When and Where? Dates August 7 th -10 th , 2008 Venues

1. Easley Family Reunion Newsletter – November 2007 • When and Where? • Dates • August 7th-10th, 2008 • Venues • Hotel – Crown Plaza Atlanta Perimeter, NW, Atlanta, GA • Note: To achieve the stated goals of the reunion, we are asking in-town as well as out-of-town guests to register and stay at this location. • Family Picnic – Sun Valley Beach • Activities include – Swimming ,tennis, horseshoes, volleyball, softball, miniature golf, spades tournaments, games, karaoke, talent show, etc. • Great Shopping and Site seeing only minutes away from hotel • Location. • ***Transportation to/from all venues will be provided for those out of town guests who do not have transportation!**** 50 • $$$$ What will it cost me? $$$ • Reunion Fees: (includes banquet, picnic & T-shirt) • Adults $90 • Children – 10-17 $80 • Children – 3-9 $50 • **50% deposit per attendee due 11/15/07 • Make Checks payable to: Easley Family Foundation • C/O Eugenia Thompson • 94 LaSalle Lane • Douglasville, GA 30134 • Hotel Fees: (30 room block reserved under Easley Family Reunion. Please mention when making reservations. Book NOW to secure rates below. Your card will not be charged until you check in.) • King or Double - $89.00 + 14% tax • (3 nights -$304.38) • *Executive King - $94.00 + tax • ( 3 nights is $321.48) * Includes microwave, • refrigerator and pull out sofa. • ***4 person maximum occupancy per room*** • To reserve rooms call: Crowne Plaza Perimeter, NW @ (770) 955-1700 or (800) 227-6963. Reunion ItineraryThursday, Aug 7th Registration 3:00 pm – 9:00 p.m.Thursday, Aug 7th Meet & Greet 7:00 pm – 11:00 p. m. Game Night Friday, Aug 8th Family Picnic 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 pm Karaoke/ Talent Career exhibition Saturday, Aug 9th Free time all day till 5:00 pm Shopping/Site SeeingSaturday, Aug 9th Family Tribute 6:00 pm-7:00 pmSaturday, Aug 9th Family Banquet 7:00 pm - 9:30 pmSaturday, Aug 9th Family Social 9:30 pm – 12:00 pmSunday, Aug 10th Morning Service 8:30 am – 10:30 amSunday, Aug 10th Checkout 12:00 pm 30 20 10 4 Visit the family website @ www.easleyfamily.myevents.com Post pictures, share childhood stories and remembrances of your parents, grandparents, brothers/sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts. Share your ideas for reunion activities. We WANT ideas! Receive weekly updates and information on progress of the reunion committees. Join one if you’d like! We need the help! **REMINDER – REUNION DEPOSIT DUE BY NOVEMBER 15TH!**

2. Historical Perspective – The Seven Hearts of Gold The theme of the Easley Family reunion is “Richard & Ida’s Seven Hearts of Gold”. The number “Seven” symbolizes perfection and is God’s perfect number. The “Heart” is the essential or most vital part of something. It represents the lifeline that pumps and perpetuates life and is the symbol that universally represents love. “Gold” symbolizes one of the most precious and valuable metals that holds and maintains it’s value. It has, since the beginning of time, been valued as the finest of its kind and sought after for it’s value and power as a vehicle to achieve prosperity and wealth. Richard Eugene Sr. and Ida Mae Easley, viewed their children as precious jewels, given, blessed and perfected by God. They were loved, valued and considered the instruments through which power and wealth could be derived to maintain and promote the Easley family. Richard formed a club which consisted of the 7 surviving, of 17 birthed, children of he and his wife Ida. Formed to be a family oriented social, political and economic instrument through which wealth, and socio-economic success would proliferate, Eugenia, Richard Jr., Mary, Helen, Rosalie, Joe and Pearl became affectionately known as “The Seven Hearts of Gold.” Originally organized as a club, the family would meet on a regular basis to discuss different political and social issues. As equally important, one of the main objectives was to look at economically viable opportunities to develop family-owned businesses that would provide the resources for self-determination and economic independence. This spoke to our fathers/grandfather’s character as a socially, politically and economically business minded visionary who believed that these as well as education were important things for his children and family to achieve. These values were manifested in his own life. He was recognized and operated as a business leader, who was very involved and influential in social, political and economic matters. He promoted education as an opportunity to be leveraged to achieve success. While the Seven Hearts of Gold never realized his and Ida’s dreams and aspirations for economic success, as a unit, individually many were very involved in business, social, political and religious organizations that eventually realized and achieved some of his dreams after his death. Embodied in his children and his children’s children, and his children’s children’s children are these ideals and ambitions. It is our duty as the legacy of Richard and Ida to be the instruments through which love, social and political activism, educational advancement and wealth are achieved. We are the proud descendants of Richard and Ida Easley and their “Seven Hearts of Gold.” Look for more in-depth profiles of Richard, Ida and the each of the seven hearts of Gold in upcoming issues of this newsletter. Birthdays Family Fun Facts Ida Easley had the same number of grand daughters as she did daughters. That number is 5 One of the 7 hearts, Joseph Louis was named after a famous boxer known as the “Brown Bomber.” This boxer who became heavy weight champion of the world is known as one, if not the greatest, prize fighters of all-time. Our Uncle and brother Joe would score some great knock outs during his lifetime. 7 Hearts of Gold Nicknames Eugenia –”Big Ma” Rosalie – “none’ Richard – “none” Pearl – “Pig” Mary – “Liz” Joseph – “Joe Louis” Helen – “none” ****Send us your nicknames to publish in for our next newsletter!!! **** • Did You Know? • 4 of the 7 hearts of gold were born in or near Richmond, Virginia. The youngest 3 were born in Lackawanna, NY where the family settled and where much of the family still resides.. • Richard and Ida were foster parents and raised 23 foster children in addition to their own. • Richard E. Easley Sr. was one of 2 African-Americans on the committee that was instrumental in getting the Baker Homes in Lackawanna built? • Two streets in the Lackawanna’s Baker Homes are named after families in the Easley lineage: “Swygert” Street and “Thomas” Terrace. To have your birthday published, please provide your information to William Thomas @thomaswilliame@bellsouth.net or (678)618-4803. Contacts Reunion Coordinator William E. Thomas (Mary) – (678)618-4803 or (404) 557-7888 Email: thomaswilliame@bellsouth.net Events Coordinator Eugenia Thompson (Eugenia) – (770) 827-8477 Communications/Website Coordinator Ronald (Bam) Thomas - (202) 288-5257 E-mail: Ronald.Thomas3@va.gov Family Liaisons LaTashia Martin - (716) 316-7335 (Buffalo) Michelle Easley - (703) 266-2621 (Virginia) Donald Thomas - ( 716) 895-9884 (Buffalo) Sheila Johnson – ( 716) 835-6639 (Buffalo) Willie Riggins - (612) 208-1255 (Minnesota) Key Dates: November 15, 2007 – Initial Deposit due December 1 – Submissions for December Newsletter due March 1, 2008 – Reunion Balance Due July 8, 2008 – Last date to get discount room rate Understanding the facts and information contained in this newsletter could win you a fabulous prize at the reunion. Knowledge is power!