Published: July 09, 2008 11:32 am         

A Day in Sallis: Locals turn out for first homecoming event; celebration to be annual

Endless love and unity was the theme for Sallis’ first homecoming. The 2008 Sallis Day was a product of a dream made reality through community members cooperation and hard work.

Elnora Clark, of Sallis, says she had a dream that her community of Sallis would come together in unity and fellowship within the town. When that dream came to fruition on Saturday, July 5, “Everything was just lovely and beautiful…all the people were just excited and happy,” said visionary Elnora Clark. With help from friends and relatives from all over the county, Washington D.C., California, Wisconsin, Texas and Illinois, her dream was fulfilled.

Early Saturday morning people had already begun to set up their tents in preparation for the day’s activities. Residents from in and around Sallis hauled in their homegrown and homemade goods. Tents with large watermelons, marinating ribs ready for the grill, cakes and pies of all kinds, sausages and many other dishes prepared for the day. Many people brought wares to sell while a makeshift stage was being set up in front old stores on the main street of Sallis.

This town, located six miles west of McAdams, was established in 1874 as a flag station on the Kosciusko Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. Sallis was named for the former owner of the town site, Dr. James D. Sallis.

Sallis Historian Mattie Sallis Hightower and local resident Yvonne Williams were some of the speakers for the day’s events, emphasizing how their community must work together in order to grow and stay strong as a community. Empowering faith in God and community is they key to Sallis’ work together for greater good. “…as God loves us we should love someone too,” exclaimed Williams.

Clark recollects Sallis residents from her childhood when caramel ice cream was just ten cents at Mr. Dubard Jenkins’ store. “Walton Walls, Dallas Morgan, Henry Harris and Mr./Mrs. Eldred Burrell…” are just some of the former Sallis residents who were involved in the town.

Some Attala officials were present including District Four Supervisor Kary Ellington and Attala County Sheriff William Lee, as well as Sallis Mayor Jack Ables. Sallis’ oldest resident, Odessa Clark, 85, was also present Saturday.

Even though this was the first Sallis Day, Clark hopes that it will only get bigger and better year after year, “we was working in the dark this time but hopefully we’ll be working in the light next time.” Clark says she is so happy that it turned out so well and that she’s just “high off of the community.”