Whitesboro Family Reunion Attracts Crowd

WHITESBORO – In 1988, members of the Whitesboro community came together to formalize the spirit already existing in the section of Middle Township named for Congressman George White. White was the last African American Republican to serve in Congress from the time just after Reconstruction. The last three days of August saw the celebration of the community and its supporters. It was the 26th Whitesboro Family Reunion.
There were vendors selling handcrafted items, food, books and booths giving information. There were politicians including Middle Township Mayor Timothy Donohue, Committeeman Michael Clark and community activists Melanie Collins and Rosie Jefferson.
Bishop Edgar Robinson delivered the invocation. There were members of the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, the organization hosting the event. There was even a national celebrity, Stedman Graham, who was born and raised in Whitesboro and went off to create an international life through his books and lectures.
Burgess “Butch” Hamer, a retired Middle Township police officer, was honored at the reunion. In her opening remarks, Cheryl Spaulding praised the community in general and then said, “A few stars stand out. Master Hamer is one of them.” Hamer is beloved throughout the community and has assumed many posts in his life. He has been a policeman an accomplished master of the martial arts as well as a teacher and a school board member for Middle Township.
The Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro awarded Hamer their highest tribute. As he stood before the crowd, which included his mother, Bernice Brunson and his son Tim Hamer-King, he thanked all present and had special remarks for his mother, praising her fidelity to him and her unfailing support throughout his life.
Members of the local AARP chapter were in attendance as well as representatives of the “Buffalo Soldiers” from Atlantic City and Hamer’s Muscle World gym “family”.
Graham, who is the executive director of Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro acknowledged Spaulding, Bernie Blanks and Robert Matthews as tireless workers for the local people.
Francie Burke of Burke Motors was on hand with the brand new van bought with the $30,000 she helped raise for the service of disabled veterans. One of those heroic vets was Joe E. Walters. For his extraordinary service in Vietnam he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart as well as a plethora of other awards.
The special guest speaker was John E. Harmon, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of N.J. Named one of “The 50 Most Influential African Americans in the state of New Jersey,” by Black Villages Magazine, January 2012, inaugural edition.
When the official ceremonies came to a conclusion, the crowd was free to dance to the music supplied by radio station WIBG or treat themselves to barbecue, ice cream or hot dogs. To feed the mind they could stop by and see Dr. Cadmus S. Hull and purchase one of the many books he had on display including one on black history, which he authored.
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.