The Inside

 Track

Friday Morning:  Sightseeing in Nassau 

Hey, if you're on a beautiful island rich in history and your own family's heritage, you don't stay cooped up in the hotel, you get out and see the sights! 

That was my philosophy, so on Friday morning we played tourist! 

 My mom, my sister and I caught the bus downtown to Bay Street where we visited Rawson Square and eventually got a bus tour of the island (air conditioned, of course!).

This two-hour tour was great, showing us all the sights, including the Queen's Staircase (66 steps painstakingly carved out of solid stone by slaves in honor of Queen Victoria), Fort Fincastle and Paradise Island's Atlantis Resort.  We really enjoyed seeing the island.  We ended the adventure with lunch, some shopping, then caught the bus back to the hotel to prepare for the evening's ball.

Friday Evening: 

The Gala Ball 

Friday evening was our Gala Ball.  Everyone looked great!  The men were handsome and the ladies were beautiful in their finery.

Mandy Moncur and I co-hosted this exciting event where she formally introduced the descendants of Susan Allen who were in attendance.  For those of you who don't know, we just recently made contact with the descendants of William & Addie Allen's youngest daughter Susan.  We are so very excited and happy to have brought them into the Allen Clan.

We were entertained by the Royal Bahamas Police Pop Band, and they were fantastic!  The children of the Allen Family recited a welcome skit, and then we were thrilled by the pyro-comedic antics of Princess Deveaux, a genuine fire dancer!

The 2006 Allen Family Scholarships were awarded to Candis Payne and Andrea Woolery, and a new scholarship fundraiser was announced by Jewel Major.  We also heard career updates from former scholarship recipients Amy Dawkins, Tangela Lusain-Johnson, and Donna Allen Moore.

The 2006 Crystal Tomato Awards were announced as well.  These new awards honored excellence in promoting the heritage of our family.  The recipients included the Honorable Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas; Faye Carey Smith for founding the reunions; and myself, Carmen Turner, for designing and maintaining this website.  What an honor for me to be mentioned in that company. 

And by the way, they're called the Crystal Tomato Awards because Willie Butcher farmed and exported tomatoes.  That was just one of his many entrepreneurial endeavors.  The awards weren't actually shaped like tomatoes, but rather are beautiful Waterford Crystal goblets mounted on an engraved base.  Mine is in a place of honor in my living room.

After the formal program was over, we partied until the band stopped playing and the DJ took over, then we danced some more!

Finally, the staff started breaking down the room and we got the hint.  For some, it was off to bed.  For others, it was off to the nearest bar or casino.  Either way, a good night was had by all! 

Reunion Recap

Day 2:  Friday, June 30

Sightseeing in Nassau & Gala Ball

Photo credits

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

(Click on photos in gallery to enlarge)   

Playing tourists: Eureka Allen Stevens and Mary Turner at Rawson Square in downtown Nassau.	Mary standing beside the Queen's Staircase, which was carved from solid stone. This beautiful and serene place was lovely to visit.
The gorgeous view from Fort Fincastle, which is not far from the Queen's Staircase.	Nice shot of the cruise ships at anchor, taken from the top of Fort Fincastle.
Fort Fincastle's guns at the ready.	We stopped for a tour of the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. The hotel and grounds are stunning!
Marcus Bradley & DeAnna Rivas at the world-famous aquarium at the Atlantis Resort.	The underwater "artifacts" mimic those thought to be authentic to the lost city of Atlantis.
The atrium at Atlantis is gorgeous, and the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch.	Carmen & Mary at the Flying Horses Fountain outside of the Atlantis Resort. It was so hot that a dip in that fountain would've felt great!
We hope cousins Dot Moncur and Dawn Taylor didn't miss out on all the fun while they were stationed at the Information Table!	Cousins Carmen (great-granddaughter of Rev. George W. Allen) and Mandy (great-granddaughter of Willie Butcher Allen) hosting the Gala Banquet.
Several of the family children extend an official WELCOME to the Gala Ball on Friday evening!	Talk about entertaining! No man in the audience was safe from Princess Deveaux. This fire dancer kept us all chuckling with her antics!
She not only dances with it, she eats it too! Princess Deveaux and her fire eating act.	Mandy Moncur, daughter of Dot Moncur and descendant of Willie Butcher Allen, co-hosted the Gala Ball and did a fantastic job!
Faye Carey Smith, accepting her Crystal Tomato Award. Faye is the granddaughter of Willie Butcher Allen.	Cousin Dot Moncur looking lovely in her finery after introducing her cousin the Honorable Perry G. Christie, Bahamian Prime Minister.
Carmen presenting the Honorable Perry Christie with his Crystal Tomato Award. The PM enjoyed spending several days with his family.	Andrea Woolery is one of the recipients of the 2006 Allen Family Scholarship. She's planning a career in elementary education!
Candis Payne, also a 2006 Allen Family Scholarship recipient, is planning a career in the healthcare field. Congratulations!	Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie and First Lady Bernadette Christie, who was lovely in red. What a beautiful couple!
They say everyone has a twin and Carmen's is her cousin Kendra Allen, the daughter of Mae Allen Darling. It was like looking in a mirror!	Reunion chairman Willie Delancy and lovely wife Phillippa cut quite the rug on the dance floor. Both were gracious hosts during the reunion.
What a gorgeous couple! Tangela Lusain Johnson and husband James at the Ball. They were preparing to celebrate 10 years of marriage. Congratulations!	Eureka Allen Stevens (center) with daughters Carmen & Mary Turner at the Ball. She looks like our sister, doesn't she? Talk about good Allen genes!
The beautiful Angela Wallace and husband Charles, who is a talented saxophone musician. We love his gospel CD almost as much as we love them!	Sheila Allen Bridgeforth's family: daughters Camilla (seated), Chevene (standing left) and Debbie (standing right) with their dad Ike.
The PM showing his cousin Donna Allen Moore a few things on the dance floor. Go, Cousin Perry!	The rhythm is gonna get you! Judy Bailey and Ruth Brooks, descendants of James Allen, enjoy the Royal Bahamas Police Pop Band.
Cousins moving to the beat: Glendina Carey Cartwright and Eureka Allen Stevens. Get out of those seats and get on the dance floor, ladies!	Shawn Turnquest with husband the Hon. Tommy Turnquest on the dance floor. She is the great-granddaughter of Willie Butcher Allen.
Debbie Allen Bradley (left) and Carla Yvette Allen touch their shoulders as they get ready to "Shake it Up, Shake it Up" on the dance floor!	The young Allen generation had it going on on the dance floor while the Royal Bahamas Police Pop Band plays in the background.
These young Allens paused on the dance floor long enough for this shot, then went back to getting their groove on!	John "Jay" Smith gives his cousin Crystal Carey a twirl around the dance floor. He's a descendant of Rev. Alexander Allen.
Lovely Allen ladies, the granddaughters of Willie Butcher Allen.	Descendants of Susan Allen joined us for the first time this year. What handsome men! Good Allen genes strike once again!
Charles Wallace chats with Adeesha Smith, Jay Smith, Kevin Smith, Faye Carey Smith & Phillip Delancy. Great shot, guys!	Ladies in black: Carmen & Faye reflecting on their Crystal Tomato Awards!
Cousins Craig Delancy and Mary Turner closing down the gala ball.	Tammy McCartney Cargill's husband Ian gives her a big smooch! Tammy is the daughter of Al McCartney and a great-granddaughter of Willie Butcher Allen.
Doreen Allen Major (right) with daughter Jade Major. These lovely ladies look more like sisters. More good Allen genes!	Reunion founder Faye Carey Smith with daughter Charlotte.
Go, Mark! He looks like he's moving to the beat of the Royal Bahamas Police Pop Band, along with wife Shelley and daughter Mia.	Theresa Lusain with daughter Tangela Lusain-Johnson taking a mother-daughter spin on the dance floor!
Wendy, Libby & Dannica dressed to the nines. Lookin' good, ladies!	Me and one of my favorite cousins, Garvin McCartney, who usually supplies us with "sky juice" (gin and coconut water) during the reunions!
Donna Allen Moore with her cousins, descendants of Susan Allen of Eleuthera.