A Day to Remember: America 250 Celebration at Cotesworth
What a day! On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Chakchiuma Chapter NSDAR, together with our partner chapters and the generous support of the Mississippi Humanities Council, welcomed hundreds of guests to the historic Cotesworth Cultural and Heritage Center for a free, family‑friendly celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The morning started with cloudy skies and a chance of showers, but the clouds parted as the day went on, leaving us with a beautiful afternoon – perfect for colonial dancing, storytelling, artisan demonstrations, and good food. The spirit of patriotism was everywhere you looked.
🇺🇸 Opening Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies Kenny Downs kicked off the program at 10:00 AM. Melanie Bowman (Regent, Chakchiuma Chapter) welcomed the crowd, followed by an invocation from Beth Duncan, MSSDAR State Chaplain. The American Legion Post #250 Color Guard posted the colors, and the Singing Legionnaires led us in the National Anthem. Shirley Rush led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Norma Biggers introduced our distinguished guests, including Senator Lydia Chassinol. Paula McCaulla recognized our generous sponsors, and Mary “Punkie” Stewart outlined the day’s activities.
🎭 Entertainment & Presentations
The crowd enjoyed a full lineup of performances:
Betty Aden – interpretive patriotic dance
Isaac Dallas – a stirring portrayal of Paul Revere
Ethan Samsel – interactive colonial dancing (guests of all ages joined in!)
Singing Legionnaires – patriotic musical selections
Belinda Duke – patriotic painting in song
Barry Blakely – Delta Blues on bagpipes
Denny Spence – Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Sean Dunlap – Thomas Jefferson
Singing Disciples – gospel and patriotic music
Freddie Sam Rush – Patrick Henry (“Give me liberty, or give me death!”)
Christie Genola offered closing words of thanks at 2:45 PM, with special appreciation to the Boy Scouts who helped with setup and takedown.
Throughout the day, guests also enjoyed the sounds of Judith Brown on piccolo and Forrest Clark on bagpipes, adding to the colonial atmosphere.
🏛️ Tours & Living History
Docents led tours of the beautiful Cotesworth mansion at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. On the grounds, artisans demonstrated traditional crafts:
Spinning & weaving – artisans from Chimneyville Arts Gallery
Blacksmithing / bladesmithing – Mississippi Forge Council
Caning, quilting, crochet, chicken‑scratch embroidery, tatting – local artisans
Children enjoyed games, prizes, and hands‑on activities all day long. Colonial‑themed photo stations were a big hit with families.
🍔 Food & Fellowship
Lunch was available for purchase from:
Guy’s Fish Plates 🐟
Pappy’s Burgers & Barbecue 🍔
The Masons (cooking on site) 👨🍳
The first 200 guests also received a free Pocket Constitution – a meaningful keepsake for a day celebrating our nation’s founding.
🚐 Shuttle from Greenwood
A $20 round‑trip shuttle, organized by Debbie Oxnam, ran between Greenwood and Cotesworth, making it easy for everyone to attend.
🙏 Thank You to Our Partners
This event would not have been possible without our incredible partners:
Presented by: Chakchiuma Chapter NSDAR (Greenwood)
In partnership with: Third Arrow Chapter NSDAR (Carrollton), Thomas Rodney Chapter NSDAR (Winona), Grenada Chapter NSDAR (Grenada)
With support from: American Legion Post #250 (Color Guard & Singing Legionnaires)
And a very special thank you to the Mississippi Humanities Council and the State of Mississippi for their grant funding, which made this official America250 project a reality.
📸 Relive the Day
We are so grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us – your energy and enthusiasm made this a day to remember. Here’s to the next 250 years! 🇺🇸
This official America250 project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the State of Mississippi.
