Tennessee Family Celebrates 50th Easter at Nashville Landmark Restaurant

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Tennessee Family Celebrates 50th Easter at Nashville Landmark Restaurant

Maintaining 50 years of tradition, 20 members of the Reeder/Horton/Oliphant families representing three generations traveled to the Loveless Cafe for their 50th Easter celebration at the beloved country cafe. The tradition dates back to 1964 when Kelly and Annie Reeder began bringing their family on the almost two-hour drive from their then-hometown of Dibrell, Tennessee. When asked what inspired her grandparents to make the trip, Cynthia Oliphant, a Nashville resident and the present day family organizer said, “Our grandparents brought us to the Loveless Cafe for the smoked ham, biscuits and delicious jams. They just enjoyed them so.”

That two-hour trip is short compared to the trips the family members now make from such locations as South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia and Louisiana. “We wouldn’t miss it,” adds Richard Horton, of Nashville, Cynthia’s cousin. “It is such a part of the Easter holiday for us. We look forward to sharing the traditional Southern breakfast, catching up on family news, reminiscing over photos from previous Easters, sharing the joy of being together and remembering family members who are no longer present but are so integral to our memories of this holiday.”

To thank the family for making the Loveless a part of their Easter tradition for so many years, members of the Loveless Cafe team presented them with a scratch-made cake to close out their celebration. After enjoying their visit and the filling fare, all three generations parted with hugs and promises to meet again in 2015 at the Loveless Cafe for their family’s 51st Easter.

Tennessee Family Celebrates 50th Easter at Nashville Landmark Restaurant
To show how long the Reeder/Horton/Oliphant families have been celebrating Easter at the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, the photo above left is estimated to have been taken in 1988 and shows Reed and Grant Horton (right) with their grandmother Billie Horton when the two young men were aged 2 and 5. The photo on the right shows them at this year’s Easter, 26 years later.

Established in 1951 by Annie and Lon Loveless, and currently serving about 500,000 customers a year, the Loveless Cafe (www.lovelesscafe.com) can officially be declared a Nashville landmark. The property, on Highway 100 near the Natchez Trace, welcomes guests with its classic, glowing neon sign promising hot biscuits and country ham, drawing food enthusiasts, local families, working folks and celebrities alike. Guests are invited to walk the property; take their photo in front of the famous Loveless neon sign; play corn toss; visit Hams & Jams Country Market; or tour the Loveless Barn, the property’s on-site entertainment venue, available for private parties.

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