Family History

Our Family History 

This is true of many American  black families. The Simpson-Smith family received its name from former slaver owners. The owners Oliver Simpson and Chapman Smith are believed to have migrated to Attala, Mississippi from Alabama and northern North Carolina. Two of their slaves Bill Simpson and Steve Smith inherited their sir name from their master. From this Mississippi plantation established in 1833, the Ashford, Knox, Robinson, Simpson, and Smith family history begins.

Steve and Emily Smith ,were married during slavery and in their union ten children were born. Molly, Vinnie, Emma, Nancy, Fannie, Anna, Lula, William, Henry, and Gus.

Bill and Eliza Simpson married after abolition of slavery and in their union six children were born. Luann, Betsyann, Jim, Daniel, Wheeler and Willie.

Fannie Smith married Dave Alston, and in their union seven children were born. Calvin, Annie Bell, Irene, Dolly, Jack, Jake and Florence.

Molly Smith married Pete Knox, and in their union nine children were born. Steve, Walter, George, Robert Lee, Lovenia, Minnie, John Wesley, Lillie, and John Henry

Nancy Smith married Nelson William Robinson Sr. and in their union five children were born.  Annie Lee, Charity, Irvin, Nelson William Jr. and Mary Jane. (Marks the beginning of Smith-Robinson)

Vinnie Smith married Willie Simpson, and in their union ten children were born. Norman, Burley, Bennie, Monettie, Jim, Ida B, Daniel, Roosevelt, Steve, and Ruth. (Marks the beginning of Smith-Simpson)

William Smith married Mattie Ashford, and in their union ten children were born. Nola  Lee, Elmer, Lubertha, Estella, Victoria, Fred, Benjamin, Louise, William Isaiah, George Sterling, and Roger Albert. (Marks the begining of Smith-Ahsford begining)

Augustus (aka) Gus Smith married Mary, and in their union one child was born, Carl. Gus later married Lela and in that union, thirteen children were born. AD, Birley, Lee, Charlie, Clinton, Herman, Johnny,  Leonard, Sammie, Steve, Willie, Jimmie and Sam. Gus' third marriage with Luella conceived five children,  Helen, Clyde, Erma, Mildred, and Lee.

As firm believers in education and having a close alliance with God, the family was instrumental with establishing schools and churches  in their local communities. Today, members of the Ashford, Knox, Robinson, Simpson, and Smith families continue the legacy of service and leadership originally taught by our forefathers. As doctors, lawyers, business people, politicians, musicians, ministers, and scholars, we continue to exemplify the roots of strong heritage.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The idea to begin our family reunions was planted in my mind in 1940 when Grandpa Pete (Peter Knox) invited all of his children, their children, and extended families, to come to McCool, Mississippi for a family reunion at his home.  Over a hundred came and this was a grand affair. We met new family members and renewed our closeness with the old.

The next few years brought many changes.  We lost Grandpa Pete, then about 1950 we lost Grandma Mollie (Molly Smith).  We lost my mother Aunt Iva (Ivy Ashford Knox), daughter of Jessie and Victoria Ashford in 1966.  After her loss, I decided that it was time, again, to gather the clan together to renew our kinship. I issued the call for our families to come to Sikeston in 1967.  My father, John Wesley Knox (Uncle West) was still living and so was Uncle George. Papa was now the oldest in our clan so it was appropriate that we all should gather in Sikeston and pay due respect to him and Uncle George. Many of you had fond memories of "Uncle West's" guiding hand in your growing-up years and were happy to come.

The first year we counted 106 family members who came from 10 different states. It was truly an affair to remember, and I was proud to be your hostess, along with my sister, Rosa, and cousin Flora.

We met in Sikeston for several years. After my father's death in 1977, others expressed a desire to have us come to their state. Cousin Winifred Ashford invited us to meet in McCool, Mississippi, the original home place.  In 1984, and in 1985 our Detroit cousins invited us to come to Detroit. This was another unforgettable reunion.

In 1986 we convened in St. Louis, Missouri, where we had a wonderful time. Our first day included meeting at the William Smith Funeral Home for lunch on the lawn.  That was followed by our settling into the beautiful Forest Park Hotel to commune with other family members. Saturday included a tour of the city and a beautiful banquet that evening. Then it was back to Forest Park Hotel to cap of the night with a dance. On Sunday, we completed the reunion at an awarding service at the Union Memorial Methodist Church.  Dr. J. Lavon Kincaid provided an excellent sermon. We dined in the church's fellowship hall and then departed for our homes, more than 250 people were in attendance for this reunion. In 1987 we gathered in the familiar city of Sikeston, Missouri, and were graciously entertained. St. Louis hosted us again in 1988 and provided us with interesting experiences.  

In 1989, we were in Athens. Alabama for "the tie that binds", and this year 1990, we are invited to Cleveland, Ohio. Truly, I can say like the Biblical David in Psalms 16:6-"The lines are fallen unto me in the pleasant places, YEA I HAVE A GODLY HERITAGE". 
 

In 2021 we found out that there was another branch of the AKRSS family that we were not aware of heretofore. This branch had a rich history of family reunions as well. Rooted originally in Mississippi, this branch were the descendants of Henry Smith, the older brother of our patriarch Steven Smith. During our reunion in St. Louis in 2022, members of that group of family members joined us. In 2024 at the Norfolk reunion that group will be attending in significant numbers.

Our family continues to grow!

Edna Knox Woods

In June of 2024 the AKRSS family reunion was held in Norfolk, VA. A time was had as over 95 family members descended upon the oceanside destination.  This marked a turning point as the reunion now focused on making the reunion more destination driven versus our traditional format of having cities host each reunion.