Christmas time is here

Laurel, Ellisville, Sandersville host annual parades

By Charlotte A. Graham, countyreporter@laurelleadercall.com

People lined the downtown streets of Laurel and Ellisville Saturday as the cities hosted their annual Christmas parades.

In Laurel, the festive parade began at 10 a.m. and featured area bands, floats and cars, and of course, the crowd favorite — Santa Claus.

“We get as much of a kick out of the parade as the kids do,” said 52-year-old Olivia Brown of Laurel. “I look forward to coming to the parade each year just to have fun and hang out with my grandkids.”

Brown was at the parade with her daughter, Cynthia Taylor of Laurel and eight-year-old twin grandsons, Darryl and David Taylor. “I can’t think of any other place I’d want to be today,” she said.

Neither could Shady Grove resident Brenda Newcomb, who has attended the Laurel parade for 38 years. The Christmas parade, sponsored by the Laurel Sertoma Club, is now a Newcomb family tradition.

“We start with the pancake breakfast and then come out here for the parade,” said Newcomb. “There were seven of us at the breakfast and I’m here at the parade with my daughter.”

Newcomb’s daughter, 19-year-old Tiffany Smith, admits that her brother’s participation in the parade was the motivating factor for her getting out in the cold weather to attend the parade. “He’s on the Community Bank truck,” she said. “Parades are always a lot of fun.”

For 10-year-old Dustin Harris of Laurel, there’s nothing like the fun and excitement of seeing motorcycles and fire trucks traveling down the parade route.

“I just love them,” he said. “They are real cool and a whole lot of fun.”

Harris’ parents, Renee and Daniel, have brought Dustin and his five-year-old brother, Athan, to the parade for about four years. “It’s kind of nice for us to come out to the parade together as a family,” said Daniel Harris. “The parade is pretty and something different. We all love it.”

The Ellisville parade is loved and enjoyed by folks there, too. In fact, some residents are quick to say it is much better than the Laurel parade.

“It’s not as commercial as the one in Laurel,” said Brenda Powe of Ellisville. “It’s more like a family atmosphere, just what a Christmas parade is mean to be. It’s all about family.”

Family is what made 74-year-old George and Melwese Smith drive from Collins to attend the Ellisville Christmas parade. Their grandson, Jake Davis, is a drummer with the South Jones High School Band.

“We have to come and see him in the parade,” said Melwese Smith. “Last year, we didn’t recognize him until after he had passed us. I hated that. I hope this year will be different.”

This year is indeed different for Melwese Smith. Last year she had the flu, but she wouldn’t dare let sickness keep her from seeing her grandson march.

“You just want to be here for something like this,” she said.

The evening concluded with the annual Christmas parade in Sandersville and the lights at Mason Park in Laurel.

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