From Then 'til Now by Patty McGraw

From Then ‘til Now

I attended my first McGraw Reunion in July, 1969, at the John McGraw Grade School gym, a month before I married Mike McGraw.  

Mike told me about his family and their reunion, but until I had attended I had no clue what I was in for.  

You see, I suddenly realized I was in trouble.   I had never seen so much food in all of my life.  I was about to marry a man whose family were all good cooks and I, as the old saying went, couldn’t boil water!

So began my experience of learning to cook.  I watched and learned from my dear Mother-In-Law, Lois McGraw.

I remember watching her cook for the reunion.   She would start cooking the Saturday before the reunion.  She made Shake ‘N Bake chicken, macaroni salad, and baked beans.  Lois liked baking and would make the best desserts.  Her homemade chocolate pies, lemon pie, cherry delight and apple cake desserts were delicious.

From Lois, I learned to make Mike’s favorite dishes. Before she passed, she would call me and say come up and help me cook whatever she was cooking. She would say, “You need to learn how to make this.” I can truthfully say I have very fond memories of my Mother-In-Law.

During the 1970's, I watched as Mike’s Aunts prepared for the McGraw reunion. His Aunt Galena and Aunt Wilda would start baking cakes and pies early in the week for the reunion. 

At that time, Galena still had the store and Post Office in McGraws and was working. Wilda would walk out to her store daily to see how many cakes or pies Galena had made.  If Galena said ten, Wilda would go home and make eleven so she could say she had made more.  Thing was, sometimes Galena would tell Wilda she had more than she really had - that’s sisterly love and competition for you!

It would take several men and boys to help carry in the food Galena and Wilda had prepared for the reunion.

Mike’s Mom, Lois McGraw, his Aunts: Galena McGraw Kerns, Wilda McGraw Shumate, Naomi McGraw Sadler, and Rita Riley McGraw were all good cooks.  Their food was homemade from scratch and prepared with love.  I learned from the best and I did learn to cook!

Fast forward to July 19, 2020, fifty-two years since I attended my first reunion.  Instead of serving our usual reunion food, we will be sharing a virtual meal.  This will definitely be a first for everyone.  My Brother has attended our reunion twenty-plus years.  His comment about the virtual reunion was “We (he) couldn’t eat the food.”  Sorry, Steve!  

After this Covid-19 event, I would hope and pray that next year, the good Lord willing, we will once again meet the third Sunday of July, for the 68th McGraw Reunion.  I hope to see you in person in 2021.

Sincerely,
Patty McGraw

P.S. I will be cooking!

My McGraw Reunion Story by Marla McGraw

MY MCGRAW REUNION STORY

I remember well the first time, my future husband Scott, brought me to visit his family and home in Southern West Virginia.  It was Spring time and the cherry trees were blooming at the West Virginia State Capital. We stopped and walked under the falling cherry blossoms hand in hand. It was pure magic. As we drove further South, we entered the steep green mountains their sides covered in stunning rhododendron blooms with their sweet perfume. Somehow, he must have arranged it all so that I would fall in love with the beautiful place that he came from. I met his family, his parents Mike and Patty, his two brothers Brian and Jeremy, and his aunts and uncles. They were all so warm and welcoming. It was very easy to become a part of their family.  

As the years passed, I came to find that Mike and Patty were never so happy as when their house was full with their 3 sons and their families. Especially when it was the McGraw Reunion Weekend. Patty would be cooking all week to prepare wonderful food for everyone to enjoy. The fridge and stove top so full that you could not possibly fit anything more. She makes the most delicious food! All of the last minute details being hurriedly sorted out: picking up the ice, opening up the college, setting up all of the tables, loading two cars full of food to take over, photo albums, sign in sheets, door prizes and flowers for the entry tables so that they were ready when the family members began to arrive.  

Mike loved the reunion. I think he loved it so much, because his father Jack, loved it so much before him and Mike loved his family more than anything. He loved seeing his kids and their families, the cousins, aunts, uncles, and the family he had never met before. It made him happiest when there were young people at the reunion. He enjoyed everyone reminiscing and catching up with each other. He wanted the McGraw reunion to live forever, for the family to have a place to gather and remember all those that came before them.  

It is hard, but Mike has passed on now. I am so lucky that he was my father in law. He was so generous and kind and never wanted to be in the spotlight or be recognized for all that he gave.  He had a gruff exterior but was really a teddy bear inside.  I miss him a lot, but I think I miss him most at the reunion.  I miss his booming voice getting everyone’s attention for the blessing of the food and as he guided the family through the other activities of the day.  Patty still works tirelessly on the reunion and now my husband, Scott, has taken over the reins and guides us through the activities of the day.  I know Mike would be so proud of Scott and so happy that the reunion still lives on.  Mike loved to hear about all of the family history Scott had been researching and bringing back to life so that the future generations will know about John and Mahala and the lives that they lived.  

Unfortunately, this year we are unable to all gather together, due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we can still set aside time to celebrate the McGraw Reunion and our family. On this McGraw Reunion Day, please take some time with your family and share your memories. Remember the past reunions and all those that came before you.   Pick up the phone and talk to a family member you haven’t seen lately. We need each other to help get through this difficult time. Visit the McGraw Reunion Facebook page and leave memories for other family members to read. Share your history and your lives with each other. It is a very special gift.  Please take time today to count your blessings and recognize what a wonderful family the McGraw family is. I know I am so blessed to be a McGraw, with such a wonderful husband and family.  I hope this post finds you all healthy and well and I look forward to seeing you at the McGraw Reunion next year.

Take care,
Marla McGraw                   
07/12/2020 

Welcome to the 2020 Virtual McGraw Reunion!

Church and Family

As I attend church this Reunion Sunday, sixty-seven years have passed since the McGraw family first came together to worship God and celebrate family at the Milam Methodist Church in McGraws. 

Sitting in a church pew that once held past family members, I am reminded of the value they placed on God and family and the heritage they left behind.

It was very important to them to build a church in their community to worship in. They came together as a family to build the church donating their time, talents and money.

In this church and their homes, they raised their children and grand children to honor God, country and family.

This year, as we celebrate the 67th McGraw Family Reunion virtually, may we continue to honor our ancestors and may we instill the values of God, country and family heritage in our children and grand children.

Prayers, 

Patty McGraw 

A BLESSING FOR THE MCGRAW REUNION

For many years, the McGraw Reunion was a picnic on the grass at Milam Methodist Church. The church was founded and built by the descendants of John & Mahala McGraw. The congregation may be smaller than it once was, but almost every first and third Sunday of the month McGraw descendants and their families still arrive at the small country church to worship. 

We asked Jason Stewart, the current Pastor of the Milam Methodist Church, if he would offer a blessing for our family to kick off our virtual reunion.

Thank You to Jason and his wife Carla for all they do for our church

and for providing with this blessing today!

Today In McGraw History - August 31, 1969

Today in McGraw History. . .

Michael "Mike" was the G Grandson of John & Mahala.

(Mike>Marvin "Jack">H.G. "Dad">John)

46 Years Ago In McGraw History: Patty McGraw Dies In Car Accident

46 Years Ago In McGraw History

Patty was the GGranddaughter of John & Mahala.

(Patty>Marvin "Jack">H.G. "Dad">John)

A message from Mike McGraw. . .

Jack McGraw loved our family reunion. He was the youngest son of H.G. "Dad" McGraw and had attended every reunion since it's beginning. He was "Secretary" of the now defunct McGraw Reunion Association. In his later years, Jack asked his son Mike to make sure that the reunion would go on. Mike promised that he would do all that he could. That was 28 years ago, and the reunion has continued on. For many years, it was Mike and his wife Patty along with his aunt, Rita McGraw, that worked together behind the scenes making sure we had a place for the reunion, that the reminder postcards were sent and that all of the other details taken care of. We lost Rita in 2004 and last fall we lost Mike, but their reunion, our reunion, continues on. We will remember Mike and others we lost over the past year in a memorial service at the reunion this Sunday. 

Back in 2008, Mike sent the following letter to everyone on the reunion mailing list. His words ring as true today as they did then. Since he can't be here to beat the drum, we thought that we would share his thoughts with you once again. . .

"Since this reunion began in the 1950's, it has been a way for families and friends to reconnect and stay in touch. In the 55+ years past, thousands have attended. It is time to reconnect with family.

As families progress in generations and move away, many family members have never lived here in the area where John and Mahalia settled, called home, and raised the children from whom many of us are direct descendants. Bring your family back, meet your "kin folks", and make that reconnection. Soon the numbers may fall to the point that a reunion of this sort is not feasible, but that is entirely up to us.

If nothing else, the food will be plentiful and great. Family trait, I guess!

We ask this year, that you think about doing a few things:

1. Encourage family members to attend - bring those young ones.
2. Bring COPIES of pictures of Grandparents, Parents, Self, Children, Etc. Please include names and dates so we can begin to compile a "family album" for future generations. If you cannot attend, simply mail copies of the pictures and information to us.
3. Bring the names of those who were born and died during the past year.
4. Bring COPIES of pictures of past reunions, especially those taken when the reunion was held in and outside of Milam Methodist Church and in the gym of John McGraw Grade School.

Folks, this is OUR reunion. If we haven't seen you in a while -- come back. If you've never been here before -- you are welcome to come. Make the effort, it will be well worth it. Bring a dish and plan to spend the day with family.

Please pass this information on to all that you think will be interested. Thanks and hope to see you soon.

Mike & Patty McGraw"