The Murfreesboro Christmas Parade heads down East Main Street at 2:00 o'clock this coming Sunday afternoon (12/8/2013). The parade committee announced that this year's Grand Marshal is a local resident who helps the homeless on a daily basis. Parade Coordinator Angie Walker stated...

Huddleston is the founder and director of the Room In The Inn on West Main Street. 

Walker explains the theme of this years parade on Sunday...

Honoring Christine Huddleston

She got the local homeless program going in Murfreesboro almost 25-years ago. At that time, seven churches offered their facilities for overnight housing. 

At that time, Christine and her late husband, Clyde, not only coordinated the program, but they were also the primary source of financial support as well. In fact, that was true up until Clyde's death about 10-years ago.

Room In The Inn was growing dramatically by then, and the City of Murfreesboro generously allowed her to use a city structure.

Now as the program has grown, Christine still oversees the operation, and still is a volunteer. Since Huddleston is the director of this non-profit, people are amazed when they learn that it's totally gratis--a gift from her. She helps daily, and has made a difference in the lives of many.

Helps To Change Lives

She has been invited to celebrate the graduation of a Room In The Inn alumni each commencement at MTSU over the past 25-years.

Some of the current Room In The Inn volunteers formerly were clients of the program. It made a difference in their lives, and they are giving back.

At 81, Christine says, "I'm healthy and thankful to be able to continue to see that Room In The Inn stays alive to serve our community."

Huddleston will be waving at the more than 50,000 persons expected to line this Sunday afternoon's parade route. It starts at 2:00 o'clock on the intersection of Middle Tennessee Boulevard and East Main, goes down East Main, around the square, onto West Main, and wraps-up on Walnut Street. 

Parade Coordinator Angie Walker said this year's theme is "Family Traditions" and that has attracted more floats and musical entries than ever before.