Meridian Star

Local News

Related Photos

  • From left, Doodle Heblon, Virginia Hodges and Minnie Bryan were among those who attended the Merrehope Champagne Brunch Sunday. Michael Stewart / The Meridian Star

    Merry_Meridian_2.jpg

  • A record 60 people attended the Merrehope Champagne Brunch Sunday that is part of Meridian Main Street's holiday festivities. Michael Stewart / The Meridian Star

    Merry_Meridian.jpg

Discussion

December 3, 2012

Merry Meridian

Record numbers attend events

By Michael Stewart / Executive Editor The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN —     Meridian Main Street's holiday Merry Meridian festivities continued Sunday with the annual Champagne Brunch at Merrehope, one of the city's few surviving antebellum homes.

    The brunch followed on the heels of a host of Merry Meridian events Saturday that included the Indoor Boutique & Outdoor Market at the MSU Riley Center and Mississippi's largest nighttime Christmas parade in downtown Meridian.

    Meridian Main Street Executive Director John McClure said this year's Merry Meridian events have been well attended. For Saturday's parade, spectators lined streets all along the parade route.

    "It's the biggest crowd I've ever seen for the parade," McClure said.

    A record number of people also showed up for Sunday's brunch at Merrehope, which was used during the Civil War as the headquarters of Confederate Gen. Leonidas Polk, a former Episcopal bishop of Louisiana who became known as "The Fighting Bishop."

    "We have 60 people for the brunch today," Merrehope President Betty Lou Jones said. "In past years we have had between 20 to 30 people attend."

    Four generations of the Woodall family were among the attendees.

    "There are 13 of us," Felise Woodall said. "It's just a good way to get all of the family together to start off the Christmas season."

    Staff were busy in the home's kitchen Sunday morning preparing, among other things, shrimp and crab casserole, sausage casserole, sweet potatoes, green beans and bread pudding.

    Meridian residents Minnie Bryan, Virginia Hodges and Doodle Heblon were among those who attended.

    "It's just a beautiful home and they always have something new and exciting each year," Hodges said of the brunch.

    Money raised from the brunch will fund renovations to Merrehope and the adjacent F.W. Williams victorian home. Both are located in the 900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Drive.

    Other Merry Meridian events scheduled this month are:

    • Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. —  Meridian Community College's Christmas Gala Chorus and Guitar Ensemble at the college's McCain Theater.

    • Dec. 6-8 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. — The Singing Christmas Tree at Highland Baptist Church.

    • Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. — Meridian Symphony Orchestra’s Peppermint Pops Concert at the MSU Riley Center.

    • Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. — John Tesh Big Band Christmas at the MSU Riley Center.

Text Only
Local News
Facebook
Helium debate
Helium
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide