The City of Summerville Annual Christmas Parade Takes To The Streets Monday, Dec.4

The City of Summerville is getting ready for the 2023 Christmas Parade, to be held Monday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas”.

Parade Grand Marshall

Ms. Odell Anderson and Ms. Barbara Massey Reece will serve as the Parade Grand Marshals. These special ladies were selected for their many years of work serving our county Veterans. Odell Anderson began her work honoring veterans in Atlanta in 1992 with the cooperation of Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem Military Bases. Following her retirement, she moved back to her family farm in Subligna to begin her work honoring Veterans locally.

The first full service for Veterans in Chattooga County was held in her home church, Subligna Baptist Church, in 2001, where she had 9 World War II Veterans, with 2 POWS in attendance. In 2003, Grady McCollumn, who was Summerville’s City Manager at that time, contacted Mrs. Anderson requesting a list of the current service personnel that were being deployed to Iraq. Mrs. Anderson began working and successfully found the families of those serving in Iraq. She coordinated with the City of Summerville to host a program honoring the families. Immediately following this special program, Mrs. Anderson joined forces with State Representative Barbara Massey Reece, working together to honor and serve Veterans in various ways.

Mrs. Anderson has had numerous events for our World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for the past 22 years. She served as Veterans Liaison for U.S. Senator Johnny Issakson for 10 years and was named Aide De Camp to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mrs. Anderson is currently retired and lives on her family farm with her husband, Ralph, and continues to serve our Veterans in Chattooga County. She thanks Chattooga County for their continued support of the Veterans events throughout the years. The work that she has done for this cause is priceless. In the words of Mrs. Anderson “May God Bless America”.  The City of Summerville would like to Lieutenant Colonel Odell Anderson for her work in honoring our county Veterans.    

Former State Representative Reece was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998 to represent the 11th District. She is a graduate of Menlo High School, the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Home Economics, and Berry College with a Master of Education. she was employed by the Extension Service as a Home Economist in Walker County, a classroom teacher for thirty years in Chattooga and Gwinnett Counties, and a business partner in B&B Enterprises, a Catering Service. During this time, Rep. Reece was active in numerous civic and professional groups. She received the Community Service Award from Modern Woodmen of America for her work with children and the elderly. Representative Reece was active in the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce and was a charter member of Leadership Chattooga. She has also served on the Summerville Downtown Development Association’s, Better Home Town Committee and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center. She is a member of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee and the State Institutions and Properties Committee. She served as Chairman of the Corrections Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the State Institutions Subcommittee. During her first term in the Georgia House, Reece was named one of Georgia’s 100 most powerful Women in Government and Politics by Women Looking Ahead, Inc. of Atlanta (1999); Named 1999 Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Rural Health Association given a Meritorious Service Award by the North Georgia Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities (2000); received the North Georgia Community Action, Inc., Appreciation Award (1999) recognized in the Georgia Trend Magazine (April 2000) as one of five people to watch in Northwest Georgia; declared 2000 Democrat of the year by the Chattooga County Democratic Association; and the Rome News Tribune recognized her in Women’s World for 1999. In 2001 Reece received an award from the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education for her support of Georgia Career, Technical and Vocational Education. She was also chosen as 2002 State Representative of the Year by the Georgia Industrial Technology Education Association. Mrs. Reece has one daughter and son in-law, Kelly and Jeff Floyd and three granddaughters. She and her family attend Oak Hill Methodist Church near Menlo. The City of Summerville would like to thank Barbara Massey Reece for her service to our community and to our Veterans.  

Lighting of The Courthouse Tree

The annual Lighting of the Courthouse Christmas Tree will be taking place this year. Santa will do the honors of lighting the tree that is displayed in front of the Chattooga County Courthouse as he makes his way through town in the parade. His sleigh and reindeer will make a quick pause in front of the Courthouse as he works his magic to light the tree, wish all a Merry Christmas, and continue through the parade route. Spectators young and young at heart will enjoy this special lighting of the tree.

Trophies will be awarded by the Summerville Recreation Department for the top 3 float entries and prize monies in the amount of $150.00 for 1st Place, $100.00 for 2nd Place, and $75.00 for 3rd Place will be awarded.

The parade entry fee is $25.00 and registration is still open at the Summerville Recreation Department. To register as a participant or for additional information contact the Summerville Recreation Department at 706-859-0910.

Parade Timeline

5:30 PM – Small floats arrive at high school staging area

  – Entrances and drop offs only from Hwy 100 for ALL entries/No entrance from Hwy  114

6:00 PM – Marching/Walking units line up at Ingles parking lot near U.S. 27  

​     – All big trucks & tractor trailers lineup at Rec. Dept. ball field parking lot

6:15 PM – All units in position & floats will be judged

6:30 PM – Horses should be lined up at Tennis Court Area.  

​      All horse trailers to park at AGL parking lot

6:45 PM – Units pull out of Chattooga High School Lot

7:00 PM – Parade Begins

Summerville Main Street will present live musical entertainment in front of the Chattooga County Courthouse beginning at 5:30 p.m. until the start of the parade.  Downtown businesses and restaurants invite the public to shop and enjoy a meal before or after the parade.