Amite County and Liberty Bicentennial Celebration 

April 27 - May 2, 2009 

Committees 

Revised February 27, 2007

Steering :  Hattie Nunnery*, Chair; Nora Morgan*, Co-Chair; Tom Lewis*; Melanie Hubbs*, Sharon Walsh* and Jennifer Lindsay* 

Finance: Tom Lewis*, Chair; Reece Nunnery * , Co-Chair; Wilda Butler*

Program/Events:  Sharon Walsh* and Jennifer Lindsay*, Co-Chairs

Parade: Entertainment:  Liberty Chamber of Commerce* - Lisa Sullivan*, Diane VanNorman*

Bands: US Marine Corps or Air Force, USM, Alcorn, SMCC, High Schools (parades and/or concerts)

Bluegrass, Country, Jazz, Big Band era, etc. Cissy Canova* 
Concerts: Choral groups - county schools, SMCC, Mississippi Mass Choir 

Choir, Organ, Piano (in churches or elsewhere) 
Amite County Hoe Down - Wanda Brister, Robert Johnson Square Dancers, Cloggers 
Street Dance or Ball - Peggy Verneil * Fireworks display at Vance Park 
Fashion Show of period costumes for the Bicentennial celebration - 

       Dianne Wallace*, Gail Tumey, Pauline Alford, Rhonda Dixon, Betty Badon, Betty Causey 

Bicentennial Quilt and quilting demonstration by Mars Hill quilters: Dianne Wallace; 

other demonstrations, Amite County Homemakers Council Children's activities: 

Buggy and covered wagon rides, pony rides, old-time games (croquet, horseshoe pitch, sack race, others), petting zoo 

Note: Covered wagons could also serve as a shuttle service from one area to another in town 

   - Al Alcorn, Mike Barron, Bill Sharp

Tours of homes, historical buildings, churches, communities:

Walking tour of Liberty with recorded narration: Bernel McGehee* 

Historical Society planned tours (including Camp Van Dorn museum) 

    James A. Causey, Billy Rimes. Jennie Livingston, Wilda Butler* 

Jerry Clower Museum 

Speakers/Lectures: Court Room and/or other locations
History of Amite County, county leaders, famous persons/outstanding citizens, others
Dr. Skates and Dr. Scarborough, USM, Mississippi History, Formation of the Counties - Reece Nunnery, Scotty Whittington
Dr. Dale Edwynna Smith, Amite County native, author of The Slaves of Liberty: Freedom in Amite County, Mississippi 1820-1868.
The Depression Years, The WWII years, other periods or events

Amite County authors, book signings; Telling Tales and other reminiscences 

     (Jimmy Robertson, Joe Gordon, Ernest Herndon, Paige Cothern, Will D. Campbell, Walt Grayson, others)
Indian Culture: Houmas, Cherokees, Natchez: Ronnie Travis*
Demonstrations, "Living History" display, art, crafts, etc.
Re-enactments: Wayne Parker, Virgil Roberts, David Fenn, Wayne Anderson 

Antique car and tractor show: Ronnie Travis*, Richard Sullivan*, Lynn Dent 

Horse show and/or rodeo: Rusty, Rodney and Charlene Shaw; Debbie Kirkland,Robbie Bass

Historical displays/exhibits:
Artifacts, Collections: Marilyn Harvey*
Collections of arrow heads, tools, implements household items/equipment, old coins, bottles, dolls, quilts, 

china and glassware, needlework, crochet, knitting, tatting, clothing 

(including costumes from Sesquicentennial in 1959), old pictures, furniture (especially made in Amite County)
Community Displays: 

Representatives from Districts: (1) Nelson Dawson*, (2) Doug Lewis* [Bobby Haygood*], (3) Doyle Whitehead*, 

        (4) Gregg Barron*, (5) [Donald Chase*}
Displays to showcase the towns or communities. Ex: pictures of schools, churches, prominent citizens 

     and industry, farming (dairying, timber, cattle), athletic teams, brochures promoting the area, 

other items related to the area
Wilda Butler*: East Fork; Dianne Wallace*: Smithdale/Mars Hill; Jim Sterling*: Busy Corner

Railroads: Donald Chase*
Liberty White Railroad: Donald Chase*
Yazoo/Mississippi Valley Railroad: Evelyn Seale*, Tommy McNeil* "Dummie Lines"
"Amite Co. Antiques Road Show": Doug Lewis*

Little Red School House (Historical Society Activities) Vera Prestridge * , Chair 

Historical Research: Mary Pallon, Eva Frances Phares
Cemetery research: Jeannie Livingston

Publicity /Promotions/Hospitality :

               Melanie Hubbs*, Chair; Sharon Shivers*

               Kimberly Wooley*, Niece Mabry*, Kay Fleming,   Wilda  Butler*
Publish brochures and news articles Create web site
Encourage growing of beards and period dress, including sources of costume rental as well as seamstresses
Coordinate visits of costumed citizens to talk shows, conventions, other celebrations to
promote Bicentennial Posters, signs, bumper stickers Flags and other decorations

Memorabilia - ex: string ties, tee shirts, hats and caps, tote bags, key chains, etc.
Post cards and note cards: 

Historical Society project: Greg Barron and Oma Gordon
Historical Book - Bicentennial Committee

Receptions - visiting dignitaries, others} 

Refreshments - bands and other groups}

Decorations :Diane VanNorman, Cindy Hayes, Penny Toney, Jimmy Honea

Education: 

Lora Farmer*, Chair; Esther H. Harvey*, Becky Robertson* Lorraine Swaggert, Scotty Whittington
Activities in schools during school year 2008-2009 Emphasis on Amite Co. history
Essay contests
Art projects and contests Guest speakers
Learning about life in the early days of the county

Life on the farm
Milking cows Churning butter Killing hogs Growing cotton, corn
The grist mill
The blacksmith shop The syrup mill
Kerosene "coal oil" lamps, wood stoves Quilting demonstrations
Basket weavin

Children's toys and games
Tours of the Courthouse, the Little Red School House
Interviews with grandparents and other "old" persons about their youth 

Genealogy projects
Names of ancestors as far back as possible Country room which ancestors immigrated 

Native dress, music, foods of that country

Securitv - Parking - Facilities :

Rickey Stratton*, Chair; Max Lawson, Tim Wroten, Angela Cockerham * 

Traffic control
Parking
Signs

Shuttle Service between parking lots to drop-off points in downtown and Vance Park PortaPotties, trash cans
Props - chairs, podiums, viewing stands, electrical hook-ups, etc.

 First Aid
Clean-up Fix-up campaign in Liberty and throughout the County: County and Town officials

Vendors 

Doyle Whitehead*, Chair; Wilda Butler* (sales), Barbara Whitehead*
Food
Arts and Crafts (limited) with Committee approval Memorabilia with Committee approval
Historical Society projects

Amite County Historical Book 

Canetti W. O'Brien, Editor~ committee to be formed
Update and expand the history published by Sesquicentennial Committee, 1959 Include advertisements and other recognition of financial donors
Publish book in time for sale to begin prior to celebration

Opening Ceremonies

* indicates persons have agreed to serve in capacity listed