Aunt Eulette Arrington is the sister of my grandmother (my mom’s mom) Lillian Johnson. She had three sisters and one brother who all have passed on. She is a lifelong resident of Massillon and was married 73 years to my late Great Uncle Chat Arrington. Going to Sunday church service was big part of my upbringing and Aunt Eulette has been a faithful member of St. James AME Zion Church for 90 years. Matter of-fact, she is the last living original member of the "Keep Moving Club", established in 1940 during World War II for the purpose of maintaining charitable services for church members and the community. Our annual Lancaster Family Reunion is a big deal and is one of the largest African American family reunions in the country. I actually hosted the reunion in Chicago in 2015, the last reunion my mom attended before she passed. Aunt Eulette is the co-founder and we have celebrated family reunions for over fifty years, in twenty-three states, attended by more than 400 family members. She is the National Matriarch of the Lancaster Family.
Aunt Eulette is the proud mother of five children, has nine grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and nineteen great-great grandchildren located across the country. She has always valued education and has supported educational opportunities for her own children as well as the entire family. Like most families, good food surrounds our get togethers and Aunt Eulette is known for her delicious pound cakes and homemade dinner rolls. As a chubby kid who loved sweets, I especially remember going back to the dessert table many times to grab a slice of Aunt Eulette’s pound cake. Ridiculously delicious!
Aunt Eulette with her sisters.
Standing left to right: Eunice and Pearl. Sitting: Lillian