special to the star



DECATUR – 2009 Citizen of the Year Frances Haik Jordan will be honored at the annual Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

The event will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. in the East Central Community College Cafeteria. The award is presented to an individual who was very instrumental in organizing the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce.

A Meridian resident for most of her life, Jordan married the late Joe Haik. The couple had two children, Braxie and Mac. Haik died in 1955 after a serious illness. At the time of his death, Braxie was 10 years old and Mac was 8.

Braxie was involved in many activities and attended the University of Southern Mississippi.

Mac played sports and was a Meridian Wildcat. Upon graduation, he was visited by Ole Miss Coaches Johnny Vaught and Bruiser Kinard, who signed him to play at the Oxford college. After graduation, Mac was drafted by the Houston Oilers, where he played for five years before retiring to go into business.

With both children grown and living their own lives, Jordan had an empty nest – which caused her friends to think she needed a friend.

One day, the late Shorty McWilliams (former owner of Weidmann's Restaurant in Meridian) called and said that he and his parents were from Decatur and they knew "a fine man she needed to meet." That man was Sonny Jordan, owner and operator of Jordan's Grocery & Market in Decatur. At the same time, friends were telling Sonny about Frances. The two eventually met and a "love story" began that lasted more than 20 years. Sonny died in 1995.

Sonny and Frances both loved Decatur and wanted better things for their town, which led Sonny to tell Frances he wished they could have a Chamber of Commerce in Decatur. Frances agreed and spoke with Bill Johnson, then executive director of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce and Bill Whitworth who was on the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. It was arranged for Whitworth to come to Decatur and meet with a group of interested citizens and town officials.

Following that initial meeting, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce was formed with Sonny Jordan as president. The first official membership drive got under way on June 6, 1978. The Chamber has meant a lot to the Decatur area for many years. It was very instrumental in Peavey Electronics locating in Decatur.

Jordan enjoys going to Houston, Texas, where she visits with Mac and his wife, as well as their two children. Mac met Sunny when she was Houston's Top Model. Jordan also spends time with her daughter, Braxie, and her son, who is a college student.

Jordan always wants to return to her home in Decatur, where her church and friends have meant so much to her.

Jordan formerly attended East End Methodist Church, where she was active in all parts of the church, serving as president of the Sussanah Wesley Sunday School Class, superintendent of the Children's Department and other areas. Since moving to Decatur, she has been an active member of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church, where she has served as president of her Sunday School Class, hostess, publicist chairman and assembly leader.

Jordan is past matron of Oakland Heights Chapter #241 Order of the Eastern Star in Meridian, and is now a member of Decatur Chapter #195, where she has served as Worthy Matron of the chapter many times. She has served as the Grand Ruth of the Grand Chapter of the State of Mississippi, Grand Representative of Oklahoma and Grand Representative to Iowa in Mississippi. She was selected "Mom" of the Deb Social Club in 1965, w was active in many various civic and athletic projects, served as vice president of the Girls Scouts of America and on the Mental Health Board of Meridian.

She was a member of the B&PW; Club, the National Association of Bank Women Inc., the Bank Administration Institute, Pilot Club, Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian Little Theatre Guild, past board member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, member of the Chamber of Commerce of Meridian and Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the Red Cross board, and on other chairmanships, including the United Way. Sonny and Frances Jordan were named "Family of the Year" by the Jaycees and Jaycettes of Decatur.

Jordan served for 20 years as vice president and Business Development Officer of Peoples Bank of Mississippi N.A., and worked out of the Meridian office. After retiring, she and her husband, Sonny, were employed by Barham Funeral Home of Newton County for 4 1/2 years.