First Friday Bicentennial Edition

JACKSON, Tenn. – The last bicentennial edition of First Friday Forum will be held downtown at First Methodist Church on Friday, August 5.

Bicentennial Chairman Elaine Christian will speak on the bicentennial year and future legacy projects.

“It has truly been a remarkable year celebrating Jackson and Madison County,” said Christian. “First Friday was a signature event for downtown Jackson for many years and it was an honor for us to revitalize this tradition to talk about the characteristics of our hometown that make it unique. We’ve had speakers on our musical history, healthcare history, religious history, architectural history, educational history and business history to name a few. If you haven’t already joined us, I encourage you to attend our very last First Friday in August where we will talk about the legacy of the future.”

First Friday will be held at First Methodist Church located at 200 South Church Street in downtown Jackson on Friday, August 5. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m., and programming will start at approximately 12:15 p.m.

As this is a catered event, advance tickets are required for attendance. The cut-off for purchase is 6 p.m. the Tuesday prior to the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased using a debit or credit card at https://fffaug2022.pushpayevents.com/.

Tickets can also be purchased by cash or check at the First Methodist business office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays).

First Friday is sponsored by Simmons Bank.

About Elaine Christian

Elaine Christian grew up in West Tennessee and received her Bachelor’s degree in accounting and her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin. After graduating, Elaine worked towards obtaining her CPA. While attaining her CPA certification, Elaine worked with Black & Decker and Public Accounting in Jackson, Tenn. She has held senior management positions in the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, Dyersburg Chamber of Commerce, and The Work Place in Memphis, TN where she was CEO of Work Place Development.

Along with professional experience, Elaine has also served her community. Elaine is currently the Chairman of the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial Committee. She also served as the chair of the Jackson Madison County Library for five years. Elaine’s involvement in her community has been recognized many times with different awards. Some of her awards include the City of Jackson Women’s History Month Influential Women Award 2021 and the American Heart Association – West Tennessee Woman of Impact Award 2021.

Elaine enjoys spending time with her family, golf, travel, opera, hiking, and reading.