On July 5th through July 9th 2012 members of the Phillips Family invaded the resort of Callaway Gardens. We meet as a family every two years to celebrate our history pass and future of the family. It is so very interesting that our coordinator would choose Callaway Gardens of Pine Mountain, Ga. Kristin Johnson was born in Dayton, Ohio and is the great grand daughter of the late Nelson Phillips and Idella Phillips of Hogansville, Ga.

Grandfather Howard Phillips and wife Mariah were born into slavery and became sharecroppers. Our grandfather Arthur is a child of Howard who had many brothers and sisters and married China Dickerson of Stovall, Ga. This is a little history of why we gather. Arthur and China gave birth to 16 children. This family grew up in the Meriwether County, Troup, and Harris County, in the town of Greenville, Hogansville, Ga. and other little small towns in the area.

Let the truth be known our family members could have help to develop and build the Callaway Gardens, many could have worked the grounds, could have been cooks,gardeners and caretakers long ago. Kristin from the state of Ohio had no idea of this history and our pass.In the early 1960's Blacks could not enter this park( Callaway) as a guest only as a worker. Callaway build a park for Black's only;the park was called McMillian Park, we would have to pass right by Callaway Gardens to get to the Black Park which only had a large swimming pool and a nice picnic area.

Today we return in large numbers (120) to celebrate our history. We return as Kings and Queens living in the Villas and the hotel of this resort having the time of our lives.

On Thursday evening we celebrated July birthdays with great food and fun. On Friday evening we gave honor to Mrs Catherine Phillips Sewell the last living offspring of Arthur and China Phillips.A citation from the mayor Jimmy Jackson of Hogansville was read and she was given a day in the town of Hogansville named in her honor.Wanda Sewell gave warn tribute in her mother's honor. You know we do nothing without good food special dishes made by different family members. Special shout out to King's Chicken of Lagrange. Every member of the family showed Aunt Catherine love with special tokens.

On Saturday evening we invade the beach where we had and Hawaiian Luau this event was catered by Callaway.

On Sunday Morning we shared a prayer breakfast and praise. The message for the morning was given by Rev. Leroy Stills of Xenia , Ohio. We gathered and shared and now it's time to say goodbye. We did have a brief business meeting and decided to gather in Washington DC in the year 2014.

In the year 2000 we gathered in Baltimore, in 2002 Columbus, Ohio, 2004 Greensboro, NC, 2006, Atlanta, Ga., 2008 Hartford, CT, 2010 Seattle, WA.,2012 Callaway Gardens.