JULY 2018 // FREE
Take a ride on a Biloxi Schooner, tour the swamplands of Louisiana; or satisfy your inner history buff at Beauvoir or historic downtown Savannah, Georgia.
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I By Jason Niblett
One of Mississippi’s bestknown cities is in a tourism crisis. Columbus, the home of Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi University for Women, the Tennessee Williams home, a spring pilgrimage, and, claimed by many, the site for the beginning of Memorial Day, is losing funding for its convention and visitors bureau. Tourism is big business in Mississippi. That’s one of the reasons we started this magazine. Now reaching to each corner of the state, we’ve met some amazing people in just about every Mississippi town. We’ve spoken with the Columbus folks a few times, and they’re some of the best tourism folks in the country. Now they’re in danger, and the impact they make on the community and state is in danger. As of this writing, the Mississippi Legislature failed to renew the city’s two percent restaurant tax. The bill to extend the tax this year stalled in conference. The tax, just like the one collected in so many other places in our state and other places, started in 1986. It only applies to larger restaurants, and helped generate a budget of nearly $2 million for the CVB. According to the Columbus newspaper, a debate over whether or not to collect the tax at all restaurants, not just the larger ones, is why it stalled. According to the CVB, tourists and visitors spent $116 million in Lowndes County in 2016. Pretty good return for a small investment, yes? Okay, yes, I know that “tax cuts” are nice political speak. No one wants to
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pay more taxes; however, the two percent restaurant tax may be one of the best things for a community going. Local people only pay the tax if they’re going out to eat, and guess what? If you spend $50 for a meal, you’re only paying $1. One buck. Go eat somewhere a little nicer? Okay, the ticket comes to $125. You’re paying $2.50 in tourism tax. One event in Columbus is Wings Over Columbus, held in partnership with the air force base. That brought in nearly 50,000 people for one weekend. How many of these people ate out at least once during the event? There’s the reason why this tax is good for a community. Outside people are paying the bulk of it. Chambers of commerce and CVBs do very important work, often behind the scenes. Anytime you see something new open, enjoy a festival, or have an influx of new people, there is a pretty good chance a group of professionals worked tirelessly to make something happen. Mississippi is competing against 49 other states. We have 82 counties competing for tourists and visitors coming to Mississippi. The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau is one of the best in how it returns money to the community while helping to showcase their cities and county. Their dollars are reinvested over and over. Columbus is a place, thanks in part to the CVB, people want to travel. As someone made the comment during a meeting about this, “If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.” What happens if it’s your community next? Is $1 on a $50 restaurant bill worth losing the fiscal impact of a CVB? Jason Niblett is the publisher of Venture South Magazine. He may be reached at jason@myventuresouth.com
I PEARL RIVER ECO TOURS Publisher
Jason Niblett jason@myventuresouth.com
Production Manager & Graphic Designer
Anna Griffing anna@myventuresouth.com
Contributing Photographers Jill Deakle | Jann Tuten Visit Savannah | River Prince
Contributing Writers
Kitsaa Stephens | Amelia Parkes Jann Tuten | Jill Deakle
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Kevin Dearmon kevin@myventuresouth.com Jill Deakle jill@myventuresouth.com
Debra Jefcoat debra@myventuresouth.com
Bonnie Purvis bonnie@myventuresouth.com
Venture South Magazine is published monthly by Venture South Media LLC. Laurel, Mississippi
Pine Belt: 601-909-0990 | Meridian: 601-453-1377 Gulf Coast: 228-207-1606 | North Mississippi: 662-830-8333 email: info@myventuresouth.com facebook.com/myventuresouth
Š 2018 / All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Venture South Media LLC/Venture South Magazine cannot be held liable for errors and omissions. Copies are available at locations throughout south Mississippi.
Beauvoir and its accompanying buildings and surrounding lands are a popular destination for history buffs in coastal Mississippi. Cover photo by Debra Jefcoat. Cover design by Anna Griffing.
The Honey Island Swamp is a treasure trove of wildlife.
RIVER PRINCE
This unique artist practices an old craft.
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THE BILOXI SCHOONER TOURS
Sail into the sunset aboard a Biloxi Schooner!
OH, SAVANNAH!
Savannah, Georgia knows how to welcome visitors with no shortage of sights and activities.
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BEAUVOIR
MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery holds hundreds of legends and stories.
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EVENTS & HAPPENINGS 42
Plan your next adventure!
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ECO TOURS
Story and photographs by Jill Deakle
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THINGS TO KNOW In the eastern portion of Louisiana, in St. Tammany Parish, is a marshland known as the Honey Island Swamp. Bordered by Lake Borgne, Pearl River, West Pearl River, and U.S. Highway 11, it is one of the least altered river swamps in the country. While in the Honey Island Swamp, one is likely to see alligators, turtles, and various birds. One might possibly see wild boars, snakes, nutria and raccoons. There is even a legend of the Honey Island Swamp Monster, reported by local legend as a possible relative of Bigfoot. In May I went on a school field trip to tour the Honey Island Swamp with Pearl River Eco Tours. They are a tour group that offers several options when it comes to swamp tours including school groups, private tours, small tours in a skiff, large tours in a passenger boat holding 18-26 people, photography tours and even birthday parties. Our tour was on the passenger boat holding approximately 20 people. We were lucky to have beautiful bright weather. We had barely left the pier and traveled out in the river when our first alligator was spotted. Due to the amount of tours from various groups, the alligators seem to enjoy the interaction. Honestly, it could have just been the marshmallows on the stick. Either way, from the beginning, alligators were coming up to the boat to check us out and coming out of the water for the supposedly delicious marshmallows. Most were what I would call medium size gators, with some being smaller or larger than others.
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55050 Hwy 90 Slidell, LA
(866) 597-9267 www.pearlriverecotours.com
Call for tour times, reservations, or additional information.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the area, the ecosystem, the wildlife, and anything that went along with the swamp. As awesome as it is to see wildlife, the beauty of the swamp is rather eye opening itself. There are so many different trees, Spanish moss, lily pads, etc. Although St. Tammany Parish is not far from the Mississippi line, the landscape of the swamp has an entirely different feeling and look to it. With it being the beginning of summer, everything was green and bright. Besides the sweet-toothed alligators, we were lucky to see more than one kind of egret and turtles as we moved along the Pearl River. House boats, river camps, and other rustic buildings lined our path.
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As we headed into a pathway canopied overhead where the trees and water joined, it was narrow and represented more of the natural habitats of the mammals that are part of the swamp. There we saw more alligators, with a few of those mudbathing. And, our first mammal! A raccoon poked his head out from behind some trees to check us out. It was especially neat to see a raccoon because the animal is normally nocturnal. Up ahead, two other tour boats were sitting still and carrying on as they watched something. Low and behold, it was a large, black wild boar. The boar was obviously accustomed to the swamp tours as he put his front legs on one tour boat and did not seem agitated or as a threat at any time which contradicts how the boars are known to be. According to Mike Strain, Louisiana’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in a recent article, wild boars are “bigger, meaner and more aggressive than other animals.” They have become an invasive species, specifically in coastal regions, and very destructive, causing millions of dollars in damage to crops in Louisiana in recent years. After the other boats moved out, our boat was able to see the boar up close and personal. By the time we were up to it, he mainly swam around beside our boat and nudged around in some plants. He (or she) was definitely an adult. We headed out of the area after about 10 minutes when the boar got bored with us. We waded back through the forest path and headed back down the river to the pier, stopping a few more times to visit with alligators. I would recommend this trip for children and adults. It’s safe enough for young children, but kids ages eight and up probably benefit the most from it. For any adult that enjoys learning, likes wildlife and nature, or just enjoys doing something out of the ordinary, it’s a great choice. “Our tour was a great way to experience education in an outdoor classroom,” says Lauren Leggett, the teacher that arranged our field trip. “I love that the kids were able to see so many different animals of the bayou ecosystem and experience a real life lesson of a habitat.” “I love being able to share such exciting and educational experiences with my kids,” says Ginger Williford, a parent on the trip. “Pearl River Eco Tours fulfilled all my expectations plus some.” Pearl River Eco is located at 55050 Highway 90 in Slidell, Louisiana. Swamp tours are approximately one to one and a half hours. There are regularly scheduled tours each day, and group tours can be arranged. They also offer transportation services for groups that are staying locally to bring you to and from the tour to your accommodations. For tour times, reservations, or more information, call (866) 597-9267 or visit www.pearlriverecotours.com .
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A UNIQUE CRAFTSMAN Story by Jason Niblett | Photographs courtesy of River Prince
A young man from the Ellisville area is making quite a name for himself in the sign painting business. These aren’t just generic copies over and over, but hand-painted original pieces of art designed in partnership with each client. Venture South Magazine recently chatted with River Prince about his unique craft.
VS: How and when did you find this talent? River: I haven’t always been a natural talent; however, I’ve always been thought of as a creative person. I knew that I wanted to do something that required using my hands every day to create something. With a lot of determination, I decided to throw myself fully into sign painting. I found books from the early 1900s, called as many journeymen sign painters that I could find, and devoted lots of time to learning the tried and true techniques of the sign trade. VS: What is the first big project you completed? River: By far, my biggest project has been the South Jones mural I did for the class of 2018. It was my first job, and it’s what really got people’s attention. It took me six straight days. I wasn’t able to work while school was in session, so I would start around 3 p.m. and would finish my work day around 5:30 a.m. VS: Did you think your skill would take off like this? River: I did not. Originally I planned to learn everything I could about sign painting because I truly loved the craft and I could make a few extra bucks while doing it. It just so happened that people were as interested as I initially was, and, after I graduated in May, I actually quit my job because of the demand for the signs. It’s been a really awesome time.
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VS: Before your art, what did you plan to do with your life as a career? River: I like to think of my work as more of a trade or a craft, but before I started full-time sign painting, I was actually about to start working full-time as foreman for a roofing company. I had worked part-time for this roofing company since high school, and the owner of the company has been my biggest mentor. He actually was the one that pushed me to stop roofing and put my whole heart and all of my time in what I wanted. VS: What’s your favorite project you’ve completed so far? River: By far, my favorite job has been working with Lott Furniture. I’ve gotten to do a few different projects for them, and they really encourage my original style to shine through their ideas. I take a lot of pride in my clients, and the folks at Lott have been really supportive. Anytime they call with another idea for their shop, I’m there ready to work.
VS: What are some of the projects you’ve completed? River: South Jones High School, Lott Furniture Co., Laurel Mercantile Co., Trustmark Art Park, Scotsman Co., Cosmic Café, A&J Consulting, LLC, Historic restoration in Downtown Ellisville, Future Leaders project, Allie’s on Magnolia, First City Glass Co., Howard Johnson Properties, and Venture Church, to name a few.
VS: What do you hope is next? Anything exciting you have on the horizon? River: I’ve got a lot of work lined up in the next few weeks, and I’m extremely thankful for it. More and more people are craving things made by hand instead of having it generated and printed by a computer. I’ve got a few vintage trucks lined up and some existing large scale wall jobs that I can’t wait to tackle. Being a new entrepreneur, a lot of the projects I’m doing this year are a “first” for me, so seeing each finished project just seems so surreal. VS: Tell me more about the project at South Jones. River: The mural I did for South Jones was for the class of 2018. I knew they wanted it to incorporate a memorial for two of their classmates, Cameron Walters and Natalie Suggs, that had passed prior to graduation, but I also wanted to make the whole graduating class feel like they were a part of the project as well. That’s when I decided to focus on Class of 2018 with the Brave, and then include Natalie and Cameron’s names so their impact on the class would never be forgotten. I was really honored to do that for the students.
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BY FAR, MY FAVORITE JOB HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LOTT FURNITURE.
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ON A BILOXI SCHOONER Story and photographs by Jann Tuten
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There is no better place to sail into an evening of fanfare to culminate a day of celebrating the 4th of July than aboard a Biloxi schooner, watching the fireworks over the water. It’s festive and fun and an event to share as a family, or even going on your own. Boarding begins before dusk at 7:30 pm. Once aboard, most everyone seeks a railing seat. It’s called starboard, if you are sitting on the right facing the bow (front) and port, if you are sitting on the left side facing the bow. It’s a happy place to be. People talk and nestle in to a spot for great viewing, patting a seat for a little one or an older passenger to sit nearby. Quite frankly, any seat is a good seat for watching the fireworks, but seats bordering the outer edge of the schooner provide a hint of back support…and a place to take great photos. If you want one of those seats, you will need to get in line early. First come, first choice. Just in case you are not so fortunate to get a good seat, bring a waterproof comfortable cushion to sit on…or a stadium chair for back comfort. The line forms at the Schooner Pier Dock, just to the right of the Schooner Pier Pavilion. The pavilion has restrooms and drink machines, although there is a restroom below deck on the schooner. You are welcome to bring food and refreshments aboard. You don’t need to bring an ice chest, maybe just a small backpack to hold your food. The Schooner provides
an ice chest and ice. After everyone is settled in, it’s snack time or a toast to the evening. Finger snacks are wonderful to have on hand for your little ones. Drinks and snacks are not available on board. Remember this is a family outing, so drink and act responsibly. Once the schooner sets sail and everyone is settled, the captain leads in raising her sails. Oh, to hear those huge white sails being raised and billowing in the breeze is thrilling!! There are skilled young people on board, who unfurl the ropes, raise the sails, guide the boom and offer a rope to an eager youngster to ‘assist’ in the process. Watch out for that boom, as it swings from one side to the next! If you’re too enthralled in your surroundings - making a new friend or enjoying the feel of the wind in your face - fellow passengers will touch your knee seconds before the boom comes your way and yell out, “DUCK!”. From the time the schooner leaves the dock until the fireworks begin is about an hour to an hour and a half. During that time period, the schooner meanders in the Mississippi Sound and safely skirts nearby Deer and Horn Islands. It’s a great time for shooting photos and waving to passengers in other boats or people camped out on one of the islands. To keep on the safe side, the schooner never goes out into the Gulf of Mexico. The sunsets are spectacular. The sun forms a golden pathway from its place in the evening sky sweeping straight
THINGS TO KNOW 357 East Beach Blvd. | Biloxi
Call Shelby @ (228) 435-6320 for reservations
Adults: $40 | Children 5 - 15: $20 Children under 5: Free Schooner is handicap accessible
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across the water and ending at the schooner. When the sun begins to go down, so do the sails. You can feel the anticipation and hear laugher and the misting of mosquito spray, as the schooner floats gently around Deer Island for your front row seat for a thrilling evening of fireworks. And when the fireworks begin, to hear the ‘oos’ and squeals of delight from little ones, thrills the soul and reminds you of how great it was to be a kid and see something spectacular for the first time. And for the rest of us, the aahs and wows are unsurpassed, as well. The cost is quite reasonable for this unforgettable experience. It is $40 for adults and $20 for children age 5 to 15. Children under 5 board for free. The schooner is handicap accessible, so there is no reason not to come and enjoy this fabulous adventure. Call Shelby at (228) 435-6320 and make your reservation. You will be glad you did! The schooner is docked at the Schooner Pier Complex in Biloxi, MS on at 357 East Beach Blvd. Driving east, if you pass The Blind Tiger, you’ve gone too far. Driving west, the pier is just past The Blind Tiger, nestled behind a hedge of shrubbery. Very limited parking is available in front of the pier. It is mostly used for unloading. However, there is free parking across the highway (Beach Blvd). Bring a flashlight! Oh, and don’t forget your sunscreen, a hat and maybe a light windbreaker or long sleeved shirt.
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MIXING THE OLD AND NEW Story by Amelia Parkes Photographs courtesy of Visit Savannah
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Savannah, Georgia knows how to welcome visitors. As soon as you enter the historic district, you are enveloped in Spanish moss, antebellum architecture, and friendly smiles. I moved to Savannah almost two years ago from north Mississippi, and I’m still discovering new sights and experiences. With its history, great food, and liberal open-container laws, Savannah is the perfect city for a weekend away. After arriving on Friday, begin your Savannah adventure with a walk down River Street. The historical buildings house shops, restaurants, and bars, and the view of the ships passing along the Savannah River is breathtaking. Rocks on the Roof (102 W. Bay St., kesslercollection.com/bohemian-savannah) and Top Deck
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(125 W. River St., topdeckbar.com) are rooftop establishments that offer beautiful views of the water and the Talmadge Bridge, as well as tasty eats and drinks. After checking out the water, climb the steep historic stone steps (which residents call the Stone Stairs of Death) to Bay Street for dinner at Treylor Park (115 E. Bay St., treylorparksavannah.com). Among their choices of upscale bar eats and signature cocktails, start with the PB&J wings, then dig into the Chicken Biscuit plate or the Treylor Park Pot Pie. They also have amazing sandwiches and tacos, sure to give plenty of energy for your visit. I also recommend the Cherry Cola cocktail; many of their drinks are not only good, but cleverly-named. After Treyor Park, head back across the street to Savannah Smiles (314 Williamson St., savannahsmilesduelingpianos.com), a dueling piano bar that hosts musicians who seem to know every song ever written. Don’t drink too much at Savannah Smiles, though, because you’re going to need to descend the historic stairs again to hit up late-night karaoke at Chuck’s (301 W. River St.), voted the best dive bar in Savannah. Nightly drink specials include $1 Jello shots and $2 PBRs, all served up by friendly bartenders. After a late first night in Savannah, you’re going to need some coffee to get you going Saturday morning. Head to the Sentient Bean (13 E. Park Avenue, sentientbean.com) at the south end of Forsyth Park. They serve breakfast all day, so even if you sleep in a bit, you can still order a breakfast burrito when you get there. However, I’d try to get there between 9 a.m. and noon for the Farmer’s Market brunch. Speaking of, after breakfast, cross the street to Forsyth Park for the Saturday morning farmer’s market. There’s always a wide selection of local produce, baked goods, and cheeses. Last time I visited, there were also baby goats and puppies playing together at one tent. I never pass up baby goats and puppies. After you’re done with the farmer’s market, keep heading north through the park, take a photo by the famous Forsyth fountain, and walk onto Bull Street. Bull Street is known as the avenue that represents Savannah. You’ll walk through lush squares, pass antique and boutique stores, and get a good idea of the sights Savannah has to offer. When you hit Jones Street, go east and west to see some of the most amazing homes in Savannah. You’ll see why Jones is called the most beautiful street in Savannah. All that walking will certainly build up an appetite, so schedule a food tour with the Savannah Taste Experience (savannahtasteexperience.com) for Saturday afternoon. The company offers two different walking tours that allow you to try unique cuisine all over Savannah. Each tour visits six different restaurants, so whichever
TIPS The historic downtown district allows you to freely drink on the street, as long as you’re partaking from a plastic cup. Make sure you get a to-go cup as you travel from bar to bar. I like to think of Savannah as the New Orleans of Georgia, but with less nudity. Historic cobblestones and stiletto heels don’t mix. Save yourself the twisted ankle and pack low wedges or flats for your downtown walking. The Spanish moss is pretty, but don’t touch it: it’s full of bugs.
Parking in downtown Savannah is terrible (and expensive). Utilize your hotel’s valet parking if you’re staying in the historic district, because you can get to many things in the area by walking or taking the free Dot shuttle. If you are planning to park downtown, check out the parking page of the Savannah city website (savannah.gov) to see the best (and cheapest places). Meters in different areas are monitored at different times on different days, so make sure you pay if you need to so you don’t get a ticket. Savannah is very pet-friendly. Many hotels, restaurants and stores downtown allow you to bring your leashed dog, but check with them first. Summer in Savannah is HOT. The crushing humidity envelopes you as soon as you leave air conditioning. Bring your airiest clothing and a water bottle.
tour you choose, you’ll definitely have a full belly by the end. Make sure to book your food tour at least a week in advance, though, because they fill up quickly. After your taste experience ends, take some time to walk around Broughton Street. Get a quick pick-me-up at Blends Coffee Boutique, check out all the honey products at Savannah Bee Company, discover some unique worldly treasures at Paris Market, and cool off with some ice cream at Leopold’s. Broughton Street also features retail boutiques like Kate Spade, Spartina, and Urban Outfitters. Saturday afternoon is also a good time to visit the Telfair Museums (telfair.org). Buying admission means having access to three different art and historical museums. Exhibits change throughout the year, but make sure to visit the Jepson Center (207 W. York St.), home of the Bird Girl statue made famous on the cover of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (referred to simply as “the book” by Savannah residents). Dinner Saturday calls for The Grey (109 Martin Lu-
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ther King Blvd., thegreyrestaurant.com), an art-deco restaurant featuring elegant, award-winning food in a converted Greyhound bus station. The menu changes often based on what is available, and you can choose oysters based on the water they inhabited. The drink menu is also wildly creative, full of tinctures and concoctions that will make your head spin. Savannah is one of America’s most haunted cities, so you would be remiss to not go on a ghost tour. I like the Ghost City Pub Crawl (ghosttoursinsavannah.com), which lets you drink at some of the most haunted bars and pubs in the city. You will not only be entertained by your guide, but also by the eclectic crowds you find at each location. Start your Sunday morning with brunch at the Collins Quarter (151 Bull St., thecollinsquarter.com). Featuring Australian-style food, Collins Quarter puts a unique spin on brunch fare. I would definitely try the #Tag This Hash or the Swine Time Beni. Collins Quarter also has a walkup window for drinks or unique coffee mixtures to go. Take a little car ride Sunday afternoon to check out some outdoor sights outside of downtown. First, stop at Bonaventure Cemetary (330 Bonaventure Road, Thunderbolt, bonaventurehistorical.org), considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world and host to the graves of Johnny Mercer and Conrad Aiken, among many others. Next, head to Wormsloe Historic Site (7601 Skidaway Road, gastateparks.org/Wormsloe). Although the live oak-lined entrance is breathtaking, resist the urge to walk down the drive to the house, as it is about a mile. Take some pictures at the gate, then take your car up for your tour. After that, drive out to Skidaway Island State Park (52 Diamond Causeway, gastateparks.
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org/SkidawayIsland). The park borders part of Georgia’s Intracoastal Waterway, and you can follow trails throughout the grounds to check out all means of birds and marine wildlife. Savannah is full of history, but it welcomes its visitors with new ways to experience the past. It is impossible to discover everything Savannah has to offer in a single weekend, but a few days here lets you try out unique, historic adventures you aren’t going to get anywhere else.
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Enjoy the Water
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BEAUVOIR MEMORIAL CEMETERY HOLDS HUNDREDS OF LEGENDS AND STORIES Story by Kitsaa Stevens | Photographs courtesy of Beauvoir
In 1877 Jefferson Davis came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast looking for a place to write his memoirs. He was visiting Sarah Dorsey, the owner of Beauvoir, when she invited him to use the east cottage on her property for the task. Davis agreed to rent the cottage for $50 per month for room and board and did so for two years. After her death she left the property to him. During his dozen years at Beauvoir, Davis wrote his monumental two-volume memoir titled The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government. The 81-year-old Davis died in New Orleans of complications stemming from bronchitis on December 6, 1889. The property was left to his daughter, Winnie, who died in 1898, at which time the property went to her mother, Varina Howell Davis. In 1903, Varina sold the Beauvoir property to the Mississippi Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans. Two conditions of the sale were that the property was to be used as a home for Confederate veterans, their wives or widows, and their servants; and that the property be a memorial to Jefferson Davis in perpetuity. Both conditions have been met. Beauvoir has become the Mount Vernon of the Confederacy and is the only antebellum National Historical Landmark between New Orleans and Mobile. The 52-acre Beauvoir estate was loaned to the State of Mississippi as the Jefferson Davis Beauvoir Soldiers’ Home from 1903 until 1957. During that period, more than 2,000 veterans, wives, widows, and servants resided as “inmates” of the home. At that time “inmate” meant “inhabitant” and did not carry the connotation that it does today — i.e. “prisoner.” The Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery in time contained 529 veterans and 250 wives and widows. At death, other inmates, according to their wishes, were shipped to their homes by rail.
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Jane K. Sullivan became interested in the Beauvoir cemetery after her 1987 marriage to Charles L. Sullivan, Professor Emeritus and Archivist of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He had begun collecting obituaries on the Beauvoir burials in the early 1980s. Charles always wanted to write a book on the cemetery, but with his other duties, he could not find the time. Jane’s interest deepened when she found that her great great grandfather, William E. Fail, private of Co. E, 24th Mississippi Infantry, had been an inmate of the home. She researched the cemetery for many years, but when she retired in 2012, she began an intensive study of the cemetery. Her research expanded from obituaries to pension records, census records, funeral home records, military records, and Beauvoir Archives records. At Corinth, on March 7, 2015, the Mississippi Historical Society awarded her the inaugural William Edward “Bill” Atkinson Mississippi Civil War History Award for her research on the Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery. This book, titled Stories on Stone: Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery, resulted from that research. On Confederate Memorial Day weekend April 27-28, 2018, the book made its debut. Jane donated in perpetuity all proceeds from the sale of the book to an account to be used to finance other publications and projects involving the Jefferson Davis Library and Museum located on the Beauvoir property. The 544-page illustrated paperback is being sold for $40 (plus $5 for shipping). Of the many stories in the book, one of the favorites is that of Washington Brown “Wash” Traweek, a private in the Jefferson Davis Alabama Artillery. The Yankees captured Traweek on May 5, 1864, in the Battle of the Wilderness,
Virginia, and locked him in New York’s infamous Elmira Prison. Traweek and nine others tunneled out in what is arguably the most famous prison break of the Civil War. Traweek’s account, quoted at length in the book, is reminiscent of the World War II movie, “The Great Escape,” except that he succeeded in escaping. Another favorite story is that of Samuel W. Hankins, formerly a corporal in Co. F, 2nd Mississippi Infantry. Wounded and taken prisoner at Gettysburg in July 1863, he was exchanged and sent home to Lauderdale County on a wounded furlough. In April 1864 Hankins was listed of the rolls in the 2nd Mississippi as “deserted—furloughed September 1863 and not returned.” It is most fortunate that Hankins published in the old Confederate Veteran Magazine a serialized account of his service under the title “Simple Story of a Soldier.” Hankins did not return to his unit because he could not walk back to Virginia. He instead joined Co. F, 3rd Battalion (Ashcraft’s) Mississippi Cavalry as a lieutenant. Hankins went to his grave never knowing he had been listed as a deserter in the 2nd Mississippi. Other soldiers in this book were listed as deserters by their companies when they, in fact, were prisoners of the Yankees. There are other experiences in the book equally interesting such as that of Fleming A. Cox, a private in Co. C, 2nd Georgia Infantry. He took part in the “Great Locomotive Chase,” involving the engines named Texas and General in Georgia. Still another account is that of John Haps, a private in Co. F, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, who rode with John Hunt Morgan’s Raiders. The wives and widows also had their stories. Mary Ann Cain Marrison Morehouse Niewald Harwell Howard McGehee Sanders Fuller married eight men in suc-
cession. A reporter for the 1924 Confederate Veteran Magazine, in covering her final wedding to 96-year old A. B. Fuller on July 27, 1924, wrote that when asked about her remarkable record she responded, “If the Lord keeps taking them, so will I.” Eva Rowell McDaniel, who was ahead of her time, established the first photographic studio in Gulfport. She managed and operated her own printing service and helped found the First Baptist Church in Gulfport. Many of her photographs have survived and are used in contemporary Beauvoir publications including this book. If the multiple marriages of one and the business acumen of another were of interest, then the sadness of a wretched existence was the hallmark of others. Jane Stokes’ husband, John, a private in Co. K, 13th Mississippi Infantry, left Attala County in 1861 and died in the service in Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, in 1863. For the next 43 years she served various families as a cook and a farm worker. According to the newspaper reporter who interviewed her in August 1906 at Beauvoir, “She had plowed a field when past 60 years of age; picked cotton, never needing to bend to pluck the fleece, since she was so bent already and, as she says herself, she is enjoying the first rest she has known in years.” Most of the inmates had led lives so hard the Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home at Beauvoir seemed a heaven on earth. So it was for “Grandma Stokes” who lived her last six years in the first real home she had known since the War. She smoked her pipe and rocked away the hours on the porch of the Hayes Cottage regarding the sail boats on the Gulf through rheumy eyes. If the widows loved the Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home, so did the old veterans. G. H. Evans, Co. A, 29th Mississippi
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Infantry and Co. K, 4th Mississippi Cavalry, wrote “To My Friends in Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi,” on October 22, 1929, of conditions at Beauvoir. “The remnant of the Confederate Army is literally sailing on flowery beds of ease. We have splendid well-cooked food, free clothes, free laundry, free hospital, free nurses, free doctors, free tobacco and snuff, free trips to the reunion, and five dollars cash each month. I have never heard of but one place better that the Beauvoir Soldiers’ Home and that is above. This place is a haven and Heaven on earth.” Of the 529 former soldiers of the South buried in Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery, only one was killed in action—
the Unknown Soldier of the Confederacy. He represents the nearly 300,000 Confederate soldiers who died in the war. Sons of Confederate Veterans member, Rick Forte, Sr. found the remains of a young soldier killed on a battlefield of the Vicksburg Campaign. On April 19, 1980, he was buried in a cypress coffin on the east side (front) of the cemetery. The following year on June 6, the cypress coffin was exhumed and placed in a marble sarcophagus.This Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Confederacy has become a place of pilgrimage of national interest. Though the Jefferson Davis Soldiers’ Home at Beauvoir served Mississippi residents, men from all 13 states represented by the stars on the Beauregard Battle Flag were buried in the cemetery. That was so because in the years following the war, veterans from every Southern State established residence in Mississippi and therefore qualified for the home. The men, whose service records can be found, served in the following manner: Mississippi—334, Alabama—59, Georgia—16, Louisiana—14, Tennessee—14, North Carolina—10, Virginia—6, South Carolina—6, Arkansas—5, Kentucky—5, Missouri—3, Florida—1 (Total—478). Twenty veterans had served as Confederate regulars. Seven veterans served as irregulars, and the units of 23 other veterans could not be ascertained. In addition to the Confederates, one veteran of the Revolutionary War lies in the cemetery. That is Samuel Emory Davis, Father of Jefferson Davis, relocated from the flooded Hurricane Plantation to the Beauvoir Memorial Cemetery in 1941. Most Southern states made some provision for their indigent veterans, wives, and widows. Mississippi, though late to the game, did establish a home. Jane Sullivan has given us a look at 784 men and women who lived and died and remain at Beauvoir.
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JULY 6 - 22 Gold in the Hills The show is set in the 1890s and features a relentless hero, a winsome heroine, a ruthless villain, and the wilder side of city life in the infamous New York Bowery. Tickets: $12 adults, seniors, & students $6 children ages 12 & under Various times | Parkside Playhouse, Vicksburg For more information call 601-636-0471 or visit www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com.
JULY 6 - 27 SummerTunes
SummerTunes is a free, outdoor, music event held in Downtown Hattiesburg at Town Square Park Corner of Buschman and Main, Hattiesburg Saturday evenings in July from 7 - 10 pm
JULY 7 Cat On A Hot Tin Roof: Cats Of The Coast Art Show
Join us for a salon-style art show featuring Cats of the Coast as the finale to our exhibition Thou Who Carries the Sun! We will present local artist’s works featuring our feline friends with food, music, and games! Walter Anderson Museum Of Art, Ocean Springs (228) 872-3164 | 6 - 8 pm
Coastfest
A family friendly event underneath the oak trees with the gulf coast breeze. Bring a chair and a quilt, listen to live music, and enjoy life. Walk around the classic cars and chat with the owners. Cool off inside our air-conditioned museum to learn about southern military history from the years 1861-1865. Enjoy eating food from the local food vendors. Take a tour of the Last Home of Jefferson Davis with a tour guide dressed in period attire on the half hour of every hour.” Beauvoir, The Jefferson Davis Home And Presidential
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Library @ 2244 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi (228) 388-4400 | 9am-4pm Price: $20 adults, $5 children (5-18), free (0-5)
JULY 10 - 15
Dizzy Dean USSSA Fastpitch World Series Ages 6-18 will play at Greenbrook Park, the premier youth fastpitch venue in the South. For more information, call 662-890-7275.
JULY 10 - 21 William Carey Dinner Theatre
Carey Dinner Theatre will celebrate its 43rd season with pop culture phenomenon “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” in July at the Joe and Virginia Tatum Theatre on the Hattiesburg campus of William Carey University.
“Schoolhouse Rock Live!” is a high-energy, nostalgic piece of classic Americana, whose music and humor was first introduced on ETV in the 70s and 80s. Designed to educate and entertain, the songs make learning math, science, English, history and civics fun for the whole family. The stage version has delighted audiences from university stages to regional theatres and beyond for two decades. To make reservations or to be added to the mailing list, call (601) 318-6221. The admission price of $30 includes a buffet meal, the show and sales tax. Dinner is served at 7 in the Joe and Virginia Tatum Theatre, and the performance follows. There are no performances on Sundays and Mondays.
JULY 11 69th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair
July 11 @ 8:00 am - July 14 @ 5:00 pm Four days of tribal culture at its finest, plus top name entertainment, and activities for the young and young at heart. www.choctawindianfair.com”
JULY 12 Free Admission Day: Happy Birthday George Ohr
Ohr-O’keefe Museum Of Art, Biloxi 228-374-5547 | 10am-7pm Join OOMA in celebrating the birthday of our namesake, George E. Ohr! Enjoy free museum admission, art activities, refreshments, and more. The Mad Potter of Bay St. Louis Steve Barney will entertain the crowd with his steampunk art demonstrations from 5-7pm. You don’t want to miss it!”
Wine Social
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and sample 15 wines with experts on hand to answer your questions. Must be 21 or older to attend. Palace Casino Resort, Biloxi (228) 432-8888 6-8pm | $25 Admission
JULY 12 - 22 “Annie Get Your Gun”
Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she’s discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel
sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for dashing shooting ace Frank Butler, who headlines the show. She soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction which, while good for business, is bad for romance. Butler hightails it off to join a rival show, his bruised male ego leading the way, but is ultimately pitted against Annie in a final shoot-out. The rousing, sure-fire finale hits the mark every time in a testament to the power of female ingenuity. Pass Christian Theater Project, Pass Christian Friday - Saturday 7 pm | Sunday 4 pm (228) 452-3315 | $15 Admission
JULY 14 Annual Frida Fest
Celebrate the birthday of the acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo during Second Saturday. There will be a Frida-look-alike contest, a Mariachi photo booth, face painting, tapas, pinatas and more! Old Town, Bay Saint Louis 4 - 8 pm | Free Admission
Diverse City Divas Country Hoedown
Mary C. O’keefe Cultural Center Of Arts & Education, Ocean Springs (228) 818-2878 | 8 pm WATP in association with The Mary C presents Diverse City Divas Country Hoedown, A Las Vegas Style Female and Celebrity Impersonator Show One night only | 21 & older. Admission: Members $20 | non-members $25
“Mississippi Black Rodeo
The rodeo features events such as barrel racing, bull riding, bronco riding, steer wrestling and more. Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson | 8 pm $20 Admission
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Freedom Ball 2018 Golden Nugget, Biloxi | (217) 201-1330 | 4 - 11 pm Admission: $50 for active duty $60 for Veterans | $75 for patriots Tables reserve for $500 (seats 10) “Respecting our military. A black tie/gown affair.”
Red, White, Blue & You Walkathon
Milner Stadium, Gulfport 228-328-9174 or 228-213-6378 | 9am There will be music, food and vendors. Help raise funds for a new building at the TNT Ranch & Recovery center. You may donate to TNT through their PayPal account. Booths available for vendors at $40 for non-profits and $75 for profit.
JULY 20 40th Annual Watermelon Festival
Make this a summer to remember by planning a trip to the MISSISSIPPI WATERMELON FESTIVAL in downtown Mize, MS. Enter our biggest watermelon contest, enjoy the entertainment, or indulge in some of the best food around. Remember there is always all the FREE Watermelon that you can eat! There’s always something to do at our festival. mswatermelonfestival.com”
JULY 21 Caturday Brunch
Calling all cat lovers! Please join us at our third annual FABULOUS Caturday Brunch benefiting the furry feline friends of HSSM. Join us for a morning of live music, delicious food, Cat Cocktails and lawn games, all located at the historic, beach-front Chimneys in Gulfport. Tickets are $30 each and include a gourmet brunch buffet and two drinks. There will also be a cash bar. Children are welcome to attend as well! It’s sure to be the cats meow so you won’t want to miss it!!! For more information, please contact Katie King. katie@hssm.org | 228-822-3802 PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW AT: https://www.501auctions.com/caturday
JULY 22 - 26 Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference Like many of his readers, William Faulkner delighted in the various and often surprising ways money changes hands: in complex business transactions, handshake deals, elaborate wagers, frauds and con games, tainted payoffs, bad investments, and the like. At the forty-fifth annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha conference, registrants will join scholars, educators, students, and other lovers of things Faulkner to follow the proverbial money in the author’s work, life, and career. Five days of lectures, panels, tours, exhibits, and other presentations will explore the multifaceted economies of Yoknapatawpha County, the Faulkner oeuvre, and the literary profession. The University of Mississippi www.outreach.olemiss.edu/events/faulkner/ July 22 @ 8:00 am - July 26 @ 5:00 pm
MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW FOR UPCOMING EVENTS: August 2 - 5 Oxford Fringe Festival, Oxford
August 3 & 4
Watermelon Festival, Water Valley
August 10 - 12
Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival
August 18
16th Annual Tri-State Blues Festival Concert southaven
JULY 28 Pioneer Crafts
The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will demonstrate pioneer era crafts and skills at the Parkway Visitor Center, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. The demonstrations will show the challenges faced and creative solutions developed by those Americans who lived in the area from the 1700s to around 1840. The public is invited to participate in pioneer lifestyle activities that often include crafting baskets, spinning, weaving, leather working, making cornhusk dolls, and other traditional craft demonstrations. Mountain dulcimer demonstrations are usually offered throughout the day. Children are invited to dress up in pioneer clothes and participate in craft activities. 800-305-7417 | 10 am - 3 pm Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, Tupelo
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Enjoy these games & puzzles as you go on your next adventure.
WORD SCRAMBLE
Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to birds.
WORD BANK ACCOMMODATIONS AIRPORT ALL-INCLUSIVE ARRIVAL BOARDING CALENDAR CLOTHING
COCKTAIL DEPARTURE DESTINATION DIRECTIONS ESSENTIALS GRATUITY HOTEL INTERNATIONAL
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ITINERARY MEALS PACKING PASSENGER PEAK RELAX RESERVATION ROAD TRIP
Answer: Cruise
EUSIRC
ROOM SCHEDULE SEASON SEAT SHIP SIGHTSEEING SUITCASE SUITE
TRAIN TRANSFER TRAVEL TROPICAL VACATION
CLUES ACROSS 1. Guinean seaport 5. They __ 8. Electromotive force 11. “McVicar” director 13. Monetary unit 14. Mother of Hermes 15. Broadway actress Daisy 16. Tobacco mosaic virus 17. Expression of surprise 18. African financial intermediaries 20. Fully ripe egg 21. Soothes the skin 22. Editors write them 25. Nashville-based rockers 30. Surgical tube 31. Lasting records 32. Member of Ghanese tribe 33. Being in a vertical position 38. Spasmodic contraction 41. Cartilage disks 43. Domestic help 45. A way of drying out 48. Small sponge cake 49. Distinctive practice or philosophy 50. Sword 55. Type of missile (abbr.) 56. Home to various animals 57. American comedian Tim 59. Scores perfectly 60. A major division of geological time 61. Spiritual leader 62. Unhappy 63. Unit of force (abbr.) 64. Door part CLUES DOWN 1. Academic degree
2. Expression of sorrow or pity 3. Large, stocky lizard 4. Romanian river 5. Stellar 6. A way to change 7. Surround completely 8. A Philly footballer 9. Dinosaur shuang_____ aurus 10. Slowly disappear 12. Large antelope 14. Not nice 19. Piece of footwear 23. Newt 24. Seriously mentally ill 25. Kilogram force (abbr.) 26. Terrorist group 27. Negative 28. Time zone 29. A blacksmith’s workshop 34. Baked dessert 35. A way to perceive uniquely 36. Breeze through 37. Dry white wine drink 39. Treated with iodine 40. Not thorough 41. Famous museum 42. Supplements with difficulty 44. Polynesian language 45. Bangladesh capital (var. sp.) 46. __ and flowed 47. Excessively theatrical actors 48. Prejudice 51. Swiss river 52. Nonsense (slang) 53. “Luther” actor 54. Resist authority (slang) 58. Pinch
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