Quitman resident April Hunter is bringing her floral and design talents to the statewide stage as this year’s official holiday decorator of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Jackson.

 

Longtime owner of Fantasy Cottage Flowers & Gifts in Quitman, Hunter and her team have worked since Friday to transform the National Historic Landmark into a festive, bright and merry holiday display before the Governor’s Mansion opens for a “Christmas By Candlelight Tour” from 4-8 p.m. Friday.

 

Presented by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the candlelight tour also will take in the Old Capitol Museum, the Two Mississippi Museums and the Mississippi State Capitol and will include live music, treats, trains, a photo opportunity with Santa and shopping. Admission is free.

“Quitman is just a tiny town and knowing that we were chosen to take part of our town and bring it to the Governor’s Mansion and showcase all of our state, it’s a little overwhelming but so exciting,” Hunter said in a phone interview last week before she began decorating the historic mansion.

 

In all, Hunter said they would be working to decorate inside and outside of the mansion, including four bedrooms, the landing and banister, the entranceway and foyers, the Rose Parlor, the Gold Parlor and State Dining Room, a conference room and the grounds. They are expected to be finished Wednesday before a function at the mansion that night.

 

“We have a team of about 15 total that will be in and out, helping us the entire time. Some will come back and take care of the store because the store will still have to remain open,” she said. “They will also provide us with a group of volunteers that are local high school students and college students who need accredited hours from different clubs and organizations or community service hours.”

 

Started in 2000, Fantasy Cottage Flowers & Gifts is located in Quitman across the street from the post office. Hunter purchased the business from the original owner in 2008.

 

“We’re just a small town florist and gift shop. We specialize in everything from everyday arrangements of flowers for a birthday or anniversary to weddings and sympathy work for funerals to something small, maybe for a first date or a prom. We do it all from happy to sad…. We have a great gift line as well.”

 

In November 2022, 14 years after buying the florist shop, Hunter was selected to be one of the Florists of the Month at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, a new program First Lady Elee Reeves began to spotlight different florists from throughout the state. The following year, she was asked to provide the flowers for two months and then for three months in 2024.

 

In July of this year, Gov. Tate Reeves and the first lady announced plans for their fifth annual “Christmas at the Mansion” with this year’s theme, “Made in Mississippi,” set to celebrate Mississippi industries, businesses and their products. Florists and designers were invited to submit a proposal to earn the opportunity to decorate the mansion.

 

Hunter and her son, Cody Hunter, began an extensive research of Mississippi, learning historical facts, companies founded in the state, longtime mom-and-pop businesses, tourist attractions and more. They drew up a 24-page proposal for decorating the Governor’s Mansion aimed at spotlighting all industries of the state from business, tourism, hunting and fishing, entertainment and history.

“Inspiration basically came from just really researching our state and researching the history of the state,” she said.

 

“You know, we tend to kind of lean towards our businesses and industries and our big box stores, but one thing that we learned throughout this process, there are so many mom and pops that have been around for over 100 years and that are still in business today,” Hunter said. “These guys, you know, they’re not dependent on these big industries or these big name companies to take care of them. These are mom and pops that were started and have been passed down from generation to generation, and they’re still holding on, and they’re still standing strong through everything we’ve been through particularly in the last four years. And that’s a big area that we are highlighting throughout the mansion is our mom and pops and what makes them great.”

 

In October, the governor and first lady announced Fantasy Cottage had been selected as the winning proposal.

 

“There were some amazing designers that submitted proposals, and to know that we were selected, of course, we were so excited,” Hunter said.

 

Hunter said she was nervous, but excited about the challenge of decorating the Governor’s Mansion for Christmas, especially since it is also home for the Reeves family.

 

“I’m nervous, but I’ve got a good team, and we work well together. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” she said “Of course, it’ll be a little stressful at times and I’m sure a little nerve wracking, you know, but … it’s going to be great, and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s just so surreal that here we are going from decorating little things around here or homes here to decorating the most popular home in Mississippi.”