For those in the Mocksville, NC area, there will be a DAR grave marking ceremony 15 April , 1 PM at the Joppa Cemetery for Basil Gaither. If you want to be recognized as a descendant, you will need to RSVP to Terri Engle (engle.terri @gmail.com) by 1 April.
Hope to see several turnout. Please cc soupcan5mg@gmail.com so I can look for you
For the 35th Reunion, the family will return to Annapolis, Maryland, the city where the Society of John Gaither Descendants was formed in 1984 and to where John Gater fled in 1649 to escape the religious intolerance of Virginia. If you haven't registered yet, don't delay and don't miss the deadline. Click here for more information and registration.
We hope you'll join us at the 2018 Society of John Gaither Descendants' Reunion in Annapolis, Maryland, June 14 - June 17! We've planned an exciting time in the land of our earliest forefathers. Visit historic sites where John Gaither, and his children from whom we all descend, made their home in 1649 - - 369 years ago! As a 'first family' of Maryland, we all share our deepest American roots in this region.
We'll kick-off on Thursday evening with a delicious barbeque dinner at Mike and Nancy Jones' house to 'meet and greet' and stoke ourselves for a packed itinerary over the next three days.
Friday, we'll celebrate our heritage with a visit to the historic All Hallows, Old Brick Church where over 60 Gaither births, marriages and deaths are recorded from its establishment in the 1600s. We'll then have lunch at a classic Maryland Crab House on the shores of the South River, in the heart of South River Hundred. This is where John Gaither and Robert Proctor chose their 875 acres of land 
after leaving Virginia. A highlight of the day will be our visit to that original Gaither homestead, which they named "Abington," at the headwaters of the South River. Remarkably, "Abington" was occupied by Gaithers for at least 200 years.
Charting a new course. That’s what Gaithers will be doing when the Society holds its next reunion in June 2017 on an Alaskan cruise. The 34th Reunion and Annual Meeting will be held aboard Celebrity Cruises’ ship, the Infinity. For seven days, Gaithers will be cruising the majestic Inside Passage and visit Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, as well as the Hubbard Glacier.
Shaped by the staggering force of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage boasts wildlife-filled fjords and lush island scenery — habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, porpoises and whales. Its mountains are carpeted with majestic forests. Inside Passage Alaska is home to Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Indians whose history is reflected in towering totem poles. Russian settlers left a legacy of onion-domed churches gleaming with icons.
Tall, wide and generally massive, Hubbard Glacier is a mesmerizing natural wonder framed in striking glacial blue. The largest tidewater glacier in North America at a whopping 76 miles long and 1,200 feet deep, Hubbard has been nicknamed the "galloping glacier" because of how quickly it's advancing toward the Gulf of Alaska through Disenchantment Bay. Rapid advancement results in major calving -- the dramatic breaking off chunks of ice at the edge of a glacier. Watching ice melt has never been so exciting! This area is also rife with wildlife
This is a great opportunity to take a trip of a lifetime and combine it with a family reunion. If you have not attended a Gaither Reunion, this is your opportunity to chart new opportunities that you will cherish for a lifetime. And if you have attended before, make this an extra special event by getting your immediate family, close cousins, and even friends to join you.
I promise you’ll have a wonderful time, meet new cousins and make so many great memories. Check out the details here on this website and register soon.
Best wishes,
Mack Gaither
For the first time ever in the history of the Society, the 2017 Reunion & Annual Meeting will be held at sea on an 8-day Alaskan Cruise. The Society's Board of Directors decided at their quarterly meeting to break from tradition and to set sail June 18, 2017. This is an excellent opportunity to combine the Gaither Reunion with a dream vacation to Alaska.
Gaze in wonder at the steep Inside Passage and visit the bucket-list wonder Hubbard Glacier. Tour the last frontier town, Ketchikan, famed for feisty salmon and Alaskan culture and Sitka, considered Alaska’s most beautiful seaside town. Lastly, you depart from and return to Vancouver, BC, named the Top Destination in Canada in TripAdvisor's 2016 Travelers’ Choice awards. Arrangements are under way and details should be announced here within the next few weeks.
As we celebrate this Fourth of July with picnics and fireworks, the Society would like to pay homage to our forefathers and mothers whose love of, and commitment to, America were so great, and their personal sacrifices so significant, that they are almost unimaginable today.
In 1776, 240 years ago, Gaithers from different Colonies joined the Revolution for Independence. In Maryland alone, no fewer than 50 were on the rosters. Gaithers joined militias, were Continental soldiers, were contributing food, goods and more - - sacrificing in so many ways. Some made the ultimate sacrifice.
Gaithers responded to the Revolutionary cause as a family that had called America home for 156 years. At least 5 generations of Gaithers had been born on American soil prior to the War for Independence. Our roots run as deep as any American family - - as do our family’s collective contributions to our Great Nation - - something of which to be so proud this Independence Day!
The Secretary of The Society of John Gaither Descendants apprises the members of the Corporation of the following slate of directors to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation on May 31, 2015. If any member wishes to designate an additional slate, please send such slate to the Chairwoman of the Nominating Committee, Catherine Allison, at cga67@swbell.net prior to May 31, 2015. Continue reading
Re∙un∙ion - (Noun)
We will come together this May for the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society of John Gaither Descendants to not only conduct the business of the Society, but also to REUNITE, as in REUNION. We will not only RENEW old friendships with our cousins, but we will likely make new acquaintances within our extended family. We can also use this opportunity to REMEMBER those that have passed. Continue reading
The 2015 Reunion and Annual Meeting of the Society of John Gaither Descendants, will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee May 28th - 31st. This will be the 32nd Annual Meeting since the founding of the Society in 1984. Continue reading
The Society of John Gaither Descendants needs volunteers in positions critical to increasing membership and improving communications. If you or someone you know can fill any of the following roles and are willing to give a few hours per month to help, we would appreciate your help.
Membership Promoters - Responsible for making phone calls to prospective members and assisting the Membership Director in other ways. Put on your "Thinking Cap" and let's find the best way to grow the Society's membership.
Genealogy Researchers - Responsible for reading documents such as marriage and death certificates, deeds, and wills recording key information. This work is fundamental for the Society to create an accessible, searchable library of family documents, photographs, and history for current and future generations of Gaithers.
Graphic Designers - Responsible for conceptualization and design of direct mail membership materials as well as all other Society print materials such as brochures, posters, and invitations. Other responsibilities may include creating graphics for the Society website. This position is critical for future growth of the Society.
Website Managers - Responsible for operating, maintaining, and enhancing the Society’s web site. This person will be in forefront of moving the Society forward technologically for the next generation of Gaithers.
If you or someone you know can fill any of these positions critical to the Society's viability, please complete the form below. We will be in touch soon. Thank you.