On Saturday, June 19, 2016, Bill and Carol Epps of Latta hosted the annual Epps Family Reunion at the family home on Highway 301 South.
The family reunion began many years ago in Kingstree, SC where the James Epps family was born and raised. In 1903, Silas Wightman, one of James and Mary’s 14 children relocate after graduating from Clemson to what was then Marion County to marry his bride Caroline (Carrie) Monroe. Caroline’s father gave them the land to build their home and the lumber and the labor came from Wightman’s family estate in Kingstree. Wightman and Carrie raised 5 Children on the farm, James Wightman, William, Ethan, Martha and Olin. After Wightman and Caroline died the home was passed to Martha Frye (Epps) of Carthage, NC. Several years past until her brother Ethan Epps relocated to Latta to live in the family home.
Ethan Epps began hosting the reunion at the home more than 25 years ago until one of cousins, Kay Mason of Easley, SC took it over. It has been held in Kingstree, SC for more than 15 years. This year over 35 relatives including the Walker Epps family from Alabama traveled to Latta for the reunion. Most attending were from throughout South Carolina. Martha Frye (Epps) age 92 was the only person who actually grew up in the home able to attend. The oldest descendent, Martha’s cousin was James Epps, age 95, from Columbia, SC. The youngest were 2 and 4 years old.
Walker Epps, a retired Methodist Minister, said the blessing thanking God for all who came before and all who will come after as well as those present. There was plenty to eat including Bar-B-Que and many family recipes. Homemade desserts including a Caramel Cake, Chocolate poundcake and brownies were enough to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. Sweet Tea and Lemonade and a lot of porch sitting and reminiscing topped off the afternoon.
Everyone had many stories of reunions past. Martha and James were able to recount many stories about growing up at the home. When it was time to leave, Martha summed it up best by saying “It was good to come home again.”
The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the hospitality was gracious.
