The year 2016 was eventful and exciting for all of Natchez as we celebrated 300 years since our founding. Thanks to so many of you who were generous with donations to the Hanging Basket Fund, we were able to give our beautiful city a gift of 90 flowering baskets that will hang on light posts throughout downtown.

Now, as I promised when I requested donations for the project, I am preparing to have a plaque made and erected to list donors or the people donors wish to honor or memorialize. In order to make sure that no one has been left out, and that all names are spelled correctly and listed as the donors wish, I am posting below the list as it will appear. If you are a donor, please read the list carefully and notify me with any correction within the next 30 days at memccullough48@yahoo.com. If anyone wishes to be added to the plaque, you may still send a donation of $150 or more to the fund. You must send your check within the next 30 days to Garden Lovers of Natchez, 58 Duncan Ave., Natchez, 39120, and specify how you wish your donation to be recognized. Include an address of anyone you wish to honor or a family member of someone you wish to memorialize, so that we can notify them. A separate category for corporate or individual donors who are willing to pledge $500 annually for the replanting of the baskets will also appear on the plaque. Please let me know if you or your business is willing to participate. These pledges will go a long way in assuring that our baskets will be filled and beautiful every year. As always, we are grateful for any size donation to help with replacement materials and additional baskets.

   There are too many people to thank individually for the success of this project. Besides our many donors, listed or not, I must give a special thanks to the City and Public Works Director Justin Dollar and his crew for their faithful watering and caring of the baskets. No success would have been possible without their cheerful cooperation and diligence. The listings on the plaque will be the following: 

In Memory of: Caroline Shields Brown, Vera and Sim Callon, Richard A. Campbell Jr., Pam Cauthen, Eugene E. Ellis Jr., Johnnie and Herbert Gay, Jennerette Harlow, David Nichols Heard Sr., Lester Kenneth Jones, Keith Karlson, Krewe of Phoenix deceased Rexes and Queens, John Marchbanks, Kathryn Lehmann Matheny, Cindy McSwain, Charlie Montgomery, James Bertrand Nutter, Kim Parker, Steve Plauche, Regina Pruitt, Margaret and Dick Punches., Josephine Feltus Reed, Frank Levon Smith Jr., Mary Elizabeth Sandel Smith, Carrie and Doyle Spell, Nita and Bill Stahlmann, Shirley and Dean Stevens, Sarah G. Tillman, Edna Dell Warren, Bernard P. Wood, Dr. John R. Young Jr.

In Honor of: Geraldine Spell Blanchard, Samuel Spell Blanchard Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Julius Carter, Pat Brandon Dale, Mr. and Mrs. Wilton R. Dale, Terry Estes State Farm, Edna Ferguson, Lynn James, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Jeansonne, Sherry and Lee Jones, Mary Lessley-2016 Woman of Year, Gwen McCalip, Marcia McCullough, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mullins, Natchez Garden Club, Natchez Tri-centennial, Smith-Mason Company

Donated By: Connie and Pat Burns, Karen and Eddie Foley, Freeman Welding, Carol and Braxton Hobdy, Annette and Larry Holder, Amanda and Benny Jeansonne, Kay and Ron Jinkins, Sherry and Lee Jones, Sheila and Fred Lotterhos, Megan and Mike Malone, Gwen McCalip, Marcia and John McCullough, Moreton’s Flowerland, Natchez Newcomers Club, Betty and David Paradise, Catherine and Everette Ratcliffe, Ginger and Tom Schwager, Lynne and Craig Smith, NK Stubbs Contractors, Taco Bell of Natchez.

Marcia McCullough is chairwoman of the Hangin Baskets Basket Fund of the Garden Lovers of Natchez.