Tunica County Sheriff's Office hosted its annual TRIAD Christmas luncheon at the G. W. Henderson Rec. Center December 18, 2019. TRIAD stands for "The Right Information And Direction," and is a program funded through one of the grants the Sheriff's Office is fortunate enough to receive through the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging, through the Division of Public Safety Planning. The program focuses on filling a vital need for ensuring safety to the Tunica County senior population.

The seniors were served a delicious, hot meal thanks to the hard work and preparation of Ms. Yvonne Franklin. Attendees enjoyed devotions, prayers, praises, and music from Pastor Evelyn Hubbard, Pastor Ben Pratt, Pastor Billy Willis, Mrs. Rechelle Siggers, Tunica County Sheriff's Office Choir, Pastor Henry Hargrow, Pastor Hylon Oliver, Pastor McKinley Daley & Company, Mr. W. J. Johnson, and Sheriff K.C. Hamp.

Thanks to generous donations, attendees got the chance to enter their name into a drawing for door prizes. Pastor Evelyn Hubbard led the program yesterday. She kept guests entertained and engaged with her beautiful voice, singing and reminding the seniors of the blessings they have received and would continue to receive. Pastor Hubbard was one of our generous donors for the door prizes, and we graciously thank her for blessing the seniors and giving so selflessly.

Sheriff K. C. Hamp welcomed all of the guest,s and wished them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! He expressed his sincere gratitude for all of those that work and give to make the TRIAD events possible, and able to continue with each year. The Sheriff also expressed his love and cares for the seniors, and reminded them to be extra safe this holiday season. He conveyed his mission to continue seeing and serving each and every one of the TRIAD seniors in the days and years to come as he reflected on the TRIAD 2019 season and looks forward to TRIAD events in 2020.

Ms. Rechelle Siggers sang 'One Day at a Time' singing, "Do you remember when you walked among men? Well Jesus you know if you're looking below it's worse now than then, pushing and shoving, crawding my mind. So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time - one day at a time sweet Jesus that's all I'm asking from you: give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do.Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine. Yes just for my sake teach me to take one day at a time."

Pastor Hargrow delivered an encouraging message. He said, "The Bible says we have been made - I was one of the ones who was made. Life has not always been easy - but we are here! Life is truly a gift. There is no need to worry about yesterday. It is gone and over, and tomorrow may never happen - what we have is right now. And what a blessing right now is!"

Captain Barry Collins delivered a message on safety tips for the seniors, reminding them to be extremely cautious this time of year with space heaters, ensuring their smoke detectors worked, and keeping the batteries charged on their phones. As the temperatures continue to drop and winter makes its presence known, Captain Collins reminded the seniors to make sure their heat was working, and they would stay warm as the frigid cold begins to set in. If it was not working properly, he urged seniors to call the Sheriff's Office and have an officer come by to check it out to ensure their safety is established and maintained.

Pastor McKinley Daley & Company, Mr. W. J. Johnson, Mr. David Ellington, and other members of the band blessed guests with a number of songs and praises. The seniors in attendance were seen dance, clapping, swaying, and enjoying the music from the time they arrived, until the very end of the program. The Tunica County Sheriff's Office is so appreciative of them coming out to our TRIAD events to play music and bless our seniors.

The luncheon was in memory of TRIAD seniors that passed away in 2019 whose names were printed on the program and candles lit in their honor.  Pastor Oliver read the names of those loved ones which are: Albert Pearson, Arlene D'Angelo, Glendine Lewis, Fannie Scott, Earnestine Austin, A.D. Fuller, Mary Irby, Margaree Logan, Elmer Thaddies, Louise Knighten, Eddie Davis, Alma Reed, Alice Bland, Freddie Johnson, Lee Earl Boyd, Maggie Blackmon, and Sharon Mangum. Pastor Oliver blessed all that have gone before us, and prayed that God will continue to bless every Pastor, Evangelist, Christian, and Child of God.