HONORING THE ETHEREDGE/ETHERIDGE FAMILY REUNION

On 2026-08-20, Representative Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-8) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING THE ETHEREDGE/ETHERIDGE FAMILY REUNION" in the House.

HONORING THE ETHEREDGE/ETHERIDGE FAMILY REUNION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 134 (Thursday, August 20, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E801] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE ETHEREDGE/ETHERIDGE FAMILY REUNION ______ HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR. of virginia in the house of representatives Thursday, August 20, 2026 Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the Etheredge/Etheridge Family Reunion, taking place from August 20 to August 23, 2026, and to honor a family whose story reflects the resilience, perseverance, faith, and achievements that define the American experience. The family's traceable history begins in Edgefield County, South Carolina, where their ancestors were born into slavery and were the property of Joseph Etheredge, a farmer and slave owner during the nineteenth century. Following emancipation, like many formerly enslaved people throughout the South, members of the family adopted the surname of their former enslaver, transforming a name once associated with bondage into one that would become a lasting symbol of strength, family, and achievement. On Christmas Day in 1895, Samuel Etheredge, one of the family's earliest known ancestors, purchased 195 acres of land from Joseph Etheredge, a transaction recorded in the Edgefield County Courthouse. That purchase represented far more than the acquisition of property--it symbolized freedom, opportunity, and the beginning of a self-sustaining African American community. Samuel Etheredge later sold twenty-acre parcels of land to his sons, establishing what became affectionately known as Etheredge Town. Life in Etheredge Town was centered on faith, education, hard work, and community. Families shared resources, raised livestock, hunted and fished, operated a grist and syrup mill, and developed businesses and skilled trades. Even after a devastating storm destroyed their church, they rebuilt it with lumber harvested from their own property, demonstrating remarkable determination and unity. Today, descendants of the Etheredge/Etheridge family reside throughout the United States, from the East Coast to the West Coast. They continue to make meaningful contributions to their communities through leadership, public service, education, business, military service, ministry, healthcare, and civic engagement. The 2026 Etheredge/Etheridge Family Reunion is not merely a gathering of relatives. It is a celebration of generations who transformed adversity into opportunity, preserved their heritage, and created a lasting legacy for future generations. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Etheredge/Etheridge family and the enduring legacy of this extraordinary American family. ____________________