It Started With Her
The story of Mama Jean and the love that continues to bring our family together.
Cousins Camp is more than a trip. It is the continuation of something deeply rooted in our family.
It began with Ruth Jeannette Smith, lovingly known as Mama Jean. She believed family was not something to be taken for granted. It was something to nurture, celebrate, and keep connected.
Mama Jean had a gift for bringing people together. She did it through shared meals, family traditions, handmade cards, annual calendars, and the simple act of making everyone feel remembered. She understood that love often lives in the little things. A favorite recipe. A birthday marked on a calendar. A phone call. A seat at the table.
Her faith, strength, warmth, and devotion to family shaped generations. She believed that disagreements should never become stronger than the bond of family, and that there should always be room for one more.
That same spirit is the heart of Cousins Camp.
Cousins Camp gives us a place to reconnect, laugh, rest, share stories, and create memories with the people who know us best. It is a reminder that family is worth the time, the effort, and the joy of showing up.
Mama Jean planted that seed with love.
Every time we gather, we help it grow.