year of jubilee

NATCHEZ — Family and tradition combined with food, fun and music to create the 17th annual Minorville Jubilee.

Smoke billowed from grills, children, and some adults, cooled off in the water spray from the fire truck and friends gathered under the shade trees on Minor Street to reminisce and make new memories.

“It started right there on that corner,” Roosevelt Williams said. “And I haven’t missed a single one, and I wouldn’t miss one.”

Williams said what he enjoys most is the atmosphere of the day — the music, the food and the friends.

For Williams, the Minorville Jubilee has changed over the years, but the purpose is still the same.

“It is about coming out and seeing your people,” he said. “Now, there are a lot more young people and not as many of us originals left, but that’s a good thing. That means this will continue.”

For Oliver Hawkins, the jubilee is a time to reconnect with people from his childhood.

“I grew up on Pintard and with this,” he said. “It’s just a good time to revisit the people from my childhood.”

Hawkins was accompanied by first time jubilee-goer Tammy Flowers. Flowers said despite spending many years of life on Minor Street, she had never been able to attend a jubilee, but she was glad she came this year.

“I was always working out of town and just couldn’t make it,” she said. “But so far it has been fun seeing everyone.”

For the last eight years, Donna Jackson has had a front row seat to all the jubilee festivities. All Jackson had to do was walk out her front door to begin enjoying the day.

“I like watching the kids have fun,” she said. “That’s what the day is about, these kids out here having a good time.”

Many of the children were enjoying an inflatable water slide set up next door to Jackson’s home while others sat on curb waiting for the water to begin spraying from the fire truck.

Jackson’s front porch and yard were crowded with folks enjoying a variety of foods prepared for the day and sharing memories with family and friends.

And though, Jackson wasn’t sure who they all were, it didn’t matter — at least for one day.

“It doesn’t matter who is on your porch on jubilee day,” she said. “On this day, we are all like family.”

Clint Dixon was enjoying a game of dominoes with his sister and cousin, which in his opinion, summed up what the jubilee is all about.

“This is just a good community event,” he said. “In a way, it is a big family reunion for lots of families because people come back for this.”

Dixon’s family is one that is sure to get together each year at the Minorville Jubilee.

“We’re spread out all over now,” Dixon’s sister Barbara Dixon said. “But this is something we plan to be at.”

And Clint Dixon is happy to know his other family members find the jubilee as important as he does.

“It’s all about family and the tradition of this neighborhood,” Clint Dixon said. “We need to keep that going.”