Sunrise Service: YMCA to celebrate Easter at VNMP

Published 10:51 am Thursday, April 17, 2025

: The annual YMCA Sunrise Service will be held Easter Sunday, beginning at 7 a.m., at Fort Hill in the Vicksburg National Military Park. Pictured are, from left, YMCA Executive Director Phillip Doiron, Crawford Street United Methodist Church Music Director Mary Kate Core, Pastor Jimmy Henry and Minister Courtney Reed. (Submitted photo)

For more than seven decades, the YMCA has been hosting a sunrise service on Easter. That tradition will continue this year, making it the 76^th anniversary of the event.

The service will be held, beginning at 7 a.m., at the top of Fort Hill in the Vicksburg National Military Park.

“What I love about the service is the variety of people who participate. You get runners who will park at one spot, run to the fort, attend, then run back. Others come dressed in their Sunday finest, and still others come like they are attending a picnic,” YMCA Executive Director Phillip Doiron said. “And all are gladly welcomed to this unique celebration.”

Founded in 1840, Doiron described the YMCA as a Christian organization that was intentionally designed not to be linked to any one church.

“But with underpinnings of an organization rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ,” he said. “And one of our most outward expressions of faith is the Easter Sunrise Service.”

During this years’ service, Doiron said Minister Courtney Reed from Trinity Temple Church and Pastor Jimmy Henry from First Baptist Church will be leading the service. Special music will be provided by Mary Kate Core, music director at Crawford Street United Methodist Church.

“Held continuously for 76 years, this service invites and unites the greater community of Vicksburg to celebrate our risen Lord,” Doiron said.

Parking for the service is available on Confederate Avenue.

For more information, calls may be directed to 601-638-1071.

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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