Frazier: Won’t you be my neighbor

Published 2:49 pm Friday, October 22, 2021

One of my neighbors called me this week and asked if I would check her front porch for a package.

She and her husband are on a vacation, and she had been notified by Amazon an order had arrived.

I certainly didn’t mind checking. She and her husband have helped me out on several occasions.

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On my way back to my house after finding her package by her garage door and securing it for her son to later pick up, I thought about neighborhoods and the ones I have lived in through the years.

I grew up in the Marion Park Neighborhood, which I have oftentimes mentioned.

It was a wonderful place to live and, on the corner, where my family’s home was located, the neighbors became second parents to me.

Marion Park was also a neighborhood that worked together for the good of the area. Homeowners would sign up to take their turn in maintaining the entrance and after the swimming pool was built, moms would take turns being in charge.

The first house I ever owned was also on a friendly street.

Located off Fisher Ferry Road, Summer Hill Drive was a place where neighbors taught me how to French hand sew, I ate chitlins for the first and last time at one of the neighborhood barbeques, and neighbors all loved and supported me during hard times. And these neighbors became my children’s second parents.

Neighbors can be so much more than just the people who live next door.

Next week in Vicksburg neighbors are getting together in the Fostoria neighborhood, which is the 2300 to 2500 blocks of Drummond Street, to host Porchfest.

It’s an event the whole community is invited to attend. There will be live music, artisans will be selling their wares along the sidewalks and there will be games for the kids.

The Fostoria neighborhood sounds a lot like the neighborhoods I have lived in. Folks working together, helping one another out and having fun.

Most people are familiar with the educational children’s television series “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.”

It first aired on PBS in 1968.

I watched it growing up but if it hadn’t been for Google, I certainly would not have recalled Daniel, the tiger, King Friday, or Lady Elaine Fairchild, who lived in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.

I do, however, recall the tune Mr. Rogers sang during every episode and have come to understand its value even more as an adult.

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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