The November Turkey Dinner at Crawford Street United Methodist Church has become an expected and much-anticipated event by many people in Vicksburg each year as the holiday season approaches.

This year, the dinner will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dine-in and takeout plates are available.

Joy Wing, chairperson of the event, said, “We’ll be having the same courses people look forward to every year: turkey, dressing, green beans, corn pudding, rolls, gravy and homemade pies.”

Vicky Rohr, publicity chairperson, said, “We recommend purchasing tickets in advance. We’re selling 1,000 tickets and, this year, tickets will be available at the door until they’re gone. If past history is any indication of demand, anyone wanting to enjoy a turkey dinner should buy tickets in advance.”

A bake sale and an arts-and-crafts sale will be held in conjunction with the annual Turkey Dinner.

Kay Boolos, who contributed several items for the arts-and-crafts sale, showed off one of the items she has donated. The silk floral arrangement with flowers and white pumpkins features lights tucked into the creation.

“I tried to design it so that it could be converted to Christmas decor easily,” she said. Other items for sale include jewelry, embroidered items and home decor.

The bake sale, headed by Kimmi Jefferson, will feature homemade cakes, cookies and candies. Some local restaurants will be donating their wares.

Carol Duncan, food chairperson, said the effort made by church members is amazing. “Everyone comes together to make this a success,” she said. “Church members prepare all of the food, some at home prior to the dinner and some at the church the morning of the dinner.”

Duncan recalled the length of time the turkey dinner has been held.

“I remember my grandmother working at the Turkey Dinner,” she said.

Mark Posey, co-chairperson, tried to pinpoint when the event began.

“Since 1931,” he said. “The first turkey dinners consisted of brown bag turkey sandwich lunches.”

The church missed one year of Turkey Dinner during the pandemic in 2020; other than that, they have hosted the meal every year for 92 years, Posey explained.

Crawford Street UMC traces its beginning to 1814, when the first Methodist Conference of the Southwest was held at the home of Newit Vick at Openwood Plantation. The first church, a small log cabin built at the plantation, is memorialized in one of the river murals on Levee Street.

In 1850, a red brick church was built facing Crawford Street. It was a target during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863, and at least one unexploded cannonball remained lodged in the side of the church until it was demolished in 1899 and a larger church was built on the site.

In 1925, a devastating fire razed the beautiful new building, said to have been one of the most beautiful churches in Mississippi. The current building was completed in 1927.

Shortly after that, the Turkey Dinner began as a fundraiser by the women of the church. It has grown to include all members volunteering.

“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Duncan said.

According to United Methodist Women’s President Linda Turner, the money raised from the annual Turkey Dinner goes to fund missions on a world, state and local basis.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the church office located at 900 Crawford St. For more information, call the church office at 601-636-5612.