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| Volume XXIII Number 1 | January 11, 2002 |
Osceola Family Reunion Held
By Janice BillieBIG CYPRESS - Like a gathering of small nations, the descendents of Jimmy Truitt (Big Town Clan) and Mary Motlow Osceola (Bird Clan) met at the Herman Osceola Gym for an amazing and warm family reunion in November.
Now one of the largest families in the Seminole Tribe, the many Osceola descendents reside mainly on the Hollywood Reservation but have family members living in Big Cypress, Tampa, Brighton and the Miccosukee Reservation.
Jimmy and Mary had six sons and three daughters, Frank Osceola, (deceased) Bill Osceola, (deceased) Joe Osceola (76), Dan Osceola (73), Max Osceola, Sr., (deceased) Jimmy Hank Osceola (65), Maggie Osceola (approximately 83), Betty Osceola (69), and Annie Osceola Jumper (60).
One of the sons, Bill, was involved with the organizing of the Seminole Tribe in the 1950's. He was the first president of the Seminole Tribe Board of Directors when the Tribe was formally organized in 1957.
He later served as pastor of the Independent Mikasuky Baptist Church in Hollywood for many years. His daughter, Priscilla Sayen has served the Tribe as Secretary-Treasurer for over twenty years.
Two grandsons, Bill's son, Marcellus Osceola, and Max's son, Max Osceola Jr., became representatives to the Tribal Council and Max's adopted son, James E. Billie, served as Seminole Tribal Chairman for over twenty years.
The family originally came from the Everglades, near what is now the Miccosukee Indian Reservation along Highway 41, west of Miami. They lived in traditional camps situated in the heart of the Florida swamps.
Hunting and fishing were the means of living during those times and it was a fairly simple way of life that Jimmy and Mary knew as the first of their children were born. However, as son Dan Osceola remembers, it was a way of life that began to change when he was still a boy.
Due to the state's project of draining parts of the Everglades for management purposes, families were not able to travel by boats and canoes to and from the isolated camps as before. Hunting and fishing were greatly affected, generating resettlements closer to old Highway 41 and possible employment in Homestead and Miami.
Second born daughter, Betty Osceola recalls her and her siblings picking vegetables on farms in and around Homestead and Hialeah to contribute to the family income. Eventually, the Osceola family moved to Miami into a Seminole village recreated in a tourist attraction called Musa Isle.
In those days, these establishments were a means of survival for many Seminole and Miccosukee families. The families were paid a weekly or monthly wage in addition to family members finding employment within the city. Sons Joe, Dan and Max worked parking cars in downtown Miami.
In the mid 1940's, the family moved to Hollywood, settling in a camp located off of State Road 7, just south of the present day Seminole Casino. The older children were starting families of their own, but the family remained close and lived near each other throughout the years.
Jimmy Truitt Osceola passed away in 1948. Mary Motlow Osceola lived to be over a hundred years old, endeared and honored by many. The legacy of Jimmy and Mary is a spirit of survival, family unity and love. This is the legacy the descendents of this family came to celebrate, honor and keep alive at this 2001 reunion.
Not everyone of the over 350 family members could make it, but a good number of them did. Dan and Leoda Osceola were surely missed. Dan was recuperating from a very recent illness and could not travel.
Attendees began arriving at the reunion at mid-morning. Registering at the entrance of the gymnasium, all family members and guests received a commemorative t-shirt and tickets for door prizes. The t-shirt had a reproduction of a portrait of Jimmy Truitt and Mary Motlow Osceola and the names of their children.
Guests of honor were the surviving brothers and sisters: Maggie, Joe, Betty, Jimmy Hank, and Annie. The three brothers who have passed on were represented by family members.
Frank Osceola was represented by his widow, Ruby Osceola of Tampa. Ruby is 106 years of age and is one the oldest honored elders of the Seminole Tribe. Bill Osceola was represented by his oldest son, Raymond Osceola. Max Sr. was represented by sons James Billie, Max Osceola, Jr., Steve Osceola, and Mitch Osceola.
Formal words of welcome and good wishes were spoken by each guest of honor. Both Joe and Jimmy Hank took the opportunity to give testimony and minister the word of God to the gathering. Betty Osceola encouraged the youth to take the time to acknowledge their places in life by honoring where they came from and making a commitment to family values.
Dan's granddaughter, Allison Osceola, researched the long reaching branches of the family tree and compiled a record of all the descendents. Painstakingly illustrated on display boards, many were amazed and delighted with the number of family members. Family photos contributed by each family were also displayed for viewing.
Bounce houses and candy filled piñatas for the children added to the atmosphere of celebration. Lunch and a delicious Thanksgiving meal was prepared and served by Family Catering of Westin.
Still doing what he does best at special occasions, Paul Buster provided some of the music for the day. Jonah Cypress also shared his gift of music for the family, teaming up with Big Cypress resident Sadie Cypress to sing gospel and Miccosukee hymns.
The idea for a reunion initially started with Joe Osceola, he wanted to get together with his brothers and sisters and celebrate the enduring legacy of their parents. A committee of younger family members was formed to plan and coordinate the reunion.
The result was a very special occasion that fostered acknowledgement, respect and remembrance of two people who started a family in the heart of the Everglades.
The Osceola Family would like to thank the following people for their consideration and contribution to the success of the Osceola Family Reunion: Tribal Councilmen Max Osceola Jr. and David Cypress, Seminole Board of Directors President/Acting Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Barbara Billie, Nutritionist Jennifer Duncan, Jennifer's mom Maria, Diane Buster, and Paul Buster.
Also, a special thanks to Jack Gorton and his staff for reserving the gym and setting up tables and chairs and Chef Brad and his staff for an outstanding job preparing the food. The family hopes to have another reunion sometime in 2002.
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