Our Roots
From 1808 to now
Through oral history, genealogical research, and DNA study, we trace our lineage to Russell and Minta Gilmore and their children, who were enslaved in the early 1800s and later became the roots of our family's enduring legacy of love.
Their Journey
During enslavement, some of Russell & Minta's children were separated and forcibly migrated across Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Emancipation, some of their descendants reunited in Arkansas.
Their Children
As of 2025, we've uncovered the names of 9 of Russell & Minta's children:
John, Augustus, Stephen, Walker, Mandy, Eugenus, Erastus, Watkins, and Lewis
Today, more than 2,000 of their descendants carry their story across states, cities, and generations.
Our Reunion History
How Our Reunions Began
As the children and grandchildren of Russell and Minta Gilmore grew up and started families of their own, they found ways to stay connected—no matter where life took them.
Different branches of the family began organizing their own reunions. Some started with holiday dinners. Others planned large gatherings in different cities. These reunions helped keep the family close, pass down stories, and make sure each new generation knew they were part of something bigger.
"A family without a sense of history is like a tree without roots."
— Theme of the first Texarkana reunion, 1990
John Gilmore Line
John Gilmore was the oldest son of Russell and Minta Gilmore. His descendants, through his son Howard Gilmore, started getting together for the holidays as early as the 1940s.
In the 1990s, the family began holding summer reunions. Then in 1995, Cousin Lyle Gibson reconnected with the Alabama branch, helping more descendants find their way back to each other.
Stephen Gilmore Line
Stephen Sr. was the third child of Russell and Minta Gilmore. His son, Steve Jr., along with Steve Jr.'s brothers George and Frank, began organizing reunions in the early 1990s.
In the late 1980s, descendants began planning at Julius C. Gilmore's home in Toledo, Ohio. Since the first Gilmore Family Reunion in 1990, these relatives have reunited regularly.
The Texarkana Reunions
The first reunion was held in Texarkana, Arkansas, with the theme: "A family without a sense of history is like a tree without roots."
The second reunion was also in Texarkana, hosted by the "Texarkana Gang" including Herman and Louberta Roberts, Hoover and Geneva Price, Frank and Audrey Jones, Johnny and Delores Morine, Jack and Joyce French, and Charles and Eula (Betty) Finnie.
35 Years of Gilmore Family Reunions
The Beginning (1990s)
Organizer: Herman Roberts & Geneva Cheatham
"A Family Without A Sense of History is Like a Tree Without Its Roots"
Organizer: Herman Roberts
"Reunited In The Name of Love"
"Reunited In The Valley of The Sun"
Organizer: Gennie Gilmore
"Reunion in the Glass City"
Organizer: Herman Roberts
Organizer: Johnnie Morine Jr.
"How's My Driving"
New Millennium (2000s)
"Proud to Be A Gilmore"
"It's on again, Texarkana Style!"
Growing Stronger (2010s)
"From the root to the fruit, this tree stands strong!"
"7 Generations from Roots to Fruits — Historic reunion with 4 lines of Minta & Russell's children represented"
Modern Era (2020s)
"Virtual Family Reunion"
"Celebrating the Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, Black Cowboys, & Pioneer Women"
"A Legacy of Love: We Are Because They Were"
200+ Years of Family Legacy
From Russell and Minta Gilmore to today, our family has endured, thrived, and grown across more than two centuries.
For generations, we've honored that legacy through family gatherings—from John Gilmore's line holiday reunions starting in the 1940s, to the first Texarkana reunion in 1990 to today's celebrations that bring together descendants across all family lines.