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EST. 1844 · REUNION SINCE 1950
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THE SHURN FAMILY
Reunion & Heritage
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Rooted in love. Bound by blood. Growing across generations.
1844 — 2021 & Beyond
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🌿 OUR ROOTS
A Heritage Traced to the 1840s
The Shurn family reunion carries a rich and enduring heritage.
Descendants of the Shurn family have been traced as far back as
the 1840s, to Drew Shurn and Emmaline Taylor — the patriarch
and matriarch whose legacy continues to echo through every generation.
The Shurn Family Reunion formally began in Benton Harbor, Michigan
in 1950, launching on Labor Day weekend — a tradition that has
remained unchanged to the present day.
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👨👩👧👦 THE FIRST GATHERING — 1950
Small Beginnings, Great Legacy
The first gathering was intimate — a small circle of relatives
and their families convening with warmth and purpose.
Those who attended the inaugural reunion:
👤 B.B. Shurn 👤 Ellis Shurn
👤 Robert Shurn 👤 Fred Douglas Shurn
👤 Vinnie Shurn Crenshaw 👤 Annie Shurn Greer
👤 Lula Shurn Bogan 👤 Louise Shurn
👤 Sammie Shurn
During the first five years, the celebration alternated between
South Bend, Indiana, and Benton Harbor, Michigan. As membership
grew, so did ambition — around the sixth year, the reunion took
the show on the road, rotating among several cities as it proudly
continues to do today.
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📍 REUNION ROTATION CITIES
Spreading the Family Spirit
The current reunion rotation spans the breadth of the country,
bringing Shurn family members together across ten storied cities:
📌 South Bend, Indiana 📌 Benton Harbor, Michigan
📌 Chicago, Illinois 📌 St. Louis, Missouri
📌 Colt, Arkansas 📌 Detroit, Michigan
📌 Springfield, Massachusetts 📌 Nashville, Tennessee
📌 Washington, D.C. 📌 Atlanta, Georgia
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🛡️ OFFICIAL INCORPORATION — 1992
A Family, Formally United
In September 1992, the Shurn Family Reunion drafted and adopted
a constitution and was legally incorporated as The Shurn Family.
Thirteen officers were elected to serve on the National Board of
Directors. The inaugural meeting was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
◆ OFFICERS ON DATE OF INCORPORATION
Chairman .......................... Joseph Shurn
1st Vice Chairman ........... Ralph Shurn
Treasurer ......................... Gloria Shurn
Secretary ......................... Eunice Brown
Recording Secretary /
Membership Chair ........... Noricka Greyer
Sergeant-at-Arms /
Parliamentarian ............... Winston Walker
◆ REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS
Ernestine Greyer · Lula Mason · Arthur Shurn
Archie Shurn · Hattie Shurn
The Board's mission is to oversee the interests of each
participating city and to develop a strong organizational structure
for governance — ensuring the Shurn family legacy is preserved
and celebrated for generations to come.
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🏛️ MILESTONES
Marking History
1992 ─────────────────────────────────────────────
Legal Incorporation
The Shurn Family is legally incorporated with a National
Board of Directors of thirteen officers. The first meeting
is held in Nashville, Tennessee.
1993 ─────────────────────────────────────────────
Reunion Magazine Feature
Featured in the spring issue of Reunion Magazine,
highlighting the family's commitment to youth participation,
education, conflict resolution, peace, love, and unity.
1999 ─────────────────────────────────────────────
The Shurn Website Launches
www.shurn.com debuts — made possible through the efforts
of Barron Shurn, Arthur Shurn, and Fred D. Shurn.
Fred D. Shurn financed the project; Barron Shurn served as
senior technician; Arthur Shurn served as project manager.
Committee members: Noricka Greyer, Eric Crenshaw,
Rick Shurn and Gwen Humphries.
2021 ─────────────────────────────────────────────
Legacy Continues
After more than 70 years of reunions, the Shurn Family
Tradition is alive and well — growing, glowing, and
stepping boldly into the new millennium.
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❝ The sky is not our limit — it is our beginning.
With love and family as the two main elements that keep
us tightly knit and woven together, we look forward to
a bright and prosperous future. ❞
— The Shurn Family
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✦ The Shurn Family Reunion · Est. 1950 · Inc. 1992 ✦
Official Website: www.shurn.com
SHURN FAMILY · 1844 – PRESENT · ALL GENERATIONS WELCOMED
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