The Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce and President, Karen Tolar, is pleased to announce that Debra Fordham has been selected as Grand Marshal for the 2024 Christmas Wonderland in the Pines to be held on November 30th.

Debra is married to Jim Fordham and together they are the proud parents of two sons and grandparents to three grandchildren. Debra began her professional life working at State Farm Insurance Agency in Jonesboro while still in high school and college. After graduation from Louisiana Tech, she became a full-time employee at State Farm in the position of Office Manager.

She served in the Jonesboro Hodge Lions Club as Treasurer and then later as Secretary. Debra was honored by receiving the Lion of the Year for two years. She was also a member of the professional secretarial organization, Beta Sigma Phi, and WMU at First Baptist Church. Debra served in several civic clubs and is a member of First Baptist Church where she has been the organist for over 50 years. She has also served as a Commissioner in Charge at the voting precinct. Debra‘s employer, Shawn Murphy, says, ”she an awesome employee that never has to be asked to do anything because it is always taken care of”.

Debra’s outstanding contribution to our Town and Parish is it to enhance the Deacon of Defense park area. Debra introduced “Jackson – the Rock Snake” to Jonesboro after seeing a similar rock snake while on vacation. She immediately embarked on her journey to install a rock snake and brilliantly brought the community together to watch Jackson the Rock Snake growth in not just length, but community pride as well. Debra has encouraged the Jackson Parish community to paint a rock with their favorite Bible verse, flower, children and grandchildren‘s names, to honor our Veterans, or to share a memory of someone.

Debra is a true prayer warrior. She is the first to get a food train started when
needed for her Sunday school class, she visits the sick, takes food to the shut-ins, and has been asked to play organ at many weddings and funerals.

For all of the above reasons, we congratulate Debra Jean Fordham as the Grand Marshal for the Christmas Wonderland in the Pines on November 30, 2024. Please plan to attend the Coffee in her honor on the morning of our Christmas Wonderland in the Pines Parade.