The Cornute Family Reunion

Overview

The Cornute Family Reunion is still in its infancy with only five (5) events recorded. If there are others that have taken place please don’t hesitate to let us know and provide any details.

Prior to 2005 the reunions were only attended by the descendants of Tate Cornute. However, with the genealogical research ramped up and the discovery of a large contingent of Clark Cornute’s descendants the reunions have expanded.

One Clark Cornute descendant joined the reunion in 2005 then descendants from this line hosted the 2011 and 2013 reunions. We have found balance between Tate and Clark Cornute lines but we are still trying to find descendants of their other three siblings, Henry, George Washington and Frances. Finding their descendants would take the reunion to another level.

The Cornute Family Reunion became a bi-annual event starting in 2011 in an effort to build momentum. Every two years the Cornutes endeavor to reunite somewhere in the country to bond, get to know each other better and create cherished memories.

The Reunions

The first known reunion was the Cornute—Robinson Family Reunion held almost fifty (50) years ago in Ironton, Ohio on July 16-18, 1965. This reunion was well attended with approximately one hundred (100) people representing eight (8) states.
The next reunion of record was held thirty-six (36) years later in Chicago, Illinois in August, 2001. This reunion was hosted by Lovana Jones, Cenita Walker and family, who have again taken up the banner for Reunion—2015.
The hiatus was much shorter for the third (3^rd) reunion Cornute, Calloway and Me held in the Oakland / San Francisco bay area of California on July 7-10, 2005. This reunion was hosted by Cindi Newbold and Family.
Our next reunion was held in Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, DC on July 23-24, 2011 and was hosted by Danita Cornute and Family.
Reunion—2013, Meet Me in Saint Louis, was held on July 19-21, 2013 and was hosted by Bonita Cornute and Family.
Reunion—2015: United and Growing was hosted by Cenita Walker-Scott, Michael Peterson and the Chicago-based family.
Reunion—2017 was being hosted by Ewann Pleasant-Clay and the Cincinnati-based family but was unfortunately canceled.

Hopefully you will find something here that will arouse your interest enough to join us at the next bi-annual reunion.

The Cornute Family Crest

Overview

Back in 2005, in preparation for our family reunion, Karen Joy Pinckard Gill, 2^nd great granddaughter of Tate Cornute, designed the Cornute Family Crest. Karen broke down the symbolism as follows:

The holding hands that encircle our crest stand for our togetherness and unity.
The cross stands for our faith. It is at the top because faith is what we must put first.
The book behind the cross stands for our thirst for knowledge, education and the Good Book, which our ancestors used to learn to read the English language.
The large symbol in the center is the Sankofa, an Adinkra symbol from the Ashante people of Ghana, West Africa. It symbolizes, “go back and fetch it”. It is the symbol for the wisdom of learning from the past in building the future. The Ashante proverb that goes along with it is, “It is not a taboo to go back and retrieve if you forget.” In our crest the Sankofa also stands for our African roots. This particular Sankofa symbol is used because of its heart shape, which stands for the love our family shares.
The soldier and flag on the left of our crest stands for our ancestors who fought to defend and establish our country and/or family.
The mother and child stand for our present and future generations.
Green stands for our growth and prosperity, purple for our spirituality and royal ancestry.

This crest represents the merging of the African branches with the Canute/Cornutt/Cornett lines and was widely adopted.

The Virginia Connection

During a research trip to Virginia we had the privilege to meet with a couple of our Cornett cousins who provided us with the following copy of a Cornett or Canute Coat of Arms. This represents the line of Tate and Clark‘s father, John Cornutt, and should be recognized as such. These two are independent but connected, each with their own meaning.

The Cornute Family Reunion Theme

Overview

The Cornute Family Reunion overall theme, logo and colors were designed and adopted in conjunction with the 2011 reunion. They provide insight into our guiding principles, they are:

Overarching Theme

“I Am Because We Are”

HONORING THE PAST—IMPACTING THE PRESENT—SHAPING THE FUTURE

Ubuntu (pronounced Ooh-BOON-too)

Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are is a South African ethic or philosophy focusing on people’s allegiances and relations with each other.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu offered: A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality—Ubuntu—you are known for your generosity.

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.

We really cannot separate ourselves from each other. We cannot see our actions as separate from the impact on each other. John Cornutt instilled this interconnectedness into his family because he knew that it would be the key to them surviving in the future. Because of this, it’s built right into the fabric of the Cornute family.

Through conversations with our Elders and our detailed research we heard and saw the determination of John Cornutt to preserve the legacy of this family. Each of us has inherited a love of God and Family, determination to fulfill our destinies and thereby continue to shape future generations of Cornute families.

The Seven Headed Unity Statue from Ghana, West Africa was added to the theme symbolizing a deep and strong family unity.

Logo

The Cornute Family Reunion Logo design adopted the overarching principles, the green and purple colors from the Cornute Family Crest and the gold color from the Canute/Cornutt/Cornett Coat of Arms.

Each reunion host/committee sets the reunion dates and their individual theme (e.g., “Meet Me in Saint Louis”) which are added to the logo for that specific reunion.