After asking questions and probing the memory of relatives far and near, we discovered the names of 8 generation of Kennedy's. Currently there are members living trom 4 generations.

The first maternal evidence we have is of Alma Renner Kizer's father Harrison. Harrison Kizer, who grew very tall, was a slave child whose mother was kidnapped trom Mississippi and sold into slavery in Tennessee. Her mother is remembered to be a red-haired white woman who married a Cherokee Indian. When Harrison Kizer was about 8 years old the slaves were freed, When he was older, he went on to marry Margaret Lowery-Kizer, they had 6 children - Frank, Ollie Oddie, Arbie Kizer-Collins, Lillian Kizer-Sharp, Flora Kizer-Combs and on April 15, 1889 they gave birth to Alma Renner Kizer Kennedy.

The first paternal information we have is of Charlie Henry's parents, Henry and Sallie Campbell Kennedy-Mallard. They resided in Marshall County, East Tennessee and had 5 children - John, Henrietta, Dora Kennedy-Jones, Mary Kennedy-Shriver, and on December 25, 1918 they gave birth to Charlie Henry Kennedy. The family moved from east Tennessee to Decatur County in a covered wagon to a little town called Doe Creek. After Henry Kennedy passed away Sallie married Reverend Leonard Mallard, they had two children Luther and Lena Mallard.

In that town of Doe Creek, Tennessee, Charlie Henry met and married Alma Renner Kizer. To this union 7 children were born - Catherline "Chink", Pauline "Nunck", Charlie Huland"Bub", E.H."Jab", Narline "Nip", Henry Louis "Bumpus", and Ruby Mae "Moody". Charlie Henry finished the 8 th grade (the highest attainable grade) and began teaching in Doe Creek. While living there he and Alma Renner gave birth to Catherline on June 24 and Pauline on April 24. Then the Kennedy's moved to Nashville, where Charlie worked at the Capital, this is where Charlie Huland was born on January 30. Then the Kennedy's move to Henderson Tennessee to the town ofSardis, where Henry became a farmer, there they gave birth to E. H. on April 18, Narline on September 10, Henry Louis on July 25 and Ruby Mae on June 30. Sardis is also the town where the first two grandchildren were born. Catherline gave birth to Joy and Narline gave birth to Mary.

Charlie Henry, known as Papa, was a very religious man. When the church had no piano he would be the song leader. He was a very hard working man, and he made all the children work hard, he did not accept laziness. Nadine remembers that he loved to attend all the local fairs, barbecues and social events with the children. Alma Renner, known as Morna would stay at home to prepare for their return. Ruby Mae remembers that Papa was always trying to help someone, he treated people right, he was a faithful and reliable man. He also rarely did the whipping. It was Morna who did the whipping, with a peach tree switch. Ruby Mae said" A peach tree don't grow that kind of switch no more". She remembers Morna making the best meals out of what seemed like nothing. Taking catfish heads and boiling them till the meat fell off and having a big plate of catfish. She would make quilts out of scraps of fabric so she would have enough to cover everyone in the harsh winter. She was a very caring mother, feared for her children, and believed in honesty. E.H. remembers the long table the family would always eat together at, breakfast, lunch and dinner. The home in Sardis had 3 large rooms, a kitchen, bedroom and living room. Eventually they added a circular porch, the kitchen became a bedroom, then they added on another kitchen and dinning room.

The children attended a two room school in Saltillo. Professor Woodson taught the 5th, 6 th, 7 th and 8th in 1 room, Mrs. Samantha Brole taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the other room. If you acted up they would send you to the woods to get a peach tree switch, as Aunt Ruby said - "They don't make that kinda switch no more". Once when Professor Woodson took out pocket change and told the children to count the money, every one got it wrong except Bub and Jab, (they were used to counting money) Professor Woodson began whooping all the children and Mrs. Brole realized Jab and Bub got it right, Prof Woodson apologized and said he'd have to whoop himself.

Henry Louis "Bumpus" remembers Papa fixing shoes for the community, doing all sorts of favors, then someone would owe him a favor. He remembers working hard in the field, picking cotton, and "whatever else was planted". The young children would stay at home with Morna and help prepare lunch and dinner, while the older children worked in the field. When the younger children came of age they would come to the field, but need a nap. Uncle Bumpus remembers Aunt Ruby being placed on top of the cotton to take a nap. When it rained and you couldn't work in the field, you went hunting. Papa and the boys would go hunting for rabbits, squirrels and quail in the day and possum at night. They also fished for catfish, brim and perch. Much later the government brought Deer, Coyote and other animals to the land.

Charlie Henry knew the importance of education, he got families to move to Sardis so there would be enough children to have a school. Once the children began graduating, there were not enough for school, so the families began moving. The Kennedy's were the last black family to move out of Sardis and head for Lexington Tennessee to the land that Narline now resides on. We have affectionately come to know the 7 children of Charlie and Alma Renner as "The Dream Team"! Most family members still reside in Lexington Tennessee, many have chosen to move to other states such as New Orleans Louisiana, Texas, New York, VlrgIna and Maryland some have chosen to explore other parts of Tennessee in Nashville, Memphis and Jackson. Yet when possible they all head back to Lexington to create more wonderful memories, enjoy some good cooking, good company, introduce new family members and get a hug, and a kiss from those we hold so dear.

The Dream Team begins our four living generations. We held our first Kennedy Family Reunion in their honor in September 1995, hosted by the 2nd grandchild of the family Mary Carver-Goldring and her husband John Goldring in Waldorf, Maryland. This year, 1997 we will hold the Reunion in New Orleans, Louisiana - hosted by Dr. Herman and Mrs. Connie Jones and their daughter Kimberly.