Sheriel Perkins is mayor of Greenwood.
Perkins, 51, a Democrat and the city's first African-American female mayor, took the oath of office shortly before 4 p.m. Friday at a quiet ceremony at her husband's law office at 612 W. Washington St.
Perkins said by telephone Saturday night the oath was administered by Leflore County Circuit Judge Betty Sanders shortly before 4 p.m.
Perkins said she was aware of the time since it happened shortly before the Greenwood High School homecoming parade, which started at 4 p.m.
She was a part of the parade, riding in a car driven by Willie Perkins Sr., her husband.
Perkins said she is planning an inauguration ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Living Faith Cathedral Church, which is located next door to the Perkins law firm.
Those in attendance at Friday's oath were Perkins' husband, the couple's four children, Willie James Perkins, 26; Takiyah "Taki" Perkins, 24; Jamilah Perkins, 17; and Jamal Walker Perkins, 15, as well as the law office's staff.
Perkins said once she obtained her bonding and certification from Gov. Haley Barbour she acted quickly "so that the city would have an official mayor over the weekend. I wanted to go on as soon as I found out I could go on and get in the job."
The actual ceremony was brief.
"It didn't last a minute. She gave me the oath and that was it," Perkins said.
Once the actual oath of office had been signed by Sanders, Perkins took it to City Clerk Deirdre Mayes, Perkins said.
Mayes gave Perkins a key to City Hall.
While at City Hall, Perkins went into the mayor's office.
Incumbent Harry Smith had already removed his personal items from the office, she said.
Perkins said some of the city-owned property left in the office were the mayor's desk and chair, a few smaller chairs and a credenza.
Attempts to contact Smith on Friday and Saturday were not successful. He has said a decision to challenge the election, based on voting "irregularities" might be made this week.
City Council President David Jordan, said he was aware that Perkins took the oath on Friday. He was in Jackson and could not attend the ceremony.
"She got her bond. She'll be there with us Tuesday," at the council's regular scheduled meeting, he said.
Perkins was certified the winner of the court-ordered special election on Thursday by the Greenwood Election Commission.
She received 3,135 votes to Smith's 2,843 for the job that pays about $67,000 annually.
