For many Northerners, the South conjures images of sweeping plantations, sweltering summers and Southern hospitality.

One recent visitor to Selma, Inez Reynolds, found a healthy heaping of Southern hospitality as she drove into town around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Reynolds, a Cincinnati resident, drove 10 hours through rain to reach Selma so she could spend the holidays with her daughter, Heather McIntyre.

Reynolds entered Selma on Alabama Highway 22. It was only her second time visiting Selma, and after turning onto one of the town’s lesser known streets, navigation became difficult.

She ended up on Dallas Avenue near a store. While turning onto the street, a Selma resident was pulling out. Reynolds rolled her window down and asked directions. &uot;And she said, ‘Wait a minute. I’m going to turn around and you can follow me.’&uot;

Sure enough, Reynolds was led to the street her daughter lives on by the unnamed woman. &uot;That’s Southern hospitality,&uot; Reynolds said. &uot;That’s so nice. People here don’t do things like that just because it’s Christmas. It’s all year round.&uot;

Reynolds noted that the first time she came to Selma, which was about two years ago when her daughter got married, she experienced the same friendly attitude from Selmians.

Reynolds will be in town until Saturday. On Wednesday she spent time at City Hall meeting Mayor James Perkins Jr., Councilwoman Jean Martin and several others.

Before returning to Cincinnati, Reynolds plans on exploring areas of town she didn’t get a chance to see on her first visit. Historic homes and a farm inside Selma’s city limits are a few places she’s scheduled to visit.

Reynolds is employed with Springdale Ice Cream and Beverage, a division of Kroger’s. She purchases raw materials used to make ice cream and soft drinks such as sugar, cream and strawberries.