The 61st annual reunion of the descendants of Arthur Alonzo Cartner and Mary Cora Stroud Carner was Sunday, June 17 in the fellowship hall of Clarksbury United Methodist Church near Harmony.

The first Cartner reunion was held at V-Point Community Center in 1954, with 100 family members present. The community building was built by the seven Cartner brothers and other community members.

Seventy-two family members signed the register for the 61st reunion; 14 were grandchildren of Arthur Alonzo Cartner and Mary Cora Stroud Cartner.

After a welcome by President Andy Cartner, son of Clayton Cartner and Mildred Anderson Cartner, there was a brief business meeting before the meal. The minutes for the 2014 reunion were presented by Coleen Cartner Peacock, daughter of Clyde “Boo” Alexander Cartner and Blanche Richardson Cartner.

Marriages, births and deaths for the previous year were read and copies were made available. This will be included with pictures and written details in the Pictorial History Book of the Descendants of the A.A. Cartner Family.

Lunch was serve picnic style, as is traditional.

“We are so proud of our heritage, and it is always good to come together with family and share precious memories,” said Coleen Cartner Peacock.

The Cartners lived in Davie County and are of Dutch descent. As the family grew, they purchased property in Iredell County and settled on Cartner Road to raise the family.

“We hope to keep this family reunion going for future generations of Cartner descendants to cherish their roots,” she said.