A lost tradition: Big Oak Tree Community Celebration on Christmas Eve
By Charles Shiver
In 2019, I took photos of the Celebration Oak in the center of West Meeting Street in Adel. Over the years, everyone was invited to the Annual Big Oak Tree Community Celebration, always held beginning at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve under the Big Oak Tree that lived in the middle of West Meeting Street. Folks could come out and enjoy an evening of food and fellowship.
However, a twister eventually toppled the community landmark. The Celebration Oak was downed by the EF-1 tornado of April 23, 2020, around the same time that the terrible COVID-19 outbreak plagued this community and others across the world.
According to Sandy Williams, the Christmas Eve celebration with the Big Oak reached its 46th year.
A young oak tree has now been planted where the historic one once stood, but it may be decades before the replacement reaches the size of the old Celebration Oak.
The Legend of “The Big Oak Tree”
History by Sandy Williams
This tree was a landmark in the Adel, Georgia, community for 46 years.
It began when Mrs. Daisy Johnson, Mr. Ira Washington, and Mrs. McDonald were sitting on the front porch having the discussion on how to decorate that big ole oak tree. Mrs. Daisy Johnson said let’s contact Mr. Sutton. (Mr. Sutton was the City of Adel utility manager.) Mr. Sutton told the Big Oak community the cost of decorating the tree would be around $4,000. Let’s keep in mind this was in the year 1974.
Well, not to be outdone, these creative geniuses came up with the idea. “We will use what is in our house.” They decorated the tree with old Clorox bottles, lanterns, light bulbs, and homemade garland. Extension cords came from every house in the neighborhood.
This act of kindness allowed Christmas to be celebrated throughout the entire city. The lights could be seen as far away as I-75.
The love for our community didn’t stop there. Residents of this neighborhood banded together to host a community-wide Christmas Eve Dinner. This was where Mr. Depo Slater’s famous chicken and rice was introduced to our city, as well as my Aunt Helen Durden’s fruit salad, Mrs. Charlie Mae McCormick’s famous pound cakes, Terri Brown’s delicious collard greens, and Mrs. Sara’s wonderful cabbages.
The gentlemen in our neighborhood would stand under the Big Oak Tree 20-24 hours barbecuing chicken, ribs, goats, hot dogs, and hamburgers to ensure each and everyone would have food to eat.
Every Christmas Eve at 7 p.m., we congregated under the Big Oak with lots of gospel music, spirit, and love. The performers included the DeBerry family, Arron Covington, and Mr. Eddie Morris. DJ music was provided by Mr. Earl Eady.
Locals from near and far would gather under the Big Oak Tree. The highlight of the evening would be the gospel preaching.
You may ask me how do I know all of this. I’m glad you asked. Our mother, Mrs. Mercedes Williams, had the pleasure of telling the people gathered underneath the tree the history of the Big Oak for 34 years. After my mother began experiencing Alzheimer’s, the mantle was passed to me.
For the last 10 years, no matter how inclement the weather, I’ve had the pleasure to stand in her shoes.
After the deaths of the original Oak Tree Community, I have watched the Community Men’s Club come together and cook the meat for our local community.
We’ve had the pleasure of fellowshipping with the former Adel Mayor Richard Barr (who never missed the Big Oak tradition). Even after his health began to fail and he was no longer in political office, his heart and spirit were still a part of the Big Oak Committee. Former Sheriff Johnny Daughtrey and other community leaders came together to help us celebrate.
We were not separated by politics, racial segregation, or religion. We had one goal in mind – “feed our community” – and show a sign of solidarity.
Cook County Commissioner Debra [Robinson-McKenney] made sure the Christmas Eve programs were printed and ready to be distributed.
Current Adel Mayor Buddy Duke, local community activists Lenis Johnson, Dink Covington, Edgar Katrina McCormick, Anderson Boodie Brown, Larry Patterson, Jerome Carter, Addie Mitchell, Deidra Patterson, Alecia Gear, Cathy Young, Michael Purvis, the Emrich family, Ministerial Association, Pastor Freddie Campbell, Pastor Emmanuel Brown, Adel Police Department, local business owners, China House, Piggly Wiggly, Watford Pool, and private donors all helped carry out this community tradition that became a pillar of hope in our community for 46 years.
Samona Durr stood ready to take the reins to continue reading “The Legend of the Big Oak.”
The tree may be gone, but the Roots shall live forever. That’s Elm Street, “where the legend began and will live forever.”
That’s Adel, Baby!
