WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Family reunited after 30 years

Family reunited after 30 years

By Maggie Wade - bio| email

HAZLEHURST, MS (WLBT) - Gail Catchings Smith and her family from Hazlehurst including her father who flew in from Chicago are anxious and excited.

"It is awesome to us. I mean we have looked for her for so long, and we have prayed for her for so long," said Catchings-Smith.

Family members carry signs that tell the story. Welcome home. Welcome home to a daughter, and sister who they have not seen in 30 years."

"I want to, I just want to see her, and I want to hug her and kiss her, and let her know I love her," said father, Robert Catchings.

Smith says her family lost contact with two younger sisters when her father split with their mother. Both girls, were taken from their mother and ended up in the California foster care system where they were bounced around for years, never knowing their family in Mississippi was searching for them.

"She's been placed in foster care since she was about  four, and we've been looking since," Catchings-Smith said.

When 33 year-old Roberta Catchings walked into the terminal nothing else needed to be said.

The years, the set backs, the tears, all the emotion evident on each face. And then finally the embrace of her father.

"I just feel like this is something that happens to other people not me, but I'm just amazed to be here," said Roberta Catchings.

Catchings is a real estate agent in Berkley, California. Her sister says one of the things that amazes her is for all she has gone through being in the system , Catchings is not bitter.

"Having to go through the court for everything, surgery, anything, you know we had to get a judge's signature and so, just not really knowing the love of a family," Catchings added.

Unfortunately the family reunion is not complete. The search continues for Catchings big sister who was separated from her in foster care. They are hopeful they will find Kimberly Catchings.

"We're hopeful that we'll find Kimberly. You know we've got some good leads," Catchings-Smith said.

For now they are concentrating on introducing Catchings to her extended family and having an out of this world fourth of July barbeque.

"Miracles really do happen, miracles really do happen," Catchings said.