Descendants of the Henry Miles and Josephine Hopkins Earnhardt met Sunday, Oct. 27 for the 17th Earnhardt reunion at the Union Lutheran Church on Bringle Ferry Road. More than 80 family members attended.

The Earnhardt live in the Dunns Mountain and Crystal Lake areas. Their eight children were Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman, Charlie Edward Earnhardt, Della Earnhardt Wyatt, James David Earnhardt, Samuel Council Earnhardt, Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman, John Henry Earnhardt and Dock Earnhardt. The oldest living descendants are Edna Earnhardt Bentley, 91 (Charlie Edward Earnhardt) and Earl Davis Earnhardt, 86 (Samuel Council Earnhardt).

Amy Earnhardt Blackman (Charlie Edward Earnhardt) welcomed everyone to the gathering and gave a past-year history of the descendants. She gave the blessing before the covered dish lunch. Copies in memory of the deceased members were given out. Past reunion pictures were on display. Fall colors of orange and golden brown and harvest decorations decorated the dining area.
The family remembered members who were sick: Edna Earnhardt Bentley (Charlie Edward Earnhardt), Lamar Langley (Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman), Earl Davis Earnhardt, Paul Livengood and Sam Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt).

October is Spina Bifida and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The family remembered the ones who are facing these challenges. The family also remembered those who are serving in our military forces.
The family had one birth since the last reunion: Zoey Marie Owens (Charlie Edward Earnhardt).
Marriages since the last reunion were Adam and Anna Earnhardt, Sarah Hathcock and Ross Gadd (Charlie Edward Earnhardt), and Larry and Elisa Bentley, April Honeycutt and Scott Blymer (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman).

Gold coins were given to the young descendants in attendance: Nora Earnhardt, Harlie Nicole Earnhardt, Harley Grace Earnhardt, Isley Dakota Earnhardt, and Kammie Marie Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt).
Halloween treat bags were given to all the children present.

Deaths since the last reunion were Rosie Lee Ridenhour (Samuel Council Earnhardt), David Hartman and Kim Leffew Givens (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman), Roland Lewis Langley and Gerald Eugene Earnhardt (Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman) and Clifford Earnhardt.

Reunion coordinator was Amy Earnhardt Blackman (Charlie Edward Earnhardt). The Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman and Samuel Council Earnhardt families had the most descendants present.
Stephanie and Justin Sanders of South Carolina traveled the farthest. Family members and guests attended from Lexington, Mooresville, Salisbury, Spencer, Rockwell, Granite Quarry, Kannapolis, Gold Hill and South Carolina.