Forty years of welcoming smiles
Published 7:00 am Saturday, July 2, 2016
Gospel singer from Atlanta, Tonya Attaway, performed at the 40-year anniversary celebration of the Pearl River County Welcome Center in Picayune.
Photo by Julia Arenstam
The Pearl River County Welcome center celebrated its 40th anniversary July 1.
Tom King, commissioner for the Southern District of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, Marlon Ivy, the welcome center director, and Cindy Poland, supervisor for the welcome center, spoke at the event.
The welcome center, located off Interstate-59 in Picayune, hosted gospel singers Nikolaly Difort, Tonya Attaway and Debra Prather.
“I’ve been to a lot of welcome centers and this is the nicest one I’ve seen,” said Harriett Greulich, a volunteer at the center who has seen visitors from all over the country come into the welcome center.
Gruelich has lived in Picayune for 45 years.
“My son was born when the welcome center was built,” said Gruelich.
Tony Smith, from the Patt Harrison Waterway Distrcit, was grilling hot dogs while Daryl Ladner, with the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, fired a Civil War replica cannon.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years,” said King, who has worked with the center for 25 years as commissioner.
“You’re always greeted with a smile,” said King. “First impressions mean a lot, and it means a lot to people outside the state who remember the hospitality when they leave.”
