NATCHEZ &8212; Store parking lots were flooded with cars and stores were crowded with people taking advantage of the after-Christmas sales Tuesday.

Sisters Cynthia Perryman from Fayette and Leslie White from Jackson started shopping at 11 a.m. in the Belk Store at Natchez Mall.

The two came for the store&8217;s white sale to buy pillows and look at mattresses for the beds in their homes, and then went to J.C. Penny&8217;s to see what they could buy there.

&8220;Everything we&8217;ve looked for, basically we got,&8221; White said.

JC Penney&8217;s Store Manager Beth Sibio said the store saw a mix of people all there for different reasons.

&8220;We&8217;re getting a really good balance between returns, customers using gift cards, customers shopping for themselves and (customers) taking advantage of holiday specials,&8221; Sibio said.

Because of the recent cold weather, Sibio said lots of JC Penney customers were shopping for sweaters, jackets and other cold-weather clothing.

&8220;The cold weather makes everyone think about what they don&8217;t have and what they need right now,&8221; Sibio said.

Courtney Aldridge said he came to JC Penney&8217;s for some quick shopping on the go.

&8220;I&8217;m going out of town and taking my daughter to France and I needed a sports coat and a shirt, last minute,&8221; Aldridge said. &8220;I came here because they have sales but we (the family) really try shop here (locally) first.&8221;

Leah Watson of Monterey was supervised by her husband, Buddy, while she shopped at the Belk Store.

&8220;He gave me a $300 gift card and is making sure I don&8217;t spend it on anybody but myself,&8221; Leah said.

Shopper Shirley Sharp from Clayton came to Vidalia&8217;s Wal-Mart to look for Christmas decorations for next year and to return some items.

Sharp said she tried to return a digital photograph printer and a pressure cooker her husband bought her.

&8220;I didn&8217;t want the photo printer because I just don&8217;t have time to fool with it,&8221; Sharp said. &8220;It&8217;s easier to bring your little card up here rather than operate that.&8221;

Sandra Lloyd came to Vidalia&8217;s Wal-Mart late in the day trying to find a stainless steel can-opener that was plentiful in the clearance aisle.

&8220;They did have a bunch and I said &8216;I&8217;ll wait until the crowd leaves and come back and get it&8217;,&8221; Lloyd said. &8220;But now all they have is the display.&8221;

Just before closing time, Darby Short said she waited on a lot of out-of-town shoppers.

&8220;They bought clothes, they bought fudge and they bought boots and gloves,&8221; Short said. &8220;We had some customers buying last-minute gifts that they bought to give to their families for New Years since they are going somewhere else to celebrate Christmas.&8221;

Doris Lepard of Harlingen, Texas was in Darby&8217;s shopping for gifts to give to her supper club friends for next Christmas.

&8220;It&8217;s nice when, come next November, you get out your Christmas stuff and you have all of your gifts,&8221; Lepard said.

Lepard&8217;s daughter, Cassie Stanteen of Clinton, was also shopping in Darby&8217;s for a &8220;floozie coozie&8221; to give to her sister-in-law in Texas because the family plans to celebrate Christmas Saturday.