Crawford Street United Methodist Church will hold its annual turkey dinner on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Wesley Hall, 900 Crawford St., and the more than 100-year-old, time honored tradition also boasts another institution.

CSUMC member Jo Glyn Hunt has been in charge of decorating the tables for more than 40 years.

“It is a pleasure to decorate the tables, and I do it with joy and love, Hunt said.

The dinner is a fundraiser held by the United Methodist Women and the proceeds support missions locally and abroad, Hunt said.

Last year, close to $2,000 was donated to the Heifer International, which is an organization that empowers families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity by providing animals to those in need.

Animals are not just used as a food source, but also as sustainable income by producing milk, eggs and honey, which can be sold in markets.

The remaining proceeds from the dinner were used to support Service Over Self, Grace Christian Counseling Center, the local food pantry and kitchen items for the church.

In years past, Hunt said money was spent to decorate the tables for the dinner, but the women’s group decided it was time to forgo the added cost.

Hunt stepped up and now she uses gourds that her husband grew for the centerpieces for the tables, she said.

“George raised the gourds,” she said which were then spray painted silver and gold by the couple.

Hunt also added a touch of glitter to the gourds after they were painted to give them a festive look.

The decorations are not complete without fresh greenery and ribbon.

“I saw the idea (for the table decorations) at a women’s group luncheon in Jackson, and I liked it,” Hunt said.

Hunt said she decorates 24 tables, and it takes her approximately two hours with the help of her husband to complete the project.

After the turkey dinner, Hunt said she packs the gourds up and stores them in her basement for the next year.

“I have a basement where I store everything,” she laughed.

Tickets for the CSUMC turkey dinner are $10 and include turkey, dressing, corn pudding, green beans, roll, dessert and tea. Take-outs are also available.

In addition to the dinner the UMW will also sponsor a bake sale and bazaar. For more information or tickets, call 601-636-5612.