WS Chronicle

In above photo: The Barber family poses in front of Hawthorne Inn. (Submitted photo)

Special to The Chronicle

John and Mary Barber married in Sandy Ridge, N.C. in 1888. They moved to Winston-Salem, with their 10 surviving children, to work in the tobacco industry in the early 1900s. Their descendants held the first Barber Family Reunion in Winston-Salem on July 31 through Aug. 2.

Nearly 100 people (representing six generations) participated in the event. Activities were planned and coordinated by grandchildren of John and Mary Barber: Clarene Stewart of Winston-Salem; Sondra Barber Akins of Teaneck, N.J.; and Mary Barber Worthy of Springfield, Massachusetts. Other grandchildren who attended were Barbara Pickard Cole of Syracuse, N.Y.; Freddie Barber of Fort Lee, N.J.; Johnnie Barber of Kansas City, Missouri; and city residents Alexander Barber Jr., Almena Lyles and Loretta Jackson.

Mabel Barber of Winston-Salem, the 97-year-old widow of Alexander Barber Sr. (the 10th child born to John and Mary Barber) attended the culminating event and addressed the group. Other relatives traveled from Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.

Participants gathered at the Hawthorne Inn on the evening of July 31.  On Aug. 1, they toured sites where members of the Barber family lived and worked, years ago. The tour was followed by a picnic at Old Town Recreational Center.