Keys Family Reunion 2026
It’s time for another get together with your Keys relatives! At least it is for the Keys family that I belong to. We’ve gotten back into the good habit of meeting together every two years at a somewhat central location. It’s happening on June 20 at the Catholic Church in Raymond, Louisiana. That’s in Jefferson Davis Parish, if that helps. It will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Two hours either side of noon. Everyone brings tasty food and drink for all to indulge in. I don’t know all the particulars as far as what kinds of activities will take place, but it is always enjoyable. I enjoy seeing family members from near and far.
Henry Alfred “The Judge”, Leonard, Daisy Keys Phenice, Ruth Keys Bryan, and Mabel Keys Miller came from England in 1887 with their mother Marha Ann Cook Keys.
It’s held in Raymond because that’s the area that the first generation of the Keys family lived after they immigrated to the United States from England in 1887. The matriarch of the family was the widow Martha Cook Keys. Her husband Henry Keys died in 1886 when they were discussing the possibility of moving to America. After Henry’s death, she decided to follow through with the plan. She moved her five children to southern Louisiana where her uncle William Horsnell lived. With the help of friends and neighbors, a house was built and they were made to feel welcome in the hamlet of Hathaway.
Martha had some heart issues which ultimately led to her death in 1896 at the age of 59. None of her grandchildren had been born yet. In fact, none of her children had even gotten married. That changed a few years later when Daisy married Harry Clifton Phenice in 1900 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. They settled in Hathaway and had seven children, including my mom’s mom Myrtle Phenice Bucklin. One of the reasons I wrote this blog today was because of a milestone anniversary earlier this week. On Monday (April 20, 2026), it was the 150th anniversary of the birth of Daisy. My niece Alex shares that birthday.
Ruth was the next to marry. She married Bert Bryan in 1901 in Jennings. They had six children together and lived in Raymond Louisiana. They later lived in Jennings. Our family moved to Jennings in 1963, but I don’t think I ever met her. I have a vague memory of a family member dying back then at a nursing home in Jennings. My great grandmother died there, but it was in 1952. I wasn’t around then. Ruth died in 1967 in Jennings. I may have confused the two deaths after hearing about Daisy dying at a nursing home.
Henry Alfred “The Judge” married Eugenia LaFosse in 1902 in Jennings. They settled in Kinder, Louisiana, which is just a few miles west of the Raymond/Hathaway area. They had a dozen children altogether. With all of those children, I’m sure some of their descendants are still in the Kinder area. It would be good to have some of them come to the reunion this year. Leonard married Edessa Havenar in 1907 in Raymond. They settled in Elton, Louisiana, and they had five children together. I always mention family historian Edith Keys Segraves when talking about this family. I also want to mention Edward Russell Keys. He was in the military during World War II. He was killed in action at D-Day in 1944.
The last to get married was the youngest. Mabel married Abraham Miller in 1910 in China, Louisiana. China, Hathaway, and Raymond are all parts of the same community in Jefferson Davis Parish. Mabel and Abraham settled in Kinder, and they had four sons together. So like I said at the beginning of the post, the first generation lived around Raymond/Hathaway. Daisy and Ruth lived there for some time. Ruth moved around ten miles south to Jennings. Mabel was about ten miles north in Elton, while The Judge and Mabel lived fifteen or so miles west in Kinder. They were not too far spread out at that time.
The descendants are spread out all over the country now. But they’re still invited to come to the reunion. Make plans now! Come visit a spell with the family.