| ornament |
2024
Christmas Ornament
by Adeila Ladson
This year ’ s Christmas ornament will feature Sid ’ s Antiques and Jean Gay is the local artist who will capture this historical building and business in downtown Moultrie .
“ The older I become , the more love and appreciation I have for this place we call Home , so I was thrilled when I received a phone call telling me that I had been chosen to create the image for this year ’ s Christmas ornament ,” said Gay .
She added that what made it even more special was the fact that Sid Collins , the owner of Sid ’ s Antiques , had requested that she design the ornament .
“ After talking with Sid , we decided I should create an oil painting so that he could have the building shown in color ,” Gay said .
She said the her family and Collins ’ family had a long history starting when his mother , who was 17 , came from Alabama to Moultrie with her sister , accompanied by their mother , seeking employment . “ They found jobs at the same factory where my relatives worked , and initially , became lodgers in the home of my great-grandmother , then became life-long friends . And the rest is History !,” Gay said .
The first Christmas ornament Gay did was in 2008 and it featured the First Presbyterian Church of Moultrie . Since that time , she has been the artist for the annual ornament six times including this year . The other buildings that she has captured include the Colquitt County Courthouse , the Moultrie High School , the Grand Theatre and Cranford Jewelry Store .
For more than 35 years , the Downtown Moultrie Association has produced an ornament depicting a building in the downtown area and sold them as a fund-raiser with proceeds being put back into downtown for events and improvements .
“ In my eyes , the City of Moultrie with its true Southern charm is the perfect place to live ; it ’ s truly the heart of our community ,” said Gay .
Ornaments will go on sale , downtown , on Thanksgiving night , during the Lights ! Lights ! Celebration , and , afterwards at Sid ’ s Antiques and other participating merchants .
48 MoultrieScene HOLIDAY 2024