It's family reunion fun time!
- Loretha Cleveland
- Jul 21
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 25
Tyler Perry take notice, this is how it’s done!
The 2025 Crawford family reunion was the talk of Archer. More than 100 relatives from all over Florida gathered in record numbers, some traveling through heavy rains and slow-moving traffic on the busy interstate roads from Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, and Kissimmee. Most everyone arrived late Friday afternoon for the meet and greet, assembling tents and overnight camping gear around the sprawling tree-lined acres owned by 86-year-old host Audrey Newton Crawford (cousin Audrey), who married into the family.
Amos Crawford, Sr. and Elizabeth Spann are at the head of the long generational lineage.
The Archer couple had five sons – Allen, Amos, Julius, Clarence and Pinkney Crawford. Their careers included farming, preaching, railroad worker, and entrepreneurs. The family also owned property in the St. Peter area of Archer, which included the picturesque land where cousin Audrey resides and graciously shares with family members to host events. The 2025 family reunion was the second to be hosted by cousin Audrey who was married to Freddie Crawford, (deceased), son of elder Clarence Crawford.
The reunion, “Crawford Family Fun Day,” kicked-off at 5 o’clock Friday evening, June 27,
ending late into the night on Saturday June 28. The threat of rain was constantly present but just far enough in the distance to keep temperatures bearable with a slight summer breeze. Adults, young and older, and children of all ages covered the green grounds with laughter and much conversation and greetings from more than two years since the last family outing. Delayed by the inclement weather in south Florida, the meet and greet fish fry took a slow start but quickly picked up around 7 PM after the last of the long-distance road travelers arrived. Relatives from Panama City, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine had a much calmer travel experience without rain.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church was stiff competition for
the reunion. The church, located within walking distance of the Crawford property in the community of St. Peter, held VBS the same Friday and classes didn't end until around 7:30 that night. Most of the family living in Archer attend the small church and are always on-call for services and events, including VBS. Cousin Audrey is also "Mother" at the Baptist church and, of course, was faithfully sitting among the worshipers while the family reunion attendees gathered at her home. But once VBS ended, the reunion was at full throttle.
So much laughter, hugging and, “where you been?”, filled the atmosphere. Maudrice Morris and his wife, Lourdes, traveled from the Tampa Bay area hauling a huge double-decker barbeque grill behind their SUV, battling the storms and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Morris took a detour through some smaller towns to avoid the cramped highway.
“We got off the interstate and drove through Ocala and Williston on the back roads to escape the heavy rain and bottle-necked traffic,” Morris explained. Just days before, Morris was in Virginia serving up his award-winning barbeque and delectables.
Similar stories were shared from all who traveled along the southern corridor of Interstate 75 and the Florida Turnpike.The organizers of the event, Katrina Jernigan and Shawneise Williams, offered advice to anyone who wants to plan a family reunion.
Jernigan said, “begin planning at least 6-8 months before your date and don’t do it alone. Recruit a few family members to help.” She said to keep in mind things may go wrong, people will be late, and food may run out. But, Jernigan said, “focus on the joy of being together. The memories you make will last longer than any glitch.”
Jernigan explained her biggest take-away was to make sure there is enough for everyone, and seeing the smiles on all the faces from kids to the adults. She said the pictures, games and just hanging out with family that you don’t see on a daily basis was memorable.
Williams explained she would advise, "not to wait to the last minute for planning, and
recruit team-members who are enthusiastic and excited about the reunion. It's important to be flexible and open to other opinions and ideas, and just do your best, knowing that everyone may not be happy but if it's all done in love, that's all that matters in the end."
She said seeing so many family members participate and the progression from the first reunion to this one, especially the tents, games and creativity were her best take-aways. Williams said it was really special seeing the kids on the bounce house having so much fun. She said it matters that the children get to know eachother now, since some of the adults are meeting for the first time.
After all the planning, the next step was to watch the scheduled events unfold and wish for the best. The pictures and all the comments afterwards tell the story of a fun-filled reunion for all who attended.
The food was prepared to take on top culinary challenges from the hottest chef kitchens. It was Southern cookery at its best. There was plenty of pork – barbeque ribs, smoked sausages, and you can’t forget the slow cooked pig’s feet, accompanied by hamburgers and hot dogs on the side. The big silver pans of green beans, potato salad, baked beans, yellow rice, leafy green salad, spicy boiled peanuts with neck-bones, Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas), homemade pound cakes, watermelon, and so much more mouthwatering delights. Savvy calorie counters simply took the day off!
But for those who wanted to work-off some of their delectable calories, outdoor games were plentiful, starting with musical chairs for the children and adults, separately of course. The competition was stiff at the adult level. Another fun game was cornhole. Energized players charged the excitement, game, after game, after game, with plenty of vibrant challenges. The bounce house was a huge hit with the children, never empty or without a bouncing little body. The three-legged race and all the other games made the 90+ degree Saturday move along with much excitement, togetherness and love of family.
And then there was the peace. The type of peace that can only exist in the calm and space of country life. An occasional deer sighting kicked up the awesomeness, adding yet another layer of dialog and astounding memorable family moment.
Jacquelene Polke, retired educator and life-long resident of Archer said, “the family reunion was well planned with enough activities to keep the children entertained, while giving parents a chance to enjoy adult conversation or just relax.” Polke said her time was well spent and she enjoyed the interaction with friends and family both days. Polke attended the reunion along with her daughter and two grandchildren from St. Augustine.
Shantel Roundtree recently retired from the Army. He said, “just being able to reunite with family members I hadn’t seen in many years due to being away in the military was special.” His guest, Yesenia Aybar, expressed her most memorable takeaway from the family reunion as how “everyone came together to bless the food, enveloped in the warmth and love of family and friends.”
The praises continued to pour in from the family, all with the promise of signing up to
attend as soon as the announcement is made next year.
Retired criminal justice administrator Geri Crawford said, “the family reunion was full of fun activities, great food and fellowship connecting us once again to our roots. There were family members who attended for the very first time especially cousins from Miami who had never been to Archer. They left excited and looking forward to the next reunion with plans to bring other relatives who have never had the opportunity to make Crawford family connections.”
The ending of the reunion was much calmer than the beginning, with plenty of hugs, smiles and sunshine goodbyes, still no rain. And even now, weeks later, the talk of households surrounds the excitement of the Crawford family reunion. New connections continue, conversations are plentiful, and there’s no room for anything less than a close-knit family
looking forward to its next reunion.
There are rumors about a cruise or maybe a return to cousin Audrey’s delightful property nestled in the family community of Archer. Either destination will provide yet another opportunity for all to be together again and extend the love, something Amos Crawford, Sr., and Elizabeth Spann are surely smiling about from above.
"I am so thankful and still excited about having everyone here, it was so special," cousin Audrey said. "I'm so grateful and can't wait for the next reunion," she affectionately expressed.