An Inexhaustible Voice
BY JULIE MABUS
PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN
WWriting a detailed story about a person’s life is not a superficial activity. It requires a deep dive into the person’s persona. And interesting things rise to the surface during the process.
My deep dive with Andi Sherrill Bedsworth began as I approached her home west of town off Highway 6. Colorful textile creations, hanging in her flower bed and on her front porch, marked the spot--tangible outpourings of her love of fabrics and thread.
We settled in her studio with its myriad stacks of transparent containers holding colored materials and threads, and her story unfolded.
One of three children, Andi was born in Texas, but her parents, Michael and Mary Ann Sherrill, moved to Baton Rouge when she was three. “Dad was a die-hard Texan. He really was one of those people who believed that Texas was a whole other country--and the best country in the
world, you know? But Mom’s heart was in Louisiana.”
Andi’s thoughts wandered off for a minute. “Dad was a systems analyst, a computer programmer. He was brilliant.” Her parents separated when Andi was ten, and he eventually went back to Texas. It’s where his heart was. He stayed there until he died.”
“What was it like in Baton Rouge when you were growing up.” I didn’t expect her response, but it aligned perfectly with her whimsy.
“It was hilarious. It’s like wet there, and it rains all the time, and it floods, and it’s hot, and there’s hurricanes.” Andi described her childhood almost entirely in the context of the hurricane season.
“When I was a little kid, the flooding didn’t worry me because we got out of school. It happened every year.” Andi described her Baton Rouge neighborhood scene when the rain started, and the flood
waters rose. My parents and the neighbors would sit in lawn chairs holding a cocktail in one hand and a yardstick in the other, measuring how high the water was getting. All the kids played in the street as sewer and bayou water got deeper and deeper. We had a ball.”
“I understand you inherited your sewing talent from your mother.”
Andi began a story of her mother’s unending energy with a needle and thread. “She’s always been very creative. When we were kids, she was constantly quilting, and she made all our clothes.”
And like Bayou Manchac and the great Mississippi River—each body of water seasonally rising beyond its borders, spilling its liquid on the city of Baton Rouge—her mom’s creativity overflowed well beyond the confines of a sewing machine or needle and thread.
Andi laughed. “I mean, she was always doing craft projects. If there was an empty
plastic bleach bottle, she would make a nativity scene out of it. A cardboard box from a new refrigerator might become our next playhouse.
“Then there was the time in 1976 when it snowed. It never snows in Baton Rouge. I was five, and my little brother and I had the chicken pox. Mom didn’t want us to miss the experience. She went out and brought the snow into the kitchen so we could play in it like we were outside.”
“So, your mom taught you how to sew?”
“Not exactly.”
When Andi was seven or eight, her mom gave her a Ken doll. Unlike her Barbie, who had a black plastic case full of gowns and stiletto mules, Ken came dressed in only a pair of shorts.
“I think he was a Malibu Ken. I wanted him to have proper clothes so he could take Barbie on a date.
“I told Mom I was going to make him a pair of pants.” Andi’s pattern involved sewing two pieces of fabric together to make a front and a back. Then, she ran another seam down the middle to create the leg openings. Her mom, Mary Ann, was
adamant. “That’s not going to work.”
“I told her I knew it would work. It didn’t work.”
Mary Ann temporarily squelched Andi’s sewing ambitions. “You are never going to learn to sew. You don’t have the patience, and you don’t listen to me.”
Motherly good intentions gone awry, Andi stayed away from a needle and thread until her eighthgrade home economics assignment. Half the school year was dedicated to making an outfit.
Andi’s telling the story set the stage for disaster. I could feel it coming.
She built the tension. “The thing is, the pattern our teacher chose, it wasn’t hip, you know? I mean, it was like straight-leg pants. Back then, in the 80s, everything was peg-legged, really skinny. So, it looked old lady to us, you know? The blazer, I mean, what fourteen-year-old wears a blazer?”
Undaunted, Andi soldiered on through the project. “It wasn’t easy. Sewing is very technical. I brought it home, and this time, Mom was helpful; she talked me through it.
‘Just keep working at it. It will turn out okay.’”
The day of reckoning came the day the girls finished their projects. Andi raised her shoulders as she told me. “I was all excited, and I asked my friends if they were going to wear their outfits to school. They all said, ‘No!’
“I mean, we worked on that thing for weeks. Well, I wore mine to school. They all looked at me, ‘Girl, you’re wearing that?’ I guess it really did look like an old lady’s suit. I took a break from sewing after that. “But the next year, I remember, I wanted something new to wear. I don’t know, maybe some shorts. And I thought, “I can just make it myself.”
That “aha” moment was practical, but a brilliant, life-changing awareness would follow. After those shorts, Andi realized she could make her own prom dress. “By the time I was a senior, I was
making a lot of my own clothes, and friends were coming to me and asking me to help them sew.”
But, it also became an awakening of a creative talent that has powered her throughout her life. Somewhere along her path, the sewing machine and her needle and thread evolved into her tools of art.
The first leg of her artistic journey was costume making. Andi earned her Bachelor of Arts at LSU with an emphasis on costume design. During college, she was allowed to make costumes for the theater, but she knew her real gift would be in the design work.
As fate would have it, in her junior year at LSU, Andi’s life took a significant detour when she gave birth to a baby girl. Though the responsibilities of being a single mother were daunting, she kept her eye on her goal of designing costumes for the theater.
Andi followed his advice. For two years, she freelanced for Swine Palace, a nonprofit, professional theater attached to LSU and The Baton Rouge Ballet Theater.
“In 1995, I got the costume shop manager job at LSU, where I had studied as an undergrad. It was a dream job for me. I met Tim, my future husband, there. He was an actor and in set design. It was this perfect theater kind of life. But I always felt that glass ceiling above me; I knew I needed to get a graduate degree.”
Despite the best-laid plans, the universe has its way with us when it wants. In 2000, when Andi and her husband were expecting their first child, he lost his job at LSU. Tulane in New
“When I finished college, I wanted to go to graduate school to get my costume design degree. Fortunately, I had a mentor at the time who said, ‘Andi, take a year off, work in the industry. You have a 14-month-old. Make sure this is what you really want to do.’”
Orleans had an opening for the manager of the theater shop. He applied and got the job, “I had to stay at my job until the baby came, so he was commuting roundtrip every day. It was a tough year. We had our baby girl during that time, my second child.”
Andi’s husband encouraged her to go to grad school at Tulane. “He knew I always wanted to go back. So, in 2001, we left Baton Rouge and moved to New Orleans. We stayed for three years while I worked on my master’s in costume design. When I graduated, he said, ‘We can go anywhere you like with that degree.’ That’s when we came to Oxford.”
“What specifically brought you to Oxford?”
“I found a job in the theater department at the University and applied for it. Plus, we had two girls, and the public school system is so good here. It’s terrible in Baton Rouge and even worse in New
Orleans.”
“Tell me about your job.”
“For the first couple of years, I liked it okay, but I think once I got divorced, it became difficult.”
Andi paused, realizing she had left out a part of the story. “Tim had a brain aneurysm rupture when we lived in New Orleans. It was in 2003, my second year there. He almost died, and so they had to do emergency neurosurgery on his brain. He never was the same after that. It was hard for him.” Tim stayed in Oxford until his girls were grown but is now living in Iowa.
Andi’s position was the costume shop manager and costume technology instructor. As she described it, it wasn’t a high-level position, and she was required to teach in addition to her theater responsibilities. “So, I basically held two jobs. It wasn’t creative, and they expected so much from us. We had to work a lot on weekends and at night. I was going through a difficult time personally, and I didn’t feel any compassion from my co-workers. It was a tough environment—a rigid hierarchy and a lot of politics.
“After seven years, the University and I parted company. I was relieved in many ways because it wasn’t a creative job. I’m an artist,
and the job offered little creativity. After I left, they hired three more people to fill my spot, if that tells you anything.”
During her tenure at Ole Miss, special students brightened the path. “One of my students and I used to have a radio show on Rebel Radio, the campus radio station. He was a sound design student who sometimes worked in the costume shop. We always talked about music, so we approached the station with a unique idea for a program, and they accepted it. We called it Musicology and kept it running for two years.
“We would do themes each time we were on the air. For example, if the theme was food, we would only do songs about food. Or we would do a whole hour with nothing but love songs or songs about breaking up. I remember one program was about murder. It was great fun and a special time in my life.”
Andi’s leaving the University may have been momentarily painful, but the universal spirit that drives us to be our best selves raised its pesky head again. “I visited with my friend Wayne Andrews at the Powerhouse. I told him I didn’t want to leave Oxford. My kids were happy here, and another shop job would just be doing the same thing.” Wayne Andrews is the Executive Director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (“YAC”) with the wisdom of a sage.
Wayne knew Andi’s talents; if he had had the budget, Andi would have become the education director for YAC. As Andi
described it, “We started cooking up a plan.” Wayne offered Andi discounted space at the Powerhouse to run summer camps, and she exposed the community youth to the wonders of the Arts Council.
“Initially, the camps were half-day with a small number of kids. Now, we’re about to start a ten-week season. And I have forty kids a week.”
“Is it the same group all summer?” That was a simple question with a marvelous response.
Andi was effervescent as she described the setup: “Some kids will come every week, every single week. I teach the younger kids, starting at four. I have a staff of eight. One teaches the older children. I get the employees CPR and first aid certified. We start in June, and my lesson plans are right here. I’ve got them all ready.” She pointed to boxes supplied with costumes and colorful accessories for the face, head, and hands.
“Our first week will be Artistic Astronauts—space art. Later, we’ll do magical creatures and art with mermaids, unicorns, yetis, gnomes, and dragons. It’s going to be such fun. She was unstoppable in her description of the program. “The whole summer is like a sampler. We paint, draw, make collages and prints, and some days, we build with clay. So, the kids get to do
a little bit of something different each day. Oh, and one week, we’re doing PoP Art with artists like Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein and Jeff Koons.”
How lucky are these children to be exposed to the workings of these artists through the magic and imagination of Andi’s creative bravura—Lichtenstein with his familiar comic strip drawings and Jeff Koons with his balloon dog sculptures? She brings art into their everyday lives. It’s tangible and childlike but, at the same time, as sophisticated as a day at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
“Wayne is very generous with the space at the Powerhouse. We work around church services on the weekends and the occasional wedding.” But that little problem is about to be solved. YAC won a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create The Humanities Hub project, which will upgrade and expand the usable space at the Powerhouse.
“What about your own art? I know your talent of creating objects of art goes well beyond costume design and summer camp. I love the term “fiber artist, and I understand that’s what the world calls you. Tell me more about it.”
“I won a grant with the Mississippi Arts Commission to do fiber portraits.” In that project, Andi combined her love of music with her fiber arts and wrote a proposal to do portraits of musicians using fabrics and stitchery. “I struggled with the drawing and the nuances of the facial features. And much effort goes into the work before you ever get to the fabric. Bess Currence even commissioned a portrait of her husband John, Oxford restauranteur.”
Her portrait portfolio also includes Willie Nelson, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder, among many others. Every canvas is consumed by individual stitches, creating the lines and depth of each face. This was the first time I had seen something like it.
“And I teach around the state and in the South. Robert helps me a great deal with that.”
“Robert?” I asked.
Andi smiled. “Robert Saarnio. He loves art and is very supportive. He’s the Director of the University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses. We’ve been together for about eleven years.”
“Well, you lucky girl, both of you.”
As she walked me to my car, my thoughts, somehow, drifted to Faulkner. Andi was handed circumstances of unexpected hardship and driving ambition with little room for institutional advancement. She gracefully rose to the immense challenge of raising two girls alone. All the while, she stitched together a remarkable and colorful life of sharing her creative gifts with a town she had never known. Andi is a powerhouse with the heart of a child. She will prevail because she has a soul and a spirit capable of sacrifice and endurance. It is her inexhaustible voice.
HOME & GARDEN
Book Picks
The Majestic Leo Marble
By R.J. Lee
R.J. Lee, a native Natchezian and current Oxonian, pauses his Bridge of Death mystery series for this stand-alone novel. Leo Marble, conceived during a Broadway show, lives in the Deep South, split between conservative Mississippi and relaxed New Orleans. He eventually comes out as gay, becoming a journalist and advocate for gay rights and visibility.
The Queen City Detective Agency
By Snowden Wright
Following an unforgettable cast of characters and a jaded female P.I. enmeshed in a criminal conspiracy in 1980s Meridian, Mississippi, The Queen City Detective Agency is a riveting, razor-sharp Southern noir that unravels the greed, corruption, and racism at the heart of the American Dream.
There is Happiness
By Brad Watson
“Here is a generous portion of the work of a swiftly passing lifetime. Bountiful is the deserving page,” Joy Williams writes in her introduction to this astonishing selection of Brad Watson’s published and unpublished stories.
Mississippi Swindle: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal That Shocked America
By Shad White
Mississippi state auditor and University of Mississippi graduate, Shad White recounts in detail the investigation into the largest public corruption scandal in the state's history.
Ghostwriter: Shakespeare, Literary Landmines, and an Eccentric Royal Obsession
By Lawrence Wells
Part literary mystery, part an examination of what constitutes fiction versus reality, Ghostwriter is based on the true story of author Larry Wells, longtime Oxford resident, who was hired by the University of Mississippi in 1987 to ghostwrite a novel for a wealthy, eccentric donor.
Follow The Stars Home
By Diane McPhail
A captivating reimagining of the intrepid woman who – 8 months pregnant and with a toddler in tow – braved violent earthquakes and treacherous waters on the first steamboat voyage to conquer the Mississippi River and redefine America. Diane McPhail, University of Mississippi graduate has penned a captivating and exciting new novel based on Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt's 1811 journey.
Broiler
By Eli Cranor
From the nationally bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs comes another edge-ofyour-seat noir thriller that exposes the dark, bloody heart of life on the margins in the American South and the bleak underside of a bygone American Dream.
You voted. We tallied. Keep reading to see who’s who in the LOU
FOOD AND DINING
BEST ASIAN CUISINE
JINSEI SUSHI, Winner
Finalist: Toyo, Kabuki
BEST BAKERY
JUSTCAKEIT!, Winner
Finalist: Bremma’s Cakery, Bottletree Bakery
BEST BARBEQUE
MOE’S ORIGINAL BBQ, Winner
Finalist: Handy Andy Grocery, Taylor Grocery
BEST BREAKFAST
BIG BAD BREAKFAST, Winner
Finalist: Beacon, Circle and Square
BEST BRUNCH
FIRST WATCH, Winner
Finalist: Saint Leo, Big Bad Breakfast
BEST ASIAN CUISINE: JINSEI
Tucked away on North Lamar, Jinsei Sushi stands out as one of Oxford's premier dining spots. Renowned for its Kadoma Tuna—a flavorful combination of spicy tuna, tempura rice cake, avocado, jalapeño, scallions, tobiko, and eel sauce—Jinsei Sushi also delights with its fresh sushi, crispy tempura green beans, and refreshing mojitos. With a reputation for consistently exceptional dishes, Jinsei Sushi never fails to impress.
Wednesday nights are a lively affair at Jinsei Sushi, with their popular Wing Wednesday special attracting a packed house every week. Join them for dinner Tuesday through Sunday!
BEST CASUAL DINING
AJAX DINER, Winner
Finalist: Volta Taverna, Boure
BEST CATERER
MY MICHELLE’S, Winner
Finalist: Taylor Grocery, Honey Baked Ham Co.
BEST CATFISH
TAYLOR GROCERY, Winner
Finalist: Oby’s, Taylor Grocery Catering
BEST CHARCUTERIE
JOHNSTON HILL
CREAMERY, Winner
Finalist: The Sipp, Taylor Grocery Catering
BEST CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY
PREMIER LANES, Winner
Finalist: JustCakeIt!, Back Nine
BEST CHARCUTERIE : JOHNSTON HILL CREAMERY
Almost any party or tailgate in Oxford will feature a charcutrie board with meats, cheeses and other small bites. So when Johnston Hill Creamery was chosen as having the Best Charcutrie it is an award it is significant. Renowned for its artisanal quality and dedication to local flavors, the creamery has quickly become a community favorite. ”All our cheese products are made by hand using traditional methods and aged in-house in our 150 square-foot cheese cave. We only use milk and cream purchased locally and there are no added preservatives.” owner Kelly Jeffus stated. Johnston Hill Creamery’s products can be found inside Chickory Market or can be pre-ordered online.
BEST COFFEE: SHADRACH’S COFFEE
Shadrachs is still a newer addition to the Oxford community but felt at home immediately. Still the only location outside of Arkansas, Shadrachs has been open since January 2023 and have enjoyed the community they’ve shared with their customers in the Oxford-Lafayette community. The Shadrachs family is eager to create more memories with the Oxford community.1797 Jackson Ave W, 662-707-0540, shadrachscoffee.com
BEST COCKTAIL
EL CHARRO, Winner
Finalist: Saint Leo, Bar Muse
BEST COFFEE
SHADRACH’S, Winner
Finalist: Common Ground Coffee, High Point Coffee
BEST COOKIE
R&R Cookies, Winner
Finalist: JustCakeIt, Bremma’s Cakery & Confections
BEST CUPCAKES
JUSTCAKEIT, Winner
Finalist: Bremma’s Cakery & Confections
BEST CURBSIDE SERVICE
EL CHARRO, Winner
Finalist: Moe’s BBQ, Cafecitos
BEST DATE NIGHT
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Grillehouse, Jinsei Sushi
BEST DELI
THE HONEY BAKED HAM CO, Winner
Finalist: The Blind Pig, Larson’s Cash Saver
BEST DELIVERY
FETCHT DELIVERY, Winner
Finalist: Take A Break Deliveries
BEST DESSERT
GRIT RESTAURANT, Winner
Finalist: JustCakeIt, Yaya’s Frozen Yogurt
BEST DONUTS
COMMUNITY DONUTS, Winner
Finalist: Ollie’s Donuts of Oxford
BEST ENERGY TEA
SOUTH LAMAR NUTRITION, Winner
Finalist: Shadrach’s Coffee, Oxfordsip
BEST DONUTS: COMMUNITY DONUTS
Community Donuts has been serving the Oxford community for around seven years. There are many donut shops, but where Community stands out is in the word in their name. Chantha Tan has been in charge of the shop for the last four years. Despite the hardships brought on by the pandemic, Tan and her staff have shown love through service to the community. Whether it is college students coming in for a treat before finals or locals coming after church, Community Donuts welcomes all customers to try the various sweet treats on their menu.
BEST FINE DINING
GRIT RESTAURANT, Winner
Finalist: Saint Leo, Oxford Grillehouse
BEST FOOD TRUCK
TAYLOR GROCERY CATERING, Winner
Finalist: Hotbox Hibachi, Sunday’s Best Express
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
SOUTHERN COOP, Winner
Finalist: Taylor Grocery Catering, Oby’s
BEST GAS STATION FOR FOOD
JANES EXXON, Winner
Finalist: Littlejohn’s Quick Shop, Marketplace
BEST GIRLS NIGHT OUT SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: The Sipp at South Lamar, Funky’s
BEST FINE DINING, BEST DESSERT: GRIT
Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective…
Husband-and-wife owners Nick Reppond and Angie Sicurezza take both definitions to heart. At GRIT, they offer sophisticated Southern cuisine with a passion for tradition and experimentation. Nick recreates dishes from his grandmother’s table in Memphis, while incorporating bold flavor combinations from Old World and international cuisine. Guests can find comfort in familiarity while opening their minds to exciting new flavors.
BEST GUYS NIGHT OUT
BACK NINE OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Funky’s Pizza
BEST HAPPY HOUR
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: Volta Taverna, Funky’s Pizza
BEST HOT DOG QUACKS, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Handy Andy Grocery
BEST ICE CREAM
THE OXFORD CREAMERY, Winner
Finalist: JustCakeIt, Sno Biz
BEST INTERNATIONAL
EL CHARRO, Winner
Finalist: El Agave, Amore Italian Ristorante & Bar
BEST ITALIAN CUISINE
TARASQUE CUCINA, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Quacks
BEST KID’S MEAL
CHICK-FIL-A, Winner
Finalist: Lost Pizza Co, Moe’s Original BBQ
BEST LATE-NIGHT FOOD
BACK NINE OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Quacks
BEST LOCAL BURGER
HANDY ANDY GROCERY, Winner
Finalist: Back Nine Oxford, Circle & Square
BEST LUNCH
AJAX DINER, Winner
Finalist: Honey Baked Ham Co., Boure
BEST LUNCH UNDER $10
LARSON’S CASH SAVER, Winner
Finalist: La Perla Tapatia, Quacks
BEST MARGARITA
EL CHARRO, Winner
Finalist: Volta Taverna, El Agave
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
VOLTA TAVERNA, Winner
Finalist: OPA, Sammy’s Gourmet Deli & Gyro
BEST MEXICAN CUISINE
EL CHARRO, Winner
Finalist: El Agave, La Perla Tapatia
BEST MILKSHAKE
OXFORD CREAMERY, Winner
Finalist: Chick-Fil-A, JustCakeIt
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
THE KINGSWOOD, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Back Nine Oxford
BEST PATIO
OPA, Winner
Finalist: Volta Taverna, Circle & Square
BEST PIZZERIA
LOST PIZZA, Winner
Finalist: Saint Leo, Fergndan’s Wood Fire Pizza
BEST POBOY OBY’S, Winner
Finalist: Tallahatchie Gourmet, Boure
BEST RESTAURANT
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Grillehouse, McEwan's
BEST ROOFTOP
GRADUATE OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Lost Pizza Co, Green Roof Lounge
BEST SALAD SPOT
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: Oby’s, ByrdHouse Organic Cafe
BEST SANDWICH THE BLIND PIG, Winner
Finalist: Pizza Den, Circle & Square
BEST SEAFOOD
LANDSHARK SEAFOOD & CATFISH, Winner
Finalist: Jinsei Sushi, Snackbar
BEST SMOOTHIE
SMOOTHIE KING, Winner
Finalist: Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Oxford Sip
BEST SPECIAL OCCASION
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Grillehouse, Mcewan’s
BEST SPORTS BAR
THE LIBRARY, Winner
Finalist: Back Nine Oxford, Funky’s Pizza
BEST STEAKHOUSE
OXFORD GRILLEHOUSE, Winner
Finalist: Sizzler Steakhouse, Tico’s Steakhouse
BEST SUSHI
JINSEI SUSHI, Winner
Finalist: Toyo, Kabuki
BEST SWANKY BAR NIGHTBIRD, Winner
Finalist: Bar Muse, The Mad Hatter
BEST TAKEOUT
HONEY BAKED HAM CO, Winner
Finalist: Moe’s BBQ, Walk-Ons
BEST SWANKY BAR: NIGHTBIRD
Nestled behind a discreet façade in The Oliver Hotel, discover Nightbird’s hidden charms. This contemporary speakeasy offers an intimate escape, providing an exclusive atmosphere for those in the know. In the parlour, you’ll savor a selection of expertly crafted and distinctive cocktails from skilled mixologists, promising a drink experience like no other in Oxford.
BEST WINE BAR
SAINT LEO, Winner
Finalist: The Sipp on South Lamar, SoLa
BEST WINGS
SOUTHERN COOP, Winner
Finalist: Moe's Original BBQ, Jinsei Sushi
BEST BOUTIQUE FITNESS STUDIO: CORE FITNESS
Core Fitness offers a compelling approach to fitness with its dedication to providing the community with the enduring benefits of Pilates. This boutique fitness studio is noted for its ability to strengthen the core, lengthen and tone muscles comprehensively, and enhance both physical and mental balance by utilizing advanced equipment such as the Allegro 2 Balance Body Reformer and incorporating various props to ensure participants receive a complete total-body workout.
Pilates boasts numerous advantages beyond its physical benefits. It is effective in supporting weight loss through a blend of cardio and muscle-building exercises while also improving flexibility and posture. What distinguishes Core Pilates is its adoption of The Core Reformer Method, characterized by an athletic and contemporary approach set to energizing music. Each class is uniquely structured, blending elements of cardio, strength training, and stretching to deliver a wellrounded fitness regimen suitable for individuals of all fitness levels.
The studio prides itself on inclusivity, offering classes tailored for beginners, seniors, and individuals recovering from injuries. While emphasizing its role in promoting overall wellness, Core Pilates underscores the importance of consulting with healthcare professionals before participating in classes, particularly for those managing injuries or health concerns. Through its commitment to providing a welcoming and beneficial Pilates experience, Core Pilates remains a cornerstone of fitness in the Oxford community.
“What makes Core Oxford so unique is the sense of community that has formed with our people. Our classes are adequately sized to give a nice atmosphere where clients will not only meet their fitness goals, but also connect with one another. As of right now, we are the sole fitness apparel boutique in Oxford. The past four years have been a great experience, one that we are very grateful for. We can’t wait to continue to build this community.” -Jennifer Bolton.
HEALTH AND FITNESS
BEST AUDIOLOGY CENTER
HEARING AID CONSULTANTS OF NORTH
MISSISSIPPI, Winner
Finalist: Hear South Audiology
BEST BOUTIQUE FITNESS STUDIO
CORE FITNESS, Winner
Finalist: Orangetheory, Baptiste Power Yoga
BEST CARDIOLOGY
MARK H. STRONG, MD, Winner
Finalist: Charles Laney, MD
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
HENDERSON B. TRIPP, DC, Winner
Finalist: Annalea Wood, DC - RECURVE Health
BEST DENTAL CLINIC
OXFORD DENTAL, Winner
Finalist: Ross Family Dental, Lee Family Dentistry
BEST DENTIST
WALKER SWANEY, DDS, Winner
Finalist: Ross Andrew, DDS, Preston Lee, DDS
BEST DERMATOLOGY CLINIC DERMATOLOGY ASSSOCIATES OF OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Dermatology
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
DR. LYNDSAY R. SHIPP, Winner
Finalist: Dr. Philip R. Loria
BEST DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
CHARTER MEDICAL, Winner
Finalist: Home Medical Products
BEST ENT
BRADFORD DYE, ENT
CONSULTANTS, Winner
Finalist: Pearson Windham ENT, ENT Consultants; Scott Harrison ENT, ENT Consultants
BEST FAMILY PHYSICIAN
SHAUN HELMHOUT, MD, Winner
Finalist: Kimberly Webb, MD, Webb Family
Medical; Thomas Glasgow, MD, North Mississippi Health Services
BEST ESTHETICIAN
ANNA THAMES, SHELL PLASTIC
SURGERY, Winner
Finalist: Lana Melendez, Revive Wellness, Emma Rae, Franklin Dermatology Associates
BEST EYE CARE
RAYNER EYE CLINIC, Winner
Finalist: Oxford University Eyecare PPLC, Mississippi Eye Consultants
BEST GYMNASTICS STUDIO
WINK TUMBLING, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Cheer & Tumble
BEST HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER, ORANGETHEORY, Winner
Finalist: Core Fitness, Baptiste Yoga
BEST IMAGING CLINIC
BEST PRE-OP & IMAGING CENTER, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Diagnostic Center
BEST MARTIAL ARTS
662 JIU JITSU, Winner
Finalist: ELITE Martial Arts
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
NAY OMORI, Winner
Finalist: Live Well Therapeutic
BEST LPN
KARA BARBEE, LPN, PHILLIPS
PEDIATRICS, Winner
Finalist: Grace Summerlin, LPN, Oxford Urgent Care
BEST MED SPA
SHELL PLASTIC SURGERY, Winner
Finalist: Dermatology Associates of Oxford, Revive Wellness
BEST MEDICAL CLINIC
OXFORD ORTHOPEDICS, Winner
Finalist: Campbell Clinic Ortho, Specialty Ortho Group
BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER COMMUNICARE, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Counseling Collective, Wright Counseling Group
BEST NURSE
MALLORY RUDER, RN, WHITE OAK
FAMILY MEDICAL, Winner
Finalist: Leigh Blandon, RN, Billy Glen Salley, RN
BEST MARTIAL ARTS: 662 JIU JITSUI
“662 Jiu Jitsu is grateful to be a part of the Oxford community. We take pride in winning an award like this and it goes to show the hard work our instructors and clients have put in. We have a three-pronged approach for our clients. We identify what can be improved and help you solve it, we identify what style of learning suits you the best, and most importantly from the moment you come in until you leave we treat you the absolute best we can.”
BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER:
STEPHANIE BARRETT, FNP-BC
Since becoming a nurse in 1995 and earning my FNP designation in 2000, Stephanie has found immense joy as a nurse practitioner and small business owner. “I love coming to work every single day; I honestly cannot imagine doing anything else, even after all these years.”
Barrett’s initial motivation for returning to graduate school was to secure financial stability in case of future hardships. For many years, she balanced part-time work until relocating to Oxford. Though she never set out to own a business, the opportunity arose soon after her move, and she never looked back. "It was the best decision I've ever made!"
BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER
STEPHANIE BARRETT, FNP-BC, OXFORD URGENT CARE, Winner
Finalist: Dana Brooke Underwood, FNP-BC, Phillips Pediatrics; Beth Norris, FNP-BC, Oxford Orthopedics
BEST ONCOLOGY
BRENT HARDIN, MD, OXFORD UROLOGY ASSOCIATES, Winner
Finalist: Ryan Yates, MD, Baptist Cancer Center; Clayton Allen, MD, Baptist Cancer Center
BEST OPTOMETRIST/OPHTHALMOLOGIST, DOTY FARMER, RAYNER EYE CLINIC, Winner
Finalist: Jonathan Zoghby, Rayner Eye Clinic; William Strickland, Oxford Eye Clinic
BEST ORAL SURGEON ALLEN LIGON, D, DDS, Winner
Finalist: Scott Whitaker, D, DDS
BEST ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON KURRE LUBER, MD, OXFORD ORTHO, Winner
Finalist: Ryves Moore, MD, Specialty Orthopedic Group; Gabe Lensing, MD, Specialty Orthopedics Group
BEST ORTHOPEDICS CLINIC SPECIALTY ORTHOPEDIC GROUP, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics
BEST PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC WILLOW PAIN MANAGEMENT, Winner
Finalist: Pause Pain & Wellness, MidSouth Pain Treatment Center
BEST OPTOMETRIST: DR. DOTY FARMER, RAYNER EYE CLINIC
Rayner Eye Clinic provides excellence in eye care to north Mississippi through individuals devoted to your well-being. They are conscientious about giving you the exceptional eyecare you deserve to achieve the optimum result.
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
CATHERINE PHILLIPS, DO, PHILLIPS
PEDIATRICS, Winner
Finalist: Michael Dennis, MD, Oxford Pediatric
Group; Doug Stanford, MD, Oxford Pediatric Group
BEST PHARMACY
CHANEY’S PHARMACY, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Rx, G&M Pharmacy
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY
CAMPBELL CLINIC ORTHO, Winner
Finalist: Athletico Physical Therapy, Elite Physical Therapy
BEST PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT
KATIE JENKINS MCDNAIEL, PA-C, DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Anna Burns, PA-C Oxford Orthopedics; Jordan Ellis, PA-C, Specialty Orthopedic Group
BEST SPORTS MEDICINE
OXFORD ORTHOPAEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE, Winner
Finalist: Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, Specialty Orthopedic Group
BEST URGENT CARE
OXFORD URGENT CARE, Winner
Finalist: Express Care Clinic, Ole Town Med Urgent Care & Family Clinic
BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE
OXFORD OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
ASSOCIATES, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Clinic for Women
BEST YOGA STUDIO
SOUTHERN STAR YOGA, Winner
Finalist: Baptiste Power Yoga
HOME AND GARDEN
BEST FLOORING
STOUT’S FLOORING, Winner
Finalist: Signature Flooring, Kizer Flooring
BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
GRANTHAM CONSTRUCTION, Winner
Finalist: Ithaka Oxford, Gore & Melton
BEST ELECTRICAL REPAIR
RICK’S PLUMBING & ELECTRIC, Winner
Finalist: MR Service, Jackson & Sons
Plumbing-Electric
BEST FURNITURE STORE
OXFORD HOME FURNISHINGS, Winner
Finalist: Something Southern Inc, Summerhouse
BEST HEATING AND AIR
CLEAN AIR SOLUTIONS, Winner
Finalist: Brunner Heating & Air, Franklin’s
Heating & Air Conditioning Inc
BEST HOME DÉCOR
DISCOUNT BUILDING MATERIALS, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Home Furnishings, Something Southern
BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
PEARLY PEACOCK DESIGN, Winner
Finalist: Amanda McGown - Summerhouse, Ashley Clark Interiors
BEST LANDSCAPER
SMITH LAWN MANAGEMENT, Winner
Finalist: Grasshoppers Lawn & Landscape, Childer’s Lawn Maintenance
BEST LAWN MAINTENANCE
CHILDER’S LAWN MAINTENANCE, Winner
Finalist: Tyler Goolsby, Grasshoppers Lawn & Landscape
BEST NURSERY: OIL SHED
OIL Shed, short for Oxford Interior Landscape, is your destination for distinctive plants, stylish containers, seasonal flowers, unique gifts, and home accents. Whether you're looking to refresh your home, enhance your curb appeal, or find the perfect gift, OIL Shed has you covered. Explore their curated selection of French antiques, a variety of plants, candles, pillows, wreaths, and more. Their talented designers have a keen eye for design and create custom containers tailored to your needs.
BEST LIGHTING STORE
MAGNOLIA LIGHTING, Winner
BEST MATTRESS STORE
OXFORD HOME FURNISHINGS, Winner
Finalist: The Furniture Source of Oxford
BEST MOVING COMPANY
THREE MEN MOVING & STORAGE, Winner
Finalist: Pack Move Solutions, I Move You Moving Company
BEST NURSERY
OIL SHED, Winner
Finalist: Good Earth Landscape, Garden Gin
BEST PEST CONTROL
ACTION PEST CONTROL INC, Winner
Finalist: Pest Marshals, Pickens Pest Control
BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
CISSELL MANAGEMENT CO, Winner
Finalist: Summit Management Services
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
CANNON CLEARY MCGRAW, Winner
Finalist: CryeLeike Oxford Real Estate, Kessinger Real Estate
BEST WEED CONTROL SERVICE
ORGANIC LAWN SOLUTIONS, Winner
Finalist: Smith lawn Management, Grasshoppers
OUT AND ABOUT
BEST KEPT SECRET
CIRCLE & SQUARE BREWING, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Meat Company, The Kingswood at the Oliver Hotel
BEST KEPT SECRET: CIRCLE & SQUARE
Circle and Square Brewing Company has been open in Oxford for nearly a year right off Ole Miss’s campus. Started by four local businessmen, Oxford’s newest taproom has seen tremendous success on gameday’s with delicious beer and tasty treats. Aptly named from the Circle on campus and the historic Oxford Square, Circle and Square is located at the old depot beside the Ford Center making it a perfect meeting place between school and town. 100 Depot Street, 662-205-0128, circleandsquare.beer
BEST LOCAL EVENT
DOUBLE DECKER SPRING RUN, Winner
Finalist: The St. Jude Taste of Oxford, Oxford Film Festival
BEST MUSEUM/GALLERY
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
MUSEUM, Winner
Finalist: Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Southside Gallery
BEST MUSIC VENUE
THE LYRIC, Winner
Finalist: Proud Larry’s, The Ford Center
BEST TRIVIA
MOE’S ORIGINAL BBQ, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square Brewing, The Blind Pig
BEST WALKING TRAIL
LAMAR PARK, Winner
Finalist:South Campus Rail Trail
BEST WEDDING VENUE
THE JEFFERSON OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Castle Hill of Oxford, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council
PETS
BEST ANIMAL HOSPITAL
MAGNOLIA SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: Crossroads Animal Hospital, Animal Clinic of Oxford
BEST BOARDING CROSSROADS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: Magnolia Small Animal Hopsital, DeltaDog Oxford
BEST PET DAYCARE CROSSROADS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: DeltaDog Oxford, Pampered Paws Animal Hopsital
BEST ANIMAL HOSPITAL: MAGNOLIA SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL
When Dr. Hannah Heaton and Dr. Laura Wilson first decided to set out on their own they had two goals, to ensure that each pet has a healthy and comfortable life and that each client felt appreciated, supported and empowered to care for their pet. We are and will stay a privately-owned, non-corporate neighborhood veterinary hospital in our favorite small town! We know pet parents are well-educated, curious people who want to be informed about their pet care options and have all their questions answered. We want to make sure we give your beloved pets healthcare for their specific needs by providing updated diagnostic capabilities including dental radiographs, ultrasound, digital radiographs, and in-house laboratory equipment. We also have the ability to perform multiple types of surgery. Reference laboratories and specialists are also used when needed to provide other diagnostic and treatment options. Our entire team is here to not only help but be involved in the care and love of your pet each step along the way.
BEST PET GROOMER
CROSSROADS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: The Spaw at Homeward Bound, DeltaDog
BEST PET SUPPLIES
CROSSROADS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: Hollywood Feed, Tractor Supply Co
BEST PET TRAINER/OBEDIENCE SCHOOL
MAGNUM K9 SERVICES, Winner
Finalist: Wildrose Kennels, Pampered Paws Animal Hospital
BEST VETERINARIAN
DR. HANNAH HEATON, MAGNOLIA
SMALL ANIMAL HOSPITAL, Winner
Finalist: Dr. Lachlan McQueen, Crossroads Animal Hospital; Dr. Lee Payne, Animal Clinic of Oxford
PROFESSIONALS
BEST ARCHITECT
HOWORTH & ASSOCIATES, Winner
Finalist: Corey Alger, Johnathan Mattox
BEST BANKER
HELEAN DAVIS, PARAGON BANK, Winner
Finalist: Lauren Lee, Origina Bank; Campbell Helveston, FNB
BEST BARTENDER
TYLER JACKSON, Winner
Finalist: Peyton Attaway, Mason Lewis
BEST CHEF MICHELLE ROUNSAVILLE, MY
MICHELLE'S, Winner
Finalist: Joel Miller, Elizabeth Heiskell Catering
BEST COACH K-12
CHRIS CUTCLIFFE, OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL, Winner
Finalist: Melinda Scruggs, Lafayette High School; Ben Logan
BEST COLLEGE PROFESSOR
WEBB LEWIS, Winner
Finalist: Dr. Christopher Newman, Dr. Todd Smitherman
BEST CONTRACTOR
TYLER GORE, GORE & MELTON CONSTRUCTION, Winner
Finalist: Brad Grantham, Grantham
Construction Co; Jake Todd, Ithaka Oxford
BEST COSMETOLOGIST
KAY LEE GORE, MOD & POLISH, Winner
Finalist: Christy Parker, Southern Chic Salon & Spa; Savannah Daniels, Hair + Lash Company
BEST COSMETOLOGIST: KAY LEE GORE, MOD & POLISH
Kay Lee Gore has been a cosmetologist specializing in color and cuts for 11 years. Her passion for helping others feel beautiful began as a high school freshman and has only grown since. Recently inspired by the honest and fair way her husband, Tyler Gore of Grantham and Gore Construction, runs his company, Kay Lee took the leap to own and operate her own small business. She cherishes her team, looks forward to work each day, and is grateful to be thriving in Oxford. "I love Oxford for many reasons—it's a small town with a big heart." Outside of work, Kay Lee enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones.
BEST FIREFIGHTER
CHASE MCDANIEL, SHELTER
INSURANCE, Winner
Finalist: Josh Ferguson, Oxford Fire Department
Station 1; John Cole Tramel
BEST HAIR STYLIST
CAT JENNINGS, ELEMENT HAIR
STUDIO, Winner
Finalist: Kay Lee Gore, Mod & Polish; Christy Parker, Southern Chic Salon & Spa
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
JASON BURNS, FARM BUREAU, Winner
Finalist: Chase McDaniel, Shelter Insurance; Allison Burrow, Farm Bureau
BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT
JEFF MCCUTCHEON, Winner
Finalist: Joey East, Bo Prince
BEST LAWYER
MATT MCKENZIE, Winner
Finalist: George Haymans, Swayze Alford
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
CHERYL MOSSBERG, Winner
Finalist: Lee Harper, Jere Allen
BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN
DALTON BURNEY, Winner
Finalist: Clint Jordan, Proud Hound
BEST MORTGAGE LENDER
JAKE OTT TEAM - BANK OF ENGLAND MORTGAGE, Winner
Finalist: Emily Benedict, FNB Oxford; Andrea Rutherford, Paragon Bank
BEST OXONION TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
LANE KIFFIN, Winner
Finalist: John Cofield, Graham Doty
BEST LOCAL ARTIST: CHERYL MOSSBERG
Cheryl Mossberg was born in Birmingham, Alabama. From very early on in childhood, she had an interest and a love for drawing, painting and creating. Cheryl studied at The University of Mississippi receiving her BA in Art, with an emphasis in ceramics. Early in her career, she established the ceramics program and taught painting and drawing at what was rated the #1 private school in Alabama - Indian Springs School. After her stint in teaching, she grew to focus more on her own artistic expressions through inspired works and various commissions. Currently, she is a practicing studio artist focused on the mediums of oil, acrylic, and various other forms of mixed media. Her primary medium is oil. She currently works and lives in Oxford, Mississippi. She and her family live in a quiet, secluded house in the Mississippi countryside. Her studio is attached to the house, as a sort of sanctuary amidst the Mississippi forest surrounding them.
Within Cheryl’s artwork, there are several themes at hand, with some being spirituality, nature, Christian iconography, and the capturing of her imagination in its purest form. She uses her faith as a guiding hand when creating, bringing you into her world of reverie and curiosity. Within her art, the subject matter often consists of wildlife, people, mythology, story-telling, and nature. There is a dream-like aura about the subjects in any given painting. Her artwork is ethereal and whimsical, yet dramatic. Her use of chiaroscuro is reminiscent of Baroque artwork. She uses various oil painting mediums and encaustic techniques in order to create textures and sheens. Cheryl goes between layering colors upon colors, and other times uses a very minimal color palette. Both of these techniques tend to create emotional effects, whether dramatic or serene. The utilization of negative space in her artwork calls you to observe every inch of any given piece. Cheryl Mossberg gives the viewer a glimpse into a previously unseen world, that which was only known by her.
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY, ANN-MARIE WYATT
"I’m a natural storyteller. I've been documenting people for as long as I can remember." -Ann-Marie Wyatt
Taylor Square Photography prioritizes their clients through a relational approach first, and a photography approach second. They treat each client with the same care and attention they would want for themselves, focusing on building meaningful connections, delivering outstanding products, and providing a seamless luxury experience from start to finish.
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY, Winner
Finalist: Bruce Newman, Thomas Photo LLC
BEST PLUMBER RICK'S PLUMBING & ELECTRIC, Winner
Finalist: T&T Plumbing, Oxford Plumbing LLC
BEST POLITICIAN ROBYN TANNEHILL, Winner
Finalist: Jeff Busby, Clay Deweese
BEST REALTOR TIM PHILLIPS CRYE LEIKE, Winner
Finalist: Andrew & Heather Richardson, Remax; Alison Alger, Cannon Cleary McGrwa
Katie Sabatier, CNM, WHNPMeredith
BEST REALTOR: TIM PHILLIPS, CRYE LEIKE
Having spent 63 years in Oxford, Tim considers himself a lifelong Oxonian. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1978 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from The University of Mississippi in 1983. For 38 years, he worked at The Oxford EAGLE, where I served as Co-Publisher and Publisher for much of that time.
Encouraged by Trey Hogue and Clarke Barton and inspired by his family's long-standing involvement in local real estate, Tim obtained his Realtor’s license in May 2016 followed by his Broker’s License in 2017. Currently, he is an Associate Broker and partner with Mark Hodge at Crye-Leike Oxford Real Estate.
“Being an Oxonian for all of my life, this city is special to me. Being able to help my community in any capacity is an honor. Being chosen as Best Realtor in Oxford for 2024 is very meaningful as many of my peers voted for me. None of this would be possible without God, family, great friends and clients who encourage me to work hard everyday as a realtor.”
BEST RESTAURANT SERVER
TAYLOR MCHUGH, MCEWEN'S, Winner
Finalist: Anna Tomlinson, Funky's; Kimberly Barker, Grit
BEST ELEMENTARY TEACHER
OLIVIA MAXWELL, Winner
Finalist: Mary Dickerson, Alex Logan
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
RYNE BANKSTON, Winner
Finalist: Diala Chaney, Ben Logan
SHOPPING & SERVICES
BEST ASSISTED LIVING THE PINNACLE OF OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: The Magnolia at Oxford Commons, Elison Assisted Living
Half Page Ad_12july24.pdf 1 7/12/2024 3:16:22 PM
BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM BYRNE ZIZZI CPA, PLLC, Winner
Finalist: Kinney & Associates PLLC, DeVoe Carr PLLC CPA's & Advisors
BEST ANTIQUE STORE THE MUSTARD SEED ANTIQUE MALL, Winner
Finalist: Sugar Magnolia, The Depot Antique Mall
BEST AUTO DEALER - NEW CANNON MOTORS, Winner
Finalist: Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Oxford, Oxford Toyota
BEST AUTO DEALER - USED CANNON MOTORS, Winner
Finalist: Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Oxford, Belk Ford Inc.
BEST AUTO REPAIR
DEALS AUTO REPAIR, Winner
Finalist: Brannan Auto & Glass Repair, Cannon Motors
BEST BANK
FNB OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Origin Bank, Paragon Bank
BEST BED & BREAKFAST
THE SOUTH LAMAR BED & BREAKFAST, Winner
Finalist: The Z Bed & Breakfast, Puddin Place
BEST BOUTIQUE
STYLE ASSEMBLY, Winner
Finalist: Frock Oxford, Cicada
BEST BRIDAL REGISTRY
OXFORD FLORAL, Winner
Finalist: Neilson's Department Store
BEST BUSINESS
ALISON ALGER, CANNON CLEARY MCGRAW, Winner
Finalist: Shaw Ace Hardware, FNB Oxford
BEST CARPET CLEANING
ALL KLEEN CARPET CLEANING, Winner
Finalist: Turner Clean & Restoration, Lafayette
Carpet Cleaning & Pressure Washing
BEST CHILDCARE
LEARNING CENTER AT NORTH OXFORD CHURCH, Winner
Finalist: First Baptist Church Week Day
Educational Child Care, The Children's Academy
BEST CLEANING SERVICE - COMMERCIAL
SIMPLY CLEAN, Winner
Finalist: Merry Maids
BEST RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICE: SIMPLY CLEAN
In the Spring of 2015, Ryan Nicholas had meandered his way from dead-end job to dead-end job. He worked long hours for little pay, slowly becoming crippled by debt.
He found himself without any marketable skills and zero prospects for the future.
He had a few half-baked products come to life that found their way onto Amazon, then quickly died out. Retail was too vicious of a market for someone with no means to dive into.
He began to think about service-based businesses and how something of the sort could fit into the landscape of Oxford. With less than a $1,000 to his name, he scoured the Walmart cleaning aisle and loaded his trunk with supplies.
Next, he think-tanked his way through building a website and created an interface just complex enough to allow for potential clients to book appointments online.
He pounded the pavement around Oxford, going door to door to hand out flyers and introduce himself. He crossed his fingers and waited.
Soon enough, he got a call. He admittedly showed up to his first appointment with no true understanding of how to clean a house. However, he started to clean.
After a few refunds and hard won experience, he began to check in with clients on what he had missed. He took notes and created a checklist. Nicholas recalled some of his earliest jobs, a few of which he found himself totally upside-down. He worked 12 hour days cleaning up construction debris.
Other times, he found himself standing at the threshold of a hoarder situation.
“I remember the early days of heading to clean some college girl’s dorm room and passing by my old place of employment. I’d think, 'What the hell am I doing?'” Nicholas said.
However, jobs reached completion, clients were pleased, and word began to spread.
Simply Clean was alive. A few years into the new venture, Nicholas found himself with a workload that called for hiring employees. He reached out to a local accountant about the process of bookkeeping and paying taxes. He began to study pain points for customers within the industry.
Folks would show up late or not at all. They were unprofessional. They lacked consistency and customer service. Nicholas began to craft Simply Cleans culture around where his competitors often fell short and the company began to stretch its legs.
Nine years into the business, Ryan handles operations of Simply Clean. His wife, Sara, holds an administrative role. Together, they ride at the helm of Oxford’s premier cleaning service.
They currently maintain over 20 employees and have cleaned over 35,000 houses to date.
Oxford Magazine is pleased to showcase a mere sliver of Simply Clean's success by announcing that the business has been voted Best Residential & Commercial Cleaning Service in Oxford for 2024.
Cleanings can still be booked online at www. simplycleanoxford.com.
Written By Joseph Climer
BEST CLEANING SERVICE - RESIDENTIAL
SIMPLY CLEAN, Winner
Finalist: Brittany's Cleaning Service, Merry Maids
BEST SEAFOOD MARKET
OXFORD MEAT COMPANY, Winner
Finalist: Chicory Market, LB's Meat Market
BEST COMPUTER REPAIR
UBREAKIFIX, OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Elit Network Solutions, Rockit Computer Solutions
BEST CONSIGNMENT/RESALE/ESTATE SALES
OXFORD ESTATE SALES, Winner
Finalist: Holding Hands Resale Shop, Plato's Closet Oxford
BEST COSMETICS
AMY HEAD COSMETICS, Winner
Finalist: Dermatology Associates of Oxford, Salon 38655
BEST DANCE STUDIO
OXFORD ACADEMY OF DANCE
ARTS, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Elite Dance Company
BEST DEPARTMENT STORE
NEILSON'S DEPARMENT STORE, Winner
Finalist: Belk
BEST DRY CLEANER
RAINBOW CLEANERS, Winner
Finalist: Lapels Dry Cleaners
BEST EVENT RENTAL
DETAILS RENTALS, Winner
Finalist: Magnolia Rental
BEST FLORAL COMPANY
OXFORD FLORAL, Winner
Finalist: Bette's Flowers Inc, University Florist
BEST COMPUTER REPAIR: UBREAKIFIX, OXFORD
Celebrating two decades in the business, Kyle McGrevey, owner of UBreakIFix has been Oxford’s favorite tech whiz, which is evident by the number of plaques and certificates that hang on a wall in his shop.
And now he has another one to add to the wall as the 2024 Oxford Eagle’s Best of Oxford winner for Best Computer Repair Shop.
McGrevey said he thinks the computer and cell phone repair shop’s first win was in 2008.
“We won for several years in a row and then they got rid of the category for a while,” he said.
Starting out as a side hustle back in 2004 during his college days, the shop quickly boomed into a full-time gig within a matter of months.
"I ran an ad in the DM and threw a Yellow Pages ad in. Within like a month, I had a full-time job. And that's what I've been doing since," he said.
Specializing in everything from cracked cell phone screens
to resurrecting waterlogged laptops, they've carved out a niche as the tech problem solvers of Oxford and beyond.
"We try to be straightforward with everybody,” he said. “We usually tell people upfront what to expect. We have such a vast depth of knowledge here. Combined, we probably have over 50 plus years of experience—easy."
Beyond their brick-and-mortar presence in Oxford, the shop has expanded with a storefront in Tupelo and mobile repair units serving Alabama.
McGrevey is appreciative of the Oxford community for their unwavering support over the last 20 years.
"I found Oxford to be a pretty cool place to live in," he said.
"The success of the business turned me into a lifelong Oxford resident. It's been a real lift having the support of the local community and the people coming to us."
Written By Alyssa Schnugg, Senior Reporter
BEST MUSIC VENUE: THE LYRIC
Located at 1006 Van Buren Ave, The Lyric Oxford has enjoyed an extremely interesting life since its original construction in the late 1800’s. The structure, originally a livery stable, was owned by William Faulkner’s family in the early part of the 20th century. During the 1920’s it was converted into a theater for live performances and silent films where it was named The Lyric Theatre. The advent of motion pictures saw The Lyric evolve into Oxford’s first movie theater. In 1949, William Faulkner walked from his home in Oxford (Rowan Oak) to his childhood stable for the world premiere of MGM’s adaptation of “Intruder in the Dust”. The Lyric stopped operating as a movie theater in the 1970’s and was left abandoned from many years until the early 1980’s when it was restored and converted into office spaces, residential housing, and a health center. In 2007, The Lyric underwent an extensive restoration process and returned to its original use as a theater. It began operating again on July 3rd, 2008.
Located in the heart of Oxford, MS, The Lyric Oxford hosts an assortment of events including concerts, fundraisers, private functions and wedding receptions
BEST GIFT SHOP
OLIVE JUICE GIFTS, Winner
Finalist: Chaney's Pharmacy, Oxford Floral
BEST GROCERY STORE
LARSONS CASH SAVER, Winner
Finalist: Chicory Market
BEST HAIR SALON
SOUTHERN CHIC SALON & SPA, Winner
Finalist: Element Hair Studio, Mod & Polish
BEST HOTEL
THE OLIVER HOTEL OF OXFORD BY OLIVER, Winner
Finalist: The Graduate, The Inn at Ole Miss
BEST INDEPENDENT LIVING
BEAU RIDGE, Winner
Finalist: The Magnolia at Oxford Commons
BEST INSURANCE COMPANY
FARM BUREAU INSURANCE, Winner
Finalist: Brown Insurance Agency, Marti StarkState Farm Insurance Agent
BEST INVESTMENT FIRM
ARGENT TRUST COMPANY, Winner
Finalist: Reid Sherman Investment Group of Raymon James, Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: John P. Gunn
BEST JEWELRY STORE
ARNETT'S FINE JEWELRY, Winner
Finalist: Van Atkins Jewelers
BEST LAW FIRM
MCKENZIE LITTLE PLLC, Winner
Finalist: Haymans & Company PLLC, Swayze Alford Attorney at Law
BEST LIQUOR STORE
HIGH COTTON WINE & SPIRITS
WAREHOUSE, Winner
Finalist: Magnolia Wine & Spirits, Campus Wines & Spirits
BEST MEAT MARKET
OXFORD MEAT COMPANY, Winner
Finalist: Chicory Market, LB's Meat Market
BEST MEN'S CLOTHING STORE
HINTON & HINTON, Winner
Finalist: Neilson's Department Store, Landry's
BEST NAIL SALON
NAIL BAR & CO, OXFORD, Winner
Finalist: Mod & Polish, Nails & Cocktails
BEST NEW BUSINESS
CAMPBELL CLINIC ORTHO, Winner
Finalist: Circle & Square, Arnett's Fine Jewelry
BEST OFFICE SUPPLY
PITTNER SUPPLY, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Printing Co
BEST OUTDOORSMAN STORE
HUNTER'S HOLLOW INC, Winner
Finalist: Vincent Outfitters Oxford, Tom Beckbe
BEST PACKING AND SHIPPING
THE UPS STORE, Winner
Finalist: Documart
BEST PRINTING COMPANY
OXFORD PRINTING CO, Winner
Finalist: Documart, 1 Day Signs
BEST RESTORATION SERVICE
TURNER CLEAN & RESTORATION, Winner
Finalist: SERVPRO
BEST SHOE STORE
LULU'S SHOES & ACCESSORIES, Winner
Finalist: Core Cycle & Outdoor, Neilson's Department Store
BEST SMALL ENGINE REPAIR
DEALS AUTO REPAIR, Winner
Finalist: Brannan Auto & Glass Repair, Oxford Auto Care
BEST SOAP SHOP
BUFF CITY SOAP, Winner
Finalist: Magnolia Soap & Bath Co - Oxford
BEST SPORTING GOODS
UNIVERSITY SPORTING GOODS, Winner
Finalist: Hunter's Hollow Inc, Dick's Sporting Goods
BEST TANNING SALON
OXFORD SUPER TAN, Winner
Finalist: Mod & Polish, Sunsations
We are honored to serve you, Oxford!
Argent is a leading, independent private wealth management firm offering comprehensive wealth management, asset management, and trust services for individuals, families, foundations, and endowments.
Providing custom solutions for wealth protection and prosperity. Cultivating deeply personal relationships. Serving with excellence. These are the values that drive us and have been ingrained in Argent from day one. And they’re why, year after year, our clients trust in our guidance to help strengthen their families, businesses and organizations.
Argent serves clients across 38 markets and 16 states and has responsibility for over $85 billion of client assets.
(662) 550-4751 | 613 South Lamar, Oxford, MS 38655 | ArgentTrust.com Call us today to discuss how we can best serve you.
Pictured left to right: Mark Hartnett, J.D., MBA, CFP®, AEP®, Managing Director - Argent Family Wealth Services | Jodi Penn Rives, Business Development Officer Cara Gober, J.D., Trust Officer | Brooks Campany, Regional Manager | Austin McCarty, CTFA, CFP®, Wealth Advisor Caroline Forks, J.D., CTFA Trust Counsel | Blair Hull, MBA, President - Argent Foundation | Vince Chamblee, CPA, CFP®, Senior Vice President
BEST TIRE STORE
GATEWAY TIRE & SERVICE, Winner
Finalist: Oxford Tire Inc, The Tire Shop
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
TESSA HANKINS, Winner
Finalist: Brent Teravel - Cruise Planners, Hello Fora
Jill Hirsberg
BEST WEDDING PLANNER
ELLEN THOMAS EVENT DESIGN, Winner
Finalist: One Fine Day Events
BEST WINE STORE
HIGH COTTON WINE & SPIRITS
WAREHOUSE, Winner
Finalist: Magnolia Wine & Spirits, Campus Wines & Spirits
BEST WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORE
NEILSON'S DEPARTMENT STORE, Winner
Finalist:Frock Oxford, Style Assembly
BEST WEDDING PLANNER: ELLEN THOMAS EVENT DESIGNS
Ellen Thomas’ passion for event planning started at a young age. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in hospitality management, Ellen began her career in Nashville, Tennessee, where she planned weddings, corporate events and music industry events for some of the top music labels and artists in the United States. After four fun-filled years, she felt the call to come back home to Mississippi and start her own company. Thus, Ellen Thomas Event Design was born.
With nearly 10 years of experience in the event industry Ellen thrives off of creativity and delegating. She values her teammates, clients, vendors, family and friends. Planning and executing multiple events a year requires a great team and leading that team to great success. Simply put, Ellen’s mission is to make her clients’ dreams come true. With impeccable attention to detail, Ellen makes sure that every aspect is planned to perfection. She loves getting to know her clients and working with them to make their vision come to life. In Ellen’s spare time, you will catch her sipping a freshly poured prosecco and traveling to the next destination on her bucket list!
