Texas Family's 12th Annual Juneteenth Spans 3 Towns

Every year on Father's Day weekend, descendants of formerly enslaved people who pioneered Texas before statehood gather in Geneva to celebrate freedom, family, and an unbroken legacy stretching back to the early 1800s. This year marked the 12th annual Juneteenth celebration organized by Yolanda Wright Bozant, and it brought family members from across the United States to three Texas towns.

The heart of the celebration beats at County Line Baptist Church and Cemetery in Geneva, where services have continued every year since 1868. Every person at the Sunday service can trace their family history back to the pioneers who built this community two centuries ago.

"It's really nice for our family to come out from all over the United States to get together for a family reunion, see how we're all connected, and just honor the enslaved ancestors and preserve the land that we have up here in Geneva," said Ebony Riley, Bozant's daughter.

One of the weekend's most moving moments happened when the VFW taught young family members how to honor their veteran ancestors. Lifetime VFW member Vicky Thomas showed children how to find the graves, say each soldier's name aloud, and salute them with respect.

The celebration stretched across Geneva, Hemphill, and Center with family bingo, cemetery tours where stories were shared, meet and greets, and a party at Pineywoods Vineyard. Sunday closed with a Unity Church service and Father's Day dinner where poet Ruthie Jean Williams Trotter performed her original work "Cornrows," a tribute to resilience and heritage.

"Every lock, every strand, braided, nappy, kinky, curled, straightened. Our crowns displayed our uniqueness because we are and still are Nubian princes and kings and queens," Trotter recited.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one family's mission to preserve their history has grown into a community tradition that welcomes everyone. All weekend events are free and open to the public, inviting neighbors to learn the stories of the pioneers who shaped this corner of Texas.

By teaching young people to say the names of ancestors aloud and salute their service, the family ensures these stories won't be forgotten. They're building bridges between generations and keeping a 200-year legacy alive for the next century.

For 12 years running, this family has shown that honoring the past creates stronger communities in the present.