The History of the Champion Family Reunion
(As recorded and presented by Abidel Champion Battle, Champion Reunion 1983)
The Champion Family Reunion started with the children of the late George Franklin “Dock” and Henrietta Champion. Dock Champion was born in Sumter County, Georgia on August 1878. He was the son of the late Louis Cason and Annie Tatum Champion. Henrietta Scott was born in Webster County, Georgia on August 1879. She was the daughter of the late William and Amelia Scott. In the year of 1897, Dock Champion and Henrietta Scott were joined together in Holy Matrimony. To this union, twelve children were born:
1. Ola Mae Champion Bohanon
2. Lessie Bell Champion Moffett
3. Ada Mae Champion Jackson
4. Louise Champion Young
5. Annie Rose Champion Gipson
6. Daisy Lee Champion Jones
7. Leonard Champion
8. Elder Lee Champion
9. Rubie Lee Champion Reed
10. Lewis Ceasar Champion
11. George Franklin “Dock” Champion, Jr.
12. Mattie Pearl Champion
In December 1941, Henrietta Champion passed. Dock Champion passed away in October 1964.
The purpose for a family reunion is to meet the family without being in grief or sadness and to get to know everyone spiritually and socially.
The first Champion Family Reunion was held Thanksgiving Day 1968 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bennie (Rubie) Reed, Sr. of Waycross, GA. Every family brought covered dishes. The members attending this reunion were: Rev. Dock and Mrs. Willie Mae Champion, Aunt Sister – Catherine Myers, Abidel Champion, Sharon Champion, all of Smithville, GA. Mrs. Ada Mae Champion Jackson of Savannah, GA. Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Reed, Jr., Jacquelyn Yevette Reed, Bennie Reed, III, Wille Ruth Cooper, Curtis Reed, Mrs. Louise Perry, Mr. Jimmy Perry, Sr., Jimmy Perry, Jr., Sheena Perry, all of Waycross, GA.
In 1969, Rev. and Mrs. Dock Champion, Jr. and family hosted the reunion in Smithville, GA.
In 1970, Mrs. Lessie Bell Moffett of Smithville, GA was the hostess.
Mrs. Ada Mae Champion Jackson and family were hosts in Savannah, GA in 1971.
In 1972, Mrs. Rubie Lee Champion Reed and Mr. Bennie Reed and family hosted the reunion.
The reunion of 1973 was held ins Smithville GA with Rev. and Mrs. Dock Champion, Jr. and family as host.
In 1974, the reunion was held in Sail City, GA with Mr. David Barlow, Della Barlow and family.
In 1975, the reunion was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Reed, Sr. and family. At this time the family reunion became more organized with a program and speaker. At this reunion, everyone agreed for each family to send money to the host family instead of bringing a covered dish. The reunion was held at Laura Walker Park in Waycross, GA. The first speaker was a Champion offspring – The grandson of the late Annie Rose Champion Gipson and Fred Gipson of Vero Beach, FL – Rev. Ivey Williams, III. A theme was developed: “A Family That Prays Together Stays Together”.
In 1976, the reunion was held in Vero Beach, FL at the Matrons Club House with the following host families: Mrs. Freddie Mae Gipson Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Gipson, Miss Elizabeth Gipson, Mr. and Mrs. Ivey Williams of Vero Beach, FL and Mr. and Mrs. Cephas Gipson of Stuart, FL. The speaker at this reunion was Rev. Lewis Champion of Jacksonville, FL.
The 1977 family reunion was held in Jacksonville, FL at the Southern Bell Union Hall. The host families were Rev. and Mrs. Lewis Champion, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Champion, Mr. and Mrs. McArthur Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Champion, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Champion, Jr. and Miss Pearlie Mae Champion. The speaker was Miss Dale Peterson.
The 1978 reunion was held in Smithville, GA at Zion Hope Baptist Church. The host families were Rev. and Mrs. Dock Champion and family, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Champion, Mr. and Mrs. James Cooper, Mrs. Mary L. Brown, Mrs. Daisy Jones, Mrs. Lessie Moffett, Mr. and Mrs. Elder Champion and Mr. and Mrs. James Dodson. The speaker was Mr. Cephas Gipson of Stuart, FL.
In 1979, the family reunion was held in Savannah, GA. The host families were Mrs. Margaree Lewis and family from Saginaw, MI and Mrs. Henrietta and John Sharpe and family. The speaker was Bonnie Sharpe.
The 1980 reunion was held in Waycross, GA at the Lion Camp for the Blind. The host families were Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Reed, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Reed, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Perry, and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Reed, Sr. The speaker was Mrs. Katie Bell Robinson of Smithville, GA.
The 1981 reunion was held in Vero Beach, FL. At the Matrons Club House. The host families were Mrs. Freddie Mae Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Gipson, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Ivey Williams, and Miss Celia Gipson. The speaker was Rev. Lewis Champion, Sr. from Jacksonville, FL.
The 1982 reunion was held in Jacksonville, FL with the aforementioned Champion Families serving as host.
The Champion Family colors are blue and gold.
The 1983 Champion Reunion was held on November 24 in Smithville, GA. Rev. Robert (Ricky) Williams was the speaker. The menu consisted of turkey and dressing, barbeque, green beans, collards, potato salad, potato souffle’, cornbread, and a variety of cakes and pies. Hosts included: Rev. and Mrs. Dock Champion, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Champion, Mr. and Mrs. James Champion, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. James Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. James Dodson, Mrs. Jimmy L. Champion, Mrs. Katie Bell Robinson, Mrs. Mary L. Brown, Mrs. Lessie Moffett, Mrs. Daisy L. Jones, Ms. Abidel Champion.
CHAMPION FAMILY REUNION 