As is tradition, rows and rows of lavishly decorated tables for eight filled nearly every corner of the Jackson Fairgrounds building for the First Ladies Luncheon on Thursday. There was the silver mirrored peacock with white feathers, a jungle-themed table complete with elephants and animal print linens. TLM Associates left out no details for their Engineer Barbie house table. There were giant flowers, balloons, a table of movie theater candies, and more. The creative forces behind the tables for the annual event go all out every year.
According to luncheon chairman Anita Kay Archer this year’s event drew eleven hundred twenty-five ladies, “And to think when we started there were three hundred twenty-five in the ballroom at Lambuth”. Serving the large crowd was the task for the First Ladies’ Ambassadors who were aided by thirty-six celebrity servers such as Mayor Scott Conger, Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley, Crimestoppers Director Mike Johnson, developer Hal Crocker, Rockabillys owner Dennis Bastian, City Councilman Frank McMeen, and others.
The luncheon is held each year to celebrate the women of West Tennessee. Keynote speaker Valerie June Hockett brought her message of how kindness and being centered can have a ripple effect on those around us and how we can bring changes in our surroundings by making small changes in ourselves. The Grammy-nominated artist who grew up in Humboldt and has traveled the world also entertained the crowd with her music.
