untold stories

MCJ’s Family Research Team presents a gallery of videos featuring family members who explain connections, origins, and untold stories of our reunions. It brings peace of mind to hear about founding members of MCJ who are no longer here to tell it firsthand. Take time to listen and enjoy the beauty of our rich, interesting history.

the stories below are possible thanks to our incredible Family Research Team

  • Ann Owens

  • Carolyn Holloway

  • Curtis Barfield

  • Pat Love

  • SiVan Hunter

  • Terrilyn Johnson

  • Vincent Johnson

  • Diana Barnes

  • Diana Smith Robinson

  • Tamika Law

  • JOSEPH FITZGERALD COLLINS

  • Pearl Askew

  • Vada Johnson

  • Justin Johnson​

  • PAT SMITH

The stories

behind the names

Willie and Minnie Mae Collins

a 1974 cbs special on ida bell collins' son, willie and his wife minnie

Minnie and Willie Collins forged a life together in Kansas City, Missouri after traveling north from Mississippi in search of better employment opportunities. The couple gave birth to 7 sons who carry on the Collins the name, one of whom is our current MCJ Reunion President, Ernest Collins. In this rare footage, the entire family gathers to sing Happy Birthday to Willie’s mother Ida one final time before her passing that year. An aerial view captures the family on their 450-acre property in Charleston, Mississippi.

DIANA SMITH ROBINSON

HOW BELLAMY CONNECTs TO MCJ. DNA CONFIRMED.

Family history and DNA research have helped confirm even deeper connections.

Mary Hill Wright married Nathaniel Metcalf, who came from a larger family.

One of his siblings was Candace Metcalf, the third child of Joseph Metcalf and Bettie.

Candace married twice, first to Harry Quarles and then to Henry Bellamy. Between these two marriages, she had fifteen children, expanding the Metcalf family line even further.

— DIANA SMITH ROBINSON

VINCENT O. JOHNSON

johnson's connection, lessons, & more.

A great listen from a great soul who carries the Johnson name.

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father of → Nathaniel A. Metcalf Jr.
Nathaniel Metcalf Jr. → brother of → Mattie Lee Metcalf
Mattie Lee Metcalf → wife of → V.O. Johnson
V.O. Johnson → father of → Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson → father of → O.V. Johnson
O.V. Johnson → father of → Vincent O. Johnson

Ernestine Metcalf

THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF ALMA METCALF

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father of → Nathaniel A. Metcalf Jr.
Nathaniel A. Metcalf Jr. → father of → Alma Metcalf
Alma Metcalf → mother of → Ernestine, Jane, Patricia, Gloria, Dorothy

Ernestine & Sisters: Jane, pat, gloria, and dorothy

A beautiful discussion among five sisters who are the granddaughters of the MCJ matriarch, Mary Hill.

Diana Barnes

Inisher Collins

THE grandDAUGHTER OF ida bell metcalf

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Robert Collins
Robert and Geneva Collins→ father and mother of → Inisher Collins

Dorice Metcalf Johnson

Jerry Johnson

Ezekiel Johnson

JUDITH

alma flippen

THE grandDAUGHTER OF ALMA METCALF

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father of → Nathaniel A. Metcalf Jr.
Nathaniel A. Metcalf Jr. and Addy Robinson → father and mother of → Alma Metcalf
Alma Bivens Metcalf → mother of → Ernestine, Jane, Patricia, Gloria, Dorothy
Gloria Wright → mother of → Alma Flippen

ERNEST COLLINS, TAMIKA LAW, SIVAN HUNTER, & JOSEPH COLLINS

ERNEST COLLINS

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell Collins and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Willie Collins
Willie Collins and Minnie Mae Collins → father and mother of → Ernest Collins

TAMIKA Law

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Robert Collins
Robert and Geneva Collins→ father and mother of → Brenda Collins
Brenda Law Collins → mother of → Tamika Law

sivan hunter

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Robert Collins
Robert and Geneva Collins→ father and mother of → Inisher Collins
Inisher Collins → mother of → Sivan Hunter

joseph COLLINS

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Robert Collins
Robert and Geneva Collins→ father and mother of → Joseph Collins

pearl askew

THE grandDAUGHTER OF ida bell metcalf

Connection:

Mary Hill and Nathaniel Metcalf → mother and father → Ida Bell Metcalf (Collins)
Ida Bell and Lane Lee Collins → mother and father of → Pearlie Mae Collins
Pearlie Mae Collins and Hollis Askew → mother and father of → Pearl Askew

TELL YOUR STORY.

TELL YOUR STORY.

If you have any information to share, please email us, and we will help you create a video to be shared on this page.

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