Cozair Family – Photo – Family
Ivadell & Ray Coziar, Carol & Kenny Coziar in 1952: The Coziar family came to the Ridgeland area in 1944. Mr. Coziar was a federal government employee and chose to come to Mississippi from Illinois. They were some of the earliest members of the Ridgeland Baptist Church. In the early 1950’s, Mr. Coziar was actively involved with a group of Ridgeland citizens that encouraged night clubs (that had opened and were known to offer illegal activities) to leave the area. This kept property values up as well as keeping Ridgeland a family oriented community. After being transferred to several other states by the government in the 1960’s, their fondness for Ridgeland and the people never wavered, and Ray and Ivy returned to the area in the early 1970’s.