On Labor Day in 1969, in Memphis Tennessee, Herbert Coleman (deceased) and his wife Claytine had an old friend, Gervace Cox and his wife Lolita coming to visit them from Houston, Texas. Gervace and Lolita brought two friends James and Rosa Campbell with them. Leroy Taylor and his wife June, James Campbell’s cousin, and Charles Hudson, also a cousin and his wife Delores, from New Orleans, had planned to visit the Campbell’s in Houston for Labor Day. Since the Campbell’s were not going to be in Houston, the Taylor’s and the Hudson’s decided to join them in Memphis.

While in Memphis, the group from Houston and New Orleans met Alton Coleman (Herbert’s cousin) and his wife Rose. They also met Sam and Alice Helm, Johnny and Martel Lagrone, and Alvin and Betty Reynolds. Long lasting friendships developed from this visit.

During the following year, the group decided that since they had such a good time together, they would meet again in New Orleans for the 4th of July. This group of friends invited other friends to join them.

Initially, the “friends” met in New Orleans, Houston, Memphis, and St. Louis, Missouri (once) on a rotating basis, often twice a year. They were entertained in the homes of members of the hosting city. Leroy Taylor started calling the group the “Friendship Group”.

On July 4, 1977, Frank Butler and his wife Verta attended the group’s reunion in Houston, Texas. Frank and Verta had a great time with the group and invited them to San Antonio for July 4, 1978. On July 4, 1982, Richard and Jessie Bowers of Nashville, Tennessee were guest at the reunion in San Antonio, Texas. So on July 4, 1984, the Bowers of Nashville, were co-host with Memphis. The 1988 reunion was held in Nashville, Tennessee. In July 2002, the group received a request from Robert Pinkney, of Charleston, South Carolina, to join the Friendship Group. In July 2003 the Charleston Group was accepted into the Friendship Group. In July 2004, Marva Thomas and Belinda Rivers of the Charleston Friendship were in attendance at the reunion in Houston, Texas.  On July 4, 2005 Robert Pinkney and the Charleston Friendship Group, in Charleston, South Carolina, hosted the reunion.

 

In July 2010, Josephine Smith of the San Antonio Friendship Group invited some of her friends from Atlanta and the surrounding area to the reunion in Charleston, South Carolina. Some of the friends showed an interest in becoming members of the group. A committee was formed to develop criteria, for groups wanting to become members of the Friendship Group. The criteria were sent to Mildred Cross of Atlanta, Georgia who began calling friends in her area and formed the Atlanta Group. On 15 July 2011, at the annual reunion in San Antonio, Texas the Atlanta Group was accepted into the Friendship Group.

The organization has held its reunion during the 4th of July holiday every year since 1975. The logo was designed by Ann Lofton in 1983. Presently, there are chapters in Atlanta, Houston,  San Antonio, Nashville, Charleston and New Orleans. Therefore; this is the Friendship Group.