Kelly Reunion Set for Aug. 6

The family and descendents of Lawrence Kelly Sr. and Mary Lee Green Kelly, of Alabama and Louisiana, will host their annual family reunion in Portland from Friday, Aug. 4, through Sunday, Aug. 6.
Local and out-of-town relatives will participate in three days of festivities, including various activities on Friday, a formal dinner in the Emmanuel Temple Church Multi-Purpose Room with local civic and religious leaders on Saturday and a scenic tour bus ride to Tacoma, Wash. on Sunday.
The family's first reunion was hosted in 1945 by Lawrence's brother, Frank. The brothers had 10 siblings and had heard that there were really a total of 20 children in their generation. They were determined to bring their entire family together. They later learned that their family name was spelled both "Kelly" and "Kelley," which complicated their search for relatives in Alabama and Louisiana.
Lawrence and Mary Lee had eight children. In 1958, after graduating from Grambling University, their son Saul was the first to venture north to Portland. Later, his brother, Lawrence Kelly Jr., and sister, Lonnie (Kelly) Jenkins, moved to Portland as well.
For more information about the Kelly Family Reunion, call Lonnie Jenkins, 503-281-9223.