Photos: First Lady, Children's of MS patient set season aglow
Published on Thursday, December 5, 2019
Continuing a decades-old tradition, BankPlus Presents Light A Light brought a dose of the joy of the season to the state’s only children’s hospital. First Lady Deborah Bryant and Peyton Strickland of Clinton, a Children's of Mississippi patient, flipped the switch to light the hospital’s holiday display, while Ballet Mississippi dancers presented scenes from “The Nutcracker” in the Friends of Children’s Hospital fundraiser.
A giant candy cane serves as the switch for the hundreds of lights that adorn the children's hospital's holiday display while Mississippi First Lady Deborah Bryant and Peyton Strickland, Children's of Mississippi patient, flip the switch from "off" to "on."
Ballet Mississippi's Frances Madden dances as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Jill Dale, chair of BankPlus Presents Light A Light and a Friends of Children's Hospital board member, welcomes attendees to the traditional holiday event.
Deidra Furr holds Evelynn Wipperling of Vicksburg, a Children's of Mississippi patient, as they watch Ballet Mississippi dancers perform scenes from "The Nutcracker."
Bryant listens as Strickland wishes the audience a merry Christmas.
Bryant, left, hugs Dale after receiving an eternal light from Friends.
Sophia Killilea, a Ballet Mississippi dancer, plays the part of a toy soldier in a dance from "The Nutcracker."
Bryant, left, and Dr. Mary Taylor, UMMC pediatrics chair, chat before the start of the event.
John Scarbrough, left, a Friends of Children's Hospital board member, talks with Dr. Guy Giesecke, Children's of Mississippi CEO.
Taylor greets the audience at BankPlus Presents Light A Light. Next year's event is scheduled to take place in the Children's Hospital expansion, which is scheduled to open in fall 2020.