City of Selma hosts 2-day Christmas event

Published 8:24 am Monday, December 6, 2021

The city of Selma held a successful  two-day event to open the Christmas holiday last weekend.

The event began with the  Christmas parade, a joyous 45-minute success mixed with schools, organizations, city and county officials, and political candidates.

The Selma Fire Department opened the parade at Water Avenue, followed by Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. and His wife, first lady Cynthia Perkins each riding on separate Corvettes.

The Selma City Council followed with members Clay Carmichael, Christie Thomas, Jannie Thomas, Lesia James, Sam Randolph and Council President Billy Young.

Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn followed, alongside County Commissioners Jan Justice, Connell Towns and Vivian Rogers.

Dallas County Circuit Clerk Lynnethia Bennett, Dallas County Collector Tanika Wagner-Neely, Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum, Dallas County Circuit Court Judges Marvin Wiggins and Collins Pettaway Jr. and Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson also rode in the parade.

Dallas County sheriff candidate Donald Shepherd led the group of candidates, with the local Boys Scout and Rural Health Inc. behind.

The run of Greek organizations followed: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta.

Closing the parade were the local schools: bands from Selma High, Dallas County. Cheerleaders from the School of Discovery, Tipton-Durant, Selma High, Sophia P. Kingston, R.B. Hudson Middle School, Ellwood Christian Academy and Dallas County High. Miss Selma University and the Tipton-Durant Homecoming Court also participated.

Other events included a tree lighting at Songs of Selma Park on Sunday, which a  children’s choir performed before the lighting.

Portia Fulford of Queen City Kale hosted Reading is Fundamental, which is sponsored by the Zeta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. was pleased with the weekend.

“It’s awesome,” he said of the turnout for Sunday’s tree lighting. “People have really been supportive all week. The parade turnout was terrific. This evening, people came out and celebrated with our babies, with our children. It really was a festive affair. I can feel a spiritual shift in Selma, and it’s a positive thing for our community.”

Perkins said one reason for the feeling of optimism is progress in the fight against the coronavirus.

“The fact that we’re coming out of this two-year COVID crisis, and the numbers are down in Dallas County,” he said. “I think people are feeling a little freer to move around and to engage. We’re not out of the woods yet. We need to continue to be vigilant, wear a mask, do the things that we’re supposed to be doing, but I see a spirit shift in the community, and it’s exciting.”