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Jones & Orr Family Reunion:

Executive Team

The Jones & Orr Family Reunion was formed & established in 1983

The Jones & Orr Family Reunion was formed and established in 1983 under the leadership of Odelle Jones Lee and Mary Jackson both of Statesboro, Georgia. The Family held its 1st Family Reunion in Statesboro, Georgia. Since that time, each year the Jones & Orr Family meet in various cities and states across the country to stay connected. Our 1st President was our founder Odelle Jones Lee. She remained President until she appointed John L. Porter of California to become our next President and Larry Leonard became Vice President which a post they held for nearly 17 years. In July 2017, our next generation of leadership was elected and we are proud to announce President (John Williams, Detroit, MI) and Vice President (Alicia Williams, Tampa, Florida) as our new family officers. Under the leadership of this new generation, we aspire to continue with a positive vision that will build on the legacy of our ancestors who paved the way for our Reunion to grow strong and continue to thrive with a zeal of family love and unity.

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President: John Williams, Detroit, MI

John Williams was born in Jacksonville, Florida and raised by his maternal Grandfather Maceo Williams and subsequently his paternal grandmother Melrose Orr-Williams. John graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1987 where he received a number of academic and athletic top honors before moving on to attend and eventually graduate from Morehouse College in 1991. John currently resides in the suburbs north of Detroit, Michigan. He has been married to Shonda Williams (Morris Brown College) for nearly 30 years and together they have six (6) children: Devon (Morehouse College), Simone’ (Florida A&M University), Donte’ (Jackson State University), Enjeune (Oakland University), Justice (Benedict College) and Maceo (Tennessee State University).

It is with great pleasure that I greet each one of you as the President of the Jones & Orr Family Reunion. Both Alicia Williams and myself are eagerly looking forward to sharing our talents and serving our family as we continue to build on our “Family Legacy” and prepare for the “Next Generation”. As we have shared with many of you over the years, it is our sincere desire to continue to put our “Family 1st” as we move forward in providing and ensuring our family has the best reunion experience imaginable. With that understanding, we are asking for your continued support with expanding the footprint of the Jones & Orr Family Reunion and working closely with our Jones-Orr Scholarship Foundation in preparation for the “Next Generation” through our scholarship endeavors and providing a unique reunion experience as unique destinations. With that being said, I would like to congratulate the Host Family for their time and attention given to ensuring we have a grand 41st Family Reunion Celebration and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing everyone there. “Thank YOU” for this tremendous opportunity.” 

President John Williams Detroit MI
John Williams, President
Alicia Lemon Williams, Vice President

Vice President: Alicia Lemon Williams

Alicia Lemon Williams is the granddaughter of Alice Jones Porter, which is the eldest daughter of Furman Jones Sr. Alicia was born to Florecilla Porter Lemon and Henry Lemon in Statesboro, Georgia in 1967. She moved to Florida when she was only a toddler where she grew up and graduated from Sarasota High School in 1985. Alicia gradudated Cum Laude with a degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida in 1989. She would later attend the University of Phoenix where she received her Master’s in Businesss Administration in 2009. Alicia is a Senior Litigation Paralegal / Contracts Negotiator in the Legal Department at Hubbell Corporation. She has two (2) children: Justice Lemon Williams (U.S. Marine) stationed in Columbia, South Carolina and Malia who is 13 (Tampa, Florida.) Alicia is a dynamic motivational speaker whose unique gift has inspired hundreds of people across the country. Alicia currently resides in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida.
“HELLO FAMILY! It is an honor to greet each of you with love and enthusiasm as the newly elected Vice President of the Jones & Orr Family Reunion. With our Family 1st initiative being the foundation of continued success, we hope to move forward and ensure that our family will persist tohave the best reunion experiences in years to come with your love and support. Like the leaders before us,we look forward to perserving our family legacy by working closely with Hosting Families as well as our Jones ~ Orr Scholoarship Foundation in preparation for the “Next Generation” through our scholarship endeavors. As the Lead Host Member for our 40th Family Reunion, I am looking forward to everyone having an awesome time in the Tampa Bay area July 27-30, 2023. We encourage everyone to attend the entire 3 day weekend beginning Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. for the Check-In Registration and Welcome Reception. Blessings to everyone and hope to see you there!”