CHRISTMAS STORY — Glenda Parker, of Independence, interprets for Murphy Anthony, a deaf blind upholsterer from Tickfaw, during the Regional Deaf Christmas Party at the First Baptist Church in Amite. Tom Willis, minister of the deaf at the church, shown below, was telling the story of the first Christmas. Photo by Susie Cambre

AMITE - First Baptist Church was the setting for the annual regional Deaf Christmas Party this past Saturday night.

Tom Willis, minister of the deaf at the church, hosted this year's event for almost eighty deaf, deaf-blind participants and their families.

Each year the event is held at a different locale and guests were enthusiastic to visit Amite this year.

“This is a very special occasion because the deaf community and deaf blind community do not get a chance to communicate or interact with one another as often as they would like,” Willis said.

The crowd from the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area was busy catching up with one another. The visitors' hands were seemingly dancing with movement, sharing all sorts of news, jokes and the usual party conversations.

“It's been such a long time since I've seen so many of the people here. It's so good to see wonderful friends and their families,” Kentwood resident Jerry Brumfield said. “This is great, and the food is great, too.”

Jean Miley, a Southeastern Louisianian University sign language interpreter, noted the attendance grows each year.

“This year we had a lot more people that came from New Orleans,” she said. “After some of the things we've all been through with Katrina, the deaf community is tightening up their relationships with other deaf communities to provide support and compassion for one another.”

Roy Allen and Yolanda Carter from New Orleans and Amanda Charlet from Denham Springs indicated they didn't mind the distance because it was so much fun and nice to see everyone.

Just like any other Christmas party, the food was plentiful, lots of Christmas gifts, prizes, music, caroling ( in sign language ) and the kids were running around darting in between the grown ups.

Unlike most parties the highlight of the evening included Willis reciting the beautiful tale of the first Christmas with his hands.

The visitors raised and waved their hands high above their heads in appreciation.

“The minister told the story in such a memorable and beautiful way. It really touched my heart,” Glenda Parker said.

Angie Palmisano, an SLU art student from Ponchatoula, went from table to table visiting and making friends with everyone.

“It gets us all in the mood for the holidays,” she said as she smiled.

Jay Varnado and his wife Becky from the Lord's Church in Kentwood invited everyone to come see his signing group perform in the Kentwood Parade, at various churches and some local nursing homes.

At the end of the evening, Willis joined the crowd in giving recognition to his beautiful wife for all of her work, thanked the visitors and the volunteers for making this annual event a huge success.

The crowd concluded the evening by hugging one another, promising to keep in touch and signing the international hand sign, “I love you” as they said good night.

Some then, pointed to everyone and moved their hands slightly over their forearms from elbow to hand in a gesture resembling a C (Santa Claus) flying over the rooftops.

This was their way of saying, “Merry Christmas, everyone !”