Many former Yazooans still feel connected to their hometown.
No matter where they are now, they always consider themselves Yazooans.
They still value the friendships they made, and they often reflect fondly on life in the Yazoo community.
For over 50 years, Yazoo Day has offered Yazoo natives a chance to reconnect. Over the years the event has become more than a reunion. It has become an opportunity to give back to Yazoo.
Beginning in 1976, Yazoo Day offers Yazoo natives near and far the opportunity to return home to Yazoo City for a weekend of family-filled fun and celebration. This year’s celebration will be held July 4-6, sponsored by the Hometowners’ Association Club.
“Yazoo Day is a unique event that brings out the happy feelings of family, fun, and togetherness for all involved,” said Joffre Washington, Hometowners’ president. “It's like a family reunion every year. From attending Yazoo Day's with my family as a kid to enjoying them now in my adult years, the good times are memories that I cherish.”
The Hometowners’ Club was once a thriving organization nationwide with chapters in Detroit, Michigan; Toledo and Warren, Ohio; New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; St. Louis, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois and locally, there are currently only two chapters – Yazoo City and Chicago – functioning.
“The Hometowners' started with five chapters and eventually grew to eight chapters spread out across the country,” Washington said. “Now, only two chapters remain: Yazoo City and Chicago. One of our goals is to renew chapters in cities where they once were or establish new chapters in areas where we now have a large number of Yazoo City natives.”
This year’s Awards Banquet honorees are David Rozell, Cobie Collins, Samuel Perkins, Robert Strode, Rose Thomas Straughter, Brenda Scott Smith, Edith Myles, Wilma Wills, Mattie Taylor, Thelma McGee, Varonia McGee, Melinda King, Mayor David Starling, Sheila Trimm-Young, Scott's Barbershop, Lamar Red Barn, Evan's Daycare.
The guest speaker for the banquet is Representative Fabian Nelson.
“This year we have the usual slate of events including the Meet and Greet Mixer and party Friday night, the awards dinner/dance banquet Saturday night and the Sunday day party,” added Washington.
And this year marks an even bigger celebration with the event’s 50th anniversary.
“For an organization to be around for 50 years says a lot,” Washington said. “It says that we're doing something positive and uplifting because no one is going to support something for that amount of time if it doesn't provide something beneficial. It's a testament to the founders of the organization and those of us who continue to carry on their legacy. When Yazoo Day was started, it was done to remind us to come together to celebrate life, have fun and enjoy each other more often because life is short. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Yazoo Day gives us a chance to fellowship with each other and reminds us to enjoy our family, friends and loved ones every day. It gives Yazooans who have moved away the chance to return home to their roots once a year and connect with the people and places who helped shape them into the adults they are.”
Washington said the most important thing is for participants to enjoy the fellowship and celebrate the friendships and community spirit that make Yazoo so special.
“Yazoo Day is an event that all Yazooans can take pride in and should attend,” Washington said. “If you like having fun, listening to good music, eating good food, catching up with friends you haven't seen in ages in a safe and family-friendly atmosphere, then the place to be this fourth of July weekend is at the L.T. Miller-H.A. Scott, Sr. Community Center for the 50th Annual Yazoo Day Celebration.”
