Delta Magazine January/February 2024

Delta

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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Annual Tourism Issue ● Regional Hotels and B&Bs ● The Harmonica Experience ● Mississippi Writer’s Trail

$5.95US

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PLUS: Keith Johnson Prince of the Delta Blues 7

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Experience the Magic

OF STEINWAY SPIRIO

play | listen | record | edit

2936 POPLAR AVE., MEMPHIS | AMROMUSIC.COM DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Publisher: J. Scott Coopwood Editor in Chief: Cindy Coopwood Managing Editor: Taylor Armstrong Director of Special Projects: Kelli Williams Director of Production: Pam Parker Contributing Editors: Maude Schuyler Clay, Lea Margaret Hamilton, Jim “Fish” Michie, Brantley Snipes, Roger Stolle Digital Editor: Phil Schank Consultant: Samir Husni, Ph.D. Graphic Designers: Sandra Goff, Maggi Mosco, Denton Reed Copy Editor: Suzanne Durfey Contributing Writers: Amile Wilson, Becky Gillette, Doc Gary, Frances Look, Jim Beaugez, Karen Focht, Sherry Lucas, Susan Marquez, Terri Glazer Photography: Austin Britt, Karen Focht, Kaylyn Weir Account Executives: Joy Bateman, Melanie Dupree, Cristen Hemmins, Kristy Kitchings, Wendy Mize, Ann Nestler, Cadey True Circulation: Lyndsi Naron Accounting Manager: Holly Tharp POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Delta Magazine, PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732

ADVERTISING: For advertising information, please call (662) 843-2700 Delta Magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials or photos and in general does not return them to sender. Photography obtained for editorial usage is owned by Delta Magazine and may not be released for commercial use such as in advertisements and may not be purchased from the magazine for any reason. All editorial and advertising information is taken from sources considered to be authoritative, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Neither that information nor any opinion expressed on the pages of Delta Magazine in any way constitutes a solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities mentioned. No material in Delta Magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publication. Delta Magazine is published bimonthly by Coopwood Magazines, Inc., 125 South Court St., Cleveland, MS 38732-2626. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, MS and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Delta Magazine, PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732-0117. Delta Magazine (USPS#022-954)

Delta Magazine is published six times a year by Coopwood Magazines, Inc. EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE ADDRESSES: Mailing Address: PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732 Shipping Address: 125 South Court Street, Cleveland, MS 38732 E-mail: publisher@deltamagazine.com editor@deltamagazine.com

deltamagazine.com Subscriptions: $28 per year ©2024 Coopwood Magazines, Inc.

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from the editor

Looking Ahead

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he dawn of a new year is always an interesting mix of looking back and looking to the future. It could bring on a serious case of whiplash if you’re not careful. While it’s good

to reflect back over the previous year with all its high and low points, it’s important not to get stuck there. Often for each milestone, there is a setback, for each accomplishment, a goal not quite reached, for each celebration, a failure. But isn’t that just how life is? We usually have to accept some bad with the good, and that makes the good ever more sweet.

Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning and I think it’s safe to say that applies to every new year as well.

Speaking of new goals, I’d like to share a couple we have for Delta Magazine in 2024. ● For our readers who want even more food and entertaining ideas, we are excited to launch a new e-newsletter, The Delta Kitchen. We will focus on delivering recipes, menu ideas and entertaining tips, plus what some of our regional restaurants have to offer—directly to your inbox. The Delta Kitchen will be available by subscription only, for those who want a convenient way to access more of our culinary content! ● We want more of your input! Use our new hashtag #showusyourdelta or tag us at @deltamagazine when you snap photos while you are on the road in and around the Delta, for a chance to have your photo published in our pages!

January is also prime time for making travel plans for the upcoming year.

The focus of our Travel and Tourism Section (page 59) this year is threefold; the hip hotels and bed and breakfasts in and around the region, the Mississippi Writer’s Trail, plus something special for blues lovers—The Harmonica Experience. Also, be sure to pour over the Delta Detour pages to see what each town has to offer along the way.

And, this issue is packed with much more. We bring you the music of Keith Johnson (page 42), Muddy Waters’ great-nephew, who is continuing the family’s blues lineage, plus the recollections of Joe Dera (page 48)— music publicist for many legendary artists, both by music writer Jim Beaugez. Doc Gary’s coming-of-age story of a duck hunt long ago (page 52), will resonate with hunters young and old. And, Greenville’s Cecelia The design team and author of the new McCartys of Merigold, Azar (page 126), who is living her dream studying at the Institute of Mississippi: The Jewelry book. Lyndsi Naron, Cindy and Scott Coopwood, graphic designer Maggi Mosco, author John Culinary Education in New York City, shares a few of her favorite winter Ramsey Miller, graphic designer Holly Ray, and Pam Parker, recipes.

In closing, I want to thank our hard-working staff for a stellar 2023, which DM director of production, at the launch party at Crawdads. was marked by our Twentieth Anniversary, a milestone of which we are all extremely proud. As our reach expands, our team has grown as well, as we welcome a new managing editor, Taylor Armstrong of Clarksdale, and graphic designer Denton Reed of Cleveland, to our ranks.

Looking forward to the year ahead, our commitment remains the same—to share the stories, fabulous photography, food, music, history and more, with our readers and the world. DM

Cindy Coopwood Editor @cindycoopwood | editor@deltamagazine.com

A gathering of the Delta Magazine team during the holidays.

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contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY Volume 21 No. 4

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60

departments

32 BOOKS Reviews of new releases and what Deltans are reading now

36 RANEY ART WATTERS Artist inspired by nature and connectivity

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KEITH JOHNSON Prince of the Delta Blues

AUSTIN BRITT

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42 MUSIC

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110 HOMES UPDATE & RENOVATE 3 projects to reimagine the most-used rooms in the house

126 5FOOD WINTER RECIPES BY Greenville’s Cecelia Azar

152 HISTORY

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THE DELTA’S STEAMBOATS Used for transport of cotton and other good on the Sunflower River

features

48 Dog Days Flora’s Joe Dera, music publicist of legendary artists 52 Lessons Learned Afield The story of an epic duck hunt long ago 59 DM’S ANNUAL TOURISM SECTION

Hip Hotels and B&Bs: A regional round-up: page 60 The Harmonica Experience, page 82 Mississippi Writer’s Trail: Travel the Literary Lane, page 90 Delta Detours Special Advertising Section, page 97

132 2024 Health & Wellness Special Advertising Section: Power in a Pose, page 134 Going for the Goals, page 138 Body Breakthroughs, page 150

in every issue 14 Letters 20 On the Road

DELTA URS DETO

Where we’ve been, where we’re going next

24 Off the Beaten Path Roaming the real and rustic Delta

28 Hot Topics 158 Events 162 Delta Seen 168 The Final Word

by Frances Zook

ON THE COVER: The beautifully appointed living room at Kennington’s Mansion in Belhaven. Photo by Andrew Welch 10 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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LETTERS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

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Britt at work behind the wheel in his Clarksdale studio.

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Austin Britt Unique creations, clay-covered hands, and a peaceful heart

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In the November/December issue of Delta Magazine, I placed an ad highlighting Yazoo Drug Co’s addition of the Julie Vos jewelry line. We received a tremendous response from new customers who stated they saw the ad in your magazine and were eager to shop our Julie Vos selection. This was proof that print advertising still brings customers even in this technology driven world. Thank you for continuing to produce a Delta staple!

Donna Mohamed Yazoo City

It’s always a challenge for nonprofits to let our audiences know what we’re doing and how we can help in their community. With that said, the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi has been able to help charitable efforts in the Mississippi Delta more than $40 million given in grants— largely because of the loyal support we’ve had through Delta Magazine for well over a decade. Delta Magazine has helped us market our only fundraiser, the Crystal Ball Gala, contacting people from all over the South and as far away as California.

Their reach has made such an impact in introducing the Community Foundation and also bringing in support to our online auction. Many thanks to you and your staff for the continued support and for being the voice of the Delta!

Stacye Trout Coldwater, Mississippi

BY LEANNA MILLER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY RORY DOYLE

Above, Britt’s works display the intricate combinations of color and texture in the glazes he uses. Below, his unique coffee mugs point to Britt’s penchant for movement in his designs, and the detail of handshaping in each handle.

larksdale native Austin Britt is grateful the fine art and handcraft of ceramics claimed his creative passion and brought him back home. For this talented professional photographer—specializing in portrait, wedding, and band photography—painter, and former musician in a touring rock band, finding a place to lay his cards down and get to work has proved to be a cathartic experience. Britt’s small batch, wheel-thrown and hand-

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constructed pottery is aesthetically rich, and his admirers and pottery collectors alike are taking notice of his beautiful creations.

Growing up in Clarksdale, Britt was bound to unearth his artistic side. His grandmother owned a dance studio but it was his mother, a painter, who introduced him to visual art. “It’s why my first pottery business was called Foxtrot Pottery, an ode to grandma’s old dance studio,” said Britt, “I like for my pieces to seem like they’re dancing when they come off the wheel.”

He remembers making salt dough creations with his mother; mixing salt, flour, and water together to just the right consistency, molding and shaping it into little animals, and popping them in the oven to see how they would come out on the other side. Little did he know this simple activity with his mother was a subtle introduction to working with clay that would have a lasting impact on his future.

Britt did not fight his destiny, eventually traveling south down Highway 61 to attend Delta State University to study fine art. “I wanted to soak up as much art and knowledge as I could while I was there,” says Britt. But it wasn’t until the tail end—his final two semesters—that Britt signed up for a pottery class. The medium took him by total surprise and changed the course of his artistic evolution. Working with clay clicked instantly, and within a month became an obsession.

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I’m writing to thank the Delta Magazine team for featuring me and my ceramics in the November/December issue. My relationship with Delta goes back a long way from my days as a graphic designer, to the many photo shoots, and now, to be featured on your pages as an artist. The response I received was incredible, particularly when the story was linked on The Edit newsletter! I was amazed at the audience you reach digitally. Unfortunately just weeks after the article came out my studio burned to the ground. It was devastating to say the least, but I am already rebuilding and look forward to getting back to working and creating new pieces. Thank you again for all the the years of support!

Austin Britt Clarksdale, Mississippi

Thank you for including the lovely story about my new album, Without Words, in the beautiful November/ December issue of Delta Magazine. I am honored to appear in this wonderful publication and offer my congratulations on your twentieth anniversary! Mississippi is so fortunate to have such a fine magazine produced right here in our own state. Here’s to the next twenty years!

Bruce Levingston Oxford, Mississippi

SEND COMMENTS AND LETTERS TO: editor@deltamagazine.com or Delta Magazine, PO Box 117,Cleveland, MS 38732 14 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

“It became essential for me, resulting in me distancing myself from other aspects of college life so I could spend as much time as possible in the studio—sometimes 10 to 12 hours or more a day, seven days a week. There were times when I woke up during the night, drove to campus, and went straight to the pottery classroom because it completely occupied all my thoughts!”

In 2009, Britt graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design with a focus on photography. He left DSU with not only a degree and some fine-tuned skills under his belt, but with passion and inspiration. Although he is trained in graphic design, has worked with oils and painted large-scale murals, Britt has centered his creative focus on clay—and that concentration is paying off in the quality of his work.

Y’all Said SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS @deltamagazine

We Asked...

We asked our readers to share some of their favorite views or photo-worthy spots around the Delta. Or, “Tell us you’re in the Delta without telling us you’re in the Delta!”

BeSt RiBs

In MeMpHiS

I can see for miles while driving! – Larry Agostinelli Being at Does! – Deborah Boles Doe’s Eat Place Greenville – Joe Maloney

THE T. rex EXPERIENCE

FeB 9MaY 12

SUE: The T. rex Experience was organized by the Field Museum and is part of the Griffin Dinosaur Experience, made possible by the generous support from Kenneth C.Griffin Charitable Fund.

Scott Gas Stations! – Robert Skrmetta The old Onward Store. – Bwana Outdoors I can think of three: • The view of Horseshoe Lake from levee near Stovall • Inside of Reds Lounge, Clarksdale • Bryant’s Grocery, Money Road – Mike Lucas My favorite water tower in the world—the cotton boll in Minter City! – Suzanne Barnette The sunrise over the Mississippi from Buck Island, and the sunset across Moon Lake. – Kevin Smith Grew up water skiing on Lake Ferguson.

– Honey Hammond Sammons

Does your family pull out the China and silver for holiday dinners—or is it paper plates all the way?

No paper plates. – Jack Denton Absolutely get out all the best!! Polish the silver goblets and the silver butter pats. It is fun and I want my grand children to know that they are special and worthy of my best! – Susan G. Hill It’s the good china and silver here.

– Martha Marshall China! Paper plates are NOT for Holidays!

– Rita Johnson First class, all the way! – John Whiteside China, crystal and silver for all holiday dinners.

NEVER paper plates!!. – Marjorie Shaddock Millette

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Artistic Expression

PHOTO BY KAREN FOCHT

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, then perhaps an old car covered in spray paint may look like graffiti to some but be a brilliant marketing ploy to others. If nothing else, this old Caddy perched in front of Delta Blues Alley Cafe has become somewhat of a permanent fixture on Delta Avenue in Clarksdale, providing great subject matter for the Instagram feeds of locals and blues tourists alike. DM

ON THE ROAD

where we’ve been, where to go next

WE ASKED OUR READERS to share their thoughts on the most unique or Instagram-worthy sights around the Delta, and here are some of their favorites. It’s no surprise that Doe’s Eat Place, Lusco’s, and Moon Lake were the top three responses!

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

GREENWOOD Days spent on the sandbar of the Mississippi River and its offshoots are a quintessential part of spring and summer in the Delta. This stunning photo was taken just a few miles north of Memphis by Matt Burdine of Mississippi River Expeditions.

CLARKSDALE

Lusco’s Restaurant, soon to reopen in Taylor, outside Oxford, is another often photographed historic locale that is etched in the memory of many Deltans.

PHOTO OPS MOON LAKE

“One of my favorites is the inside of Red’s Lounge.” – MIKE LUCAS

“Old home places are instgrammable.” – EMILY NICHOLS Old Indianola brick is a treasured nod to the past and found at homesites around the Delta and beyond.

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“The sunrise over the Mississippi from Buck Island, and the sunset across Moon Lake.” – KEVIN SMITH

SUNFLOWER COUNTY

Abandoned grain bins and cotton gins (and cars) are a very familiar sight to Delta travelers that dot the landscape of the region and are both a nod to the past and a sign of the changing times. – EMILY NICHOLS

Dockery Farms, the Crossroads, and Club Ebony are just a few of the famous blues sites that are such an integral part of the cultural history of the Delta. These recognizable locales are some of our most photographed sights, sought out by blues enthusiasts from around the world.

GREENVILLE

& FUNKY STOPS BENOIT

For many Delta families the obligatory photo outside Doe’s Eat Place with the iconic building and sign as a backdrop, has capped off special occasions for generations.

MINTER CITY

The great outdoors is a signature of Delta life and there’s no better place than Dahomey Wildlife refuge in Bolivar County. – EMILY NICHOLS

“My favorite water tower in the world—the cotton boll in Minter City!” – SUZANNE SMITH BARNETTE Instagram users, follow @deltamagazine

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Powering Mississippi since 1923 Ready for the next century We proudly celebrate 100 years of service to Mississippi. Over the last century, we have put community at the heart of everything we do, from powering economic growth to rebuilding after storms. We believe our successes fuel each other and look forward to an even brighter future. entergymississippi.com

A message from Entergy Texas, Inc. ©2024 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

22 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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OFF THE BEATEN PATH roaming the real and rustic Delta

ALL FORE ONE New Topgolf location opens in Memphis area

BY KELLI WILLIAMS

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NEW ENTERTAINMENT OPTION HAS RECENTLY OPENED JUST NORTH OF THE DELTA, and it’s one that the entire family can enjoy. Whether you are an avid golfer, a novice, a heckler, or relegated to being the cart driver in the crew, this is one round where everyone can participate.

In the past, the highly popular Topgolf locations were visited by those traveling out of town, but with the opening of their new Germantown location just outside of Memphis, that’s no longer the case.

Perfect for a cold-weather outing when it’s too chilly and rainy to hit those perfect strokes, this indoor facility boasts seventytwo outdoor climate-controlled cages spanning two levels. Each area features lounge-type furniture and tables for those who only want to participate in the good eats and libations!

The venue is equipped with Topolf ’s tracer technology, allowing players to trace the ball’s flight path, distance, and other metrics to impress their friends or give them extra fodder. But the games aren’t just for the serious—they also have games such as Angry Birds if the virtual course life isn’t for your group. And if you want a lesson, they have instructors who will work with you to perfect that perfect swing.

This is Topgolf ’s fourth venue in Tennessee. With eighty-three locations open worldwide, it prides itself on taking “not-golf ” very seriously, featuring restaurants by executive chefs, bars, a twenty-eight-foot video wall, a rooftop terrace, more than 200 HD televisions, and lots of music and entertainment.

So whether it’s a competitive round, a birthday party, or a simple “get-out-of thecold” moment, there’s something for everyone at this popular attraction.

3450 S. Germantown Road 901.256.5021 topgolf.com/us/memphis Customers from the Delta and beyond are flocking to the new Memphis location of Topgolf.

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NONNA ITALIAN RESTAURANT Authentic Italian fare in Greenville

BY AMILE WILSON

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Diners are raving about the freshly made pasta and other authentic dishes at Nonna Italian Restaurant.

A broad selection of wines complements the popular offerings on the menu.

HE KEY TO EVERY DISH AT NONNA ITALIAN RESTAURANT is the fresh pasta,

made from scratch every day. Ricky Deangelo’s newest venture, Nonna brings a mix of fine dining and homestyle Italian cuisine to Greenville.

“You can’t find anything like this anywhere around here,” he said.

Nonna may be white tablecloth, but the full bar and homey atmosphere make it the kind of restaurant the whole family can enjoy. There is even live music on select nights.

Italian food runs in the Deangelo family; just across the river in Lake Village, Arkansas, his first cousin Regina Deangelo was known for her Pasta Shop. When Ricky decided to open an Italian restaurant, Regina came to help tweak the recipes and give diners a truly authentic experience.

“I just wanted to make homemade dishes and give people a different choice,” Ricky said.

The biggest sellers are the lasagna and the meatballs, but Ricky’s personal favorite is the chicken parmesan.

“I’m here every day to help with food prep and make sure everything is in line,” he said. “We have a wonderful staff. They’re fantastic.”

Nonna even offers special events such as Bourbon tastings and offers southern spins on Italian meals such as the Catfish Alici.

The signature cocktail list includes such delights as a salted caramel white Russian and a blackberry bourbon sour. The perfect blend of Italian tradition and Southern flare.

1443 Trailwood Drive, Greenville 662.702.3752

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2024

March 23, 2024 Greenwood, MS

www.vikinghalfmarathon.com

The fastest, flattest race of your life!

26 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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HOT TOPICS KNIVES OUT Inaugural JXN Food and Wine to debut March 2 Mississippi’s blossoming food scene, while not a stranger to its residents, has been getting quite the buzz on a national and international level thanks to a host of chefs and restauranteurs around the state.

In order to celebrate and expand these experiences, the JXN Food & Wine Festival was born. Featuring Mississippi’s own Chef Cat Cora and Nick Wallace, who most recently rose to fame on the popular cooking competition Chopped, as well as being a finalist on Top Chef, the star power will be in full force. Also attending are Top Chefs such as Buddah Lo from New York, Ashleigh Shanti of Asheville, North Chef Cat Cora Carolina, and James Beard winner Damarr Brown of Chicago, Illionois.

Along with the famous national faces, come a host of ubertalented and highly regarded chefs from across the state of Mississippi.

While indulging in delicious food and libations might be on the forefront, the festival was started with a mission in mind,

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which is to highlight the rich tapestry of Jackson’s culinary landscape. From downhome comfort food to fine dining, the City With Soul offers a multitude of opportunities to discover a bite of Southern culture by proudly representing the city’s diverse talent and the region’s top culinary professionals.

Not only is the food a factor here, but also investments in the future of the Mississippi food scene. A portion of the proceeds of the festival will go to support the Mississippi Restaurant Association Education Foundation. This fund provides scholarships to students seeking a postsecondary degree in restaurant management Nick Wallace or culinary arts.

The event will be held on the grounds of the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Jackson Convention Complex.

For more information or to purchase tickets and access chef bios, you can visit jxnfoodandwine.com

CHICORY MARKET A new home for foodie paradise in Oxford One of Oxford’s favorite food emporiums is just getting bigger and better. With the help from a USDA grant and community support, Chicory Market is making the move across town into the old Sears building at the Midtown Shopping Center. Chicory Market will be opening in their roomy new home on Friday, January 5.

“We’re so excited to be bringing community grocery back into the heart of Oxford. We believe that food, and especially locally and ethically sourced food, makes a community whole, and that’s part of our mission in moving to a more accessible spot,” says owner John Martin.

Their mission has always been to offer real food and support the local people who grow and eat it, producing a daily selection of quality sandwiches, salads, and snacks. “The larger space will also allow us to direct another part of our mission—creating access to healthy local food for people of all background and income levels—in a much more meaningful way.

Now instead of having just room enough for a single option of each item, we can offer more accessible price points for natural foods,” Martin explains.

The new Chicory will be a collaborative food space that supports several local food businesses all under the same roof.

“Our friends at Johnston Hill Creamery will operate the fine cheese counter as well as their catering operation. Home Place

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Pastures out of Como is curating the butcher care with their 100% grass fed beef and pastured pork, and Heartbreak Coffee run a counter serving coffee, smoothies, and pastries,” says Martin.

All the businesses will be tied together by an atrium in the front that will offer public seating and serve as a community gathering space. And now, customers can expect to find even more of the natural foods grocery options, quirky independent brands, and local produce that Chicory has become known for.

707 North Lamar, Oxford, 662.380.5201, chicorymarket.com Facebook and Instagram:@chicorymarket

GREENWOOD’S LUSCO’S RESTAURANT Iconic eatery relocating to Taylor Lusco’s has been a cornerstone of Greenwood for more than 100 years, starting out as a grocery store that served food in 1921, before moving to 722 Carrollton Avenue in 1933 and becoming a restaurant. It is one of the oldest restaurants in Mississippi continuously owned and operated by the same family.

Originally from the Sicilian region of Italy, the Lusco family was turned away from Ellis Island and Savannah before being allowed to settle in New Orleans in the 1890s.

The family moved from New Orleans to Greenwood because it was a new market and they were attracted to the Delta. Lusco’s quickly became popular for its unique Lusco’s in it’s original Greenwood location. blend of Italian cuisine with Creole cooking.

Lusco’s has been owned and operated for nearly a half century by Andy and Karen Pinkston, the fourth generation of the family running the restaurant, with many of their children and grandchildren involved with the day-to-day operations.

Now Lusco’s is on the move again. After being closed for a year, it recently reopened in its Greenwood location for a passing of the torch before the business will be moved to a new building at Plein Air in Taylor located six miles from Oxford.

One thing that will remain the same is the reliance on family recipes handed down through the generations that have been a hit with patrons of Thomas Long Lusco’s. After many years working alongside his grandparents at Lusco’s, Andy and Karen’s grandson, Thomas Long, will be the sixth-generation member of his family to take over the kitchen. He will own and operate Lusco’s together with his father, Rhyine Long, and great uncle, John Ramsey Miller. Thomas started helping in different positions at the restaurant starting at 16 and was soon working in the kitchen with his grandfather.

The Greenwood location was in a building that needed extensive remodeling.

Miller said they either had to put the business in a new building or retire.

“Thomas wanted to continue it, and so I decided to go in with him and his father as a business partner,” Miller said. “Thomas will continue the unique blend of Italian and Creole cuisine that has defined Lusco’s Rendering of the new Lusco’s design in Taylor. and made it a destination dining tradition.”

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Town Square Lane, Taylor, 662.453.5365, luscos.restaurant.com Facebook and Instagram: @luscosrestaurant John Ramsey Miller

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The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is the state agency dedicated to helping Mississippians with disabilities to live and work independently. It is the mission of MDRS to provide appropriate, comprehensive, and individualized services to Mississippians with disabilities in a timely and effective manner.

Programs and services assist individuals with disabilities to gain employment, retain employment, and to live more independently.

To request services please scan the QR code below to fill out our referral form.

Referral Form

mdrs.ms.gov 800.443.1000 @msdeptofrehab 30 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

OUR GREAT SOUTHERN WRITER IS PRESENTED BY:

Welcome to

Natalie Baszile

2024

Great Southern Writer

EXPERIENCE

the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival in New Iberia, LA and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique Cajun destination, captured in literature

by James Lee Burke through the eyes of his 昀ctional character, Detective Dave Robicheaux. Meet Southern storytellers, enjoy Cajun food and music, and discover New Iberia’s fascinating blend of heritage, hospitality and history.

APRIL 5-7, 2024 IberiaTravel.com BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com

This year’s Great Southern Writer is novelist Natalie Baszile with her acclaimed book, Queen Sugar, featured on Oprah’s Book Club. The book was made into a TV series featured on the OWN network. This novel tells the story of the trials and triumphs of a novice black female sugarcane farmer 昀nding her way in the 昀elds of South Louisiana. This year’s festival will also feature the unveiling and dedication of our James Lee Burke statue in downtown New Iberia.

Photographs by Lee Ball Photography

New from the University Press of Mississippi

Available at your local bookseller.

UPM_Nov23_Delta_Half-H_7.125x4.75.indd 1

upress.state.ms.us

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11/30/23 8:01 AM

BOOKS

Buzzworthy Comments

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff (Riverhead Books) If you’re in the mood for a captivating adventure story, Lauren Groff’s latest masterpiece, The Vaster Wilds, will take your breath away.

Though never named in the book, it is clear the story takes place after the settlement of Jamestown, and the main character, a servant girl brought to the New World by a wealthy family, has run away from the hunger, disease, and violence of the settlement. She sets off into the wilderness in the throes of a brutal winter, and what follows is an enthralling, beautiful tale of survival.

The wonder of this novel is the vivid sensory experience of America before Lauren Groff it was America. Groff is such a skilled storyteller, you will feel the shocking cold of the ice water, experience the joy of freedom in nature, and see the raw beauty of our country before European settlement. (Liza Jones) Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward (Simon & Schuster) Jesmyn Ward is one of Mississippi’s most talented authors, and her newest novel, Let Us Descend, is brimming with heartbreaking beauty.

Annis is a slave whose mother taught her many things, including how to fight with spears, before she was sold. Annis, drawing on the strength and wisdom of her mother and her grandmother, is later sold too and marched with other slaves from North Carolina to Louisiana to work on a sugar plantation, suffering unspeakable atrocities along the way, only to enter a new circle of hell when she arrives.

This novel, with its doses of magical realism, is Ward’s most emotional, most poetic yet. It is clear the love and care she put into every chosen word. It is gripping and hypnotizing, and not a book to forget.

(Liza Jones)

We asked Facebook friends and the Delta Magazine fan page group members to share what is the best book series they have ever read. o Kim Wilson, retired Panther Burn, Mississippi

Marta’s Legacy series by Francine Rivers.

Rivers is a Christian author whose books are based on women and the trials and tribulations they go through. Key points are no matter what may be in your past, you still deserve love and respect. The belief that God loves you and died for our sins and the reckoning that you have to believe in God. o Neal Martin, dentist Jesmyn Ward

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books) Bighearted and full of intrigue, William Kent Krueger’s The River We Remember has all the elements that make for a fun but also moving read.

It’s 1958 in Jewel, Minnesota, a small farming town where everyone knows everything about everyone. When Jimmy Quinn’s catfish-ravaged body washes up on the banks of the Alabaster River, no one, not even his own family, cries in mourning, as Quinn was the power-hungry town bully. Brody Dern, the sheriff, is not so sure they have the right man when they arrest Noah Bluestone, a Native American who worked for Jimmy Quinn. What follows is a warm, heartin-your-throat story about prejudice, the traumatic effects of war on a small community, and the loving connections between people who all William Krueger have their share of painful secrets.

Because William Kent Krueger writes with such empathy for his characters and his setting, this novel is hard to put down. (Liza Jones)

Saltilla, Mississippi

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is great. I reread them for the third time this year. o Jonni R. Webb, potter Madison, Mississippi

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldone.

These books include wonderful history of Scotland and the early United States. There are great characters, interesting story lines and time travel! o Bill Boyd, retired Starkville, Mississippi

The Dave Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke. These books capture the very essence of Cajun country in Louisiana.

For the Record Books Delta Magazine fans are currently reading o Emily Erwin Jones The Lives We Actually Have

by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

o Dotsi Campbell The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

by Kim Michele Richardson

o Sandra Perry They Called Us River Rats

by Macon Fry

o Made Patterson Young The Covenant of Water

by Abraham Verghese 32 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

o Frances Turnage Seventeen and Oh

by Marshall Jon Fisher

o Shelli Hartman Rutlledge In His Eyes

by Stephenia H. McGee

o LaDonna Landers Begin at the End

by Michael Lindley

o Kim Jones Crow Killer

by Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker

o Martha Green Howard Tangled Vines

by Frances Dinkelspiel

o Pearman Smith The Gold Coast

by Nelson DeMille

o William Casey Murphree The Real Lincoln

by Thomas DiLorenzo

o Elizabeth Hunter Mathews 12 Rules for Life An Antidote to Chaos

by Jordan B. Peterson

Deep Inside The Blues by Margo Cooper (University Press of Mississippi) Deep Inside the Blues collects thirty-four of Margo Cooper’s interviews with blues artists and is illustrated with over 160 of her photographs, many published here for the first time. For thirty years, Cooper has been documenting the lives of blues musicians, their families and homes, neighborhoods, festivals, and gigs. Her photographic work combines iconic latecareer images of many legendary figures including Bo Diddley, Honeyboy Edwards, B. B. King, Pinetop Perkins, and Hubert Sumlin with youthful shots of Cedric Burnside, Shemekia Copeland, and Sharde Thomas, themselves now in their thirties and forties. During this time, the Burnside and Turner families and other Mississippi artists such as T-Model Ford, James “Super Chikan” Johnson, and L. C. Ulmer entered the national and international spotlight, ensuring the powerful connection between authentic Delta, Hill Country, and Piney Woods blues musicians and their audience continues.

In 1993, Cooper began photographing in the clubs around New England, then in Chicago, and before long in Mississippi and Helena, Arkansas. Many of the key blues players of the period have already passed, making their stories and Cooper’s photographs of them all the more poignant and valuable. (Special/DM Staff ) Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane by Dan Gutstein (University Press of Mississippi)

Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane chronicles the origins and evolution of a folk tune beloved by millions worldwide. Dan Gutstein delves into the trajectory of the “Liza Jane” family of songs, including the most popular variant “Li’l Liza Jane.”

Likely originating among enslaved people on southern plantations, the songs are still performed and recorded centuries later.

Evidence for these tunes as part of the repertoire of enslaved people comes from the Works Progress Administration ex-slave narratives that detail a range of lyrics and performance rituals related to “Liza Jane.”

Civil War soldiers and minstrel troupes eventually adopted certain variants, including “Goodbye Liza Jane.” This version of the song prospered in the racist environment of burnt cork minstrelsy. Other familiar variants, such as “Little Liza Jane,” likely remained fixed in folk tradition until early twentieth-century sheet music popularized the melody.

Rowdy Bounderies: True Mississippi Tales from Natchez to Noxubee

by James L. Robertson (University Press of Mississippi) Dwelling along the Mississippi River, the Tennessee state line, the Tenn-Tom Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico are a trove of characters with fascinating lives and histories. In Rowdy Boundaries: True Mississippi Tales from Natchez to Noxubee, author James L. Robertson weaves these stories to reveal a tapestry of Mississippi’s border counties and the towns and people that occupy them. From his unique vantage as a former Mississippi Supreme Court justice and seasoned lawyer, he documents the legal, geographical, and biographical tales revealed during his journeys along and within the state lines. DM DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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ANNOUNCEMENT OPTIONS

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First Baptist Church • Cleveland • Patrick Remington Photography

The celebration and blessing of the marriage of Sara Jean Turner and Thomas Fount Beard, junior, was held on November 19, 2022, at six o’clock in the evening at Latrobe’s on Royal in New Orleans, Louisiana. Reverend Robert Patin officiated the double-ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Allen Turner of Vicksburg. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Joe Noe, junior, and the late Mr. Joe Noe, junior, of Clarksdale and Mrs. Homer Allen Turner and the late Mr. Homer Allen Turner of Belzoni.

The groom is the son of Mr. Thomas Fount Beard, senior, of Vicksburg and Ms. Rebecca Ann Conatser of Eureka, California. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fount Henry Beard of Vicksburg and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Carmon Conatser of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the late Mrs. Virgie Lee Conatser of Mena, Arkansas.

Honorary mother and father were Dr. and Mrs. James Wesley Cook of Vicksburg.

Nuptial music was provided by harpist Rachel Van Voorhees of New Orleans, Louisiana. Scripture readers were cousins of the bride, Camryn Kestenbaum of Memphis, Tennessee, and Robert Noe of Clarksdale.

Escorted by her father, the bride wore the couture Max gown by Australian designer Georgia Young. The distinctive design was an ivory matte finish with corseted bodice and sculptural off-theshoulder straps. It had clean lines with modern paneling through the skirt with a fit-and-flare design. She wore a Toni Federici cathedrallength veil with embroidery and small beads. Her bouquet featured blush peonies, pink ranunculus, white and blue anemone, white

garden roses, blue tweedia, white astilbe, burgundy roses, blush spray roses, lavender lisianthus, silver dollar eucalyptus, pennycress, and an orchid cascade. Tied to her bouquet were pins and medals of her late grandfathers. Her bouquet wrap and garter were handmade from her mother’s wedding dress. The bride wore sapphire and diamond stud earrings gifted by her parents on her wedding day.

Attending as matrons of honor were Clara Grace Shirley, sister of the bride, of Ridgeland and Megan Cook Vincent, sister-in-law of the bride, of Naples, Florida. They wore forest green dresses by BHLDN. The groom’s father served as best man. Groomsmaid was Ashton Lee Beard, sister of the groom, of Vicksburg. The usher was Peter Jeffrey Vincent II, brother of the bride, of Naples, Florida.

Boutonnieres featured blush and blue flowers with greenery.

The program attendant was Carys Turner, cousin of the bride, of Dallas, Texas.

A reception was held at Latrobe’s. Tables were illuminated with candles and flower arrangements. Food tables were adorned with antique gold candelabras with flowers and greenery. The cake room featured a hanging arrangement with flowers and greenery accented with clear candle orbs. Guests were entertained by Sugar Shaker of New Orleans, Louisiana. The evening ended with a Second Line

by Kinfolk Brass Band of New Orleans, Louisiana.

After a honeymoon to South Africa, the couple is at home in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Formal: One vertical photo Two horizontal photos Up to 450-500 word write-up

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Episcopal Church of the Nativity • Greenwood • Patrick Remington Photography

Neely Elizabeth Young and Adam Parker Ellis were united in marriage at six o’clock in the evening on October 8, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Allan Young of Greenwood. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Rodney Errol Malloy and the late Mr. Rodney Malloy of Clarksdale and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Hershel Young of Clarksdale.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin Ellis, junior, of Greenwood. He is the grandson of Mrs. George Ellett Lawrence and the late Mr. Ellett Lawrence of Greenwood and the late Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin Ellis of Greenwood.

The Reverend Don Chancellor officiated, and David Williamson of Durant provided the nuptial music. The vocalist was Connie Black of Madison. Readers were Meg Threet of Itta Bena and Caroline Stuckey of Greenwood.

Escorted by her father, the bride wore a radiant satin V-neck ball gown with a sheer illusion lace back featuring buttons cascading to the floor and a jeweled belt adding detail at the waist.

Both the gown and the cathedral-length veil were from Amelia Grace Bridal in Greenwood. The bride wore a diamond and sapphire bracelet that belongs to her maternal grandmother and a diamond watch that belonged to her paternal grandmother. She carried a bouquet of white roses and greenery.

The ceremony flowers designed by Lark Brown were in memory of the couple’s grandparents, Rodney Malloy, Ellett Lawrence, Romona and James Young, and Florence and George Ellis. The wreaths on the bell tower doors were dedicated to Mickey Black, Samuel Davis, Rivers McGraw, and Michael Young.

The matron of honor was Mary Kathryn Ola O’Dell of Greenwood. Attending as maids of honor were Mary Shelton Bond of Greenwood and Sydney Dell Turnage of Jackson. The bridesmaids were Abbey McCulloch Goodman, Erin Frances Goldberg, and Mary Key Britt, all of Greenwood; Abbey Glenn Burns of Madison; Beatty Kathryn Carpenter of Fort Worth, Texas; Caroline Wise Hannon Shaffett of Oxford; Christine Anne Higgins of Nashville, Tennessee; Kacie Taylor Jenkins of Atlanta, Georgia; Mary Hannah Jarman of Memphis, Tennessee; and Suzanne Alline Flautt of Jackson. Each bridesmaid’s dress was a velvet tailored silhouette in peacock blue, and each bridesmaid carried a smaller version of the bride’s bouquet with delicate peacock feathers and greenery.

George Ellis, father of the groom, served as best man.

Groomsmen were Alan Lawrence Ellis, brother of the groom, James Bradley Wright, Jason Michael Singh, Matthew Morgan Hargett, Phillip McLane Milner, William Joseph Redditt, William Drake Thornburg, and Walter Edward Swider, junior, all of

Greenwood; Tecumseh Britt IV of Minter City; Randle Carter Makamson of Berclair; Brent Taylor Morgan of Teoc; and Andrew Scott Roberson and Matthew Blake Threet of Itta Bena. Ushers were James Andrew Hull of Oxford; John Hilton Black of Flora; Justin Scott Nix of Greenwood; and Sam Henry Farmer of Memphis, Tennessee.

Serving as flower girls were Lucy and Simms Blakeney of Flora and Ansley Ellis and Lisi Johnson both of Greenwood. Ring bearers were Hank and Thompson Swider of Greenwood. William Ollie Mohamned of Greenwood served as crucifer. Molly Black Blakeney of Flora was the proxy bride, and Anne Craig Melton, Jane Reynolds Hargett, Mary Landi Mohamed, all of Greenwood, served as program attendants.

Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at their home in The Birches. The cul-de-sac was transformed into a beautiful venue by Mississippi Tent Company and Details of Oxford. The entrance and tables were adorned with large arrangements filled with blue hydrangea, purple liatris, toffee and gold roses, ornamental cabbage, raspberry bunny tails, pampas grass, and peacock feathers designed by Grapevine Floral. The bride’s cake and catering were provided by The Vine Catering. The five-tier wedding cake created by Karyn Burrus was displayed on a gorgeous tablecloth made from the bride’s aunt’s wedding gown. A Pryor Engagement, event planning, tended to every detail, and the evening was perfect.

Guests watched as Angie Cole did a live painting of the reception. A packed dance floor celebrated with the bride and groom to the amazing sounds of DMP band of Memphis, Tennessee.

The couple had their first dance to “You Are the Best Thing”

by Ray LaMontagne. The bride and her father danced around the floor to “My Girl” by Otis Redding. The groom took his mother around the floor to “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You” by James Taylor. After dancing the night away with friends and family, the couple shared one last dance together to “Beyond” by Leon Bridges before walking through a sparkler exit and driving away in a vintage ‘69 Cadillac convertible.

On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Greenwood Country Club. Family friends of the couple’s parents hosted “a night before” after party at the Alluvian. The day prior to the wedding a bridesmaids’ luncheon was hosted by the bride’s maternal grandmother and aunt and special friends at the home of Mrs. Webb Franklin of Greenwood.

Following a trip to the island of Saint Lucia, the couple is at home in Greenwood.

FORMAL Two vertical

photos Four horizontal photos Up to 900-950 word write-up

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Chinaberry Chapel • Shaw • Allison J. Naylor Photography & Katelyn Buchanan

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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CARSON

VISUAL

First United Methodist Church • Starkville • Masa Kathryn Photography

Three vertical photos Five horizontal photos Mary Louisa Ely

& Charles Raymond Giliomee

Wedding Date Bride’s Parents Groom’s Parents Wedding Gown Reception Venue Floral Design Caterer Wedding Cake Entertainment Bride’s Hair Makeup Invitations and Stationery

Keelyn Christine Frey Wedding Date Bride’s Parents Groom’s Parents Wedding Gown Reception Venue Floral Design Caterer Wedding Cake Entertainment Bride’s Hair Makeup Invitations and Stationery

& Cole Everett Carson April 23, 2022 Mr. and Mrs. Tony Frey Mr. and Mrs. Chris Carson Maggie Louise Bridal Hewlett Barn The Pantry Inc. The Pantry Inc. Carol Hunter Black Jacket Tracy Branch Agency April Epps Rebekah Caraway Design & Paper

Vendor details

May 21, 2022 Mr. and Mrs. John Lars Ely Mr. and Mrs. Phillipus Giliomee Jesús Peiró Ely Home Amanda Cottingham The Pantry Inc. Pastry Art Bake Shoppe Perfection DJs Yvette Jackson Yvette Jackson Menage Stationery

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KNIGHT

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ELDRIDGE

Episcopal Church of the Nativity • Greenwood • Patrick Remington Photography

Visual: Two vertical photos

VISUAL

Two horizontal photos Vendor details Announcement information can be found online at deltamagazine.com/weddings. Chosen form will provide prompts to upload announcement or details (Word, Pages, or PDF) and all photos. Please provide high-resolution images. Screenshots of write ups or photos will not be accepted. Each announcement will have the option to upload an additional 25 photos for the wedding showcase feature. Please read the instructions carefully!

Three vertical photos (Specify which photo to be full page)

Two horizontal photos Julia Virginia Knight Wedding Date Bride’s Parents Groom’s Parents Wedding Gown Reception Venue Wedding Planner Floral Design Caterer Wedding Cake Entertainment Bride’s Hair Makeup Invitations and Stationery 200 | MARCH/APRIL 2023

& Justin Ryan Eldridge

Vendor details

October 22, 2022 Mr. and Mrs. William Knight Mr. Charles Eldridge and Mr. and Mrs. Mitch Ramage Essense of Australia Oakhurst Plantation Ellen Thomas Event Design Lagniappe Designs Elizabeth Heiskell Catering Alice Chow Atlanta Party Band Kenneth Moore, BATA Beauty Co. Lauren Aldridge, BATA Beauty Co. Rebekah Caraway Design & Paper DELTA MAGAZINE 2023 | 201

For questions or assistance contact 662.843.2700 or weddings@deltamagazine.com 34 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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2024

SHOWCASE

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Most Southern Wedding event of the year—AND to be considered to be the Delta Magazine cover bride!

March/April 2024 We are now accepting submissions for our

2024 Wedding Showcase For more information visit: deltamagazine.com and select weddings

DEADLINE: January 19, 2024

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ART

Raney Watters

BRITTANY ALLISON OF MEASURABLY MORE MEDIA

Experiential art inspired by nature and connectivity

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Watters hopes to spark conversation through her art, which she considers “voiceless expression.”

BY SUSAN MARQUEZ • PHOTOS COURTESY OF RANEY WATTERS

s a professional artist, Raney Watters says she is still learning. “There is a balance of creativity and logic to starting any business. That’s what I’m doing with my art.

I like my art to be slightly off-kilter.” While she is focused on making art her business, Raney’s career as a speech-language pathologist is still important to her. “I will definitely keep my license active and go into the hospital weekly.”

And while she enjoys her work, art has become a passion for Raney.

“With the arts, whether it’s visual arts, music, or writing, we get to experience each other on a more human level. I love finding that common ground. We are all on this Earth together, and it’s important for us to connect with one another, finding a voice of love and understanding. I feel that’s something we need to all lean into.”

That connectivity is what inspires Raney, whose art blends elements of nature, music, and emotion onto each canvas she creates. It’s the healing properties of nature, something Raney is drawn to, that most informs her

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Raney’s works, beautifully displayed in these homes, provide a means of expression in human relationships; a bridge of connectivity between all living things.

work. “I grew up in Grenada and Greenwood, and my mom would recommend/suggest I go play outside or get creative if I was restless. Throughout my childhood, I used my imagination to make me happy. I used my creative side through art or dancing around. I was encouraged early on to be creative during downtimes. Often that time was spent drawing outdoors.”

Her art journey began with time spent at summer camp when she was very young. She attended art classes at a neighbor’s home—a key event that contributed to Raney’s love of art. “There was an art teacher in our neighborhood in Grenada who held little summer art camps at her home. I could walk to her house. She taught us all kinds of things, from sculpture and wire forms to tie dye and working with pastels and oil paints.

She taught us everything, and I soaked it all in. My mom saw how happy it made me, and she continued to nurture that.”

In more recent years, Raney has returned to her art. She found the therapeutic benefits she gained from it during her childhood hold true now. “I have had many challenges in my life, and art has been a safe escape. It has always felt very healing to me.” She

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describes it as “opening the floodgates,” where she is sometimes filled with a rush of ideas she feels compelled to get on a canvas.

“I will often wake up at four o’clock in the morning with an idea, so I’ll rush to my studio and end up painting until nine o’clock at night. My husband can’t believe I can paint that long, but he has noticed that I am happier than I have ever been. It’s not unusual for me to cry or laugh while painting. There are just so many emotions I am processing while I paint.”

Raney’s studio is a space off the garage of her Madison home that was originally intended to be a sunroom. “When we built the house, I intended it to be a place to relax and meditate. But it makes a perfect art studio. I have French doors on the south side and windows and doors on the opposite side, so I have incredible light all day. Even though it is off the main part of the house, I try to keep it tidy, but sometimes it can get a bit chaotic. I do feel like this space was divinely meant to be for this purpose.”

Amid the chaos, Raney finds peace. Her normally busy mind gets quiet as she paints, and she goes into somewhat of a meditative state. “I feel like I am a vessel of all that is going on

Bold colors and unbounding ineffability describe Raney Watter’s artistic style.

with me, or with the person I am painting for, and I pour that all onto the canvas. Honestly, I get less stuck when I get out of my own way.” Raney says she tends to be very intuitive when she paints. “It may be an abstract painting or a landscape. It’s whatever inspiration I feel at the moment.”

Raney works with several mediums, perhaps harkening back to the lessons from her art teacher in Grenada. She uses watercolor, oil, pastels, and even aerosol paint—whatever moves her at the time. “My work is textured, with layers and depth and feeling. I strive to be imaginative and introspective, and I want people to reach out and touch it when they see one of my paintings. Each time they look at one of my paintings, I want them to notice something they had not noticed before. I want people to feel something when they see my work.”

For a time her art was all about healing, but Raney says it has evolved from there. “I’m meeting people and getting to know them on a whole other level. Right now I am doing a commission piece for a hospital co-worker, and because of that, I am connecting with her on a deeper level.”

Making the transition from a painting hobby to having a true painting business has been a challenge for Raney, but one she welcomes. “I believe in what I’m doing, and I want to make every effort to make it successful.” Her work was on display at the Cotton House in Cleveland in the fourth quarter of last year. “I felt so very lucky to have been chosen to display my work for them. When I got the call, I had about nine or ten months to prepare, so I got busy painting! It all felt very divine.” Through that show, she was contacted to donate a piece for a children’s fundraiser in Bolivar County. “The Cotton House show helped to get my name out into the world. Now more people know about my work.”

Raney’s goal is to be able to travel and connect with people all over the world through her artistic endeavors. “I also hope to have my artwork featured in galleries and, perhaps, art fairs in hopes of facilitating more connections while following my passions.”

Raney is married to Dr. Carl Watters, a hospitalist in the Jackson area. The couple resides in Madison with their two beagles. DM

Raney’s paintings come from within. “It is my hope they will evoke deep connection, allowing a safe place to explore the depths of your being.”

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MUSIC

Royalty Check Keith Johnson, the ‘Prince of the Delta Blues,’ is continuing the legacy of his famous great-uncle—Muddy Waters

BY JIM BEAUGEZ

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Two-time Grammy Award winner Bobby Rush performing with Johnson at the virtual Mississippi Delta Heritage Festival.

Despite his lineage, Johnson’s journey through the blues didn’t begin until around his nineteenth birthday, coincidentally. He remembers first hearing about his famous great-uncle McKinley Morganfield, better known by his stage name, that singer and guitarist Keith Johnson, a while he was growing up in Washington County great-nephew of Muddy Waters, has earned along the Mississippi River. But while his mother his crown on his own stage, as well. kept some of his records around the house, given If there was any doubt beforehand, that to her by Fred Morganfield, Waters’s brother, fact was solidified during the 43rd Johnson was pursuing a different course in music.

Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival “I would hear the name,” he says, “but I grew in September 2020, a Covid-era virtual up in the church playing gospel, so I didn’t know edition of the annual gathering in Greenville. the importance of Muddy Waters.”

Johnson found himself not merely backing As a member of the Delta Sensations gospel Bobby Rush, who played with Waters during quartet, Johnson spent his teenage years immersed his early days in Chicago, but collaborating in the music of Sunday mornings when he wasn’t with the soul-blues legend on the spot. reveling in the vocal groups and harmonies of “I told him, ‘I wanna do a shuffle in the Motown R&B and Southern soul. Like scores of key of E,’” Johnson says. “I gave him the Johnson’s new single “Nephew Muddy,” other blues artists before him, though, eventually shuffle and told him I was gonna do ‘[She’s] produced by Vasti Jackson. those gospel roots yielded to the blues music Nineteen Years Old,’ the Muddy Waters popularized by his very famous great-uncle. song. But Bobby had his own version of ‘Nineteen Years Old,’” he By the time Johnson was in college at Delta State University in laughs. “Luckily, all of it worked. That’s something I’ll always the early 2010s, he had picked up the guitar, with some helpful remember.”

W

hen your family tree includes one of the most important figures in blues and rock ‘n’ roll history, it’s perfectly fair to call yourself “Prince of the Delta Blues.” It just so happens

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Johnson and the Big Muddy Band performing in Vicksburg.

Johnson jamming on the porch of a juke joint in Glen Allen, with his grandfather, Ollie Morganfield Sr. and drummer, George Mumford.

lessons from Reverend Timothy Matthews, and backed the Delta Sensations with his newfound six-string skills.

“I was eager to learn, and I was up many a night trying to figure out chord progressions,” he says. “We didn’t have YouTube around the house; didn’t have internet access. I was listening to the radio, trying to figure it out and learn and develop. But I was just excited to play one note at times.”

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He began playing blues while studying for his audio engineering degree at the university’s Delta Music Institute, where he performed with student-led bands like Ol’ Skool Revue, which covers classic blues, funk and R&B songs, and the DMI All-Stars, which covers the songs of Grammy-winning Mississippi musicians.

“They asked me to sing ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ in that band because of my connection to Muddy Waters and Muddy Waters’s connection to Mississippi and the Grammys,” he says. “And that launched me to sing more traditional blues.”

Johnson’s natural talent and determination opened the door for him to explore the blues, and his familial connection to one of the most revered and celebrated artists in American music proved intriguing for audiences and other artists alike. At the International Conference on the Blues in 2015, organized by the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at DSU, he performed a Delta-fied version of Mississippi John Hurt’s “Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor” with Dom Flemons, a renowned folk-blues artist and onetime member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

The following year, he performed both at the Chicago Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where he met and performed with contemporaries and band members of Waters, including guitarist Bob Margolin, harmonica and guitar player Leslie “Lazy Lester” Johnson, and saxophonist Eddie Shaw from Bolivar County, who jammed with Ike Turner as a teenager and later led Howlin’ Wolf’s band.

Johnson began visiting the Central Mississippi Blues Society’s weekly Blue Monday gig at Hal & Mal’s in Jackson, and performed

Johnson performing with blues great, Kingfish, in Clarksdale at Ground Zero Blues Club.

shows with contemporary blues artists Castro “Mr. Sipp” Coleman and Grady Champion, with whom he toured as a guitar player.

Lately, Johnson has collaborated with performer, songwriter and producer Vasti Jackson, who hired him in 2022 to perform in his backing band, the Mississippi Trinity, on a European tour.

“Keith has a unique voice, and the thing that really impressed me is his dedication and his work ethic,” Jackson says. “And the other thing is that he loves the art and appreciates his lineage.”

Jackson, who previously worked as a songwriter and arranger at Malaco Records, and as bandleader for Bobby Rush’s band, has become a mentor of sorts for Johnson. He’s currently producing Johnson’s upcoming album at his studio in Hattiesburg, including the song “Nephew Muddy,” which will be released this spring. In his music, he says, his protégé is drawing from a long history that predates Waters but continues through him.

“Anybody can play any style of music they want,” Jackson says.

“You can play the song, but you can’t play the culture. Thousands of years of ingredients have brought us to this point in time, and it’s a beautiful thing for me to not only witness that, but to be invited to participate and have a role in maintaining it. So, with Keith, I’ve heard his voice develop as a singer and his playing as an instrumentalist. But one thing is the same now from the first time I met him, and that’s his spirit.”

Johnson performing with Vasti Jackson

Beyond the blues, Johnson has his hand in other creative endeavors, as well. He recently finished writing “Freeman: Pure Blood,” the sequel to his 2022 self-published crime thriller, “Freeman: Opening the Case,” which will be available in summer 2024. And his musical interests and capabilities run deep.

“I’m a part of a tree, and I’m a branch or a leaf of traditional blues, traditional gospel,” he says. “Now, with that being said, the direction I’m heading towards, I can pretty much do anything once I continue to develop my style and my sound. I can go sing a pop song. I can sing a nice Southern soul song, like Sam Cooke or Otis Redding. But my roots are traditional blues.” DM DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Left to right, Les Paul, Paul McCartney, and Joe Dera.

Joe Dera recalls his time as a high-powered music publicist

M

DAVID MCGOUGH

Dog Days

BY JIM BEAUGEZ

ississippi has had an outsized influence on Western popular culture thanks to the legacies of the many musicians, artists and personalities who have called the state home. For nearly a

century, artists inspired by both the hardships and joys they experienced here have turned their experiences into art that has captivated global audiences.

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Joe Dera with client David Bowie prior to the 1988 Glass Spider Tour show at Giants Stadium in New York.

Dera with Patti LaBelle in Central Park on a photo shoot in 1971. Left to right: Nona Hendryx, Dera, Sarah Dash, Armstead Edwards (Patti LaBelle’s husband at the time) and LaBelle.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOE DERA

A young James McCartney, Paul, Linda and Joe Dera.

None of this is lost on Joe Dera, a relative newcomer to the state who has been a key player in some of the most iconic moments in popular music and culture since the 1970s. As a music publicist, the New Jersey native has represented the industry’s biggest artists and events—Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Pink Floyd, as well as Live Aid in 1985, a massive charity concert in response to famine in Ethiopia held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and televised around the world.

So, what is an entertainment power

Dera taking Bette Midler and her boyfriend (at the time) to the premier of “The Rose.”

broker like Dera doing living in an Antebellum home in the countryside near Bentonia, more than a thousand miles from both New York and Los Angeles?

Well, it turns out he’s mostly taking care of the stray dogs he and his wife, Madison native Suzy Case, foster and rehome to families around the country. Retirement, it seems, comes with its own commitments.

“They just find us,” he says while wrangling the six dogs currently living on his 10-acre spread. “I had two beagles come up, and they stayed with me for about a year and a half. Then they

disappeared, and all of a sudden these other strays start walking [up].”

The walls of Dera’s 1857 home are adorned with memorabilia of his former life, such as a drum head signed by Ringo Starr, a framed collection of backstage passes, and even a Gibson Les Paul signature guitar—perhaps rock ‘n’ roll’s most recognizable totem, thanks to players like Jimmy Page, Slash and so many others—given to him by the artist and innovator himself, whom he represented for decades.

Dera got his start in music working for Track Records, a label affiliated with Pete DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Backstage with Paul and Linda McCartney at a press conference prior to their 1989 Chicago show.

Dera with B.B. King, donating a signed Lucille guitar to the New York Hard Rock Cafe, circa 1982-83.

Cowan were scrambling to try and Townsend and The Who, in the early save the account.” ’70s. Fresh out of college, he was Of course, it was too little, too tasked with delivering copies of The late. McCartney stayed with Dera, Who’s new record, Who’s Next, to and his business steadily grew. Dera radio stations across the Midwest and signed David Bowie and convincing them to play “Won’t Get represented him during the Let’s Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley.”

He booked underground artists like Dera with legendary jazz singer/guitarist George Benson Dance era, the artist’s biggest at his Englewood, New Jersey home. commercial peak, and created an Patti Smith and the New York Dolls at irresistible media spectacle by the Mercer Arts Center in Manhattan simple tasks like arranging transportation making ticket buyers purchase seats for before the 1973 collapse of the and stocking the kitchen with vegetarian Bowie’s Madison Square Garden nineteenth-century building killed four foods when they came to New York, he appearance in person at the box office. people, a scene reenacted for the debut built a rapport with them over time.

Footage of the long lines of fans made episode of the HBO series “Vinyl,” “I’d arrange all the stuff that was kind national news, helping sell tickets in created by Martin Scorsese and Mick of boring for the senior executives to do,” smaller markets, and a few months later Jagger. he says, “and what happened was, I was he landed on the cover of Time magazine.

His career really took off once he the only one in the firm that had a “Somebody asked me why a landed a job with the public relations firm relationship with him because I’m the McCartney or a Bowie needed a press Rogers and Cowan and began handling only one that would ever see him. So, agent,” he says. “And I said, ‘Well, it’s to minor affairs for Paul and Linda when I went to start my own firm in ‘89, protect them from a lot of the people McCartney, who were living in Scotland he was the first to come on board. And all pulling at them, but also to create while raising their kids. Although his of a sudden my bosses at Rogers and situations that aren’t the traditional sitduties for them at the time consisted of 50 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Dera with his wife Suzanne Case.

Dera, Les Paul, and George Benson backstage prior to a Benson show. Benson introduced Dera to Les which ended up being a thirty-year friendship.

Dera with Chef David Raines of The Flora Butcher in Flora.

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, actor Gary Busey, Paul McCartney, and Dera backstage before a 1989 show in Los Angeles.

down-and-do-an-interview type of stuff.’”

In the mid-1980s, Dera’s longtime client Robert Palmer reached his pinnacle of fame with his Riptide album and the single “Addicted to Love.” The memorable music video for the song, featuring Palmer playing the dapper crooner backed by models dancing in uniform makeup and attire, is one of the decade’s most recognizable moments.

“He didn’t even like those videos,” Dera says. “He thought they were a bit pretentious—he thought the whole thing was kind of silly with the girls pretending to [play] guitars. But it was an instant success.”

Despite running a successful PR firm, retirement wasn’t too tough a decision.

Dera stood side stage for the cultural and musical explosions of the ’70s, ’80s and ‘90s, and he was still there as the industry

evolved in ways he’d never imagined in the 2000s. When downloads and streaming replaced record sales, the labels cut promotional budgets and cleaned house.

By then, though, Dera had seen the writing on the wall and diversified his clientele.

“The music business that I grew up in was gone,” he says. “I lost interest in the way it had evolved, and we were doing less and less music [and] more and more television and books. You don’t get rich doing PR in the music business.”

Lately, after selling his firm and moving to Mississippi, he has occasionally stepped up to help publicize local shops like The Flora Butcher with chef David Raines. He visits friends like Jimmy “Duck” Holmes at the Blue Front Café in Bentonia and has made the pilgrimage to the B.B. King Museum and Delta

Interpretive Center in Indianola to pay his respects to his friend and former client.

But the dogs keep him home most days, an arrangement that seems to suit both parties well.

Gonzo Rolling Stone writer Hunter S. Thompson once opined, “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.” Dera has run that gauntlet and come out the other side clean, and now his rescued pets are the ones running free.

“You can’t lock them up,” he says.

As Dera thrives deep in the Mississippi hills, surrounded by his new charges a world away from his bustling former life, it’s also clear the good guys can win—even in the music business. DM

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Modern day photo of Ashland Brake.

Lessons Learned Afield

The story of an epic duck hunt long ago

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From left: Henry Hiter, L.L. Vance, and Henry’s father, Leonard Hiter on a turkey hunt at Merigold Hunting Club.

BY DOC GARY • PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOC GARY AND HITER FAMILY

S FAR BACK AS MY SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS OF MEMORY CARRY ME, MR. HENRY HITER OF MERIGOLD WAS A FIXTURE IN MY LIFE. Mr. Henry and my Uncle Billy Tom Lusk, aka Uncle B.T., were close friends and hunting companions. As a young child, I would eagerly soak up every detail of the stories Uncle B.T. would bring back from their hunting outings. These men had put their college educations on hold and volunteered in the Second World War. Uncle B.T. had been a paratrooper, and Mr. Henry was a veteran pilot of a B-24 Liberator. As was typical for the men of the Greatest Generation, they did not talk about this period in time.

A

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In my youth, my reading material of choice Growing up, I was an avid duck hunter, and was anything related to big game hunting in our family farm near Schlater was a waterfowl Africa—books by greats such as Ruark, Capstick, paradise—life was very good. One day, as I was Corbett, and the like. I had heard Mr. Henry sitting at the kitchen table waiting for my mom speak of time spent hunting in Africa; to me, he to finish making one of her famous caramel cakes, was the Mississippi Delta’s version of Harry Selby. she casually said, “You have all these ducks, so you It was also at Merigold Hunting Club, that I should invite Mr. Henry to go hunting with you.” remember first meeting Mr. Henry. Located Cold fear spread down my spine. I still inside the Mississippi River levee near Beulah, I considered myself a neophyte duck hunter, and will always consider it my “happiest place on she was asking me to take the greatest hunter I earth.” At some point, our family became knew of on a hunt. Plus, in reality, her casual members. My mom, dad, and I would often load comment wasn’t a suggestion at all but more of a up in our 1960s International Scout pickup truck heads-up that this was going to happen. and make the hour drive from our home in A successful duck hunter must also be a Schlater to the club for a day of hunting. The A. U.S. Army Air Forces Lieutenant, weatherman; I was on top of it, mapping my night before one of these Merigold “safaris,” I Hiter served as a co-pilot on a B-24 strategy for this most important hunt. On the day would lie awake in wide-eyed anticipation—and Liberator until the end of WWII. of the hunt, the forecast was for low at four in the morning, we’d be on the ceilings, misty rain, and wind out of the road. After a day spent roaming the south. I was dubious because this weather woodlands, we’d return to the camp front could speed up and pass through dining hall for a first-rate dinner before earlier than predicted, completely the long drive back home. changing where we would need to hunt.

My mother and Mr. Hiter had known At four o’clock in the morning on the each other for a lifetime, so we would day of the hunt, I was up and outside for often walk over to his cabin to speak a weather check, which was still as before we headed home. This was always forecast, but I could not shake an uneasy the highlight of my day. Mr. Henry’s feeling. I needed this hunt to go well. cabin was adjacent to the dining hall, and Mr. Henry arrived promptly at 4:30 it was like some fascinating museum to a.m., and Mom had breakfast almost me, a massive fireplace, with wonderful ready. I had never been addressed directly pictures, and incredible trophies on the

by Mr. Hiter—I was petrified sitting there wall. The adults would visit and have at the breakfast table. Yes, I had a case of cocktails, and I would sit quietly by the hero worship, but at some level, I was fireplace, listen to the stories, and take in skittish around him—he seemed very the sights of his cabin. In my mind, Mr. Henry Hiter and Doc Gary. stern. He and Mom chatted in the Henry was larger than life, and I felt comfortable manner that Southern people immensely fortunate to be the kid seen but not heard. do when their lives and families are intertwined through the years.

Martha and Henry Hiter, with friends hunting in Alabama.

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Henry Hiter

Milton Smith, Henry Hiter, and Jimmy Goudelock.

After breakfast, we loaded Mr. Henry’s infamous “ditty box” and his two shotguns into the Scout, then drove five minutes to an area of the farm known as Wolf Lane. As we turned off the county blacktop road onto the farm road, the truck’s lights swept across hundreds of ducks, getting up and moving away from our approach. I was anxious, but I felt like I had a solid plan, and Mr. Henry had just seen the waves of ducks. Thus, my youthful dignity was still intact.

We stepped out of the truck—no mist, north wind—oh no. I learned two valuable lessons on this first hunt with Mr. Henry.

That was the last duck hunt I ever planned that didn’t have some contingency plan built into it, and it was probably the last time I didn’t carry two shotguns with me, one for open field conditions and another better suited for hunting flooded timber.

As I stood there with Mr. Henry, there were thousands of ducks making quite the racket just out of sight in the darkness, but this meant little with the weather change. Mr. Henry spoke for the first time since we had left the house. “Where’s the nearest flooded timber?” he asked. I thought for a second, then pointing into the darkness I said, “About two miles that way, BUT...” I didn’t finish my sentence before Mr. Henry got back in the truck, saying, “That’s where we need to be.” The thought of questioning Mr. Henry’s “suggestion” never crossed my mind—we headed off toward Ashland Brake.

Ashland Brake is a most challenging place to hunt, as moving

about in the ancient cypress swamp is next to impossible. I had been in there a couple of times on summer frog gigging expeditions using a canoe, and it was a very “hostile” environment. I had mostly written off the area as not worth the trouble, but, nevertheless, that’s where Mr. Henry and I were headed.

As we traveled the short distance, the eastern sky showed streaks of light. It was obvious the clouds were rapidly dissipating, and it would be a mostly clear sunrise. The north wind ushered in

Henry Hiter and Henry “Peter Rabbit” McGarrh.

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Back row: Jimmy Goudelock, Milton Smith, Happy Smith, Ken McGarrh, Henry Hiter, and “Peter Rabbit” McGarrh. Front row: Cherry Wheeler, Nan McGarrh, Mr. and Mrs. Julian West, Knott Wheeler and Linda Goudelock, socializing in Hiter’s cabin.

the sound of high-flying ducks passing significantly colder air. The weather overhead, but the sound made when front had come through much sooner thousands of ducks, full from their than predicted. gluttonous time spent in the rice field, After we parked on the side of a take to the air en masse, getting up in blacktop road, Mr. Henry was out of continuous waves. the truck in a flash. He was geared up The sound of the approaching ducks and moving toward the banks of the was a mixture of thousands of beating swamp as I stumbled along, trying to wings with the Mallard hens’ constant keep up, donning my waders on the calling. Their male counterparts move. The odds were heavily stacked followed along, grunting—a against us—we had no boat, wading was next to impossible, we hadn’t taken continuous, deep, resonant sound not unlike a distant tornado. the time to grab a bag of decoys, and I Though I could tell they had no idea what the plan was. There were coming in our general was not a duck in sight—we were not direction, I could not see the even hearing any ducks calling from massive flight as we were in somewhere out in this miserable The author’s mother Claudine the lowlands with no view of wetland. outside the original Merigold the horizon. We both started We got no further than twenty yards mess hall. At right, Henry Hiter. wailing away on our calls on out into the swamp, about fifty yards the off chance the flight from where the truck sat. The sun was showing over the eastern could even hear us, much horizon when Mr. Henry spoke for the second time since we’d left the house. “This will have to do.” I found a nearby tree with decent less react to our calls. footing around it, got set up, and looked up into the sky. There Typically, where the first part were no ducks in sight, and no evidence this would be where they of the group decides to land, the rest will follow, thus our frantic would come when they would predictably rise up in mass flights calling. leaving the rice field.

As the racket of all these ducks grew louder, we still couldn’t see After only about ten minutes, I heard ducks on the move. Not them from our position. Then it happened. The great flight of ducks

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Henry Hiter bags two gobblers.

came into sight, set their wings, and fell around us. Though the entire event lasted only a few minutes, I can still close my eyes and see the scene as if it were yesterday. I even stopped shooting and just watched. Once again, I was that kid sitting at Mr. Henry’s fireplace, watching and admiring.

Mr. Henry always shot a side-by-side shotgun. He had this clever way of carrying two shotgun shells between his middle two fingers, ready for a rapid reload. Fallen ducks were everywhere, floating on the ugly brown water around us, and hung up in the brush; feathers were drifting about us, looking kind of like a snow shower had moved in—AND we were continuing to shoot.

It occurred to me that the combination of the excessive shooting, our near proximity to the county road, and my parking on the shoulder of said road made us easy pickings for a game warden.

At some point, I got up the nerve to say to Mr. Henry, “Maybe we should get a count of the downed ducks.” The expression on his face did not indicate that he’d heard my words, so I thought maybe my voice had gotten lost in all the commotion about us. I had to dig deep to get the courage to say, in a bit louder voice, that I thought we needed to stop and take inventory.

Undeterred, and without removing the gun from his shoulder or looking my way, Mr. Henry spoke for only the third time that morning. He simply said in his unique voice, “Son, you don’t yet understand how this works—shut up and shoot.”

Needless to say, I began to understand many things that day. It’s been many years now since Mr. Henry passed away, but I think of him often and remember his voice every time I hear a duck call— and I take his advice and just shut up and shoot. DM

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Central Station Hotel, Memphis

2024 Delta Magazine’s

Annual Tourism Guide

BOOK. THE. TRIP. E

very year we share tips for locals making travel plans and tourists far and wide who want to explore the rich culture of the region. This year’s focus? Hip hotels and bed and breakfasts, the Mississippi Writer’s Trail, and a next-level experience for blues lovers. There’s no shortage of cool places to stay in and around the Delta that are worth the drive—from Memphis to Vicksburg to New Orleans. We’ve rounded up a few; a hotel with an art gallery on site, a renovated train station, luxe hotels with next level restaurants and bars, plus beautifully appointed B & Bs—some funky, some grand—that are destinations in and of themselves. For the literary buffs out there, the Mississippi Writer’s Trail, will take you through many of our historic Delta towns as you search for the stories behind your favorite authors. And if blues is your thing, dig in and try your hand at the harmonica. The Harmonica Experience at the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale is one of the most unique grown-up camps around. Finally, take the time to pour over the Delta Detours pages to see what each town has to offer along the way. It’s time to get out your calendars, book your rooms, plan the road trip, and take in all the sights of Delta and beyond! – C.C. DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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HOTELS and B&Bs The Jackson Street Gallery flows seamlessly from the Mulberry’s sleek lobby.

TWO in ONE The newly renovated Mulberry Hotel combines an artistic experience with exquisite amenities

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BY SUSAN MARQUEZ

The resort-style pool boasts eight private cabanas and an outdoor bar open in summer months.

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seamlessly flows from the hotel’s sleek, modern lobby into a calming, serene place where guests can view the art and buy a piece to take home.

Sunny Sethi, the developer of the Mulberry, had the vision for the art gallery when he was renovating the hotel. He approached Paula Jackson, who has had an art gallery in Ridgeland for many years, and asked her what color she wanted the walls painted. “I wasn’t looking to open another gallery space, but when I saw it, I couldn’t resist,” she says.

The expansive gallery is centered with a huge, round rotunda painted in a pleasing shade of blue. Long benches dot the gallery down the middle, providing a comfortable place for visitors to sit and enjoy the art. The gallery is open seven days a week and follows the hotel’s lobby hours, which are generally 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Originally built as Harrah’s Vicksburg Hotel and Casino, it eventually became Margaritaville before Sethi took over the property to create the Mulberry. Inspired by the French colonists who built outposts on Vicksburg’s high bluffs above the Yazoo River in 1719, the Mulberry’s design honors the city’s French heritage. Both modern and timeless, it’s a bright spot in downtown Vicksburg.

The hotel features forty-one guest rooms and eight extended-stay units with sweeping river views. There are also fifty-two apartments located in the building.

PHOTOS OBTAINED FROM DIGITAL MEDIA SOURCES

hile some hotels have coffee shops, restaurants, or gift shops, the Mulberry Vicksburg features a forty-five-hundred-square-foot art gallery specializing in art by Mississippi artists. Jackson Street Gallery

Paula and Sandy Jackson in the Jackson Street Gallery.

The lobby of the Mulberry is designed with various rooms off the central hall. Each one looks like it could be a living room in a fine home. Comfortable furniture, fireplaces, televisions, and a pool table make guests feel at home. There is also a well-appointed gym for workouts while traveling. John Bullard serves as the hotel’s general manager, overseeing all aspects of the property.

The Bistro is run by Chef Ashley Dollar, who formerly ran kitchens at Table 100 in Flowood and Barrelhouse in Jackson. She created the Bistro’s menu, which is all made to order in-house using fresh ingredients. “Our best sellers are the Cajun shrimp pasta and the Mulberry burger,” says Anna Jane Stanley, the sales and events manager for the hotel. “Our pimiento cheese is popular, too. It’s the recipe of one of our employee’s late mother.” A professional bartender has been hired to serve craft cocktails in the evenings.

Grab-and-go breakfasts and premium coffees are available each morning.

The downstairs mezzanine has been converted into 1310 Studios, which offers satellite office space for rent. Sizes range from three hundred and four hundred square feet to five hundred square feet. “There is already a photographer who has set up a studio in one of the spaces,” says Stanley. “It’s really designed for creatives, including hairdressers, makeup artists, interior designers, and others.” The hotel already hosts several weddings each year, but plans are to build out an event venue space on the other side of the art gallery that will accommodate two hundred fifty guests. “Our idea is to have everything needed for a wedding in-house.”

The resort-style pool gives a Vegas vibe with eight private cabanas. Stanley has incorporated pool parties in the summer, complete with a DJ and cabana girls who will deliver food. An

One of several rooms just off the central lobby, beautifully appointed with luxury furnishings and a fireplace.

outdoor bar is open during the summer months as well. “We did five pool parties in 2023, and we are looking forward to next summer when we will do even more.”

There are other events at the hotel throughout the year, including yoga classes in the art gallery and mixology classes. “We also partner with community organizations,” says Stanley. “We partnered with the Reindeer Run 5K race, which benefitted a local no-kill shelter.

The Mulberry was the packet pick-up point the night before the race, and we made a party of it with a raffle, a hot chocolate bar, and specialty drinks. It’s important for us to be community-oriented.”

The Mulberry was recognized for excellence. “We were named Property of the Year in the 200 Units or Less category at the Diamond Award Gala presented by the Mississippi Apartment Association,” Stanley says. “We have already done so much here, but I have so many ideas. This is a beautiful property, and we are all very proud of it.”

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Central Station Hotel REGIONAL ROUNDUP BY KELLI WILLIAMS

Memphis, Tennessee

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545 South Main, Memphis | 901.524.5247 | centralstationmemphis.com

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PHOTOS OBTAINED FROM DIGITAL MEDIA SOURCES

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any visitors to Memphis might notice the flourishing expansion of tourism offerings, and the refurbished and repurposed Central Station Hotel is right up at the top.

Opened in 2019, the Central Station has a literal connection to the Delta in its past. The property opened in 1914 as the Grand Central Station for the Illinois Central Railroad, which connected Memphis and the Delta. It is still an active train station, with an Amtrak office adjacent to the hotel serving the City of New Orleans line.

Many of the original features of the train station were preserved and integrated into the hotel’s design, which opened as part of the Hilton Curio Collection in the fall of 2019. The Grand Hall Ballroom, which hosts a diverse array of events, previously served as the train station’s main terminal.

The hotel and corresponding dining and lounge offerings played up to the origins of the property while also giving a huge nod to the Memphis music scene and its influences.

According to Manager Troy Dixon, “Our guests love the historical significance of the property, in addition to how music and the spirit of Memphis have been integrated into the hotel’s design. Our lounge, Eight & Sand, boasts over four thousand vinyl records with a Memphis story. A smaller version of our lounge speakers, created by Memphis-based EgglestonWorks, are installed in each guest room so listeners can tune in to the carefully crafted playlists created by our in-house music curator even when they’re away from the lounge.”

The property is also home to the acclaimed Bishop restaurant, which has been drawing guests and locals who might not need a place to stay for the night but come for the experience.

Visitors to Central Station can also enjoy its location in the South Main District neighborhood. The hotel sits across the street from the legendary Arcade Restaurant.

This long-standing family-owned diner has served Memphians for decades, ranging from Elvis Presley to Justin Timberlake. The South Main District is also filled with history, including the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel and the Blues Hall of Fame Museum, located only a few steps from Central Station.

The Terrell House Bed & Breakfast New Orleans, Louisiana

I

f you venture down to New Orleans but still want a Delta twist, a stay at the Terrell House will suit your fancy. Located in a quiet residential area just off Magazine Street, all the flavors of the Big Easy are just steps away, but the tranquil and cozy atmosphere of the B&B will make you feel like you are a world away.

Linda O’Brien had a dream of creating something of her own when her husband’s job moved him further south after living more than twenty years in Greenville, and that is where the Terrell House was born.

What started as an eight-bedroom establishment grew in popularity, and she realized she needed to expand. Currently, the Terrell House consists of sixteen rooms spanning over three buildings on the property for visitors to enjoy.

Not only are the nods to the Delta evident in the McCarty pottery placed throughout the home and on serving pieces, but also by the warm southern hospitality provided by O’Brien— another trademark of our area.

The popularity of the bed and breakfast has grown over the twenty years that it has been open, but it also has been enjoyed by many repeat travelers, who often get attached to one of the special rooms in the home. This was evident when the Creole House opened on the property. It took some time for loyal patrons to give up a particular space if it wasn’t available, for one of the new rooms. O’Brien finds that many have found themselves requesting a specific accommodation there.

O’Brien feels like the delicious breakfast and warm atmosphere sets The Terrell House apart from other bed and breakfasts. She notes their goal is to make people feel they are staying in the home of a close friend, not the commercial feeling of a hotel.

Just one block away, the amazing restaurants, art galleries, and cool shops of Magazine Street beckon travelers for a day of enjoyment. Also, The Terrell House is only about a mile from the French Quarter, which makes it the perfect base for your New Orleans adventure.

1441 Magazine Street, New Orleans | 504.237.2076 | terrellhouse.com

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The Z Bed & Breakfast Oxford, Mississippi

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hen traveling, it’s often wonderful to have a place to lay your head while also enjoying the comforts of home. That’s exactly what the owners of the popular Z Bed & Breakfast in Oxford aim to accomplish with every visit.

With a welcoming smile, homemade cookies, and a glass of wine or drink of your choosing to greet you upon check-in, the hospitality immediately sets the tone for the stay.

Featuring three rooms, each with a private bath, the quaint B&B impresses its guests not only with a welcoming feeling, but also with the beautiful appointments and design of the different areas of the home.

Owners Kelley and Lou Zelenskey were determined to make a stay at the location memorable. Kelley who is an interior designer used her creative skills to curate the unique collections that adorn the home.

Nestled in a historic neighborhood, only minutes from the downtown square in Oxford, Kelley wanted to combine a mix of French country style with contemporary touches while still staying true to the cottage style of the house. The main living room sports a funky pink wall, which was added several years after opening, and according to Kelley, the guests love the unexpected pop of color. The designer prides herself on finding items to repurpose for unusual uses that bring flair to each room. For example, she found a metal chicken coop which now provides storage in the kitchen, and a brass bowl that has been converted into a sink.

The B&B often has loyal customers who love to come for a visit. Kelley says, “We have a lot of repeat customers, which we love! We have the sweetest family stay with us every year. They have no ties to Oxford or Ole Miss but just love The Z and come every year for the husband’s birthday to stay with us and go to an Ole Miss game. We usually decorate their room with balloons and a banner and put a candle in his breakfast! We believe that it is those little touches that make us special and keep so many guests coming back!”

The Zelenskys pride themselves on their delicious, complimentary homemade breakfast, with a guest favorite being the cinnamon rolls. They want their visitors to feel like they are having breakfast at one of their close friend’s homes.

Along with the foodie offerings, the close proximity to the Square, the Ole Miss campus, and Rowan Oak, make the Z Bed & Breakfast a most attractive option for accommodations in Oxford.

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1405 Pierce Avenue, Oxford | 281.804.8022 | thez-oxford.com

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The Oliver Hotel Oxford, Mississippi

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isitors to Oxford might be familiar with the The Chancellor’s House which sits adjacent to the Square, but might be surprised to learn it has been rebranded to The Oliver Hotel. The entire hotel has been given a revamp and has now expanded to a 38-room property.

This complete renovation will have you booking your next trip and making the cultural south your next destination. All the guest floors have been updated with a refreshing, eclectic look that includes all-around new carpet, freshly painted walls, custom drapes and blankets for each guest room and contemporary furniture.

Internationally sourced vintage Hermes scarves are also used to decorate and spice things up in all guest rooms.

Large bathrooms include plush robes for an extra luxurious feel.

Room service is also available for guests staying overnight, so if a little R&R is on the menu for the night, there is no need to leave the room. And it’s not only a place for guests to lay their heads, but their furry friends can come along as well, as the property is dog friendly.

The lobby area, boasts an Instagrammable wall with a rotating art gallery, featuring artists from the local Oxford Treehouse Art Gallery. The hotel personally hand selects the pieces that will be displayed, which guests and art enthusiasts are able to purchase on the spot.

If you’re a foodie and looking for a top-notch dining experience, check out The Oliver’s main restaurant, Kingswood, manned by Executive Chef Joel Miller, formerly of Ravine. With its extensive list of both regional and international cuisine and an impressive offering of international fine wines, it’s no wonder why locals and Oxford guests alike are making Kingswood a must for their evening plans.

If it’s an aperitif or a nightcap you are looking for, you are in luck as well. The Oliver’s modern-day speakeasy, Nightbird, serves up custom cocktails hand-crafted by the resident mixologist.

Guests of the property particularly enjoy the hotel’s convenient location—being walkable to great shopping on the Square and also the Ole Miss campus.

425 South Lamar Boulevard, Oxford | 662.371.1400 | oliveroxford.com

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VAN GOGH for All

A traveling exhibit that immerses you in the works of the world’s most famous painter D EC E M B E R T H R O U G H FE B R UARY

PRESENTED BY: Greenwood Convention & Visitors Bureau • Greenwood Utilities Delta Health Alliance • Delta Electric LightSpeed • Visit Mississippi • Guaranty Bank 1608 US-82, Greenwood, MS / T: (662) 453-0925 / www.museumofthemississippidelta.com

TheLouis Hotel Wilson, Arkansas

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ocated just five miles from the Mississippi River and forty-five minutes outside of Memphis, the Arkansas Delta town of Wilson opened a shining star property in their downtown area in May 2023.

The luxurious Louis Hotel, housed within a onehundred-year-old building, was thoughtfully restored to reflect the town of Wilson’s signature Tudor-style architecture and southern charm. The Louis’ sixteen guest rooms, including three suites, combine whimsy and intrigue and offer plush Peacock Alley bed linens and towels made from Wilson-grown cotton.

Taking its name from a Wilson resident’s late gregarious French bulldog, who was the small town’s de facto concierge, The Louis has fast become a favorite for guests wanting to experience the allure of a small town while also being able to indulge in offerings that one might find in a larger city.

The Louis offers regionally inspired cuisine and cocktails at two unique dining and lounge destinations, with menus that include local catfish from the Mississippi River and long-grain Arkansas rice.

The two dining offerings are Staple, tucked into the intimate lobby, which offers a curated bar menu of snacks, signature cocktails, and an extensive wine list. Cottonwood, the rooftop terrace of The Louis, offers guests an elevated outdoor experience with views of the stunning Arkansas Delta sunsets and occasional crop-dusting aircraft.

Along with golf offerings, guests of The Louis can experience Wilson’s Field Club, a top-tier sporting experience. Opened in October 2023, the timeless tradition of shooting sports offers a unique experience on a private course equipped with a skeet and trap field. The Wilson Motor Club, which will debut in 2024 and share a footprint with The Louis, will feature a twelve-car private collection and museum of automobiles owned by Gaylon Lawrence.

The stellar amenities, dining options, and offerings of the burgeoning town of Wilson, make the Louis Hotel a destination in and of itself.

3 Cross Street, Wilson | 870.655.6001 | thelouishotel.com

Kennington’s Mansion

PHOTOS ANDREW WELCH

Jackson, Mississippi

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estled in the heart of the historic Belhaven neighborhood in Jackson is the recently redesigned historic Kennington’s Mansion that is now available for rent. Whether it’s a girls’ getaway, a meet-up with friends, a wedding party, or just simply to have the experience of renting an entire mansion for a couples stay, the nearly century-old property will have guests experiencing luxury in the Capital City.

Kennington’s Mansion is the original home of Robert Estes Kennington, one of Jackson’s most successful merchants. In 1905, his downtown department store, Jones-Kennington Dry Goods Store, moved to Capitol Street and opened its doors to the public.

Simultaneously, Kennington began constructing the magnificent “Kenwood” mansion and estate, which stands today as it did during its rebuild in the 1940s.

Preservation was key when the renovations took place, with many of the original components remaining such as doors, hardware, moldings, the hardwood floors, and the grand staircase that greets guests upon arrival. The design refresh was completed by the local Ferriss and Company Design Studio, and the aesthetic of the luxury rental is a mix of both modern and elegance.

The property consists of seven bedrooms, four all king suites in the main house and three more in the carriage house which sits upon the grounds, and guests can enjoy the private pool if the seasons are fitting. Gated parking for up to seven cars ensures plenty of room for guests. When renting the mansion, you will have the entire home for your enjoyment.

Owner Chris Ragland is excited about the opening of the home to guests, and his company is committed to the restoration and reinvention of the historic landmark. Ragland says, “We firmly believe that investing in historic properties isn’t merely about preserving bricks and mortar; it’s about investing in our communities and creating jobs while providing world-class hospitality. We find ourselves inspired by these spaces and welcome you to stay at Kennington’s Mansion and witness the magic for yourself.”

With many great dining options in the area, and the close proximity to Jackson’s amazing museums, the home is the perfect place to land while experiencing the culture and creative vibes of the City with Soul.

1020 Carlisle Street, Jackson | 662.371.1400 | kinningtonsmansion.com

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TheLofts at Hopson Clarksdale, Mississippi

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he legendary Hopson compound in Clarksdale lives on with its new owners, Tate and Chelsea Antici, who graduated from college and moved to Nashville, Tennessee. It wasn’t in their plans to return to the Mississippi Delta, but after twelve years of living in the Music City, the Hopson Commissary went up for sale. It was an opportunity the couple says they couldn’t resist.

Included in the property is The Loft at Hopson, a two-bedroom, one bath separate large cabin that’s situated just steps from the commissary, where live music happens several nights a week.

Featuring a full kitchen, large living room, gas fireplace, and a long front porch with rocking chairs, the loft is an excellent immersive way to experience the fun and funky blues town.

Located just a few miles from downtown Clarksdale, visitors can enjoy the grounds of the historic property, or venture into town to experience great blues clubs like Red’s Lounge and Ground Zero Blues Club, and plenty of great eats and shops downtown, such as CatHead.

The history of the property alone draws thousands of visitors every year.

“There’s so much stuff that’s been collected over one hundred years that’s just amazing. People come in and get to look around see all the history,” says Chelsea.

Now renamed Hopson Hospitality, Tate and Chelsea say their main goal is to welcome locals and visitors alike to experience the cultural and musical experience of the Mississippi Delta by hosting private events, festivals, tours, and more.

“We’re trying to create a space for people to come and enjoy the history and the culture the Delta, and make it a place where local chefs and artists can come and share their talents,” says Tate.

Every Monday, Hopson Hospitality

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10 Commissary Circle Road, Clarksdale | 615.691.3314 | hopsonhospitality.com

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hosts events open to the public, which has included a local chef catering dishes, local artists displaying their talents, yoga lessons, and more.

“We have that space they can use, and we make an event out of it. We hope to just keep adding more and more of those type of events,” says Tate. “We want this to show people there’s a lot to do here and we want to make that more public.”

In the first decades of the 20th Century, the Hopson Plantation spearheaded the adoption of mechanization for large-scale commercial agriculture in the Delta, becoming the first plantation to use a mechanical cotton picker. By 1950, the Hopson Plantation had become fully automated, and all elements of pre-mechanized production had been eliminated. As a state-of-the-art operation, the plantation became a model for other plantations, and it remained a testing ground for agricultural machinery. It operated as an independent commercial cotton farm until 1972.

In the 1990s, Clarksdale’s role in the development of blues music became more appreciated, and the Hopson Plantation began a second life as a tourist destination, where now its third life under new ownership continues to evolve, providing both visitors and locals with a one-of-a-kind experience.

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10/24/23 3:46 PM

Start planning your trip to the Delta today!

Circa 1857

Bed & Breakfast | Weddings | Events | Tours 3498 Mississippi 1 South, Greenville | 501.650.2296 thebelmont1857.com

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COMING SOON to Senatobia through partnership with:

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BLUES

T he a c i n o Harm ience ExpeTherultimate music camp for blues lovers from around the globe

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN FOCHT

Twice a year, people come from all over the world to learn how to play blues harmonica during The Harmonica Experience, held at the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale. Blues singer and master harmonica player Cheryl Arena from Boston is one of the coaches at the camp.

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Several times a day and late into the evening, students gather in the Juke Joint Chapel for instruction, to jam and improvise with the band.

professional musicians from around the country. Each day, she expects participants to attend group classes that offer a variety of Chapel as pilgrims take their seats. Each one harmonica techniques, songwriting, singing, and jam sessions while has traveled a good distance, hoping to gain preparing a song for performance at some insight and inspiration the end of the camp. unique to the Mississippi The “Mississippi Saxophone,” as some call it, is a challenging Delta. instrument to play. It is easy to learn They’ve settled into rustic but hard to master. sharecroppers’ shacks and are “They say blues is a feeling, and I surrounded by cotton fields in full certainly get that feeling when I visit bloom. the Delta,” says Kate Wakeling, who Some are experts already, others travels annually from Australia to learn just beginners. And, for one week, how to coax and bend notes from her they will come together to learn how harmonica while keeping a bluesy to play blues harmonica at The Harmonica Experience in Clarksdale. twelve-bar-beat. “Staying at the Shack “Playing harmonica has brought Up Inn, I get a sense of the history of me so much joy in my life, and being Harmonica coach Cheryl Arena (right) works with Shahid the Delta and what life must have been able to share that joy with others is Aziz during one of the classes. like for those who labored under the priceless,” says Cheryl Arena, a master hot sun in the cotton fields. I can harmonica player and teacher from Boston. “But what better way channel those feelings into my harmonica playing.” to teach folks how to play harp than down in the Delta … the “The Harmonica Experience camp is the most wonderful week birthplace of the blues, where the musical vibe is as thick as the mud where you get to learn from talented musicians and hang out and in the Mississippi River.” play music with people from all over the world. It’s a very special Arena runs the workshop with a few other coaches, all week,” she says.

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he morning light streams into the Juke Joint

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Blues pilgrims soak up the authentic Mississippi Delta atmosphere at the Shack Up Inn, where they stay in restored sharecropper shacks and immerse themselves in the land where the blues began.

Southern chefs Carolyn Sykes and Chris Green have worked together in the Mississippi Delta, cooking southern favorites for over forty years.

They catered the event at The Harmonica Experience, giving guests southern home cooking once a day.

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“The blues is a true American art form that draws music lovers from around the world to the Delta, hoping to find some inspiration. And once they experience it, their first trip is rarely their last.” – CHERYL ARENA

Twice a year on this former Southern plantation, where blues legend Pinetop Perkins once worked on the land, aspiring musicians sit on the porches of their cabins, calling music from their hearts and souls.

In the evening, the more skilled musicians often encourage others to join along in a spontaneous jam. Some sing better than others, some play in a group for the first time, but they all have fun making music together with their new friends in this special place.

The workshops take place in a region where many great blues artists lived, worked, played music, and are buried. It is hallowed ground.

Harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite stops by the camp on occasion. He recently moved back to Mississippi and now lives in Clarksdale. He shares stories about playing with harmonica greats Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, and many others.

“Ultimately, you want to find your own blues in you and play Legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite thrills students as he shares stories from his career at the harmonica workshop.

Musselwhite now lives in Clarksdale.

Accomplished musical coach Ralph Carter works with students on songwriting. Some may choose to sing their original songs on the final day when each student performs.

notes to punctuate the sound they are going that.” Musselwhite tells the students, “Get out for. of your head and come down to your heart.”

During the camp, Ralph Carter, an The harmonica has taken Musselwhite accomplished songwriter, composer, and touring around the world and even to the producer, teaches students songwriting. He White House. But there is something about the also holds an independent songwriting camp humble Mississippi Delta that he says he feels at the shacks. right down to his DNA: “You just walk out Sitting in the Robert Clay shack, Carter your door, and there are interesting people asks students, many of whom never really everywhere.” thought about writing a song, “What gives The students who come from all over the you the blues?” He encourages them to make world get to experience home Southern observations, think about rhymes, and look cooking from Ranchero Catering. In the for a melody in what they are saying. He evenings, Chris Green and Carolyn Sykes serve teaches song structure. up fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, cornbread, “The songwriter’s job is to help understand cobblers, and pie. And no meal would be our life’s experience by providing perspective, complete without Southern sweet tea. context, and sometimes just the plain comfort For those who want something stronger, the bar is open. Campers can sip some whiskey, Kate Wakeling travels every year from of sharing.” He encourages them, convincing wine, or beer while jamming with the house Australia to work on her blues harmonica them that each has a song inside of them. skills. She has been attending for over a “Music, songs, connect us to our humanity in band. a magically direct way. They go directly to the Two lines form on either side of the chapel. decade.

Students, some wearing fedoras, Hawaiian heart.”

Not all players have to play or write blues, but for those who shirts, or sunglasses, all try to find their groove as they jump in and want to, he says, “The blues hangs heavy in the air in the Delta. play a sequence of riffs to a shuffle or slow blues played by the house There is something that still feels raw here, exposed and vulnerable. band. They engage their imagination, diaphragm, and breath as they The fact that the blues and its offspring are still going strong today improvise, putting into practice the musical phrasing and articulation they have been learning about all week. tells you something about the enduring power of songs.” DM Some frantically run their lips up and down the harmonica with excitement, others pause and allow a cool and laidback space between To learn more, visit theharmonicaexperience.com and songsattheshacks.com.

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On view November 11, 2023-March 3, 2024

Pablo Picasso, Spanish, (1881-1973), The Village of Vauvenargues, April 29–30, 1959. Oil on canvas.

21 5/16 x 25 9/16 in. Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso para el Arte, Madrid. Image © FABA. Photo: Hugard & Vanoverschelde Photography. © 2023 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds is the first museum exhibition to showcase Pablo Picasso’s landscapes.

It is also the first ever Picasso solo exhibition to visit Mississippi. This collection of nearly 30 works presents a rare and wonderful exploration of Picasso’s landscapes.

Learn more at msmuseumart.org.

This exhibition is organized by the American Federation of Arts with guest curator Laurence Madeline, with the exceptional support of the Musée national Picasso-Paris. The exhibition is generously supported by Monique Schoen Warshaw. Additional support has been provided by Betsy S. Barbanell, Lee White Galvis, Clare E. McKeon, and Stephanie R. La Nasa. Its presentation in Jackson, MS, is sponsored by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, Trustmark, Visit Mississippi, and Butler Snow. Support for the accompanying publication provided by Furthermore: a program of the J.M Kaplan Fund.

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Mississippi’s unmatched literary history sets us apart as an ideal destination for bookworms and aspiring writers from around the world. The Mississippi Writers Trail, managed by the Mississippi Arts Commission, was launched in 2018, and along with it, an updated literary map sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council. It clearly shows the vast number of authors and playwrights from the Magnolia State who have impacted the literary world.

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PHOTOS OBTAINED FROM DIGITAL MEDIA SOURCES

LITERARY

travel the

LITERARY LANE L iterary buffs take note

—when making travel plans through the Delta, take time to explore the people and places that put the region on the literary map. The Mississippi Writers Trail debuted on the State Capitol grounds in Jackson, Mississippi at the 2018 Mississippi Book Festival. It honors our state’s acclaimed authors, and highlights the notable places that helped shape their lives and influence their renowned works. It’s no surprise many of the markers are in the Delta, our rich heritage widely known to have inspired some of the state’s most prolific writers and playwrights. Even the works of prominent Mississippi writers not raised on our Alluvial soil—including famed literary greats William Faulkner and Eudora Welty—were influenced by the history and lore of the Delta. The most recent installation honors celebrated author and entertaining connoisseur Julia Reed. We’ve chosen some of our region's markers to guide you as you plan your next Delta road trip.

JULIA REED Installation: October 20, 2023 Wetherbee House Julia Reed (1960–2020) of Greenville was not only a prolific writer but truly an ambassador of the Delta. Her varied career took her to places far and wide, but her heart remained here, and her beloved home was often the inspiration for her editorial pieces. She was known for her irreverent take on politics and for finding humor in the human condition, particularly in the South. Her vast subject matter also included her love of art, decorating, food, and fashion, and she was a master at finding humor in the human condition. Reed authored several books and cookbooks, including Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena, South Toward Home: Adventures and Misadventures in My Native Land, and Julia Reed’s New Orleans: Food, Fun, and Field Trips for Letting the Good Times Roll. She was a longtime editor and writer for Vogue.

Reed had articles and stories published in numerous other magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times and her popular column in Garden & Gun magazine. True to her Greenville roots, she revitalized the Delta Hot Tamale Festival, a cornerstone event in her hometown, where she spent much time and always kept a home.

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ENDESHA IDA MAE HOLLAND Installation: June 13, 2023 Emmett Till Square at Rail Spike Park Born in Greenwood, Ida Mae Holland (1944–2006) experienced great hardship and abuse as a child. Overcoming those childhood atrocities, Holland eventually earned her high school equivalency diploma, left Mississippi, and enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, and earned a bachelor’s degree in African-American Studies followed by a master’s degree in American Studies in 1984 and a Ph.D. in American studies in 1986. She was very active in the Civil Rights Movement, traveling the country, teaching the movement’s history in Mississippi, and speaking out against the atrocities she had experienced in her own life. Although she was named Ida Mae after her mother, she later gave herself the name “Endesha,” a Swahili word meaning “to steer.”

A noted scholar and dramatist, Holland was the author of six plays. She was most famous for writing From the Mississippi Delta, chronicling her journey from poverty and prostitution in the Jim Crow South to civil rights activism, a Ph.D., and an academic career. It was performed by the Negro Ensemble Company at the Goodman Theater in Chicago and at the Young Vic in London. Holland also wrote a memoir of the same name, published by Simon & Schuster in 1997.

Emmett Till Square at Rail Spike Park The corner of Howard Street and Johnson Street, Greenwood

DOROTHY SHAWHAN Installation: July 23, 2021 Kethley Hall, Delta State University A Tupelo native, Dorothy Shawhan (1942–2014) was an outstanding educator, leader, and writer. She earned degrees from the Mississippi State College for Women, Louisiana State University, and George Mason University. She began teaching at Delta State University in Cleveland in 1981 and she chaired chaired the Division of Languages and Literature from 1991 to 2006. An accomplished author and scholar, Shawhan published many articles in literary and scholarly journals. She authored numerous books, including the widely read novel Lizzie, based on the life of a Mississippi governor’s daughter, as well as Fannye Cook: Mississippi’s Pioneering Conservationist, Spirit of the Delta: The Art of Carolyn Norris, and she coauthored the biography, Lucy Somerville Howorth: New Deal Lawyer, Politician, and Feminist from the South. Her marker reads, “Enlivenedby a sense of humor and a wild imagination, her stories could conjure up Faulkner’s ghost or depict contemporary pilgrims telling tales on a trip to Memphis.” During her tenure at Delta State, Shawhan received the Kossman Teaching Award and was also the cofounder of a literary journal, Tapestry, that publishes faculty work at Delta State.

Kethley Hall, Delta State University 1003 West Sunflower Road, Cleveland 92 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

ELIZABETH SPENCER Installation: October 5, 2019 Merrill Museum, Carrollton Courthouse Square Novelist Elizabeth Spencer (1921–2019) was born in Carrollton, an old Mississippi town on the eastern edge of the Delta. She had a natural interest in writing from early childhood and kept herself company early on by writing adventure stories. Spencer was valedictorian of her high school graduating class, and went on to attend Belhaven College in Jackson and she majored in English, graduating in 1942. During her senior year as president of the literary society, Spencer invited Eudora Welty to be the society’s guest. It was after receiving encouragement from Eudora Welty, whom she met while at Belhaven, that Spencer went on to obtain a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and began a long career of teaching and writing award-winning fiction. Her third novel, The Voice at the Back Door, a graphic depiction of racial strife, was one of her most notable works. But her scope was quite broad, with her subsequent work, The Light in the Piazza, set in Italy. Spencer has authored nine novels, five collections of short stories, a memoir, and a play, and she mastered all these forms. She won numerous awards over her nearly seven-decade career, including the William Faulkner Medal for Literary Excellence and the Mississippi Governor’s Award for Achievement in Literature.

Merrill Museum, Carrollton Courthouse Square 601 East Jackson Street, Carrollton

MARY GARRARD Installation: July 3, 2023 Henry Seymour Library Mary Garrard (born 1937), an Indianola native, is an art historian and has had an exceptional career. After earning her bachelor’s degree at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, she received a master’s degree at Harvard University and her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, where she wrote her dissertation on “The Early Sculpture of Jacopo Sansovino—Florence and Rome.”

She has also co-edited four books on feminism and art history that have become essential texts in American universities, and she is recognized as one of the founders of feminist art theory. She is particularly known for her work on the Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Her publications include Artemisia Gentileschi: The Image of the Female Hero in Italian Baroque Art, Artemisia Gentileschi Around 1622: The Shaping and Reshaping of an Artistic Identity, Brunelleschi’s Egg: Nature, Art, and Gender in Renaissance Italy, and Artemisia Gentileschi, and Feminism in Early Modern Europe. She has lectured extensively on Renaissance art, feminist art, and feminist issues in universities, colleges, and museums across the country, was one of the leaders of the feminist movement in art professions, and was the second national president of Women’s Caucus for Art. Henry Seymour Library 201 Cypress Drive, Indianola

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RICHARD FORD

Installation: September 2, 2021 Carnegie Public Library Richard Ford (1944), a Jackson native, is a novelist and short story writer. He won acclaim with his first two novels, A Piece of My Heart and The Ultimate Good Luck. Ford has stated that his interest in literature developed despite having mild dyslexia, and believes his diagnosis may have helped him as a reader, as it forced him to read books slowly and thoughtfully. His first collection of short stories Rock Springs established his as a master of the genre in 1987. Thought his career his works have earned many honors and worldwide recognition. His novel The Sportsman was named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 novels published since the magazine’s inception. He wrote his highly acclaimed The Sportswriter while living in rural Coahoma County, and he used the book’s protagonist, Frank Bascombe, in future novels including Independence Day, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1996. In Spain, he garnered their prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for 2016.

Recently, his novel Wildlife was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name, and in 2023 Ford published Be Mine, his fifth work of fiction chronicling the life of Frank Bascombe.

Carnegie Public Library 114 Delta Avenue, Clarksdale

SHELBY FOOTE

Installation: October 18, 2019 E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center Shelby Foote (1916–2005) a writer, historian and journalist, was born in Greenville. His family was deeply rooted in Mississippi. He was a lifelong friend of fellow Greenville novelist Walker Percy, and drew deeply on the Southern heritage into which he was born. Foote and Percy both attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Foote wrote for the university’s literary magazine. He left Chapel Hill without graduating and, following time in the military, returned to Greenville. His first of five works of fiction, Tournament, was published in 1949. Foote primarily viewed himself as a novelist, but he is best known for The Civil War: A Narrative, his expansive three-volume history of the American Civil War, which made him a foremost authority on the subject. This ensured that additionally, he will forever be remembered as a historian. Foote also made his mark as a charismatic commentator, appearing in the Ken Burns, miniseries documentary, The Civil War, which first aired in 1990. Until that time he was little known to the general public but it is where he introduced a generation of Americans to a war that he believed was “central to all our lives.”

E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center 323 South Main Street, Greenville

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WILLIE MORRIS Installation: June 4, 2022 Triangle Cultural Center Born in Jackson, Willie Morris (1934-1999) spent a magical Yazoo boyhood playing pranks and baseball with his dog and friends or playing “Taps” on his trumpet for military funerals. Yazoo City figures prominently in much of Morris’s writing, his talent evident when he was very young, as evidenced in pieces he wrote for the local and school newspapers. As a student at the University of Texas, he was editor for the Daily Texan and won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University in England. He was editor for the Texas Observer and became the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of Harper’s Magazine in New York. In 1980, Morris returned to Mississippi to become writer-in-residence at Ole Miss, where he was revered by the students in his writing classes in Oxford and was known for his wit and warm sense of humor. Morris later lived in Jackson. Notable among his twenty-three award-winning books are North Toward Home, Yazoo, and My Dog Skip, which was also made into a popular motion picture by the same name. When Morris died on August 2, 1999, his body lay in state at the Old Capitol.

Triangle Cultural Center 332 North Main Street, Yazoo City

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

Installation: October 17, 2019 Cutrer Mansion Tennessee Williams (1911–1983) was born Thomas Lanier Williams in Columbus, Mississippi, but he considered the Mississippi Delta his home, particularly Clarksdale, where he and his family spent a significant amount of time during his childhood. Some of his greatest dramas were filled with Delta characters and memories of the region. He was sickly as a child and had a turbulent family life, the themes of which are also evident in his future works. His passion for writing began as a teenager.

Throughout college, he began submitting his poetry, essays, stories, and plays in writing contests, hoping to earn extra income. After college, he became a playwright, discovering his love of theater while studying drama in New York. He adopted Tennessee Williams as his professional name, acknowledging his Southern accent and Delta roots. Williams is considered among the foremost playwrights of twentieth-century American drama. His dramas, including The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Summer and Smoke, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, are among the most acclaimed dramas ever performed on Broadway. Several have been adapted into motion pictures which catapulted his reach to audiences worldwide.

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WALKER PERCY

Installation: October 18, 2019 E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center Walker Percy (1916–1990) was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

Orphaned in late childhood, he and his brothers, orphaned in late childhood, were adopted by his elder cousin William Alexander Percy, a poet and patron of the arts from Greenville, Mississippi. W. A. Percy, a poet and author in his own right, wrote the bestseller Lanterns on the Levee, was also honored on the Mississippi writers Trail with a marker that has yet to be installed. Through his youth in the Percy home, Walker was introduced to a world he would have never known and became lifelong friends with fellow writer Shelby Foote.

After earning a medical degree from Columbia University, Percy contracted tuberculosis and, while convalescing, read fervently, questioning humanity’s purpose. Subsequently, he gave up pursuing a medical career and began writing in earnest. In 1961, he published The Moviegoer, his first novel, which received the National Book Award for Fiction. Percy continued to write fiction, nonfiction, and essays, many dealing with human struggles with identity, spirituality, and behaviorism with characters who struggled to find meaning in their existence. His works include six novels, two nonfiction books, and numerous scientific and philosophical essays, which have ensured him a firm place in American literature.

E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center 323 South Main Street, Greenville

WILLIAM FAULKNER Installation: October 10, 2019 Rowan Oak William Cuthbert Faulkner (1897-1962) was born in New Albany but moved to Oxford as a child. Winner of the 1949 Nobel Peace Prize, he made an indelible mark on American literature. Although he grew up in Oxford, the Delta figures prominently in Faulkner’s works. Likewise he greatly influenced many Delta writers. Many of his works were set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, which literary scholars believe encompasses the Delta. The novel The Bear evokes the Delta’s wilderness at the time; his writings show Faulkner’s experiences hunting along the Tallahatchie River, the time spent in Clarksdale, and with lifelong friends such as Ben Wasson of Greenville.

His mark on American and Southern literature is undeniable. His works have become classics, including Sartoris, The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Light in August, Absalom, Absalom! and many more. Faulkner won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for two of his works, A Fable in 1954 and The Reivers in 1962, the year of his death. He is the only Mississippi-born Nobel laureate. His beloved Oxford home, Rowan Oak, and the surrounding grounds are maintained by the University of Mississippi and destinations for literary and southern historians alike.

Rowan Oak 916 Old Taylor Road, Oxford 96 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

MISSISSIPPI DELTA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

DELTA DETOURS

Humphreys County Cypress Trees Come to Humphreys County and see the 2000 year old Cypress tree. Walk out to the tree on a beautiful boardwalk and enjoy the view. There are several other very large cypress trees to see as well.

Located north of Belzoni just off of Hwy 7 at Sky Lake Preserve.

The Rolling Fork Bears Rolling Fork, home of the teddy bear, has been featuring bear statues created by Mississippi artist Dayton Scoggins since 2002. Construction Bear is a testament to the rebuilding of Rolling Fork after the March 2023 tornado disaster, re昀ecting the theme “Bearly Here but Building Back.”

Holmes County Courthouse, Lexington The courthouse, designed by the Knoxville, TN, 昀rm of Walter Chamberlin & Co., played a signi昀cant role in the history of the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Charles H. Mason, founder, was arrested in Holmes County and jailed here. A memorial in his honor is displayed in the basement.

The Tutwiler Murals depict scenes that have made the town known as the legendary home of the Blues. Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy, wrote that he 昀rst heard the Blues played in 1895 at Tutwiler’s railroad station. A memorial to Bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson is included in the murals.

Tutwiler Murals

Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden, Ruleville The Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in Ruleville, MS commemorates civil rights activist and organizer Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and other organizations to 昀ght for the civic, social, and economic liberation of Black people in the Mississippi Delta.

WWW.MSDELTAHERITAGE.COM 662.846.4311

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COLUMBUS

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Tennessee Williams Welcome Center Columbus is the birthplace of America’s most proli昀c playwright Tennessee Williams.

Williams’ childhood home located at 300 Main Street is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday and serves as the city’s welcome center.

The popular “Cat昀sh in the Alley” Festival returns April 5th and 6th. The event celebrates Columbus’ rich African American heritage and a time when the alley was 昀lled with the sound of blues and the smell of cat昀sh frying. This year’s event features musical performances by an outstanding lineup of musicians.

Catfish in the Alley Historic Districts Visitors to Columbus will marvel at beautiful tree-lined streets dotted with 650 historic properties in three historic districts. Some homes are open for daily tours. Visitors can also explore historic Friendship Cemetery and The W campus.

Columbus is home to a vibrant downtown bustling with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Visit one of our 125+ restaurants ranging from elegant dining experiences to down-home cooking, and everything in between!

Dining and Shopping

Columbus Spring Pilgrimage Columbus is offering two exceptional events this spring.

Enjoy morning and afternoon tours of some of the best and most authentic home tours in the South as well as other exciting events. Historic Home Tours will take place April 2nd -13th. Preservation Society of Columbus presents Jubilee of Homes April 5th – 21st during the weekends.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.VISITCOLUMBUSMS.ORG.

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DESOTO COUNTY

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Live Entertainment Enjoy star-studded live entertainment at Southaven’s newly enhanced BankPlus Amphitheater or at Landers Center – two of the Mid-South’s premier event venues.

Find apparel, outdoor gear and one-of-a-kind gifts at charming boutiques and lifestyle stores, or head over to Tanger Outlets for one-stop shopping.

Retail Therapy

Top-Notch Meals Explore DeSoto County’s culinary scene and experience true Southern hospitality. From the best of barbecue and family-owned Italian to awardwinning burgers and homemade sweets, there’s something to please everyone’s palate.

Visit a museum, check out beautifully preserved town squares or see our 昀ve Mississippi Blues Trail markers dedicated to the legendary artists who contributed greatly to American music.

History Lessons

Festivals & Markets Attend local festivals held throughout the year and farmers markets April-October. Southern Living even recognized the highly acclaimed Hernando Farmers Market as a must-visit destination!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.VISITDESOTOCOUNTY.COM.

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RIDGELAND

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Premier Shopping Ridgeland’s retail districts offer some of the 昀nest shopping in Mississippi. Boutiques, galleries, and antique stores are located from one end of the city to the other. Stroll the old-world style streets of Renaissance at Colony Park and the new urbanist Township at Colony Park, then explore Jackson Street and the Bill Waller Craft Center gallery.

Water meets wonderful along the 33,000 acres of the Barnett Reservoir.

Featured as a stop on the Mississippi Crappie Trail, “the Rez” provides a haven for boaters, kayakers, skiers, anglers, paddle boarders, picnickers, and birdwatchers. Bring your own gear or schedule a rental from Main Harbor Marina or Pearl River Kayaks.

Barnett Reservoir

Parks & Trails Ridgeland is Mississippi’s ultimate cycling destination, and it’s not just for the historic Natchez Trace Parkway that runs through the city. Multi-use walking and biking trails, BMX tracks and year-round cycling events attribute to Ridgeland’s status as an ABA Bronze Level “bikefriendly” community.

Year-Round Events Foodie Flavors

With over 150 restaurants, Ridgeland is a food lover’s dream. From southern cooking family-style to 昀ne fusion cuisine, the city is bursting with locally sourced 昀avors. Try CAET seafood + oysterette by chef Derek Emerson, or one of the eateries that earned Ridgeland the reputation of Steakhouse Capital of Mississippi.

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Live music fans enjoy the annual Township Jazz Festival and regular outdoor festivals. Springtime brings the Natchez Trace Century Ride and The MIND Center Sante South Food & Wine Festival, and the fun continues throughout the year with the Celebrate America Balloon Glow, Euro Fest, Chimneyville Arts Festival, and more.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

DELTA DETOURS

True Blues

Steaks at Doe’s Eat Place Around 1941, a partial recipe for hot tamales was given to Dominick “Doe” Signa and his wife, Mamie, which marked the beginning of Doe’s Eat Place. Once its storefront was a honky-tonk, but they’ve been serving up fabulous steaks, grilled shrimp and specialty salads, along with unmatched hospitality for decades now. In 2007, it was honored by the James Beard Foundation, with the America’s Classic Award.

In the heyday of the blues, over 150 bluesmen lived within a 100mile radius of here. The Highway 61 Blues Museum chronicles the story of the Delta Blues and the musicians who helped make it famous and features memorabilia from B.B. King, James “Son” Thomas, Eddie Cusic, and many others. GreenvilleWashington County is also home to eleven sites on the Mississippi Blues Trail. See live blues music at Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival, the longest running blues festival in America. msbluestrail.org

502 Nelson Street • Greenville, MS • 662-334-3315

Long before a certain pig karatechopped her way into our hearts, Muppet creator Jim Henson was born in Greenville and played on the banks of Deer Creek in Stoneville, just west of Leland. It was here that Henson created the character of that very famous frog. A visit to Henson’s birthplace is 昀lled with the fun and creativity that produced some of the world’s favorite Muppet characters.

The Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Welcome to the Hot and Soul of the Delta. We’re home to the best hot tamales in the nation, as documented by the Southern Foodways Alliance in their Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail.

Greenville has been proclaimed as the “Hot Tamale Capital of the World.” The annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival is a fun-昀lled three-day event that celebrates local and regional artists, musicians, and tamale makers as well as some of the South’s most in昀uential chefs and writers.

504 Central Street • Greenville, MS 662-378-3121 mainstreetgreenville.com

415 South Deer Creek Drive E Leland, MS • 662-686-7383 lelandchamber.com/kermit-the-frog

If you’re a guy and just want to get away with your buds, we’ve got the answer.

Fishing, hunting, dining, nightlife, Delta Blues, festivals, 昀yways, the Delta Mancation has it all. Come see why our area was named one of the top 200 places to live for sportsmen. Trails abound in Leroy Percy State Park and the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge. These wetlands projects offer great hunting, 昀shing, birding, wildlife viewing and hiking. Lake Ferguson and Lake Lee combine to offer more than 6,000 acres of choice largemouth bass, crappie, cat昀sh and bluegill 昀shing.

Take a Man-cation Hot Tamale Capital of the World

VISITGREENVILLE.ORG 1-800-487-3582

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GRENADA

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grenada

mississippi

tourism commission

DETOURS

Unique Dining & Lodging Grenada beckons as the perfect pitstop, offering more than just a refuel for your car— it’s a haven for your taste buds and a cozy retreat for a weekend getaway. Indulge in the heartwarming 昀avors of home-cooked meals that capture the essence of Southern hospitality. For a nostalgic diner experience, make your way to Spencer’s Dairy Kreme, where the welcoming atmosphere adds to the delight of each bite. Whether you’re satisfying your appetite or seeking a delightful escape, Grenada ensures a ful昀lling experience that goes beyond the gas pump. Explore the charm of Grenada for a delightful blend of 昀avors and a welcoming stay that feels like a home away from home.

Get ready to immerse yourself in some of the Southeast’s best outdoors activities and relish the beauty of one of Mississippi’s most picturesque destinations. Discover Grenada, where outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in birdwatching by scenic Grenada Lake, camp under starlit skies, and explore hiking trails through lush landscapes. For hunters, the expansive woodlands provide an exhilarating experience, while history buffs can explore sites and stroll through downtown’s historic charm. Families can enjoy numerous playgrounds, making Grenada a versatile destination for outdoor adventures, history, and family fun.

Go Outdoors Embark on a waterborne adventure in Grenada, where canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts can explore pristine natural gems.

Paddle through the serene waters of the Yalobusha River Paddling Trail, immersing yourself in the tranquility of the surroundings.

Discover the scenic wonders of Malmaison Wildlife Management Area, where the convergence of waterways offers a diverse and picturesque landscape for paddlers. For a unique experience, navigate the Chakchiuma Swamp at Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, where the intertwining water channels offer a glimpse into the area’s rich biodiversity. Grenada, MS, is a haven for water adventurers, offering a tapestry of paddling experiences amid the beauty of nature.

Canoe/Kayak

Great Greens Experience the splendor of Grenada Lake’s natural beauty at Dogwoods Golf Course, nestled within the picturesque Hugh White State Park. Surrounded by lush woods, the course features meandering fairways and diverse tee options, ensuring a distinct appearance and play for each of its 18 holes.

Enhance your gol昀ng journey with convenient amenities such as cart rentals, a well-equipped practice range, a pro shop, and a welcoming clubhouse. Immerse yourself in the charm of Dogwoods Golf Course, where the harmonious blend of nature and golf creates an unparalleled recreational experience.

Visit www.DogwoodsGolf.com for more information.

Indulge in a tailor-made Crappie 昀shing escapade with our skilled lake 昀shing guides, immersing yourself in the allure of the distinguished #1 Crappie Lake in the U.S. The pinnacle of this experience is the awe-inspiring spectacle of sunrises and sunsets over Grenada Lake, providing an enchanting and magical atmosphere. Don’t miss the chance to spot majestic bald eagles that inhabit this area, potentially gracing you with their presence. Elevate your 昀shing adventure with us and create unforgettable memories against the stunning backdrop of Grenada Lake’s natural wonders.

Fish Grenada

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.VISITGRENADAMS.COM.

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NATCHEZ

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Natchez Trails: Museum of the Streets.

Explore miles of architectural treasures and interesting history about this fascinating town. Natchez is also home to several markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail and the Mississippi Mound Trail.

Visit Natchez - 601-446-6345 www.visitnatchez.org/business/natchez-trails-and-walking-tour

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians Longwood Built in 1861, Longwood is the largest octagonal house in the South and one of Natchez’s most iconic historic museum homes.

140 Lower Woodville Rd. 601-442-5193 https://visitnatchez.org/listing/longwood/

Ancient stories live on at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians. Explore the original Natchez at this important mound site through interpretive signs and virtual experiences.

400 Jeff Davis Blvd, Natchez 601-446-6502 https://visitnatchez.org/listing/grand-village-of-thenatchez-indians/

This lively converted juke joint is one of the best places to 昀nd live music in Natchez!

319 N Broadway St., Natchez. https://visitnatchez.org/listing/smoots-grocery/

Smoot’s Grocery Under the Hill District Home to one of the oldest bars on the Mississippi River, Under the Hill offers some of the best food and views Natchez has to offer.

More information at Visitnatchez.org 601.446.6345 or 1-800-647-6724

601.492.3000 • WWW.VISITNATCHEZ.ORG

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TUPELO

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Live Music Scene Home to 17 unique live music venues, feel the beat almost every day of the week in Tupelo. Visit tupelo.net/events to check out all of the city’s live music events.

Explore the home where Elvis Presley was born, a museum that chronicles his life, and the original church where he was in昀uenced by gospel music.

Elvis

Food & Dining Tupelo is home to over 200 restaurants with a little something for everyone. Visit tupelo.net/food-drink to see all of the scrumptious options.

Follow #tupelofoodie on Instagram and let your mouth water.

With three distinct shopping districts, Tupelo is a true shopper’s paradise. Visit Downtown, Midtown, and the Barnes Crossing District and shop ‘til’ you drop.

Shopping Districts

Natchez Trace Parkway One of America’s top ten national parks, the Natchez Trace Parkway is headquartered in Tupelo and includes a visitor center with interactive exhibits about this historic byway.

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HOLLY SPRINGS

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Nestled in the rolling hills of picturesque North Mississippi waits Holly Springs.

Combining the best of Architecture, African & Native American History, Antebellum Homes, Museums and Art Galleries, we’re the perfect destination for a weekend getaway.

Food for Your Soul

Just 30 minutes away from Memphis, Tennessee, Holly Springs is the ideal vacation for those wanting to escape the city and experience the rich history and charm of Mississippi.

VISITHOLLYSPRINGS.COM

Experience cooking from the heart while dining in Holly Springs.

History Discover something that sparks a life-long interest.

Lodging Cozy cottages, bed and breakfasts, or an easy access hotel just off the interstate.

Take pleasure in events throughout the year, such as our annual Hummingbird Festival, Native Plant Sale, or the North Mississippi Hill Country Blues Picnic.

Events

Group tours or walking and driving tours of our architecture, historic museums, and art galleries.

Tours

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HARDIN COUNTY

PICKWICK LANDING STATE PARK

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The Lodge at Pickwick Landing State Park Fully remodeled lodge with 119 rooms each with a picturesque view of the lake. Outdoor and indoor pools for all guests. The Lodge has a restaurant, lounge, gift shop, laundry facilities, and exercise rooms. The Lodge offers 6,000 square feet of 昀exible event space to accommodate conferences, weddings, and group events.

Pickwick Landing State Park Golf Course

120 Playground Loop, Counce, TN 38326 www.tnstateparks.com/lodges/pickwick-landing

Featuring Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways, this course is almost always in championship condition and playable year-round. Driving range, practice green, on-site lodging, snack bar/grill, and club rental. Lessons are available.

60 Win昀eld Dunn Lane, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365 www.tnstateparks.com/golf/ course/pickwick-landing

Pickwick Landing Landing State Park Cabins Pickwick cabins lie on the shores of Pickwick Lake near the Tennessee River. Seven premium cabins offer 昀rst-class comfort and modern conveniences. Guests can enjoy views of the lake while relaxing in the living room or out on the patio . Each cabin has WiFi, a gas grill, patio table and chairs, cable TV, central heat and air, and a gas 昀replace. The park also offers 10 standard cabins located in a secluded woodsy setting.

116 State Park Lane, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365 www.tnstateparks.com/parks/cabins/pickwick-landing

Located at mile marker Pickwick Landing 208, along the south bank State Park Marina of the Tennessee River

near Pickwick Dam . For more than 40 years the marina has served the recreational and tournament 昀shing needs of the community. Kayak, canoes, paddle boards, and pontoon boats are available to rent. All types of boats are allowed at Pickwick Landing. There are two public boat ramps in the park, each of which is available free of charge.

116 State Park Lane, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365 www.tnstateparks.com/parks/marina/pickwick-landing

Camping

Pickwick Landing State Park Campground is a beautiful wooded campground featuring 48 sites, each equipped with a ta-ble, a grill and electrical and water hook-up. Bathhouse and dump station are centrally located. Open year-round. The park also offers a primitive campground located north of Pickwick Lake with 33 primitive sites.

116 State Park Lane, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365 www.tnstateparks.com/parks/campground/pickwick-landing

WWW.TOURHARDINCOUNTY.ORG

106 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

PANOLA PARTNERSHIP

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Batesville Mounds A Journey of Time & Nature: Step into the Past - Take a Tour • View Native American Mounds from the Woodland Period • Trek wilderness trails in the historic Mississippi Delta region • Watch for birds, butter昀ies, deer, and all of nature’s creatures • Watch for trains on the Grenada Railway • Take photos, learn, exercise, write, rest, re昀ect, & create memories

Panola Playhouse The Panola Playhouse, founded in 1962, is one of the longest, continually-running, live theatres in the state of Mississippi. This unique, 120 seat theatre has been host to hundreds of wonderful performances over the last 昀fty-two years. The Panola Playhouse season includes comedies, dramas, musicals, and children’s shows.

McIvor Shooting Facility Drive through the 5 miles of African Safari Roads in your own car and interact and feed animals as you make your way through the wilds of Africa. After your journey return to the Foot Safari. An experience you will never forget, Africa at your back door.

Como Safari Wild Animal Park

Batesville Civic Center Discover the Batesville Civic Center, your gateway to entertainment in Batesville! From concerts to conferences, rodeos to expos, this versatile venue caters to all occasions. Featuring a spacious arena, technology-infused conference rooms, award-winning in-house catering, ample parking, and friendly staff, the BCC is the premier choice for unforgettable events.

Hone your shotgun skills, become more pro昀cient with your bow, or site in your new ri昀e at this 300- acre state of the art shooting sports facility.

Located near Sardis, MS on the Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management area, it is a hidden gem for any shooting enthusiast.

www.batesvilleciviccenter-ms.com

Magnolia Grove Monastery To visit the world-renowned, yet quaint Magnolia Grove Monastery, you would think you’ve stepped into a faraway land. Nestled in the woods on 120 acres and just a short 4-mile drive from Batesville sits this beautiful Buddhist residential monastery, established by the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hahn. Magnolia Grove is host to mindfulness retreats, days of mindfulness, dharma talks, mindfulness walks, and more. This is the perfect spot take a breath of fresh air.

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VICKSBURG

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There are plenty of indoor attractions in historic Vicksburg but what about those sun-drenched days best spent outside? If you’re looking to soak in some fresh air throughout your Vicksburg adventures, you’re in luck! The region offers a host of parks an other outdoor recreations areas that are perfect for cycling, canoeing, 昀shing, birding and casual tourism.

Explore

Stay No Vicksburg visit is complete without comfortable accommodations, which can be found at plenty of local hotels, bed & breakfast inns, and lodges. Options range from luxurious riverfront suites to affordable guestrooms.

Come stay awhile and be our guest!

Tour

Tourists and history buffs can explore museums and tours homes that dive into the history of our great city. From the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum’s displays of the beloved soft drink to the most haunted house in Mississippi, McRaven Tour Home, Vicksburg has something for every type of traveler.

Dining, tour, and shopping opportunities await you in Downtown Vicksburg. From eclectic boutiques, art galleries, and museums, Downtown Vicksburg has it!

While you are shopping and exploring, make sure to grab a bite to eat at a locally owned restaurant. Or grab a cocktail and walk around this charming area. There’s something for everyone in historic Downtown Vicksburg.

Downtown

Dine

Even a brief exploration of Vicksburg will reveal a seemingly endless range of delectable eateries offering cuisine from around the world. Whether you’re hoping to sit down and savor an upscale meal or enjoy a local brew, there’s something in Vicksburg that will strike your fancy.

Vicksburg is loaded with locally owned restaurants and worldrenowned chain restaurants alike. You won’t leave hungry!

WWW.VISITVICKSBURG.COM

108 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

CARROLLTON

DELTA

VISIT CARROLLTON Step back in time with a visit to Historic Carrollton, Mississippi.

Organized in 1834, the Town became a bustling community that prospered until the early 1900s.

Once listed as an Endangered Site by the Mississippi Heritage Trust, Carrollton is now thriving in the 21st century. Download the free Walking Tour of Carrollton, MS app from The App Store or Google Play.

DETOURS

Pioneer Day Festival Pioneer Day Festival honors the founding of Carroll County in 1833 with this annual arts and crafts festivals, as well as educational opportunities. The 2023 Pioneer Day Festival will be held on October 7. It is part of the annual Pilgrimage.

662.392.4810 | VisitCarrolltonMs.com

Merrill Museum The Merrill Museum tells the story of Carroll County, from Indian days to the present. Exhibits include antique bottles, arrowheads, Joy’s Toys, and family items from the John S McCain family and author Elizabeth Spencer. It is open during the annual Pilgrimage and for group tours by appointment.

Call 662-237-6910 for group tour info.

The Community House was born out of the Great Depression and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. It is the site of A Taste of Soup and Art Exhibit the 昀rst Saturday in February. Tickets are $10; available by calling 662-392-4810.

For information about renting for an event, call Carrollton Town Hall at 662-237-4600.

The Carrollton Community House

Annual Tour of Historic Homes and Churches Historic homes in Carrollton range in date from 1828 to 1936. A selection of these family homes will be open for tours during the annual Pilgrimage. The 2023 Prilgrimage Home Tour will be held October 6 - 7. Group tours can be scheduled by appointment.

VISITCARROLLTONMS.COM

www.VisitCarrolltonMS.com or 662-392-4810 email: CarrolltonMsTours@gmail.com

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HOME

Update & Renovate January is a great time to reimagine some of the hardest working rooms in the house

BY TERRI GLAZER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BRITT

110 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

If you are looking for renovation ideas to freshen up some of the most used spaces in your home, the following pages detail projects that are sure to check all the boxes. From a major kitchen overhaul, to resurfacing and freshening two dated bathrooms, to reconfiguring an existing laundry and half bath to create organized storage space, each of the following transformations address the particular needs of three families at different stages.

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A Kitchen Made New

From dark and drab to light and elegant, this kitchen is a prime example of how a thoughtful update can completely change a room’s personality.

kitchen in Mary Martha and Jack Bobo’s home has come a long way.

T heClarksdale

Before

112 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

When the couple bought the home in late 2020, it had been on the market for thirteen years and occupied only sporadically during that time. Although the house was built in 1954, the kitchen had been remodeled in the interim, probably in the mid to late eighties, and not touched since. It was a prime example of that era’s design trends, with multiple arched entries, dark wood cabinetry, black countertops, and burnt orange walls.

Luckily, the Bobos had already forged a relationship with Frank Tindall, owner of Frank Tindall Designs in Oxford. He had accompanied them to look at several homes and was preparing to draw them plans for a new house when they got the chance to buy the former Fletcher Maynard home on the course at Clarksdale Country Club.

Tindall reimagined the kitchen with a light and sophisticated feel. He eliminated the dated arches, opting for simpler straight lines. Custom inset cabinets built by Wilbourn Cabinets in Grenada provide a sleek, clean look and plenty of storage. In fact, Mary Martha says the hidden cabinet area built into the kitchen

Before

Before Glass-front cabinets with interior lighting make sure Mary Martha Bobo’s glassware collection gets the attention it deserves.

island is one of her favorite features. “I can store all my platters and big pieces in there and still have access to them,” she says.

The wall that formerly held a built-in desk, another staple of late-twentieth-century kitchen design, is now home to a convenient beverage station, complete with an under-counter drink refrigerator and lighted glass-front cabinets to show off the glassware Mary Martha collects. When not in use, the bar can be closed off by doors to elevate the kitchen’s tailored ambiance.

Across the room the refrigerator and freezer are decked out in matching cabinetry panels, completing the look.

A new Thermador double range provides all the cooking space and power needed when the large extended family gathers. At press time, Mary Martha was preparing for twenty-seven adults and fifteen children to celebrate Christmas in the home.

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Frank Tindall’s inventive design included all the storage space Mary Martha needs, plus a built-in bar that disappears behind doors when not in use.

Before The kitchen’s design hadn’t been updated in almost four decades.

One element of the previous design remains—the marble tile floors. Most of the floor was covered for protection during the renovation, but in areas where the footprint changed, tiles were carefully removed and saved. After piecing together and reusing as many tiles as possible, the count still came up a bit short for the new floorplan. Faux paint came to the rescue! Talented artist Mary Morrison worked her magic on an out-of-the-way area of the floor to perfectly match the marble.

For the backsplash behind the range, Tindall chose the same Taj Mahal quartzite used on the countertops, styled in a graceful, curved shape. Mary Martha loves the colors in the natural stone, as well as its durability.

The kitchen now extends into an adjacent keeping area and 114 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

informal dining space. Once a closed-off living quarters accessible only from an outside door, the new keeping room is filled with light, thanks to a wall of French doors. Two cozy armchairs and an ottoman give the Bobos a comfortable place to relax in the heart of the home.

Contractor Brian Atwood removed a bar built into the dining area to make room for one of the couple’s favorite pieces of furniture, a sideboard passed down through the family. The antique dining table and chairs, also heirloom pieces, fit the scale of the space perfectly. Mary Martha keeps the table set with china from her collection or that of her late mother-in-law. The two women shared a love of tableware, and Mary Martha is thrilled to display the treasured pieces.

Delta clay goblets made by Austin Britt pair beautifully with heirloom china in the remodeled dining area adjacent to the kitchen.

The once neglected kitchen now reflects the way the new homeowners live, and they couldn’t be happier with it. Mary Martha is quick to credit Tindall for the transformation. “I spent sleepless nights worrying that we’d done the wrong thing by buying this house, but then I’d talk to Frank, and I knew it was going to be alright. He understands the Delta. He understood everything we wanted to do to the house for the way we live here in Clarksdale.” DM

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Lavatory Love

Textured wallpaper adds a serene hue and subtle visual interest in this master bath renovation in Indianola.

BY SHERRY LUCAS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLYN WEIR

W

hen it comes to updates, it’s no real surprise that bathrooms rank high among the most renovated rooms in the home, due to the frequent use which can age a bathroom faster than the rest of the house.

Luckily a little lavatory love can go a long way toward putting a clean, refreshing stamp on the day’s start and finish, plus all the visits in-between.

Often, clients just want to freshen and update the space, said 116 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Indianola designer Mary Clair Cumbaa. “Your tile and countertops get a lot of use and wear and tear over time, and I think that sometimes people just want a cleaner space.”

Over the years, water can affect the tile and countertops, seeping into crevices, staining the grout, and making surfaces harder to keep clean and good-looking. “People just want to change it out,” Cumbaa said, for a visual and physical update.

For Laura and Walter Gresham’s Indianola home, a refresh was the answer for two bathrooms that had only seen minor improvements, but no major renovation, up to that point. Tile, floor, and countertops needed an update.

Tall twin mirrors entice the eye upward, and the damask shower curtain brings in a decorative splash. The renovation updated and brightened the space with a crisp white Carrara marble countertop, ceramic tile floors and contemporary wall sconces.

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The smaller bathroom’s glowing makeover included new wallpaper, soft new lighting from sconces and a framed mirror that shines in the space.

Before

With fairly free reign, Cumbaa brought in a cool, serene elegance to both spaces with soothing, upscale touches that lightened and brightened the spaces.

Working with Laura’s love of blue and white, and her own “modern traditional” aesthetic, the designer renovated the rooms for a contemporary feel that harmonizes well with the overall style and period of the rest of the home.

In the master bathroom, tall twin mirrors above the double sinks bring the eye up, visually enlarging the room with both their vertical upsweep and their crystal-clear reflection. Their gold and silver

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frames pick up the shiny chrome of faucets, plus bring in an extra dose of shine. “I think the gold just pops better on the wallpaper, and it adds a little bit of dimension to the room,” Cumbaa said.

Villa Garden Texture wallpaper from Thibaut brings in the blue hue, and the grasscloth further softens the space with subtle interest.

“I didn’t want to do a printed wallpaper in there because that can get kind of busy when you have so much mirror space,” Cumbaa said.

Contemporary sconces provide a pleasant glow, illuminating an eye-level view and replacing the bathroom’s original box lighting.

“In bathrooms, I always like to have several different lighting sources,” Cumbaa said. “I think you need to have one above your head and a front-facing light. The overhead light can almost create a shadow on your face, so it’s important to have several different sources of light, especially in a master bathroom.”

The sconces, from Visual Comfort’s Julie Neill Collection, put a modern twist on the traditional flower shape. “I was trying to bring in something that was not too bright directly on the eyes, but these are tall enough that they bring light to the front, and they bring the light up.”

The strong linear pattern of the shower curtain’s braid embroidery adds a visual sense of height and space in this bathroom. Fixtures in vintage gold are another design plus.

The original vanity stayed, enjoying a new Carrara marble countertop and a fresh coat of paint. The sleeker vanity stool suits the new space and effectively ties in with the silver in the mirror frame and the shiny chrome of updated fixtures from Carr Plumbing.

Underfoot and in the shower, ceramic tile that mimics Carrara marble offers a luxurious look that also ties in with the vanity’s countertop. With the wallpaper’s subtle beauty in the background, the shower curtain is the perfect place for a visual splash. Thibaut’s Earl Damask fabric in blue provides the standout print, replacing the glass that previously encased the shower.

Renovating two bathrooms at once, though a challenge, was ultimately a better approach for this three-bathroom home. “I think it’s easier to get the subcontractors in, and they can be working on everything together,” Cumbaa said. “Also, I’ve found that in the Delta it is more economical. A lot of times, people pay travel fees to installers that come in from out of town. If they can just knock them out together, then that helps.”

In the smaller bathroom, too, a taller mirror works to bring the eye up, and the creamy white frame’s gilded inner edge contributes

Before

shine that’s echoed in the sconces also by Visual Comfort on each side and new vintage gold fixtures by Carr Plumbing. The wallpaper, Thibaut’s Arboreta, brings in a bit of blue for the walls, as well as an engaging pattern that helps open up the space.

The sumptuous shower curtain, Thibaut’s Braid Embroidery fabric in blue and champagne, contributes soft textured intrigue and strong linear visuals that seem to stretch the room’s height.

There, too, ceramic tile floors tie in with the Carrara marble countertop for a look that reads fresh, clean, and breezily up to date.

DM

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Utilized and Organized

BY TERRI GLAZER PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUSTIN BRITT

The laundry room does double duty during hunting season, when Bo can come in the door and leave his muddy gear in one spot, saving a mess in the rest of the home.

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Before

Before

Taylor Armstrong’s new utility area is anything but utilitarian. A farmhouse sink, walnut countertop and brass hardware dress up the home’s recently renovated laundry room.

“W

e knew our older home would need some updating for our busy lives with two small children—and first on the list was the laundry area,” exclaims Taylor Armstrong. “As would be expected, it was dated—and I knew right away I desperately needed organized storage space.” Taylor still gets excited when she describes the projects she and her husband Bo undertook when they bought their Clarksdale home three years ago.

The kitchen’s lack of a pantry and the layout of an adjacent half bath in the sixty-year-old house presented additional challenges.

Undaunted, Taylor relied on her creative instincts to completely remake problem areas into attractive and useful spaces just right for her young family of four. Fortunately the proximity of these areas allowed for adjustments that addressed each issue without adding square footage.The project was part of the first phase of what will eventually be a whole-house renovation.

Using her artistic talent, Taylor could visualize what could be. “I wanted to get the most out of every bit of space. I’m very organized DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Before

Built-in lockers have a place for everything, helping the Armstrongs stay organized and reduce clutter in the rest of the house.

A short passageway connects the laundry to the kitchen area and adjacent pantry and half bath.

A wall of pegboard in the new pantry is dedicated to pots and pans. Hanging hooks ensure the cookware is out of the way, yet easily accessible.

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Our house is “funky.

It’s fun. We

love our home.

We really put ourselves into it; we didn’t let anyone else make decisions for us.

”

– Taylor Armstrong

The homeowner fell in love with this pretty marble flooring when she was planning her home renovation. In the new powder room she paired it with subdued wallpaper that doesn’t fight for attention, allowing the mosaic to be the star of the show.

and clean, and I wanted everything to have its own spot. She achieved that goal thanks to an assortment of cabinets, cubbies, and shelves with West Elm baskets. And as a bonus, the room has a pair of fullheight lockers, an adorable window seat, and a handy sink with a handsome walnut countertop selected by Bo. “We cook a lot, and we entertain a lot,” says Taylor. “We had to figure out how to get a pantry in the house.” Repurposing wasted space in a too large half bath off the kitchen solved the pantry dilemma. They split the room in half, leaving a petite powder room perfect for guests and creating a pantry where Taylor can organize to her heart’s delight.

Pots and pans hang conveniently from a pegboard wall. Floor-toceiling shelves accommodate the family’s food and small appliances.

And, of course, there are containers to organize everything—a must since Taylor opted for a ten-lite glass and wood door for the pantry.

She laughs when she recalls how Bo initially questioned that choice, along with her insistence on painting the door black. “I told him he was just going to have to trust me on it. Once we installed it, he said

it was the best decision ever. We both love it.”

The newly reworked half bath is charming with a side of whimsy.

Taylor fell in love with the mosaic marble flooring and considered using it elsewhere in the house, but it looks right at home beneath a porcelain console sink with exposed brass legs. Gold tone sconces with funky custom shades flank the crown silhouette mirror. The rest of the room’s decor is uniquely personal to the family. From the painted cocktail sign and other mementoes of their wedding to a collection of decorative Nathalie Lett plates received as wedding gifts to the guest towels embellished with silhouettes of their children, the small space tells a big story.

Always looking for ways to express her creativity, Armstrong continues to take on decorating projects in her home—and what started as a one-off project to personalize her own home has grown into a business; Taylor now owns Tay Armstrong Design, which specializes in freelance decorating work. Coupled with her life as a working mom, it keeps the Clarksdale native on her toes, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. DM DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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FOOD

Sweet Skillet Cornbread with Pomegranate Molasses Pears

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Apricots & Sage in the

Big Apple

Greenville’s Cecilia Azar brings her southern charm, Lebanese lineage, and lifelong love of food to New York

PHOTOS AND RECIPES BY CECILIA AZAR

I

f Cecilia Azar’s first-grade art teacher had looked into a crystal ball, she probably could have predicted the trajectory of her young student’s path.

“I discovered a love for cooking when I was around five or six, and since then, I’ve sort of been all in. I would write ‘cookbooks’ during art class in first grade,” Azar laughs. Her childhood interest was further solidified by attending Viking cooking camps in the summers, and by age eleven, she created the food blog Apricots and Sage, which she still publishes to this day.

“My parents’ love for food and cooking has always been a huge inspiration to me—I grew up watching them cook together in the kitchen nearly every night, throw dinner parties with friends, and truly appreciate food through the media and in real life,” she says.

Speaking of her parents—the name Azar probably rings a bell. She is the daughter of Gwen and Steve Azar, Delta recording artist and Mississippi’s Music and Culture Ambassador. Last May, she graduated from the University of Arkansas, earning a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition with a minor in journalism. Upon graduation, her lifelong dream came true when she moved to New York City to attend the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), where she will receive a certificate of Culinary Arts after completing an externship at a restaurant in the city.

Azar loves experimenting with, and cooking all types of cuisines, although many of her recipes are heavily influenced by her Lebanese background. “It’s what my great-grandma, grandparents, and parents raised me to eat and taught me to cook. I also love to take inspiration from the

Azar perfects her culinary creations at home in her Manhattan apartment.

southern food of the Mississippi Delta.”

She loves sharing her culinary creations on social media, posting photos and reels of her recipes, several of which have recently gone viral on TikTok. As for future plans, Azar is open-minded about a career in food. “I’d love to work in food media— developing recipes, working in test kitchens, or in culinary production for magazines, television shows or cookbooks.”

But whatever her path, Azar is certain one

thing will remain constant, “My southern and Lebanese roots will always influence my cooking and the recipes I create!” On the following pages, Azar shares four of her favorite dishes, perfect for cold winter days.

– CINDY COOPWOOD For more of Cecilia’s recipes, visit her website, apricotsandsage.com or follow her on Instagram at @apricotsandsage or TikTok at @cecilia.azar.

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Tip: Some of the pepper seeds may be left in according to desired level of heat

RED CURRY PASTE

VERMOUTH AND RED CURRY BRAISED GOLDEN BEETS 4 to 5 large golden beets, washed and peeled salt and pepper to taste olive oil to coat bottom of the pot 2 whole garlic cloves ½ cup dry vermouth 2½ tablespoons rice wine vinegar

½ tablespoon honey 1 bay leaf 2 heaping tablespoons Red Curry Paste (see recipe) chicken or vegetable stock thinly sliced scallions for garnish

Thinly slice the ends off peeled beets to create flat surfaces for a more even searing.

Season with salt and pepper. Heat a deep sauté pan or Dutch oven, adding olive oil once hot. Arrange beets in pan and sear until golden brown on both ends and the rounded edges—lower heat to medium if the oil begins to smoke. Add the garlic cloves to the pan and deglaze with vermouth. Add the vinegar and let simmer a couple of minutes to cook the alcohol. Stir in the curry paste, honey, and bay leaf, then fill pot with stock to about ⅔ the height of the beets, being sure not to cover them. Turn the heat to low, cover pot, and cook until fork tender—but not splitting when the fork goes through— roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on the size of your beets. Remove beets from broth, turning the heat to medium-high to reduce the liquid to a thicker, saucy consistency.

Allow beets to cool enough to touch and slice them into ¼-inch thick rounds. Place them back in the reduced braising liquid (remove the bay leaf and garlic), stir gently to coat, and let the sauce thicken enough to glaze over the beets. Be careful not to reduce it too much to where you don’t have any sauce left. Garnish with scallions.

Yields approximately 2 cups sliced beets 128 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

9 red hot chili peppers, seeded, around ⅔ cup roughly chopped ½ large shallot, roughly chopped 1½ inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped 1 lemongrass stalk, roughly chopped (about 3 tablespoons worth) 2 tablespoons cilantro stems, roughly chopped 3 tablespoons scallions, roughly chopped 1 large garlic clove 3 tablespoons dry roasted peanuts, lightly toasted ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1½ teaspoons salt, or to taste 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns or ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon sugar ½ tablespoon honey zest from 1 whole lime plus juice from half 2 teaspoons fish sauce ½ tablespoon shrimp paste (or may add another teaspoon fish sauce) 1½ tablespoons tamarind paste 2 tablespoons cold water, only if needed to blend

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until an almost smooth paste forms. It should still be a little gritty in texture. Adjust seasoning as needed. The paste should err on the saltier side. Store in the fridge for up to 7 days or freeze for longer.

Yields 2 cups

SWEET SKILLET CORNBREAD WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES PEARS Sweet Skillet Cornbread 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour ½ cup granulated sugar ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter 1 tablespoon molasses 1 tablespoon honey 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk cold butter for greasing the cast-iron skillet

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven to heat while preparing the batter.

Melt the butter and whisk in the molasses, honey, buttermilk to cool it down.

Whisk in the eggs and set aside. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.

Fold wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.

Take the cast iron out of the oven and thoroughly coat the inside of the hot skillet with cold butter. Pour in the batter and tap the pan to create an even layer. Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

While baking, make the Pomegranate Molasses Stewed Pears (recipe below). Serve cornbread with the stewed pears.

Serves 6 to 8 Pomegranate Molasses Stewed Pears 3 fresh pears, ripe but firm (I recommend Bosc or Anjou) ½ cup pomegranate arils ¼ cup molasses ¾ cup water 1 cinnamon stick 4 cloves 1 star anise 1 inch knob ginger, peeled ¼ teaspoon salt

Slice the pears into quarters lengthwise, removing any seeds or core pieces. Set aside. In a large saucepan, bring the molasses, pomegranate arils, and water to a boil. Add in the cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, ginger, and salt, and continue to cook about 10 to 12 minutes until reduced by 20 percent. Add in the pears, sugar, and lemon juice. Gently stir to coat the pears. Turn to a simmer, cover, and cook until the pears are softened, about 20 minutes. Remove the pears and reduce the liquid if watery to create a sticky syrup-like consistency (about 5 more minutes). Serve pears alongside Sweet Skillet Cornbread, drizzling with additional syrup if desired.

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CHICKEN AND CAULIFLOWER SHAWARMA-STYLE FLATBREAD Grilled Chicken and Cauliflower “Shawarma” 1½ pounds chicken thighs 2 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, separated 2 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, separated 1 head cauliflower

Shawarma Spice Mix 2 tablespoons ground cumin ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon Kosher salt ½ teaspoon dried mint leaves 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon paprika ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Olive-Oil Herb Base (for bread) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons parsley leaves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon dried mint and dried oregano, each 1 garlic clove, minced pinch salt and black pepper

Cucumber Salad ½ English cucumber, deseeded 1 Roma tomato, deseeded 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped 2 tablespoons fresh mint, roughly chopped juice from half of a lemon 1 teaspoon salt black pepper to taste 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, minced flatbread or naan feta, cubed tahini for topping

Mix all of the spices for the spice mix together. Trim the chicken thighs of excess fat. Place in a dish with 3½ tablespoons of the spice mix, and 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and vinegar. Massage thoroughly to evenly coat the spice mix over all pieces of chicken. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.

Slice the cauliflower into “steaks,” creating flat florets. Toss them with the remaining spice mix (a little over 2 tablespoons) and remaining 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and vinegar. Cover and set in the refrigerator with the chicken for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pull the chicken and cauliflower out of the fridge and allow to reach room temp. Grill the chicken thighs on an outdoor grill or a 130 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

grill pan on the stove until they reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees (they will cook more on the flatbread). You may also cook them in a cast iron or well-oiled nonstick pan. If the outsides are getting too dark before 155 degrees is reached, place the thighs on a rack-lined baking sheet and bake until the correct temperature is reached. Rest for at least 5 minutes and slice into ½-inch strips.

Grill the cauliflower until fork-tender and charred on both sides. Again, if the outsides are getting too dark, place on a sheet tray and roast in the oven until tender. Dice the cucumber and tomatoes into small pieces, about ¼-inch each. Toss with all other Cucumber Salad ingredients and set aside.

Place an empty baking sheet in the

oven for 5 minutes to heat up.

Meanwhile, whisk together the OliveOil Herb Base ingredients. Brush enough to evenly coat the flatbread or naan, leaving about ½-inch uncoated along the edge. To assemble, arrange the chicken and cauliflower slices on bread. Top with feta cubes to your liking and an extra drizzle of olive oil. Place on the hot baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until the flatbread is golden brown on the edges and bottom and the top is bubbly.

Repeat, depending on the size of your flatbreads.

Let cool slightly. Drizzle with tahini and top with the Cucumber Salad. Slice and enjoy.

Serves 4 to 6

SHAVED BRUSSELS SPROUT SALAD WITH BACON, BLUE CHEESE, AND BREADCRUMB PECAN CRUMBLE 1 pound raw Brussels sprouts 1 shallot, thinly sliced across width 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1½ cups sourdough bread chunks ½ cup raw pecan halves 5 strips bacon, diced 2 garlic cloves ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper ½ cup blue cheese crumbles

Honey-Balsamic-Dijon Dressing 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat (see instructions) ¼ cup olive or canola oil 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons honey 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ¼ teaspoon ground paprika Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Clean and slice the Brussels sprouts as thinly as possible. Toss with shallot and scallion pieces in a bowl. Set aside.

Dry bake the bread chunks until just lightly golden brown and crispy. Do not allow them to fully become crunchy. Add the pecans, garlic cloves, and ½ teaspoon each of salt and black pepper to a food processor. Pulse to create a panko-like consistency. Be careful not to pulse the mixture too finely to make a powder. Set aside.

Dice the raw bacon into ½-inch pieces.

Over medium-low heat, cook the bacon with ½ tablespoon of oil to render off the fat and cook until crispy, stirring occasionally. This should be done low and slow and should take around 20 minutes.

Once crispy, drain the bacon on paper towels and reserve the bacon grease. Toss breadcrumb pecan crumble mixture with 1 tablespoon reserved bacon grease (or can substitute 1 tablespoon oil of choice) and toast over medium-high heat until fragrant and crispy, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and spread out thinly on a sheet tray to cool.

Tip: Any good white bread—Italian loaf, French bread, ciabatta, will also work In a bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the remaining bacon fat along with the rest of the dressing ingredients until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the Brussels sprouts, shallots, scallions, bacon pieces, and half each of blue cheese and breadcrumb pecan mixture with enough dressing to thoroughly coat—there may be dressing left over. Top with the remaining blue cheese and breadcrumb pecan crumble.

This salad may be served at room temperature. DM

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NOLAN DEAN

2024

Health & Wellness

BY KELLI WILLIAMS

he New Year always sparks an opportunity for a fresh start—whether that means committing to self-care by exercising and strengthening your body, cleaning up your diet with improved nutrition, reading more, or even picking up a new hobby. When

T

the calendar flips over to January 1, many of us pledge to implement changes for our overall betterment. Across the region, groups and practitioners offer services to help clients get on the right track whatever their goals may be. We went right to the source actually three sources—to see how they are assisting the people in their communities to be their very best. Also important is the region’s broad range of medical services, which we present in the following healthcare advertising section. Here’s to a healthier you in 2024!

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Power in a Pose Local yoga group aims to bring healthful living to area The benefits of yoga are numerous, focusing just not on the physical benefits that the exercise can bring but on the mental aspect as well. While numerous studios around the Delta are building a community of yogis, we spoke with Jackie Dean of the regional group Delta Yoga Collective based in Helena to better understand the benefits of the practice and how they are collaborating with spaces around the Delta to make it more available. benefits: gaining flexibility, strength, balance, etc. Others really benefit from improved mental focus, stress relief, and relaxation. But what keeps people coming back is the community they form with other clients and instructors.

Social relationships are a key aspect to mental health, and our DYC community provides that for many.

NOLAN DEAN

DM: What type of influence do you hope to have on others through your business?

DM: What gave you the idea to create Delta Yoga Collective?

Delta Yoga Collective came about as a way to make yoga more accessible.

It has always been important to me that yoga is financially accessible, so I knew investing in a brick and mortar would make that a challenge. I also knew a demand for yoga was there, I just had to think differently about how to meet it. There are so many great spaces throughout the Delta that are unused at various points during the week, so after I received my yoga certification, I simply reached out to businesses and organizations about offering classes in their spaces. I quickly realized I loved going into different communities and wanted to keep that mobile nature at the center of DYC. That mobility became our mission: to bring yoga to the people and places of the Delta.

DM: What is the best thing about Delta Yoga Collective?

DYC mirrors one of the best things about the Delta: the people. The community in our classes is welcoming and tight-knit, and often to the depth you only find through yoga teacher training. Many of our regular clients have become close friends, and we’ve been some people’s first real community when they moved or relocated here. In many major studios, it’s almost taboo to talk before a class—you’re supposed to be quiet and contemplative. I often joke that our classes are the opposite; our folks will be offended if you don’t talk to them before class because they genuinely want to get to know the people they practice with. It’s a really special community of people.

DM: How do the classes benefit your clients?

We want a stronger, healthier, more connected Delta. Yoga is a phenomenal wellness practice in and of itself—it strengthens you physically and emotionally like no other workout or wellness routine. That individual impact is important to us, but we also want to see the Delta thrive in all aspects, and that can happen when we work together across communities.

Much of our purpose for remaining mobile is to connect people to businesses and organizations also doing great work. We love teaching at Griot Arts in Clarksdale not just because it’s a beautiful studio (which it is) but because we love supporting the work they’re doing. We love teaching a monthly donationbased class at Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena, not just because it’s a beautiful space with amazing cocktails (which it is) but because it’s a phenomenal small business, we want everyone to know about and enjoy. And we hope that folks will continue to support or patron those places outside of our classes.

That ability to be a connector across Delta communities is at the core of who we are at DYC.

DM: What year did you open Delta Yoga Collective? How has the journey been so far?

DYC opened in the late spring of 2021. I had been practicing yoga for over ten years, but because there were few opportunities to practice within an hour of me in Helena, Ark., I mainly practiced at home or whenever I traveled to studios in larger cities. After a personal loss in late 2020, I decided to get my 200-hour yoga teacher training (YTT) at Sana Yoga in Memphis. Since there weren’t any yoga studios open within 60 miles of my house, I started teaching where Conner Burnham had taught at Cutrer Mansion in Clarksdale. In many ways, Delta Yoga Collective picked up where Conner left off when he got sick in 2016. Conner was the original “mobile” yoga studio of the Delta, and we now teach in many places he offered classes, from Cleveland to Helena, Ark. Sadly, Conner passed away in 2023, but we continue to honor his legacy of bringing yoga to the people and places of the Delta.

Since 2021, the collective has grown to five instructors offering weekly classes across five communities. You can take classes anywhere from a Baptist church basement to a distillery to music festivals like Juke Joint.

Clients come to us for a variety of reasons. Some come for the physical For more information you can follow the group on Instagram at @deltayogacollective or email deltayogacollective@gmail.com.

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Going for the Goals Overall health is the name of the game any resolutions that come in the new year are often centered around a healthier lifestyle, whether that be exercising more, changing up diets, or just taking steps to feel better about oneself. Clarksdale-based Delta Wellness’s Bridgette Walton takes us through some of the ways she assists her clients to achieve their goals.

M

DM: What gave you the idea to create Delta Wellness?

The idea of Delta Wellness was encouraged through a program I completed with the Builders and Backers group. The program gave me the courage and resources to finally put a name to all the services I offer: personal training, fitness classes, spray tanning, nutrition counseling, and health coaching that I had been offering for the last seven years. The name Delta Wellness is about more than the area. It represents the Greek letter of the alphabet that has three points to create a whole. Delta Wellness represents health, fitness, and nutrition to encompass wellness.

DM: How does overall wellness benefit your clients?

I believe that fitness is for everybody! You can start at any level. I often hear, “I want to come to your class, but I need to get ready,” The beauty of my classes is there are different levels of participants, and we can all move together; some may do a modified jumping jack, others may do a full jumping jack. It is not a competition! We all encourage each other, and we are a team; most importantly, we are friends. My personal training clients receive personalized plans that are tailored to their goals and injuries. Nutrition and health coaching are also personalized to the individual’s goals and what they are willing to change. Even the spray tan shades of bronze are individualized to the client. There is nothing cookie-cutter about Delta Wellness.

DM: What type of influence do you hope to have on others through your business?

I want to empower people! I love to watch the awakenings happen, new perspectives, mental and physical strength. I never want my clients to work on getting “smaller.” We focus on getting stronger. I want to create a ripple effect.

That ripple effect could happen in their homes or with the people they surround themselves with. I would love to see that healthy ripple effect spread throughout the community. This community has given me so much—it is the least I could do.

For more information follow on Instagram @_delta_wellness_ 138 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

A New Year, A New Healthier You!

Schedule an appointment today!

Donna G. Breeland, M.D. • Shani K. Meck, M.D. • Missy J. McMinn, M.D. • Lindsey M. Turner, M.D. • Michelle Taheri, M.D. • Sharon K. Brown, CFNP • Katie W. Sartin, CFNP • Lauren S. Mize, FNP-C

EastLakelandOBGYN.com 140 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

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LIVING LIFE WITH LESS PAIN. Joint Pain Relief Specialists When joint pain slows you down or even stops you from living the life you love, it’s time to talk to the orthopedic specialists at Bolivar Medical Center. From non-invasive therapies to surgery, our goal is to get you back to living life with less pain.

That’s why we’re here.

All ages welcome.

Susan Austin, M.D. 662.579.0169 BolivarMedicalGroup.com 810 E. Sunflower Rd., Cleveland, MS DELTA MAGAZINE 2024 904584 Bolivar Ad CMYK.indd 1

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7/7/23 11:34 AM

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Get to know our doctors Mathew Bear, D.O. Internal Medicine Charles Brock, M.D. Family Medicine Enjoying life and all it has to o昀er is easier when you’re healthy. For more than 60 years, the primary care healthcare providers associated with Bolivar Medical Center have provided personal, compassionate care.

From routine annual exams to sudden needs, they are committed to improving life and health in the community we all love.

New patients welcome!

Most insurance plans accepted.

Steven Clark, M.D. Internal Medicine David Walt, M.D. Internal Medicine

Make your appointment today by calling 662.843.3606 or visiting BolivarMedicalGroup.com.

Clevland Medical Clinic • 810 E. Sun昀ower Rd. • Cleveland 1047262_Bolivar PCP print ad updated.indd 1

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS BETH’S BLESSINGS • Paxton, Baker & England Families • Bayer Crop Science • Jill P. Flowers • South Delta Planning & Development Dist.

• TROP Casino Greenville • Wade Incorporated LEGACY OF HOPE • Margaret H. Walker • Alliance Cancer Center • Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company • James Ceranti Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Nissan • Dean & Gwin Cumbaa • Delta Area Crop Insurance • Delta Group • The Medical Center • Dowdy Dental Clinic • Dr. Jeffery Doolittle • Gresham Petroleum Co. • GT&T Farms • Harlow’s Casino • Dr. Maroun Hayek/Greenville HemOnc • Joe Tonos Jewelers • McDonald’s • Mississippi Marine Corporation • Planters Bank and Trust Co. • Dr. Theresa L. Skelton - TLS Smiles • South Ridge Storage • Kim and Gary Taylor • The Heritage Club of Lake Village CIRCLE OF PROMISE • A&A Home Health Equipment, Inc. • Agricultural Asset Services • Susan & David Allen • Avritt Medical Equipment • Bolivar Medical Center • W L Burle Engineers P.A. • Cabin on the Bogue/Showcase on Wheels • Canon Motor Company • Chillie’s Package Store • Coping Center, Inc. • Crossley Axminster, Inc. • Cypress Hills Tennis Club, Inc.

• Deer Creek Town & Racquet Club • Delta Health Alliance/Leland Medical Clinic • DeltAg • Becky and Andy Dixon • Elevate Physical Therapy and Wellness • Farmers Grain Terminal • Dr. Roderick Givens • Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. • Horn Research • William & Terri Lane • Mr. & Mrs. Timothy McCann • Sarah & Larkin Mitchell • MSU Extension Service Quilters • Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc. • Pain Treatment Centers of America • Parker’s Filling Station • Scott & Angela Phillips • Picture Perfect Custom Frames • Regions Bank • Renasant Bank • Dr. Lakeisha Richardson • Riverside Realty LLC • Rotary Club of Greenville • Sherman’s @ South Main • South Sun昀ower County Hospital • Dr. Neal Suares Family Medicine • The Pantry • Dana & Bobby Warrington PASSIONATELY PINK • Karen and Finley Brunetti - Shelby Air Service • Robert Burford, CPA, PA • C.P. House Gas Co. • CB&S Bank • Chicot Irrigation • City Drug Store • Jason & Michie Cotton • CTM - Carol Meyer • Dr. and Mrs. Rob Curry • Drs. Renia and Wayne Dotson • The Tea Rose Foundation • Grace Community Hospice • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. • Greenville Paint & Glass • Mr. & Mrs. Tom Gresham • Hair Depot • Heartland Cat昀sh

• Hollandale Rotary Club • Lagniappe • Lake Tindall, LLP • Cindy & Lee Miers • Mr. & Mrs. Claude Marchesini • Cindy & Lee Miers • Mitchell Distributing • Mosow Real Estate • No Way Jose • Park Avenue MedSpa - Dr. Douglas E. Bowden • Kenner Patton • Provine Helicopter • Renew Delta Aesthetics & Wellness LLC • Dr. Walter Rose • Salon Sarah Elizabeth • Southern AgCredit • Linda and Ken Stewart • Jane & Gene Stock • Stop N Shop Leland & Hollandale • The Clint & Ellen Johnson Foundation • Viking Range LLC • Washington School Student Council • Fred T Neely & Co, PLLC • Thomas D. & Nancy P. Fugett • Rusty and Dana Stubbs FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS • 2020 Eye World • 9.15 Floral Designs & Gifts • A&D Auto Repair • Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Abide • Abraham’s-Indianola • America’s Catch • Chris & Corey Auerswald • Lee B. Aylward • Gwen & Steve Azar • Bank of Anguilla • Melissa Cadenhead • Cicero’s • Dr. Mike Cirilli • Jimmy & Ellen Clayton • Cleveland State Bank • Coleman Eye Center • Dottie Collins - Collins Real Estate • Dr. & Mrs. Robert Corkern • Josh Correro • The Country Gentleman • Delta Rental LLC • Doe’s Eat Place • Downtown Butcher & Mercantile • Dr. and Mrs. Lee Engel • Mr. & Mrs. David Fisher • Nan and Billy Fountain • Fratesi Grocery • Caroline Laudig Gaines • Gino’s Hamburgers & Cat昀sh • Greenville Golf & Country Club • Greenwood Le昀ore Hospital • Grounded Sister Coffee Shop

• Hair Tenders • Henry Construction Company • Henry’s Cleaners and Laundry • Home Insurance Agency • Hometown Nutrition • Indianola Pecan House • Janitor’s Supply & Paper Company • Jim’s Café • Joe Reed & Co. • John Montfort & Jessica Jones • Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Knighton • Kretschmar Realty • Dr. Ned & Paula Kronfol • KTBuilder • Lavender Lane • Lillo’s • Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Long • Michael Bradley May昀eld, MD • Mississippi Life and Health, Inc. • Cynthia Morgan • O So Sweet • New South Marine • Laurie & Richard Noble • Nonna’s Restaurant • Jo & James Parker, Jr. • Peasoups • Petal Pushers • Joyce and Pete Poole • Rick & Aletha Scott Poole • Quality Steel • Randy & Nan Randall • River City Rehabilitation • Lois Robertson • M/M Jim Robertson • Roy’s Store • Sassy Magnolias • Sayle Sandifer & Johnson LLP • Scoops Restaurant • Shelter Insurance • Shipp Family Eyecare PLLC • Shoppes @ South Main • Soul Nutrition • Allen & Sherry Spragins • Bee and Dudley Stewart • Sun昀ower Lumber Company • Ten Twenty Four • The Crown • The Thompson House • Indianola Twentieth Century Club • Johanna and Martin Walker • Mr. and Mrs. William Watts, Jr. • Dr. Tom & Susan Wiggins • Wishing well • Carol & Ken Wood • Mrs. Vicki Yaeger • YMCA • Young Ideas • MJH Group, LLC • Shudco Limited

DONATE TODAY: www.deltacottonbelles.org | 662-390-6009 DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Body Breakthroughs New technologies in weight loss and skin care continue to rise in popularity ith weight loss management and skin treatments being a hot topic these days, we visited with Renee Pinlac of De La Belle Wellness and Spa to find out about the latest options in these much-talked-about areas.

W

DM: How long have you been in business, what are your primary services?

De La Belle Wellness and Spa is a medical wellness, weight loss, and skin boutique focusing on helping clients look and feel their best, as well as providing valuable education in all aspects of skincare and weight loss, regenerative medicine with PRP, hair restoration and facial rejuvenation. We also offer pellet bio-identical hormone therapy for men and women.

We offer a variety of facial treatments, including Hydrafacial and the new Aquafirm XS with plantbased stem cell technology for the ultimate hydrating experience. We also have medical-grade skin care, IV hydration, weight loss, supplements, and pharmaceutical-grade protein, which are just a few of the things that we offer. We are thankful and joyful to be approaching our ninth year and serving Memphis and the surrounding Delta.

DM: What trends are you seeing in skincare and weight loss that you expect to be most popular in 2024?

I have been a weight loss mentor for over twenty-five years. My very first job, I worked as a Weight Watchers counselor and ran an at-work program at my local hospital when I was attending nursing school.

Helping people on their journey to better, whether that’s healthier weight or weight loss that is needed for health reasons. It’s a very personal thing to me, and I understand that not all weight loss programs work for everyone. We have dispensed the compounded form of semaglutide and tirzepatide now for two years and have helped hundreds of people with these GLP1 medications. I’m helping people understand why they need to eat differently to lose weight and to maintain weight, so our weight loss programs look different because we truly do educate our patients.

However, with the use of these medications, patients are noticing areas in their faces and bodies becoming saggy or losing volume. Our skintightening body contouring treatments, such as Venus Legacy and Physiq, are non-surgical options and will continue to help provide options for patients who have lost weight and or need specific targeted treatments in assist in their gym workout. As we are seeing trends to natural rejuvenation, I am super excited about one of our latest treatments called Cellenis Derma PRP, which uses your body’s own platelet-rich plasma as a bio-stimulating filler.

DM: If you had to choose one skin care treatment, what would it be?

Honestly, that would be very hard to do! Great skin, especially with anti-aging skin care and treatments, requires more than one type of treatment and/or product. That is why I love the options that we offer at De La Belle Wellness and Spa. We can help you with improving your current skin routine or provide a treatment plan to help you obtain and maintain the glorious skin and body that you want.

Currently, my favorite treatment is our microneedling and protein-rich retinol peel treatment. It’s great for this time of the year. The retinol in this formulation really helps to get rid of sun damage and really gives you a bright glow. It’s a treatment that men and women will benefit from.

For more information call 901.433.9024, visit delabelle.net or follow on Instagram @delabellewellness 150 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

HISTORY

The Delta’s Steamboats 152 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Used for transport of cotton and other goods on the Sunflower River

BY BECKY GILLETTE

FROM THE MARY CAROL MILLER COLLECTION

A photo of the Birdie Bailey taken around Yazoo City.

The boat was active from 1886 to 1897.

ulie Frank Hooper grew up fishing and frog hunting on the Sunflower River in the Mississippi Delta. It never occurred to him that it was large enough for a steamboat. While the Sunflower River outside of Ruleville was pretty, he recalls that at times it was hard to get a little Jon boat down it.

E

Hooper left the state for a number of years. When he moved back to Mississippi, he became intrigued with history and started doing research at the libraries in Cleveland, Indianola, Greenwood and Clarksdale. He was surprised to learn that there were close to a dozen steamboats known to run on the Sunflower River.

“The Sunflower used to be a bigger river until all the drainage projects were done,” Hooper said. “The Sunflower was a busier river than it is now. I think around the 1900s, they built a metal turn bridge on old Highway 8 between Ruleville and Cleveland.

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COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

This photo was taken in Vicksburg, circa 1910. These boats were active on the Yazoo and its tributaries for only a few years between 1908 and 1910.

They were small vessels, around 130 feet in length and about 27 feet in width. Typically, they had a draft of about four feet.

said they had been using steamboats up on the Ohio River for a long time.

“That is where most of our steamboats came from,” Hooper said. “From what I can tell, some of the earliest settlers came on steamboats. The steamboats were taking Indians out and bringing settlers in. Everything the settlers needed had to be transported with a steamboat. They were the only way to get supplies. There was no way to get through the woods other than riding a horse.”

Steamboats worked the Sunflower River from about 1825 to 1934. Hooper said evidence of how much they were used includes that there are at least seven steamboat wrecks on the Sunflower River. Fire was a major culprit as boilers burning wood could explode. Then there was also an issue with hitting snags in the river. Early settlers would cut down trees, band the logs together, and float them south to sell in Vicksburg, Natchez or perhaps New Orleans.

FROM THE MARY CAROL MILLER COLLECTION

There was a big hand crank to turn the bridge sideways to let the riverboats pass. This was where the original town of Ruleville was.”

The days of steamboats on smaller rivers in the Mississippi Delta predates railroads and decent roads. The steamboats were the only way to deliver supplies and transport cotton bales to the gin.

“I think the Sunflower route was nicknamed the mosquito line, which was probably pretty accurate,” said Hooper, an artist whose work has included painting the steamboats. “These steamboats on the Sunflower were about ten feet wide and 24 feet long. While small, they still could carry a lot of goods and passengers. One, the Peerless, was 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. Almost all of them had stern paddles as opposed to side paddles because the river wasn’t wide enough. They were transporting goods people needed in the Delta. There were a lot of stops along the Sunflower River.”

Mississippi was later getting settled than other states. Hooper

A tugboat and several steamboats and barges including the Electric. This photo was taken along the east end of Front Street in Greenwood.

154 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

FROM THE COLLECTION OF ALLAN HAMMONS

This photo of the Yazonia was made in Greenwood during the winter of 1898. The boat was placed in service in 1896 and burned near Glendora in 1899.

“There are anecdotes about steamboats coming upriver, going around a corner and running into a raft of logs,” Hooper said.

“That had to be a problem. After an accident, unless the boiler exploded, they would pull all the metal up and take it to Yazoo City and build another boat out of it. A few of the boat names include the Peerless, Dewdrop, Doran and Headlight, which was wrecked, rebuilt and renamed Addie Lee. This was owned by the Faison family.”

One interesting fact he found is that in 1909, there were ten miles of paved roads in Mississippi, 120 miles of gravel roads and 36,698 miles of mud roads. “That was why this river traffic was so important,” Hooper said.

Allan Hammons, owner of Hammons and Associates, said the last of the steamboats on smaller rivers like the Sunflower were probably discontinued around the first decade of the 20th century.

“In the 1890s, steamboats were still the primary mover of

cotton and other goods, but the railroads were being built,” Hammons said. “The Louisville, New Orleans and Texas line from New Orleans to Memphis was built between 1888 and 1890 and that was the beginning of the end. The rails took away a lot of trade from the rivers. Railroads were less efficient, but more reliable. A lot of times the rivers would get low and were only accessible on the lower end. The Big Sunflower also had one lock and dam to allow navigation during low water periods.” DM

STEAMBOAT FACTS The primary commodities moving by steamboat other than paying passengers and U.S. Mail were cotton bales, cotton seed, lumber, staves, rafted logs, grain, provisions and passengers.

TOTAL VOLUME IN TONS BY RIVER FROM 1890 TO 1928: Sunflower 2,669,409

Yazoo 5,834,523

Tallahatchie/Coldwater 1,427,386

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The grand total for the Yazoo and all its tributaries was 9,931,118 tons of goods.

The biggest years for passengers was 1903 when 14,601 people were transported.

By 1928, the glory days of the steamboats had reached its end.

The steamer Peerless steaming upriver from the Vicksburg waterfront, circa 1908.

Information derived from Steamboats and the Cotton Economy by Harry P. Owens, published around 1990 by University Press.

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156 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Your Delta-Starkville Connection

WHERE LEGENDS

COME TO LIVE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

Audrey & Madalyn McBride

TURNING DREAMS INTO AN ADDRESS Office: 662.338.0882 Audrey Cell:662.341.1000 Madalyn Cell: 662.769.8777 503 Academy Road www.mcbrideandco.com DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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EVENTS Little Women, February 6

Les Misérables, February 6–11

FESTIVALS, MUSIC & FUN THINGS TO DO January 2–7

Memphis

Company

Luther King Jr. Celebration Mississippi Museum of Art operams.org

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

January 16–20 January 6, 7 pm

Southaven

Shotgun Entertainment Fighting Championships

Beal Street blues.org

Landers Center landerscenter.com

January 17, 7:30 pm

January 11, 6:30 pm

Jackson

Duling Hall dulinghall.com

Tunica

One Night in Memphis

Jackson

Memphis

Jo Koy – World Tour

Memphis

Memphis

Craig Karges presents Experience the Extraordinary

Memphis

National Civil Rights Museum civilrightsmuseum.org

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

Tunica

Gold Strike Casino Resort goldstrike.com

Southaven

January 25, 7:30 pm

Jackson

Dexter and The Moonrocks

The Arena at Southaven southaven.org

Duling Hall dulinghall.com

Southaven

January 25, 7:30 pm

Cleveland

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan

Landers Center landerscenter.com

Memphis

Memphis Bridal Show Jackson

Memphis

C.S. Lewis on Stage: Further Up & Further In

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Halloran Centre orpheum-memphis.com

January 21, 1 pm

January 21

January 24

Rodeo of the Mid-South

King Day

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Germantown

Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

January 20

Hilton Memphis wehelpbrides.com

Jackson

MS Coliseum visitjackson.com

24th Annual Crystal Ball Gala

Barbie Inspired Wedding Show

Lift Every Voice: Dr. Martin

Graceland Soundstage gracelandlive.com

January 20

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

January 21, 7:30 pm

WWE Supershow

January 20

Belhaven University Center for the Arts belhaven.edu

January 15, 7 pm

Memphis

Jumaane Smith: Louis! Louis! Louis!

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Concert Mozart

January 15, 8 am

My Fair Lady January 17

January 19, 8 pm

January 20, 8 pm

Gold Strike Casino Resort goldstrike.com

January 14, 12 pm

Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net

Breaking Benjamin

January 12

January 13

Jackson

My Fair Lady

Jackson Indie Music Week 8th Annual Icon Awards & R&B Showcase

January 13, 3 pm

Memphis

International Blues Challenge

Whispering Woods Hotel & Conference Center wwconferencecenter.com

Bologna Performing Arts Center bolognapac.com

January 26, 7 pm

Kolby Cooper The Lyric thelyricoxford.com

Oxford

January 26

Clarksdale

Clarksdale Film & Music Festival Various Venues Downtown clarksdalefilmfestival.com

January 27, 7:30 pm

Jackson

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Concert Heroines & Heroes

Stay in the Know of Who Comes and Goes

Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net

January 27

Tunica

Chase Matthew Gold Strike Casino Resort goldstrike.com

January 27

Memphis

Jesse Cook Halloran Centre orpheum-memphis.com

January 27–28

Memphis

Shen Yun: China Before Communism Cannon Center for the Performing Arts shenyun.com

February 1

Hunting Camps • Residential • Commercial

Cleveland

Delta Longbeards

FREE ESTIMATES - CALL

662-500-0188

Bolivar County Expo Building bolivar.ms.us

February 2, 5:30 pm

Control your gate from ANYWHERE!

Germantown

thegatemaninc.com

Jin & John Powell Artists Reception Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

February 2, 7 pm

Germantown

Jazz in the Box: Tatum Greenblatt Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

February 2

Memphis

Her Needs, His Needs Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

February 3

Memphis

The Renaissance Comedy Show starring Comedian Poundcake: Prophet of Comedy Halloran Centre orpheum-memphis.com

February 6, 7:30 pm

Cleveland

DRUMLine Live Bologna Performing Arts Center bolognapac.com

February 6, 7:30 pm

Memphis

University Symphony Orchestra presents “Star Crossed” The University of Memphis memphis.edu

February 6, 7:30 pm

Jackson

Little Women Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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February 6–11

Memphis

February 22, 7:30 pm

Cleveland

February 28, 7:30 pm

Memphis

Les Misérables

KC and the Sunshine Band

David Foster & Katharine McPhee

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

Bologna Performing Arts Center bolognapac.com

Graceland Soundstage gracelandlive.com

February 8, 7 pm

Germantown

An Evening of Comedy w/ Alex Edelman and Special Guest Ariel Elias Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

February 8, 7 pm

Oxford

February 22

Memphis

Robert Moody Presents The Orchestra Unplugged: The Crazy Journey of Mozart’s Magic Flute Halloran Centre orpheum-memphis.com

Randall King

February 23, 8 pm

The Lyric thelyricoxford.com

Celtic Woman 20th Anniversary Tour

February 9, 10 am

Jackson

Jackson

Thalia Mara Hall celticwoman.com

February 23

MDWFP’s MS Museum of Natural Science mdwfp.com

Phil Wickham – I Believe Tour

Jackson

Memphis

February 23 -24

Mississippi Coliseum dixienational.org

The Magnolia Independent Film Festival Jackson

February 24, 2 pm

MS Fairgrounds dixienational.org

Dancing With The Stars: Live! 2024 Tour

February 10, 7:30 pm

Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net

Jackson

MS Symphony Orchestra Concert Heart Beats

Jackson

Oxford

The Lyric thelyricoxford.com

February 24, 7:30 pm

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Concert Striking Surprises

Dixie National Rodeo Mississippi Coliseum dixienational.org

February 15–18

Starkville

Starkville Community Theatre sct-online.org

Memphis

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

Germantown

Jackson

65th Mississippi Gem, Mineral, Fossil, and Jewelry Show

February 28, 7:30 pm Memphis

Tunica

February 28, 7:30 pm

January 23, 5:30 pm: Square Books, Oxford Brad Taylor

Dead Man’s Hand

Mississippi Trade Mart missgems.org

January 28, 2 pm: Novel, Memphis

Starkville

McComas Hall Theatre starkville.org

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January 20, 6 pm: Novel, Memphis

The Waters

FedEx Forum fedexforum.com

Gold Strike Casino Resort goldstrike.com

January 17, 6 pm: Novel, Memphis

Bonnie Jo Campbell

Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

PBR: Memphis

Colbie Caillat

Out of Place

Stacy Willingham

“The Wolves” presented by Theatre MSU

February 18

January 17, 5 pm: Lemuria, Jackson January 18, 5:30 pm: Square Books, Oxford

Only If You’re Lucky

February 24–25

Matt Rife: ProbleMATTIC World Tour!

February 17, 7 pm

January 16, 6 pm: Novel, Memphis

Trinity Irish Dance Company

“Alabama Story”

February 16

Jackson

St. James Episcopal Church stjamesgreenville.com

February 24, 8 pm

Eric Schlich

Sunah M. Laybourn

Duncan-Williams Performance Hall gpacweb.com

Jackson

January 16, 6 pm: Square Books, Oxford

Karl Marlantes

Lizz Wright

February 14–17

January 8, 6 pm: Novel, Memphis

Cold Victory

The Stews Germantown

Derrick Barnes

Eli Harpo’s Adventure to the Afterlife

February 24, 7 pm

Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net

February 10, 8 pm

Starkville

UEC Hollywood Premier magnoliafilmfest.com

Dixie National Rodeo Parade

LITERARY EVENTS

Mostly What God Does

Dixie National Rodeo

February 10, 10 am

Landers Center landerscenter.com

Savannah Guthrie

Orpheum Theatre orpheum-memphis.com

Avery Cunningham

The Mayor of Maxwell Street January 30, 6pm: Novel, Memphis Gerry Wilson

Jackson

Southaven

Mid-South Military & Civil War Show

Who Got Game? Basketball

S.T.E.M., Leaves, and Trees

February 9–11

March 1–2

That Pinson Girl

Jesus Christ Superstar: 50th Anniversary Tour

February 20, 6 pm: Novel, Memphis

Thalia Mara Hall thaliamarahall.net

The Chaos Agent

Mark Greaney February 24, 2 pm: Novel, Memphis

EXPLORE STEAM DURING SPRING BREAK WEEK!

MARCH 11 - 15 Get hands-on with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math concepts through interactive guest performances, experiments, crafts, and more!

Learn more at mcmmeridian.org

Made possible in part by a grant through Visit Meridian

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DELTA SEEN

Opening reception for Van Gogh for All traveling exhibit at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta in Greenwood on November 30 Photos by Johnny Jennings

Marsha Lucas, Carolyn McAdams, Hugh Warren, Barbara Arnold, Pam Powers and Lynn McCool

Beth Barnes, Swayze Hicks, Susan and Rob Spiller and Cyndi Long

John and Katherine Pittman, Robert and Mimi Merle with Pam and Mo Powers

Karen Matthews and Carolyn McAdams

Michelle, Emma and Channing Hodges with Colby and Geney Caroline and Ryan Strawbridge with Keith Galey Fulcher

Floyd Melton and Andrew Powell

Billie and Melanie Bowman

Brian Barnes with Shawn and Lee Hodges

162 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Charles Ditto and John Thomas

Stacye Trout and Kara Dulaney

Susie Tackett and Paula Provine

Emmett Chassanoil, Emily Handwerker, Preslee McGee and Ashley Farmer

Angela Taylor and Lisa Cookston

Lisa Cookston, Ashley and Stephen Farmer, Jet Araby and Floyd Melton

Kick-off Event for Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Arts Foundation on October 20 in Clarksdale Photos by Anna Satterfield

DELTA SEEN

Alston Meeks, Sykes Sturdivant and Derek Miles

Lori Till, Jon Levingston and Dan Ennis

Robin Colonas and Marshall Blevins

Baylor Stovall, Morgan Freeman and Eric Meier

Paige Daugherty and Baylor Stovall

Ben and Staci Lewis with Lucy Konakova

Scott and Cindy Coopwood with Eric Meier

Baylor Stovall, Jaxx Nassar, Eric Meier and “Big A” Sherrod “Big A” Anthony Sherrod

Jim Davison and Susie Berner

Scott Coopwood and Morgan Freeman Linda Keena, Morgan Freeman, Bernadette Messina and Joe Griffith

Lorie and Eric Townsend with Linda Keena DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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DELTA SEEN

Book Launch Party for McCartys of Merigold, Mississippi The Jewelry on November 9 at Crawdads in Merigold Photos by Anna Satterfield

Stephen Smith, Scott Coopwood, publisher, John Ramsey Lucius Lamar and Hayden Hamilton Miller, author, and Jamie Smith at the launch party for the McCartys, The Jewelry, book signing

Signe Adams, Debbie Powell and Mary Steele Lawler

Joe and Audrey Saia

Bob Wilbanks, Amy Wheeler, Stephen Smith, Mary Helen Varner, Stephanie Smith, Rick Boeth and Wilma Wilbanks

Linda and Park Hiter

Scott Coopwood, Maggi Mosco, John Ramsey Miller and Holly Ray

164 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

John Ramsey Miller, Langdon and Maude Schuyler Clay, with Jenny Smith

Peggy and Pemble Davis

Lee and Don Aylward

Mitsi and Jim Meyer

Bill Powell with Jim and Jane McNaughton

DELTA SEEN

Bill Powell and John Ramsey Miller Charlie Capps, Danny Lyon and Jamie Smith Chet and Carmen Oguz

Jed and Amanda Turner

Jane Rule Burdine with Rogers and Mary Helen Varner

Valli Stone, Michal Ann Spencer, Allison Walker and Melissa Chavers

Caroline Gaines, Kitty Kossman and Mary Jane Hemphill

Carlysle and Terry Meek

Holly Ray, Hayden Hamilton and Maggi Mosco

Lyndsi Naron, Pam Parker, Cindy Coopwood and Maggi Mosco of Coopwood Communications

Linda Hiter, Terry Routman and Barbara Levingston

Rick Boeth and Stephanie Smith with Elizabeth Coleman DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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DELTA SEEN

Opening Reception for Ky and Katie Johnston Art Exhibit at Delta Arts Alliance in Cleveland on October 28 Photos by Lyndsi Naron

Ky and Katie Johnston

Pam Maxwell, Lauren Powell and Desira Warrington

Ben and Rachel Yarbrough

Karen Barber and Robyn Wall

Ron Koehler, Ky Johnston and Vic Johnston

Gloria Virden and Daniel Virden

Kelsey and Ryan Betz

Ted Fisher and Nathan Pietrykowski

Carman Jenkins and Leah Ellis

Jess and Nick McClain with Cole Ellis

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Bill Powell and Anna Satterfield

Katie Wadkins and Denton Reed

Bib Belenchia and Zane Harris

A Collection of Photos from Delta Magazine Readers

Rebekah and Rainer Meyer, with country music star Lainey Wilson

DELTA SEEN

Jon Turner, Rose Flenorl, Karen Moore, and Wilma Wilbanks attend the UM Alumni Board meeting in Oxford

Connie Black, Cathy Jennings, David Abney, CEO of UPS and Vicky Morgan

Scott and Cindy Coopwood with Radcliffe and Mary Menge at Kim Grubbs and Tricia Coward with the grand opening of Tom Beckbe in Oxford Frank Brigtsen in New Orleans

Sandra Goff, Michelle and Randy Fortenberry, and Randy McGowen (back) in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

A Delta Airlines pilot wives trip to London pictured in Piccadilly Arcade. Left to right: Charlotte Molzahn, April Brumm, Jenna Gerber, Audrey Saia and Sue Beachem

Daniel and Mari Micci Shannon at Harry Potter World in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, Florida DELTA MAGAZINE 2024

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Thefinalword

Thoughts of home T

Frances Flautt Zook is an award-winning architect specializing in custom residential and small commercial projects. Across a 30-year career, she worked with leading boutique firms in Washington, DC, Houston, Austin, and Atlanta before launching her own practice twenty years ago. She now serves clients across the southeastern U.S. with recent projects in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Frances is committed to maintaining strong relationships with design and construction professionals who share a commitment to their craft, and collaborating with clients who place their trust in her to bring their vision to life.

Frances lives in Oxford with her husband, Jim, and they have two sons, Jack and Will.

168 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

he notion of “home” for me will forever revolve around the Mississippi Delta as a native of Greenwood and an eighthgeneration Mississippian. While my personal and professional life led me to live in five other Southern states before returning to Mississippi in 2019, everyone I have known along the way knows that I am a proud product of the Delta.

As an architect who designs custom homes for families across the southeast, I’ve thought a lot about what it means to create a home.

Whether you are talking about a home as a structure, or a location, or a place in your heart, the truest meaning of “home” is an idea that combines all three. Over time, I’ve come to realize how my Delta roots and a sprawling family and step-family shaped much of my sense of what makes the homes that I design for and with my clients.

Thoughts of home conjure very specific images in my mind—staying up until the wee hours while drawing anything and everything; my grandmother Flautt’s kitchen fireplace; my daddy’s ability to integrate a lush landscape outdoors into the interior of his home; friends’ houses in the country that suited life on a farm; and, my stepmother Gayle’s elegant house that featured prominently with a variety of toilets in the front yard in the move, The Help.

Designing a new or renovated house for a family is an intensely personal endeavor that must balance competing priorities. The design has to accommodate how the family lives, represent their aesthetic sensibilities, and stay within their financial means. The goal is to bring it all together in a house that feels like home to its occupants and gives them a place where they will want to make a lifetime of memories.

In the Delta and other areas where I have lived and worked, I’ve learned a lot by studying the vernacular to understand what makes the region distinct.

The Delta’s most prevalent design forms are marked by a classic simplicity that reflects a lot of our physical and cultural realities. We love the

BY FRANCES ZOOK

natural landscape, but we created dogtrots and homes with screened porches to make living in a harsh climate tolerable. Much of our architecture is functional, from metal buildings for industrial use to grain bins and cotton gins.

At the same time, the tree-lined residential boulevards of the Delta brought an air of sophistication and charm to our communities.

Our strong love of the arts celebrates man-made beauty, but our pragmatic streak tends to frown upon the grandiose “McMansions” found in parts of suburban America.

Even when I have worked in dense urban environments, those Delta influences shape how I work with my clients to this day. First and foremost, my approach to design respects the client’s parameters around cost, materials, and sensitivity to the site. That Delta pragmatism leads me to ensure that my designs strive to use all of the home’s square footage efficiently.

The most lasting influence from the Delta are the people who supported me and helped me to find my path. I think about my mama and how she instilled in me her love for the arts, architecture, and formal design represented in the house my parents built. My uncle Jimmy, who knew I loved to draw, suggested that I should become an architect. My brother Henry, whose daily updates kept me up to speed on life in Greenwood even when I lived a thousand miles away. My circle of besties, who were there for each other even as we competed for everything, and made each other better in the process.

It’s January in the Delta. It’s raw after the fields have been cleared from harvest, the holidays have passed, hunting season is winding down, and winter sets in. This is the time of year that my mama always loved because the starkness of the landscape set the stage for the growth and renewal to follow. It’s an image that inspires me with a sense of possibility that I feel when embarking upon a new project, or a new year. DM

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