Illinois Family Celebrates 87 Years of Annual Reunions

When 99-year-old Kenny Megginson walked into the Murrayville United Methodist Church Community Center on August 2nd, he joined three younger generations for a tradition nearly nine decades strong.

The Megginson family held their 87th annual reunion this summer, proving that some traditions only get better with time. Families traveled from as far as Iowa to share potluck dishes and catch up with cousins they see just once a year.

President Ben Berry opened the gathering with grace before relatives dug into homemade dishes. The youngest attendee, Nathaniel Berry, represented the newest generation carrying forward a legacy that began in the 1930s.

This year's reunion focused on preserving the family's origin story for future generations. Cecil Megginson first wrote down the family history in 1952, and Judy Craig updated it in 1974. Now Secretary Vickie Smith is sharing segments on the family's Facebook page so younger members can connect with their roots.

The family made sure their history is accessible beyond their own gatherings. Jacksonville Public Library keeps a copy of the manuscript, and another sits preserved at the Illinois State Museum.

Sunny's Take

In an age when families often scatter across continents and connect mainly through screens, the Megginsons show what commitment to togetherness looks like. They've already reserved the community center for next year's gathering on August 1st.

The family also plans to clean up the Richardson cemetery, a small private burial ground in a cornfield west of Jacksonville where the family's earliest ancestors Ralph and Mary Richardson Megginson rest. Several volunteers immediately offered to help with the project.

From potluck dinners to cemetery care, the Megginsons understand that honoring family means showing up year after year. Their 87-year streak proves that the best traditions are the ones we choose to keep alive together.