By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
BATH — The state’s first town ushered in the holiday season Sunday afternoon.
Bath hosted its traditional Christmas parade, showcasing entries by area schools, churches, businesses, civic organizations and individuals.
Interest in this year’s parade was high, according to Nelda Ormond, who coordinated the event with Jean Bowen, Claudia Alligood and Gordon Pippin.
“We have at least 125 entries, and they’re still coming in. I just had three calls,” Ormond said as she clutched her cell phone a half hour before the procession was to begin.
Jack Waters, a 103-year-old Bath native, was the parade’s grand marshal. Other local “celebrities” featured in the lineup included Bath Mayor Jimmy Latham and his wife, Bea; County Commissioners Ed Booth, Hood Richardson and Stan Deatherage; N.C. Rep. Arthur Williams, Superior Court Judge Wayland Sermons Jr.; Clerk of Court Marty Paramore; Register of Deeds Jennifer Leggett Whitehurst; Beaufort County Schools’ Principal of the Year Charles Clark; Fireman of the Year Josh Ingram; EMT of the Year Jim Rosene; Northside High School’s homecoming queen Whitney Lewis and runner-up Elizabeth Harris; Little Miss Independence Alexia Clark; Miss Independence Kimberly Clayton; and, of course, Santa Claus.
The float sponsored by Bath High School Preservation was judged best overall among parade entries. Other awards included the following: Churches — Shiloh Free Will Baptist Church, first; Bath Christian Church, second; Gateway Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ, third; Schools — Terra Ceia Christian School, first; Beaufort County Community College SGA, second; Northside High School FBLA, third; Civic — The Grinch, first; Goose Creek State Park, second; Country Kitchen, third; Classic cars — Kent Cutler, 1965 Ford fastback; Don Temple, 1931 town sedan.