110-foot Florence cross nearing completion

What's 110 feet, weighs 18 tons and will tower over a Rankin County town once completed this week?

A giant cross.

The $170,000 structure, funded by a local restaurant owner and a nonprofit dedicated to building the structures across the state, will be erected off U.S. 49 near the new Berry's Seafood and Catfish House in Florence. Construction is wrapping up this week, and an event celebrating its completion will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Berry's owner Carroll Berry, in partnership with the nonprofit Crosses Across America, played an instrumental role in securing approval of the cross in Florence years ago. Originally, the cross came before city of Brandon officials for their consideration, but the planning commission voted against the cross because it would stand taller than city ordinances allow.

When Berry heard the cross was voted down in Brandon, he started working to bring it to Florence.

"When I heard the story, it just touched my heart and I got in touch with Sara Abraham over Crosses Over America," Berry said. "It was being obedient to God."

According to a Facebook post on the restaurant's website, Berry has paid for $85,000 of construction costs and is asking community members and supporters to help with raising the remaining $85,000. Berry said whatever he doesn't get from donations he will pay.

"The base of this magnificent cross will serve as a place for reflection and worship for all who visit," the post reads.

Abraham of Crosses Over America, which has built 156 crosses around the state and 2,000 nationwide, said the cross in Florence will be seen by 28 million people each year.

The purpose is "to remind the Christian of what Jesus did for them on Calvary and to reap the unsaved to let them know there is hope, peace and salvation in Jesus Christ," Abraham explained.

The Florence cross is the largest of any of the organization's current structures, though it helped with construction of a similar-sized cross in Winona, Abraham said.

Florence Mayor Pam Clark said feedback on the cross has been positive, and she is looking forward to its completion.

"Back at the time when we were making the decision and the city attorney was working on the ordinance to see if we'd be able to have it, we had people call us and they said, 'Please, let the cross come,'" Clark recalled. "I think the whole city is really excited about it."

Contact Kate Royals at (601) 360-4619 or kroyals@gannett.com . Follow @KRRoyals on Twitter.