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Drelon Lyles, 8, peeks over his shoulder as King Green, 8, and Ryleigh Allen, 8, ride the mechanical bull at the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day at Providence Park Saturday. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Ryleigh Allen and King Green, both 8, giggle as they ride the mechanical bull at the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day at Providence Park Saturday. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

The Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses Association gathered Saturday at the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day at Providence Park. The ladies checked blood pressures and pulses of those who attended the event. From left are Fran Morris, Anna Laura Tillage, Agnes Davis, Josephine Hawkins and Harriet Flowers. All are registered nurses. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Joyce Johnson shows off a pan of fried fish, which she had just taken out of the grease on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day at Providence Park. The Johnson family hosted one of the largest gatherings at the park on Saturday. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Gregory Turner mans the grill filled with pork steaks and ribeyes on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day at Providence Park. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — Adams County’s Providence Park was filled to the brim on Saturday afternoon with young and old alike who gathered for the 3rd Annual Friends and Family Day.

Adams County’s Board of Supervisors renovated the park and updated playground equipment, which park-goers said they appreciated. At least 30 tents surrounded the perimeter of the park, and families joined together, grilling food, enjoying cold beverages, and visiting while young children played in the bouncy house, rode a mechanical bull, or played on swings and other fun equipment.

Fran Morris, Anna Laura Tillage, Agnes Davis, Josephine Hawkins, and Harriet Flowers are members of the Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of Mississippi. Each of the women is a registered nurse. They checked the blood pressure and pulse rates of those at the event.

In 1926, Pillars became the first Black woman to work for the Mississippi State Department of Health. However, because of racism, Pillars and other Black registered nurses were not allowed to join the Mississippi Nurses Association. Thus, Morris said, the Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of Mississippi was born.

“We are keeping the legacy alive,” Morris said. In addition to offering blood pressure and other basic health tests at events throughout the year in Natchez, the women gather each year on the fifth Sunday of September at The Stewpot to prepare and serve food for those in need. They manned The Stewpot on Sunday.

Eliza Pillars died in 1970 at the age of 78. She is buried in Jackson. The Mississippi Nurses Association inducted her into its Hall of Fame posthumously in 1986.

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