Franklin County's Christmas joys abound

What a difference a year makes.

In 2020, concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of local Christmas celebrations to help protect the public’s health.

This year, Franklin County’s traditional holiday gatherings returned — to the delight of everyone — on Thursday, Dec. 2 during the “Let It Be Christmas” festivities in Meadville and Bude.

Activities started at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Bude where the annual Christmas fellowship luncheon was held in the new multipurpose building.

Meadville Mayor Lane B. Reed and Bude Mayor Linda Green led the program which featured a delicious meal and desserts along with recognition of two outstanding community leaders as well as the grand marshal for both parades.

“This is a great day because we have unity in Franklin County,” Reed said in opening the program. “There is a great deal of excitement to have this year’s event, but there is a great sense of pride in seeing people from throughout our area coming together to make this happen.”

Reed praised officials from the local, state and federal levels of government along with the citizens of the county in pushing for growth and prosperity — in an effort to build on the area’s outstanding quality of life.

“I would probably say — more than any other time in my lifetime — that there’s a unified effort and everybody’s pulling on the same rope,” he continued.

Green echoed Reed’s sentiments saying she was pleased to see a team approach in building a better Franklin County for everyone.

“We live in a special place and I greatly appreciate all those who work to make it a great place to live and do business,” she noted. “We’re also thankful to have the chance to return to some normalcy in having our Christmas programs once again.”

Among those honored during the program were:

• Willie Mae Moore was named the recipient of the “Hometown Hero” Award, which is given to a person working behind the scenes for the betterment of the community.

“You don’t necessarily see the things she does, but she does those things because she has love in her heart and wants to help her fellow man,” Reed said.

Moore, who was born in 1947 in Hermanville, was recognized for her help through the youth court in Franklin County.

“She and her husband, Leonard, were — for more than 10 years — licensed foster care parents,” Reed said. “When they were called at all hours to take in a child, they willingly took that child into a home that was filled with love.”

The Moores kept some children in their charge for up to three years.

The Moores have four children of their own along with six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

“Her hope and her prayer has always been the children in her home would turn to Jesus, learn to serve others and love somebody else,” Reed said of Moore.

In more recent years, she has been involved with the elderly and is active in Saint Paul Baptist Church in the Quentin community.

Moore, in giving thanks for the recognition, said she had tried to live her life in such a way that people will follow her example in stepping forward for others.

“Thank you for believing in me and I love you all with all of my heart,” she continued. “May God continue to bless you all.”

• Charles Calcote was named as the 2021 “Lifetime Achievement” Award winner.

Calcote has been an elected alderman for the Town of Meadville since 1993 and presently serves as mayor pro-tempore on the panel.

He also served as the volunteer fire chief from 1996 until 2015 with 30 years spent in the fire service, was elected to the Mississippi Municipal League’s Hall of Fame in 2019 and has been a deacon at Meadville Baptist Church for 40 years.

His other accomplishments have included teaching a middle adult Sunday School class for 38 years, serving as church treasurer for 49 years, being an active Mason for 50 years.

Calcote served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years, managed the food pantry through the Franklin County Baptist Association for 12 years and worked as an electrician with International Paper for 44 years.

Additionally, he has served as a Christian missionary to Romania and Peru along with traveling to more than 22 foreign countries.

“I would have a hard time describing what the Town of Meadville would do without my friend, Charles Calcote,” Reed said. “He truly has a servant’s heart and that’s why we are honoring him today.”

Calcote said he was humbled and proud for the honor, and expressed his appreciation to those who advocated for him to receive the award.

“I have always loved to work with people and help the community,” he continued. “My greatest achievement in life came when I accepted the Lord ... it has been something that is long lasting and never ends. I don’t do any of this for praise, but I do it for His glory.”

• Mississippi State Treasurer David McRae was announced as the grand marshal for both the Meadville and Bude Christmas parades.

McRae, a fourth-generation Mississippian whose family founded the McRae Department Store chain, was welcomed to Franklin County by Reed and Green.

“I’m honored to be your parades grand marshal ... I’ve watched enough movies, including ‘Groundhog Day,’ so I am trained for this important task and ready to go,” McRae said with a laugh.

“I also deeply appreciate the invitation to come and for your hospitality. The Lord has given us a beautiful day for these events, and I am looking forward to taking part.”

The honorees were all presented with poinsettias as a keepsake from the event.

After the close of the program, line-ups began for the Bude parade at the Franklin County Fairgrounds and rolled promptly through downtown streets at 2:30.

The Meadville parade, which was organized at Franklin County High School, followed at 5:30 p.m., along Main Street through the heart of the town’s business district.

At the conclusion of the evening parade, the Lillian Torrey Community Christmas tree lighting ceremony — named in honor of the beloved civic leader who promoted the community — and a visit from Santa Claus took place in front of the Franklin County Courthouse.

A lengthy line of children and their families waited for the chance to speak and have their pictures made with Santa, who sat beside a festively decorated tree on the steps of the historic courthouse.