The 2007 Williams family reunion has hit the small screen.

A local family recently made their television debut on TV One’s “Family Reunion” when their own reunion aired on the network March 23.

Felicia Hills, a member of the Williams family, applied for the network to film her family’s reunion in Atlanta.

She said there was a long application that included questions about the number of family members who attend, how many generations and from where the family members travel.

“We had to submit the application with a video about what makes our family unique,” Hills said.

The reunion is held in the honor of the late Jessie Williams.

“There are seven generations of this family,” Hills said. “We are a close family. We love each other.”

The family has a three-day reunion every year. It includes the dessert contest and enrichment workshops focused on health, finances and education.

“The theme was ‘Divided by Distance, Bonded by Love,’” Hills said.

Hills said the Williams family is originally from Marlow, and the reunions began there.

“This year is the 37th year for the reunion, and it will be held in Connecticut,” Hills said.

Hills said the producer told her the family was chosen because of its openness to the process.

“She told me our family was open, honest and accessible,” Hills said.

The producer told her many of the families who applied to be on the show were afraid to be themselves and be open to the television crew.

She said it was interesting having television crews around all the time.

“We still can’t stop talking about it,” Hills said.

She said when they were in Atlanta for the reunion, people would see the television crews following the family and wonder who they were.

Five members of the family will be televised competing against another family involved in the series. The hosts of the reunion Shelia and Willie Louder, Leon Louder of Marlow, Jason Louder of Atlanta and Letitia Price of Atlanta will represent the family. The episode where the families compete will air May 11.

Hills said the experience helped to bring the family closer together.

“A lot of families don’t get along and don’t get together every year,” she said. She said she hopes her family will help other families see that you can have fun together, and enjoy spending time together.

“It brought us closer together as a family,” she said.

Hills said there are family members who didn’t make it to last year’s reunion who have made sure they will come to the reunion this year.

“As a family, we hope that this new show sponsored by TV One will inspire other families to come together,” Hills said.

“I love each and every one of my family members. I am truly blessed to a part of such a wonderful family.”