The 2024 Lee-Ransom Family Reunion
This year we will push an agenda of activities so everyone knows what our afternoon will entail during the reunion. Foremost, we will be hosting our annual meet and greet on Friday August 16th, at the SpringHill Suites Hotel beginning at 7:30pm. We encourage family members to come relax and enjoy our time together.
The Meet and Greet Affair
On Friday, August 16th, starting at 7:30pm, we have reserved the hospitality room at the SpringHill Suites. We actually have the room from 3pm-11pm. Please come out and meet and greet family members before Saturday's event.
Our Family Journey .....
Our family site is new and growing, so, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us. We will be making continuous improvements as the site expands. One of the first objectives that we want to pursue is our family "Heritage"
Lee-Ransom originated w/ the marriage of Dorthy Lee/Charles Ransom
Site Content
The 2024 Lee-Ransom Family Reunion Hotel Accommodations
We have reserved 20 rooms for the Lee-Ransom Reunion at the SpringHill Suites Hotel located at Bakery Square. 10 rooms for 8/16 and 10 rooms for 8/17. Discounted price $259.00 + tax. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included.
*Important note ..
You are required to call the Marriott Reservations at 1-888-287-9400 or 412-362-8600 on or before Tuesday, July 16th, 2024. (Cutoff Date) to make reservations. Please be advised to identify yourself as part of the Lee-Ransom Family reunion 2024.
134 Bakery Square Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (major CC required)
Site Content
THE RANSOM'S
The RANSOM journey starts with a well known fact impacting black families during the post-civil war.
Not long after the civil war, the south began to move forward towards, what was known to be reconstruction. In reality, much like today, whenever there appears to be progress, what comes along is backlash. We can only theorize our grandparents time frame. Without a doubt, we know our great-grandparents were born into bondage/slavery. We estimate our great-grandparents time frame was about "1860-1870" when they were born. Our grandparents were likely born around the turn of the century (1890-1900). We have not been able to find records linking us to our grandparents existence, other than, we believe they were born in and around Macon, Georgia. Due to racism and Jim Crow, registering the birth or death of black people were rare across many towns and counties in the south.
For what we know, our Grand-Father- Frank Ransom married a Bazemore in the Macon, Georgia area. Pictured above are the siblings of this marriage. In the empty chair from the left ... would be Betty, my Dad Edward "Boots", Charles "Nuts", Ella and Frank Ransom. The only members of the family to have children were Charles and Edward Ransom Sr.
Since my Uncle nuts was older than my Dad, he started his family first. Charles "uncle nuts" Ransom's first marriage, he had two children, Charlene and Ronald. Uncle nuts' second marriage expanded the family more, when he had Cheryl-Ann, Patricia, Charles, Edward, Louis, Earl, Betty, Thomas, Adrianne, James, Lisa, and Lynnette. My Dad "boots" had three children in his marriage, Edward Jr, Frank, and Richard (:)>
We will expand the Ransom family tree once I get the names of our children and grand-children
Site Content
The Lee's Family Tree
The Lee's have a long and documented family history
The Lee side of our family begins with Abraham and Ada Lee and their siblings starting with back row left to right ...
William H., Audrey Laverne, Barbara Ann, Frederick, Dorthy Jean, .. bottom row Pauline, Mother Ada, Betty Louise, and Anthony Coleman Lee (not pictured)
Unfortunately, time has not allowed for a more complete and factual statement of the Lee Family History.” These are from the words written by our Great cousin we believe it was written by Robert Edward Lee; he states “what I have written is a conglomeration of information provided by various members of the Lee family. He goes on to say the following: “It appears that Hudson Lee (Great-great Father) was a slave for General Lee, in Winchester, Virginia, and during that time he was a driver for General Lee. He was then sold to a man in Southern Alabama, by the name of Hudson, wherefore the name Hudson Lee.
Apparently, Hudson Lee after being freed in Southern Alabama moved north to Huntsville. Alabama where he met and married Mary Jane (Great- great Grandmother) whom had nine children: Grant, Wilson, Nick, Gulf, Ollie, Elden, Etta, Meg and Antony (Great Grandfather).” At the time of this writing little or no information concerning the first eight children of Mary jane and Hudson are unknown. But I believe I have some information of these lost children of Hudson and Mary Jane.
Our great cousin goes on to say “It was known that while living in Huntsville, Antony, the youngest son drove a wagon Tom Fackler who owned the general store in Huntsville. He was also a Presbyterian Minister and taught school where he met and soon married Carrie Wiggins (Great Grandmother) who was the daughter of Ann and Horace Wiggins of Huntsville. While living in Huntsville Antony and Carrie had eleven children: Horace Coleman, Clara Mary, Frederick Douglas, Jean Ann, John Merceil Langston, Katie Ellen, Abraham Lincoln, Serene, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Edward and Carrie Coleman. Antony and Carrie moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where they had Earl Ellis and Helen Merciel.
After coming to Pittsburgh, Antony worked for Fort Pitt Steel Company, later for the American Brake Shoe and Foundry, located on Preble Avenue on the North Side of Pittsburgh. There he was Foreman of the scrap yard. He served as Superintendent for the Sunday School of the west end A.M.E. Zion Church for twenty years. Most of Antony and Carrie’s children remained in Pittsburgh except for Robert Edward who moved to North Carolina to Washington and finally settled in Maryland. “at the time of this writing which I believe was in 1980, Seven of Antony where still living,”
Horace Colman Lee (deceased), Frederick Douglas Lee (deceased), Clara Mary Johnson (deceased)
Jean Ann Thompson (was alive in 1980), John Merceil Langston Lee (deceased), Kate Ellen Nelson (was alive in 1980), Abraham Lincoln Lee (Our Grand Father) (deceased), Serene
Manuels (deceased)
Thomas Jefferson Lee (was alive in 1980), Robert Edward Lee (was alive in 1980), Carrie Coleman Holmes (was alive in 1980), Earl Ellis Lee (was alive in 1980), Helen Merceil Lee (was alive in 1980)
With numerous of grandchildren and great grandchildren and great-great grand children they were blessed more than they will ever know!
Our Family Reunion
Our Future
I remember our earlier family reunions when I was a young buck. I hope and pray that those in this photo feel the pride and heritage of our family as I do.
Please take time to stay in contact with each other and love each other. Pay attention to your health and keep our tradition alive !
Our Family Reunion
Our Next Generation
Those in this group must acknowledge that you are our "Next Generation and must lead the way for our future. Your full of talent, education, business savvy, and family spirit.
Our pending gatherings in the years to come will have a significant influence from this group. Organizing, planning, communicating, fundraising and more.
Most importantly, taking care of your health will be challenging, however, establishing good habits and eating right will help.
Our Family Reunion
Our Guiding Lights
Our guiding lights will pave the way for our next generation. Your wisdom is second to none with the wealth of knowledge and GOD behind you.
Please advise our next generation as much as possible and give them their guiding light. Your experience, business processes, talent, and life's navigation is critical to continuing this family tradition
Our Family Reunion
Our Mentorship Group
Over the years when we looked up and saw how our family members organized and planned these family gatherings, I thought it was automatic. As we in this group, are parents and grandparents, our remaining roles is to provide mentorship, direction, faith, and love to the guiding lights so they can take the torch from us, and continue our family tradition.
We are delighted to see our family heritage grow and blossom with our Website, family gatherings, and homecomings.
Our Family Reunion
The Standard of Excellence
The senior members of our family have withstood the test of time. We thank you so much for the sacrifices you made and your fortitude. You have seen quite a bit in your lifetime, and oh how I wish we could get a sliver of your knowledge.
Raising children, and staying connected to family has taught us that love will always find its way.
From our future, to next generation, guiding lights, and mentorship groups, we owe everything to you, who gave so much and left us with the standard of excellence, we shall cherish for the rest of our lives.
A Family Health Discussion
During better with our health!
There is no question as a family, we have been devastated with the entire spectrum of modern day medical diseases which has impacted us all.
We have encountered cancer, lupus, diabetes, sickle cell, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, kidney disease, alcoholism, obesity, and more.
What can we do? Commit ourselves to do better with our health.
What are 10 ways to improve your health?
- Measure and Watch Your Weight. ...
- Limit Unhealthy Foods and Eat Healthy Meals. ...
- Take Multivitamin Supplements. ...
- Drink Water and Stay Hydrated, and Limit Sugared Beverages. ...
- Exercise Regularly and Be Physically Active. ...
- Reduce Sitting and Screen Time. ...
- Get Enough Good Sleep. ...
- Go Easy on Alcohol and Stay Sober
