Counts 82nd Reunion - August 5, 2023

Brett Compton opened the meeting with a brief biography of John Counts of Glade Hollow. Phyllis Counts greeted everyone on the Zoom call as well as the people in attendance. The Reunion was dedicated to Bill Sutherland, son of E. J. Sutherland, as he passed away earlier this year.

Secretary/Treasurer Report

Brett Compton started a bank account at Wells Fargo, which is a nationwide bank, so that deposits can be made from any state. He deposited $275.00 dollars that he received from Gail Marney, which was the balance in the previous account. Carol Deel reported that she received two (2) checks totaling $70.00, which she will deposit this week. At that point, the total balance was $455. An additional amount of money came in with a designation of the cemetery bench project of $480.00 from Pricilla "Sue" Counts. This brings the total to $825.

Old Business

Discussion ensued regarding the bench at the cemetery of John and Mary Counts of Glade Hollow. Phyllis Counts made a motion to use the current money in the account of $430.00 to purchase a bench and have it installed at the cemetery; Gail Marney seconded the motion. There was continued discussion of the pros and cons of the bench being purchased. A vote was called, and the motion passed unanimously.

New Business

A checking account has been set up in the name of John Counts of Glade Hollow Reunion. Brett said that very soon we will be able to take donations online. We discussed places to hold next year’s reunion. The hope is to hold it somewhere in or near Cleveland; someone suggested the Cleveland Community Center if it has Wi-Fi. Carol Deel suggested that we could set up a Hot Spot for Wi-Fi. There was also a suggestion for somewhere in Lebanon.

Other Business

There were 4 contests:

1. Oldest participant went to Phyllis Raker – received a book entitled Virginia’s Baby.

2. Came the furthest: There was a tie, Betty Silcox-Johnson from Berkley Springs, West Virginia and Cindy Wisniewski from Gettysburg, PA. The gift was the book Down in the Hollow.

3. Most Reunions attended: Patty Dye Conner with 60 “or there abouts.” She received a laminated description of the Counts Coat of Arms

4. Oldest Veteran: A flag flown in Washington, D.C., donated by Raymond Compton, went to Jim Smith

Program Continued:

A. Harry Childress gave his report on Coal Mining in the Appalachias. It is thought that thousands of Counts' kin have been coal miners. Mr. Childress told us that in 1983, our ancestor, Mary Kathleen “Kat” Counts, was the first female coal miner to die in a mining incident due to a gas explosion; seven (7) others perished with her that day.

B. Molly Counts McClelland shared a video that she and her sisters put together on their father, Norris Gray Counts, the son of Sidney Burns Counts.

The meeting was adjourned, and a Potluck Meal was enjoyed by those attending in person. The participants on Zoom engaged in a conversation together for about an hour while those in attendance enjoyed the potluck lunch.