Celebrating family heritage at Southern Wesleyan
John “Bill” McGraw of Clemson was decked out in colonial garb for the 100-Year Reunion, held March 27 at Southern Wesleyan University.
McGraw sponsored the Copeland family table, which was one of 40 tables, each representing families from Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties that date back at least 100 years. In addition to numerous family history displays, the reunion featured presentations about genealogy, archival preservation and cemetery research as well as tours of the Faith Clayton Genealogy Room at Southern Wesleyan. The event was sponsored by Southern Wesleyan University along with Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife, Old Pendleton Genealogical Society, Pickens County Historical Society, Pendleton District Commission, Pickens County Museum of Art and History and Central Heritage Society. More than 250 people participated in the event, held at Founders’ Hall on the university’s campus in Central.
Kenneth King of Easley, right, looks over a photograph album as Harold Turner of Pickens looks on during the 100-Year Reunion, held March 27 at SWU. The Turner family was among 40 families from Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties displaying family histories, photos and other items during the first-ever event, sponsored by SWU along with Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife, Old Pendleton Genealogical Society, Pickens County Historical Society, Pendleton District Commission, Pickens County Museum of Art and History and Central Heritage Society. Turner is a recent recipient of the S.C. Heritage Award for his skills in luthiery – the building of stringed instruments which include dulcimers and violins.
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