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Good Afternoon Judge Griffin,
I hope all is well and you are enjoying a lovely summer season.
I just wanted to take a moment to send you a brief note in follow-up to our Gonder-Beavers Family Reunion visit to Monticello on June 21. It was such a delight and so kind of you to greet our family members from Arkansas and across the country (including Calif., Fla., Ga., Iowa, Ill., Ind., Md., Mich., N.Y., Nev., Texas and Wisc.) during our stop at the fabulous mural on Historic Business District square. Our reunion Heritage Day Trip included visits to our homestead areas of Monticello, Warren and Wilmar as well as, paying our respects for ancestors buried at Camp Ground and St Paul Cemeteries.
Our Drew County, Monticello, roots extend back to 1800’s and include descendants within the branches of the: Allen, Alexander, Beavers, Brox, Clary, Collins, Davis, Dunlap Elliot, Gragg, Gonder, Harris, Lewis, Reaves Ridgell, Gray, Green, Jordan, Matthews, Marks, Russell, Thompson, Ward, West, Wood and Wright families. Descendants have made numerous contributions in: education, auto industry, government, ranching, professional boxing and baseball, ministry, media, entertainment industries, real estate, financial industry, non-profits, and a myriad of other business sectors.
I grew up coming to Monticello every summer for vacation during my childhood, so I have strong ties to and a deep affection for the area. My ties to the area ultimately led me to return to Arkansas and become a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Other family members attending the reunion also have strong ties to Monticello and the surrounding areas; but for some, it was their first time visiting the areas they heard so much about from their grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The time you spent personally greeting family members made the visit so much more special and welcoming. Monticello made us smile, touched our hearts and gave us lasting inter-generational memories. We are spreading the word about the great time we had in Monticello!
Again, thank you. I have attached a few photos from our visit that I thought you may enjoy. Please let me know if you decide to share with the Monticello newspaper. We hope the community knows the high regard we have for Monticello.
Sincerely,
Angelisa Harris
