Pike County Courthouse employees are hoping this year’s Christmas program was the start of much bigger things to come.
The Friday morning program featured a variety of Christmas music, plus a reading of the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth, a visit by Santa and refreshments.
“This is the beginning of it,” said Circuit Clerk Roger Graves. “We hope to take this and grow year after year.”
Courthouse employees have presented Christmas caroling in the lobby for several years. This time they took it outside to the front steps and incorporated more than music.
Graves, inspired by photos of the courthouse in Mountain View, Arkansas, had hoped to have a nighttime lighting ceremony this year but couldn’t pull it together in time.
He got verbal support from county supervisors recently, but learned the courthouse doesn’t have the outdoor electrical sockets to power lights. He said he plans to work toward decorating the stately Magnolia building with lights in order to have a big community ceremony, hopefully by next Christmas.
For this year’s program, Magnolia Civic Association and Magnolia Beautification each contributed $50, Timber Hill Christmas tree farm of Osyka provided a live tree, and Pike County supervisors donated money personally for refreshments, with leftover funds going to Toys for Tots.
Friday’s crowd was small, in part no doubt to the gray, chilly weather. People sat in folding chairs and others stood around as Graves opened the program.
Graves said he wants the program to bring attention to the historic courthouse.
“This courthouse does not get the recognition it needs,” he said. “It’s the most beautiful building in Pike County and it’s the focal point of the county.”
Courthouse employees sang Christmas carols and other songs as Santa watched from a rocking chair.
“We need to go tell it on the mountain, on the hills, wherever you go, that Jesus Christ is our savior,” choir leader Annette McGhee said between songs.
The Rev. Woody Rimes, pastor of McComb First Baptist Church, read portions of the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke and reflected on the meaning of the season.
“Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that’s ever been given,” Rimes said.
In addition to courthouse employees, singers included Mike Thompson and Bill Pendleton.
