Bill Graham / The Meridian StarThe Bonita Lakes Walmart was full of shoppers looking for deals on Black Friday.

Elliott Duff was waiting in line at the Best Buy store in Meridian before 8 a.m. on Friday, hoping to get a deal on a new television.

Duff was one of many Americans starting their holiday shopping on Black Friday, heading out to stores for electronics, toys and other items. 

Since coming back to Meridian in 2014, Duff has made it a tradition to shop at Best Buy on Black Friday.

“They always have the best deals and the best customer service,” said Duff. 

Store manager Keemonica Mauriscey said many shoppers, like Duff, were looking for  televisions. A variety of sizes and low prices attracted many to the store, she said.  

“They come in looking for the biggest TV’s at the biggest discount,” she said. 

On the camera aisle, Tim Truitt of Meridian looked for a new camera to take on his next vacation with his wife. He said he came to Best Buy because the store is known for its electronics. 

Over at the Bonita Lakes Mall, Will Larkin waited for his family to finish shopping at Dillard’s. He planned to look for a Christmas gift for his mother at the mall. 

Meanwhile, at the Bonita Lakes Walmart, Elwanda Lewis strolled down the toy aisle, looking for presents for her seven grandchildren. Lewis, of Rose Hill, said shopping for toys is a challenge since the Geoffrey’s Toy Store next to the Bonita Lakes Mall closed in April. 

Shun Ruffin of Meridian, who was looking for toys for his son, said he preferred to shop for toys at Walmart, because the prices are better than they were at Geoffrey’s. Ruffin said his son asked for a drum set, but he couldn’t find one at Walmart, so he may look on Amazon.  

Rebecca Gandy said she made the drive from Quitman because there are only a handful of small stores there, and she wanted to get groceries while she shopped for gifts for her family. 

Ashley Pruitt, who has made the trip from Alabama to the Bonita Lakes Walmart for the last 17 years, returned to Meridian to shop for her three children. And even though she she had a busy day, she’s got more shopping to do before  Christmas.

“I’ll come back later,” she said.