1914-2006
Biography
I am Rubie Lee Champion Reed, the ninth child of George “Dock” Champion and Henrietta Scott Champion, born on December 5, 1914 in Sumter County, Georgia. I am the granddaughter of Louis and Sarah Ann Tatum Champion and William and Amelia Scott. I spent my childhood and formative years in Sumter on my parent’s farm, where we grew and raised everything we needed for food except wheat, coffee and grits. I married the love of my life, Bennie Reed, on October 22, 1938. We raised four wonderful children: Willie Ruth Reed Cooper, Bennie Reed, Jr., Louise Reed Perry and Curtis Reed, Sr. I had nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The first reunion was held at my home in Waycross, GA on Thanksgiving Day in 1968. It was my wish that we have a modest yearly gathering without being in grief or sadness and to get to know everyone spiritually and socially and bring the Champion Family closer together. It’s been more than 50 years since that first reunion. God has truly blessed us. I went home to glory on March 16, 2006 at the age of 91. Remember family, if we continue to pray together we will stay together.
A Reflection
Hello my name is Jacquelyn Reed Bouie and I am the oldest granddaughter and the second oldest grandchild of Rubie Lee Champion Reed.
I have so many fond memories growing up with who she was affectionately known as “Big Ma”. My first memory dates back over 51 years ago at the 1st Champion Family Reunion held at her house on Thanksgiving Day, 1968. I vividly remember my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins’ fellowshipping and having such a good time. Big Ma loved her family and she wanted to make sure we not only knew our immediate family, she wanted to ensure we knew our lineage, our roots but more importantly our Champion Family.
As a young child growing up, I remember spending time at Big Ma and Big Dad’s house with my other cousins. During the summer months, Big Ma would take us to Vacation Bible School and Sunday School Conventions.
During Christmas, our families would gather at Big Ma and Big Dad’s house for Christmas dinner. Big Ma was an excellent cook, she made the best Chocolate Cake, and I mean yellow cake with chocolate frosting and pecan halves on top. Her sweet potato pies were to die for and her homemade buttermilk biscuits would literally melt in your mouth. My brother and I have those recipes and are passing down to our children.
When our mother died in 1983, Big Ma stood in the gap, she became our mother. A mother to me, Lil Bennie and our late brother Eric.
She was there at James and I wedding and stood in the gap as my mother as well as represented as my grandmother.
Big Ma was also there at the birth of our first child, Jamelle. I remember vividly her sitting down in the chair at the hospital and James handing Jamelle to her, she was so proud.
In closing, family was so important to our Big Ma and that’s why she loved attending the Champion Family reunions.
A Family that Prays together, Stays together is a testament of what Big Ma exemplified and my prayer is that we as her descendants will continue her legacy.
CHAMPION FAMILY REUNION 