Bluff and Bayous July/August 2022 by Bluffs & Bayous Magazine

July/August 202 2

LOVIN’ THE GOOD LIFE THE CARTER FAMILY SUMMERTIME FUN WITH FRESH PRODUCE SOCIAL SCENES Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 1

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Longwood

Stanton Hall REHEARSAL DINNERS WEDDINGS • RECEPTIONS

Carriage House

Famous Fried Chicken, Mint Juleps, & Tiny Biscuits DAILY SPECIALS • CATERING • MUSICAL EVENTS

Tuesday - Sunday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Carriage House 401 North Commerce St Natchez, Mississippi Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Famous Fried Chicken, Mint Juleps, and Tiny Biscuits Daily Specials Catering EVENTS, WEDDINGS, Home Meal Replacement Menus & CATERING MENUS New event, wedding, & catering menus Home Meal Regularly scheduled Replacement Menusspecial musical events Expanded Expanded Bar bar and wine list 601-445-5151, carriagehouse@ & Wine List

NEW

FOR DETAILS & RESERVATIONS

601-445-5151

601.446.2310

401 N. Commerce St - Natchez, MS 39120

EVENTS@PILGRIMAGE.COM

Natchez Pilgrimage Tours FABULOUS NEW HISTORIC HOMES ON TOUR THIS FALL!

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 3

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Cheryl Foggo Rinehart COPY EDITOR

OFFICE

Jean Nosser Biglane GRAPHIC DESIGN Susan R. DeBusk

Cheryl Rinehart

Jean Biglane

Susan R. DeBusk

Jan Ratcliff

225 John R. Junkin Drive Natchez, MS 39120 601-442-6847 bluffsmag@gmail.com bbupandcoming@gmail.com www.bluffsbayous.com

SALES STAFF Cheryl Rinehart Kari L. Blaney PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Perkins Lisa Whittington

Kari L. Blaney

Bill Perkins

Lisa Whittington

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Gary R. Bachman Alma Womack Sam Gwin Mark Brockway Laceye Prewitt Schmidt

Laceye Prewitt Schmidt

Alma Womack

Sam Gwin

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Mark Brockway

Bluffs & Bayous is published monthly to promote the greater Southern area of Louisiana and Mississippi in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Bluffs & Bayous are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Bluffs & Bayous strives to insure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.

ON THE COVER

elcome to the July/August issue! We have so much in store to entice, inform, and entertain. Our feature this month focuses on the Paige and David Carter family, their activities, tours, and lifestyle. Be sure to peruse this layout with its recap of a unique family’s lifestyle both in text and in terrific photographs that David sent us. We don’t’ think the family ever stops to take a nap, even at night! Mark Brockway shares his wisdom on good rosé wines, the process of creating rosé, and the countries that produce the wine. Also, he offers suggestions for pairing rosé with delicious entrees. Be sure to earmark page 10 for future reference. Pictured during the Angola Rodeo in St. Francisville, Louisiana, the Paige Our Something Scrumptious has amazing recipes using local produce. My favorite and David Carter Family of Natchez, Mississippi, embraces rodeo life together. is JC Phelps’s “The Best Southern Tomato Pie.” While I have always been a fan of tomato pie and have tried many recipes for this succulent dish, Phelps’s version is one of my favorites. His Jalapeńo Egg Salad is also a hit, and I now use this recipe for my stuffed eggs. What a nice kick! Of course, other enticing recipes await you as well—“Fresh Tomato Side Salad” plus “Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa” and that poolside, lakeside, front-and-back-porch favorite summertime beverage “Fresh Watermelon Lemonade.” The entire family will enjoy the results of these recipes made with fresh produce throughout the summer growing season. If you don’t grow your own, visit your local farmers markets to pick up nature’s best ingredients for these recipes. Our columnists also tempt your reading pleasure. Sam Gwin delves into defamation lawsuits and gives an excellent explanation of the maze of musts and must-nots regarding the subject. Reflecting on summers past, Alma Womack offers a simple, beautiful remembrance of those back-in-the-day moments. Gary Bachman’s article on zinnias discusses how hardy and perfect these bloomers are for our summer gardens, even in our mid-summer-to-dog-days heat! From The Stacks columnist Lacye Prewitt Schmidt provides an intriguing book review of There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America by Amy Argetsinger, a text that will be showcased during The 34th Annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration in February 2023. Wrapping up the past couple of months of events are our many Social Scenes covering birthdays, dinners, balls, flower shows, garden clubs, preservation awards recognitions, and historic marker tributes—some of the many facets of our social and civic interests. Be sure to send us your special events so we can include them in our next issue. Until then, enjoy our life along and beyond the Mississippi.

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FEATURES

LOVIN’ THE GOOD LIFE 46-47 SOCIAL SCENES 9 11 12 14

WESSON GARDEN CLUB STATE AWARD WINNERS MAGNOLIA FESTIVAL ROYALTY REHEARSAL PARTY

TEAM HOPE WALK

CELEBRATION FOR GALLAGHER AND BONNER

BONFIRE BOOK CLUB MEETING

NATCHEZ MERIT HOSPITAL CELEBRATES NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK MAY 18-14

2022 FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS SHOW 2022

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS FLORAL DESIGN WINNERS

HISTORICAL MARKER PLACED BY MISSISSIPPI SOCIETY OF COLONIAL DAMES XVII CENTURY 41-44 2022 FIRST EVER IN MISSISSIPPI

24-25

32-33

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR MALCOLM BARLOW VICKSBURG’S SAMPLER ANTIQUE CLUB MEETS ELVIS

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NATCHEZ GARDEN CLUB’S 5TH ANNUAL MAGNOLIA BALL FAREWELL AFTER-HOURS GATHERING FOR DEBBIE HUDSON GERMANY

46-47

HISTORIC NATCHEZ FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING

56-59 62

SAVE THE HALL BALL PCAC ART AWARD WINNERS

WESSON GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATES SPRING 2022

DINNER HONORING BETTE DIXON

The Mississippi Cancer Institute

Providing the Care Our Patients Need Right Here, Close to Home!

Cancer treatment has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, with precision technology, knowledgeable doctors, and advanced facilities. The Mississippi Cancer Institute is no exception to this, with the most advanced equipment and procedures and a vast array of resources available to our patients. Our facility and expert team of providers is on par with the nation’s leading cancer centers as we serve our neighbors in Southwest Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana with a level of expertise that is second to none. At The Mississippi Cancer Institute, we go further so you don’t have to. Our treatment center offers the latest generation care for patients facing all stages of cancer, and is designed to provide our patients and their families with the deserving care and compassion that can only be found right here, close to home. • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) • Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) • OBI kV Imaging System

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For more information about The Mississippi Cancer Institute please call

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1501 Aston Avenue • McComb, MS 39648 • www.smrmc.com • 601-249-5510 Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 7

FAVORITES 26-28

FROM THE STACKS

60-61

IN THE GARDEN

20-21

LEGAL NOTES

10 48-53 69 63-67

THERE SHE WAS BY AMY ARGETSINGER TOUGH ZINNIAS DESERVE SPOT IN SUMMER GARDENS STICKS & STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES . . .

RICHES & RELICS DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO GOOD ROSÉ?

SOMETHING SCRUMPTIOUS SUMMERTIME FUN WITH FRESH PRODUCE

SOUTHERN SAMPLER SUMMER DAYS PAST

UP & COMING LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI

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THE social SCENE WESSON, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Wesson Garden Club State Award Winners

he Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., held its 93rd Annual Convention in Brandon, Mississippi, April 19-22, 2002. Jean Ricks, Garden Clubs of Mississippi State Protocol Officer called the Awards Luncheon to order. First-time competitors in the “Girl Power” National Garden Club State Petite Design Specialty Flower Show were Debbie Smith and Dixie Thornton. Smith received honorable mention in the “Serving Others” Reflective Design Class, and Thornton received second place in the “Preparing to Entertain” Table Design Class. Wesson Garden Club members attending the 93rd Annual Convention of the Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., were Cathy Warren, Jennifer Peets, Dixie Thornton, Jean Ricks, Pam Owens, Debbie Smith, June Owens, and Debbie Hoaglin. WGC took home five first-place awards, one second-place award, and one honorablemention award and received the Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., Award 6 Bird Award. 1 Front—Cathy Warren, Dixie Thornton, Pam Owens, and June Owens / Back—Jennifer Peets, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, and Debbie Hoaglin 2 Debbie Smith, Debbie Hoaglin, Jean Ricks, and Dixie Thornton 3 Debbie Smith 4 Dixie Thornton 5 Melinda Causey 6 Debbie Hoaglin, Cindy Stringer, and Jennifer Peets 7 Jean Ricks

“Best of the Miss-Lou Furniture Store” “Best of the Miss-Lou Appliances”

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 9

Rosé RICHES & RELICS

Do You Know the Way to Good Rosé?

uring the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, rosé wine in the United States was considered a throw-away wine. It had a reputation for being overly sweet and poorly made. Somewhere around 2010, rosé became an “in” wine. Winemakers across the United States began to see the potential in well-made rosé, and its popularity exploded here at home as well as in its country of origin, France Most people’s first response to rosé wine is how do winemakers bring that alluring pink hue, synonymous with rosé, into existence? Well those of you who remember the movie Sideways may also remember the conversation between the two buddies, Miles and Jack, about how wine gets its color…skin contact! The juicing of grapes produces a clear liquid whether the grapes are white or red. Wines receive their color not from the juice but rather from the juice’s contact with the skin of the grapes. As the juice and skin soak together, the color from the skins is imparted into the juice. Rosé is created by first juicing red grapes. Winemakers then allow the skins of those grapes to soak with the juice for a short period of time. This could range anywhere from several hours to a few days. When the juice has taken the desired color the winemaker wants, the skins are then removed and juice can start the fermentation process (yeast converting grape sugars into alcohol). It is important to note that certain grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon will naturally produce a darker rosé. Rosé is produced in countries all over the world such as France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Chile, and, of course, the United States. The labels on rosé wines from Spain and Italy will most likely read “Rosato” and are produced primarily from Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Sangiovese grapes. Check out Marques de Murrieta from Spain and Franco Serra from Italy for a top-notch rosé experience. Willamette Valley in Oregon is fast becoming the premier region in the United States for rosé wines. Many of the best Pinot Noir producers from that region are releasing some top-of-the-line rosé wines as well. Check out releases from Patton Valley, Elk Cove, and Four Graces. (All are available at Hallelujah Wine & Spirits). The Provence region of France is considered by many to be the premier rosé producer in the world. Rosé from Provence is so popular that it now outsells all other white wines combined from that region. If you are looking to taste more and learn more about rosé wine, a selection from Provence is a pretty darn good choice. Also, check out releases from Whispering Angel, M Chapoutier, and Fleur de Mer. For those of you who like to pair food with your wine, try the following: Rosé with Grilled Salmon, Rosé with Shrimp and Pesto Pasta, and Rosé with Dried Cranberry and Goat Cheese. See ya next issue!

Mark Brockway: Lover of all things wine and spirit . . . Endlessly searching for the perfect Sidecar

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Mark Brockway

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Magnolia Festival Royalty Rehearsal Party of the Magnolia Festival Royalty of Members t

he Natchez Garden Club were entertained with a post-rehearsal party in Natchez, Mississippi, at historic Elms Court, home of Anne MacNeil, on April 22, 2022. MacNeil along with her sister Elizabeth (Beth) Boggess greeted the royalty and their families as they arrived at the elegant gathering. A buffet supper was served in the dining room where especially the young guests marveled at the room’s period punka. The front veranda provided seating while the back gallery setting offered a variety of refreshing beverages. Throughout the evening, honorees and guests enjoyed exploring the home’s gardens and grounds as many had never been to Elms Court.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Beth Boggess and Anne MacNeil Lewie Brown and Anne MacNeil Michelle Skates and Susie Pyron Donna Sessions and Corley Anne Ross Dr. Casey Morris, Susie Pyron, and Jennifer Smith Dallas and Dr. Casey Morris Christine and David Jenkins with Steve Garner April Bass, April Blanton, and Tucker Blaney Elijah Bass, Tristan Blalock, and Ryker Atkins Kristy Atkins and Niki Shaifer Christine Newman and Michael Boykin Carol Loy, Michelle Skates, and Christine Jenkins Amy Jones, Lori Beth Struble, Christine Jenkins, Mattie Brown, Shay Gay, and April Blaney 14 Christine Jenkins and Mary Margaret Edwards 15 Dallas and April Bass

16 17 18 19

April Bass and Christine Jenkins Elise Jones and Mary Thomas Edwards David Jenkins and Keith Huff Michael Wimberly, Ella Skates, Sela Alwood, Houston Edwards, and Grayson Gay

19 Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 11

THE social SCENE COLUMBIA, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Historical Marker Placed by Mississippi Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century

n May 14, 2022, Mississippi Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century placed a historic marker at the Governor Hugh L. White Mansion in Columbia, Mississippi. The Spanish colonial mansion was built between 1925 and 1927 by Jackson, Mississippi, architect Claude H. Lindsley and furnished by Marshall Fields. Governor Hugh Lawson White served two non-consecutive terms as Governor of Mississippi in 1936-1940 and 1952-1956. The property was restored in 1986 by its owners, Bill and Anne Simmons. 1 Anne Simmons and Bill Simmons 2 Anne Simmons, Lynne Williams, Virginia Zeigler, Tammy Strickland, Cecily Bateman, and Kathy Henry 3 Debbie Cannon, Barbara Willis, Linda Young, and Jane Reese 4 Bill Simmons and Lynne Williams 5 Cecily Bateman, Sue Boyd, Jane Ard, and Tammy Strickland 6 Emma Crisler, Anne Simmons, Missy Bates, and Melissa Holeman 7 Front—Lynne Williams, Debbie Cannon, Emma Crisler, Kathy Henry, Anne Simmons, Missy Bates, Cecily Bateman, Virginia Zeigler, and Jane Reese / Back—Tammy Strickland, Barbara Willis, Linda Young, Mark Henry, Bill Simmons, Sue Boyd, Jane Ard, and Melissa Holeman 8 Bill Simmons, Anne Simmons, Kathy Henry, and Mark Henry

601•445•4187

317 John R. Junkin Drive - Natchez, MS 39120

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W W

locationsininNatchez Natchezand andVidalia, Vidalia,Pediatric Pediatric&&Adolescent AdolescentClinic Clinicoffers offersunmatched unmatched pediatric pediatric healthcare healthcare in in the the ithithlocations Miss-Lou. Following in the tradition of his mentors and giants of early pediatric care in Mississippi, Dr. DonMiss-Lou. Following in the tradition of his mentors and giants of early pediatric care in Mississippi, Dr. DonaldKillelea Killeleaand andDr. Dr.John JohnCoffey, Coffey,Dr. Dr.David DavidTimm Timmhas hasprovided providedhealthcare healthcareto tothe the Miss-Lou Miss-Lou for for over over thirty-five thirty-five years. years. ald

Theclinics clinicsprovide provideacute acuteand andwell wellexams examsfrom fromnewborn newborntotoearly earlycollege-aged college-agedpatients, patients, and and an an unmatched unmatched focus focus on on The behaviorand andmental mentalhealth healthissues issuesalongside alongsidedirect directinpatient inpatienthospital hospitalcare carefor forseriously seriously ill ill children. children. behavior Withananurgent urgentneed needininchildren’s children’smental mentalhealth, health,there thereare aretwo twoMasters-level Masters-level Licensed Licensed Clinical Clinical Social Social Workers Workers on on With staff. Alicia Norris and Chasity Thompson have provided specialized, individual therapy services to address childstaff. Alicia Norris and Chasity Thompson have provided specialized, individual therapy services to address childhoodbehavioral behavioraland andmental mentalhealth healthissues. issues.Patients Patientscan canreceive receiveboth bothmedical medicaltreatment treatment and and counseling counseling services services in in the the hood same visit. This is unique outside of major pediatric health centers such as University of Mississippi Medical Center. same visit. This is unique outside of major pediatric health centers such as University of Mississippi

Theclinic clinicininNatchez Natchezoffers offersextended extendedhours hoursproviding providingpatients patientsimmediate immediate access access to to pediatric pediatric care, care, circumventing The emergency rooms and clinics not overseen by a pediatrician. Allowing patients to see a pediatric-trained emergency rooms and clinics not overseen by a pediatrician. Allowing patients to see a pediatric-trained provider on schedulethat thatisisconvenient convenientfor forthe theparent parentisisaaplus. plus.The TheNatchez Natchezclinic clinic isis open open from from 88 am-9 am-9 pm pm Monday Monday through a aschedule Friday and 8 am-1 pm on Saturdays and most holidays. Mississippi Medicaid plans, along with most Friday and 8 am-1 pm on Saturdays and most holidays. Mississippi Medicaid plans, along with most commercial insurance,are areaccepted accepted8 8am-5 am-5pm; pm;and andLouisiana LouisianaMedicaid Medicaidplans plansare areaccepted acceptedduring during extended extended hours hours beginning at 5 insurance, pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays 8 am-1 pm in the Natchez clinic. pm Monday through Friday and on Saturdays 8 am-1 pm in the Natchez clinic. TheVidalia VidaliaClinic Clinicisisopen open88am-5 am-5pm pmMonday Mondaythrough throughFriday Fridayand andaccepts acceptsLouisiana LouisianaMedicaid, Medicaid, Bayou Bayou Health Plans, The andmost mostcommercial commercialinsurances. insurances. and Theclinics clinicsare arestaffed staffedwith withfour fourpediatric-trained pediatric-trainednurse nursepractitioners practitionerswho whoalong along with with Dr. Dr. Timm Timm provide provide 80 years of The combinedexperience. experience.New Newpatients patientsare areaccepted. accepted.No Noappointment appointmentisisnecessary. necessary. combined

308Highland Highland Blvd Blvd 308 Natchez,MS MS 39120 39120 Natchez,

(318) 336-7172 336-7172 (318) 1806Carter Carter St St 1806 Vidalia,LA LA 71373 71373 Vidalia,

Followus uson on Facebook! Facebook! Follow @DrTimmPediatricAndAdolescentClinic @DrTimmPediatricAndAdolescentClinic

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 13

THE social SCENE BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

2022 First Ever in Mississippi Team Hope Walk

he First Ever in Mississippi Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s Team Hope Walk was held at Lakeshore Park in Brandon, Mississippi, on May 21, 2022. The Mississippi Team Hope Walk generated $12,670 in donations. The goal was $6,500; and according to Heather Thurgood Wilmoth, Team Hope Walk Event Coordinator, “Mississippi showed up and showed out.” 1 Team Hope Walk Mississippi Committee: Jim Crimm, Leanna Henderson, Sue Meng, Dr. Juebin Huang (Director, Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence/ Associate Professor of Neurology UMMC), and Heather Thurgood Wilmoth 2 Wilmoth Warriors: Front—Gabrielle Wilmoth / Middle— Dakota Beale, Nathan Wilmoth (HD Warrior), and Haden Wilmoth / Back—Lorin Brister Wilmoth, Gracie Alex Beale, Crystal Wilmoth, and Heather Thurgood Wilmoth 3 Tee Turner (HD Warrior) and Cheryl Turner 4 Front—Nathan Wilmoth and Lauren Hathcock Crimm (HD Warriors) / Middle—Heather Thurgood Wilmoth, Jim Crimm, and Marilyn Hathcock speak to WJTV reporter Deidra Brisco about the Mississippi Huntington’s Disease Family Support and Awareness group and the First Ever Team Hope Walk Mississippi. 5 Tommy Davis looks over artwork painted by HD Warrior/Artist Lauren Hathcock Crimm as Marilyn Hathcock supervises. 6 HD Warriors/Support Group Nathan Wilmoth and Lauren Hathcock Crimm

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NATCHEZ k On the River k NATCHEZ k On the River

140 Liberty Rd Natchez, MS 601-446-8664 Across from Monmouth

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NATCHEZ k On the River k NATCHEZ k On the River You can always tell when it comes from…

MORETON’S FLOWERLAND The days are longer and the memories are sweeter in summertime.

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ELLICOTT POOL SUMMER FUN Opening May 28 Weekend through Labor Day Weekend Mon-Fri 1 - 7 pm | Saturday 10 am - 7 pm | Sunday 1 - 7 pm

Open to all paid Natchez Garden Club members and their children. $5.00 for any guest.

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For more information contact the ofﬁce: 601.443.9065 | www.natchezgardenclub.org NATCHEZ k On the River k NATCHEZ k On the River Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 17

THE social SCENE HAZLEHURST, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Celebration for Gallagher and Bonner

he union of Tara Gallagher and Jim Bonner was celebrated Friday, April 29, 2022, on the veranda of “Odonata,” the residence of Dr. Ted Dear in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. The couple had exchanged vows months earlier on the auspicious day 2-22-22 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi, with the wedding ceremony beginning exactly at 2:22 p.m. on February 22 per the instructions of the bride. The couple chose to keep their honeymoon simple and close to home with a blissful weekend in Natchez, Mississippi. They said it couldn’t have been better! Photography by Bill Perkins 1 Jim and Tara Bonner 2 Ouida Smith and Jim Bonner 3 Jackie Thompson, Nicole Donald, Tara Gallagher Bonner, Dr. Fred McDonald, and Ouida Smith 4 Missie Ramsey, Jim and Tara Bonner, Dr. Fred McDonald, and Ouida Smith 5 Cohen Perrot and Missie Ramsey 6 Tara Gallagher Bonner and Tommy Ramsey 7 Front—Angele and Myron Bartholomew / Back— Jim and Tara Bonner, Ann “T.A.” Boyd, and Tommy May 8 Joyce Stricklin 9 Ann “T. A.” Boyd 10 Marybeth Wheeler, Dr. Ted Dear, and Sherri Brown 11 Tom Krantz, Janet Soderberg, Gail Cornell, and Thomas Harritt 12 Pam Eastman and Tara Gallagher Bonner 13 Betty Ann Perkins and Cohen Perrot

L. Douglas Smith, M.D. and Aaron J. Smith, M.D.

The EYE CENTER of Natchez, Inc. 10 Vision Lane (off Highland Blvd.)

Natchez, Mississippi

601-445-5884

www.eyecenterofnatchez.com

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THE social SCENE SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Bonfire Book Club Meeting

he Bonfire Book Club met on April 25, 2022, in the home of Angie Duck of Summit, Mississippi. Author Randy Pierce was in attendance and discussed his 2020 novel, Missy. Set in Leakesville, Mississippi, Missy is a story of grief, guilt, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Pierce recapped his writing journey, fielded questions from members, and read a touching excerpt from the novel. A former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice and current Ole Miss Law school director, Pierce is published through Dogwood Press of Brandon, Mississippi, and is the author of four novels. Upcoming authors to visit the Bonfire Book Club include Jax Frey, Jenny B. Tilbury, and Valerie Winn. The club meets monthly in the Pike and Amite County areas. Members read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books with a focus on Mississippi and other southern authors. For more information, visit Facebook at Bonfire Book Club; or contact Tracy Deer at 601-248-8900.

1 Front—Randy Pierce / Row 2—Kathy Wells and Angel Maxwell / Row 3—Tracy Deer, Lisa Lewman, Lora Stone, and Lynn Kebert / Row 4—Dollie Cotton and Dawne Taylor / Row 5—Lauren Codding, Lauren Jones, Angie Duck, and Yvonne Howell / Row 6—Melinda Smith, Jonalyn Clark, Kathy Gifford, Alana Gabler, Ramona Young, and Yvette Lott / Row 7—Martha Busby, Carol Duck, Carol Dickerson, Deb Gifford, and Cindy Easley 2 Randy Pierce reading an excerpt from his novel Missy

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 19

LEGAL NOTES

Lucien C. Gwin III

Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones . . . I

have to say that I have hardly spent two minutes worth of time watching the unfolding, real-life drama of Johnny Depp and his exwife, Amber Heard, who are battling it out in court on national TV over her alleged defamation of Johnny Depp. Amber Heard, in 2018 published an article in The Washington Post stating that she had been both physically and mentally abused by Depp (The details would take countless pages to detail and explain.) For anyone who isn’t familiar with this, Depp sued Heard for defamation, claiming that she falsely accused him of abuse, which in turn cost him not only a current movie role he was working on in 2018 but also future business in the movie industry This brings up the question: When can you say something about someone else that is both negative and false . . . and maybe even inflammatory? Defamation lawsuits are rare and very hard to win. I think this may be due to, in part, America’s history of free speech. Defamation is defined as an

oral or written communication of a false statement about another, made to a third person, that unjustly harms one’s reputation. This begs another question: Is it legal to talk about others in derogatory terms? For example, consider this query: Can I legally say, write, or publish that my neighbor is crazy, horrible, a gossip, a Narcissist, a pedophile, or a wife beater? The answer may be yes or no. First, if the derogatory words are true, then truth is an absolute defense to defamation (Defamation is a false statement.) Further, mere words like crazy, horrible, or a gossip are not really defamatory as much as they are a harmless opinion. It would be hard to conjure up exactly how your neighbor was harmed simply because you said he was the craziest person on earth. The public is not likely to take such words seriously. On the other hand, what if you published either by mouth or by print to a third party that your neighbor is a known pedophile; and these words were NOT true? In Mississippi, such

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words are “actionable per se,” meaning such false words do not require any more proof than showing the utterance of the words themselves to constitute defamation. In Mississippi, you can be guilty of defamation if you falsely accuse your neighbor of engaging in any illegal criminal activity. There is also presumed damage by such allegations. However, our courts have held simply calling your neighbor a “crook” is not necessarily actionable because there is no specific allegation of a crime. Further, Mississippi holds that, if you defame your neighbor of false sexual immorality, it is considered defamation, per se. To falsely accuse Mr. Smith of having sex with Mrs. Jones, where both parties are married to other people, is considered defamation and actionable, per se. Again, damages in this situation are presumed. You could find yourself in court if you falsely accuse your neighbor of having some contagious disease, especially a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This example is very

similar to falsely accusing one of sexual misconduct. Under such a false allegation of this conduct, damages, again, are presumed. Finally, if you falsely accuse you neighbor of conduct that injures his or her business or profession, the law implies defamation, per se. Therefore, it would be wise NOT to say, “That CPA will cook your books” or “that Doctor will prescribe any narcotics you ask of him” or “that lawyer wins all the time because he has dirt on the judge.” (Yeah, I know that defaming a lawyer is akin to assaying politicians are honest!) This all brings us back to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. In essence, Depp is charging that Heard’s allegations are preposterous and were done with an intent to harm his movie career. She literally may have cost Depp millions of dollars. But, as I mentioned in the beginning, if the allegation of being a wife-beater is

true, then truth is an absolute defense to defamation; and Heard could get out of this lawsuit free and clear. I admit that I haven’t paid enough attention one way or another to know if real abuse took place or not. People in my office who HAVE watched the trial say that Heard is lying. As you read this, that case will be over; and you will have the answer. In our current culture, where free speech is still the law of the land, courts remain very tolerant of what people say about each other. To PROVE defamation actually takes a lot of proof. The issue of malice is a whole other matter involving public figures, and I will save that topic for another day. Lucien C. “Sam” Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspets of the law at the firm of Gwin, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.

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Retirement Celebration for Malcolm Barlow

n May 12, 2022, at The Castle Pub, Hayden Kaiser and his team threw a party to celebrate the retirement of Malcolm Barlow from Jordan, Kaiser & Sessions Engineering and Surveying. Barlow began working on the survey crew at JKS in the 1950s. He is a wealth of knowledge of the local land, especially Vidalia, Louisiana. Starting out in the field and working his way up to a Professional Licensed Surveyor in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, he has been an integral part of the oil industry by staking well locations and preparing plats and permits in Adams County and the surrounding counties and parishes. We appreciate his many years of service and dedication to our community! 1 Malcolm Barlow and Bunny Barlow Pam 2 Middleton, Malcolm Barlow, and Tom Middleton 3 Malcolm Barlow and Selah Bideau 4 Michelle Kaiser, Pam Middleton, DeNeise Barlow, Rita McManus, Ed Barlow, Corrinne Randazzo, and Ann Thompson 5 Malcolm Barlow and Mark Jones 6 Jerry Clark and Tom Middleton 7 Hayden Kaiser and Malcolm Barlow 8 Hayden Kaiser, Malcolm Barlow, and Michelle Kaiser 9 Lori Barlow and George Barlow 10 Alexandra Barlow and Hayden Cotton

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11 Alexandra Barlow and Angie Cotton 12 Ed Barlow and Malcolm Barlow 13 Hayden Cotton, Angie Cotton, Tim Cotton, Malcolm Barlow, Bunny Barlow, Lori Barlow, George Barlow, and Alexandra Barlow

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FROM THE STACKS

BOOK REVIEW BY

Lacye Prewitt Schmidt

Commemorating the 34th Annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration scheduled for Thursday and Friday, February 23 and 24, 2023, Bluffs & Bayous offers this review of a book integral to the conference’s presentations and discussions that explore its 2023 theme—“Her Home.”

ageants. The word conjures up images of beautiful women parading around on stage, waving their hands in that special “pageant” wave while they wear high heels with evening gowns or swimsuits and speak of “World Peace.” Some people call them “Beauty Pageants”; but the Miss America Pageant distinguishes itself as a scholarship competition for women’s education. This pageant requires women to perform a talent and be interviewed by a panel of judges; and within the past few years, it has further distinguished itself by doing away with its swimsuit competition, causing some to argue that it is not a true beauty pageant. According to Washington Post writer Amy Argetsinger in her book There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America (Atria/One Signal Publishers, September 7, 2021, imprint of Simon and Schuster, ISBN: 1982123397), there are many issues that have gone on behind the scenes that the average person would not have considered in its history. Argetsinger explains that pageants or beauty contests have been in existence in some form or other since ancient times, for example, in mythology when Paris had to choose which goddess was the most beautiful and would be awarded Helen of Troy for his cheating and choosing the goddess of love, Aphrodite (78). Of course, Paris’

choice also resulted in the Trojan War. Also, there is a famous pageant in the Bible when Esther is chosen Queen. America can credit P. T. Barnum (of Barnum & Bailey’s Circus fame) for the “first modern American pageant in 1854” (https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/ aug08/beauty.html). It was quickly shut down as being indecent but created a newspaper trend of “bathing beauty” contests from daguerreotypes. Later, beach cities realized that they could draw larger crowds (and make more money) at the end of the summers by having these bathingbeauty pageants on the last weekends of the summer. Of course, the most well-known of these is the Miss America Pageant, which for decades was held at Atlantic City Beach and which according to Argetsinger simply could have been a stolen concept that was “then made . . . legendary” there (79). Indeed, Atlantic City seemed to be the most successful at continuing these competitions with their evolving rules that lifted the beauty contests out of simply “burlesque” shows to something more tolerable and acceptable to the American version of the Victorian era at that time. The early Atlantic City board of directors did not have very firm rules at the beginning but over time saw the need to put stronger policies in place. Eventually, these policies were strengthened under the leadership of Lenora Slaughter, an “upper-crust Southern lady” who implemented a talent contest along with the bathing

suit competition as well as banished “from the judging panels a certain cadre of playboy . . . whose hardwired tendency was to vote for the hottest body” (85). Three fluid rules in question early on were the age of contestants and whether they had been married or had children. Some of the earlier winners were under majority which presented a problem when appearances needed to be made, and families objected to bringing their family winner who might live a long distance away. These younger winners also meant someone would need to supervise them if family members did not join them. Eventually, the age was set to 18 and above. Later, the top age was reduced. Slaughter also recruited the involvement of local town organizations like the Junior Chamber of Commerce to handle the local and state pageants and send winners chaperoned to the national competition. The criteria for a young lady to enter in the 1960s had been narrowed to someone who was a “modest, cheerful, obedient, and essentially conservative young college [woman]” (86) whose purpose after winning was basically to show how other women could be successful—but the definition of success had not been fully defined for women in the early part of that century. Also, with the Women’s Suffrage Movement and later the feminist movements, sometimes the Miss America Organization found itself clashing with the very kinds of people it wanted to provide with scholarships. Argetsinger’s book discusses her perceptions from having followed various contestants,

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 27

interviewed them, and visited several pageants in the Miss America system as she attempted to reveal various hidden secrets of the pageant itself. She traces the aim of the pageant from being a bathing beauty contest potentially in danger of becoming a burlesque show to its current aim or motto created by Gretchen Carlson and the other Miss Americas on the Miss America Organization board, “to prepare great women for the world and to prepare the world for great women” (264). Not completely written in chronological order, the book places some specific stories in various areas that would support the evolution that had begun at that time and reveals its fruition later. For example, the women’s suffrage movement began around the beginning of the pageant in the 1920s, but many of the ideals of the pageant at that time were more Victorian in nature with a young woman expected to dress modestly, not be seen in public at casinos and bars, and not have a boyfriend. And while two-piece bikinis were acceptable on beaches in the 1950s, the pageant encouraged contestants to wear high heels with their one-pieces until 1997 when the rule changed to “modest” two-piece bathing suits. Miss America has been slow to accept modern-day women’s social behaviors. The pageant rules dictated by the board (Miss America Organization, MAO) created friction for the winners who were continually expected to be kindly and tacitly “obedient” even to unwritten rules. These unwritten rules are part of the fabric of this book along with stories of specific Miss Americas who spent their year-long reigns butting heads with their board members. These encounters affected changes in policies for the organization in many cases and resulted in scandals for MAO board members and the queens themselves. Argetsinger focuses specifically on three Miss Americas—Phyllis George, Vanessa Williams, and Gretchen Carlson— whom she sees as having made great strides for women as well as for the Miss America Organization in both good and questionable ways. Through the last few decades, the Miss America Organization has become a launch pad for many young women to pick a “platform” and act as spokespersons for whatever cause they chose. Speaking as a former Miss Memphis 1984 who won a title before the platform stage, I can see benefits and drawbacks to expecting young women to come to the competition with a platform. One benefit is that the young women can focus on a specific cause for the rest of their lives.

One drawback is that choosing a platform might cause division and polarization among the public. These issues also are discussed in Argetsinger’s book. The first and the last parts of the book deal with the fact that the winners of the Miss America Pageant generally had no major “say” in the evolution of the pageant itself because the organization was run by the Miss America Organization Board, which originally did not offer seats to former Miss Americas. The reigning Miss America could sit in on the meetings, apparently, but more times than not she would be the very youngest in the group by as much as a decade. Even these women were expected to tacitly agree to whatever changes the leader of the board wanted to make, that is, until 2018. At that time, several Miss Americas and the public learned about some objectionable email content that had been passed around among some of the board members (252), and a group of Miss Americas managed to gain complete control of the board within a short time. Argetsinger’s book discusses the content of the emails as well as creates suspense from the beginning of the book until this takeover of the board. As far as this being a true “secret history of Miss America,” it has been well researched in many ways. As a former Miss Memphis, I know that many volunteers working in the background to put the pageant on had been there many years and even decades to make the pageant function. I am sure that throughout the United States people at the local, state, and national levels have more traditional views that may clash with more progressive ideals. I was also humorously interested to read about my own first cousin and Miss America

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1980, Cheryl Prewitt Salem, who became “the first winner presaged by statistician George Miller’s algorithm” when I know first-hand of her continual faith in God and know that she and her family believe she was given the title as a blessing from God. Amy Argetsinger’s There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America uses a story-like manner to convey surprising ideas about the behind-the-scenes issues and controversies of the Miss America Organization. This text will be presented at the February 2023 Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration where we can hear even more interesting stories from the author herself about the evolution of the only “Scholarship Pageant” in America. For more information on the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration (NLCC), please visit its website https://www.colin.edu/community/ natchez-literary-and-cinema-celebration/.

Lacye Prewitt Schmidt, a former home-school mom, currently works as an English Instructor at the Natchez, Mississippi, campus of CopiahLincoln Community College.

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THE social SCENE VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Vicksburg’s Sampler Antique Club Meets Elvis

he May meeting for the Sampler Antique Club in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was held Friday, May 13, 2022, in The Strand Theatre. The club brought a little of Tupelo, Mississippi (where the SAC President Lori Fagan is from), to Vicksburg in the meeting’s guest entertainer Jack Curtis, an amazing and well-known Elvis impersonator. He was featured in Palette to Palate by Robert St. John and Wyatt Waters on PBS during their tour of Mississippi. The Fagans purchased the Adolph Rose building in 2021 where The Strand Theatre is a part of the property. Following the performance, the members enjoyed a delicious lunch.

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Pam Mayfield, Phyllis Cowart, Sherry Dees, and Emily Averitt Margaret Hicks, Carole Campbell, and Suzanne Sessums Lenore Barkley, Carol McMillin, Faye Wilkinson, and Betty Kamman Elizabeth Nelson, Jack Curtis, Lori Fagan, and Kendra Reed Sampler Antique Club Board: Lori Fagan, Denise Mounger, Betzebe Clark, Carol McMillin, Kim Steen, and Josephine Peterson Jack Curtis and Josephine Peterson Ann Haden, Kim Steen, and Missy Arnold Lori Fagan, 2021-22 President, and Carol McMillin, 2022-23 President Jack Curtis (Elvis) and Lori Fagan

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THE social SCENE VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI

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Natchez Merit Hospital Celebrates National Hospital Week May 8-14

ost healthcare departments such as Physical Therapy, Nurses, Occupational Therapy, Lab, Medical Records, etc., have their own week or month during the year that is celebrated throughout the United States. National Hospital Week is the only week that recognizes ALL hospital employees! We use this week as an opportunity to show appreciation to all our employees and to have some fun as well. This year, over sixty local businesses donated some awesome prizes for us to give away; and employees had an opportunity to spin the Prize Wheel to win these donations. The dunking booth was a HUGE hit this year! Needless to say, Garett May, our CEO, was a popular target! Each employee received an umbrella as the hospital week gift. We closed out our celebrations with our annual cookout. Our Facilities Management team fired up the grill and served hamburgers and sausages for everyone. Our Food Services Department has been amazing as well, helping to make this week fun and enjoyable, serving everything from tacos and popcorn to banana splits and cookies! It’s been a rough two years; and this is just one week that allows us to relax a little and take time to laugh and visit, even if just in spurts, with our co-workers. The dance moves demonstrated during the cake walk filled our cafeteria with laughter. It’s amazing how excited a grown-up can get winning a cake and/or building his or her own banana split!

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Susan Grayson and Lynda Hall have fun at Taco Tuesday. Fayla Guedon, Brooke Moon, and Yolanda Foster show off their prizes won spinning the Prize Wheel. Shirley Smith, Guynell Smith, Debbie Carpenter, and Quay Lutch enjoy time together during National Hospital Week. Rachell Seabolt shows off the awesome door hanger she won. Bertha Griffin and Deborah Turner are winners of this “fabulous trophy” participating in the games. Taliyah Jones is happy to be the lucky winner of a $50 gift card to Roux 61! We’re pretty sure CEO Garett May skipped the ball throwing part of the Dunking Booth and just pushed the button to dunk CFO Amelia Conner. Garett May makes his descent into the cold water. Stephanie Rehms jumps with excitement as she rounds the cake walk. Patricia Marks celebrates with May Jean Knight, winner of one of the dozens of cakes donated for our cake walk.

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Juanita Hawkins shows off the collapsible cooler she won during the night shift’s spin-and-win festivities. Bryan Rabb, JJ Rabb, and Ginny Daggett the cookout. Sally Roche, Katie Guedon, and Amber Hawthorne make good use of their new umbrellas during National Hospital Week festivities. Stephanie Lindsey and Julianna Wallace share a great time playing the games during National Hospital Week. Glendale Jackson and Kimberly Sims-Beckem helped create a fun atmosphere for the night-shift festivities. Garett May and Jason Lynch relax a moment after cooking hundreds of burgers and sausages.

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 33

THE social SCENE MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

2022 Festival of Flowers Show

he Flower Lovers Club held a “Festival of Flowers” floral arrangement show at Pike National Bank in McComb, Mississippi, on April 24, 2022, with Kelly Hart as the flower show chair. The theme was “Gardens of Mississippi” which includes locally grown entries. This is an annual non-juried flower show held at Pike National Bank during the Azalea Festival. Photography by Bill Perkins

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Bill Perkins and Gay Austin Nancy Smith and Karen Hart Christina Mitchell and Tina Brumfield Natalie Moore Beth Wild

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Jimmy Harris Donna Smith and Belinda Price Natalie Moore and Gay Austin Christina Mitchell and Beth Wild

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2022 Festival of Flowers Floral Design Winners

he 2022 Festival of Flowers Floral Design Winners were Ava Madison for “Mississippi Test Garden,” Tina Brumfield for “Wister Gardens Fairy Gardens,” Christina Mitchell for “USM All American Rose Garden,” and Carla Stringer for “McCarty Studio and Gardens.” The design categories represented famous Mississippi gardens. The Festival is hosted by the Flower Lovers Club of McComb, Mississippi, and is held in conjunction with the Juried Arts Show sponsored by the Pike County Arts Council.

Tina Brumfield’s arrangement

2022 Festival of Flowers Winners: Ava Madison, Tina Brumfield, Christina Mitchell, and Carla Stringer

Christina Mitchell’s arrangement

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Lovin ' The Good Life

If you ever meet the Paige and David Carter family, you will know from the start they are a team to be reckoned with; and by that, we mean a “good” team. David Carter is a modern-day cowboy from Folsom, Louisiana. Anyone who knows Folsom knows that it is equestrian territory. Paige Carlton Carter grew up in the Kingston area of Adams County, just south of Natchez, Mississippi, in a multigenerational family immersed in cattle and horses. Page 36 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

The two met at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2001 during Paige’s junior year and David’s senior year while, as student workers at the Ag Center, they were involved with the student rodeo at Parker Coliseum. Both LSU graduates, David studied Animal Science along with Ag Business and Education and garnered multiple degrees; Paige completed nursing school and today serves as a registered nurse (in her spare time!). The Carters married in 2004 and lived in Baker, Louisiana, before moving to Natchez in 2006. For over 16 years, David was a 4-H and county agent for Mississippi State University and LSU AG Center Extension Service; and for eight years, he served as an Adams County Supervisor, realizing significant accomplishments for his district. Paige, a staunch volunteer for The Natchez Garden Club and its Queen of Pilgrimage in 2000, has continuously served the club in multiple roles behind the scenes to attend to any family member’s involvement. The family lives in Kingston on their Double C Ranch where life is anything

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but slow and easy as they run a ranch business and raise their three children— Coleman, 15, a rising sophomore at Adams County Christian School; Harper, 12, a rising seventh-grader at Cathedral Catholic School; and Mary Collins, 6, an in-coming second-grader at Cathedral. Each family member is involved in the family business as well as with each other’s activities and specialized talents in sports, dance, and academics. Moreover, they find time to work in the family garden each season, participate in rodeo activities, and serve as hosts for special clinics and tours held on the ranch. At the end of the day, you may find David and Coleman watching old western movies; or the gang could be night riding around the property or playing in the pond after a day’s rain. Currently, David and Paige take care of over 350 acres with their horse and cattle operations. They also have created Great River Outdoors, a tour company offering educational and entertainment opportunities in such outdoor areas of ranch living as ATV riding, horseback riding, archery, and ax throwing. All members of the family play a part in the Page 38 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

tours. Coleman has been a frequent tour guide but is more and more zoned in on his athletic training as one of the up-andcoming quarterbacks at his high school. According to David, “Harper is one of our best tour guides.” An outstanding dancer, Harper is a skilled equestrian and horse trainer and also smart, articulate, and versatile. She has confidence as a public speaker and is a natural in giving tours but also is adept at barrel racing and performing at her dance recitals and with her school dance team. Mary Collins pulls her weight both as an equestrian and as a tour guide. She studies ballet, plays softball, and challenges herself in almost any activity the ranch has to offer. After all, growing up as the youngest, she yearns to be as accomplished as her older siblings. She’ll be twirling in her ballet tutu one moment; practicing her batting swing the next; and then donning her cowboy boots, jeans, and hat for an afternoon or evening horse ride. The Great River Outdoors tour experience has a team made up of David, Paige, and Harper Carter with assists from Coleman and Mary Collins; MacKenzie Boyd; and Virginia Salmon, owner of Hillside Plantation, which is the primary location for most of the educational and entertainment stops for the tours. Special staff are Rebel, a retired 27-year-old sorrel gelding and a gift to Paige from her father

This family’s strength and happiness derive from their treasuring the values of faith and family and embracing the simple pleasures of life.

when she turned 16; Silverado, a 16-yearold bay mustang; Chinch, a 14-year-old palomino gelding and a gift to Coleman from the late rancher and national cutting horse and rodeo champion Phil Vassar; and Cash, a 20-year-old bay mare. On the Double C Ranch, the family raises trail horses and cattle; and they do their best to both work and play hard every day. They love agriculture and the western way of life and strive to preserve a little of it and share it with others. This family’s strength and happiness derive from their treasuring the values of faith and family and embracing the simple pleasures of life. “I keep my priorities in order,” David explained; “Paige, kids, and home. I am blessed to have good help, employees, and in-laws Boss [Kinney Carlton] and Punky [Ann Ballew Carlton], who are as much my family as Paige’s

parents. These priorities have balanced what is important in life; and when those are in order, everything else falls into place.” David is a master horseman and offers horsemanship lessons and horse training. He also is owner of Great River Honda, which sells a variety of ATVs. Paige, the unassuming strength behind the family, goes out of her way to spread southern hospitality to all who come to Double C Ranch, all while orchestrating the many-faceted accommodations for her family’s daily activities. Her childhood friend and one of her best friends, Paige Dollar Iseminger, reflecting on Paige Carlton’s dedication to all that she does for her family, commented, “While the family is always running in multiple directions, Paige always finds a way to prepare a homecooked meal almost every night. They may

not always sit down and engage in dinner together, but they know there is a good meal awaiting them each night available for all of them.” Paige Carter’s chief role is wife and mother, yet she still finds time to serve as a hospitality director for anything taking place at the ranch and to share her time and enthusiasm as a community volunteer, nurse, and good friend to many. Always with a smile, she embraces everything 110%; her nature is to make something special for others in everything she does. This unique fivesome’s love of faith, family, and the outdoors and their involvement in the community beyond exudes energy and inspiration to everyone they meet. Indeed, they are “lovin’ the good life”; and as the Great River Outdoors’ website exclaims, “What a fun country life!”

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 39

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THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

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Natchez Garden Club’s 5th Annual Magnolia Ball

he first Magnolia Festival concluded with the 5th Annual Magnolia Ball held April 23, 2022, in the Natchez City Auditorium in Natchez, Mississippi. The Magnolia Festival is an event honoring The Natchez Garden Club’s members and royalty. The season included the festival’s first cotillion program for fifth- and sixth-graders, royalty pinning and baldric parties, dining etiquette, an Easter egg hunt, and a post-rehearsal party. The Magnolia Ball is a benefit for the Preservation Society of Ellicott’s Hill, the club’s 501-C3 entity. A pre-event cocktail reception was held on the grounds of the site before the festivities began including the ninty-year-old tradition of the polka and maypole dances, performed by club members’ children, and the presentation of the Magnolia Festival Cotillion participants and the 2022 Magnolia Festival Royalty. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to members Dr. Elizabeth Boggess and Anne MacNeil, and an online auction concluded before the band’s lively music beckoned all to the floor to continue the celebration of the evening’s festivities. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Front—Harrison, Quin, and Suzannah Branton / Back—Donald Branton, Abby Branton, Conner Branton, and John and Robin Branton Harrison, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Lindsey Callon Coleman, Mary Collins, David, Paige, and Harper Carter Jim Lessley, Donna Sessions, Mayor Dan Gibson, Marla Gibson, Mary Lessley, and Cheryl Rinehart Elizabeth Callon, Evie Chase Callon, Annie Edwards, and Susannah Branton 2020 NGC Queen Mary Francis Sessions and 2021 NGC Queen Emily Hootsell Ryan Copeland, Mary Francis Sessions, Emily Hootsell, and Griffen Hootsell Anaria Blalock, Fletcher Mims, Aleah Blalock, and Timothy Blalock Steve Campo and Mamie Henry NGC 2022 King Conner Branton and NGC 2022 Queen Maggie Ulmer Tori Burgess and Conner Branton Mattie and Lewie Smith Rene Cantu, Sue Loy, and Lynn Janette Lance Harris, Finley Hootsell, Helen Smith, and Nicole Harris

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Kevin Miers, Denise Bunch Sebastian, Dr. Dianne Bunch, Michael Boykin, and Michael Simmons Ginger and James Hyland Patrick and Melinda Biglane with Lauren and Wes Middleton Mason Navarro and Jake Middleton Owen Jordan, Houston Edwards, Colton Rabb, and Crews Marchbanks Jake Middleton and Linda Diamond Middleton Ralph and Carol Lemay Michael and Jennifer Wimberly with Kristen and Doug Jordan Sela Alwood, Ella Skates, and Michael Wimberly III Chris Bartha Dallas and Vivian Bass Joe Stedman, Claire Ulmer, Maggie Ulmer, Dow Hairston, Savannah Richardson, and Sue Stedman Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Anne MacNeil and Dr. Elizabeth Boggess Mayor Dan Gibson, Ginger Hyland, and Marla Gibson

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2022 Natchez Garden Club Magnolia Festival Royalty David and Mary Collins Carter Harper Carter and Kenny Carlton Kendra and Jaxson Warren Sidney and Toby Maier Brooklynn Ross and Tim Sessions James and Julia Brown Christine Jenkins and Steve Garner Ethan and Angie Huff Elizabeth and Tristan Blalock Aleah and Timothy Blalock Virginia and Elijah Bass James and Devin Gammill Lance and Amelie Harris

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 43

HISTORIC INN

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THE social SCENE

Historic Natchez Foundation Annual Meeting

NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

he Historic Natchez Foundation held its Annual Meeting in Natchez, Mississippi, on the evening of May 18, 2022, at the historic home and grounds of Linden Bed and Breakfast, the home of David and Marjorie Feltus Hawkins. A cocktail buffet and beverages were provided for members and guests followed by the annual presentation of historic preservation awards. The meeting also doubled as a reception to introduce Sarah Owen, the newest member of the Historic Natchez Foundation staff, as its architectural historian. A native of Meridian, Mississippi, and a graduate of Millsaps College, Owen received her master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Georgia. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Father Aaron Williams with Jean and Freddie Biglane Jean Reed, Laura Tate, Charlotte Copeland, and Micki Hartley J.W. and Marty Seibert, Father Aaron Williams, and Jean and Freddie Biglane Clinton Bagley, Dianne and Peter Burns, and Eleanor and Ron Fry Mac Hazlip, Katie Watson, and Carolyn Gwin David and Marjorie Hawkins, Christy Williams, and Mark Weeden Sara Carter Smith and Helen Smith Terrel Williams, Mary Jane Gaudet, Jeff Mansell, and Lance Harris Betsy and Sim Mosby with Betty Jo Harris Debbie Cosey, Frances Morris, Kevin Stone, Andy Sartin, and Mark Diamond Scott Davis with Deborah and Doug Lum Scott Adams and Carter Burns Helen Smith Brian Rutledge, Robb Gray, and Carter Burns Ron and Eleanor Fry Mike Blatner Mayor Dan Gibson Betsy and Sim Mosby

Page 46 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

24 19 20 21 22 23

Fr. Aaron Williams Stratton Bull Debbie Cozy Mark Diamond and Kevin Scott Skipper and Judge Debbie Blackwell

24 Carter Burns, Mimi Miller, Sarah Owen, and Nicole Harris 25 Majorie Feltus Hawkins, Mayor Dan Gibson, Mamie Henry, and Steve Campo 26 Neifa Hardy and Mayor Dan Gibson 27 Sam Kirby, Kate Lee Laird, and Luke Cockerham

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 47

SUMMERTIME FUN WITH

fresh produce Page 48 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

THE BEST SOUTHERN TOMATO PIE JC Phelps

jcpeats.com

Tomato pie is a staple southern dish and is, in all honesty, one of my favorite things that I make. It’s perfect to make this time of year when you have garden-fresh tomatoes (The thought of tomato season coming to an end makes me sob, but let’s not talk about it.) I’m excited to share the recipe with y’all today for The Best Southern Tomato Pie! Not all tomato pies are created equal. You’ll love this recipe for the Best Southern Tomato Pie. The secret? It’s topped with tasty pimento cheese! 2 pre-baked pie crusts 3-4 medium tomatoes sliced 1 cup *Duke’s Mayonnaise

(Add slowly until desired consistency; you can use more or less.)

8 ounces sharp cheddar 8 ounces Monterey Jack 8 ounces Parmesan 4 ounces diced pimentos drained 1/4 Vidalia onion, grated Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard for basting Minced onion to taste Black pepper to taste Kosher salt to taste Sugar to taste Basil for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice tomatoes to desired thickness, and lay them flat on a paper towel. Sprinkle with kosher salt and a little sugar; the salt will absorb moisture out of the tomatoes while the sugar will cut the bitterness (It won’t make the pie sweet.). Place a second paper towel on top of the tomatoes and leave them for 5-10 minutes. Carefully apply pressure to get rid of remaining juice out of tomatoes; be careful not to squish tomatoes with applied force. In a large bowl, combine sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, parmesan, mayonnaise, diced pimentos, freshlygrated Vidalia onion, minced onion, and black pepper. Be conservative when using the mayonnaise—you can always add more to reach your desired consistency. Mix well. Using a brush or a spoon, apply a thin layer of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard to the pie crust, completely covering. Add a layer of tomatoes and top with pimento cheese mixture. Bake for 20 minutes and broil for 2-4 minutes; remove pie from oven when the top is perfectly browned. Top with basil and enjoy! [*See comment about Duke’s Mayonnaise under egg salad recipe.]

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 49

Hey, y’all! Egg Salad is one of my favorite yearlong foods, as it is both delicious + filling. While I like many varieties of egg salad, I often find that it needs to be amped up to the next level. My answer to that? Jalapeños! The incorporation doesn’t make this recipe too spicy; it simply gives it flavor. I’m so excited to share my Jalapeño Egg Salad with y’all today—try it once and you won’t go back! JC Phelps

*Duke’s is, hands down, the mayonnaise of the American South. It’s the most commonly used ingredient in my kitchen and I always have a jar—or four—on deck. The southern legacy of Duke’s goes back to Camp Sevier in 1917 and Eugenia Duke (Greenville, SC). Her sandwiches that were sold to army canteens during WWI were so legendary that army vets wrote to Eugenia years later begging for her sandwich recipes and jars of her delectable spread. Because of this, she began bottling it as a product on its own in 1923. Duke’s is readily available in supermarkets around the U.S. [Editor’s Note: Try this favorite recipe using fresh farm eggs from a neighbor or your local Farmers Market.]

Page 50 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

Jalapeño Egg Salad JC Phelps

jcpeats.com

2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled 4 ounces diced jalapeños, drained 1/3 cup celery, finely diced 4 tablespoons green onion, chopped 2/3 cup *Duke’s Mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 4-6 dashes hot sauce 1.5 tablespoons dill Garlic powder to taste Kosher salt to taste Black pepper to taste

Chop your hard-boiled eggs into even-sized pieces. Add eggs, drained jalapeños, celery, green onion, Duke’s Mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, dill, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper to a large bowl. Fold ingredients into each other until well-combined. If the egg salad is too chunky, simply mash with the back side of your spoon. Taste and season to your preferences. Serve and enjoy!

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 51

FRESH TOMATO SIDE SALAD

Adapted from Diethood.com

We love our summer, meaty, locally grown tomatoes; and they taste so good fresh from the stalk or picked up at your local Farmers Market. This recipe will serve six easily. We tried it and served it alongside grilled chicken thighs as well as seared tuna steaks. 1-2 pounds heirloom tomatoes (or use locally grown tomatoes), sliced into ½-inch wedges 1-2 cups colored grape tomatoes, halved Kosher or sea salt to taste Black pepper to taste ½ cup thinly sliced red onions 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced, optional 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley Arrange tomatoes in a salad bowl or on a plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add onions over tomatoes. In a small mixing bowl, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic; drizzle over salad and gently toss to mix. Taste for salt/ vinegar and adjust to taste. Top salad with crumbled feta cheese, and garnish with chopped basil and parsley.

Page 52 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

WATERMELON FIRE AND ICE SALSA Allrecipes

www.allrecipes.com

3 cups chopped watermelon

½ cup chopped green bell pepper 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon chopped green onions 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeño pepper ½ teaspoon garlic salt In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, green bell pepper, lime juice, cilantro, green onions, jalapeño, and garlic salt. Mix well and serve.

FRESH WATERMELON LEMONADE www.Divascancook.com

½ medium-size watermelon, enough to make 4

cups watermelon juice 4-5 large lemons, enough to make 1 cup lemon juice 1-1½ cups granulated sugar 4-6 cups water or sparkling water Fresh mint and lemon slices for garnish Scoop out watermelon and put into a blender or food processor. Process until contents become a liquid. Strain watermelon mixture through a mesh strainer, reserving 4 cups of watermelon juice and discarding the watermelon flesh. Pour watermelon juice into pitcher and set aside. Juice the lemons to equal 1 cup. Strain lemon juice and add to pitcher. Add water. Stir in sugar to sweeten as desired. Serve over ice, and garnish with fresh mint and lemon slices.

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 53

Cookouts are better when we eat them together!

www.instagram.com/bluffsbayous THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

Farewell After-Hours Gathering for Debbie Hudson Germany

he Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce in Natchez, Mississippi, hosted its May After-Hours gathering on May, 26, 2022, at The Pub on the grounds of historic Dunleith Bed and Breakfast, a gathering to honor Debbie Hudson Germany upon her retirement. Germany has served as the Chamber’s President/CEO for the past 15 years, the longest serving President. During the event, Mayor Dan Gibson gave Germany the Key to the City of Natchez; and Lynn Fortenberry Jenkins was recognized as the incoming President/CEO.

1 Forest and Debbie Hudson Germany 2 Josh Wells, Callie Godfrey, Katelee Laird, Kolby 3 4 5 6 7 8

Godfrey, Monica Mayo, Christy Williams, Rene Adams, and Jennifer Smith Alvin Shelby and Debbie Hudson Germany Bo McCartney, Marla Gibson, Robert Pernell, Debbie Hudson Germany, Devin Heath, Marion Montgomery, Forest Germany, and Richie Montgomery Sarah Beth Willard and Ann Ward Debbie Hudson Germany and Mayor Dan Gibson Alderman Benjamin Davis, Debbie Hudson Germany, Mayor Dan Gibson, and Lynn Fortenberry Jenkins Frances Cothren, Marion Montgomery, Pat Biglane, Debbie Hudson Germany, Kolby Godfrey, Margaret Perkins, and Forest Germany

Page 54 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 55

THE social SCENE NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

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Save The Hall Ball

he annual Save The Hall Ball was held April 16, 2022, at Stanton Hall and at The Carriage House on the grounds of stately Stanton Hall. The black-tie event included a cocktail buffet; the dance band Big City Rhythm from Atlanta, Georgia; a silent auction; and a late-night breakfast. This year’s event honored the 2020 Pilgrimage Garden Club Royal Court. Save The Hall Ball is a benefit for the restoration of Stanton Hall and Longwood, the National Register homes owned by The Pilgrimage Historical Association. Photography by Lisa Whittington

1 Laurie Coffey and Caroline Coffey McKinzie Melanie Kennedy, Annette Burns, Jason 2 Dauphine, and John Grady Burns 3 Jim, Sarah, and McKenzie Smith 4 David Aguillard and Laura Scott 5 June Dona-Marie Geoffrion and Kenneth Jones 6 Cole, Betsy, and Sim Mosby 7 Faith Ann Brown and Abigail Hand 8 Stella Sharp, Kathleen Mackie King, and Susan Sharp 9 Mary Evans Kelley and Madalyn 10 Robert Allen, Jim Smith, and Paul Koerber 11 Seth Blatner and Richard Burke 12 Andrew Baker, Mable Tippens, Lisa Baker, and Chris Adams

Page 56 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

24 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Major Bradley Haynes and Sarah Haynes Jarred and Claire Tomlinson Susannah and Paul Meng Brande and Chris Beddingfield Casey Cater, Katelee Laird, and Sam Kirby Vivian Tran, Melinda Ballard, Susannah Heatherly, and Carolyn Heatherly Nolan Vaughan and Anna Kate Craig Patrick and Anna Dempsey Vivian Tran, Abigail Hand, and April and Shelton Hand Davis Sharp and Marli Vaughan Emma Hogue, Tali Beard, Macy Aldridge, and Katie Webber Ashley, Adrian, Lisa, and Will Sandel Jessica Cauthern and Mallory Lancaster Owen, Emma, Denise, and Dan Thibodeaux

26 Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 57

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Page 58 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 59

IN THE GARDEN

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Tough Zinnias Deserve Spot In Summer Gardens Page 60 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

his summer has been one of the toughest I’ve experienced in all my years in horticulture. The heat and humidity have taken a toll on our garden and landscape plants as well as the gardeners. I’m getting older, and I’m wilting a lot faster than in the past. But one part of my home garden has been stellar in these harsh conditions--the small piece of ground between my sidewalk and the street. This area is affectionately called the Hell Strip, especially considering the heat we have this season. In past years, I’ve grown a variety of plants in this spot from wheat to ornamental sweet potato. This year, I decided to change the theme of my Hell Strip and have grown a variety of zinnias. Zinnias are annual flowers that perform extremely well in our hot and humid Mississippi gardens and landscape. Home gardeners can have these beautiful flowers blooming from May all the way through to frost in the fall. Another plus for growing zinnias in the heat of the summer is that they require little in terms of maintenance, just consistent fertilization and moisture. Thank goodness for my irrigation system during this hot summer. Of course, I’m growing a couple of my favorite selections, which are the Benary Giants and Magellans, which produce huge, pom-pom-like flowers about the size of a baseball. I’m also growing some varieties that are new to my garden. One I really like is the heirloom Raggedy Anne cactus-flowered zinnia. It produces flowers up to five inches in diameter. Flowers consist of narrow, curved and twisted petals resembling fancy chrysanthemums. Some of the plants in my Hell Strip are almost four feet tall.

Another interesting selection that I’ve fallen in love with is the Peppermint Stick zinnia. These plants display semi-double to fully double flowers with random, thin red striping that has that familiar peppermint-candy look. I’m also growing some smaller zinnia selections to fill in the planting bed. Persian Carpet is a blend of warm colors like yellow, red, and orangey-brown and remind me of the color palette of French marigolds. Mini-Zini is a mix of four different, small compact varieties: Thumbelina, Button Box, Pumila, and Lilliput. I like the random planting that results from mixing these varieties. They produce an abundance of double and semi-double flowers in a wide color range. All zinnia selections benefit from deadheading the fading flowers. This isn’t a problem for the larger flowering selections because I like bringing in fresh-cut flowers and displaying them in nice vases. The constant cutting encourages more flower production. The smaller-flowered varieties keep producing flowers and don’t seem to need as much deadheading. I just trim these plants to keep them looking tidy. One final word: Zinnias are really easy to grow from seed. In fact, that is exactly what I’m doing this summer. I’ve been succession planting and sowing seed about once a month and adding to the gorgeous zinnia flower display. Since most zinnias begin flowering about 60 days after sowing, there is still time to get one more group ready to plant this year. Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Zinnias such as this Peppermint Stick variety are annual flowers that perform extremely well in hot and humid Mississippi.

Although many zinnias are tall plants that produce huge flowers, these Persian Carpet zinnias are smaller in stature and help fill in the planting bed.

All zinnias, such as this Mini-Zini selection, are easy to grow from seed. Succession planting and sowing seeds about once a month adds to the gorgeous flower display.

The heirloom Raggedy Anne is a cactus-flowered zinnia with curved and twisted petals that resemble chrysanthemums.

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 61

THE social SCENE MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI

Visit www.bluffsbayous.com for all social scenes.

PCAC Art Award Winners

he Pike County Arts Council (PCAC) presented awards to the 2022 winners of their annual art contest held this year on March 25, 2022, at Pike National Bank in McComb, Mississippi. Photography by Bill Perkins

1 Theresa Beaubouef, Julie Shepherd, Beverly Dick, Michelle Dillon Conerly, Mary D. Smith, Sherri White, Guy Shumate, Malcolm Allen, Prudence McGehee, Dianne Burris, Jerry Lawrence, Hillary Freeman, and Winnie Len Howell 2 Jermayne Walker and Christopher Hart, PCAC President 3 Prudence McGehee and Malcolm Allen 4 Theresa Beaubeouf 5 Julie Shepherd 6 Michelle Dillon Conerly 7 Dianne Burris, Dana Coleman, and Faith Coleman 8 Betty Ann Perkins and Sam Barton 9 Dianne Burris

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Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 63

Up & Coming JULY/AUGUST Louisiana Up & Coming!

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MISSISSIPPI July 20 Chapeaux Party West Baton Rouge Museum (Reserve space 7/10/22) 6-8:30 pm 225.229.5456 westbatonrouge.net

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Page 64 { July/August 2022 { Bluffs & Bayous

Every Tuesday & Friday Through August Farmers Market S. Whitworth Ave. & W. Chickasaw St. Tues. 3-6 pm Fri. 7 am-Noon July 2 Summer Concert Series Mike Rob & 601 Band Railroad Park 7-9 pm July 21-22 The Aristocats KIDS Brookhaven Little theatre Thurs. 6 & 7:30 pm Fri. 11:30 am; 6 & 7:30 pm brookhavenlittletheatre.com FERNWOOD fernwoodcc.com JACKSON dulinghall.com msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com jacksonfreepress.com/calendarmsnla.org craftsmensguildofms.org balletms.com msmetroballet.com

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July 1-23 Bike It Out Council Chambers Fri., Sat., Sun. 7:15 pm-9:40 pm $13-$20 per rider 601.443.3066 visitnatchez.org July 2 & August 4 First Saturday Market MLK Triangle 11 am-5 pm Free visitnatchez.org July 2 & 3 Natchez 4th of July Celebration Natchez Bluff Alabama / Other Notable Bands ardenland.net July 4 Fireworks Bluff Park 9 pm

Bluffs & Bayous { July/August 2022 { Page 65

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JULY/AUGUST Mississippi Up & Coming! July 7 & August 4 Classics in the Courtyard Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Noon / $12 lunch 601.631.2997 July 9 2nd Saturday Washington St. 2-8 pm FB: VicksburgSecondSaturday July 21 9th Annual Ritz on the River Vicksburg Convention Center 6 pm 601.636.3620 ticketmaster.com July 29 A Taste of Vicksburg Vicksburg Convention Center / $15 Soprano Concert Eleana Davis Reel & Dr. Clarissa Behr Davis 601.636.1012 ticketmaster.com

July 29-August 7 Gold in the Hills Parkside Playhouse Fri./Sat. 7:30 pm Sun. 2:20 pm 601.636.0471 vicksburgtheatreguild.com

WESSON FB Wesson Chamber

August 4 Vicksburg National Military Park Free Day 601.636.0583

July 4 Fireworks Celebration Old Depot Museum Live Music / 7 pm Fireworks 601.630.2929

WOODVILLE woodvillems.org FB Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street Association.com

August 26 A Taste of Vicksburg Vicksburg Convention Center / $15 History of Newit Vic & The Methodist in Vicksburg Rev. John Evans, Bovina Methodist Church 601.636.1012 ticketmaster.com

Be sure to confirm details of the events should changes have occurred since events were submitted.

August 26-28 Mississippi River Nature Festival Tara Wildlife 601.279.4261 msriverweekend.com

! n i L o C Choose

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THE social SCENE WESSON, MISSISSIPPI

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Wesson Garden Club Celebrates Spring 2022

he Wesson Garden Club celebrated Spring on March 29, 2022, at the residence of Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, President of Co-Lin Community College and member of the Wesson Garden Club. The dinner was prepared by Co-Lin Culinary C Executive Chef Chris McSweyn and his staff. Photography by Bill Perkins

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Dixie Thornton, WGC President, and Dr. Jane Hulon Sims Chef Chris McSweyn and Dr. Jane Hulon Sims Denise Jackson Front—Vickie Martin, JoAnn Miller, Robin Furr, Pam Owens, Sonya Cowen, Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, Joy Wesbrooks, Denise Jackson, and Dixie Thornton / Back—Jennifer Peets, Meghan Shepherd, Debbie Hoaglin, Joy Phillips, Ramona Smith, Marilyn Britt, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, June Owens, and Rebecca Harrison JoAnn Miller and Dr. Jane Hulon Sims Dr. Jane Hulon Sims and Cathy Warren Pam Owens, Denise Jackson, Marilyn Britt, Jennifer Peets, and Dixie Thornton Ramona Smith, Meghan Shepherd, June Owens, and Vickie Martin JoAnn Miller, Joy Wesbrooks, Cathy Warren, Nancy Stringer, Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, and Debbie Hoaglin Dixie Thornton and Joy Wesbrooks Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, Dixie Thorton, and Joy Westbrooks Jennifer Peets, Ramona Smith, Denise Jackson, Pam Owens, Meghan Shepherd, Marilyn Britt, Vickie Martin, Sonya Cowen, Robin Furr, Cathy Warren, Rebecca Harrison, June Owens, Jean Ricks, Debbie Smith, Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, Joy Wesbrooks, Debbie Hoaglin, Nancy Stringer, JoAnn Miller, and Dixie Thornton

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Summer Days Past

SOUTHERN SAMPLER BY Alma M. Womack

ere we are in the middle of the year and the middle of the heat that seems more unrelenting every year. We ought to be used to the heat and humidity, or at least I should be, for I have lived in it all my life. However, it never gets easier, and I am ever so thankful to the guy who invented air conditioning for making life in Louisiana more bearable. As children, the only air conditioning we knew was at the Delta Theater in Jonesville, Louisiana, where we would go with our parents on Saturday nights, back when Nub and I were small children and Douglas was the baby. Mama would always sit just outside the doors in the

seats that were reserved for mamas and babies. Nub and I were old enough to sit still and behave during the film, and we were so proud that we got to stay with the grownups. Gradually, as I recall, businesses scattered around Jonesville installed the cool air; but we saw no sign of it in our home or any of the homes of our families. We had fans and plenty of windows, and we seemed to survive in the natural air. Heat meant nothing to Mama and Mimi when we were home for the summer. They had no pity. We went out in the morning, came in for dinner, stayed in the shade awhile after dinner, then hit the yard for

the evening. They probably envied us; for they were stuck inside cooking, cleaning, and doing mama chores. At least we had trees and breezes to help keep us cool. When we weren’t in trees, we’d likely be found in Mimi’s calf pen where she milked her faithful old Jersey cow, June, and where the calves stayed while Mama June was put out for the day. There was a giant sycamore tree in this pen that provided glorious shade and three concrete culverts that we played on or in, depending on the game. Of course, the calf for that year was also in the pen and was a great playmate for us. One of the last ones was named Lucky, and he was a valued member of our team. Lucky disappeared one day; so Nub, Doug, and I figured he had gone to the sale with some of the Smithland yearlings. We missed our buddy and found somewhere else to play since our playmate was gone. A short time later, Papa came home one day with a truck load of boxes of meat for Mama and Mimi to wrap for the freezers. We were quite excited to have all that fresh meat because meat was a Sunday dinner treat for us. The day when we were enjoying our first steaks, our dad said, “Lucky sure is a tasty little feller!” Horrors! We had bits of Lucky on our table! My brothers and I looked at each other in shock. I put my fork down and refused to eat the rest; I don’t remember what Doug did, but Nub took one look at his plate and then took another bite of delicious Lucky. It’s a wonder I didn’t become a vegetarian on the spot, but we had no idea of what a true vegetarian was at that time even though most of our summer food came from Mama’s fine garden. I suppose we survived the heat back then because we didn’t know anything different. Summer meant hot weather with us always praying for rain for the crops and the gardens and sitting on the porch in the late evenings of the day to catch a good breeze. We were kids, we were free, and we were protected from the meanness of the world by our parents and our grandparents. It was a wonderful life. Columnist Alma Womack lives on Smithland Plantation on Black River, south of Jonesville, Louisiana. In addition to her duties as maitresse des maison, she is the keeper of the lawn, the lane and the pecan orchard at Smithland.

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THE social SCENE BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI

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Dinner Honoring Bette Dixon

dinner honoring Bette Dixon was hosted by her many friends at the residence of Kathy Behan in Brookhaven, Mississippi, on the evening of May 26, 2022. Photography by Bill Perkins

1 Clark Dixon, Bette Dixon, and Shannon Dixon 2 Kathy Behan, Bette Dixon, Betty Ann Perkins, and Linda Richardson 3 Michael Crawford, Amanda Warren, and John Roberts 4 Seated—Jetty and Harold Gary / Standing—Miller Hammill, Trey and Cathy Oldam, Carol Gary, and Nancy and Doug Falvey 5 Michael Guest and Vince Mangold 6 Jeff Henning 7 Melinda and Mike Said 8 Frances Brady, Betsy Belk, and Merrie Boerner 9 Johnnie Jackson and Judy Hart 10 Cris and Henry Simmons 11 Anna and Mark Giust 12 Brianna Christina-Moore 13 Clay and Stephanie McMorris 14 Dustin and Stacy Walker 15 Val and Dr. James Hall 16 Paul and Jennifer Barnett 17 Linda Richardson, Jennifer Barnett, and Betty Perkins 18 Karen and Dr. David Braden 19 Phil and Dauphine Magee 20 Vince and Michelle Mangold with Anna Giust 21 Dr. David Braden and Bette Dixon 22 Bette Dixon and Spencer Mooney

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