetime, our family has given us many gifts, the greatest of which is love. Preserving our family's heritage is a gift we can give back to our family.
Be proud of your surname, yourself, and your family heritage!
