Our Background and Family History

Presenting our great legacy and heritage……..

We are descendants of Kato & Mary Gary. Kato and Mary Gary were both born into slavery. According to our research of census data and history, we can project that they lived somewhere near the mid-1800’s. Kato was born in the state of Virginia and Mary in Georgia. The union between the two individuals happened as it commonly did during this period of time: with the transferring of each individual to new slave masters. As slaves, they were sold to slave masters residing in the Uchee Community. Uchee Community was and is located near Hatchechubbee, Alabama which is centered in the southern part of Russell County, Alabama. Kato and Mary Gary were later united in matrimony. As a result of their marriage, they raised their 5 children within this community. The names of these children were Charles, Thomas, Enoch "Nug", Jamie, and Mary.

The genealogy of Charles Gary:

• Charles Gary married Emaline. Charles and Emaline had 11 children.

• The names of these children were Charlie, Thomas, Madison, Mary, Cora, Kato, M.C., Mamie/Maggie, Will, and John.

The genealogy of Thomas (Tom) Gary:

• Thomas Gary married Queen. Thomas and Queen had 15 children.

• The names of these children were Neva, Frank, Annie, Robert, Queen Louise, Leola, Henry, Mary, Albert, Mattie, Alice, Lillie, Roselle, and Osta Lee.

The genealogy of Enoch (Nug) Gary:

• Enoch "Nug" married Susan. Enoch “Nug” & Susan had 14 children.

• Their names were Willie, Mary Lou, Allen, Estell, Felton, Clyde, Girtha, Eugene, Adolphas, Roberta, Milburn, Sussie, Inez, and Frenchie.

 The genealogy of Jamie Gary:

• Jamie Gary married Fred. Jamie and Fred had 3 children:

• Their names were Eugene, David, and Doll.

 The genealogy of Mary Lou Gary:

• Mary Lou was never married and did not have children.

Family Reunions: Chronological History

1976 - Hatchechubbee, Alabama - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1978 - Hatchechubbee, Alabama - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1980 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1983 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1985 - Atlanta, Georgia - Coordinator, Cherrie Tate

1987 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1989 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1991 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Retia Scott Walker

1993 - Birmingham, Alabama - Coordinators, Beatrice Gary Hobson, Gloria Gary

1995 - East Chicago, Indiana - Coordinators, Local Family Members

1997 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator - Dorothy Scott

1999 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator - Dorothy Scott

2001 - Atlanta, Georgia - Coordinator - Cherrie Tate

2003 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Caponier Samuel Whitaker

2005 - Birmingham, Alabama - Coordinator, Phyllis Hobson Montgomery

2007 -Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Leotis, Scott

2009 - Dallas, Texas - Coordinator, Dr. Ruben and Dee Johnson

2011 - Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Geneva Fortson Arrington

2013 - Mobile, Alabama - Coordinators, Leonard Freeman, Ezzard Davis

2015 - Atlanta, Georgia - Coordinators, Earlene Reese Knight, Dorothy Scott

2017 - Gary, Indiana - Coordinators, Leena Samuel, Stacey Joshua-Beard

2019 – Columbus, Georgia - Coordinator, Derek Fortson

In 1976, Retia Scott Walker planned the first Gary-Scott Family Reunion held at the home of her parents, Samuel and Julia Gary Scott, in the St Luke Community of Hatchechubbee (Russell County), Alabama.  Both Gary and Scott families have histories in the southern area of Russell County, particularly the Uchee community. It was estimated that more than 150 family members attended the  two days Reunion that year. There was no registration fee for the first two reunions (1976 and 1978) because Retia donated money for the events supported with fresh vegetables and desserts prepared by her mom and aunts. Some individuals donated beverages. In 1980, the Reunion was held at the Quality Inn in Columbus GA. The goal was to hold Reunions every two years. However, in 1982, Retia was unable to coordinate the event due to her commitment to graduate school at Iowa State University where she was completing her doctorate degree and no one else volunteered. Retia resumed her coordinating role and planned the 1983 Reunion held at the Hilton Hotel in Columbus GA.  In 1985, cousin Cherrie Tate (daughter of Katie Gary Tate) and her committee coordinated the Family Reunion held in Atlanta, GA.   By the mid 1980’s, the Scott Family began holding their separate reunions in opposite years which allowed Retia’s family to participate in both. In 1987, 1989 and 1991, Retia returned to the coordinating role and hosted Reunions at the Hilton Hotel in Columbus.

Cousins Beatrice Gary Hobson and Gloria Gary families hosted the 1993 Family Reunion in Birmingham, AL.  In 1995, Gary families joined other Gary relatives in East Chicago, IN for a reunion hosted by a local group. The Gary Reunion returned to Columbus in 1997 and 1999 coordinated by Retia’s younger sister, Dorothy Scott and her committee. In 2001, cousin Cherrie Tate agreed to coordinate the Gary Reunion once again there in Atlanta. The night before the Reunion began relatives celebrated Retia’s mother, Julia Gary Scott ‘s 90th Birthday. In 2003, cousin Caponier Samuel Whitaker (daughter of Willie and LeRoy Samuel) and her committee hosted the Reunion in Columbus. The Reunion was held in Birmingham again in 2005 hosted by cousin Phyllis Hobson Montgomery (daughter of Beatrice Gary Hobson) and her committee. In 2007, the Reunion was coordinated by Retia’s brother, LeOtis Scott and his committee. Retia also served on that Committee. She and Otis researched the Gary Family history back to Kato and Mary Gary born in the early 1800’s. The document they prepared and disseminated at the 2007 Reunion linked six generations of Gary families to Kato and Mary so that individuals could understand how they were related and the importance of seeking/connecting new relatives to the family tree. They searched US Census Data, Russell County records, and read more than 60 Obituaries their mother (Julia) had saved. Julia shared family stories and relations that helped in the process. Those obituaries also helped to link ‘nick’ names with ‘official given’ names of family members. There were questions like: what is cousin Bud real name?  Cousin Bee?   Aunt Sis?   Uncle Hip?

In 2007, cousins Leonard Davis and Ruben Johnson, descendants of Charles (son of Kato and Mary) and Emeline Gary attended their first Gary Reunion. Retia was excited when Ruben and wife Dee offered to host the 2009 Gary Family Reunion in Dallas, Texas.  Retia was also excited in 2011 when Geneva Fortson Arrington and her committee hosted the Reunion in Columbus because they represented the much younger generation of family members. In 2013, cousins Leonard, Freeman, and Ezzard Davis hosted the Gary Family Reunion in Mobile, AL.  In 2015, the Atlanta cousins hosted the Reunion, coordinated by Earlene Reese Knight and Dorothy Scott and their committee that included several young people. During the Business Meeting, Retia was pleasantly surprised when cousins Leena Samuel and Stacy Joshua-Bernard of Gary and Merrillville, IN granddaughters of cousin Beulah Harris Samuel offered a proposal to host the 2017 Reunion in Merrillville, IN. During the 2017 reunion, Derek Fortson agreed to serve as the coordinator for 2019 and the reunion was transitioned back to Columbus, GA. So, here we are in 2019!  Special thanks to all cousins who have volunteered and worked tiredly to coordinate and host Gary Family Reunions for 43 years. 

Motto: “Looking Back and Celebrating the Past but also Moving Forward with Renewed Strength”!