The oldest member present was 98-year-old Ruth Ralston Jones, daughter of Bob and Kansas Smith Ralston, Granddaughter of Samuel Andrew and Rebecca Wilson Ralston.
The youngest member present was 19 months old Scarlett Jane Ralston, daughter of John David and Madison Ralston, granddaughter of Ernest and Frances Ralston. Ernest hosted the first Ralston reunion in Gordon County in 1985. He served as State Representative and was publisher of the Calhoun News-Dispatch before his death in 1990.
Out of state attendees were from Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.
The Rev. David Lee Ralston and his wife Georgia drove from Cocoa, Florida to reunite with family members they had not seen in nearly two decades.
He served as pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Waycross in 1989. David was called to the mission field. He is founder director of Christ to the Nations ministry (www.cttn.org).
David has traveled, lived and preached in many foreign countries including Lithuania where he addressed the Lithuania Parliament.
Betty Ralston Payne presented a brief history of the Ralston lineage. She talked about the wide variety of Ralston occupations from farming and gold prospecting to doctors and judges.
All those occupation were, and are, important but, she reminded those present that no job is more important than parenting our children.
Farming is perhaps the next most important occupation. Without farmers, we would not eat. Many of those in attendance at the reunion were farmers.
Charlie Ralston, 83, plowed and planted 225 acres of corn himself in Gordon County this year. He said he hopes he can sell enough corn to help him buy and air conditioned cab for his tractor before planting time next year.
Before eating an abundant meal, much of which was grown by our local farmers, David Lee Ralston prayed blessings on our country, our families and our food. If you are a Ralston or kin to one, come join us next year. The Ralston reunion is held every year on the last Saturday in July.
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