The Dillard Family Association was reorganized in 1991 to include all Dillards in the United States for the purposes of preserving Dillard history, culture and comradeship through sponsoring an annual reunion and other functions. Attendance each year at the Dillard Reunion continues by a substantial number of Dillards from many different family lines all over the county. The reunion is held at Dillard, Georgia in Rabun County which was settled about 1821 by a line of Dillards.
A part of each reunion program is a one half day Dillard History Session with speakers giving research on Dillard history and genealogy in which audience participation is encouraged. Over fifty people attended the 1996 history session. A number of experienced and published Dillard genealogists participate in the history sessions and enjoy exchanging Dillard historical information with all present. Attendance at the history session is optional.
The Dillard Annual, published by the Dillard Family Association with a mailing list of some 500, contains addresses of the reunion speakers of the previous reunion. Other events, such as tours of nearby points of interest, scenery and historic homes and locations have been scheduled at past reunions. Two reunion dinners, periods of fellowship and a meeting of the Dillard Family Association are held during Saturday and Sunday at each reunion.
Officers of the 1996-97 Dillard Family Association are Barnard Malcolm Dillard, of Dillard, Georgia, President; John M. Dillard, of Greenville, South Carolina, Vice-President; and Rachel Dillard Scott, of Pendleton, South Carolina, Secretary-Treasurer.
The Dillard Reunion is held at the Dillard House, owned and operated since the Civil War by descendants of Revolutionary soldier Lt. John Dillard, with excellent food, motel accommodations and a large modern lodge for holding meetings. Numerous other excellent motel and food accommodations with golf, fishing and other recreation opportunities, are nearby in this busy tourist area.
The Dillard Family Association sponsors the preservation of Dillard history by numerous contributors in the Rabun County Public Library in nearby Clayton, Georgia. All persons attending the annual reunion are invited to visit the library and inspect the contents