Story and photos submitted by Patricia Lane Bullard
The Lightford, Drake, Lane, Moore (LDLM) 75th Family Reunion Events were held July 28-30, 2023, at various sites in Huntsville, Alabama.
Historic Taylor’s Chapel, founded in 1904 by Reverend William (Will) Taylor and located at 3100 Stringfield Road, NW – Huntsville, Alabama 35810, hosted the July 30 Sunday Worship Services at 10:15 AM.
The site is the current location of the Taylor’s Chapel #4 Hall Cemetery, the former #4 Hall School – feeder school to Councill Training School that was located at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (formerly College) Normal, Alabama – and a Masonic Lodge.
The oldest family members in attendance among over 100+ attendees were 105-year-old Mr. John Amos Drake of Harvest, Alabama, and 97-year-old Mrs. Ellen Walton of Detroit, Michigan. 98-year-old Mother Mary E. Wiggins Lane listened and viewed the worship service on Taylor’s Chapel, Huntsville, FaceBook.
Program Participants were Elder Allen Sanders, Jr., Patricia Lane Bullard, Marion Parks, Jr., Joyce Drake, Kimberly Leslie, Deborah Jenkins, and Evangelist Phyllis L. Jones. Music was provided by Taylor’s Chapel Choir, with James & Sharon Kelly as Directors and Colby Smith and Pastor Eric Crutcher as Musicians.
The Holiday Inn Express (Space Center) served as Hotel Headquarters.
Little Indian Creek Church, located at 884 Indian Creek Road, Huntsville, was the site for the Back to Basics Black Affair. LDLM Family Members Reverend Mylon and Mrs. Willhelmenia Burwell hosted the Clara M. Crutcher Family Fun Day at their lovely home.
Family members made generous donations to the East Cemetery Improvement Fund. East Cemetery, Huntsville, is where Ma Bessie Lane, Cousin Leonard Scruggs, and other family members rest.