ANDERSON – “It’s good, not having to run around town to each household,” said Pauline Mansfield, 67.
The family – from Anderson, Michigan, Virginia, Mississippi and Kentucky – ranges from 3 months old to 84 years old.
And every Christmas, they enjoy food, tales and laughter.
“You have your immediate family, but to have your extended family, is more,” said Chamberlain Friday, surrounded by about 50 family members. “We see each other in passing, but we don’t get to catch up.”
Each person brings one covered dish and $3 as entrance fees.
This year, Shonda Armour, 49, and Ranika Lynch, 31, were given the hostess responsibilities, although cooking a covered dish won’t happen. The second cousins can’t cook.
“If you got a little bit of money, you don’t have to know how to cook,” Armour said with a chuckle. “You just give them the money.”
Lynch brought a triple-layer chocolate cake from Wal-Mart and Armour brought a necessary beverage.
“I always bring the water,” she said.
It’s a fact that just might be added to the family tales.
Nate McClendon, from Ratcliff, Ky., introduced his family to “My LifeStory,” 130-page binders to record family history, contacts and medical conditions.
“Every time we have one of these reunions, they’re always talking but no one writes it down,” said McClendon, 47.
He implored his family to sit down for about an hour at a time and fill in the details.
“The older ones who have the stories are going to pass and our history is lost,” McClendon said.
The Chamberlain family is originally from Mississippi. Although no one is certain of what year the family began migrating, they do know that it all began with McArthur Chamberlain, now 84, and his cousin George Chamberlain, now deceased.
The two young men caught a train from New Orleans to Indiana in search of work.
“We were looking for the big money,” said McArthur Chamberlain, rubbing his thumb against his fingers.
McArthur Chamberlain, the eldest family member has worked for several of the major companies in Anderson, including Delco and General Motors.
His sister, Mansfield, also worked for General Motors, and both agree that Anderson was a different city back then.
But, as Mansfield looked around at four generations of their family Friday, she said she was happy to have survived the city’s ups and downs, open-heart surgery and cancer.
“It’s just good to look around and I’m just glad to be able to look around,” she said.
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.
Local News
Chamberlain family overtakes Geater Center for Christmas
- Local News
-
-
Elevated levels of PCBs found
Three city Water Pollution Control employees were disciplined recently after failing to notify supervisors that dried sludge used as fertilizer by some area farmers contained elevated levels of banned PCBs.
-
State aims up with college graduate plan
Indiana higher-education policymakers are getting ready to adopt an aggressive college-completion plan that will push the state’s universities to reel in their rising costs and dramatically improve their graduation rates.
-
College credit transfer bill awaits governor’s signature
The Indiana General Assembly is moving ahead on efforts to contain college costs, which have risen more than 100 percent over the last decade.
-
Four groups interested in leasing Grandview restaurant space
Four groups have submitted proposals to lease the vacant restaurant space at Grandview Golf Course.
-
Mardi Gras celebration precedes Lent
New Orleans jazz filled the hallway inside St. Mary’s School Tuesday night, as people snacked on Dorritos, cookies and cake — all part of the church’s Mardi Gras celebration.
-
Mix of clouds and sun
Expect a mix of clouds and sun today, with a few sprinkles possible. High temperaturees will be near 50 degrees. Highs are in the 50s on Thursday, too, but there is a better chance for a few showers.
-
Poll question for Wednesday, Feb. 22
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Arrest log: Feb. 22
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on Madison County Jail records.
-
Sugarland devastated by fair collapse comments
Country duo Sugarland says it is devastated that people "want to point fingers and try to sensationalize" an Aug. 13 stage collapse that killed seven people and injured 58 before the band's show at the Indiana State Fair.
-
Starting off with scattered showers
Today will start off with scattered showers. Most of the afternoon will be dry, with a mix of clouds and sun and a stray shower.
- More Local News Headlines
-
