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Holly Springs Main Street caps off year with awards By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photo by Sue Watson
Smith recognized
Board chairman David Beckley honors executive director Judy Smith during the recent banquet. |
A truly robust crowd of “characters” turned out for the first annual Holly Springs Main Street awards ceremony November 9. Spirit
built all year long for a number of Main Street projects as the
implementation of the program got off the ground. Dozens were
recognized for their contributions since the inception of the program
three years ago when Main Street was organized through a joint effort
of Rust College and the City of Holly Springs. Roots first produced new shoots and this year the shoots put forth many flowers. Emcee
Edward Moses said telling the success story for this year, hopefully,
will move others to want to be a part of Main Street activities. Gary
Adams, in offering prayer at the ceremony, asked God that the program
“enhance the quality of life...in our efforts to revitalize this
historic city.”  | Photos by Sue Watson
David Beckley and Judy Smith honor Tim Liddy and Clencie Cotton. In back is emcee Edward Moses. |
In welcoming remarks, David
Beckley, chairman of the board of directors, recognized Clencie Cotton
of Rust College and former alderman-at-large Tim Liddy for “having the
dream” to bring Main Street to the city. The two worked undauntedly
until Holly Springs Main Street became a reality. He
reminded those present that Main Street was underwritten initially by a
grant from the college and by the Holly Springs mayor and board of
aldermen. But it is time this fledgling is expected to fly. “Now it is time for you to get involved in Main Street because as of January 1, it will fly on its own,” Beckley said. Rust will continue as a member but not underwrite the association, he said. Mayor
Andre’ DeBerry echoed Beckley’s remarks and challenged all businesses
in town to support the association through membership and involvement
and to invite others to join the effort. Judy
Smith, formerly a board member who later volunteered to fill the vacant
executive director’s post, said over the year she has come to know why
the association chose the motto – “All Kinds of Character.” The honors and awards followed: • Class I Certificates  | | Christine Ratcliff presents an award to Harvey Payne. |
Clencie
Cotton and David Beckley (leadership); Bank of Holly Springs
(charitable gifts); Thomas LP Gas, Irene Strickland and Betty Burch
with Jennie’s Flowers & Gifts (downtown innovation); Harvey Payne
(volunteer of the year). • Class II Certificates Time, Talent and Resources - Genevieve Conley (interim while there was no director); City of Holly Springs ($20,000 donation). Landscaping
Eddie Lee Smith Multi-Purpose Building - Phi Beta Sigma Sorority, Inc.
(donation); Strawberry Plains Audubon Center (landscaping design);
Holly Springs Building and Grounds crew (installation of plants);
Lieutenant Jefferies (concrete planters at door). •
Blues Alley - Bikers Night Out: Tyson Drug Company (bottled water);
Holly Springs Police Department (traffic control and safety); Holly
Springs Fire Department (barricades/traffic flow); Wanda Richmond and
Jehovah Jira (hospitality); Hugh Hollowell, portable facilities. •
Community Fall Festival: “Thriller” performed by students with Holy
Family School; Orlando Parham (Thriller organizer, music teacher); Zeta
Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (hot dogs, candy, literature); Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority Inc. (games, candy, literature). •
Promotional T-shirts with Main Street branding and “All Kinds of
Character” on front and “We are Holly Springs. We are young. We are
old. We are rich. We are poor. We are Holly Springs,” and graphics of
buildings on back were presented to members of the board of directors
and committee members. Board of directors - David Beckley, chair; Steve
Gresham, treasurer; Alfred Moore, secretary; Ishmell Edwards,
vice-chair; directors Ben Cole, Walter Hubbard, Donald Street, Bill
Mobley, Barry Burleson, Bobby Bonds, Andy McMillon, Tim Liddy, C.F.
Brittenum, Bob Lomenick; ad hoc directors Andre’ DeBerry, Clencie
Cotton, Stephanie McKinney, Rebecca Bourgeois. Committee chairs -
Fannie Lampley, promotions; Tim Liddy, economic restructuring; Harvey
Payne, organization; Gwendolyn Wyatt, design. Others
who helped with Bikers Night Out - Wayne Fiddis (WURC FM 88.1 sound
equipment), Dura Moss (organizing bikers), Sy Oliver and Harold
Moncrief (technical assistance and sound system). •
Plaques Awarded - Fannie Lampley (outstanding leadership); Rust College
(philanthropy); Court Square Inn (downtown innovation); Holly Springs
Tourism Bureau and Stephanie McKinney (promotion of the arts with wall
murals); Tracy Reynolds (volunteer of the year).  | | David Beckley and Judy Smith present a plaque to Charles Terry. |
Outstanding
Service Plaques - Frances Underwood (landscaping); Charles Terry
(Bikers Night Out); Willie Wilkinson (scheduling “Blues” bands); Ralph
Waller and the Tough Street Band; Duwayne Burnside (entertainment);
Robert Kimbrough Sr. and Blues Connection; Sue Watson, The South
Reporter (media contribution); David Caldwell (electricity and
resources); Rust College Mass Communications (sound system). • David Beckley (chairman’s award); Tim Liddy and Clencie Cotton (founders award); Judy Smith (executive director’s award). Emmily Hurdle was guest soloist for the awards ceremony. In a recapitulation of Main Street’s progress this year, Smith made these additional remarks: “When
a pebble is thrown into the water, you see concentric circles,” she
said. “In the center of the pool everybody has the same goal. We all
should have a goal of improving the city. The slogan, ‘All Kinds of
Character’ takes me back to my childhood where we were talked to about
values and principles. I equated values with personality - who you want
people to think you are. Principles say who you are as a character. “Main
Street is a Holly Springs project. If we could get 100 people to donate
$100 we could do a lot. People saw us uptown and we worked. I talked
about Main Street and my husband, who goes to Amory to work, said Amory
planted flowers downtown. They are a Main Street community. “We
have many things to do - those small things that will make a
difference. It’s so simple. A six-pack (of flowers) is $1.68. Look at
what we created – Bikers Night Out. People picked up the trash on the
streets (after the shows). We did not know them. “That’s the kind of character we have in this town and that’s what we need to promote. That’s what Main Street is about.”  | | David
Beckley and Judy Smith recognize Tough Street band members Ralph
Waller, Brown Sugar, James Lee Lester and Chris Richards. In back is
emcee Edward Moses. |
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