NATCHEZ — Every light and decoration on display at three homes along Providence Road shares a bond — Peggy Norman.

Armed with Christmas decorations and lights, Norman has decorated and showed appreciation for the season and its meaning through her yard displays since 1996.

“The Lord lay it on my heart a few years ago to (decorate like this,)” Norman said. “I believe in my heart that God knows that when I’m (decorating) I’m doing it out of love and compassion. I let my light shine for Him every day.”

Each year, Norman tackles the task of decorating not only her house, but her daughter, Jacqueline Davis’ and her neighbors, Lee and Sherry Jones’, houses as well.

The Joneses said Norman seems to add more each year to her decorating and over the years has taken their Christmas decorations from door hangings to approximately 50,000 multi-colored lights.

“(When we started decorating), I had not ever put anything on the door but a wreath,” Sherry Jones said.

“But now it’s bigger than life,” husband Lee Jones added. “And every year, it seems that there needs to be more.”

While the Joneses pay for their decorations and take them down after Jan. 1, every tree, every fence post and every bush is covered in lights by Norman and her helpers before the beginning of December.

Davis said she has childhood memories of her mother at Christmas.

“We have a lot of joy when Christmas comes,” Davis said.

“I’m the errand runner. When it’s Christmas, I just know it’s time to put my (tennis shoes) on because I’m going to be running everywhere.”

Norman said in years past, her son, James Norman, has helped hang lights, but this year, with health problems hindering her decorating efforts, Norman decided to pass along her love of the season to someone who wants to carry on her decorating traditions.

Friend of the family James “J-Rock” Blanton said he was approached by Norman three months ago and asked if he would help her decorate.

“(Peggy) called my mom and told me what was going on, and I was ready, Blanton said.

Norman said it’s the kind words of encouragement from neighbors that keeps her pulling out the lights every year.

“If I can light up people’s lives once a year, then that’s good enough for me,” Norman said.

“Jesus is the light of the world, and as long as God enables me, I’m going to light this village up.”