Three plastic sets of wise men, four generations of funeral directors and about five escape attempts by sheep highlight 58 years of holiday tradition for the Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory.
Each December since 1967, the funeral home, located on Second Avenue North in Columbus, has assembled a nativity scene including plastic wise men, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus along with a pair of live sheep.
“I’m just thrilled that the community still welcomes us to do it,” funeral home owner Greg Puckett told the Dispatch. “I love to see the people stopping by during the day and in the evening, just getting out with the children. … I will continue to do it as long as I can.”
The scene has served as a local favorite during the holiday season and draws daily lines between five and seven cars long, Puckett said.
Willis Puckett II, Greg’s father, started the nativity tradition. While he wasn’t sure what originally prompted his father to build the nativity scene or include live sheep, Greg said it has become a valued tradition in the community.
“People my age … they’re taking their children out, and then they’re taking their grandchildren,” Greg said. “And we love putting it out there. We enjoy sharing that with the community.”
The sheep, which are the attention-grabber of the nativity scene, have come from various places over the years, including Mississippi State University and nearby farms, he said.
The process for selecting the sheep has evolved since its inception following several escapes by sheep, Greg said, including one where the sheep fled from their flock on Christmas Day, happily making their way to Main Street. Funeral home staff had to corral and return them to the funeral home, Greg said, but not before local news organizations got wind of the getaway.
“(We) kind of got tickled about it. I’m glad nobody got hurt, or the animals didn’t get hurt,” Greg said. “… And a time or two law enforcement would tell us, ‘Your sheep are out,’ and so we would get with them and round them up.”
To prevent further escapes, funeral home personnel added metal fencing to reinforce the wooden enclosure.
Additionally, the funeral home now specifically requests sheep with a calmer, more timid temperament, so they’re less likely to run away, Greg said.
This year’s sheep were provided by Seth and Stephanie Maher at 7 Mahers Homesteading. The couple hadn’t heard about the nativity before being asked to contribute this year, Seth said.
“We were enthusiastic about it,” Seth said. “We wanted to help out and ensure that it had what the people of Columbus remembered.”
‘A labor of love’
Greg said he remembered growing up watching his dad construct the nativity. Greg took over construction efforts when he was hired full-time as a funeral director in 1987.
Most of the pieces remain in storage year round at the funeral home, while the wood is usually redone each year, said Ricky Puckett, Greg’s son and a funeral director at Memorial Funeral Home.
“We keep most of the big pieces in storage,” Ricky said. “So that way we’re not having to cut wood and stuff every year. … So we keep most of it disassembled and labeled. … (Now) we can get it up in a couple of days as opposed to a week.”
Greg said he personally built the nativity with Lonnie Jones, custodian at the funeral home, for nearly 20 years. Since 2005, various staff members have taken over construction.
“It’s definitely a group effort,” Ricky said. “We all try to pitch in to do our part.”
Greg and Ricky agreed the sheep’s presence in front of the home brings families joy during the holidays, especially those dealing with the loss of a family member. Even if the sheep don’t always have the greatest timing.
“We had a visitation last week, for example … right in the middle of a very solemn moment or something, and they just start, ‘baahing,’ or whatever, you call a sheep noise,” Ricky said. “… But people always chuckle and laugh, so it kind of does bring some levity to the situation.”
As part of the fourth generation to work at the funeral home, Ricky said he knows the nativity will one day become his responsibility. It’s a tradition he’s ready to carry on when the time comes.
“It’s been ingrained in me throughout my life,” Ricky said. “… It’s always rewarding … just to look out the window and see, ‘Oh, there’s 15 people out there petting the sheep.’”
For Greg, the nativity has always been an act of love, he said, and something he treasures because of its significance to both the community and his family.
“(It’s) a labor of love for those in the community we serve and (we) enjoy it,” Greg said.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 42 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
