These charter members of Country Cousins were among those who attended the organization’s 26th anniversary luncheon at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant in Hartselle on March 28. Pictured, from left, are: (seated) Billie Earlene Hutchinson, Zettie Wright, Hoyt Maples, Dot Maples, Wilma Boger and Idalene Singleton; (standing) Zettie Atkin, Donna Weeks, Eleanor Gouge, Inez Borden, Hazel Brown and Edna White. | Clif Knight

A long and loving relationship between the descendents of the late James Elijah Self and his two wives, Nettie Isabelle Hallmark Self and Louramey Truitt Self and their families was revisited on March 28 at the 26th anniversary luncheon of the County Cousins.

The monthly meeting was held at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant in Hartselle and attended by 35 County Cousins and their families.

A dozen of those in attendance are charter members. They included Billie Hutchinson, the oldest at 92 and Zettie Wright, 91.

“We’re excited and pleased to have this number present,” said Dot Maples, who remains active in the organization even though she is legally blind.

”Some of us original members have become concerned about the future of Country Cousins because the number attending our monthly meetings has declined to 10 or 12,” Maples said. “Hopefully, the second generation of the family will step up and carry on the tradition.”

“My mother came to the meetings as long and she was able and encouraged me to get involved,” said Donna Weeks, a second-generation cousin. “I am also encouraging my children to get involved and help keep it going.”

“Being an active participant in the Country Cousin has meant a lot to me,” she added. “It has enabled me to meet and get to know relatives I had not known before and learn about our ancestors. It has also been a source of family photographs and other memorabilia.”