TOM POLAND The descendants of Daniel Lumpkin Walker and Margaret Elizabeth Stephenson Walker met at Fishing Creek Baptist Church for their 87th consecutive annual reunion with author, Tom Poland presenting the program, on Sunday, August 19.

Some of the group enjoyed attending church services at Fishing Creek while others arrived at noon laden with their favorite covered dishes. Before lunch a very pleasant hour was spent greeting old friends, sharing news, looking at vintage photographs and viewing genealogy charts.

At 1 p.m. Roger Walker welcomed the group and Phillip Bunch said grace over the food. After a wonderful covered dish meal Linda Anthony made announcements and introduced the speaker, Tom Poland of Columbia, SC.

Tom is a full time free lance writer and adjunct professor of Journalism at the University of South Carolina. He has written the script for six nonfiction books and has published over 400 articles in local, state, regional and national magazines. His first novel "Forbidden Island: An Island Called Sapelo" was published in March 2007 by Authorhouse. Copies of "Forbidden Island" are available online at all major bookstores.

For six years, the author worked as a scriptwriter and cinematographer, primarily in the South Carolina Lowcountry and its barrier islands. While filming on a primitive barrier island one evening, a fog rolled in, trapping him there overnight. That experience led to "Forbidden Island" and the mythical Georgialina.

Tom gave interesting details of writing this novel and his inspiration for places, names and situations and the group was thoroughly entertained by descriptions of his experiences as an 'Extra' in the George Clooney movie, Leatherheads, filmed in South Carolina.

Tom is the son of the late John Mitchell Poland and Ruth Walker Poland of Lincolnton and is the greatgreat grandson of Daniel Lumpkin Walker and Margaret Stephenson Walker

After the program, group photos were made to be included in the family newsletter. Attending were descendants from the families of William Lawrence Walker and his first wife Georgia Brown Walker, William Lawrence Walker and second wife, Florence Ford Walker, Bid Walker and Emma Morrison Walker, Charlie L. Walker and Janie Bailey Walker. Also a descendant of Dr. O. B. Walker was attended. About 50 people were present.