Annual Holly Grove homecoming activities slated June 29-July 3
For over 40 years, the National Holly Grove Homecoming Organization has been celebrating homecoming in Holly Grove. This year the event will be held June 29-July 3 at Holly Grove, announced Jo Ann Collins of Stuttgart, national chairperson.
"Not only is this an opportunity to fellowship with fellow home towners from across the country but also witness the improvements," said Rev. E. Lewis Branch of San Francisco, co-founder of the Holly Grove Homecoming Organization, "Just to mention a few, the Lula Patilla Tyler Park is now maintained year-round by the Holly Grove Homecoming Organization. The Foster/Branch Building is also maintained year-round and the organization has given several scholarships under the caption/ banner of ‘Building With Pride.’”
For over 40 years, home towners have shared in the homecoming festivities and everyone is looking forward to this one being better, Branch noted.
"Congratulations, Joann, for leading us at this time," he said.
"Along this path of over 40 years of celebrations, there have been heroes and heroines who have helped us to stay alive. There are those of us who left home to improve our quality of life, but never forgot our roots. There are a greater number of us who remained home and kept the fire burning," Branch said.
The following persons have served as national chairperson through the years: Virginia Burke of Little Rock, Lula Patilla Tyler, mayor of Holly Grove and Sarah Shelton Foster of Denver, a co-founder of the event, served for more than 20 years.
Others who kept the fire burning include: the late Jettie Rivers, Addie Abrams, Louise Sands, Bobby Rich, Ella Num and Maxine Cooper.
The following persons are presidents of local chapters: • Wally Henderson of Little Rock • Willie B Goodrich of Los Angeles • Robert, Davis Jar (Jr.?) of West Helena • Willie B. Stokes of Holly Grove • Mary Tyler of St. Louis • Essie Sims of Denver • O.C. Smith of Chicago
Branch said: “Thanks, Sarah, for starting Holly Grove on the road to greater recognition by inviting governors, U.S. and State Senators, U.S. and State Congressmen to our Saturday parades.
“Thanks to Willy Ray Goodrich for leading us for several years in raising the most funds for the incorporation.
“Thanks to you, home towners, who have come for many years to encourage “Building with Pride.”
“Thanks, Mary Tyler, for leading and encouraging the St. Louis chapter to challenge the Los Angeles chapter in raising more money.
“Congratulations and thanks to Lula Patilla Tyler for being elected to the honorable position of Mayor of Holly Grove.”
This is still an annual event celebrated primarily by the African American community in Holly Grove. It is a big, big gathering, with hundreds of people "coming home" to Holly Grove from all across the U.S. There have been parades, picnics, parties, recreation, etc. Someone from the African American community could provide more details.
Can anyone tell me about the Holly Grove Homecoming that took place (or maybe still takes place) around July 4th? I've read that there was/is a parade, picnic, Saturday night dance and vesper services on Sunday and that in the past, high school class reunions, family reunions, and vacations are planned to coincide with this event. Can anyone tell me about this?
