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Happy Holidays 2006

It's the passion of the pastor

Every year, this Midtown minister goes all out with his Christmas display.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published December 10, 2006

By 6 o'clock, the cars had already begun their slow drive past the house where inflated Santas and twinkling lights beckoned from the rooftop and towering trees.

In a cul de sac off 18th Avenue S, the Rev. Danny Thomas Sr., 60, and his wife, Sharon, 57, have created what they believe is the largest Christmas lights display in Midtown.

Mostly, it's the passion of the pastor. Every year he scouts home supply and discount stores for the latest in yuletide decorations and promptly on Sept. 1 begins the almost two-month process to transform the two-lot property nestled along a short street near the SweetBay Supermarket shopping center and Perkins Elementary School.

To accomplish the task, the pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Rubonia takes out a 16-foot ladder, clambers on the roof to staple row after row of lights and climbs into the trees to build platforms for air-filled Christmas figures.

"I've been doing this about 16 years, but the last 10 years, it has been growing tremendously," he said during a daylight tour of the property. "I started doing it really years ago for my own kids."

The tradition continued for his grandchildren and other little ones who came with their parents to see the display. "It made me happy to see them so happy," he said.

Like 8-year-old Imani Miley, whose grandmother Olivia McCall drove her past the house for a pre-evening look. "This is gorgeous," McCall said. "If you're not in the Christmas spirit, this will really put you into it."

Indeed, about a dozen Santas and their wives form a droll line in front of the porch, swaying merrily. Some even sing, with one St. Nick offering a robust rendition of Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

Not to be outdone, minuscule snowmen along the chain-link fence sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas to passers-by.

At 1747 Youval Court S, the signs and sights of Christmas float and dangle from above, fill the yard and line the street. Sharon Thomas, who is an office systems specialist at the Enoch Davis Center, indulges her husband's enthusiasm.

"Each year, he feels that we have to go out and look for more decorations. He has this vision of what we need to do for the house. Then he goes out and sees all these little kiddie things that the kids are going to love to see," she said, adding that they snatch up bargains at after-Christmas sales.

"He touched my soft spot when he said, 'We're doing it for the children, the kids in the community.' "

Her husband says the cars start driving past as soon as the lights go on at Thanksgiving. "We have good neighbors. They never say anything about the traffic," he said. "We've all been neighbors for about 35 years and wonderful they are."

Neighbor Frank Bellamy, who lives across the street, has gotten into the spirit. His house is becoming a mirror image of the Thomas home. With more than 300,000 lights, neither Thomas is willing to disclose the size of their electric bill. "It runs pretty good, but it's all worth it in the end," was his answer.

"We don't discuss the electric bill. It's way up," she said.

On New Year's Day, the couple will gather many of their grandchildren - 45 altogether from their blended family - to help dismantle their Christmas extravaganza. "I cook up some hamburgers and make some punch and in a few hours," the pastor said, "it's done."

12 Santas standing

5 Santas waving

8Santas dancing

5 Santas with reindeer and sleighs

4 Mrs. Santa Claus

1 Santa in a race car

1 Santa on a motorcycle with side car

5

Snowmen

2 Penguins

4 Penguins singing

17 Lighted reindeer

2 Lighted nativity scenes

4 Sleighs

6 Extra large stars

7 Lighted poinsettias (5 by 5)

1 Happy Feet and Friends Snow Bubble (7 feet)

1 Family Snow Bubble (8 feet)

2 Christmas carousels (10 feet)

7

Skaters

By the numbers

By the numbers

12 Santas standing

5 Santas waving

8Santas dancing

5 Santas with reindeer and sleighs

4 Mrs. Santa Claus

1 Santa in a race car

1 Santa on a motorcycle with side car

5 Snowmen

1 Toy soldier

2 Penguins

4 Penguins singing

17 Lighted reindeer

2 Lighted nativity scenes

4 Sleighs

6 Extra large stars

7 Lighted poinsettias (5 by 5)

1 Happy Feet and Friends Snow Bubble (7 feet)

1 Family Snow Bubble (8 feet)

2 Christmas carousels (10 feet)

7 Skaters

[Last modified December 9, 2006, 20:12:03]