Mississippi Family Celebrates 139 Years on Same Land

For 139 years, the Wicks family has called the same piece of land in Lowndes County, Mississippi, home, and they're making sure future generations understand what that means.

This weekend, family members from across the country returned to Columbus for the Wicks Family Reunion, a gathering held every two years on the original property purchased by Ned Wicks in 1887. For many like Shirlean Smith, this isn't just a reunion destination. It's where she was raised, where her children grew up, and where the family story continues to unfold.

"From 1830, we're still here," Smith said. "We still own the original property that our forefather Ned Wicks purchased back in the early 80s." The family sees this land as more than real estate. It represents continuity, stability, and the determination of their ancestors who secured it during a time when Black land ownership faced enormous obstacles.

The reunion focuses heavily on education. Family elders spend the weekend teaching younger members about their lineage and why preserving this connection matters. "Money is not everything," Smith explained. "You have a rich history here."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the impressive timeline. It's the intentional way the Wicks family protects their legacy. In an era when Black families have lost millions of acres of inherited land, often to development pressure or complicated inheritance laws, the Wicks family has held firm for nearly a century and a half.

Mildred Smith Gatewood emphasizes that education has always been central to their family values. "It's so important for us to educate our children and for them to know the family history," she said. "That we have maintained this property since 1887."

The family gathers on land that has witnessed generations of birthdays, graduations, weddings, and everyday moments. They cook together, share stories, and ensure that children who might live states away understand where they come from. The property includes parcels that ancestors specifically deeded to future generations, creating a permanent home base.

For the Wicks family, these reunions do more than celebrate the past. They build the future, ensuring that great-great-grandchildren of Ned Wicks will know his name, walk the land he secured, and understand the strength it took to keep it. Home is where their roots are, and where they will always remain.