Profile2016

P R O F I L E

2 0 1 6

OUR , PLACE OUR TIME A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E N AT C H E Z D E M O C R AT

visitnatchez.org

WHAT DOES TOURISM DO FOR NATCHEZ? 64,230

24,398

International Visitors @ Adams County (Natchez) Welcome Center - Jan-Nov 2015 NATCHEZ HAD MORE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE IN 2015

FROM TOURISM AND CAN ALL DO OUR PAR T TO PROMOTE IT

Annual number of visitors to Natchez TOTAL TRAVELER SPENDING IN NATCHEZ 2015

20.4% Travel & Tourism

Employment in Natchez

2,300 DIRECT TOURISM JOBS IN ADAMS COUNTY

$114,660,317

OPPORTUNITY 3.5 %

International Visitors to NATCHEZ

BENEFIT

670,000

International Visitors @ State Welcome Centers - Jan-Nov 2015

16%

WE ALL

TAX RELIEF PER HOUSEHOLD IN 2015

International Visitors to MS

TOP 4 COUNTRIES = 47.9%

TOURISM SUPPORTS

ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS FOR LOCALS TO ENJOY:

$941.00

OF TOTAL INTERNATIONAL VISITORS United Kingdom Germany France The Netherlands

NATCHEZ PILGRIMAGE THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI RIVER BALLOON RACE ANGELS ON THE BLUFF…and more

TOURISM - MAKING NATCHEZ BETTER FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS BY SUPPORTING… HOTELS

BED & BREAKFASTS

RESTAURANTS

ATTRACTIONS

AND IN TURN THESE TOURIST BASED INDUSTRIES USE THE SERVICES OF… BUILDERS

PLUMBERS ELECTRICIANS

UTILITIES

FINANCIAL SERVICES +MANY MORE

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t is my great honor and privilege as Mayor of the City of Natchez to invite you to be a part of the 300th anniversary of the founding of our charming city on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. We are proud to be the “oldest continuous European settlement on the Mississippi.”

Natchez offers a quality of life unlike any other in the Deep South. With a rich, multicultural history and natural beauty, Natchez is a premier cultural tourism destination, hosting over 600,000 visitors a year from around the world. Natchez offers the attractions of a desirable small city - shopping, nightlife, casino gaming, and a safe, walkable historic downtown. With one of the largest collections of historic buildings in the country, breathtaking scenery, fascinating stories, and legendary hospitality - our city has something for everyone.

I am honored to be leading the City as we approach this exciting milestone in our history - the Natchez Tricentennial in 2016. It promises to be a great year with something for everyone!

Sincerely,

HEZ, MISSISSIPPI NATC

Larry L. “Butch” Brown, Mayor of Natchez

SM

natchez city hall | 124 south pearl street 601.445.7500 | www.cityoFnatchez.net For the most up-to-date inFormation, visit natchezms300.com | visitnatchez.org

4 PROFILE 2016

Working hard for the future of

AdAms County District 1 supervisor president Mike Lazarus (601) 597-4576

District 2 supervisor David carter (225) 202-4387

District 3 supervisor Angela Hutchins (601) 442-2431

District 4 supervisor ricky Gray (601) 807-1923

A D A M S

District 5 supervisor calvin Butler (601) 334-0678

ADAMs county cHAncery cLerk Brandi Lewis (601) 446-6684

county ADMinstrAtor Joe Murray (601) 445-7934

BoArD Attorney scott slover (601) 442-0075

C O U N T Y

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 314 State St.

Natchez , MS 39120 • (601) 442-2431

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

ToTAl progrAMs Are offereD AT fAllin:

Construction Technology Automotive Technology

1. Early Childhood EduCation provides hands-on experience with pre-school students 2. digital MEdia tEChnology 3. CarEEr Pathway ExPEriEnCE 4. tEaChEr aCadEMy designed to attract students to the field of education 5. hEalth SCiEnCE

Digital Media Technology

Fallin Career and TeChnology CenTer Fallin also has Career Pathway that placed over 50 students on jobs right after graduation.

The Health Science program is led by a registered nurse and gives students an opportunity to gain over 100 hours of clinical experience in area hospitals and other health care facilities.

Fallin staffs a Master ASE certified instructor for its automotive technology program. It also staffs a Master Craft Technician Instructor for its construction technology program.

Fallin also has a National Board Certified Counselor.

6. autoMotivE tEChnology 7. ConStruCtion tEChnology laSt yEar, 10 Fallin tEChnology StudEnt aSSoCiation’S StudEntS PlaCEd in diStriCt, advanCEd to StatE, and Four bEat out ovEr 1200 CoMPEtitorS aCroSS thE StatE and CoMPEtEd nationally in ChildrEn’S StoriES and ProMotional graPhiCS ovEr thE SuMMEr. thE MaC lab iS a Part oF Fallin’S toP 5 StatE-widE digital MEdia PrograM that oFFErS StudEntS an oPPortunity to MakE MuSiC, MoviES, and MaStErPiECES oF art.

5

6 PROFILE

On the River

9

Welcome to Profile 2016

It’s only natural to fuel American homes with American energy.

House ministry

12

Lifetime of blooms

21

Hope for Nicholas

27

One step at a time

34

Price is right

43

With strings attached

49

Only the best

54

Working for a living

58

Rockin’ the collars

64

From the land

70

Touchdown memories

76

In the news

81

Why Natchez?

88

Swimming with the sharks

98

Living together and apart

104

Weighing the risks

110

No place like it

115

Advertising index

121

Parsonages offer way to minister to flock for pastors Passion for orchids thrive in Natchez greenhouse Family embraces life with cerebral palsy Locals decide to make life-changing habits Bartender makes Natchez-inspired cocktails Strings program teaches students more than music Natchez claims top spot on many lists Local residents love working around the clock Episcopal priests let music move their ministry Roxie family loves selling, sharing their harvest Players from football past recall gridiron days Area newspapermen keep communities informed What attracts tourists to this place?

Young entrepreneurs start businesses Divorced parents work to make happy homes

Local football players make tough choices for future Local teachers give back to their alma maters Thank you to all the businesses that helped make Profile 2016 possible

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor’s note

7

PROFILE 2016

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8 PROFILE 2016

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Editor’s note:

S

o much of Natchez seems to focus on the past. In a town that attracts thousands of tourists each year, the past has become a one of its most valuable commodities.

History is a part of everyday life in Natchez and its surrounding communities.

Even still, many of us spend our days dreaming about the future. We make decisions in hopes for better days for us, for our children and for our community.

As Natchez celebrates its 300th birthday, the past and the future are very much on the mind of residents and community leaders.

That is why we at The Natchez Democrat have decided to focus on something different for this year’s annual snapshot of the

community.

Profile 2016 focuses on the present.

After all, who we are today is the culmination of where we’ve been and the greatest predictor of where we are going.

On the following 124 pages, you’ll find stories of the people, places and things that make up the vibrant and diverse community we are today.

From a story about a family that embraces life with cerebral palsy to a feature about young educators who have decided to return to their alma maters to teach, our staff has scoured the community looking for stories that demonstrate what makes our area so special.

We hope this edition of Profile — the newspaper’s biggest annual project — can help show our community what we look

like in 2016, so we can continue to celebrate our past with confidence in the future.

Our staff began working nearly six months ago to bring you the stories, photos and advertisements in this edition of Profile. We’re never surprised at the amazing stories we find in our community, but always delighted to share them with you — our readers.

We hope you’ll spend some time in the coming days, weeks and months reading through each page in this special edition and realizing just how far our community has come and how those in our community are working to push it even further.

And we hope to be there along with you every step of the way.

Ben Hillyer is the news editor of The Natchez Democrat.

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

House

ministry Parsonages offer way to minister to flock for pastors

I

f home is where the heart is, the par- — a painting that was gifted to the church in 1846 by the king of France. sonage is where the pulse is.

On O’Connor’s left is a similar-size paintAnd that’s not just the pulse of the paid minister, those ministers say, it’s ing depicting the Old Testament story of Abraham and Sarah. the pulse of the people.

Despite the lavish surroundings and someParsonages, or rectories, have long been the church-funded residence of ministers what stiff initial feel, O’Connor said he feels right at home in the space — because he is. for a variety of different faiths.

In the Catholic faith, that The houses are home to residence is called a rectory. the pastor and his family, Story by Sarah Cook The rectory tradition bebut they belong to the church gan centuries ago, O’Connor community.

Photos by Sam Gause said, because priests would The parsonage doors are al& Nicole Hester travel from church to church ways open, guests are often and their stays were too brief present and sometimes the best ministering of the week happens right to establish permanent residence.

That tradition, today, still permeates there at home.

That’s just the way it should be, area min- throughout the Catholic church and many other Christian denominations, he said. isters said.

“Gradually, (the church) set a pattern for Alone but welcoming The Rev. David O’Connor props his feet the priests to always live in a church resiup on the coffee table in the parlor of the dence,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor, a native of Ireland, has been the St. Mary Basilica rectory, located next to the lone priest of St. Mary Basilica, located on church.

To his right is a life-size painting of St. North Union Street, since 2003. Before that, Mary making her holy ascent into Heaven he served the church from 1986 to 1992.

The Rev. David O’Connor lives in the rectory of St. Mary Basilica. Many years ago, several priests lived in the rectory at the same time. These days, O’Connor is the lone priest of St. Mary and lives in the house by himself most days. Like many area pastors, O’Connor says the church-provided house is a blessing.

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14 PROFILE 2015

The Rev. Josh Morea may be the minister of First Ferriday Baptist Church, but when he is in the church parsonage he is more likely to answer to the title of dad or husband.

Josh and his wife Allison have three children to keep up with, including Micah, above. A bearded dragon also calls the parsonage home. Caleb Morea, top left, plays with the family pet. The dining table, top right, is frequently the center of the action.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT “This very much feels like home to me,” O’Connor said.

The rectory, built in 1846, boasts a Greek Revival style — much like the rest of Natchez’s antebellum houses.

It was built for then-bishop John Joseph Chance and designed by architect John Crothers, who also built Dunleith — the stately antebellum mansion just a few streets over on Homochitto Street.

Its interior reflects a style one could expect on a Natchez Pilgrimage tour. Hardwood floors and lavish décor sprawl throughout the rectory, which is adorned with religious imagery.

O’Connor, who admits he is not seasoned in the realm of interior decorating, said he appreciates living in a well-appointed house — which is completely maintained by the church.

Most of the time, he is not alone in the threestory rectory, though.

If he walks through the front door between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on a weekday, he is likely to be greeted by any one of five church staff members who work at the rectory.

He greets each with a wave and a smile, just as if they were family.

“When I first came here, there was an assisting priest living here, too,” O’Connor said.

“Many years ago, there could have been eight, maybe 10 priests living here at once.”

Since the third floor of the historic house — where O’Connor’s living quarters are located — boasts several bedrooms, O’Connor said it’s common for priests passing through Natchez to make a temporary home at the rectory.

Along with religious wisdom, they all come with a story or two too, he said.

O’Connor recalled a young priest who stayed with him some years ago who claimed to have seen a mysterious shadow at night — an apparition of a woman.

“One night, I said, ‘Tell me about this shadow,’ and he said it was a woman, and I said, ‘that’s just wishful thinking on your part,’” O’Connor recalled jovially.

Other than one alleged ghostly encounter, O’Connor said the rectory has no history of haunting.

“I don’t get scared being here by myself,” he admitted. “While I’m an extrovert on the job, I really have introvert ways — and being alone is fine with me.”

O’Connor jokes that after a Friday night football game at Cathedral School — which the St. Mary Parish supports through grants and religious education — sometimes it’s nice to return to the rectory for some peace and quiet.

“Living alone, I’m very comfortable with it,” he said.

And while the rectory is often as quiet as a church mouse — after working hours, that is — other Miss-Lou religious leaders have a little bit louder living accommodations.

Preaching family

Walk into Josh Morea’s house and you’re likely to spot a cross or two along with a toy fire truck on the kitchen floor.

While being the pastor of First Ferriday Baptist Church is his working title, “Dad” and “husband” are pretty high up on the list, too.

Morea lives in the Ferriday Baptist parsonage, nestled in a neighborhood on Lynwood Drive in Ferriday.

Protestant churches, Morea explained, call

church-provided houses parsonages.

The parsonage concept, he said, is derived from the Catholic tradition of the rectory.

“I think it’s an amazing blessing that God has given us to be able to live in this house,” Morea said. “We could not afford something this size in this neighborhood, this location, otherwise.”

Much like the Catholic faith, parsonages were established because ministers, more often than not, were only temporarily staying in a location and didn’t have the financial means to plant roots and purchase a house.

When 31-year-old Morea got the call from First Baptist almost two years ago to serve the Miss-Lou, Morea said he and his wife, Allison, found the parsonage’s accommodations perfect for their growing family.

Josh and Allison, have three children — Taylor, 12; Caleb, 5 and Micah who is just shy of 2 years old.

The youngest was born shortly after the family moved to Ferriday.

Allison said the brood has felt right at home in the parsonage ever since.

“Sometimes our 5-year-old will answer the door before I get the chance to even see who it is,” she said with a laugh.

More often than not, however, whoever is knocking on the parsonage door is a church member.

“There are always church people over,” said Josh, who hails from Rankin County originally. “Several times a week, sometimes several times a day.”

The three-bedroom, ranch-style house lends itself to company, though.

At church, Josh Morea’s focus is on preaching and ministering to his congregation, at left. When at home, his attention turns to his children, including his son Taylor, above.

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Just like at the church, which is located only a few miles away from the parsonage on E.E. Wallace Boulevard, Josh said he strives to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the parsonage.

“I think it’s an extension of my ministry, really,” Josh said of the house. “We are called to live among our community, just like a shepherd when it was their turn to keep watch, they would sleep where the flocks were.”

In Josh’s case, he is looking over a flock of 300 church members.

“That’s 300 people that could stop by at any moment just to see what is going on,” he said.

Despite the family’s frequent visitors, Josh said he and Allison aren’t self-conscience about how people perceive their living space — toys, lunchboxes, kid-made messes and all.

“As soon as one of (the kids) walks through, they’re going to bring toys with them and drop their food on the floor,” Allison said. “And people come in all the time, so it’s something you have to get over I guess. The house is never going to

be perfect.”

Because they are a young family with energetic kids in tow, Josh said the parsonage often entertains church members and neighborhood kids alike.

Even though he is not a mechanic or a chef, Josh said he frequently makes bike repairs, or fixes a snack for one of his children’s friends, who are most likely famished from playing in the parsonage’s backyard.

“The pastor is all about the people, and he is called to be a representation of the ministry of Christ to the church and to the community,” Josh said. “That doesn’t stop when the Sunday service ends.”

And even though Josh admits it’s tough sometimes to have his house a constant throughway for children, neighbors and church members alike — he said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“If I lived over in Natchez, it would be more difficult for me to be a pastor in the community. People couldn’t just come and get me real quick,” he said. “We’re supposed to live here.

A parsonage downtown

As the Rev. Birdon Mitchell sits on the

front porch of his St. Catherine Street parsonage, he hears cars zoom by — some with their stereos blaring.

It’s a sound he’s grown accustomed to though, living on one of the busiest streets in downtown Natchez.

“I’m from the country, so living in town, on this street, can be difficult,” he said.

“When I first moved in, there was a nightclub on the corner up the street, and you could hear it late into the night.”

Close by to the parsonage, however, is a place of refuge Mitchell also calls home.

Approximately 100 yards from the parsonage sits Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where Mitchell has served as pastor since December 2005.

A seasoned religious leader, Mitchell has lived in parsonages of all shapes and sizes.

“In Greenwood, the parsonage was right next to the church,” Mitchell remembers.

“It was pretty small, too.”

In Natchez, Mitchell has to hike up several flights of stairs to reach the front door of the historic one-story parsonage, which boasts five bedrooms.

Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal pastor the Rev. Birdon Mitchell says the church’s parsonage is just an extension of the church.

17

18 PROFILE 2016 Once inside, the father of six — who is now an empty nester — said it’s common to see numerous visitors.

Two of his children are currently studying at Alcorn State University and are known for surprising dad with hungry dinner guests frequently.

“My son would call me after choir rehearsal and say ‘we just finished, me and some of my friends are going to come over to eat,’” Mitchell said with a laugh. “I’ve learned to ask ‘how many’ when he says that, because ‘me and some of my friends’ could be two people or it could be 10.”

Like other local religious leaders, however, Mitchell said he likes to keep the parsonage doors open to any visitor.

An opportunity to share the Christian message, he said — or just offer a warm meal.

“The parsonage is just an extension to the church,” he said. “I don’t feel the people are a bother to me. I’m here to serve.”

A downside of moving wherever the church appoints him to serve, Mitchell admits, is that with each move, his family has had to uproot themselves and start again.

Changing schools, saying goodbye to friends and adjusting to new cities are skills Mitchell’s family learned to hone.

The good thing about letting his ministry steer his life, however, is that he always knows a greater plan is being carried out, he said.

“I have trusted that God has directed me to every place I have gone to,” Mitchell said, the conviction evident in his voice. “And when God directs me, I know that God will provide.”

Debra Mitchell and her husband the Rev. Birdon Mitchell enjoy welcoming church members and guests to their church-provided house on St. Catherine Street in Natchez.

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

Orchids of all shapes, sizes and colors bloom in Robert Ferguson’s greenhouse. The Natchez man’s passion for the flowers began when he was given an orchid at age 12.

LIFETIME of BLOOMS

Passion for orchids thrives in Natchez greenhouse

Story by Leah Schwarting

PHOTOS BY BEN HILLYER & TIM GIVENS

A

t first glance, the four stalks growing in a terracotta pot in a greenhouse on South Temple Road aren’t much to see.

But when the plant blooms, the orchid will produce purple flowers and a lifetime of memories for Robert Ferguson.

Fifty years ago, the same plant bloomed Ferguson’s lifelong passion for orchids.

It’s a passion that brought Ferguson from Jackson to Natchez and helped shape his career as well as his life.

It’s difficult for Ferguson to label just what it was about orchids that sparked his interest, but, in part, Ferguson said he was intrigued by the challenge.

Orchids can be difficult to grow at times and, on occasion, expensive. Some varieties cost thousands of dollars.

It also has something to do with there being

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22 PROFILE 2016

His passion’s starting point, however, is a little easier to find.

When he was 12, his mother had a good friend who grew orchids. Instead of visiting with the woman’s children, who were about his age, he would talk to her about her flowers.

One day, his mother came home with what he said looked like a green stick. It was actually the pseudobulb, or a portion of the stem, of a Cattleya Bowringiana orchid. It had broken off and the woman had decided to give it to Ferguson.

It might seem an odd gift for a child, but not to Ferguson.

“I was one of those nerdy young ones,” Ferguson joked.

A young Ferguson helped his neighbors plant flowerbeds and took an interest in cross breeding.

“I was crossing daffodils and hyacinths, and my mother about thought I was crazy,” Ferguson said.

Although his mother wasn’t very interested in plants, his grandparents and his great-grandfather all had green thumbs.

Ferguson had learned basic gardening from his grandfather before the orchid arrived, but he still wasn’t quite prepared for the skill needed to care for the new plant.

After he received it, he began tending to the plant, but soon, two leaves fell off.

“I didn’t realize it didn’t have any roots,” Fergu-

son said. “The plant would not absorb the water.”

Ferguson headed to the library for insight, and eventually purchased his own book to guide the process.

After discovering the proper way to tend to the pseudobulb, roots appeared. Months went by and Ferguson continued to care for the plant, and it continued to grow.

One day he came home from school and found it missing. While he was away, the cat had knocked the orchid over, snapping off the pseudobulb.

His mother had then put it in the trash.

“I got hysterical, so I went to the garbage can and took it out,” Ferguson said.

After salvaging his plant, he took what remained and put it outside in a pot. Eventually a burst of purple caught his eye.

The plant had grown another pseudobulb and bloomed, just in time to act as a 13th birthday present.

Ferguson kept the plant — through service in the U.S. Navy and schooling at Mississippi State University, where he earned a degree in horticulture.

After graduating Ferguson took a job as a district entomologist with the Department of Agriculture, and then went into growing ferns and landscaping before opening Ferguson Horticulture Inc. in Jackson. From that point on, he grew orchids professionally.

Robert Ferguson, at top, is serious about orchids. In the greenhouse behind his Natchez house, Ferguson grows a small crop of plants compared to the millions of orchids he once grew as part of an orchid business.

Ferguson, above, shows one of young pups growing in his greenhouse.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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24 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

Ferguson’s daughter, April Ferguson, grew up with orchid greenhouses in her backyard.

“It was beautiful — it really was, especially when a lot of orchids were in bloom,” Ferguson said. “It looked like Hawaii, minus the beach.”

Among the greenhouses full of orchids was always the one that had bloomed when Robert Ferguson was 13.

The plant had to be babied all those years, he said.

“From that one little bulb, it grew to this huge plant,” Robert Ferguson said.

After 20 years of tending to it, Robert Ferguson got the 3-feet-tall plant to produce 250 blooms at once. For this achievement, he received a merit award from the American Orchid Society in the late 1970s.

Robert Ferguson would go on to win three more awards. He was crossbreeding as well as growing orchids, just as he had done with daffodils and hyacinths as a child.

April Ferguson remembers seeing her father wearing goggles and gloves, working on his latest experiment.

“When you’re little it seems like your dad is a mad scientist because it was just a lot of stuff that was for the orchids,” said April, who was the namesake for one of Robert Ferguson’s creations — April’s Clown.

Sometime in approximately the late 1980s and early 1990s, Robert Ferguson crossed Blc. Golden Slippers, a gold-colored orchid, with Blc. Oconee variety Mendenhall, which is dark purple. From that cross he created seeds for a purplish gold orchid and the Blc. Robert Ferguson “Florida Sunset” variety was born.

But not everything was golden.

A freezing night in 1994 forced Ferguson to downsize his business. Overnight, the power in his greenhouse went out as temperatures dropped to 12 degrees.

When Ferguson came in the next morning, approximately half a million orchids were lost.

“I was devastated,” Ferguson said. “I guess you could say I was in a state of shock.”

Still reeling, he didn’t go back inside his greenhouse for a week. When he finally did return, it was to start the cleanup process.

“It took me years to start over,” Ferguson said.

While he cleaned, Ferguson found that not everything had been lost. Some of his plants had survived but, to keep things going, he had to shift his focus away from orchids a little.

“Nothing was nearly as satisfying as growing orchids though,” Ferguson said.

After a few moves around the state, Ferguson landed in Natchez approximately five years ago. And his new backyard is filled with orchids, as is a small greenhouse.

Ferguson is also trying to get the seat of the Mississippi Orchid Society relocated to Natchez and is gathering materials to go back into business.

“There’s still thousands of hybrids to be made,” Ferguson said.

But, among all of his other orchids, a portion of his original bowringiana still grows in his greenhouse.

And after more than 50 years, the orchid, just like Ferguson’s passion, is very much alive.

Robert Ferguson tends to his small crop of orchids that fill his greenhouse.

Before moving to Natchez, Ferguson grew millions of orchids as a business venture. A hard freeze in 1994, killed most of his plant and devastated the business.

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26 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

At left, Nicholas hugs his stuffed animal as he wears a vibrating vest that shakes mucus in his lungs loose to keep his airways clear.

Nicholas Stogner laughs as his mother, Jayna, whispers in his ear. Nicholas was born prematurely and developed cerebral palsy after he started having seizures at 2 weeks old. Jayna keeps a binder, above, full of charts and detailed notations to help her keep track of what medicines have been administered and when to feed her son.

Hope Nicholas for

Family embraces life with cerebral palsy

J

ayna Stogner carries a “By now, I’ve got six years worth binder full of charts and of paperwork documenting all of detailed notations that this.”

In the background, Nicholas is would make even the most dedicated medical bureaucrat nearby on an exercise table with a physical therapist, stretchblush with envy.

The charts — created with a ing his extremities and joints to spreadsheet, each row and col- make sure he maintains mobility. When someumn noting a difbody rings a bell ferent time of day, starting at 6 a.m. Story by Vershal Hogan near his ears, he kicks for joy, a and ending after Photos by Tim Givens huge smile condark — are used suming his face. to keep track of Nicholas has alher 11-year-old son Nicholas’ daily routine. Has his ways liked bells, Jayna says.

His world is one in which stimfeeding tube been cleaned? When was the last time he was fed? uli may not always seem connected to people or actions. Nicholas What about water?

“This was something I’ve fig- has cerebral palsy that left him ured out on my own,” Jayna said. with little muscle control, and

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28 PROFILE 2016

Nicholas Stogner’s grandmother Elizabeth Calhoun gives Nicholas a haircut before a trip to the doctor the next day. The doctor’s visit was to examine the spot on Nicholas’ head where a shunt was placed.

The shunt drains fluid on his brain into his stomach.

cortical vision impairment that left eyes that would otherwise work unable to register what they see — at least that’s what doctors think. Nicholas can’t speak.

But talk to his family or those who work with him, and you don’t hear weariness or struggle. The word they use most often is, “hope.”

An early start

Nicholas’ story began earlier that it was supposed to. Born at Natchez Regional Medical Center at 33-weeks gestation because Jayna had high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, he was almost two months premature, weighing only 3-pounds, 1-ounce and measuring 15.5 inches long, small enough to fit in a grown man’s cupped hands.

Jayna has a picture of him wearing protective glasses over his pre-term eyes that dwarf his face. Mounted inside the photo frame are the glasses themselves — they’re the size of an extra-large Band-Aid. When he was 2 weeks old, Nicholas started having seizures, his body’s reaction to swelling in his head as fluid built up around his brain, a disorder known as hy-

drocephalus. He was flown to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, where — on the day he turned 1-month old — he had a shunt placed in his brain to relieve the swelling.

He still has that shunt, which drains from his skull into his abdomen. A small lump behind his right ear that can be felt but not seen marks the beginning of the drainage line.

Even with the intervention, Nicholas was diagnosed cerebral palsy.

Since he was 4, he’s had 11 surgeries, some mild — like having his adenoids removed at 7 — and others more serious, such as having dislocated hips pinned.

One of the first surgeries was to have a feeding tube placed in his stomach. By the age of 5, he was aspirating food when he ate and getting sick.

Now, he can’t eat or drink anything by mouth. Everything that goes into him goes in through the feeding tube. His diet consists of what family members refer to as “milk” — it’s a calorie-enhanced shake they buy in bulk from a medical supplier — and water fed directly into his stomach.

“If you get him laughing when he’s eating, you can see the water get pushed back up the line,” Jayna said, grinning. “If he laughs too hard, it’ll splash out on you.”

Life by the book

The day starts with the feeding tube.

Before Jayna goes to bed at night in the room she shares with Nicholas, she sets a slow feeding drip that will run through the night. When the pump runs out at 6 a.m., an alarm goes off she gets up to start the morning routine, checking off in her binder what medicines she’s administered and when Nicholas has been fed and given water.

The charts in the binder have pit stops throughout the day for medicine, exercise and therapy and food, noting that different things are needed at 6, 7, 9 a.m., followed by more at noon, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 11 p.m.

“Doctors love Jayna,” her mother and Nicholas’ grandmother Elizabeth Calhoun said. “They all wish their patients kept track of what they have taken and done this well.”

When time for medicine comes, Jayna measures them out in shot glasses. The

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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30 PROFILE 2016

The daily regimen for Nicholas Stogner includes the use of what the family calls the shaky vest, at bottom, which vibrates and shakes loose mucus in his lungs to keep his airway clear. A family member, below, adjusts Nicholas’ feeding tube.

glasses are the same size as the reusable plastic cups that come with pharmaceuticals, but they don’t create the same clutter and help add some levity to an otherwise routine administration of medication. In some instances, friends have gotten in on the act and brought back their own shot glasses from vacations.

During the first hour, Jayna will play with and talk to Nicholas, and at 7 a.m. a home health nurse arrives. After a conversation with the nurse about what’s happened in the night and what needs to be done, Jayna gets ready to head to work at the Adams County bookkeeping department, leaving at 8.

While Jayna, a single mom, is getting ready, Nicholas is given a breathing treatment, which is followed by two 15-minute sessions in a medical vest that vibrates his chest to loosen any congestion that might have gathered there since he has trouble working up a cough himself. The first session is at a slower rate of speed, while the second is faster.

When he does cough, the nurse uses a suction tool to keep it clear of his throat so it doesn’t settle back into his chest.

Nicholas has two nurses, Carol Ray and Esther Heffner, who alternate days. They’ll work with him in a reclining armchair his grandfather, Nathan Calhoun, has retrofitted to meet his needs, or in a stand that allows him to be upright in front of a tray.

Doors have been widened in the house to allow the stand, a lifting swing and other equipment to be moved — though Jayna said the hall will need to be widened to accommodate more before much longer — and a Christian mission group added a wheelchair ramp outside for accessibility.

On the two days a week he goes to therapy, his grand-

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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32 PROFILE 2016

parents take him, but on the days he’s at home the nurses work with him.

In the mornings, Ray will wash his face with warm water, and later will take Play-Doh she has refrigerated and squish it through his fingers so he can experience the sensation of cold while helping him move his sometimes-reluctant muscles.

Other times, she will get out a small keyboard and work with Nicholas to get him to push the keys with intention, something the therapists at Key Rehab also do.

“This is all about communication,” Ray said. “The hope is that if he can push a button, then he will be able to answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions by pushing that button. That would open up a lot of communication.”

Because his communication is so limited, no one know what — or how — Nicholas thinks. And that’s why getting to a simple yes or no is so important, Ray said.

“During the day, I read books to him, and I don’t read baby books,” she said. “The last one I read was ‘Tom Sawyer,’ and sometimes when I read, he laughs at the story. But we don’t know if he’s just laughing at the sound of my voice or at the story.”

When Nicholas attends occupational therapy, the therapist places him in a dark room, giving him toys that flash and make noise, hoping, the therapist says, to stimulate his brain in a way that makes his eyes register what they should be seeing.

In physical therapy, the therapists exercise him in ways to encourage hand and trunk control and rolling side to side.

Life isn’t all therapy and work, though.

When Nicholas is at home relaxing, the family keeps him engaged.

“He always stays in the room with the family,” Elizabeth Calhoun said. “Jayna includes him in everything — she takes him everywhere.”

In the summers, he attends a camp for disabled children and their caregivers, but that’s hardly the only time he gets out. Jayna said if there’s something to do, she’s taking him.

Nicholas’ favorite outdoor events to attend include the Natchez Powwow, a sound scape of drums and bells, and the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race’s balloon glow, Jayna said.

“I like to push him right up near the balloon, so he can hear the whoosh and feel the heat when they fire it, and see it light up,” she said. “He really loves that.”

Jayna has a sheet that explains about Nicholas’ condition that she sometimes hands out to people seeking to find out more. It’s a few years old now, but it’s got a phrase that sums up the day-to-day life of the family — not just for Nicholas, but for Jayna, Elizabeth, Nathan and even his nurses.

Written from Nicholas’ point-of-view, it says, “I am not going to give up, because only God knows what my future holds.”

Strings of lights make a cross displayed on the outside of the Stogner house glow beside a blooming rose bush. Jayna Stogner says she is not giving up and places her faith in God’s hands.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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34 PROFILE 2016

One

STEP at a TIME

Story by Vershal Hogan Photos by JAMEY HUDNALL

Locals decide to make life changing habits

E

verything began with an “X.” It was Friday, Nov. 17, 2014.

Brandon McCranie was 40 years old; his blood pressure was through the roof and he had an apnea so bad he could barely sleep. The gout in his feet was killing him, and he was so depressed many days he didn’t want to leave the bed.

But that day was it. He stood up, lifting 440 pounds with his 6-foot-5-inch frame, and made a decision.

“I put a big ‘X’ on the calendar — today was the day I was going to change my life,” McCranie said. “I wasn’t going to wait until after the holidays — if I am going to do it, I am going to do it now.”

McCranie had always been overweight, but getting to the size he was had been a gradual process, one he said filled with the Southern association of food with love.

Other lifestyle choices had come into play as well. A professional artist and musician, McCranie had spent years taking compensation for gigs played at bars with in-kind payments.

“I wouldn’t call myself an alcoholic, but I was really good at drinking. The curse of a local musician is we often get paid in free alcohol,” he said. “If you pay me $50 and then let me drink for free, and I think I am worth $200, I am going to drink $150 worth of alcohol.”

Brandon McCranie uses a photo from 2014, above, as his inspiration to lose weight. The Natchez artist and singer now makes lifestyle choices that include watching what he eats and drinks and regular exercising. On facing page, McCranie walks his dog in downtown.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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36 PROFILE 2016

So the first step — even before adding exercise — was putting down the highball and switching to water — at least 64 ounces a day, but sometimes as much as 80 or 90. The only thing he had to drink other than water was a cup of black coffee in the morning.

“Quitting drinking made all the other decisions easier, and I had not a drop for over a year,” he said. “When you’ve been drinking, it’s really easy to drive through somewhere and grab a burger to cram down while you’re on the way home to eat something real.”

The change in diet was a little harder — no junk, nothing fried, and no sugar for six months, a shift that in some ways caused his body to go into shock after decades of Southern living. He shifted to lots of greens and meat, and adopted a pretty heavy vitamin regimen.

McCranie also worked on training his mind, reshaping old thinking patterns.

“I didn’t want this to just be about weight,” he said. “This was about adopting a new way of thinking, even things like where I decide to park in a parking lot to what I watch on television to if I even watch television at all.

“I learned to shop and cook differently, because I still like to eat — I learned you can’t be afraid of food. So I try to look at it as I haven’t

given something up, I have just found new things to try.”

After he lost some weight — three months into the lifestyle change — exercise followed. One day he had a bit of an epiphany when he was driving down the road, noticed how beautiful a day it was and felt like pulling over to take a walk.

His initial goals were to make a mile. His feet hurt at first, but things got better.

“All those little cliché things that you hear along the way that you tend to put aside because you think it is stupid, they all come into play,” he said. “It really is one step at a time or one thing at a time, it is really a mind game. It is a journey of lots of little bitty decisions that has added up to a big change in my life.”

In addition to conscious exercise, McCranie decided to take the opportunity to better himself in other ways.

He made a list of all the places he’d wanted to go and things he’d wanted to do but never gotten to around town, and then decided to, when he could, walk to them.

“I started out by saying it only takes 2,000 steps to walk a mile, and I downloaded a pacer app on my phone to keep track, and the next thing I know, I am walking two to three miles a day without even trying,” he said.

“It really is one step at a time or one thing at a time, it is really

a mind game. It is a journey of lots of little bitty decisions that has added up to a big change in my life.”

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

These days, he’s riding a bicycle for the first time in 25 years and has taken up kayaking, and when he cuts the grass, he uses a push mower. He averages between four and five miles a day.

In pure numbers, that change has taken him from a size 52 waist to a 34, from 440 pounds to 256.

But while those numbers are noteworthy, the real measurement is found in personal happiness, McCranie said.

“This isn’t about can I have a piece of cake now or then or a glass of wine with a good meal,” he said. “This was and is about getting to the point where I could enjoy life again, and it has been the best year of my life.”

Just about the time McCranie was cranking up his lawnmower in an effort to add steps into his day, Ruth Powers was rediscovering the simple joy of chewing food.

As a member of an “intensive medical management” cohort in a long-term weight loss study run by Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Powers had spent four months on a liquid diet the program provided as part of its 800-calorie-a-day plan.

“They called them shakes. They had chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and something they called ‘potato soup,’” she said. “I could add spices to it, but it was not exactly the tastiest

thing on the planet.

“When I went back to solid food, cauliflower has never tasted so good — it was wonderful just to be able to chew again.”

Powers had gotten involved in the study after nearly a year on the waiting list. The program had caught her attention after she received a mail out from her insurance company.

“They pay so much in insurance for diabetes, heart disease, so they are trying to transition to say, ‘What can I do to support wellness?’ Maybe on the front, if they spend a little getting people in good shape instead of paying out to people who have these chronic lifestyle ailments (things will change),” Powers said.

Powers had battled weight problems all her life, but after her husband was killed in an automobile accident in 2007, “I went through a period in my life where it was, ‘to Hell with it all,’” she said.

“I just let myself go completely. I woke up at one point saying, ‘I don’t feel well; I can’t do what I need to do.’ My blood work and all my test results from my doctor were terrible. The time for me to do something about this had come, and I decided I want to see my grandchildren.”

When the liquid diet started, the weight

“I just let myself go completely.

I woke up at one point saying, ‘I don’t feel well; I can’t do what I need to do.’”

Ruth Powers Natchez resident

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40 PROFILE 2016

Ruth Powers works out with one of the personal trainers at Vidalia Total Fitness.

On facing page Powers uses an app on her phone to keep track of her exercise progress. Powers has lost 120 punds since she started and plans to lose 20 more pounds.

“falls off you,” Powers said.

“That was a huge motivator for me.”

She joined a gym and started an exercise program, doing mostly cardio. Surgery and pills were not on the table, and she was constantly monitored by doctors. Every visit included an echocardiogram.

But the liquid diet in particular wasn’t easy.

“There came a time when I just told people, ‘I can’t go out to eat with you because I will bite you.’ In my family, we say we get ‘hangry’ — when we get hungry we get irritable, but I did manage to keep that under control.”

Moving back to solid food, while enjoyable, was a measured effort.

“They started and said, ‘If you go back to real food all at one time, it will make you sick,’ and even just going back and adding one food group at a time, I had to be real careful with my amounts, because if I ate more than the recommended amount, it would make me sick,” Powers said. “When meat came back into it, that was the toughest. I ate half a Lean Cuisine and was sick as I could be.”

Even now, Powers is still watching carbohydrates very closely for that reason.

“I eat a lot of chicken, lean pork, lots of vegetables, fruits, but not much in the way of pasta or bread, and when I do eat grain products it has to be whole grain,” she said.

Part of Powers’ exercise program included running, and in November she ran in her first 5K. She completed another one in January, and has the goal of running in three total 5K races before ratcheting up to a quarter marathon next year.

It wasn’t always pretty. For a while she had problems with gout as the fat in her body broke down, and her hair thinned, though it’s getting thicker again. Once, the medication she was taking for her blood pressure — which was in the process of normalizing — made her

pass out, toppling over a pew in the middle of church.

“But I want to be clear, the negatives in no way outweigh the positives,” she said.

Powers has lost 120 pounds, and has a goal of approximately 20 more. This month ends the intensive phase of the medical study, and from here on out, the researchers will check her once a year to see if she’s been able to maintain the weight loss and her general health.

“I went to a conference in New Orleans for work, and there were some people there who haven’t laid eyes physically on me in a couple of years, and three of them walked up to me and introduced themselves to me because they didn’t recognize who I was,” she said. “I told them, ‘It is a lot less of me, but it is me.’”

Both Powers and McCranie emphasized taking on an extreme-weight loss program like they did is not something someone should do without the advice and attention of a doctor.

But if you’re willing to do it safely and see it through, it’s an empowering experience, they said.

“I have proven to myself I can do something really difficult,” Powers said. “I have proven that I can do something physical that I thought I would never be able to do, and it has been very empowering for me. I did this for nobody in the world but me, and I think that was an important part of it.”

McCranie said he’s planning to write a book about his experience, with a target audience of men with stories similar to his.

“I get messages from people asking advice, and I would be selfish not to share this,” he said. “I was told sugery was my only option by more than one person, but I am here to tell people that, even if you have to turn around and do something over again, you can change the way you think, and that comes from changing the way you act.”

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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42 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

When it comes to getting a unique mixed drink ....

PRICE IS RIGHT D

ue to the transient nature of the Natchez Grand Hotel’s guests, the bar is far from the place where everyone knows your name, but don’t tell that to bartender Bryan Price.

Every day Price works, his objective is to draw people in and make them feel welcome.

“When I am behind that bar, that is my stage,” he said.

Price’s zest for engaging with his clientele has given birth to a new selection of drinks inspired and named afStory by Sam Gause ter local tourist destinations & Megan Ashley Fink and landmarks.

The purpose of the drinks is Photos by SAM GAUSE twofold.

“It is another conversation topic,” he said. “And they showcase the rich heritage of Natchez that sometimes gets swept under the table of ignorance.”

It was the area’s beauty and history that brought Price back to Natchez after all.

He grew up in Sicily Island, La., and went to school at the University of Louisiana in Monroe, but he wanted

Natchez Grand Hotel bartender Bryan Price, above, has created a series of drinks inspired by local landmarks. One of these mixed drinks is the “Natchez Trace Iced Tea,” at left, which is made with vodka, rum, gin, tequila and triple sec with a splash of CocaCola served over ice with a slice of lime.

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Cabrini-Nancy Hellyer (Natchez).qxp_4.67 x 11.2 2/4/16 8:41 AM Page 1

44 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

The “Bridge of Sighs” mixed drink at the Natchez Grand Hotel is Bryan Price’s version of a martini made with gin, mixed with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth shaken and served with a bridge of cherries.

The “Turning Angel,” right is a cocktail made of vodka, Kahlúa and Bailey’s Irish Cream served over ice and topped with mints.

to leave the South, so he moved to New York City. For years, Price worked as a computer analyst for Dell.

“The big city life began to wear on me,” he said. “I realized how much I was blessed to be raised in this part of the country.

“It was time to come home.”

Price quit his job, moved to Natchez and started as a bartender at La Fiesta where he honed his skills for two years before going to the Natchez Grand Hotel where he has now been for eight years.

Natchez Grand Hotel manager Walter Tipton said Price brings a personality and creativity to his position.

“He’s the primary person operating the lobby bar,” Tipton said. “And he does a good job of it.”

Price wants his specialty drinks to be the signature item at the hotel.

“There are a lot of great bartenders in Natchez that all offer different things,” Price said. “This will be mine.”

The drinks include the “Devil’s Punch Bowl,” which is a seasoned Bloody Mary with pickled veggies served in a glass bowl for two.

“The Turning Angel” is a cocktail made of vodka, Kahlúa and Bailey’s Irish Cream served over ice and topped with mints.

The “Natchez Trace Iced Tea” is a mixture of vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec and a splash of Coca-Cola served over ice and garnished with a lemon slice and fresh mint.

The “Bridge of Sighs” is a martini made with gin and mixed with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth shaken and served with a bridge of cherries.

The “Mighty Mississippi River” is a blend of Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, Maker’s Mark, Kahlúa and a splash of milk and garnished with whipped cream, Hershey’s chocolate syrup and crumbled Oreo cookies.

Some of the drinks are based directly

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The “Mighty Mississippi River,” above, is a blend of Crown Royal, Jack Daniels, Maker’s Mark, Kahlúa and a splash of milk and garnished with whipped cream, Hershey’s chocolate syrup and crumbled Oreo cookies. The “Devil’s Punchbowl, right , is a seasoned Bloody Mary with pickled vegetables served in a glass big enough for two people.

on their namesakes. For example, the “Mighty Mississippi River” looks quite a bit like the chocolate-colored, mud-bottomed waterway for which it is named.

Other creations are simply named after local sites that Price wished to honor in his work, such as the Turning Angel at the Natchez City Cemetery.

“That’s just a white Russian with crushed peppermint,” Price said.

Price said he added peppermints because he thought it would improve the flavor, rather than for any symbolic reason.

The name, however, was meaningful to Price.

“I wanted to start a conversation,” Price said. “For example, a lot of people know about the Turning Angel monument, but not a lot of people know about the seven people buried there.”

Tipton said his hotel guests are very positive about the experience.

“I get feedback from customers, and they love the custom drinks that he does,” Tipton said. “They’re looking for something they can take home with them, and unique experiences like that, we certainly encourage.”

For Price, his Natchez-named drinks are about educating his patrons, who he thinks of as an audience to his nightly one-man show.

“Knowledge is power,” Price said. “I want to educate tourists a little bit about Natchez and what it is all about.”

Price believes that by naming the drinks he is doing a service to Natchez.

“God blessed me with a great personality,” he said. “I can sell this town to the world.”

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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48 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

With strings attached Local strings program teaches students more than just music Story by Leah Schwarting Photos by Tim Givens & Marcus Frazier

I

n the Morris household, Christina Morris has noticed the sound of two of her children’s string music is occasionally undercut with a slight edge.

“It can get a little noisy when they get into their competition mode, like ‘I can do better than you,’” Christina said.

Shana, 12, and Sergio Morris, 14, are both enrolled in Morgantown Arts Academy’s strings program. Shana plays the viola while Sergio plays the violin.

He’s been playing for three years, while Shana has just begun.

“I’ve always tried to (start) a competition when I learn a new song, because I feel like I’m catching up to him, and one day he’ll be worse than me,” Shana said.

Twelve-year-old Shana Morris plays during the holiday concert at Morgantown Arts Academy in December. She and her brother Sergio are enrolled in the school’s strings program.

At top, Dennis Leoni teaches his beginners string class at Morgantown. Leoni says his students who range from 11-14 in age are progressing quickly. His class has already completed the first book in its entirety and are ahead of schedule.

49

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50 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

51

Fourteeen-yearold Sergio Morris plays during the holiday concert at Morgantown Arts Academy in December. Sergio is a member of the school’s strings program along with his sister Shana.

Her brother has a different view.

“It will happen one day,” Sergio said. “When I die.”

Regardless of whether or not Shana will have to wait until her brother’s funeral, she admits she still has much to learn.

At the moment, she’s busy learning songs like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Ode to Joy,” which she performed at her first concert in December.

She’s learning other basics of her chosen instrument under the tutelage of strings and general music teacher Dennis Leoni. Leoni’s students learn repertoire, how to play in a group and how to take care of their instruments.

“Most of these kids he started from scratch with ‘This is a bow, this is a violin,’” Principal Tawanna Thornton said.

The students aren’t alone in embarking on a new adventure — it’s Leoni’s first year teaching at Morgantown. Although the program itself is a few years old, Thornton said it was not at the level the school hoped it would be in the past.

“We are definitely in a building year this year as far as trying to move it up,” Thornton said.

The school is offering an opportunity that most students only get through private lessons and Leoni, Thornton said, is trying to make it more accessible.

To help students whose families can’t afford to lease or buy instruments Leoni has fixed up some of the school’s. He’s also done some recruiting.

“Most of the students were not here for the

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52 PROFILE 2016

Morgantown Arts Academy 7th grader Alex Howell, at right, listens to instructions given by teacher Dennis Leoni in their beginner strings class.

Leoni, above, teaches a beginners string class at Morgantown Arts Academy.

At right, Eric Dixon, practices his fingering as he listens to Leoni’s instructions.

very first class,” Leoni said. “We kind of talked to them throughout the first week.”

Shana’s motivation, however, comes back to her brother.

She saw his example, and thought it would be fun.

So far, she’s finding joy in what she plays.

“I like the feeling I get when I play,” she said. “I just feel so elated and happy.”

It can be difficult for students who are starting out for the first time though. Leoni believes strings are the most difficult family of instruments to learn, and the notes new musicians produce aren’t always musical.

“It’s about faith, about learning that they will be better in the future,” Leoni said.

Currently, there are two levels in the program — beginners, who have never played before, like Shana, and those who have, like Sergio.

Leoni demands students put in the time and effort required to perform well, and admits he doesn’t take it easy on his students.

“If they keep up the work, I see a very nice future for them as a musician,” he said.

Leoni wants more than hard work though. He also demands a certain attitude.

Leoni expects his students to behave professionally when an instrument is in their hands.

“Once I cross the door to the classroom, I have to stop being childish,” Sergio said.

Mom even sees that change at home. She’s seen an attitude change in Sergio and improved posture in Shana.

She appreciates both, but is happiest to see her children becoming more outgoing, more willing to talk to people they don’t know and making new friends.

“Before they got into strings in the last couple of years, they weren’t like that,” Christina said.

Shana admits that, before the strings program, her only friend was her laptop. Now, she’s finding it easier to talk to groups of people, especially in her strings class.

“There I know we all have something in common, something we can bond over,” she said.

Being in a group is part of what being a musician is all about, Leoni said. Just the act of playing music is beneficial to students.

“Music works with faculties of your brain that nothing else does,” Leoni said. “The intellectual level that’s required to be a musician is higher than any physician or any lawyer.”

And, if students are required to take music or art appreciation in college, Thornton said his Morgantown students would have a degree of preparation.

Christina agrees. Children gain something extra when they play instruments, she said.

“They tend to grow up a little different for some reason, and they tend to have a drive to do something,” Christina said. “I hope that stays there, even if they can’t keep playing.”

Shana’s just a few months in, but she’s hooked.

“I’d feel like I’d lose a part of myself if I have to stop,” she said.

Thornton hopes to expand the Morgantown program into the students’ high school years.

That’s good news for Shana. That way, she might not have to wait until her brother’s funeral to catch up.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

53

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54 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

B

orn on the Mississippi River and rich in history and diversity, Natchez is a city of superlatives.

To name just a few, Natchez bears the labels: 4One of the friendliest cities in America.

4The bed-and-breakfast capital of the world.

4One of the best bucket-list road trip destinations.

4A “must-see” American city.

The titles are ones sometimes sought out by the city or its residents or, at other times, granted by others.

Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Kevin Kirby said designations such as bed-and-breakfast capital of the world involve applying for such titles through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Others — like Natchez as one of the friendliest cities in the United States in 2014 — are bestowed upon the city by newspapers, magazines and other media. Condé Nast Traveler named Natchez the seventh friendliest city in the country in 2014.

The CVB and its partners actively contact members of the media who compile travel-related “best-of ” lists, Kirby said.

Media outlets also contact the CVB seeking more information as they research destinations to be featured in their publication.

Regardless of how they come, the titles help the city, Kirby said. “Best of ” titles can often serve as a guiding force when travelers are choosing a destination, he said.

Having enjoyed a warm, flaky biscuit in the biscuit capital of the world or stayed in a bed-and-breakfast in the bed-andbreakfast capital, those are notches in a traveler’s belt that can add to a visitor’s experience, Kirby said.

Some superlatives are strictly positive, others are tragic or simply historic.

And some, it turns out, aren’t exactly true.

Oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River

est,’” Barnett said.

Oldest building in Mississippi

Just as Natchez has claimed to be the oldest city or settlement on the river, it has also laid claim to having the oldest building in the state — King’s Tavern, built circa 1789.

This, too, is likely a mix-up. The historical marker in front of the building contains an error and historians believe the building was built in the 1790s.

King’s Tavern is one of the oldest buildings in the state, but not the oldest.

Mount Locust, located on the Natchez Trace Parkway, was built circa 1780. Hope Farm in Natchez was built in the 1770s.

It is, however, the oldest tavern in the state, Historic Natchez Foundation Executive Director Mimi Miller said.

“And it is the most honest representation of colonial architecture in Natchez,” Miller said.

King’s Tavern is still open today as a gourmet pizza restaurant with a craft liquor shop upstairs and a rum distillery next door, all operated by the Charboneau family.

Natchez claims to top many lists.

How many are true?

Largest octagonal house in America

At six stories and 30,000 square feet, Longwood is the largest octagonal house in the country.

The oriental villa was designed by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan for Haller and Julia Nutt, members of Natchez’s wealthy planter class.

Construction began in 1860 but was stopped in 1861 amid rising tensions over the Civil War. Craftsmen literally dropped their tools on the ground and fled, leaving the house unfinished.

The exterior of the house was largely complete, but the interior was left incomplete. Haller Nutt had the first floor completed in early 1862 for the family’s use, historian James Wade said.

The Nutt family lived in the basement of the house into the 20th century.

Today, Longwood is owned by the Pilgrimage Garden Club and is open to visitors daily.

Natchez has touted itself for many years as the oldest city or oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River.

A 1930s pilgrimage brochure boasts Natchez as the oldest city on the river. In more recent years, that point of pride has Second deadliest single tornado in the Story by LINDSEY SHELTON been changed to “oldest continuous settleUnited States ment.”

The Great Natchez Tornado of 1840 is That’s likely true for the lower Missisthe second deadliest single tornado resippi. But as far as the oldest city or even corded in the United States. oldest continuous settlement along the enIt struck on May 7, 1840, and killed 317 tire river, well, that’s questionable. people.

It could really come down to how settleIt would have been rated an F-5, had the ment would be defined.

Fujita scale existed at the time.

If settlement means the founding of the City of Natchez in 1716, Of the 317 people recorded killed, 48 were on land and the remainthen no. ing 269 were on the river.

The village of Cahokia, Ill., a town near St. Louis similar in size Steamboats were docked, and the wind tossed flatboats into the to Natchez, was founded in 1699. Cahokia celebrated its tricenten- river, drowning crews and passengers. nial in 1999.

An account from the Mississippi Free Trader published three days Traders and missionaries lived in and around Natchez long before after the tornado recounts the storm, which took place in the early the founding of Fort Rosalie in 1716, though. afternoon when many people were sitting down to their dinner tables.

Radiocarbon dating at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians “The air was black with whirling eddies of walls, roofs, chimneys puts natives there around 1200 A.D., historian Jim Barnett said. and huge timbers from distant ruins ... all shot through the air as if Barnett believes the Native Americans could have been there thrown from a mighty catapult,” the account reads. around 700 A.D., but he says that is only speculation.

The worst of the damage — estimated at $1.26 million then, approxiBut definitively proving Natchez is the oldest continuous settlement mately $30 million now — was Under-the-Hill. on the river would be difficult, Barnett said.

“It was destroyed,” Miller said. “There’s not a building down there “I would much prefer to hear it said or written as ‘one of the old- now that predates the tornado of 1840.”

The antebellum house Longwood, on facing page, is the largest octagonal house in America. It is just one of the few records Natchez residents claim for their city.

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56 PROFILE 2016

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Oldest black Baptist congregation in Mississippi

Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church is the oldest black Baptist congregation in the state.

It is the only black church in Natchez that had its own church building during the antebellum period.

The church traces its origins to 1837, in a shared ancestry with First Baptist Church, Rose Hill board member Jacqulyn Williams said.

Both Rose Hill and First Baptist evolved from the Wall Street Baptist Church.

An 1858 deed documents the 1854 organization of an congregation and the construction of a church building for black Baptists in Natchez.

At the end of the Civil War, former slave Randall Pollard became the minister of Rose Hill and served for many years. He was listed as a trustee of the church when it was incorporated by the Mississippi Legislature in 1870, marking its formal separation from the Wall Street Baptist Church.

Fourth deadliest nightclub fire in the U.S.

Another Natchez disaster famously ranks high among the worst of its kind.

On April 23, 1940, hundreds packed The Rhythm Night Club on St. Catherine Street to see popular Chicago bandleader Walter Barnes and his band play a show.

It’s believed that someone carelessly discarded a lit match that set ablaze Spanish moss that had been used to decorate the club. The moss

had also reportedly been sprayed with a flammable bug pesticide.

The fire started near the entrance, and has the crowd attempted to escape, it found the back door had been locked and the windows boarded shut, dooming 209 people to their deaths.

Some died of smoke inhalation, others in the stampede to escape.

The official death toll stood at 209, but those were club-goers who could be identified.

“How many were put into the mass grave for the fire victims, that we will never know,” said Monroe Sago, who owns and operates the Rhythm Night Club Museum with his wife Betty.

At the time, this was the second most deadly building fire in the history of the nation. It is now ranked as the fourth deadliest assembly and club fire in U.S. history.

The fire was one of a series of deadly fires across the nation that eventually led to new safety standards, fire codes and inspections.

The Rhythm Night Club fire also led to the establishment of the Natchez Fire Department in 1948.

Biscuit capital of the world

Thanks to local Chef Regina Charboneau, Natchez stakes its claim as the biscuit capital of the world.

Since moving back home to Natchez years ago, Charboneau said she is constantly looking for ways to bring visitors to Natchez.

“I just felt like with the biscuits we make here

— at the Carriage House, Dunleith, Biscuits and Blues — that we could claim the biscuit capital,” Charboneau said.

Charboneau is famous for her own biscuits, with the recipe having appeared in The New York Times’ cooking section and other publications.

Charboneau conducted online research to ensure no other city had claimed the title and partnered with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to procure the trademark.

“It’s just another way to recognize Natchez, another category, a food category, it can be placed in,” Charboneau said.

Charboneau has taken the biscuit capital idea and run with it. In September, in honor of the city’s tricentennial, she is organizing a biscuit festival. Actress Allison Janney, who starred in “The Help” and “Get On Up,” which was filmed in Natchez, is serving as co-chair for the festival, Charboneau said.

Last year during Pilgrimage, Charboneau said she encountered travelers in Natchez who had made the trip just because they heard it was the biscuit capital.

“It was a Sunday, and they were looking for somewhere to get biscuits, so I just invited them into the house, and said, ‘Come on in, I’ll make you some biscuits.’

“What makes the biscuits better here are the people and the hospitality. Anything tastes better, especially biscuits, when they’re put on a pretty plate and served up with a dose of love.”

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58 PROFILE 2016

WORKING

Local residents love working around clock Story by LEAH SCHWARTING Photos by NICOLE HESTER

F

or some folks, waiting until Monday morning rolls around to head to work just isn’t good enough.

Call them workaholics if you’d like, but clocking more than 100 hours a week isn’t a bad thing for some area men who love what they do.

Unconventional schedules, self-employment and a handful of jobs means these men are always on the go.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

for a

Chris Gibson

59

LIVING

Chris Gibson spends every third day of his week working a 24-hour shift at the Natchez Fire Department.

He’s a battalion chief now, and he’s worked at the fire department for 33 years.

On the two days between fire shifts, Gibson juggles two other jobs — managing businesses he owns and working as an airplane mechanic.

He owns a payday loan business, Quick Money and a bar called CR’s, in addition to other properties.

“I guess I’m a glutton for punishment and just can’t be still,” Gibson said. “It’s the way I’ve been my entire life. I’ve always got to try something new.”

Gibson said working multiple jobs is something that

happened gradually.

“For years it was just the fire department and the airplane mechanic business, and other opportunities rose through the years,” Gibson said. “And I decided to try them.”

He opened Quick Money in 2007 and has an employee who serves as manager and handles most dayto-day decisions.

He does spend a bit more time at the bar — though not working behind the counter — because patrons simply like to see him there, he believes.

And airplane work is handled as it comes.

Gibson said having plenty of varied tasks to do is important to him.

“I get bored real easy,” he said.

Chris Gibson is a battalion chief at the Natchez Fire Department, facing page. When he is not at the fire station on Main Street, Gibson is usually found working his other jobs. He owns a payday loan business and a bar called CR’s, above. Gibson is also an airplane mechanic.

60 PROFILE 2016

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Yet he still has plenty of time for hobbies — riding motorcycles, flying airplanes, hunting, fishing, golfing and more.

It helps, perhaps, that Gibson is a bachelor with no children, and that part of his on-theclock time at the fire department does include sleep.

And he still finds time for his favorite “job” of all — cutting the grass at his house.

Sylvester Robertson

Sylvester Robertson is a man of many and varied hats, but no nightcap is among them.

Robertson typically logs approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes of sleep per night. It’s plenty, he says.

His day starts at 5 a.m., when he wakes and gets things moving at his house in Port Gibson.

By 8:30 a.m., he’ll clock in at the Sango ChryslerDodge Jeep Ram dealership in Natchez, where he sells cars.

He works there until approximately 6:30 p.m., most nights. Then, he heads to work at Global Credit Repair, a business he owns but which falls under the umbrella of Financial Education Services. He might meet with individual clients until 1 a.m. some nights.

He also works sporadically for Safelink, a government program aimed at helping low-income residents obtain free phones.

Then, on Sundays, he’s a pastor at United in Christ Ministries in Port Gibson. He also preach-

“If you’re thinking of farming, I’m also thinking of a restaurant. If I’m thinking of a

restaurant, I’m also thinking of cleaning a restaurant.”

Willie Green Natchez resident

es at Forest Grove Baptist Church in Fayette.

It’s the Sunday job — one that certainly overflows into every day of the week and one that doesn’t pay a penny — that Robertson enjoys the most.

“You’re teaching God’s Word, and you’re helping people to change their lives, and that’s what I like doing,” he said. “I love people. I love trying to help people.”

Robertson moved to Port Gibson from Texas four years ago. His wife is the lead pastor at their church. And though he’s busy, Robertson said God gives him the strength to get through it all and, even if things do get too busy, it’s unlikely he’ll abandon at least one of his jobs.

“No matter what, I’m always going to be a full-

time pastor,” Robertson said.

Willie Green

Willie Green worked shifts at International Paper for 25 years before the Natchez mill closed its doors. But he wasn’t left unprepared.

Green tried to diversify himself while working at the mill by working in janitorial services and as a farmer.

And in the years since IP closed, Green has taken on a number of jobs to make ends meet.

He currently owns Superior Janitorial and Maintenance Services, Bottom Land Entertainment and sells crops at the Natchez Farmers Market.

In his mind, the varied jobs are connected.

“If you’re thinking of farming, I’m also thinking of a restaurant,” Green said. “If I’m thinking of a restaurant, I’m also thinking of cleaning a restaurant.”

He spends his mornings cleaning for four to six hours, then he heads to the farm.

His entertainment business, which is still in the launch phase, aims to help local artists record, produce and sell music.

Green sees his busy lifestyle as normal.

“I’ve always had busy schedules,” Green said.

“I’ve always been kind of energetic.”

The more he does, the more energy he has, Green said. And he doesn’t plan to slow down.

“If one thing closes down, I’ve got something else going,” Green said.

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64 PROFILE 2016

If there is a guitar and a keyboard nearby, CJ Meaders, left, and Walton Jones are likely to be playing a few bars of music. The two Episcopal priests play a variety of music styles, including folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz and rock and roll.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

the

Rockin‘ collars

Episcopal priests let ministry move their music

D

on’t let the collar fool you — your priest just might be a funky friar.

CJ Meaders and Walton Jones comprise a two-man band with unusual — at least on the rock and roll circuit — day jobs. They’re both Episcopal priests.

“Just because we have collars doesn’t mean we’re stuffy, incredibly boring, and all we do is read,” Meaders said.

“Priests are people.”

Meaders, the chaplain at Trinity Episcopal Day School, and Jones, the pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, play a variety of music styles, including folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz and rock and roll.

“We’re kind of off the beaten path,” Meaders said. “It’s not usually stuff you hear on the radio. It’s stuff you’ve got to seek out because you love music.”

Jones said the band was called Bigfoot County when it had a third member, Jamie Blanton. They played mostly traditional bluegrass back then.

“We just play music we like, that we listen to,” Jones said.

Ever since Blanton moved away, the two men have been considering a new name for their priestly pairing.

“I suggested ‘Cosmic Guitar priests,’ but that’s just being silly,” Meaders said. “That’s our pattern, I think, not taking ourselves too seriously and having fun with it.”

Jones and Meaders haven’t played publicly in a few months because they have been focusing on a recording project.

Meaders has enlisted Jones’ help with a worship album, taking traditional hymns and setting them to fresh rhythms and updated melodies, while still giving reverence to their spiritual significance.

The album is in memory of Meaders’ childhood friend and fellow priestmusician, the Rev. Clay Toles, who died in the spring of 2015.

“There’s a close bond of people who play music together and do church stuff together,” Meaders said. “He couldn’t do anything but love. He had such a big heart. I miss him.”

The beginnings of the project were discovered in Toles’ home and given to Meaders, who took on the album’s completion in his honor.

“It’s really kind of a big deal to play and perform original music,” Meaders said. “It’s a level of vulnerability that’s difficult to get used to.”

Jones said he took on the project with Meaders because of its importance and musical interest.

Meaders and Jones met and played together at Camp Bratton-Green, an Episcopal summer camp near Jackson.

Jones was a staff member there in charge of the music ministry. Meaders also worked there as part of the music ministry.

It was there that Jones felt the call to be a priest.

“I started taking gigs to travel to other dioceses and lead music in retreats,” Jones said.

His music ministry brought him all over the country before he entered seminary.

Meanwhile, Meaders was taking over the summer camp position Jones had filled.

“Walton had a theatrical kind of mind and did musicals, could play any instrument under the sun, and he could teach,” Meaders said. “He was this amazing gift of musical activity, and then I had to come after him.”

Meaders, too, found a call to the priesthood at the summer camp.

“At a time in which I was questioning and searching, and kind of exploring my faith, music was always drawing me back to God and back to the church,” Meaders said. “Music was there even when I was searching outside of the tradition.”

The men continued to play together at annual retreats, and when they both were sent to Natchez after seminary, they started playing music together.

Story by Megan ashley Fink Photo by BEN HILLYER

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66 PROFILE 2016

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Trinity Episcopal Church rector the Rev. Walton Jones and Trinity Episcopal Day School chaplain the Rev. CJ Meaders use their musical talents as part of their ministry.

Jones said a new part of their The men continued to play together at annual retreats, and music ministry together began when they both were sent to Nat- in early February with informal chez after seminary, they started worship services that will continue on Thursday evenings durplaying music together.

Meaders said they’re very dif- ing Lent.

Jones said the music wouldn’t ferent as musicians, though.

“Get somebody else to start be as upbeat as some contempoplaying, and Walton will just fol- rary worship services.

“It’s a reflective blending of low,” Meaders said. “Walton can things appropribring his keyboard ate for that seato play with a band son,” Jones said. that just ar rived Fo r M e a d e r s, and could play. For music is not only me, I would take a a relaxing hobby long time to do that. but a form of reWalton is only limflection and worited by my ability ship. in this project.”

“This is my saJones said Meadcred space, the ers’ input as a singm u s i c I h ave, ” er and songwriter Meaders said. is foundational to “My songwriting the band. is kind of theolog“He is definitely ical. It’s kind of t a l e n t e d , ” Jo n e s only for me now, said. “CJ’s the guy but I recognize the that either writes need to get it out the songs or knows there.” the songs, and The public nasings the songs, t u re o f m u s i c, and I know very Meaders said, is few songs, but I can part of the minfollow along. I can istry. augment. I’m doing “If there is a what I normally do, pur pose or reawhich is hang onto son for us playing someone else’s projor us writing muect. I like to support CJ Meaders sic, and if there someone else’s viTrinity Episcopal Day School chaplain was an outcome sion and ideas.” that we desired, The album project is a departure from the for- I think it would be for people mer blues and folk cover band, not to only enjoy the music, but because it requires a lot of cre- to get something out of it in a ative re-writing and arranging. way that makes them think and “I’m sort of just jumping into reflect on their life,” Meaders that process with him,” Jones said. “That’s kind of a big aspiration.” said.

“If there is a purpose or reason for us playing or us writing music,

and if there was an outcome that we desired, I think it would be for people not to only enjoy the music, but to get something out of it in a way that makes them think and reflect on their life.”

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

67

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68 PROFILE 2016

Worship Guide First Presbyterian Church of Natchez

HOLY FAMILY

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Saturday Vigil 5:00pm Confession - Saturday 4-5pm • Sunday 8am 601-445-5700 • 16 Orange Avenue, Natchez

8:15 Worship-Stratton Chapel 9:15 Sunday School

100 North Hickory St. • Vidalia, LA • 318-336-7111 • Pastor Bill McCullin

10:10 Fellowship Coffee

SUNDAY Sunday School 9:15 a.m.

Worship 10:30 a.m. Sanctuary

10:30 Worship-Sanctuary

Wednesday Worship/Teaching (WOW) 6:30 p.m.-Sanctuary Activities and programs for children and youth all ages, all year!

COME CONNECT WITH US!

Home oF NAtcHez iN HiStoRiC PHotogRaPHS aND PReSByteRiaN PLaySCHooL

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THE BAPTIST MISSION

117 S. Pearl St., 601-442-2581, downtown Natchez, www.fpcnatchez.org

A church that worships God, loves others and serves the community.

The friendly church on Minor Street Order Of ServiCe Sunday School Each Sunday ...................................................................................9:45am 1st Sunday Worship ....................................................................................................11:00am 2nd Sunday Covenant Service..............................................................................11:00am Wednesday Prayer Service.............................................................................................Noon Thursday Prayer Service and Bible Study.................................... 6am and 7:30 pm 3rd Sunday Communion Service ........................................................................11:00am

GREATER MACEDONIA Baptist ChurCh

33 MiNoR St. • NatCHez • 601-442-2135 • Rev. CLiftoN e. MaRveL, PaStoR

Join us for service SUNDAY Holy Eucharist Rite 8 a.m.

Christian Education 9:15 a.m.

Holy Eucharist Rite II 10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Holy Eucharist/Holy Unction 5:30pm

THURSDAY Men’s Breakfast 7:15am at Parish Hall

Trinity Episcopal Church

The Reverend Walton Jones, Rector 305 South Commerce at Washington trinitynatchez.org • 601-445-8432

Sunday Mass 1:00pm Cranfield, MS

St. Mary Basilica 105 South Union Street Natchez, MS 445-5616 Rev. David O’Connor, Pastor

stmarybasilica@cableone.net

Order Of ServiCe fOr SuNdAy Men’s Prayer Meeting ................................9:30am Sunday School...............................................9:45am Children’s Church ...................................... 10:45am Morning Worship ...................................... 10:45am Evening Prayer Meeting ...........................5:30pm Evening Service.............................................6:00pm

WeeKeND MaSSeS Saturday 4:00pm CST • 5:00pm DST • Sunday 10:00am DaiLy Monday-Saturday, 8am

98 MCNeely rd, NAtChez, MS • 601-445-5135 • PAStOr BriAN MONehAN

Westminster Presbyterian Church (P.C.U.S.A.) SUNDAY Sunday School 9:45 am Sunday Worship 11:00 am Wednesday Choir Practice 5:00 pm All Buildings Handicap Accessible 33 Fatherland Rd, Natchez 601-442-2254

ReCoNCiLiatioN Saturdays 3:30pm CST • 4:30pm DST

Zion Chapel AME Church

Whether you are looking for a place to worship while you are visiting from out of town or are in need of a permanent church home, we invite you to worship with us.

Church School-8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Church Service-9:30 a.m.

Bible Study Tuesday-6:00 p.m.

Rev. Birdon Mitchell Jr., Pastor • 228 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr St

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

Psalms 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool!

Holy is he!

69

Worship Guide Abundant Life Church

147 Lower Woodville Road • Natchez, MS 601-442-0097 John and Vickie Collard, Pastors

Sunday Morning Worship ........................................ 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday Youth Service...........................................7:00 p.m.

Weekly Cell Group Meeting Call Office for Information

Bethel Church

204 Airport Rd • Vidalia, LA 318-336-HOPE (4673) Pastor Troy N. Thomas, Sr. Sunday Intercessory Prayer......10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Morning Worship .........................................11:00 a.m.

Tuesday Broadcast Record Night ............. 7:00 p.m.

Youth Outreach ( ages 12-17)

Mt. Sinai Baptist Church

1364 US Highway 61 South, Sibley, MS 39165 Reverend James Brooks, Pastor Sunday School ..... 1st, 2nd, & 4th Sundays 10 a.m.

3rd Sunday 1 p.m.

Youth Service .......................2nd Sunday 11:30 a.m.

Covenant & Testimonial Service .... 4th Sunday 11 a.m.

Prayer & Bible Study ....................... Each Thursday 5 p.m.

Nathaniel Baptist Church

Richland Baptist Church

Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ

1st Sunday School .................................... 10:00 a.m.

2nd Sunday School .....................................9:00 a.m.

2nd Sunday Worship Service................ 10:00 a.m.

3rd Sunday School ................................... 10:00 a.m.

3rd Sunday Covenant ............................. 11:00 a.m.

4th Sunday Communion Service ........ 11:00 a.m.

5030 Hwy. 33 S, Centreville, MS Pastor Robert Louis Scott, Jr. Sunday School Each Sunday ....................................10:00 a.m.

Worship Services ..................... 1st & 2nd Sunday 11:00 a.m.

Lord’s Supper...........................................3rd Sunday 11:00 a.m.

Youth Service...........................................4th Sunday 11:00 a.m.

Prayer Service & Bible Study.............Wednesday 6:00 p.m.

259 Country Club Dr, Natchez, MS 39120 (601) 442-4792 • Elder Johnny Ray Jackson, Pastor Sunday School ................................................................... 10 a.m.

Pastoral Worship ..................2nd and 4th Sunday, 6 p.m.

Joint Sunday School ...................................5th Sunday, TBA Prayer & Bible Study....................................................6:30 p.m.

Prayer ..........................................................................Friday, 7 p.m.

Hispanic Mass Sunday 2:00pm

Assumption Catholic Church

10 Morgantown Rd Natchez • (601) 442-7250

For information contact Deacon Linton Fitzgerald, Jr. 601-304--9776

Pilgrim

Missionary Baptist Church 117 Pilgrim Blvd, Natchez, mS • (601) 442-5767

Walking in Victory 1 Corinthians 15:57

Weekend Mass Sunday 8:30am

9922 River Road, MS Hwy 553 Church Hill, MS A Plantation Church Rev. Bruce T. Wells, Pastor

1st Sunday Communion Service ........ 11:00 a.m.

2nd Sunday & 4th Sunday Morning Worship ............. 11:00 a.m.

3rd Sunday Youth In Action Service... 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study ...... 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Melvin White

Jefferson Street

United Methodist Church 511 Jefferson Street, downtown Natchez Reverend John Kramer, Senior Pastor jeffersonstreetumc.org Sunday Sunday School...................................................9:15am Sunday Worship ............................................. 10:30am U.M.Y.F. ............................................................... 5:30pm Wednesday Supper ............................................................ 5:15 p.m.

Adult Program ............................................... 6:00 p.m.

Children’s Choir ............................................. 6:00 p.m.

UMYF Rec. Night ........................................... 6:00 p.m.

UMYF Bible Study ......................................... 7:00 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal ............................................. 7:00 p.m.

Childcare provided for all services.

For more information call 601-442-3795

70 PROFILE 2016

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

FROM THE LAND

71

Roxie family loves selling, sharing their harvest

A

nyone driving Missis- plowing by himself using a horse.

“When I got older I moved to a tracsippi 33 in Roxie at 5:30 a.m. has a fair chance tor,” Dennis said. “It doesn’t take of seeing activity at the long for you to get tired of walking.”

But he didn’t get tired of growing; McDaniel residence.

Dennis McDaniel is likely up and instead, he saw it as a necessity and a way of life. During his childhood about to tend to the 3.5-acre area of years, those who lived in rural areas land he refers to as a garden.

McDaniel and his wife Virginia didn’t eat if they didn’t grow.

Now, Dennis and Virginia put in farm snap beans, okra, tomatoes, watermelons, corn, cucumbers, approximately 20 hours each, per squash and more to sell at area mar- week, in the garden.

They had a house kets.

It’s not their prima- Story by Leah Schwarting built on Dennis’ family land, with some ry source of income, but it’s their most Photos by JAMEY HUDNALL help from their children and son-in-law, loved one. after Dennis bought Dennis works for the family business, McDaniel Log- the land from an aunt 28 years ago.

The couple has invested time and ging Co., full time, and Virginia serves as the bookkeeper, but it’s his money into the growing plot, includgarden that comes most naturally, ing developing a system by which to Dennis said. The land he farms orig- protect their crops.

“The only way I can raise a garinally belonged to his grandfather, who was a full-time farmer. Dennis den here is I put an 8-foot wire fence around it,” Dennis said. was his full-time helper.

And the fence is just to protect “As a kid, it wasn’t a choice,” Denfrom deer. Rabbits are also a considnis said. “It was a command.”

His father, who worked in an oil eration, Virginia said, but they’re not as bad as another creature — field, made sure he did the work.

By the time he was 5 Dennis was raccoons.

At left, Dennis McDaniel, his wife Virginia and their son Andy McDaniel tend a 3.5-acre garden behind their house where they grow produce to sell at farmers’ markets in Natchez, Vidalia and across the region.

72 PROFILE 2016 “They’ll eat corn, and they’ll eat your water- a planter, a mechanical attachment for the tracmelons,” Dennis said. “They can ruin a water- tor. Tomatoes, however, are planted by hand.

They can’t touch the ground either. Even in melon patch in two nights. Or corn.”

To keep them out, Dennis said he has electric the winter, Dennis and Virginia still have woodwire running around crops they’re interested en stakes around the house, used to tie up the in, crops, which, until approximately two years plants.

“It just takes a little back,” Dennis said. “A ago, were for private use only.

A conversation with a cousin inspired Dennis sore back sometimes.”

A sore back isn’t the only ailment they’ve and Virginia to try their hand at selling what worked through over the years. Virginia rethey grow. calls bruises, blisters, even “I realized not all people working with a squamous — raise a garden, but all people a cancerous growth — on one eat out of a garden,” Dennis of her fingers. said.

Farming is a physically in“I’ve learned one thing: if tensive occupation, with variyou can raise it, they’ll buy ables often out of the farmit.” er’s control.

But a crop from Virginia’s One year, a late frost meant childhood, tomatoes, has approximately 600 tomato proved to be their biggest plants had to be covered up. seller.

Dennis McDaniel But in addition to basic Virginia grew up on Old Roxie farmer care, spraying and weeding, Washington and Morgantown Virginia adds a little extra roads in Natchez. Her parents were Italian, and her father worked at a box fac- love in the garden.

She talks to the plants to help them grow. She tory making wooden crates, while her mother compares it to therapy, saying it makes her feel worked at manufacturing facilities. better.

But her parents always kept a small garden.

Dennis, however, doesn’t share her habit. For “Just a few rows of tomatoes and whatever him, therapy is work. they liked,” Virginia said.

“I actually like working at this point,” DenVirginia’s childhood experiences with tomatoes have paid off tenfold, Dennis said. The cou- nis said.

But, even when the time comes for harvest, ple has sold more than 1,000 pounds of tomatoes.

“That’s what everybody’s looking for — toma- the challenges keep coming.

“Sometimes it’s overwhelming because a lot toes,” Dennis said.

Tomato plants can be hard work though. A of times when we plant we don’t realize that lot of the planting for the garden is done with everything’s going to come up all at once,” Vir-

“I realized not all people raise a garden, but all people eat out of a garden.”

ginia said.

When that happens, they have to call in the cavalry — their family.

And they have a lot of family from which to choose. The area is populated by their cousins, children and grandchildren as well as Dennis’ siblings.

“We’re like a village,” Dennis said.

It’s a village that comes together, especially for harvest time. Corn is particularly labor intensive, since it has to be shucked, blanched, packed and put away in the freezer.

“We’re proud of our grandchildren,” Virginia said. “They do help some, and our kids, too.”

It’s not completely altruistic though, as corn is their favorite thing to eat. They won’t say no to other vegetables though, such as butterbeans and the all-important tomato.

After that, it’s off to the market. Their produce can be found at the Natchez Farmer’s Market, as well as the farmer’s market in Vidalia.

Sometimes they’ve even gone to Brookhaven and McComb, meeting old friends and basking in the compliments of their customers.

“You meet all kinds of different people, and we have a good time,” Virginia said. “We enjoy it.”

But it’s not entirely a commercial venture.

While the couple is trying to make a profit, it can get expensive to keep it going.

Right now, they’re just about breaking even.

Instead, it’s a love for the land and watching things grow that drives Dennis up at 5:30 a.m.

“You have to enjoy it too,” Dennis said. “That’s the biggest part of it.”

Virginia agrees on all accounts except the early rising. That’s something she does, “If I have to,” she said.

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

73

74 PROFILE 2016

MM C ndidates

eeteet thethe

Mike Lazarus

C ndidates AuGust 4 November 3 Mississippi

Candidate for

Supervisor District 1

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e

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“IT’S NOT JUST A JOB, Municipal Judge IT’S ACourt COMMITMENT.” Candidate for

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75

76 PROFILE 2016

TOUCHDOWN

MEMORIES

Players from football past recall gridiron memories

T

oday, football at area high schools is measured by athleticism, finesse and devoted weight systems, but in the 1980s, the game was determined by toughness

tian School weren’t in it to make their mothers smile.

Boyd White, Whest Shirley and team had gained a new star player — James Clary, a transfer from South Natchez. and grit.

Clary’s team had won the state title the The stars of yesterday live to tell the tales year prior, and he brought a winning at— and to see the transfortitude to the Rebel proStory by JAKE MARTIN mation. gram. That’s not all he When six football brought, his former standouts from four area teammates rememPhoto by SAm GAUSE schools gathered this fall bered. to reminisce on the footBefore a playoff game ball field, the memories were of power and in 1982, Boyd said head coach Bobby Marks passion. gave a scouting report on the opposing team, saying the running back had an inWho’s the meanest?

With their eyes on a state championship jured knee.

Minutes before kickoff Clary found the in 1982, the boys at Adams County Chris-

Former football standouts, above from left, Tom Graning, Reagan White, Bernie Cooley, Michelle Brooks, Whest Shirley, Boyd White sat down to reminisce about their football memories.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

injured running back in the locker room.

“Which one of your knees is hurt?’ James asked him, to which he replied, ‘That’s none of your business,’” Boyd recalled. “(James) said, ‘That’s alright, we’ll find out which one it is.’

“That running back was sitting on the sideline after the first quarter.”

Taking knees out was simply part of the game in the 1980s.

In fact, an undersized Reagan White at Cathedral School said he had no other choice if he was going to play the game.

“I lived by cutting people down the field,” Reagan White said.

Everyone did, Shirley agreed.

“Back in the day, it was smash mouth, here it comes,” Shirley said. “It was who was the meanest.”

Who wants it most?

To be a starting linebacker for South Natchez, you had to have passion.

Michelle Brooks, who was a linebacker who prided himself on dishing out punishment at South Natchez from 1980-82, recalled his playing days under coach Ed Reed.

At South Natchez, Reed won the Big Eight Conference championship in 1980 and won Mississippi’s first Class 5A championship by a playoff system in 1981. Brooks was a member of both teams.

Reed was strict, stern and you guessed it, tough, Brooks said. He had his set of rules, and those who didn’t follow would be punished for it, no matter what day of the week it was.

“Coach Reed didn’t allow talking or listening to music or anything,” Brooks said. “If he caught you doing something like that before the game, he would come up to you and make you run a mile before the game.”

And if the team showed a lack of discipline on Friday nights, Reed would host a practice immediately following the game.

The coach’s rules and expectations built a desire for the best among the players. It was a passion for the W that held true at other area schools too, Reagan White said.

During Cathedral’s halftime breaks, White found his own method to renew the passion.

He drank one Coke after another before heading back onto the football field to receive the kickoff for the Green Wave.

The sugar rush combined with nerves often created a fertilizing concoction on the kickoff after the break.

“I’d throw-up, put my mouthpiece back in, and take off,” White said.

Glory wasn’t always pretty for football players in the 1980s, but neither was the game itself.

The game was about winning; and the Miss-Lou teams won.

“Back in those days, it was a big respect thing because everybody was winning, and nobody was scared of anybody else,” said Bernie Cooley, a former Vidalia High School player. “(There) wasn’t a school in the area that wasn’t winning back then.”

South Natchez won the state championship in 1981; ACCS won the state championship the year after; Cathedral was posting 10-win seasons before Trinity won the state championship later in 1989.

Meanwhile, Ferriday and Vidalia met each other undefeated in 1984 with the winner taking the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

“The talent that was around the area at that time, you could’ve beaten some junior colleges,” Reagan White said.

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Who’s the smartest?

That game of the 1980s is gone. Today, football is not as much about power and passion as it is about smarts, the seasoned athletes admit.

Tom Graning, a 1984 Cathedral High School graduate who coaches for the Green Wave today, said the biggest difference in today and 30 years ago is the evolution of the game.

“You have to be smarter today,” Graning said. “There are a lot better athletes today, faster and stronger, but I don’t see the same passion as we had.”

Shirley — who is the principal at Vidalia Junior High School now — agreed. Today’s players have to be smarter, he said.

“From what I see, it’s a lot more finesse,” Shirley said.

So have brains and finesse replaced power and passion on the football field for good? Only time, and maybe four more decades, will tell.

Pride, community, community, place: place: Pride, brought to to you you best brought best by by your local newspaper your local newspaper.

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78 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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80 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

IN THE NEWS

Readers from Woodville to Natchez and into Louisiana keep informed about what is happening in their communities through the pages of The Woodville Republican, the Catahoula News-Booster and The Bluff City Post .

Area newspapermen keep communities informed

A

“Somebody had spilled a truck load of ndy Lewis was trying to interview the warden of the lo- fish heads and guts at the intersection of cal state prison, and his phone Mississippi 24 and U.S. 61,” Lewis said. “Evwas blowing up about fish guts. erybody was calling and texting me about The interview with the war- it, wanting me to come get a picture of it den was for a general interest newspa- — and that’s how it goes. There’s only one of me, and I can’t be in two per article about the prison, Wilkinson County Correc- Story by Vershal Hogan places. Any time you call me, it’s an ebb and flow” tional, which houses prisonLewis is the publisher, ers for the state and is a sigPhotos by TIM GIVENS editor, reporter and phonificant employer in Woodtographer for The Woodville. It was, Lewis said, an ville Republican, a weekly newspaper with important meeting.

But those fish guts kept getting in the a masthead that proudly proclaims itself as Mississippi’s oldest newspaper, established way.

in 1824. It’s been in the Lewis family since his great-grandfather purchased it in 1879, and Andy officially became editor one day in 1981 when his father said, “Alright, today you are the editor.”

“My father told me we have two businesses, and any of y’all can move into them, and I was the only one crazy enough to become a newspaper publisher,” Lewis said.

“It didn’t change my duties; just my title. I went from office flunky to editor.”

Even though it’s been in continuous operation since it was founded, the newspaper has never been a big operation. When Lewis was a child, the paper was published

81

82 PROFILE 2016

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

The Republican serves as the official journal for by hand-set type, and he would help run the press, standing on a box and feeding in one sheet of paper at a time. Wilkinson County, the Town of Woodville and the lo“When we got out of school on the days we published, cal board of education, so it will always have a place I was not able to leave the block,” he said. “I had to spend of some importance in the community. But Lewis said several hours helping hand-fold papers. We’d be playing there’s another reason why it serves as a vital and living baseball, and I’d hear my daddy call my name, and my institution in Woodville.

“The news I generally print can be found nowhere else friends would hear and run because daddy might put — I am a community newspaper,” he said. “What goes them to work, too.”

Later the newspaper bought a sheet-fed press and held on in Adams County is generally not in my paper unonto that until it was one of only two in the state that less it has to do with someone in my county. Ninety-eight hadn’t converted to an offset press, the process used by percent of it, you are not going to see it anywhere else.

“I have people tell me every week keep up the good most modern newspaper printers. The Republican made that switch in 1984, first paying to have the newspaper news we can’t do it without you. Insurance is more profprinted in Amite, La., and later in Natchez, a switch that itable for the hours I spend in it, but if I wanted to slow down, I would stay in the newspaper business, because saved him 92 miles round trip.

“We wanted to stay the old way as long as we could, and I love it.”

Oh, and those fish guts? He was able, in the end, to get we did,” Lewis said. “I’ve had a lot of people ask why we haven’t added a website, but first that would be another a picture. It ran on the front page. job I had to do, but also I want people to stay connected William Terrell to me. We are the oldest paper in the state, and if you When William Terrell walks into the Franklin Street want it, you aren’t going to get it electronically, you will office of The Bluff City Post in Natchez, there’s a good get it by paper.” chance he’s been at work for several hours.

When The Republican switched to page A twice-monthly newspaper that caters design by computer in the early 1990s, its coverage to events and issues that might Lewis bought an Apple Macintosh and be of particular interest to the black comtaught himself how to use it in three munity, The Post is largely a family affair weeks. He may have worked with handthese days. lettering, linotype and a compugraphic Terrell’s wife, Flora Terrell, and his sismachine, but he’d never had a computter-in-law, Juanita Jones, serve as the page er class before switching his newspaper designers. Jones is also editor, and Terrell’s over. daughter Danielle and brother-in-law AlHis education was rooted in newspabert Jones also contribute. pers, though. Lewis knew he wanted to Terrell is the publisher, reporter and main stay in Woodville, so he majored in jourphotographer for the newspaper, which he nalism and minored in English at the co-founded with two other men in 1978.

University of Southern Mississippi. He But, because it’s a small operation, he’s returned to the newspaper after gradualso the delivery boy, dropping off approxiation and started work. mately half of the subscriptions himself.

These days, that means doing nearly It’s a job he splits over several days after everything. the printing is done.

“All the board meetings, the supervi“I have a mental schedule for every day,” Andy Lewis sors, the board of aldermen, the board Terrell said. “I get up early in the morning, Woodville Republican owner of education, I attend all those meetings and do it every morning if the weather is myself,” he said. “I write all the high good because I have so many areas I go to. school football games — one I cover and Then I make it into the office by 9 a.m.” the other one have them send the inforThe other half of subscriptions are sent mation, but I write it myself.” by mail.

Crime coverage? That’s his job. Elections? That’s him, “The ability to mail can save you a lot of money, betoo. Obituaries, club meetings and photography all fall cause if you’ve only got two people down in Doloroso to him as well. to deliver to, you’d spend more in gas than by mail,” Lewis’ wife, Lili Lewis, writes up social news, sells ad- he said. “And a lot of our mail-outs go out across the vertising and serves as associate editor. Frances Deve- country.” ning serves as typesetter, and a few members of the comWhen The Post was founded, Terrell had been in the munity — pastors, the extension service agent — submit military — he served in South Korea during the Vieteditorial columns. nam Conflict — and had worked at Diamond InternaLewis has a bookkeeper who also serves as the sec- tional, which had closed up its Natchez factory. retary for the family insurance business, which he has He and two other men — Alex Green, a public relaalso taken over, an act that requires a certain amount tions specialist, and Theodore C. Johnson, an experiof balancing. enced newspaper publisher — saw a need in Natchez “We publish on Tuesday, and Mondays I try to stick and decided to start the business. to newspapers, and Tuesdays I pretty much have to, but “We founded it because there was news we wanted to there are emergencies that I have to handle whether I get out in the community, and we couldn’t seem to get want to or not,” he said. “Insurance has deadlines; news- it out,” he said. “There were some issues that were very papers have deadlines. I am never full-time at either important to the African-American community, and we because I am always doing something from one phone wanted to make sure they got that information and that call to the next.” it would be helpful to them.”

“We are the oldest paper in the state,

and if you want it, you aren’t going to get it electronically, you will get it by paper.”

The Woodville Republican publisher and owner Andy Lewis, left, continues to publish Mississippi’s oldest newspaper, which was established in 1824. Today the newspaper that covers Woodville and Wilkinson County keeps Lewis busy most days as he covers most of the news and takes many of the photographs the newspaper publishes.

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84 PROFILE 2016

William Terrell, above, started The Bluff City Post with Alex Green and Theodore C. Johnson in 1978. More than 30 years later, Terrell continues to operate the business doing everything from taking photos and writing stories to delivering the newspaper twice a month.

Green was the salesman, Johnson was the publisher and Terrell “was running from place to place.”

“They said I was the young person, so it was my job to go from this place to that place,” he said. “I learned everything from Mr. Johnson, and learning from him, we learned (to) newspaper the old way. We typed it up, pasted it up, and learned the art of the newspaper — what goes where, what goes on the front and on the editorial page.”

The newspaper was named The Bluff City Post because the publishers wanted a neutral but traditional newspaper name, without necessarily reflecting politics or race.

Initially, the offices were in a Masonic Hall, and copies of the newspaper were printed on The Concordia Sentinel’s press. Approximately 30 years ago, printing was moved to The Natchez Democrat.

Gathering news for The Post is a two-

pronged process. Often, members of the community will contact the newspaper and tell them about events they want covered. When Terrell can’t make an event, he asks them to write a submission. When he can make it, Terrell is often dashing from one story to the next.

“It is a collaboration between both the community and newspaper,” he said.

“Most do great jobs (when I ask for a submission), because they want the word to get out, and we are thankful our word does get out — we are pleased that the churches support us so well, (as well as) the different sororities and fraternities and different business groups.”

Local writers and long-time voices in the community submit editorial content.

Even though attorney George F. West Jr. has since moved out of Natchez, he still writes a column for The Post.

Some graphic design is done ahead of time, but because things change and the

newspaper goes two weeks between editions, sometimes that means in the last two days before going to press The Post often has to rearrange things.

Terrell said he believes The Post still plays an important role in the community, 38 years after its founding.

“People sometimes get mixed up, but the African-American newspaper doesn’t aim to compete with the daily newspaper,” he said.

“There are so many things that go on in Washington and Jackson that are important to us. That is the role of the AfricanAmerican newspaper, to keep us informed of different things in the community, the state and country that is important to us, especially when it comes to voting campaigns and candidates running for office.

(Our readers) look for where we stand, how we see things for the election and different things like that — it is very important we play that role.”

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

to the newspaper.

A local writer, Bill Bullock, contributes stories about the Town of Jonesville, and a local woman, Alma Womack, writes an opinion column titled “Black River Lagniappe.”

“The fewer people you have, you have to rely on the community more,” Clifton said. “The new phones have really come into play, because people will see something Will Clifton In Catahoula Parish, the news that is interesting and take a picture.” has two speeds — the speed of Often, Catahoula’s rural status light or the speed of molasses.

Will Clifton has been clocking that will mean the lead story in the newspaper is about the last paspeed since 1997.

Since 2006, when he bought the rade. Other times, the front page Catahoula News-Booster from his has been dominated with stories father, there’s never been more of plane crashes, triple homicides and malfeasance in office. than two staffers in the office of “Either you are moving at a snail the newspaper that serves as the pace or 90 miles an hour,” Clifofficial journal for the towns of ton said. “You have Jonesville and Harnothing to put in risonburg, the Tenand then you don’t sas levee basin dishave any room. I am trict and all of the in and out so often, I local water departjust have to rely on ments. notes on the door For the last three saying when I will years, the staff been be back.” only Clifton and a Some factors part-time employee make reporting difwho works classificult. The newspafieds and lifestyle per goes to press on announcements.

Tuesday evenings, “A ny t h i n g e l s e and the parish you can think of is school board and me, including delivthe Town of Jonesery,” he said. ville’s board meet The weekly newsWill Clifton on Tuesdays. paper has been in Catahoula News-Booster owner “Mondays it is the family since just me in the of1988, when Clifton’s fice,” Clifton said. father left The Con“I put together lecordia Sentinel and bought the News-Booster. When gal ads, whatever sports we might Clifton joined the newspaper as have, obituaries. Tuesday we do editor, he’d been working as a everything else — classifieds, credit manager at a furniture front page, editorial, and I try to have it done somewhere between store.

“We weren’t even sure I was go- 3 and 5.”

But despite the sometimes hecing to be able to do the job,” he said. “I had always written since tic schedule — which includes jughigh school, little stories, but it gling having a teenage daughter was definitely different, a learn- who is active in cheerleading and school — it’s worth it, Clifton said. as-you-go thing.”

“It is fun,” he said. “You have Learning as you go means doing lots of reporting and photog- to learn to wear a lot of different raphy yourself, but also with the hats, and not make the same mishelp of others. One woman in Sic- take twice.

“To me, the fun part of the job ily Island takes photos at football is not doing the same thing every games for him, while members of the community often take pictures day. It is something different evof other things and submit them ery day.”

And while The Post’s content is tailored to its audience, it’s always been well-integrated in the community, Terrell said.

“When you look in the paper, the advertisers from the white community, 90 percent of those have been with us since we started in 1978,” he said. “And we are so thankful they have thought enough to stay with us.”

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88 PROFILE 2016

WHY NATCHEZ T

hey may only stay in Natchez for a night or two, breezing in and out of antebellum mansions and cozying up at any one of the many local bed and breakfasts or hotels.

With a camera strapped around their necks and comfortable attire, they’re easy to spot.

Chances are they’ve traveled hundreds of miles — or maybe even overseas — just to catch a glimpse of that quintessential Southern charm, and the moment they speak, you know they’re not natives.

Tourists, for decades, have driven the local economy — keeping countless shops, restaurants and hotels in business.

What draws them to our place?

The answer is multi-faceted, and ever expanding.

Southern swooning

Gail Proffitt takes a moment to step away from her homemade breakfast at Aunt Clara’s Cottage on North Union Street.

The cottage is an extension of the Devereux Shields House; a local bed and breakfast owned

by Ron and Eleanor Fry. After spending two days in Natchez with her

?

What attracts tourists to this place

husband Jim, Proffitt said she can testify with certainty that her assumptions about Natchez were accurate.

“A couple of years ago, there was an article in the St. Louis Dispatch about Natchez,” recalled Proffitt, who hails from St. Louis. “The article was very complimentary, and talked all about Spring Pilgrimage.”

When the couple decided to make the more than nine-hour drive down to Natchez, they dis-

covered that almost every room was booked for the 2015 Fall Pilgrimage.

That didn’t deter them, though.

After using Trip Advisor — an online travel review site — the couple booked their stay at the Devereux Shields House, and began drafting an itinerary packed with antebellum house tours and tastes of local fare.

“There is such hospitality here,” Proffitt said from a rocking chair on the cottage’s front porch, listening to the pitter-patter of light morning rain. “And there seems to be a harmony among people, regardless of color.”

As Proffitt reminisces about touring Rosalie, Stanton Hall and Auburn the previous day, one of her newfound friends steps out onto the porch.

They didn’t know each other until the day before.

“We’ve all become friends here,” said Carol Alexander, who traveled all the way from England with her husband, Ian, to discover what shrimp and grits taste like and to hear the smooth sound of a saxophone in the Big Easy.

Alexander started her Southern voyage in Missouri, making her way down to New Orleans.

Story by Sarah Cook | Photos by Sam gause

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

89

Gail and Jim Proffitt of St. Louis visited Natchez during Fall Pilgrimage, touring Longwood, among other historic properties, and staying at Aunt Clara’s Cottage at the Devereaux Shields House.

The couple was expecting hospitality and certainly found it, they said.

90 PROFILE 2016

Charles and Jeannette Wallschlaeger of Columbus, Ohio, said the houses, food and hospitality made their two-day stay in Natchez memorable. The couple is pictured outside Aunt Clara’s Cottage, where they stayed.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

She said she knew Natchez would be a two-day detour on her trip.

“We found Natchez to be a lovely place to stop,” Alexander said, her English accent blending in nicely with Proffitt’s Midwest dialect. “We travel quiet a lot.”

On Alexander’s trip, Natchez joined the likes of Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville.

Alexander wanted to see it all, she said.

“I would love to come back to Natchez someday. It’s just quite a long way for us,” she said with a laugh.

While visiting, Alexander’s itinerary boasted all the usual tourist highpoints — such as watching the sunset from the Bridge of Sighs and admiring Longwood’s peculiar architecture.

What stood out most to Alexander, however — and Proffitt agreed — was the friendliness the city showcased.

“St. Louis can be a very divided community,” Proffitt admitted. “But people here seem to be a lot dif ferent.

They’ re very, very warm.”

The colorful sights that weave through Natchez’s rich cultural tapestry also enticed Charles and Jeannette Wallschlaeger to make their maiden voyage to the Miss-Lou. The Wallschlaegers, who also stayed at the Devereux Shields House, said at age 84, nothing is stopping them from seeing the world. In the United States alone, they’ve Jeanette Wallschlaeger visited all but one Natchez tourist state.

“We have traveled a lot in the world and in the United States, but this is our first time to see Natchez,” Jeannette said, seated in another rocker on the cottage porch.

“We are Northerners,” Charles chimed in with a laugh. “You can probably tell by the way we speak.”

The couple calls Columbus, Ohio, home, but after a two-day stay in Natchez, they said they might as well be back in their home state.

Natchez has a way of casting a warm welcome to anyone who takes up temporary stay, Jeannette said.

“The homes, the food — it’s just all been wonderful, and so Southern,” she gushed. “Even the rolls at Stanton Hall tasted like they were deep fried!”

The couple said it was the antebellum houses that initially enticed them to visit, but seeing the contrast between Northern and Southern culture — that was a true treat, Jeannette said.

“Charles loved the cheese grits,” Jeannette said with a sly smile, nudging her husband. “There really is a difference between the North and the South, and we’ve loved seeing this culture. It’s small town charm.”

91

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92 PROFILE 2016

Coming back for more

Matt Torgeson’s roots run deep in Natchez, and his sights fly high.

He’s one of many who come to Natchez every year for the annual Great Mississippi River Balloon Race.

While visiting the Miss-Lou, Torgeson said he has gained a handful of friends, and more stories than he can count.

“It’s kind of like a kid going off to college and coming home and his bedroom is just the way he left it,” Torgeson said of returning to Natchez each year. “It’s familiar now.”

His dad was the one who got him interested in ballooning initially.

“As long as I can remember, my dad came here for the race,” he said.

After graduating from Delta State University, the Meridian native followed in his father’s footsteps and began his own annual Natchez trip.

Now, with a wife and children, Torgeson hasn’t let his annual tradition die.

“We’ve made friends not just in this community, but other people who come to see this event,” he said. “They’ve become lifelong friends.”

One of those friends is Andrew Holly, who lives outside London and owns Exclusive Ballooning, an aerial marketing

agency.

Every year he’s come to Natchez, Holly said he and Torgeson have a great time navigating the Miss-Lou skies.

One year in particular, however, sticks out in his mind though, Holly said.

“It was on Sunday, and the organizers asked me if I would fly for the crowd because I was the most experienced pilot left there,” Holly remembered. “I said, ‘sure.’”

What Holly didn’t account for, however, were the strong winds that would cause him to drift north toward Anna’s Bottom — an area with which he was unfamiliar.

When landing a hot-air balloon, Holly explained, it’s best to be in an open field free of any telephone wires.

When he finally found a clearing, he was greeted by a few native Miss-Lou critters — and one reptile.

“So I’m about a mile and a half from the road, the sun is going down, and I have to move through all this tall grass along the side of this pond,” Holly reminisced. “And the first thing I see is a sign that says ‘Danger: Alligators.’”

The threat of alligators is something that has never crossed his mind before, Holly said.

“On a terrified scale of 1 to 10, I was at about 104,” he said with a laugh.

“The homes, the food — it’s just all been wonderful, and so Southern. Even the rolls at Stanton Hall tasted like they were deep fried!”

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94 PROFILE 2016

Carol Alexander and her husband Ian came to Natchez in the fall from England. The couple visited the South starting in Missouri and heading to New Orleans. Natchez and The Burn, behind them, was a stop along the way.

While on the ground, Holly spotted another Southern species, too. This one, however, didn’t scare him initially.

Looking back, though, Holly said he probably should have exercised more caution when crossing the creature — an armadillo.

“If you’re British, an armadillo looks like something you want to go play with and take pictures of,” he said. “I soon learned an armadillo is very dangerous — and not very friendly.”

Holly eventually made it to safety after navigating through the swampy terrain — but he said Natchez certainly gave him a fright, and a few laughs, in the process.

“Just FYI, if you come across an armadillo — leave it alone,” he cautioned.

Torgeson was quick to add that despite Holly’s brush with unfriendly Miss-Lou animals, there was one furry friend that stole his heart.

During the 2008 race, the pair landed near the Fruit of the Loom facility in Vidalia.

While no one was looking, Torgeson said a stray puppy hopped in the truck — lodging itself in the dashboard.

“In England, you find a lost dog, and you think about the 6-year-old girl out there who lost her puppy,” Holly said. “Over here, of course, there are a lot of strays — but we’re not socially conditioned to accept that norm.”

After asking around if anyone had lost a puppy, Holly said it soon became clear that this mutt was homeless.

There was only one logical solution, he said.

“He gave me that look at the right moment, and that’s when I decided he was mine,” he said.

The dog had to stay in Mississippi for several months with Torgeson before it could officially make its overseas voyage to join

Holly.

Holly said after all the shots and veterinary bills, the easiest decision to make was what the dog’s name would be.

“We named him Natchez, and he’s lived with us ever since,” he said.

Holly said making friends in Natchez has always been easy — mostly because of the community’s friendliness.

“We have endless stories of Natchez,” he said. “We look forward to coming here every year.”

And although they only come to Natchez but once a year, Torgeson and Holly said the city has become a home away from home — a place where friends become family.

“To me, Natchez is just always the same,” Torgeson said. “You just pick up where you left off with these friendships. We have a lot of deep roots here, and I don’t think that will ever change.”

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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96 PROFILE 2016

Signs of a heart attack are rarely this obvious.

During a heart attack, every minute matters.

So, know the warning signs. If you experience them, call 911 and get to the nearest emergency room.

And know that Merit Health Natchez is here to help when you need us.

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89921_NATC_HAWS_9_5x11_2c.indd 1

2/3/16 11:33 AM

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

Dedicated to helping you and your family live a healthier life.

Because there’s Merit in well-being.

Whether you’re an existing patient or looking for a new doctor in the Natchez area, you can feel confident turning here for trusted, compassionate care. Simply call one of the numbers listed below to schedule your appointment today.

Ruth Darg, M.D.

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Primary Care 150 Jeff Davis Blvd., Suite 140 601-445-4616

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Daniel McCallum, M.D.

Carl Passman, M.D.

Orthopedics 46 Sgt. Prentiss Dr., Suite 103 601-442-9654

89921_NATC_MHMGClinic_9_5x11_2c.indd 1

Leigh Wolfe, FNP-BC

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2/3/16 11:30 AM

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98 PROFILE 2016

Vidalia brothers Seth Hughes, left, and Tance Hughes left college to start their own businesses. Seth launched Metal Unlimited in the fall of 2014 and Tance Hughes runs Southern Designs, a business started by his family when he was a senior in high school.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

Swimming with sharks

Young entrepreneurs take leap into starting businesses

A

new trend is claiming the country’s a laptop or an iPad, they can start a business and 20-somethings, and it’s not bell-bot- they can be successful. There is ease of entry for a young entrepreneur today. It’s not a capital intoms, hip-hop or sushi. vestment.

It’s entrepreneurship.

“These guys’ investment may be $300; they are Members of the newest generation to hit the workforce aren’t looking not at risk for a lot of stuff if it doesn’t make it.”

Without the need for a storefront or even an offor a job; they are making one.

And, for some, it’s working, said Charles fice building, combined with the ease crowd sourcD’Agostino, executive director of the LSU Inno- ing websites provide for collecting start-up cash, today’s entrepreneurs might as well roll the dice, vation Park.

Starting your career by starting your own busi- D’Agostino said.

Besides, it’s what this generation wants. ness is more than a trend, though, D’Agostino said; “They are people who want instant gratificait’s here to stay.

“It’s totally acceptable to be an entrepreneur to- tion,” he said. “They don’t want to work for a comday,” he said. “In my era, people would think you pany for 25 years. They are looking to do something were stupid or that you couldn’t get a job. Today, now and get the check in the mail tomorrow.”

Of course, not everyone succeeds. there are so many entities that will help you do “Others busted out and got a day job,” he said. it right.”

And, for the most part, they did LSU’s Innovation Park currentso without much harm done. After ly houses approximately 30 busiStory by jake Martin all, being young and single is the nesses through its student busibest time of all to take a few risks. ness incubator, which started in 2010. Three companies that got Photos by JAMEY HUDNALL Just ask a few locals who’ve found luck with rolling the dice so far. their start through the incubator are now generating $1 million or Hughes brothers more a year, D’Agostino said.

Tance Hughes, 25, was sitting in a business class Among those the incubator has worked with is at Louisiana State University as a freshman when Tin Roof Brewing Co., which was started and con- a guest speaker said something he’d never forget. tinues to be operated by Natchez natives Charles Todd Graves, the owner of Raising Cane’s ChickCaldwell and William McGehee. en Fingers restaurant, was speaking about entreD’Agostino’s job is to open doors and be the preneurship, and his words resonated with Hughes. coach.

“He told us when he did a project in college, he “Young entrepreneurs are smarter than me,” he came up with a business plan, and it was Cane’s,” said. “But they don’t have the network. My role is Hughes said. “His professor gave him a C, and he to help them build a network, with investors, bank was basically like, ‘I’m going to go out and do this presidents, attorneys.” anyway,’ and started it. I heard that, and I was just But even for those young folks who don’t have like, ‘I don’t need to go to school either.’” the close assistance of an incubator, starting a Back home in Vidalia, Hughes’ family was albusiness today is easier than it has ever been, ready running a T-shirt monogram business, D’Agostino said.

Southern Designs. The family started it when “If I was to start a company back in the 1970s, I Hughes was a senior in high school, and Hughes needed to raise a lot of money,” he said. “But with played a major role in the daily operations.

After enrolling at LSU, Hughes’ role in the business became a long-distance one, but his interest and passion didn’t wane.

So when he decided to drop out of LSU and return home to run the business, the announcement did not completely shock his girlfriend Lesley Pomeroy. After class, Tance had a video conference call with Lesley, who is now his wife.

“He just said, ‘I don’t know if school is for me,’” Lesley said.

Soon, Hughes dropped out of LSU mid-semester.

Seven years have passed since the inception of Southern Designs, and business is thriving. Better yet, Tance never regretted his decision to leave LSU and run things at home.

“I already have a business established, so why not take it and run with? That’s what I did,” Tance said.

Starting a family business was difficult for reasons that most might not assume. Creating sales turned out to be one of the easier processes to go through, but establishing a system and figuring out a routine for every worker in the company to abide by was the most difficult part.

It took years, but Hughes put together a business formula that has helped Southern Designs succeed in Vidalia. And because business was booming for the young startup, growth in both space and employees was needed. The company moved into its new building on U.S. 84 in February 2014.

“When we just started out it basically was just me and my mom working,” Tance said. “Now, we have 14 employees.”

One of those employees is his brother, Seth Hughes, 23, who started his own company — Metal Unlimited — also known as SemaFab, which is operated under Southern Designs and Gifts LLC. Metal Unlimited began in September 2014, but Seth’s journey to owning his own fabrication business began much like his brother’s.

Seth attended Louisiana Tech for two and a half years trying to earn a degree in business administration before he decided to leave college and re-

99

100 PROFILE 2016 return home to work with Miss-Lou Steel Supply in Natchez.

“Hands on stuff, I’m good at, so it came natural,” Seth said.

Seth started work under Doug Scruggs at the company in 2013, and Seth told Scruggs that one day he would like to run his own fabrication business.

Because Southern Designs was looking to expand in 2014, Tance was considering the purchase of a plasma table, which piqued Seth’s interest.

“They wanted a plasma table, and I was familiar with it,” Seth said. “Tance and Dad were wanting it for signs.

I was messing with one over there, and we were just like, ‘Well, we’ll start up a fabrication business.’”

Seth told Miss-Lou Steel that he was going to open his own place up, and shortly after he ended his work with the company in March 2014, preparation began for Metal Unlimited.

The family took the summer setting up the business and launched Metal Unlimited in the fall.

In a year’s time, Metal Unlimited has shipped an order to every state in the United States.

“In October, we sent something to Hawaii,” Seth said.

“We’ve sent stuff overseas to military bases before.”

Preston Sullivan, 29, another young entrepreneur, has learned the pros and cons of business ownership already.

He closed down his body shop Sullivan Collision in November 2015. Sullivan started that business three years ago before deciding to close it down in November.

“The main thing was it cost too much money to keep it afloat,” Sullivan said. “My biggest problem was not having any help. I didn’t go to the bank and borrow money. I drained my $1,500 savings account and built it up.”

But Sullivan didn’t give up his dreams of running his own business.

While Sullivan Collision started to become too much for him to handle, the 2005 Trinity Episcopal Day School graduate had a backup plan. In March 2015, Sullivan began to get into the wholesale business, and started his own company, Early Bird. The company sells hunting accessories and apparel.

“I’m a real avid duck hunter,” Sullivan said. “That’s why I wanted to do it because really it’s my thing. I came up with a logo, and had the plan to start a brand like Drake and Southern Marsh.”

The plan involved connecting with an old high school buddy. Sullivan went to school with Wyatt Craig, who owns Sports Center in Natchez.

“He helped me with my first official order, and it helped me spread the word around town,” Sullivan said. “Our first store order was in June, and we’ve expanded since then.”

In October, Sullivan was placing in his third order with Sports Center, and had T-shirts, duck calls and hats in stores in Monroe, Alexandria, Winnsboro, Broussard and Starkville.

Sullivan’s transition from his body shop to new brand was a successful one because his new business doesn’t have the overhead of the body shop.

“It cost me $10,000 a month just to keep my head above water with Sullivan Collision,” Sullivan said. “Now, my overhead is way better. I can work at home. I don’t need to pay rent for a body shop. My only expense is pretty much my sales representatives, and they work on commission.”

Though Sullivan went to school at the University of Technical Institute in 2007 to learn how to do autobody and paint, he isn’t disappointed he started a business dealing with wholesale. In fact, the way he looks at it, he’s continuing his passion in another form.

“Do I miss doing body work? There’s money to be made in it, and sometimes I regret shutting it down,” Sullivan said. “But other times, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with all of the other stuff. But my other company has more potential to reach more people, and I love that.”

Before Preston Sullivan closed his body shop in 2015, he started Early Bird, a wholesale company that sells hunting accessories and apparel items.

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101

BUSINESS

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Welcome

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102 PROFILE 2016

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104 PROFILE 2016

Living together

Ava Walker, front row left, and Bella Bennett have become the best of friends. Ava’s parents Kelley Gay, second from left, and Brad Walker, far right, divorced when Ava was 3. Bella and her brother McNeal, second from right, will soon join the family when Jennifer Bennett, third from right, marries Ava’s father. Ava’s mother married Shannon Gay, far left.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

and apart A

Divorced parents work to make happy homes

va Walker’s life changed before she was old enough to fully grasp what was coming.

She was 3, and her parents decided to divorce.

Ava doesn’t have much recollection of her feelings at that time, but today she has an understanding wiser than her years.

When Ava, now 8 and in the second grade at Cathedral School, talks about her parents’ divorce, she sees the big picture.

“When my mom and dad got divorced, I didn’t want them to,” Ava said. “Later on I was really happy. I have a way better family now.”

Her mother, Kelley Gay, said in the months and years after the divorce, Ava began asking questions.

“She seemed to understand the best she could, but naturally, she wanted her parents to be together so she could be with both of us all the time,” Kelley said.

Kelley and her ex-husband Brad Walker made a point from the start of putting aside any negative feelings they had about each other.

“You just can’t say anything to your child when you get frustrated or aggravated,” Brad said. “What’s going on with their parents has nothing to do with them.”

“It’s not about you,” Kelley said. “We all want what’s best for our kids, but you do have to put your own personal feelings aside. Us getting along really helped (Ava) accept things.”

And time brought change that Ava just so happened to like.

Soon, she’ll have a sister her own age, Bella Bennett, when her dad marries Jennifer Bennett.

The girls have become the best of friends, and

Ava even helped Bella through her own parents’ divorce.

“We talked about what it was like for our parents to get divorced,” said Bella, who is in the second grade at Adams County Christian School.

But neither of them dwell on that.

The consensus seems to be that life is much better with their expanded, blended family.

And their parents are much happier, too, of which the girls are acutely aware.

“I am really excited that my mom finally found love again,” Bella said.

“And the same thing for my mom and dad,” Ava chimes in.

Kelley remarried in 2012, to Shannon Gay. But getting to this point, a place where “everyone has really never been happier,” Kelley says, has not been easy. And it wasn’t without a purposeful, thoughtful direction that two happy homes were made.

Kelley, Shannon, Brad and Jennifer had some experience navigating rough waters, though.

Their parents all divorced.

“I could feel the tension with my parents,” Kelley said.

“But you don’t want that to spill over to the children,” Shannon adds. “Whatever disputes

Story by LINDSEY SHELTON Photo by BEN HILLYER

you have, it doesn’t need to carry over to them.”

Although they all say their parents did the best they could, they used their experience as children of divorced parents to shape the way they raised their children.

“I think all of our parents do the best they can with whatever circumstances they (are) under,” Kelley said. “I hope that Ava parents her child even better than I am parenting her (because) there is always room for improvement.”

And making it work with divorced parents and stepparents in the mix is not always easy. “(It) is never easy because naturally everyone has different ways they choose to parent,” Kelley said. “I think this can be especially hard on mothers, accepting another woman will help parent their child. Maybe it’s because we as women are more emotional people. I am learning to remind myself that having another person help parent my child also means that it’s another person who will nurture and love my child. I don’t think a child can have enough of that growing up. When all parents involved (in) parenting a child respect each other, make decisions together, and stay of the same page, it works.”

Scheduling time with children can be a difficult task, even without adding in stepparents and other children.

It’s made easier, though, since Kelley and

105

106 PROFILE 2016

Submitted photo

Roy Rigsby, left, is a teacher for the Natchez-Adams School District . In 2008, he and his ex-wife Latisha divorced. They work hard to both keep a relationship with their son Ryon, right. Ryon lives with his father during the week and sees his mom on the weekends when she is not working.

Shannon live in Natchez only about a mile from Brad and Jennifer.

But distance is an added complication for divorced parents Roy Rigsby and Latisha Rigsby, who live a couple of hours away from each other, Roy in Natchez and Latisha in Magee.

The Rigsbys, parents of a 14-year-old son, Ryon, divorced in 2008.

Roy moved to Natchez to become a teacher for the NatchezAdams School District last summer. Ryon attends the Natchez Freshman Academy and lives, most of the time, with his dad.

He sees his mom on the weekends, but not every weekend, because she works two jobs.

The recent move was difficult for Latisha.

“At first it really was, because I was so used to him being here,” she said. “We both cried about it, but I knew it was the best decision. I told him, ‘I can teach you a lot of things, but I can’t teach you to be a man like your father can.’”

Compromise has been key to making the arrangement work, Roy and Latisha say.

They both stress that they want Ryon to have a relationship with both of his parents.

“Basically, you have to remove yourself from that situation and whatever you might be feeling and do what’s best for your child,” Roy said.

Roy says alcohol and selfishness were the downfall of his and Latisha’s marriage. But the two adults have been open with Ryon about what ended their marriage so he can learn

from their mistakes.

The honesty and openness has made them better parents, Roy said.

“And we get along better now, too,” Roy said.

Ryon agrees.

“I love that they get along better now,” he said. “I think they do a really great job of being parents.”

Ryon says he appreciates the effort his parents make to ensure the other is a part of his life.

“I’m glad they both participate in my life,” he said.

Though divorce is a fairly common occurrence, Latisha says she thinks many people still do not understand what it takes to co-parent a child with a former spouse.

“People, I think, don’t realize that you can still parent a child that is not in your presence,” she said. “A lot of people can assume what co-parenting is or what it takes, but until you’ve actually done it, you really don’t know.

“It’s extremely hard sometimes, but we make it work. We have a son we have to raise no matter what. So parents have to make it work, because there’s no way around it.”

As children of divorced parents, Kelley, Shannon, Brad and Jennifer say even though they feel they are making coparenting work, they do worry about how it will affect their children’s relationships later in life.

“But they’re seeing now all of us in loving relationships and the way it’s supposed to be; I think they’re going to be just fine,” Jennifer said.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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108 PROFILE 2016

come are 2016 ents

Medicare Patients

MEDICAL DIRECTORY

Because there’s Merit in well-being.Ruth Darg Quinones, M.D. Dennis LaRavia, M.D.

Dr. James SURgERY Waddill Charla Knapp, FNP-C FAMILY Dr. Dennis LaRavia DERMATOLOgIC MEDICAL PRACTICE

hOME hEALTh CARE

Diseases of the Skin and Allergies Family Medical Center 1637 Carter Street, vidalia, lA 150 Jefferson Davis Blvd., Suite 130 Whether you’re an existing patient or looking for a new doctor in the Natchez area, you can feel confident turning here 318-719-1993 Natchez, MS for trusted, compassionate care. Simply call one of the numbers listed below to schedule your appointment today.

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601-445-4616

patients they accept, we do not. The physicians at Family Medical Center,

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Providing home care services throughout the southeastern U.S. for over 40 years.

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Rick Ricalde, M.D. Natchez and surrounding areas contact Dell Choate, RN Administrator Neurology 601-684-5033, 46 Sgt. Prentiss fax Dr. 601-684-2758 VidaliaSuite and 201A surrounding areas contact Penny Crain, RN Administrator 601-445-2248 318-336-8989 fax 318-336-9876 4004 Carter St., Vidalia, LA • 318-336-8989

FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER

to know that comprehensive healthcare is right around the corner.

r. Ruth Darg Quinones

restrict the number of Medicare

ans at Family Medical Center,

edical Center proudly welcome

nient clinic locations. It’s good

ght around the corner.

Darg Quinones, M.D. Dawkins, M.D. eff Davis Boulevard, Suite 130 ez, MS 45-4616

Waddill, M.D. eff Davis Boulevard, Suite H ez, MS 45-1715

s LaRavia, M.D. Knapp, FNP-C arter Street, Suite A a, Louisiana 36-4780

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150 Jeff Davis Boulevard, Suite 130 Premier Health & Wellness Clinic Natchez, MS 601-445-4616 Acute and Chronic Health Conditions

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James Waddill, M.D. 601-304-2421 151 Jeff Davis Boulevard, Suite H Natchez, MS 601-445-1715

hEALTh CARE CENTER Dennis LaRavia, M.D. Gregg Dental Center Charla Knapp, FNP-C Karl Hubbard, M.D. 900Daniel M.D. Carl Passman, M.D. Christopher Martin, M.D. CarterMcCallum, Street, Suite A 1148 logan Sewell Dr., vidalia Vidalia,Orthopedics Louisiana Surgery 318-336-5711 QuAlity, ACCeSSiBle, AFForDABle, 318-336-4780 46 Sgt. Prentiss Dr., Suite 103 601-442-9654

Carrie M. Iles, D.D.S. 184 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive, Natchez, MS 86483_NATC_GroupClinic_7_5x9_9c.indd (601) 442-0452

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1

46 Sgt. Prentiss Dr., Suite 100

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Claiborne County Family Health Center

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Monday, Tuesday, Thursday–8:00am-6:00pm Wednesday and Friday–8:00am-5:00pm

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Serving 11 Parishes in Louisiana

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patient or looking for a new doctor in the Natchez area, you can feel confident turning here are. Simply call one of the numbers listed below to schedule your appointment today.

HOME HEALTH CARE

109

NEUROLOGY

PODIATRY

Rick Ricalde, M.D.

FEET HURT?

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When your feet hurt...everything hurts!

PODIATRY GROUP

Beverly Love, M.D.

Rowe, CNP

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e 140

Callum, M.D.

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110 PROFILE 2016

Cathedral running back Dee Fleming recently made a commitment to Louisiana Tech University as a walk-on. He could have decided to accept a scholarship at a community college but Fleming hopes he can win a spot on the Louisiana Tech team.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

111

T

orrey Smith took a chance.

With offers from just about every junior college in Mississippi at his fingertips, Smith said “no.”

He felt a desire to achieve more, and he was willing to wait for his time to shine.

On Feb. 3, 2015 — National Signing Day — the Adams County Christian School Rebel was set to accept a scholarship from Hinds Community College. But in the back of his mind, he knew he wanted to play for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, even without a scholarship.

“The night before, I sat down with my mom, and she told me, ‘It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go, I’ll always love you,’” Smith said. “I love ULL, and I want to become an engineer after football. It was the right choice.”

His high school head coach, David King, had somewhat of a “freak out” moment, Smith said. King recalls that day well.

“He wanted to sacrifice being a contributor right away for playing at a bigger level, and I was proud of him,” King said.

Smith enrolled in ULL for the fall semester, ready to work his way onto the football team.

But once fall camp began, things weren’t panning out. A small, nagging injury limited his action in the early going.

Thus, Smith was still searching for a way to earn a spot on the team during the last week of camp.

He was getting reps in practice, but he failed to get his helmet’s “stripe removed,” indicating he had made the team.

Smith reached out to veterans for advice. Junior linebacker Tre’maine Lightfoot told him to just hit somebody.

Smith took the advice.

In a two-point stance, awaiting the snap on a blitz call, Smith went through the A gap untouched and met the running back as he received the handoff, inspiring a raucous ovation from his teammates.

“Everybody was jumping up and down,” Smith said. “There was so much excitement. It was crazy.”

Smith made the team.

Waiting and wondering

WEIGHING the RISKS

Cathedral senior running back Dee Fleming spent the first six months of his senior year at Cathedral School deciding if he’s willing to take the same risk Smith took.

Junior colleges had already offered by December, but Fleming, like Smith, eyes something bigger. An opportunity to walk on at Louisiana Tech University appealed to Fleming more than a scholarship to a junior college. He committed to Tech earlier this month, but he’s not guaranteed a playing spot, and he did not get a scholarship.

“I’m not going to sacrifice education for football,” Fleming said. “I love it, and I want to keep playing, but I won’t make my college decision solely on it.”

Smith has reached out to Fleming to offer encouragement through the entire process. As Smith has experienced, choosing to walk-on instead of signing with a junior college can have its advantages.

“I check on him all the time,” Smith said. “I told him, ‘There’s nothing wrong with the route you have chosen.’

Wherever you go, you have to make the most of it. And I look at it as me trying to eventually get to where I am, so why not come as a freshman and work my way up?”

Steps to the dream

In 2013, Torrey Smith, left, played for Adams County Christian School. The football player had an offer from Hinds Community College, but gave up the scholarship to play for the University of LouisianaLafayette.

Of course, getting noticed by junior colleges isn’t a bad thing either.

Story by JAKE MARTIN Photos by TIm GIvens

Local football players make tough choices for future on field

112 PROFILE 2016

Sidney Davis, the former Natchez High School football star who earned the 2014 All-Metro Player of the Year Award as a wide receiver, chose to play at Southwest Mississippi Community College, and in his freshman season, Davis threw a game-winning touchdown on a trick play.

Davis, whose ultimate dream is to play Division I football, said his efforts this season have reached the ears of college coaches.

“Iowa State called about me a few weeks ago, and they’ve been talking to my coaches a lot,” Davis said.

With the same goal in mind, Davis and Fleming worked together throughout the 2015 offseason. The two players faced each other one-on-one before running 100-yard sprints and working on their route-running and catching ability.

While the receiver and running back worked on their footwork, ACCS quarterback Carlos Woods worked on his overall speed and arm as he geared for his senior season.

Woods, who flew under the radar heading into the 2015 season, quickly burst onto the scene with his deep accurate passing and ability to extend plays in the pocket. The combination of those two assets in the backfield helped pave the way for an undefeated regular season, which drew the attention of other coaches.

“Jackson State University offered me a few weeks ago,” Woods said before his final regular season game.

“I think other offers will start to come after that initial one.”

Unlike Fleming and Davis, Woods did not expect a scholarship offer to come so soon.

As his senior season wrapped up on the field, Woods’ wait became less about “if ” and more about “who.”

It’s a good place to be, he’ll tell you.

After bursting onto the local football scene in 2015, Carlos Woods hopes to go to the next level and play for a team such as Jackson State University.

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NO PLACE LIKE IT Local teachers give back to their alma maters

M

aybe you can come fate had a different plan, and now each of the area graduates is back home again?

Three area teach- in school — just on the other side e r s a r e t e s t i n g of the desk.

Rogel’s life train was on track the theory, and so far things are going a bit more in 2013. He was the safeties coach smoothly than they did for the at Mississippi College, and he was furthering his own sitcom favorite, Mr. education in the proKotter.

Story by MATT SIGLER cess.

Zach Rogel, Al“I had a great plan lyson Elliot and Photos by Tim Givens made out at MissisAli Smith may just sippi College,” Rogel have found their time in a familiar place. The trio said.

Then his high school alma maof young adults never walked their high school halls thinking ter called. Trinity Episcopal Day they’d one day be back again. But School needed a new head football

Trinity Episcopal Athletic Director and head football coach Zach Rogel says he misses playing the game, but coaching is a way to be close to the action again.

At left is a picture of Rogel handing the ball to Stevan Ridley in a jamboree against Huntington in his senior year in 2004.

115

116 PROFILE 2016

up, and athletics and academics are hand in coach, and they wanted Rogel.

“This was a dream come true,” Rogel said. hand. People want to see consistency and “If it was any other high school not named teaching their children to do the right things Trinity Episcopal, I would have stayed put.” on the field and in life.”

For Cathedral School teacher Allyson ElRogel took the helm at Trinity two years liot, her track has been someago, also becoming athletwhat defined for years. She ic director, and has led the always knew she would be a Saints football team to 12 teacher. wins in the past two seasons.

“I didn’t know I would be But more than on the field back, but I’m glad I ended success, Rogel — a 2005 Trinup back (at Cathedral),” Elity graduate — wants to see liot said. “I’ve taught at othhis students make memories er schools, but Cathedral has as special as his. the best environment. The “Besides my wife and the family atmosphere here is birth of my son, the best what really makes it stand memories came from TrinAllyson Elliot out to me.” ity,” Rogel said. “You really Cathedral teacher and alum Elliot, a 2004 CHS gradumiss it when it is gone. I’ve ate, is in her second year found a lot of enjoyment watching players now go through the things at Cathedral teaching seventh- and eighthgrade English.

I missed so much.”

“I absolutely love it,” she said. “I was nerNow, Rogel’s life train is on a new track — vous about it, and didn’t know what to expect, one lined with black and red.

“We are trying to build something here,” but they are such a sweet group of kids, and he said. “We want to get enrollment numbers they are so fun at this age.”

“I always looked up to the teachers I had here, and now I am proud to be a part of the faculty.”

Cathedral School teacher Allyson Elliot always knew she was going to be a teacher. A 2004 Cathedral graduate, Elliots says she loves her job and can’t imagine being anywhere else.

At left is a picture of Elliot from the eighth grade when she was a cheerleader at the school.

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

She began her teaching career across the rivElliot said she has also enjoyed getting to know her former teachers as an adult, as their er at Adams County Christian School in 2014 “Vidalia High was a comfortable situation, co-worker.

“There are quite a few (who taught me) still especially as a new teacher,” she said. “There here,” Elliot said. “It has been so rewarding were many familiar faces and excellent resources there for a new and fun to get to know teacher.” them on a more personal Smith said walking in as level now. I always looked a teacher on the first day up to the teachers I had was an interesting experihere, and now I am proud ence. to be a part of the facul“It was very surreal bety.” cause I still look young and Elliot said she could was mistaken for a stueasily see herself as a dent,” she said, laughing. part of the Cathedral “I was asked by a few kids faculty for years to come. why I got to wear regular “This has been such a clothes.” wonderful job, and I brag Ali Smith Smith is focused on givon students all the time Vidalia High School teacher and alum ing back to a school she and about how wonderful feels has given her so much it feels to be back at Cain the past. thedral,” she said. “I will “I wanted to help,” she said. “Vidalia High do everything in my power to stay here as long gave me a lot, and to be able to return the exas I can. It is home.”

Ali Smith, also a second-year teacher at her citement back to students and to push them alma mater, had to find her way back home further than they ever thought they could go is great.”

— to Vidalia High School.

“Vidalia High gave me a lot, and to be able to

return the excitement back to students and to push them further than they ever thought they could go is great.”

119

Ali Smith is a second-year teacher at Vidalia High School, her alma mater.

Smith began her teaching career at Adams County Christian School, but loves giving back to the school that gave her so much in the past. At left is a picture of Smith taken when she was in high school.

120 PROFILE 2016

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THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

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Farm Bureau............................................. 120

Paul Green & Associates ............................. 19

Adams County Christian School .................. 16

Field Health System ................................... 50

Personal Homecare Services....................... 48

Adams County Board of Supervisors ............. 4

Funeral Directory ....................................... 95

Publication Press ........................................ 67

After Hours Clinic........................................ 10

Glenburney Nursing ................................... 50

Rami Salon ................................................. 60

Alfa Insurance .......................................... 120

Green Alliance ............................................ 33

Reeves Drug Store .................................... 114

AMR ........................................................... 19

Gregg Veterinary Hospital ........................ 113

Rhino Graphics ........................................... 87

Arthur’s Tire Sales & Service ....................... 26

Hamilton Roofing..................................... 102

Riverpark Medical Center ........................... 31

Atmos Energy ............................................... 7

Here’s My Card .......................................78-79

Riverpark Medical, Fairbanks Orthopedic . 113

BASF............................................................. 9

Historic Jefferson College ........................... 26

Rives & Reynolds Lumber Co. ..................... 23

Bergeron & Plauché ................................. 113

Home Bank ................................................ 42

Rogers Lawn & Garden ............................. 114

Blankenstein’s ............................................ 38

Home Hardware Center .............................. 38

S. Lee Falkenheiner, D.D.S. .......................... 91

Brennan O’Brien, D.M.D. ............................. 61

Hotel Vue - Pilot House............................... 87

Scott’s Welding & Machine ......................... 66

Brookhaven Urology PA .............................. 48

J&J Flooring and Natural Stone .................. 51

Sears .......................................................... 72

Bruce Scarborough, MD.............................. 16

J.E. Hicks Distributing Co. ......................... 117

Serendipity Flea Market ........................... 114

Bunge ...................................................... 117

Kimbrell’s Office Supply............................ 117

Silas Simmons ............................................ 93

C&M Crawfish........................................... 102

Laser Clinic ................................................. 10

Southwest Distributors............................... 20

Camo Construction ..................................... 42

Magnolia Bluffs Casino ............................... 91

Southwest MS Electric Power ..................... 56

Carlton Dentistry ........................................ 20

Magnolia Village ........................................ 77

Southwest MS Regional Medical .......122-123

Cartoon Map .........................................62-63

Mammy’s Cupboard ................................. 107

Spotlight on Business............................... 101

Cash Saver .................................................... 8

McDonough’s ............................................. 50

State Farm - Stuart Heflin........................... 66

Celebrating Business .................................. 85

Medical Directory ..............................108-109

Tensas State Bank..................................... 112

Century 21 - River Cities Realty .................... 8

Meet the Candidates .............................74-75

The Headache Center ................................. 73

Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital............ 44

Merit Health ..........................................96-97

The Markets ............................................... 39

City of Natchez ............................................. 3

Milliken Family Dentistry ........................... 80

The Sports Center ....................................... 36

City of Vidalia ........................................... 124

Minette’s .................................................. 114

The Woodville Republican .......................... 77

Concordia Bank & Trust............................... 24

Miss-Lou Dentistry ..................................... 53

Threads ...................................................... 87

Conrad Anderson, Inc. .............................. 117

Miss-Lou Eye Care....................................... 80

Town of Ferriday......................................... 57

Copiah-Lincoln Jr. College .......................... 93

Miss-Lou Physical Therapy.......................... 80

Worship Directory .................................68-69

Cotton Alley Café ........................................ 92

Mr. Whiskers............................................. 114

Trinity Episcopal School .............................. 33

Crye-Leike Stedman & Associates............... 23

Natchez Children’s Home ............................ 31

United Mississippi Bank ............................. 18

Davidson’s Package Store ........................... 60

Natchez Inc............................................... 117

United Way of Natchez ............................. 112

Delta Bank ................................................... 8

Natchez Grand Hotel .................................... 6

Vaughan City Drugs .................................... 92

Delta Rentals............................................ 113

Natchez Heating & Cooling....................... 101

Vidalia Dock & Storage, Two-J Ranch .......... 53

Drax Biomass ............................................. 44

Natchez Pathology ................................... 120

West Feliciana Parish Hospital .................... 37

Dunleith Historic Inn .................................. 24

Natchez Transit ........................................... 11

Wal-Mart ................................................. 117

Elliott Electric Supply ............................... 114

Natchez Veterinary Clinic.......................... 107

WAREC ..................................................... 103

Entergy ...................................................... 47

Natchez Visitor Bureau ................................. 2

Water Front Custom Homes...................... 120

Eola Hotel................................................... 48

Natchez Water Works.................................. 60

Western Auto ....................................102, 118

Exceptional Events ................................... 114

Natchez-Adams County Port Commission... 29

WilMar Construction ................................ 118

Fallin Technology Center............................... 5

Old South Winery ....................................... 26

121

122 PROFILE 2016

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

123

Vidalia LOUISIANA

A small town where big things happen. Become a part of something big.

The home of...

• 3 Fortune 500 Companies/Industries • Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station • 2 “Shovel Ready” Industrial Parks • Vidalia Landing & Riverfront on the Mississippi River • State Welcome Center • Convention Center • Long Term Acute Care Hospital • Medical Complex • Riverwalk • Hotel • Spa • Amphitheater • RV Park • Recreation Complex with Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Basketball, City Park, Broadband • Port of Vidalia • New IT Center Vidalia Conference & Convention Center hosted

Concordia Recreation District 3 hosted 127 events

215 events in 2015 with approximately

in 2015 with approximately

Mississippi and The American Eagle docked in

34,356 67,261 people in attendance

American Cruise Lines riverboats; the Queen of

people in attendance

Vidalia 55 times in 2015 bringing approximately

9,307 people to our town

A great place to live, with great roads, schools, churches, and

GREAT PEOPLE!

www.CityofVidaliala.com THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.