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BRUNSON

FAMILY

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REUNION

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CHICAGO, IL

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Chicago Skyline
Brunson Family Logo

Brunson Family Reunion

Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois

July 18-20, 2025

Welcome

Like the O'Jays said, "It's been a long, long time since we had a chance to get together" —25 years to be exact.

Well, 2025 marks the return of the Brunson Family Reunion!

From McNab, Arkansas to Chicago, Detroit, to Denver and Columbus, our roots run deep, strong, and proud.

This Summer marks a return to the city where our roots run deep, street numbers hold meaning, and family gatherings are like Homecoming. Our family migrated to Chicago 100 years ago, a place where many of us were born, grew up or return to occasionally. We're celebrating this gathering with the tradition and spirit that high schools and HBCUs bring to homecoming celebrations (think good music, tailgates, long hugs, dancing, strolling, rollcalls, games, and so much more). We've planned a weekend packed with fun, food, and family memories. From the littlest cousins to the "OGs", there's something for everybody, okay?!

As we gather once again, we invite you to fully participate in all aspects of this reunion—explore our family history, connect with relatives both familiar and new, and contribute your own stories to our collective narrative. So, mark your calendars for July 18-20, 2025 and get ready to celebrate our family—past, present and future.

With love,

Jourdan Brunson signature

Jourdan and the 2025 Brunson Family Reunion Planning Committee

Brunson Family Reunion Sticker
Brunson Family Reunion Sticker
Brunson Family Reunion Sticker
Brunson Family Reunion Sticker
Vintage car parked in front of houses in the 1940s
Church parade float with people seated on it
Marching band in uniform performing on a street
Parade float labeled 'Canadian Ace' with 'Any time of the year' banner
Woman waving while exiting a United Airlines plane
Two men in a small boat on a lake
Three women in 1940s-style dresses standing together on steps
Two men in a rowboat on a pond
Man in white shirt and hat standing by a gate in front of a small house with a car
Vintage car parked in front of houses in the 1940s
Church parade float with people seated on it
Marching band in uniform performing on a street
Parade float labeled 'Canadian Ace' with 'Any time of the year' banner
Woman waving while exiting a United Airlines plane
Two men in a small boat on a lake
Three women in 1940s-style dresses standing together on steps
Two men in a rowboat on a pond
Man in white shirt and hat standing by a gate in front of a small house with a car
Man in white shirt and hat standing by a gate in front of a small house with a car
Two men in a rowboat on a pond
Three women in 1940s-style dresses standing together on steps
Two men in a small boat on a lake
Woman waving while exiting a United Airlines plane
Parade float labeled 'Canadian Ace' with 'Any time of the year' banner
Marching band in uniform performing on a street
Church parade float with people seated on it
Vintage car parked in front of houses in the 1940s
Man in white shirt and hat standing by a gate in front of a small house with a car
Two men in a rowboat on a pond
Three women in 1940s-style dresses standing together on steps
Two men in a small boat on a lake
Woman waving while exiting a United Airlines plane
Parade float labeled 'Canadian Ace' with 'Any time of the year' banner
Marching band in uniform performing on a street
Church parade float with people seated on it
Vintage car parked in front of houses in the 1940s

Join Us for the Reunion

Date
July 18-20, 2025
Registration Fees
  • • Children 3 & under: Free
  • • Child (Ages 4-13): $55
  • • Ages 13 and Up: $80
Important Notes
  • • Deposits are non-refundable
  • • Registrations transferable if paid in full
Reunion preview
Registration Includes
  • • Digital family photo album access
  • • Free & discounted outings
  • • Welcome reception
  • • Saturday family brunch
  • • T-shirt (if deposit paid by 1/31)
  • • Banquet Dinner is sold out!

Hotel Information

Quadrangle Club

1155 E 57th St, Chicago, IL 60637

King Rooms Available

Rate: $199/night

Booking info available upon RSVP

Reunion T-Shirts

Brunson Family Reunion T-Shirts

Order by July 1st for pickup at the reunion!

Itinerary

Friday, July 18

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Welcome Reception

Kennicott Park

Saturday, July 19

11:30 AM - 2:30 PM: Family Picnic: Tailgate

Midway Plaisance Park

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Homecoming Banquet

Quadrangle Club

Sunday, July 20

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Optional Farewell Brunch

Location TBA

The Brunson Story

Our Matriarch
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Our Matriarch

Catherine "Katie" Lomax Brunson was born on May 20, 1859, near Abbeville, South Carolina—the twelfth child of Solomon and Betsy Lomax Sr. She entered this world during bondage, in a time when names were spoken softly and land was taken violently.

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A Union of Legacy
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A Union of Legacy

Willis Brunson was born on February 1, 1852—a farmer by trade, a landowner by perseverance. On February 22, 1874, in the small town of Saratoga, Arkansas, he married Catherine "Katie" Lomax. Their union, sealed just a decade after emancipation, laid the foundation for generations to come.

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The Great Migration
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The Great Migration

Martha Brunson Jackson's son, Wardell, was among the first to make the leap, working as a porter in a Chicago steel mill. His aunt, Hattie Turner Brunson, arrived shortly after, in October 1921. By the late 1930s, her children, along with nieces, nephews, and cousins, had followed.

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A Tradition of Coming Together
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A Tradition of Coming Together

Long before there were T-shirts and banquet halls, our family was gathering—breaking bread, telling stories, and finding our way back to one another. As early as the 1940s, relatives traveled from Chicago to Arkansas and back again, keeping ties strong despite the miles between them.

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Explore Our Family Tree

We'll match your name to our family database to show your personalized family tree.

Memories

Family Recipe

From the Brunson Family Collection

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Vintage photo of woman in kitchen

Share your favorite family recipes to be included in our first Brunson Family Heritage Cookbook including recipes, photos, and family history!

Submit Your Recipe

Family Photo Archive

Browse through our collection of family photos spanning generations.

Coming Soon

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