PHOTO GALLERY: Sulphur Olde Tyme Christmas
Published 3:04 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Sulphur High School football players did a bit of postseason training, waiting and lifting at the Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
Faye Burnworth and Brenda Lantier, making spirits bright. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
The 8th Annual Senior Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch concluded with dessert and bingo. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department awarded a $50 prize and two $25 prizes. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
Joan Hebert and Brody Tanner dance to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" performed by the Sulphur High Swings at the Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch. (Rita LeBleu / American Press
Sulphur High Swings performed Christmas favorites at the 8th Annual Senior Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch on Tuesday at the West Cal Event Center. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
Sulphur High School cheer and football teams played an integral part of the day with dance and service. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
The city of Sulphur sponsored its eighth annual Senior Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch on Tuesday with door prizes, bingo (and more prizes), holiday music, dancing and Pasta Monica that drew more than 230 seniors.
“The city has been a sponsor of the Senior Olde Tyme Christmas Brunch since its inception,” said Sulphur Mayor Mike Danahay. “We are pleased to be able to bring Christmas cheer to the senior citizens of our community in this way.”
One of the highlights of the event is when the Sulphur High School cheerleaders and football team asked seniors to dance. Sulphur cheerleader Graylee Bradley, 18, asked Keith Salter, 81. Salter said he hadn’t danced since 1980 when he danced with his BFFs. Joan Hebert was coaching her partner, the football player Brody Tanner. She said she dances at home often, and not alone.
The city works in partnership with Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home and West Cal Arena to host the event. Local businesses pitch in to provide door prizes.
Denita Steve went home with a $25 gift certificate from Cast and Cleaver. Faye Gordon’s gift certificate was from the Cabbage Patch and Blanch Milton’s was from Khoury’s.
Linda Wolford has been responsible for collecting the gifts and gift cards for Olde Tyme Christmas from the beginning. Jody Barrilleaux, community relations for Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home plays hostess and performs every year. Wolford said Barrileaux didn’t tell her she was responsible for the door prizes until a week or two before the event. Nevertheless, businesses were happy to give. Now she begins three months prior.
“The first year, we collected $800 in gift cards and prizes,” she said. “This year, we collected $2,600. I am so grateful to these businesses. They have been so generous.”
One businessman, Carl Vincent, generously provided food for the event — food he cooked.
“Well, yeah, if I’m going to provide the food I’m going to be the one that cooks it,” he said.
This year, for the first time, Barrilleaux had a singing and co-hosting sidekick, Sake Stroderd — part of the Sulphur High Swings.
Sake said The Swings are part of the Sulphur Show Choir under the direction of Molly Jones. Each student has to audition to be invited. In addition to Stroderd, other Swing members — including Riley Gary, Logan Daniels, Ashton Warren, Mia Moreno, Addison Smith and Lauren Shegog — performed Christmas favorites. Elijah Harrell is manager.
“I remember the first time I hosted the Olde Tyme Christmas event,” Barrilleaux said. “It was held at Prompt Succor and we knew then that we would need a larger location next time. I love lifting people up. They’re my heroes and they know who Lorretta Lynn was.” (Stroderd didn’t, but he does now.)
