COLUMBIA — Sunday afternoon, the parking lot outside Columbia Auction was filled and many cars were parked across the street on a grassy lot. People had driven to the town of about 7,000 from all over the state to attend the liquidation sale of the personal property of former first lady Patricia Fordice.

Fordice was the former wife of Kirk Fordice, who served two terms as Mississippi’s governor from 1992 to 2000. She died July 12 at her home in Madison.

Inside the auction house, people buzzed around the room, lot lists in their hands, looking at the items and deciding their bids.

Tables were covered in crystal, silver, glassware, linens, pottery and ceramics. One table displayed a collection of about 50 colorful cups and saucers and a pair of ornate brass candelabras. Another boasted a small collection of Gail Pittman pottery.

Scattered around the room were pieces Fordice, who was born in Memphis and lived in Vicksburg from 1962 until moving into the Governor’s Mansion, acquired in her travels around the world. One table was covered with the blue and white pottery she collected in China.

On another table, a 1996 inaugural plate sat next to a collection of elephants made of glass or carved of stone or wood.

The walls were lined with armoires, hutches and chest of drawers and framed paintings and prints.

On the floor, there were footstools and rugs and boxes of holiday decorations. One box was filled with recipe books, some with handwritten recipes and ones clipped from magazines and newspapers tucked between the leaves.

In one corner were a matching desk and chair where the first lady might have once sat to write a letter.

There were silver and crystal awards for service and volunteering, Patricia Fordice’s name etched into the metal and glass.

Jennings Gilmore, who owns Columbia Auction, noted that while he didn’t know Fordice personally, “We learned a lot about her preparing for this. It has given us a great respect for the lady. We’ve learned that she was a very, very loved person.”

Gilmore’s wife, Lisa, said the only other celebrity auction they have hosted was one for Delta Burke. Of hosting Fordice’s auction, she said, “It’s been an honor more than anything else.”

Two hours before the auction began, around 100 numbered paddles to be held aloft by bidders had already been assigned. By the time the auction began, dozens of people carried paper paddles made quickly to try to accommodate the crowd. By the end, about 200 had been at the auction.

Some attended the auction because they wanted to buy Fordice’s things, others out of curiosity.

Ricky Israel and his wife, Robin, attended from Vicksburg. Israel said while he went to the auction because his son was one of the auctioneers, “I was interested in seeing some of her stuff, too. I knew all the Fordice children.” Three of the Fordice children, Angie, Dan and Hunter, live in Vicksburg. A fourth, Jim, lives in Tennessee. They and their children will benefit from the sale, with funds going into a family trust.

Israel said he didn’t think most people wanted Fordice’s belongings because of their monetary value, but because they wanted a memory — to be connected to her. Others reflected that statement.

“I admire Patricia Fordice,” Sandy Fortenberry of Pine Burr said. “I thought she was a really classy lady and I thought I would love to have a piece of her life in my home.” Fortenberry said she collected angels and was planning on bidding on a few of the lots.

Jennifer Dyess of Baton Rouge said she was visiting her grandmother in Columbia and decided to stay for the auction, “because it’s Pat Fordice.” Dyess admitted she wouldn’t normally stay on Sunday afternoon.

Many people spoke of Fordice’s character and fortitude. Carolyn Wells of McComb said, “I think she represented our state well. Even in conflict, she held up her standards as a real Southern lady.”

Gilmore said family members and friends did not attend because it would upsetting for them. He said some of Fordice’s friends had called to bid on items, including a silver rose pattern pitcher.

Gilmore said the family made the decision to auction Fordice’s belongings and kept her fine jewelry and most of her furniture. The proceeds from the auction will be put into a family trust.

Some attendees speculated on why the Fordice family decided to sell the former first lady’s belongings. “I guess she just had so much stuff and they’re just overwhelmed,” Susan Martindale of Monticello said as she looked through the linens.

Martindale said she had come to the auction because she knew there would be Penny Sanford porcelain, but admitted that she was also interested in the items because they belonged to the former first lady. “I just wanted a piece of history,” she said.

“This just speaks to me,” Pam Stovall of Columbia said, sweeping her hand around the room. “Every piece of this is a story. It’s a living piece of someone’s life. It’s like a novel to me.”

Gilmore said an average estate sale would contain 400-500 lots. The auction boasted over 1,000 lots, including Fordice’s silver 2007 Jaguar. Gilmore said the car had only 5,000 miles and he expected it to fetch $40,000.

While Gilmore thought all the lots would sell, he expected the silver and crystal lots to sell best. “Everybody wants something,” he said. “They want a memento.”

Before Gilmore started the auction, he called Fordice “one of the greatest first ladies we’ve ever had. We hope everything here today is done in a way befitting to who she was.”