BY BETH PUDAS
STAFF WRITER
The Simpson County Bicentennial Kick Off held Saturday, January 27, 2024, began with an opening ceremony in the sanctuary of The Church at Mendenhall and carried on through the day with a luncheon of soup and salad, entertainment, and an artifacts display in the Courthouse and concluded with an open house at the Simpson County Historical & Genealogical Society (SCHGS).
Following opening remarks by Bicentennial Executive Committee Chairman Don Steen, event emcee, several speakers were invited to share their own comments about the upcoming events celebrating the 200th birthday of Simpson County. They included elected public officials, the Bicentennial Pioneer Sponsor, Bicentennial committee members along with SCHGS members. Steen extended special thanks to Lynn McCoy for organizing the day’s events.
Keynote speaker was Andy Gipson, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and Simpson County native. He opened his comments by offering his thanks also to those organizing the kick off, along with the sponsors and the invitation to speak.
Gipson began his remarks by stating his son Benjamin recently found news stories about Simpson County written in the Westville Weekly News published in 1889. Westville was the original site of the county seat before it was moved to Mendenhall.
Gipson chose an article entitled “A Historical and Traditional Reminiscence of Simpson County and Its First Settlers” for the basis of his address.
Gibson found five words within the article that he thought fitting for the kick off festivities of the Bicentennial that described the people, what they did, and what they believed.
First a community is built by people. The original pioneers were intentional about where they were going when they headed to what would become Simpson County. It took initiative on their part. According to Gipson, “They were the original movers and shakers. They were not content to sit still wherever they were.”
Second “they were industrious people, meaning they sought something that needed to be done and they made it happen.” They built roads, mills, and houses. In addition to the original agriculture and logging, industries we see today were built from those, such as construction, timber, transportation and metalwork.
Third, the early settlers believed in community involvement. Yes it was necessary to look out for one’s own interests but it was also necessary to be involved with public service. Gipson added that one of his ancestors, Rev. Francis Walker, and his children were some of the first legislators in Simpson County. He challenged the crowd, especially young people, to get involved in their communities.
Fourth these people believed in strong large families. “The family unit is the core unit of any society. If you have weak families you’re going to have a weak society. If you have strong families you’re going to have a strong society,” Gipson said.
Finally, “the last thing they had to build a strong community, a county that would last for 200 years, the most important thing they had, the newspaper said was their faith in the one true God.” And according to the same article there was little use for the courts because of their faith and integrity.
Gipson closed with comments regarding the acorn imbedded within the Bicentennial logo sharing that once planted that oak tree takes several years to grow to maturity. But once grown there are strong deep roots of that oak tree so it can withstand what comes against it. He recounted a personal story from Katrina moving through Simpson County in 2005. Hurricane force winds snapped saplings and pine trees easily on Gipson’s homestead but not a 160 year old red oak in his front yard. It stands as a reminder of the strength of strong deep roots like those forged in Simpson County.
It was a nearly standing room only event with the sanctuary and balcony filled with young and old alike. There was also a strong sense of community and excitement as stated in comments from some in attendance.
Leah White is looking forward to learning more about the history of Simpson County as well as her own family history. She is a descendant from the Boggan and Walker founding families.
Peggy Bowden is excited about more community interactions like the kick off and the upcoming events. She is also hopeful for more community growth.
Allyson Berch is also looking forward to learning more about the other towns and communities in Simpson County as well as the community coming together to celebrate these last 200 years.
Freshman Senator Andy Berry is looking forward to the next two hundred years. “Looking to the future is what I think is important. As we stop and look at the past, you look to where you come from but I think going forward…what does our county look like? What do our people look like? What does our economy look like? What do our towns and cities look like? Having people invested like our forefathers have been is vitally important. I think centered on God is even more important in today’s world.”
