The Hemphill Family Reunion came to exist in 1973, on Willie Mae Hemphill’s birthday, July 28th. It started because of the passing of the first generation’s Mother, Dixie Hemphill. Margaret decided from that day going forward, she wanted the family to get together “to look each other in the eye” each year. It started in the back yard of Aunt Margaret’s house, located at 600 W. Main St. Mexia, Texas, with a small group of family members and now has grown to 100’s of family and friends coming together to celebrate and honor our family history.
Shortly thereafter, the date changed to the Saturday before the second Sunday in August, because of homecoming at the home church. The family reunion has seen many changes, such as being hosted in Odessa, Austin, Dallas, and eventually landed back in Mexia, TX where we broke ground and started building up the home grounds!
That’s how the annual Hemphill Family Reunion was started!