A local church will host a health fair in remembrance of a former member and nurse.

The public is invited to a health fair at St. James Missionary Baptist Church Saturday. The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon.

The health topics of prostate cancer and breast cancer will be discussed, and the diagnostic stage of these diseases will be highlighted.

“The focus of the event is on the mental aspect of being diagnosed with these diseases,” church member and spokeswoman Beverly Calcote said.

Other important aspects of these diseases that will be highlighted are the psychological effects that a person experiences once diagnosed.

“We want to be able to give the public tools to manage that diagnosis once they receive it,” Calcote said.

The purpose of the event is to shine light on the importance of having health screenings.

“We want to make people aware of these diseases, especially since several members in our church have been diagnosed,” event chairman and church member Charles Brown said.

There will be guest speakers from various health organizations such as Region 8. There will also be nurse practitioners at the event.

For anyone debating on getting a screening, don’t hesitate. Getting a screening could save your life.

“Don’t let your ego interfere with life,” Brown said. “I just wanna help somebody make it.”

Celena Dalton, a former member of the church, died suddenly of a heart attack in November. Dalton was a nurse practitioner who lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was from Brookhaven and had a heart for helping others.

This is the third year the church has hosted the health fair, and it is the second half of the Celena project.

The other half of the Celena project is completed during Christmas, when the church fills grocery bags with nonperishable goods to give out in the community.

In December, the church filled more than 240 bags with groceries to hand out in the community.

Dalton’s mother, Mary Rowe, is positive about the upcoming event.

“I feel good about it, it’s a great thing to do,” Rowe said.

For more information, contact the church office at 601-835-5000.

Story by Gracie Byrne