Saturday marked the beginning of the Chiplin-Kelly-Johnson family reunion, a weeklong gathering of people from several cities and states.

While the gathering will include food, fellowship and fun, it will be a time of service and reflection as well.

Sunday, about 50 family members gathered at Cedar Hill Cemetery to unveil a grave marker for an ancestor, Albert Burns, whose resting place had been unmarked for almost 30 years.

&#8220We realized last year that there was no marker,” said Lucille Chiplin Johnson, who organized the event. Six other family members are buried there, spanning several generations.

Today, the family was to decorate more than 350 teddy bears. The toys will be donated to two local nursing homes and pediatric units at River Region Medical Center on Tuesday. On Saturday, the family presented two academic scholarships at a ceremony in Fayette.

And on Wednesday, the family will gather to celebrate Independence Day and two birthdays. The oldest member of the family – 80-year-old Alfred &#8220Buddy” Chiplin and the youngest – 1-year-old Akariyah Chiplin – both celebrate their birthdays on July 4. Johnson, who lives near Dallas, said she expects nearly 200 people to come and go during the five-day event, organized by a five-member committee by phone.

Education was very important to James, said Linda Jackson Assau, a Jackson physician.

&#8220My dad read everyday,” she said. He even quizzed the children during the summer, said Assau, not allowing them to play until he was satisfied they had learned something that day.

&#8220Our family has always done community service – we’re very active in our community,” she said. &#8220We felt we needed to give back to the community.”

The spirit of giving is also a family tradition, she said.

History says the Chiplin family’s initial arrival in Vicksburg was a clandestine event.

The late James and Rosa Chiplin were sharecroppers, living in Fayette. Frustrated and trapped in perpetual debt, James Chiplin visited Vicksburg, saw an opportunity and decided to take advantage of it.

In November 1943, James Chiplin &#8220borrowed” the landowner’s truck, loaded up his family during the evening, drove to Vicksburg, returned the truck to Fayette and then caught a bus back to Vicksburg.

They settled down, bought a house in Marcus Bottom, and eventually opened a small grocery store.

With the money earned from operating the store, James Chiplin was able to buy the house, send all his children to college and stay debt-free.

&#8220It’s amazing how the old folks could take a little bit of money” and stretch it, said Charles Chiplin, who teaches at Jackson State University.

The store saw turbulent times. The Chiplins became involved with the local civil rights movement. It was a move they knew would anger some.

I remember when walking to school, &#8220there was a colored side of the street and a white side of the street,” said Charles Chiplin.

But he didn’t anticipate the events of Sunday, Nov. 4, 1965.

&#8220I’ll never forget the sound of the explosion,” he said.

Someone had parked a car loaded with explosives near the family store and home in Marcus Bottom. &#8220It blew us out of bed,” he said. No one was killed or seriously injured, because the bomb had exploded at 11:30 p.m., two hours later than intended, said officials.

&#8220If it had gone off when it was supposed to, we would have been working in that store,” Chiplin said. While the incident gained national attention, no one was ever charged with the crime. Still, James Chiplin didn’t let the act of terror deter him. The following day, &#8220we were open for business,” Charles Chiplin said.

While time and professional careers have spread the Chiplins, Kellys and Johnsons all over the United States, most live in Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Meanwhile, Vicksburg native Pam Freeman, who works at the Vicksburg Police Department, said she’s quite happy right here.

&#8220I wouldn’t leave Vicksburg for anything in this world – my roots are here,” she said.

While some might consider a family reunion a time to kick back, service is just as satisfying, said Johnson.

&#8220There’s nothing better than doing something for someone else,” she said.