This family reunion is a celebration of those who are descendants of Johnny Chambers and Adell Wells. Johnny Chambers aka "Papa" was born on January 8, 1896 in Knoxville, Alabama to parents Martha Lewis and Anderson Chambers. His siblings were Albert, Perry, James, Charlie, Arlister, Charity, Emma, and Clara.
Adell Wells was also born in Knoxville, Alabama. Her mother, Clemmie Colvin Wells, was the biracial daughter of a slave brought to Alabama from South Carolina and a slavemaster. Clemmie mother's name was Betsy Hardy. Clemmie's first husband was John Chambers, brother to Anderson Chambers and the uncle of Johnny Chambers. To this union, four children were born by the names of Walter Chambers, Florence Chambers, Minnie Chambers, and Elizabeth Chambers. Clemmie's second husband was Walter Glover Wells from Pickens County, Alabama. To this union, three children were born by the names of Estell Wells, Stonewall Wells, and Adell Wells.
Growing up near one another in rural Alabama in the early 1900's, Johnny Chambers and Adell Wells eventually met. They grew fond of each other and soon ran off to be joined in holy matrimony on May 22, 1916. Their union produced 12 children; 6 boys and 6 girls. Their oldest son, JW, died from Polio at age 2. Their oldest daughter, Mattie, also fell victim to the same illness and it claimed her life at age 3. Following the deaths of the first 2 children, Johnny and Adell went on the have another son by the name of Percy Lee Chambers in 1920. Four more boys followed by the names of Calvin, Earsie, Joe and Roy. Interestingly enough, following the births of the 5 sons the Chambers went on to have 5 daughters, as well. Their first surviving daughter was born to them on January 1, 1928 and she was named Edna Pearl Chambers. The births of four more daughters followed and they were named Effie Mae, Eserene, Bessie, and Mary Louise who was their youngest born in 1938.
Johnny knew that he wanted a good life for him and his family and, determined to have one, eventually went on to work in the coal mines of Adamsville from which he made a lot of money. Johnny and Adell raised their family in the rural town of Eutaw, Alabama. With the wealth earned from his days of working in coal mines, Johnny was able to purchase a lot of land as well as a ranch house for him and his family. He was well-respected around town and even had white people working on his land, which was unusual during those times. He owned two school buses that transported his children as well as other children to and from school. He also owned gas tanks, an abundance of animals, and had peach, plum and pecan trees growing on his land. The Chambers' kids enjoyed country life and did daily chores such as milking cows, getting water from the well, and tending to the animals and crops as needed. They did not experience a great deal of racism while growing up and even played with white children who lived nearby. Adell was a great mother to her children who was known to get her hands dirty with chores such as slinging chickens around and cutting their heads off in preparation for meals for her family. Adell passed away in 1977 and Johnny followed in 1986.
Today, the descendants of Adell and Johnny Chambers span across the US from coast to coast. But many still live in the south between Alabama and Georgia.
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