The City of Douglas, Douglas Coffee County Chamber of Commerce and the Coffee County Commission are proud to announce the Marshals for the 48th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. American Legion Post 515 Judge Advocate/District 12 Senior Vice Commander Jerome Loving and America Legion Post 18 Service Officer Arnold Parsons will be the Marshals for the Parade which will begin at 6:30pm at the Coffee County Courthouse on December 3rd.
American Legion Post 515 Judge Advocate/District 12 Senior Vice Commander Jerome Loving was born in Mississippi and moved to Douglas in 1961 and served 23 years in the Army and retired as First Sergeant (E-8). During his military career, he served in Airborne, Air Assault, Mechanized Infantry units, was an Airborne and Noncommissioned Officer Academy Instructor. He had assignments in Viet Nam, Germany, Italy, and Korea. During his military career, he served in numerous positions of responsibility, from Platoon Guide in Basic Training to Sergeant Major. After serving 23 years in the Army he retired as First Sergeant (E-8). After military retirement, he worked as a Department of the Army Civilian employee for 12 years where was responsible for training military emergency responders for their Homeland Defense and Homeland Security mission.
Remaining very active in our community, Mr. Loving has been a member of the American Legion Post 515 since 2008, has served as Post Commander and district Junior Vice Commander. Currently, he serves as Post 515’s Judge Advocate, House Chairman, and Son’s of American Legion Chairman and District 12 Senior – Vice Commander and Post Revitalization Chairman. He recruits and assists Veterans daily by providing transportation to and from appointments and completing Veterans Affairs Benefit claims. Since joining the American Legion, he has been Post 515’s Recruiter of the Year, Legionnaire of the year, and has numerous military and civilian awards. He is also a member of the Douglas Lion’s Club.
Mr. Loving is married to Ms. Vivian Jackson Loving. He has four children and three Grandchildren (Elliott, Los Angeles, California; Quiwintre, Birmingham, Alabama; Phylicia, Evanston, Illinois; and Salah, currently a student at Georgia Southern University.)
America Legion Post 18 Service Officer Arnold Parsons, was born in Virginia and served 22 years in the U.S. Army, 1955-1977. He was in several tours including Vietnam, Korea, Panama Canal Zone. After serving in the Army, Mr. Parsons worked with the Georgia Department of Labor for 20 years as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Specialist, Employer Rep., and Unit Supervisor until his retirement in 2001. He has received several prestigious awards, both with the Army and DOL.
Mr. Parsons is a member of Reedy Branch Baptist Church. He is active in the community as a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post 18, Past President of Coffee County Exchange Club, AARP, Coffee County Sr. Citizens, and Douglas Lions Club. He continues to help veterans get to VA Hospitals, offers his advise and help with VA Claims Forms and any other duties. As part of his work with Woodmen of the World, he works to make sure a beautiful American flag, is hanging at every school and other non-profit businesses.
Mr. Parsons was married for 20 Years, to Pauline Hutcheson, who died in 2003 with cancer. He has five children-Sherrill Brown of Alma, Peggy Rowell of Houston, Texas and Bangkok, Thailand, Jan Abernathy of Jewett, Texas, Scott Parsons of Douglasville, Ga. and Donnie Parsons of Nicholls, Ga and Afghanistan. He is grandfather to 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
“After serving their country, both of these men have tirelessly continued to serve our community,” says Georgia Henderson, Central Services Director. “We are honored that these men have accepted our invitation to be Marshals for the Christmas Parade.”
Registration for the Christmas Parade will continue through Friday, December 2, 5:00pm. The theme is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” On Saturday, December 3rd, festivities will begin at 3:30pm in downtown Douglas at Atkinson Plaza with Music on Main Street until 5:30pm. At 6:00pm, the 5K Run and Walk will begin along the parade route. The Annual Festival of Lights Parade will light up Peterson Avenue at 6:30pm and make its way from the Courthouse to the Alternative Education Center (formerly the Pre-K Academy).
Registration forms and rules can be picked up at the Central Services office located at Central Square Complex. For more information about the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade, please call (912) 383-0277, visit our website at www.cityofdouglas.com, or email info@cityofdouglas.com.
