The growth in membership this year just exceeded 100 and there were
454 members by then. The host was Ruby Alford Heard and there were
over 80 member families with over 140 persons present.
State families represented were: Mississippi 27; Texas 16; Louisiana
11, Arkansas 5; California 4; three each from Virginia, Georgia, Florida
and Alabama; two from Kansas, and one each from New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, Missouri, and Washington.
Prior to the Jackson meeting, Julius Alford had resigned as treasurer
and Doris Alford Vetri was appointed to fill that position pending
the next election; Bill Mitchiner also found it necessary to resign
as Genealogist. Alicia Houston was appointed to serve as a combined
Genealogist and Census Project Officer; and Elizabeth Hawes Hazlip
was appointed as AAFA's first National Publicist. Five new directors
were added in Jackson: Alicia Roundy Houston, James P. Alford of Houston,
H. Harold Alford, Nancy Alford Dietrich, and Raymond Alford. New Officers
were elected as follows: H. Harold Alford, President; Raymond Alford,
Vice President; Max Ray Alford, Secretary; and Doris Alford Vetri,
Treasurer. Lodwick, past president, was honored by being named Chairman
of the Board of Directors. The format followed in Raleigh was so successful
that we continued it in Jackson: Friday night reception, Saturday
morning business meeting, Saturday afternoon Alford Family Forum,
Saturday evening banquet, and Sunday morning workshop. The workshop
grew as AAFA's records accumulated, with Gil and his wife Mary loading
their van with books, binders, and boxes so attendees could research
their family lines at the meeting. Some of the members were invited
to church and lunch at one of the local churches which was historically
connected with the Alfords. Of course a cemetery tour was included.
