In 1973, family members gathered in Chicago to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Charlie and Minnie Barber. The occasion brought relatives together from near and far. The joy of reconnecting and honoring their family history inspired them to continue gathering for generations to come

From there, Ruby Barber Jones, Pearl, Ida, Leo, and Louis Michael Wyatt joined together to create what would become the Barber Mitchell Wyatt Family Reunion. Ruby was the daughter of Charlie Barber, Robert Mitchell was the son of Nellie Mitchell, and Louis Michael Wyatt was the son of Maggie Wyatt. Together, they established the name BMW, representing Barber, Mitchell, and Wyatt, three family names rooted in the family’s history and heritage.

While creating the acronym, the family honored the original spelling of the Barber name, Barbour, which reflects its French heritage. During World War I, military authorities changed Charlie Barbour’s last name to Barber, believing a Black man shouldn’t carry a French surname. Despite the change, the BMW acronym proudly remains, recognizing both versions of the name and the rich legacy behind it.