“It’s kind of like having a family reunion once a month instead of once a year,” said Billie Hutchinson.

Idalene Singleton is credited with getting County Cousins started.

After she and her husband retired from a restaurant business in the Tri-Cities area and moved back home to Morgan County in 1983, she wanted to re-establish relationships with her relatives, some of whom she hadn’t seen in years. Subsequently, she came up with the idea of she and her siblings and their children getting together for lunch on a regular basis. Thus, Country Cousins was formed, complete with bylaws and elected officers.

For many years meeting were conducted in the homes of members and a covered dish lunch was served. Later, as attendance grew, individual home were not large enough to provide accommodations and members began meeting in pubic rooms and private restaurants.

In addition to a covered dish, members would bring crafts to work on while they visited with each other. Some brought supplies for hand sewing, crocheting and quilting and others brought family photos, newspaper clipping and other memorabilia to share.

“It has been a wonderful 26 years and I just hope it will continue for many more years,” Dot Maples said.

The group’s next meeting will be on Thurs., April 25, at 11 a.m. at Mr. Henry’s Restaurant.