FRIARS POINT — The Friars Point Community Action Club has been organizing Friars Point Day annually for more than 35 years, but in recent years, there has not been much activity to celebrate the occasion.
That is until four years ago when the Friars Point Community Action Club started to plan more events throughout the weekend to celebrate Friars Point Day. The 2019 events began Thursday, May 2 and ran all the way through Sunday, May 5.
“You have to give praise to God because we had zero incidents, no trouble at all,” said Friars Point Community Action Club President Charles Fair.
Fair specifically thanked Coahoma County Sheriff Charles Jones and his department and the Friars Point police for helping things run smoothly.
“I want to give praise to our young people that conduct themselves in a very good condition,” Fair said.
A community parade opened things up Thursday night where the Friars Point Elementary School basketball team and cheerleaders were the grand marshals.
A meet and greet was held for individuals who came from out of town at the school.
A kids art show was scheduled for Saturday morning, but their drawings were not on cardboards as they were supposed to be and they did not fill out the entry. As a result, no children received a prize.
Activity picked up on Saturday in spite of weather issues.
“Saturday it rained in the park all day,” Fair said. “Saturday night, I’d say about 6:30, we had a band come from Longhorn mostly for the senior citizens, the people that love the blues.”
Fair took the weather issues in stride.
“God has a job, too,” he said. “He doesn’t make mistakes. Once you do all you can do as a human being, it’s up to him if he wants it to rain or storm. He doesn’t make mistakes. You have to understand that.”
Sammy Fonzie, a DJ from Helena-West Helena, Ark., played on Washington Street until 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
A balloon release remembering loved ones took place Sunday night at Franklin William Park.
Mayor James Washington spoke during the meet and greet Friday night.
“I can remember when this thing first started,” he said. “I can remember some old warriors and I look around and I see the children of some of those people now who no longer live here.”
Washington extended a special welcome to Willie Singletary, who was at one of the early Friars Point Days and came back Friday night.
“There are so many who have come a long, long way,” Washington said. “I won’t even attempt to call your names. I don’t have to ask you to come back home. You know you’re welcome here. You’re home. You can throw a brick and run back to where you used to live because you’re at home.”
Washington said there may not have been a large group present Friday night, but the Lord and Savior did not have a large group and managed to spread the gospel.
Johnnie Bass, a former secretary of the Friars Point Community Action Club and longtime school teacher, gave a history of the club Friday night.
Bass said the club was organized shortly after Washington was elected mayor in 1977.
“The purpose of the club is to honor senior citizens and to help the people in the community who are unable to pay their utility bills,” Bass said.
Bass named many individuals who held offices in the club through the years.
“The club held regular Monday meetings and board meetings,” said Bass, adding the club has sponsored annual events on Martin Luther King’s birthday, Friars Point Day and the Christmas parade.
Bass said Friars Point Day is a big fundraiser.
A fashion show was scheduled for the meet and greet event and everything was prepared, but plans fell through. However, those present for the meet and greet were able to get a ticket at the door and win a prize if their ticket number was called in a random drawing.
