




BRUNSON
FAMILY


REUNION

CHICAGO, IL



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 and the 2025 Brunson Family Reunion Planning Committee




































Join Us for the Reunion
- • Children 3 & under: Free
- • Child (Ages 4-13): $55
- • Ages 13 and Up: $80
- • Deposits are non-refundable
- • Registrations transferable if paid in full

- • 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

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
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.

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.

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.

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.
Explore Our Family Tree
Memories
Family Recipe
From the Brunson Family Collection


Share your favorite family recipes to be included in our first Brunson Family Heritage Cookbook including recipes, photos, and family history!
Family Photo Archive
Browse through our collection of family photos spanning generations.
Coming Soon





