The Inside Track

Wednesday:

My mom and I arrived in Nassau on Wednesday, June 28, a day early for the reunion.  Cousin Gus Moncur (Mandy's brother, as he introduces himself) picked us up at the airport and gave us a wonderful tour of the island.  He pointed out the family church, several family-owned businesses and took us through some of the older neighborhoods which had their beginnings as slave settlements. 

On our way to the hotel, we stopped at Commonwealth Fabrics, which is owned by our cousin Al McCartney and run by his daughter Tammy Cargill.  It was great to see Cousin Al, who had just celebrated his 80th birthday.  He looked spry as ever and came out to greet us with a hug.  I had never met Tammy since she usually took care of the shop while her parents attended the reunions, so it was a pleasure to do so.  They had some beautiful Androsian batik fabric with the name "Allen" and the island of Eleuthera printed on it, which had been especially made for the family in bright blue and vibrant green.  Talk about gorgeous!  Tammy took us to the seamstress to be fitted for shirts, and then we were off with Gus again, who dropped us at the Crystal Palace on Cable Beach.

At Cafe Johnny Canoe that evening, we ran into the families of Sheila Allen Bridgeforth and Donzel Leggett.  I hadn't seen many of them since the 2004 reunion.  After dinner (which was very good!), we stopped in at the reunion hospitality suite to find members of the Nassau Reunion Committee hard at work with preparations for the reunion.  They were printing name tags, stuffing goodie bags and finishing up plans, but they weren't too busy to stop for a hug and a chat.  It was great to see my cousins Mandy and Dot Moncur, Willie Delancy, Sonia Gibson, Deitra Delancy, Dawn Taylor, Waldo Allen and Jewel Major, to name a few. 

Thursday Morning:

Willie picked me up at the hotel.  Mandy had volunteered me to appear with Willie and Sonia on "Focal Point," a local radio morning show with Picewell Forbes on ZNS to plug the reunion, which I gladly did.  After the show, Willie gave me a tour on the way back to the hotel, showing me the store that Willie Butcher had once owned in Mason's Addition, pointing out some of the Juankanoo bases and family homes.  We then visited his mother, Cousin Ruth Delancy, the granddaughter of Willie Butcher Allen.  She wasn't feeling well, having just been released from the hospital, but was hopeful of making at least one reunion event.

Thursday afternoon we saw so many Allens arriving for the reunion!  That hotel lobby was full of Allen descendants.  It was wonderful to see everyone, especially my sister Mary, who finally arrived. 

Thursday Evening:

Family Meet & Greet

We picked up our Androsian print shirts and wore them to that evening's Meet & Greet where we had a ball!  The first stop was one of the registration tables, but we kept getting out of line whenever we spotted someone we just had to hug!  It was fabulous to see everyone together for the first time in two years, particularly Faye Carey Smith, who founded the Allen Family Reunions. 

We mingled, hugged and laughed, then Willie officially opened the reunion with both the U.S. and Bahamian national anthems.  Prime Minister Perry Christie (himself an Allen descendant) mingled in the crowd to greet the family.  The evening's highlight involved a "Junkanoo rush-out" led by Allen descendant Ashward Ferguson.  You know we had to move to that beat!

The evening concluded with several family members visiting the hospitality suite, and with others continuing the party elsewhere.  Regardless, we had a blast!

Reunion Recap

Day 1:  Thursday, June 29

Arrivals & Family Meet and Greet

Photo credits

Ben & Dannica Fitts, Mary Turner, Tangela Lusain-Johnson & Carmen Turner

(Click on photos in gallery to enlarge)   

The view from our hotel room at the Crystal Palace on Cable Beach. The beach was gorgeous, wasn't it?	Guess who we found at Cafe Johnny Canoe on Wednesday night before the reunion? Descendants of Mary Allen Carey!
Eureka Allen Stevens enjoys a plate of that Bahamian specialty desert known as Guava Duff, a steamed pudding covered in rich fruit-filled sauce.	Willie D, Mandy and other members of the Nassau committee working on final preparations in the hospitality suite Wednesday night.
Ben & Dannica Fitts shot this as their plane was about to land in Nassau. Beautiful!	This little shop in Mason's Addition was once owned by Willie Butcher Allen. Ask his daughter Mae about the bushels of crabs that got loose one night!
We stopped to see Willie's mum, Cousin Ruth Delancy. She wasn't feeling well, but she looked great and was so warm and welcoming.	College girls catching up in the hotel lobby: Amy, Jovanna, Keena, Kenya & Lynne. All are descendants of James A. Allen who settled in Key West.
Waiting for rooms: Frank & Pearl Oliver and Rev. Alexander Allen descendants Al Smith & Adeesha Smith relax and catch up while they wait.	Pink ladies: Eureka Allen Stevens (center) with daughters Mary & Carmen Turner, taking a break from greeting arriving Allen family members.
Allen women at the Meet & Greet: Carmen, reunion originator Faye Carey Smith, Angela Wallace, Eureka & Mary.	Remembering when: Pauline Glover and sister Rose Dawkins reminisce with their cousin Joan Allen Leggett about childhood visits to Key West.
The Prime Minister, pictured here with Frank & Pearl Oliver, joined us at the Meet & Greet. He's a grandson of Willie Butcher Allen.	Making sure our name tags printed: Mandy's friend Michelle, and Willie Butcher descendants Tarah McHardy, little Tia Cargill and Georgette McCartney.
Beautiful Allen women: Jewel Major (left) with her aunt Dawn Taylor and Dawn's cute little granddaughter.	Theresa Lusain is all smiles with daughter Tangela and granddaughter Keynu at the Meet & Greet! They're descendants of Rev. George W. Allen.
Joe Williams, Yvette Allen & Dannica Fitts chill at the Meet & Greet.	Newly discovered Allen cousins Ella Farrington, Faye Carey & Zoe Sweeting, all descendants of Susan Allen through her son Boy Carey.
Tony Glover, descendant of James Allen, with wife Adela and daughters Amanda, Angela, Alyssa & Aria. Peeking in on the right is niece Alexandra.	Ashward Ferguson, grandson of Willie Butcher Allen, leads the band in a Junkanoo Rush-out around the hotel ballroom.
Feel that Junkanoo beat! We rocked that hotel ballroom with the sound of those drums!	You go, Cousin Rose! She's "rushing" with the Junkanoo beat!
Everybody on your feet! The Allens were feeling that Junkanoo beat. No one was sitting down while they played!	Dr. David Allen, renowned psychiatrist, with wife Vicky. The grandson of Willie Butcher Allen, he has authored several books and hosts a radio show.
Enjoying the party: Crystal Carey visits with her cousins Gary Christie, Cheryl Christie Cash and Kevin Christie.	Carmen with reunion originator Faye Carey Smith. We owe this lady a great deal of thanks for her vision and guidance!
Ben & Dannica Fitts, enjoying some couple time together. She's the granddaughter of Rev. Alexander Allen, who settled in Miami.	Christopher Allen, son of Alexander Allen III, with daughter Lauryn Janee. Yep, she's daddy's little girl, all right!
What are little Allen girls made of? Just ask these cuties and they'll tell you: a little sugar, lots of spice and everything nice!	Shawn Turnquest (right) joins in the fun with cousins Mary, Dannica and Carmen. She's the daughter of Ivis Carey and great-grand of Willie Butcher.
Little Nathan Wallace wants to know, "What's this around your neck, Aunt Kayla?" Kayla is the daughter of Angela McCartney Wallace.	Uh-oh. Look at those grins. Libby and Yvette must be up to something - probably planning a trip to the casino!