“Echoes of our Elders, Rhythm of our Roots”

2026 Grand Chain Family Foundation Nashville Reunion

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

The Grand Chain Family Foundation

2025 GRAND CHAIN LEGACY SWEEPSTAKES

We’re bringing the family together for a cause that matters — and we invite you to join us!

Every entry and donation supports the Grand Chain Family Foundation’s mission to strengthen our legacy, uplift future generations, and preserve the roots that connect us all.

Your generosity helps offset the costs of our biennial family reunions — keeping them accessible and meaningful for every generation — while also funding scholarships 🎓, community outreach 🤝, historical research, and health and wellness programs that promote awareness and access to care. It also supports the preservation of Ranney Hill Cemetery, a historic African American burial ground, honoring the ancestors whose resilience built the foundation we proudly stand on today,

💵 Sweepstakes Prizes:

🥇 Grand Prize: $500 Cash

🥈 Second Prize: $300 Cash

🥉 Third Prize: $100 Cash

🌟 Want to do more? Become a Volunteer Fundraiser!

Click the “Sign Up” button above to get your own fundraising page and join the fun competition! 🏆 Raise at least $200 in verified funds to qualify for Volunteer Incentive Prizes 🎁 — and help make an even bigger impact in your community.

🙌 Want to support a friend or family member instead?

That’s easy too! Just make a donation and choose the participant you’d like to credit during checkout.

Let’s come together to give back, honor our history, and build a brighter future—one donation, one family, and one legacy at a time. 💚

👉 Join today — donate, fundraise, and make a difference!

Enter now to win

About the Grand Chain Family Foundation

OUR MISSION

The mission of our family foundation is to foster enduring unity, intergenerational fellowship, and cultural continuity among the Barefield/Barfield, Clay, Claypool, Henderson, McClelland, and Woolfolk families, along with our extended kinship networks. We are committed to strengthening the bonds that tie our families together through intentional gatherings, shared heritage, and collaborative initiatives that celebrate our collective legacy.

Our work centers on advancing educational achievement and promoting economic empowerment, especially among African-American communities historically marginalized by systemic inequities. Through scholarships, mentorship, financial literacy efforts, and workforce readiness programs, we support our youth and adults in reaching their highest potential and contributing meaningfully to society.

Health equity is another cornerstone of our mission. We support and promote health education and wellness initiatives that directly address the disproportionate health burdens faced by African Americans, including chronic disease, mental health disparities, and access to quality care. Our aim is to foster healthier families and communities through awareness, advocacy, and culturally responsive interventions.

We are equally devoted to the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of our family history. Through genealogical research, oral history projects, documentation, and digital archiving, we strive to ensure that our stories, struggles, and achievements are not lost to time, but instead inspire future generations.

In honor of our ancestors, we also fundraise and organize preservation efforts for the historic Ranney Hill Cemetery in Grand Chain, Illinois. This sacred ground, which holds the remains of many of our forebears, deserves not only upkeep but also a renewed place in our collective memory. Our activities include documentation, restoration, educational outreach, and community engagement to increase awareness of its historical significance.

Together, these efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to honoring our past, strengthening our present, and building a sustainable future for generations to come.

JOIN THE GCFF BOARD

Are you a part of the Grand Chain Family?

Join the Grand Chain Family on Facebook!

Are you a proud member of the Grand Chain Family and a descendant of the Barefield/Barfield, Clay, Claypool, Henderson, McClelland, or Woolfolk lineages? We invite you to join our official Facebook page at 👉 www.facebook.com/grandchainfamilyfoundation.

It’s more than just a page—it’s a vibrant space to:

Reconnect with relatives from across the country
Discover and celebrate our shared heritage
Stay updated on reunions, events, and family news
Get involved with preserving our family legacy

Let’s strengthen our bonds and grow together as one united family.
Click, connect, and join today!

GCFF BOARD ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2023-2024

Donated $3,000 to Ranney Hill Cemetery

Sponsored $10,000 for scholarships
Successfully completed 2 health & wellness seminars
Discovered the slaveholders of the Cox-MCClelland bloodline
Conducted interviews with elders
Discovered a connection with a group of Louisiana Woolfolks
Provided free DNA kits
Implemented Quickbooks to improve financial management
Increased membership on Family Facebook page from 420 to 588
Planned and managed the 2024 family reunion
Adopted a new platform for donor and membership management

2022-2023

Donated $1,900 to Ranney Hill Cemetary

Sponsored $3,600 for scholarships
Successfully completed 2 health & wellness seminars
Identified new family members
Conducted zoom interviews with elders: Clydia Barefield Curtis & Mollie Barfield Tyson
Implemented/created a new reunion process
Gathered and archived family history

2021-2022