The first reunion celebrations were held at the Home Place of the late Preston and Mattie Bennett. According to An Account of Taylors, South Carolina 1817-1994, by Jean Martin Flynn (1995), The Bennett House, was located on Stephenson Street and originally, was the schoolhouse black parents built for their children. Various other direct descendants hosted family gatherings over the years. The reunion has primarily been held in South Carolina with a few exceptions.
Reunion locations outside of SC include:
In the early years of the reunion, Georgia Bennett wanted a degree of uniformity for not only the family attire, but also for the reunion programs, and flowers placed in the church in memory of our loved ones. Her vision resulted in the establishment of family colors: Kelly green and yellow, not just any green, Kelly green!!!
Attendance to worship services has always been a major event of the reunion. The family has attended services at the St. Matthew Methodist Church, Taylors, SC, New Psalmist Baptist Church (Baltimore, MD), New Birth South Metropolitan Church (Atlanta, GA), and our own Bennett Worship service held on cruise ships.
Church music was originally rendered by the Bennett Great Grandchildren’s Choir, under the Original Director Georgia Bennett, and sung as early as 1982 in their yellow attire in robes made by Dorothy Kelly. The Bennett Great Grandchildren Choir was later directed by Pamela Bennett. The musical aggregation was later referred to as the Bennett Choir, directed by Spencer Bennett, and continues to sing today at church services.
The success of the many reunion gatherings can be attributed to the tireless efforts, dedication, and diligence of reunion chairpersons who sought to bond family ties. The length of their service spanned over remarkable periods of time. We are forever grateful for those who served as Bennett Family Reunion Chairpersons. The first Reunion Officers are credited with paving and establishing a foundation of excitement that would last for years. The first Reunion Officers were: