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The 55^th Annual Reynolds Family Reunion was held May 18, 2025 at the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church near Columbia, with 32 members and guests in attendance. The event reunited the descendants of William Reynolds Jr. and his sister Matilda Jane Reynolds Spencer, both originally from Chelsea, England. William Reynolds Jr. lived in Tyrrell County and became a Primitive Baptist preacher, while Matilda Jane Reynolds Spencer lived near Roper in Washington County and ran a local store.

Family and guests began arriving at 10 a.m, and the official business meeting started at 10:35. President Mark Bateman, of Ledyard, Conn., opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. An invocation prayer was given by Carol Crosscutt, of New Bern. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary Susan Reynolds Forbes, of Roper, and the treasurer’s report was given by Gail Reynolds, of Columbia. Next, a memorial service was held, led by the Bateman with Renee and Cammy Arnold, of Columbia, for the 25 family members that organizers learned of their passing since last year’s meeting.

The program featured was “That England Connection – Loose Ends” led by Bateman, “reviewing where we are stuck on our Reynolds Family research and also how DNA testing could help.”

Dean Bateman was recognized as having traveled the farthest to attend, 850 miles from Starkville, Miss. The oldest was Joyce Bateman Giglioni, of Starkville, Miss. and Columbia, age 93. The youngest member was Adam Forbes Jr., age 13, son of Adam Forbes Sr., of Creswell. Adam Jr. beat out last year’s “youngest” winner by one month, Chesson Boucher, son of Chuck and Selma Boucher, of Columbia. Colorful award ribbons were presented to each of these people.

Next was the count of attendees by family lines. Then it was noted that the annual Primitive Baptist preaching service will be moved for this year to the third Sunday in September, at Bethlehem Church on September 21, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., led by Elder Johnny Ray Gardner. Also noted was that the next reunion will be held on the third Sunday, May 17, 2026.

After a blessing by Carol Crosscutt, the reunion meeting adjourned and everyone enjoyed a barbecue and covered-dish picnic lunch provided by the families, held outdoors in the yard of the church on the beautiful warm sunny afternoon.

A meeting of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church Preservation Society followed the picnic.

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