In April 2026, the NZ Society of Genealogists scheduled a Nelson Branch Meeting to help members trace their family trees—a common first step for those planning their own family reunions. Planning Your Own Family Reunion
By noon, the tables were full. Fried catfish, collard greens, cornbread, and three kinds of casserole. Aunt Ruby’s sweet potato pie took up a whole table by itself. Kids ran barefoot through the grass while the elders sat in lawn chairs, fanning themselves and telling stories that got taller every year. karla nelson family reunion
With love, The Reunion Committee
The reunion serves as a "constant" in the family's life, providing a dedicated space for 31 cousins and multiple generations to bond beyond their daily lives. Key Activities: In April 2026, the NZ Society of Genealogists
“Mama Karla,” as she is affectionately known to even distant cousins, started the reunion tradition in 1998. At the time, her own children had begun scattering across the country for college and careers. Christmas gatherings had become rushed, funeral attendance was becoming the only time the full family saw each other, and Karla felt a deep, aching need for celebration rather than mourning. Aunt Ruby’s sweet potato pie took up a
Saturday is the formal peak. The family dons their themed T-shirts (past themes: “Nelson Strong,” “Rooted & Rising,” “Karla’s Krew”) and gathers for a catered Southern buffet: fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, banana pudding, and Karla’s famous sweet potato pie.
To understand the reunion, you must first understand the woman behind the name. Karla Nelson, now 78 years young, is a retired schoolteacher, a former community organizer, and a mother of seven. Born in 1946 in the small town of Opelousas, Louisiana, Karla grew up in a household where the dining table was always extendable and the front door was never locked.