Walking into Zina McFarland’s home is like stepping into a Christmas wonderland. Her living room is fully decked in Christmas decor, which will put anyone in the holiday spirit.
McFarland enjoys the Christmas season and has been decorating for years.
“Well, actually it started 40 years ago, when I had my first son, and I just enjoyed decorating,” said McFarland, 57. “As a child growing up, that’s what my mom used to always do. She always decorated for Christmas, and the street that I lived on, we would always have the lights lit up.”
McFarland’s living room colors normally are black, white and yellow. During Christmastime, however, her decor consists of red, silver and white.
“I get a vision in my head, and once I get that vision, then I go with that vision,” she said about her holiday decorating. “This is actually my first time going with a white Christmas tree. I’ve always had a green Christmas tree, so this year I decided, ‘Let’s do white,’ and I think that was a great selection.”
Her white Christmas tree, featuring white lights and adorned with red and silver decorations, looks elegant as it stands in front of her window.
Outside her home she has two angels all aglow with white lights and a cross brightly beaming with red lights, as well as some other holiday decorations.
“I love to decorate,” she said.
McFarland moved to Greenwood about seven months ago from her hometown of Belzoni.
She was offered and accepted a job as manager of Williamsburg Estates, where she resides. She also does event planning as a side job, decorating for parties.
One thing she really enjoys about living in Greenwood compared to Belzoni is the quick access to stores, such as Walmart or her favorite store, Big Lots.
“I like the city of Greenwood,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed my stay here thus far. The people here, my neighbors, they have been kind to me as well. ... I have good neighbors; everybody looks out for each other here.”
Growing up in Belzoni, McFarland attended Humphreys County High School and is a member of the Class of 1982.
As an adult, she moved out of state a couple of times, living in Atlanta and Texas. After her last move, she relocated to Belzoni and decided to settle in Mississippi.
McFarland enjoys being outdoors and activities outside. She likes to play basketball and volleyball, and she also enjoys cooking and singing.
“I’m what people would call a ‘PK’ — a preacher’s kid,” she said. “My dad is the pastor of our church.”
McFarland travels to Belzoni often to see her father, who is ill, and continues to be a member of the church he pastors, New Beginnings Church of God.
Each year, it’s important to McFarland to have her Christmas decorations up by Dec. 4.
Her youngest son, Travis McFarland, died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm in 1997 at the age of 13. He was born on Dec. 4.
“He was the one who loved to decorate for Christmas,” she said. “He loved decorating and helped me decorate the tree. In memory of him, I make sure I have everything lit up on Dec. 4. ... There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my child.”
Her older son, Altus McFarland Jr., resides in Jackson, and she is a grandmother of three.
The best part of her holiday season involves giving to others.
“To me, that was the ultimate gift when God gave us Jesus, and he gave his life for us. That’s why I’ve got that cross out there, and it’s in the red lights for the remembrance of him giving his life for us,” she said. “So I like to give, because Christ gave first.”
- Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7235 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
