After a COVID hiatus in 2020, the George and Jessie Brister Family Reunion was held once again July 2-4, 2021, on the family ranch on Rough Creek in San Saba County. This has turned into quite an event! An estimated 300 people attended at one time or the other. Family members actually started gathering the week before for clean-up and preps. By Friday, July 2nd, family members and some close friends from all across Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, North Carolina, Connecticut, and Virginia (maybe other states as well!) congregated at George and Jessie Brister’s family home near the spring on the banks of Rough Creek to visit, eat, and catch up with each other. Tee shirts for the reunion this year were purchased by Jackie and Charlene Brister; these were color coded by each of the original 10 children’s families and had an iron-on nametag so everyone could recognize the others who have grown so much and changed over the years. All of the five living children were able to attend, including Emerson and Gladys Brister of Thrall, Texas, Evelyn Herman of San Saba, Texas, Jackie and Charlene Brister of Bend, Texas, Vernon and Judy Brister of Cherokee, Texas, and Tex Brister of Stafford, Kansas.
Jackie Brister fired up his grist mill to grind fresh cornmeal on Friday afternoon. Visiting, hamburgers and homemade ice cream, and swimming in the creek also happened on Friday. There was great fellowship. Saturday morning started with the annual skeet shooting and .22 competition. Ages from 3 up were shooting that morning! There was also a painted rock hunt for the children as well as crafts with beading, knot tying, etc. The sand pile and the playground equipment stayed occupied nearly all the time! Lunch was served to the hungry crowd; then the there was a business meeting of the family LLC. There were many items discussed about continuing maintenance and preservation of the property and buildings. Next up were reunion photos by Chester Reynolds of Hico. Saturday supper was fried catfish, squash (over 75 pounds!), French fries, okra, and all the fixins along with a bevy of tasty deserts. Following the meal, the awards presentations from the shooting competition were made. These were given in honor of Jerry Harbour, an honorary “Brister” who was killed tragically last year. Overall winners in each category also received a plaque that was given in honor of Levi Lewis. Following the shooting awards was the presentation of the “Golden Glove” awards by Carol Gatlin of Groton, Connecticut, to all those who had worked so hard on the house remodeling. Next was the auction of sooo very many items made and/or provided by family members and friends. There were then drawings for BB guns for both boys and girls, another gun donated by Brad and Kristen Brister of Katy, Texas, (Jerry Harbour always used to donate this raffle item) and a silver pendant donated by Cliff and Danine Brister of Sonora, Texas. All told, money raised from the various activities totaled over $15,000!!! More to plan for next year!
Sunday morning began with worship services under the pavilion. The message was delivered by Shane Brister of Sanger, Texas, and was very inspirational. Following worship, visiting and cooking commenced before having a lunch meal of fajita chicken and other menu items. Chicken was donated by Roy David, Jr., and Kelly Brister of Springdale, Arkansas. After lunch, the crowd started to thin, and those who were remaining for Brister Cousin Camp 2021 were left. More to come about that adventure next week.