March | April 2025
Mocktails & Cocktails
SKIP THE booze AND TRY THESE SPRING DRINKS featuring "TO YOUR HEALTH" A SPECIAL SECTION spring AND EASTER musings ideas FOR COLORFUL HANGING baskets AND MUCH more
CELEBRATING YEARS
The Natchez Trace Parkway has many scenic stops, but one stands out for its otherworldly beauty. Cypress Swamp takes visitors on a half-mile boardwalk tour of a fascinating wetland environment packed with cypress trees (and their mysterious knees), vibrant green algae-covered water, and, very frequently, juvenile alligators lurking just below the surface. There’s no need to bring hiking gear, as the swamp is located just a few steps off the roadway. Learn more at VisitMississippi.org/OutdoorAdventure.
Cypress Swamp | Canton, Mississippi
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of February 3, 2025, and subject to change without notice. The minimum opening deposit is
opening. Interest may not be added to the principal of the CD and is not compounded. Partial withdrawals prior
at account opening and will be deducted from the principal of the
send a maturity notice prior to renewal. Interest for the renewal term is not eligible for an Instant Interest
At Magnolia Grill located Under the Hill in Natchez, Mississippi, photographer Lisa Whittington captures the essence of a delicious Mocktail created by mixologist Haleigh Chinn. See story pages 18-21.
Brookhaven, MS Luncheon for Queen of Ceres Katie Sproles
Brookhaven, MS Retirement Party for Walley
Brookhaven, MS BARL Salutes Blackmon Volunteer
McComb, MS Flower Lovers Club
Brunch
McComb, MS
McComb, MS
Shuffle to the Chefs: An Evening of Southern Flavor and Philanthropy
McComb, MS
Double-celebration Brunch for Dr. Will Austin
Natchez, MS
Pilgrimage Garden Club’s Royal Ball
Natchez, MS
WWII Veteran “Wink” Collins Celebrates 100 years
Natchez, MS Krewe of Phoenix Celebrating Mardi Gras
Natchez, MS William Dunbar DAR Chapter Meeting
Vidalia, LA Milestone Celebration
our team
from the PUBLISHER
Welcome to this spring edition of 2025 during our 25th Anniversary year! We are so excited to focus on this spring’s events that include garden tours, home tours, egg hunts, musical performances, area Little Theatre productions, and more.
Our featured Special Section provides up-to-date information about specialized healthcare in our area. Also, our Something Scrumptious offers a healthy variety of non-alcoholic beverages for those who enjoy the idea of a “cocktail” but choose a “mocktail” instead to stay on the healthy side of life. Using fresh fruit and herbs yields thirstquenching satisfaction and a refreshing approach to traditional takes on some favorite beverages. All of these drink recipes deliver delicious results. I’ve have tried them, and I hope you will as well.
I made a pledge to begin walking several times a week although, to be honest, I have only dabbled with it in the past month. Of course, we have had some really frigid weather . . . and it has been Mardi Gras season . . .but I am determined to get back into a healthy mind-set and re-commit to my pledge.
225 John R. Junkin Drive Natchez, MS 39120 601.442.6847
bluffsmag@gmail.com bbupandcoming@gmail.com bluffsbayous.com
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 ensure the accuracy of our magazine’s contents. However, should inaccuracies or omissions occur, we do not assume responsibility.
I am also anxious to get back to my flower beds, begin gardening, and attend the upcoming garden and home tours that abound in our area. Throughout March and April, Jackson and Natchez garden clubs offer a number of these special tours and events. Take advantage of all of these opportunities to bask in the rebirth of spring and experience some healthy exercise as a bonus. Perhaps some of these inspiring events will trigger a creative venture in your own garden and home.
Our Social Scenes continue to cover and share with you recent noteworthy occasions in our surrounding areas. To assist you in scheduling future events, our Up & Coming calendar is chock-full of ideas for short outings with friends and family. Most importantly, we urge you to enjoy this burgeoning springtime, focusing on healthy and happy times that abound in our life along and beyond the Mississippi.
JEAN NOSSER BIGLANE Copy Editor
BONNIE DICKERSON Design Director
CHERYL FOGGO RINEHART Publisher/Editor/Sales
LISA WHITTINGTON Photographer
MELANIE SOJOURNER Sales
SAM GWIN Contributor
BILL PERKINS Photographer
ALMA WOMACK Contributor
CECILIA HOPKINS STEVENS Contributor
MORGAN BLUNSCHI Sales
Luncheon for Queen of Ceres Katie Sproles
2025 Krewe of Ceres Queen Katie Sproles was honored with a royal luncheon at the home of Stan and Sarah Sproles in Brookhaven, Mississippi, on Saturday, February 15, 2025. It was hosted by Emily Wright, Sarah Foster, Amy Smith, Kellie Patti, Marion Vanderloo, Charlene Sproles, and Cheryl Sproles. Katie is the daughter of Tommy and Joanna Sproles. The traditional Krewe of Ceres Ball was that same evening.
Photography by Bill Perkins
Lynn Van Jackson and Emily Wright
Ella King, Heather Thornhill, and Katherine Fasnacht
JoAnna Sproles and Jackie Carroll
Amy Smith and Katherine Fasnacht
Emily Wright, Queen Katie Sproles, and JoAnna Sproles
Jamie Sproles, Mary Chosen Caples, Alexis Peters, and Tanner Smith
Meg Foster and Jamie Sproles
Jamie Sproles, Tanner Smith, Queen Katie Sproles, Alexis Peters, and Mary Chosen Caples
Mandy Sproles Frey, Sarah Foster, Queen Katie Sproles, JoAnna Sproles, Amy Smith, and Emily Wright Carr
Stephany Smith and Lucy Shell
Queen Katie Sproles and JoAnna Sproles
Queen Katie and Amy Smith (Ceres Queen in 1981)
Queen Katie Sproles, Jamie Sproles, and JoAnna and Tommy Sproles
Building a
stronger
grid And a brighter future
These are exciting days in Mississippi. New industries and new jobs are moving to our state along with record investments. Entergy is already hard at work to stay ahead of increasing power demands in our growing communities.
We’re not only adding more power generation, but diversifying our energy sources with cleaner and more efficient power generation. This diversified mix will help ensure long-term affordability and reliability for all of our customers.
Scaling up the grid also gives us the opportunity to upgrade infrastructure and technology throughout our system – ensuring a stronger and brighter future for Mississippi. Learn more at entergy.com/brightfuturems.
A message from Entergy Mississippi, LLC ©2025 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Retirement Party for Kim Walley
Southwest Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center bids farewell to Executive Director Kim Walley after seventeen years of dedicated service. More than fifty colleagues, family, and friends gathered November 21, 2024 at Magnolia Blues to celebrate her impactful legacy and show their appreciation. Photography by Bill Perkins
Angela Gill, Stephanie Pigott, and Jamie Murrell
Alicia Linton and Erin King
Ann Houston Craig and Betty Ann Perkins
Kim Walley and Curtis Butler
Jamie Murrell, Kristen McBeth, Alicia Linton, and Brooklyn Schmidt
Angela Gill, Stephanie Pigott
Nic and Jillian Ricceri
Karla Tye, Kim Walley, and Catherine McPhate
Erin King and David Culpepper
Alicia Linton and Angela Gill
David Culpepper, Kim Walley, and Erin King
La Toriun Vigne, Kim Walley, and Sheryl Spraggins
Kim Walley and Catherine McPhate
Alicia Linton and Kim Walley
Jasmine King, Kim Walley, Jordan Rushing, Baylor King, and Allison Walley
Donna Lukacs, Angela Gill, Jamie Murrell, Kim Walley, Nic Ricceri, and Alicia Linton
Ann Houston Craig and Brad Carr
BARL Salutes Blackmon Volunteer
Volunteering is defined as freely giving your time, effort, and talents to someone or something else such as an organization or community. Richard Blackmon has done just that in volunteering with BARL, the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League, for over 20 years. He loves cats; however, his volunteer work has helped all animals as his focus has been supporting BARL with his computer knowledge and graphic design. He has crafted a multitude of gift certificates and signs for BARL events, many at “we need these right now” requests from other volunteers. (He got it done every time!) He knew how to set up a PayPal account and was one of the initial website designers/ administrators for www.barl.net. In recent years, Richard has been managing the adoptable pets segment that lands in The Daily Leader every week.
Richard Blackmon is a prime example of volunteers using their specific talents to make a difference. Working with BARL is not always hands-on with the animals. You just need a heart-felt compassion for the animals and the desire to help them, and Richard has these qualities in spades. Many cogs and gears turn this BARL engine. It takes volunteers with different skill sets to run this organization.
Thank you, Richard, for the time you've given BARL over these two decades. You’ve made a true difference. We are grateful. Enjoy the new opportunities ahead of you.
Superbells, Supertunias Perfect for Hanging Baskets
Every year, I look for ways to add interest to my front porch with colorful hanging baskets, and there are many different plant choices and combinations that make this possible. One of my favorite hanging basket combinations is Supertunia petunias and Superbells.
Supertunia petunias are great for hanging baskets because they have mounding, trailing growth habits and function as both fillers and spillers in containers. They are also excellent landscape plants, best suited to be placed near the front of beds.
Superbells also are called million bells or trailing petunias because of their prolific, bell-shaped flowers and their resemblance to petunias. Like Supertunias, Superbells have mounding, trailing growth habits.
These plants are native to South America and typically grow 6 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. Both are best grown in containers where soil moisture can be easily controlled since they don’t tolerate constantly wet soils.
Superbells are low-maintenance plants that require no deadheading. They do best when located in a full-sun location. I believe Superbells Grape Punch and Superbells Yellow planted with Supertunia Persimmon make an outstanding hanging basket combo. The color contrast of purple with warm sunset colors of orange and yellow is mesmerizing.
ARTICLE | Dr. Eddie Smith
Another great hanging basket combination is Supertunia Vista Fuchsia, Snow Princess, and Laguna Compact Blue with Eye. The pink of Supertunia Vista Fuchsia pops with the beautiful blue flowers with white eyes of the Laguna Compact Blue with Eye and the cascading white flowers of Snow Princess.
If my plants begin to look open or a bit tired, I give them an allover trim. I use a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears to trim back up to 1/3 of the volume of the plants. After any trim, I use a water-soluble fertilizer to provide instant energy to help kick-start new growth, branching, and flowering. The plants take a week to recover from the trim, but the end result is fuller plants with more blooms going forward. I repeat the trim as needed throughout the growing season.
If you are looking for a hanging basket that is different and unique, try a Goldfish plant. The dark-green leaves provide a backdrop for orange flowers that resemble tiny goldfish. The flowers on a Goldfish plant may be red or yellow. Native to southern Mexico, Brazil, and Costa Rica, this plant comes in more than 25 different varieties.
Consistently water and fertilize these baskets to keep them popping with color all summer long on your front porch.
Dr. Eddie Smith is a gardening specialist and Pearl River County Agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He is also host of the popular Southern Gardening television program. Locate Southern Gardening products online at www.extension.msstate.edu/shows/southern-gardening.
baskets are great for bringing color to the landscape. This arrangement contains Supertunia Vista Fuchsia, Snow Princess, and Laguna Compact Blue with Eye.
Choctaw
Frogmore
Glenfield
Ashmead Chapter, NSDAR Commemorates America’s 250! With Flag Raising Ceremony at Mississippi State Welcome Center
On the sunny, but breezy morning of January 23, 2025, Ashmead Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a flag-raising ceremony at the Mississippi State Welcome Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The ceremony was hosted by the Army & Navy Club of Vicksburg and is held quarterly. Before the flagraising, Norman Francingues, Flag Committee Chairman with the Army & Navy Club, spoke about the significance of such an event, particularly its ceremony commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary and its recognition of all the American Revolution Patriots. Francingues further emphasized that the flag is a symbol of freedom.
With hands over hearts, DAR Daughters recited the Pledge of Allegiance from the back veranda of the Welcome Center as the 20-by-30-foot flag was raised to the top of the old Highway 80 bridge, 196 feet above the Mississippi River. The flag will be flown for three months before it is replaced. DAR Daughters from around Mississippi attended the event.
Following the ceremony, a delicious spaghetti luncheon was held at Gibson Memorial United Methodist Church in
Vicksburg. Daughters were welcomed by Ashmead Regent Bobbie Edwards. Soloist Clarissa Behr Davis, accompanied on piano by her husband, Dr. Michael Davis, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Extending greetings to all were Mississippi State Society DAR Regent Cynthia Mangum, MSSDAR America 250! Chair Kathy Henry, MSSDAR Children of the American Revolution Chair Janis Koestler, and Mississippi Society Sons of the American Revolution Dr. Joseph A. Warren Chapter President Edward Campbell. Featured dessert for the luncheon was a beautifully decorated cake with the DAR 250! logo.
Keynote speaker was Mike Chaney, Mississippi’s Commissioner of Insurance, who spoke about patriots and their sacrifices and the importance of keeping their stories alive. During the luncheon, Norman R. Francingues was presented with the DAR America 250! Commendation Certificate and Medal for all of his extraordinary efforts to promote awareness of our Revolution Patriots and America’s 250th.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT |
Norman Francingues with the DAR America 250! Commendation Medal and Certificate
Martha Ann Diaz, Janet Whittington, Jennifer Pardoe, Katherine Wolfe, Michele Lee, Amelia Langford, Bobbie Edwards, Cynthia Mangum, and Kathy Henry
Martha Ann Diaz, Robyn Jennings, Sylvia Gurtowski, Elizabeth Joyner, Bobbie Edwards, Mary Louise Stevens, Clarissa Davis, Sue Seratt, and Eli Seratt America 250! Cake
Flower Lovers Club Christmas Brunch
The Flowers Lovers Club of McComb, Mississippi, held their annual Christmas brunch at the home of Dr. Scott and Nancy Smith. The home was decorated with festive Christmas flare, and the table centerpieces featured winter blooming flowers from a member’s garden. Members brought a floral themed Christmas ornament for an ornament exchange, and each member shared a favorite Christmas memory before the exchange. Chef Ken Dixon of Mitchell’s of Brookhaven, Mississippi, prepared a delicious array of brunch foods. Hostesses for the annual event were Nancy Smith, Tina Brumfield, Regan Jones, Teresa Price, Carla Stringer, and Sharon White.
Tina Brumfield; Gaye Atkinson, Flower Lovers President; Nancy Smith; Teresa Price; and Carla Stringer
Nancy Smith and Tina Brumfield
Tina Brumfield, Victoria Brill, Donna Smith, Nancy Smith, and Teresa Price
Chrissie Dorr, Gaye Atkinson, Sue Reeves, and Nancy Hensarling
Sharon White and Regan Jones
Sherry Price and Fran Holloway
Patti Seago, Amy Adams, and Chef Ken Dixon
Lisa Hughes, Jeanna Clark, and Carla Stringer
Regan Jones, Kelly Hart, April Boarman, and Sharon White
Nancy Smith, Gaye Atkinson, Nancy Soyars, and Hillary Freeman
Sherry Price, Sue Nunnery, and Kathy Assaf
Beth Wild, Vicki Brill, and Donna Smith
Linda Farner, Carol Smith, Beth Wild, Delores Feldman, Linda Young, and Crissie Dorr
Teresa Price and Christina Mitchell
Susan Gibbes and Delores Feldman
something scrumptious
Haleigh Chinn and her six-year-old son, Hatcher Atticus, live in Wesson, Mississippi, with their two dogs. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. She has been a bartender for upwards of ten years.
ARTICLE | Cecilia Stevens
PHOTOGRAPHY | Lisa Whittington
Mocktails & Cocktails
to include everyone in celebrations
spring celebrations are in full swing and planning a party’s bar options are an important consideration for hosts. Mocktails, delightful non-alcoholic beverages, are taking the party world by storm, offering a refreshing alternative for those who prefer to skip the booze. These creative concoctions blend a variety of flavors from fruity and tangy to spicy and herbal, ensuring there’s something for every palate. Whether hosting a party, enjoying a night out, or simply looking for a tasty drink to unwind with, mocktails provide all the fun and sophistication of traditional cocktails without the alcohol.
Haleigh Chinn, bartender at Magnolia Grill in Natchez, views mocktails as an experience of inclusion. “There has been a large movement within the younger generations, the “sober curious” movement. It is really catching on. Gatherings and parties are largely based around alcohol, especially for college age people. Let’s be real. This “sober curious” movement is changing that, but it will never be gone completely. Mocktails give people who choose
not to drink a way to feel included with their friends who are drinkers. It’s not limited to just non-drinkers. Pregnant women, designated drivers, people with medical conditions who can’t drink—it gives them a way to participate without the adverse effects alcohol may have on them,” says Chinn.
Chinn’s interest in creating mocktails began one evening when she had a bar customer who was pregnant but had not yet shared the news with her husband. According to Chinn, “She was planning on telling him later that night when they got home. While her husband was in the restroom, she asked me if I could make her a drink that looked like a cocktail but had no alcohol. She usually had a couple of mixed drinks when they had dinner, and she didn’t want him to think anything was off. I told her that was definitely something I could do. Thus, Haleigh’s Comet was born.”
Since that night, Chinn has created numerous original mocktail recipes. She keeps a small notebook of her recipes and has about 20 mocktail versions as well as
something scrumptious
a myriad of cocktail recipes. Chinn’s personal favorite mocktail is a virgin Bloody Mary: “I have always loved them with brunch. I am sober now, but I still love to make a virgin drink now and then from my personal recipe.”
Mocktails like great cocktails rely on special additives to achieve complex flavors. Chinn enjoys adding fresh fruit and juices into her recipes. She also uses simple syrups such as rosemary. Other additives could include smoke infusions, bitters, or even chocolate.
Chinn has several suggestions regarding mocktails for spring and summer celebrations: “With weddings, you usually want to keep it light and fun but classy with something like a spritzer. These are so easy. All you need is grape juice; top it with soda water and drop in some fresh or frozen fruit.” Her advice for cocktail party drinks is something uplifting and rich: “I would probably recommend some non-alcoholic wine options and a refreshing menu with things like a virgin mule which would be ginger ale with a squeeze of lime.” And for a bachelorette party? Chinn says, “Give me ALLLL the virgin
Rosemary Simple Syrup
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
5-6 sprigs fresh rosemary
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Stir and reduce over heat for about 15 minutes or until a light amber color is achieved. Remove rosemary. Store refrigerated in a lidded container. It keeps about two weeks.
Yield: Serves 16 (serving size 2 tablespoons)
Haleigh Chinn, Magnolia Grill
lemon drop martinis! A little lemon juice, simple syrup, sweet and sour or lemonade, and a sugar rim. You will be set. Honorable mention is a virgin green tea shot which would be peach juice or syrup and sweet and sour.”
When asked the one thing she wishes readers would consider when selecting mocktails, Chinn says, “There is zero shame in not drinking. If you are out with your friends and you just aren’t feeling it, try a mocktail. You’ll still feel just as included, and you’ll be able to tell your friends about all the crazy stuff they did when you have the morning-after debrief.”
Chinn believes that there is a psychology to bartending: “While I think we can be considered part-time therapists, there have actually been some studies done on the topic of mocktails within an alcohol-obsessed culture. Nondrinkers who had mocktails during an outing reported higher feelings of inclusion and peer interaction than nondrinkers who did not drink mocktails. So try the mocktail! What if you love it? What if you love it AND still have a great time out while you’re sober?”
Watermelon
Strawberry Beach Breeze
1 cup chopped strawberries, frozen
1 cup chopped and seeded watermelon, frozen
4 tablespoons rosemary simple syrup
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
½ cup ice-cold lemon-lime soda
Optional: 2 ounces rum to make a cocktail. Reduce lemon-lime soda to ¼ cup.
Combine fruit and syrup in blender and process until just smooth. Add soda and rum (if desired). Process for three pulses. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.
Yield: Serves 2 adapted from LSU AgCenter Harvest of the Month recipes
Haleigh’s Comet
1 cup pineapple juice
1½ teaspoons grenadine 2 teaspoons lime juice (Rose’s preferred) 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Place all ingredients in a shaker and mix well. Serve over ice cubes in a festive cup and garnish with fresh fruit.
Yield: Serves 1
Haleigh Chinn, Magnolia Grill
Berry-Basil Spritze
4 basil leaves
1 ounce fresh berries (about 8), divided into two parts (strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries)
4 ounces (½ cup) sparkling lemon-flavored water
Ice
Basil sprig for garnish
Optional: 1 ounce rum or vodka to make a cocktail
Combine fruit and syrup in blender and process until just smooth. Add soda and rum (if desired). Process for three pulses. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.
Yield: Serves 1 adapted from LSU AgCenter Harvest of the Month recipes
Bloody Mary
8 ounces (1 cup) Bloody Mary base (Zing-Zang preferred)
1 teaspoon pickled olive juice
1 splash Worcestershire sauce (about ¼ teaspoon)
Optional: 2 ounces vodka to make a cocktail
1 splash Heinz 57 sauce (about ¼ teaspoon)
1 splash A.1. sauce (about ¼ teaspoon)
1 splash lemon juice (about ¼ teaspoon) Tabasco to taste Black pepper
Combine fruit and syrup in blender and process until just smooth. Add soda and rum (if desired). Process for three pulses. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.
Yield: Serves 1
Crawford Stevens, Magnolia Grill
62nd Annual Azalea Ball
The Junior Auxiliary of McComb’s 62nd Annual Azalea Ball was held on February 15, 2025, at The Mill Venue in McComb, Mississippi. The theme for this year’s ball was “A Night in the Big Easy.” The Azalea Ball is the organization’s sole fundraiser held yearly. At the ball, JA of McComb recognizes the philanthropic achievements of its carefully selected Azalea Ball King and Queen and celebrates JA of McComb’s year of service to the children of Pike County. Photography by Beth Hemeter, Image Maker Photography
Queen Linda Love and King John Dale Dumas
Hadley Reeves, Blaine Reeves, Keith and Alisha Reeves, Linda and Eddie Love, Kristie Harrison, Lynnle Jones, and Stacy and Jamie Jones
James David Dumas, Lacey Dumas, John Dale and Jennifer Dumas, Jack Dumas, and Lauren Dumas
Katherine Dumas, Onsby Vinson, Darren and Shelli Felder, Lacey Dumas, and Russ Middleton
Evan Legg, Henry McNeil, Jordan Putman, Beau Liuzza, Andrew Harrington, Hollyn Wentworth, Myers Newlon, and Hadley Galdino
Melinda Smith, Heather Harden, Michelle Cooksey, and Melanie Wentworth
Whitney and Carol Rawlings
Andy and Kate Lott
India Warshauer and Blair Rushing
Mallory and Chad Robinson with Mikey and Laci Godbold
Laurie and Charlie Lewis with Darion Fortenberry
Front—Abigail, Beau, and Brandon Liuzza / Back—Elizabeth and Trevor Tennison, Sandy Liuzza, and Kim Wall
Kindra and Aaron Price
Mallory Newlon, Joanna Barr, and Kindra Price
Dr. Chris and Dr. Allie Price
Anna Klaire Drury, Brooke Wells, and Ashton Ballard
Hali Reed, Brooke Wells, Anna Klaire Drury, Ashley Stovall, and Ashton Ballard
Dr. Stephanie Ricks, Charly Schmidt, and Ashley Stovall
Niki Gibson, Jamie Ferguson, and Allison Viator
Brandy Dyess and Melisa DeCoux
Candi Reid and Megan Smith
Blake and Dr. Leslie Brewer, Barrie and Clifton Van Cleave, and Kelly and Michael Parker
Dr. Valerie Turner and Ashley Stovall
Kasie Beth Brown with Christina and Chris Mitchell
Terri Barnes, Linda Love, Nancy Smith, and Tina Brumfield
Keith and Brittany Raybon
Anna Klaire and Brandon Drury
Kiersten Lampton, Courtney Richard, Molly White, and Ashley Stovall
Michelle Cooksey, Darion Fortenberry, Ashley Stovall, and Laci Godbold
Special Exhibit for T.G. McCary Photography in April
In February, T.G. McCary Photography proudly celebrated forty years of capturing cherished moments for families in Natchez, Mississippi, and beyond. As a family-run portrait studio, we have dedicated four decades to preserving childhood’s fleeting beauty through classic heirloom photographs and painterly fine-art portraits. We opened our business on State Street in 1985 and eventually moved to our now-known location on Main Street.
To commemorate this milestone, we are unveiling "Heirlooms of Innocence," a special portrait exhibit featuring Renaissance-inspired portraits of children. These one-of-a-kind works of art embody the idea of time standing still, blending the elegance of the past with the warmth of modern storytelling. Styled with handcrafted details, rich textures, and symbolic elements, each portrait is designed as a timeless family heirloom—an investment in both artistry and legacy. Join us as we reflect on our studio’s journey, celebrate the families who have entrusted us with their memories, and look ahead to the next chapter of preserving childhood through art. We look forward to our showing at ArtsNatchez this April as well as continuing to serve our clients in the years to come!
Rowen daughter of Mr. & Mrs Phillip Washington
Shuffle to the Chefs: An Evening of Southern Flavor and Philanthropy
Shuffle to the Chefs, the annual event supporting St. Andrew’s Mission, was held January 23, 2025, at The Mill Venue Event Space in downtown McComb, Mississippi, drawing in area-wide chefs and culinary experts for an evening of socializing and networking. St. Andrew’s Mission supports free medical clinics for the uninsured in Brookhaven and McComb, Mississippi; serves as a food pantry for seniors and adults with disabilities; and supports S.A.M. Diner, a soup kitchen offering hot meals to those in need and thrift stores.
Photography by Bill Perkins
Melisa Decoux and Brandon Cade
Belinda and Calvin Matthews
Sara and Patrick Hemphill
Jonah Lock and Lindsey Gennaro
Dierdre Reynolds, Edward Schwartz, Stuart Pasley, and Manny Vega
Amy Honea, Nick Ricerri, and Alicia Linton
Justin Billew with Sara and Patrick Hemphill
Collins, Ramsey, and Catherine Sanders with Barrie and Clifton Van Cleave
Megan Spring and Nikki Belote
Becky Buie, Ra'Shawn Jackson, and Shannon Crosby
Dienna Moak with Haley and Brian Mitchell
Niki Gibson and Jordan Porter
Michael Gutoso and Andy Thaggard
Joe and Kathy Brown
Armando Diaz, Isabel Blanco, and Lauro Arredondo
Wallace Pope and Patti Brabham
Jimmy Harris, Justin Billew, Bill Perkins, and Deb Richardson
Ted Malta and Angela Simmons
Thelma Brown and Rose Martin
Adan Diaz and Pat Brumfield
George and Virginia Gozo with Serena Austin
Christopher and Karen Hart
Blake Brewer, Virginia James, and Leslie Brewer
Sue Ellen Codding, Sara Doman, Cynthia Cox, and Bennett Cox
Tim and KeKe Jackson
Danielle Burnette and Kathrine Brumfield
Angela Gill and Molly White
Mercedes Ricks and Andy Thaggard
Mike Austin and Jim Hedges
Tommy McKenzie and Henry Green
Steve Hennington and Mary Blalock
Tina Brumfield and Sam Sanders
Johna Adams and Whitney Webb
Barbara and Keith Starrett
Wendy Robinson
Audrey S. Jones, Pennie B. Redd, and Linda S. Rasumesen
Austin and Tresse Sumrall
Patisha Winn Carter, Brittany Winn, and Samuel Bullock
Brooklyn Schmidt, Sam Richard, and Courtney Richard
Stacy Sullivan, Bobby McDaniel, Jeanne Mullins, and Lee Hethman
Margaret Temple, Kristen Kunze, and Virginia James
Hillary Freeman, Stephanie Pigott, Allison Viator, and Virginia James
Wren Honea, Amy Honea, Brian Barrett, and Angelia Parker
Beck Troutman, Laken Osbirn, Rebecca and Casey Carter, and Courtney and Sam Richard
Catherine Sanders, India Warshauer, and Niki Gibson
Samantha Fortenberry, Bill Perkins, and Mary Blalock
Brooklyn Schmidt and Susan Hedges
Front—Melisa DeCoux, Catherine Sanders, Vickie Webb, Roxie Skenderis, and Tina Brumfield
Back—Michael Guttuso, Donna Smith, Megan Spring, Jim Hedges,
Nikki Belote, Brandon Andrews, Niki Gibson, Betsy Murrell, Michael Austin, and Alisha Chambers
beyond
The Garden Club of Jackson’s Spring Home & Garden Tour
The Garden Club of Jackson, Mississippi’s 2025 Garden Tour offers distinctive gardens that have been many years in the making. Each of the gardens on tour surrounds heritage homes in the heart of north Jackson and will delight the garden enthusiast, home designer, or anyone interested in walking through a bit of Jackson’s past.
The biennial tour will take place Wednesday and Thursday, April 9 and 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. One extra ticketed event, an Evening Garden Party, will take place at the home of Betsy and Jason Greener on Tuesday, April 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
All tickets go on sale March 1 and may be purchased through The Garden Club of Jackson’s website, TheGardenClubofJackson. com. The Everyday Gardener, located at 114 West Jackson Street in Ridgeland, Mississippi, will also sell tickets; and tickets will be on sale at each garden during the tour.
The 2025 Garden Tour showcases four standout homes and/ or gardens—a stately French manor house; a mid-century modern home; an art-filled garden surrounding a beloved family home; and a charming 1940s Monterey, California-style residence. None of these homes was built in this century, thus giving them the patina and grounds of long-established properties; but all reflect the enhancements and cultivation of their current caring homeowners.
Sidney and Holt Crews recently renovated and added on to their home, built by her grandparents and tucked into a deep lawn surrounded by flowering shrubs and gardens in the Fontaine Place neighborhood. Nearby, in the Fondren neighborhood, sits Drs. Nikki and Ken Cleveland’s impressive home whose setting within ancient oaks and expansive grounds allows its formal French style to gleam brightly. Both the Crews’ and the Clevelands’ gardens and homes will be on tour.
Conveniently around the corner from the Clevelands’ home is the third garden on tour. Betsy and Jason Greener’s home with its clean-lined modern design enjoys a park-like setting with varied garden features developed over three generations. The final tour stop is a gardener’s garden just down the street. Master Gardener Cecile Wardlaw’s extensive, art-filled grounds will enchant visitors with their abundance and their horticultural variety, many of them native plants.
A portion of the proceeds from this year’s tour will support the LeFleur East Foundation’s work to redesign and enhance Parham Bridges Park, a beloved recreation space for Jackson families.
For more information, visit TheGardenClubofJackson.com or Facebook and Instagram at The Garden Club of Jackson.
OPPOSITE | Betsy and Jason Greener's home whose garden and grounds are part of the tour. Blooming azaleas from the Greeners' home. Rose garden at the Crews' home.
ABOVE | Hollidae Morrison and Lyn McMillin who are working on the native plant educational component of the tour. Interior photo from Nikki and Ken Cleveland's home which is open for the tour and their garden as well.
Tour Chair Charlotte McNeel, GCJ President Dolly Goings, and Tour Co-Chair Catherine Florreich.
Double-celebration Brunch for Dr. Will Austin
A brunch was held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at The Palace in downtown McComb, Mississippi, honoring Dr. Will Austin, M.D., F.A.S. for his 50 years of medical practice in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sinus Surgery and Allergy, and his 80th birthday. Friends, family, and patients gathered from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to salute his long-time dedication to his practice and celebrate his milestone birthday.
by Kelly Nevels
Gay and Dr. Will Austin
Heather Newlan and Wendy Blue
Teresa and Ralph Price
Gary Jacobs, Vicki Jacobs, and Carey Lea
Turner and Barbara Willis
Carol and Shelby Smith
Kathy and Doug McCarlie
Yvonne Howell and Yvette Lott
Carol Easley and Diane Cothern
Rhonda and Stuart Hemphill
Sue and Ray Smith
Jim and Libba Alford
Dr. Will Austin and Ann Coney
(his first tonsillectomy in 1975)
Carol Rawlins, Barri Van Cleave, and Melinda Wallace
Lisa and Doug Hughes
Susan and Jim Hedges
Tom and Kathy Assaf
Noriko Faust and Karen Hart
The Austin Family
Molly Johnson and Janice Hoaglund
Jim Boothe, Dr. Will Austin, Mac Cothern, and Kent Kebert
Kelly and Donald Hart
Bob and Nancy Hensarling
Edie and David Varnado
your
Spring into Easy Care at TOTAL URGENT CARE in Vidalia
At Total Urgent Care in Vidalia, Louisiana, we believe healthcare should be easy, accessible, and tailored to the needs of our community. Whether you need urgent care for an unexpected illness or injury, allergy relief as spring blooms, or even support for long-term wellness goals, we’re here for you—right when and where you need us.
Walk-In Urgent Care for Life’s Unexpected Moments
We understand that accidents and illnesses don’t follow a schedule. That’s why our clinic is open seven days a week for ages 3 months and up, providing walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening conditions, including the following:
• Cold, flu, and COVID-19 symptoms
• Allergies and sinus infections
• Ear and eye infections
• Minor cuts, burns, and wounds
• Sprains, strains, and simple fractures
• Stomach issues, nausea, and dehydration
On-Site Digital X-Rays and Lab Testing
Sometimes, a closer look is necessary to get to the root of your symptoms. Our Vidalia clinic offers digital X-rays and in-house lab testing, allowing us to diagnose conditions quickly and accurately.
Virtual Care for Extra Convenience
Busy schedules and travel shouldn’t keep you from receiving quality care. Our Virtual Care services allow you to connect with a provider from the comfort of your home, office, or even on the go. Whether it’s a minor illness, medication refill, or follow-up consultation, our telemedicine options make seeing a healthcare provider easier than ever.
Check-In Online and Save Your Spot in Line
We know your time is valuable. That’s why we offer online check-in, allowing you to add your name to the waiting queue before arriving at the clinic
Medical Weight Loss Support
Spring is a time of renewal, making it the perfect season to focus on your health goals. Our weight loss program provides medical guidance, including support for semaglutide and tirzepatide treatments, helping you achieve lasting results safely and effectively.
Work Injury & Occupational Health Services
For local businesses and employees, we offer a variety of occupational health services, including DOT physicals, drug screenings, and work injury evaluations. Whether you’re an employer looking to keep your workforce healthy or an employee in need of work-related medical care, our team is here to assist.
We’re Here When You Need Us
As we step into the warmer months, allergies, outdoor injuries, and seasonal illnesses become more common.
• Allergy Relief: Seasonal allergies can put a damper on your springtime fun. We provide quick and effective treatments to help you breathe more easily and enjoy the outdoors.
• Sports & Outdoor Injuries: Whether it’s a sprain from a weekend hike or a minor cut from yard work, we offer fast treatment to get you back to doing what you love.
• Cold & Flu Care: Even in spring, colds and flu can strike. Our clinic offers fast, efficient testing and treatment to get you back on your feet quickly.
Transparent Pricing for Everyone
We accept most insurance plans and offer affordable selfpay options for those without insurance. Our goal is to provide high-quality care that is both accessible and budget friendly for all our patients.
With our flat fee structure, you’ll know exactly what you’ll pay up front. Whether you have insurance or not, we’re committed to making healthcare accessible to all in our community. No surprises, no hassles!
Visit Us Today
Total Urgent Care in Vidalia is here for you and your family seven days a week, caring for patients ages 3 months and up. Whether you need urgent medical attention, ongoing health support, or a quick check-up, our team is ready to help. Plus, our being an Urgent Care Association-accredited clinic, you can trust that you're receiving top-tier care.
Visit us at 4014 Carter Street today, or see a provider faster by checking in online or scheduling a Virtual Care visit at www.MyTotalUrgentCare.com. We make healthcare easy, hassle-free, and centered around you—because having a trusted neighbor in care makes all the difference.
Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates, health tips, and more! For additional details, visit MyTotalUrgentCare.com.
Our goal at McComb OBGYN is to offer our patients the best care in gynecology with family centered care being the hallmark of our practice. Our office is designed to provide you with a lifetime of care from the teen years through post-menopause by providing high quality, comprehensive healthcare. Our experienced and caring staff includes a board-certified physician and nurse practitioners that bring many years of knowledge and expertise to patient care and a dedicated clinical and administrative support staff.
The healthcare team at McComb OBGYN is led by Dr. Dawn Sumrall. Dr. Sumrall moved to Southwest Mississippi to start her practice in 1992. Since then, she has delivered over 5,000 babies! She retired from the baby business in 2017 and has since dedicated her practice to Women’s Health Care along with Nurse Practitioners Kappi Rushing, Diane Lazarus Van, and Kasie Holmes. Dr. Sumrall, a native of New Orleans, went to medical school at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and finished her residency at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in 1992. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Nurse Practitioner Kappi Rushing is native of Natchez, Mississisppi. She earned her BSN in nursing in 2000 from The University of Southern Mississippi, and in 2006 she earned her Masters of Science in Nursing from Alcorn State University. She worked as a Nurse Practitioner at Natchez Women’s Center for 10 years before she joined McComb OB-GYN Associates in 2017. Kappi has over 18 years of women’s health experience.
Nurse Practitioner Diane Van came to work at McComb OB-GYN in 2020 after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with her Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Prior to earning her doctorate, Diane graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and then graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nurse Practitioner Kasie Holmes is a lifelong native of Pike County. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts and became a Family Nurse Practitioner by way of Southwest Community College, Delta State University, and Walden University. With over 11 years of experience in family practice, Kasie has been providing family care services to patients at McComb OB-GYN for many years.
MCCOMB OBGYN Health Care
McComb OB-GYN provides a number of gynecological services to their patients of all ages. We help our adolescent patients navigate through puberty, our newly married patients plan for parenthood, our middle-aged patients cope with symptoms of perimenopause, and our post-menopausal patients transition into life after having periods. We offer wellness exams, including breast and pelvic exams. We help our patients chose the best birth control methods based on their needs. Also, we provide several in-office procedures such as in-office hysteroscopies, endometrial biopsies, IUD insertions, and colposcopies. We offer gynecologic ultrasounds as well as bone density testing in office. In addition to our gynecology care, one day a week, Kasie provides primary care for our patients.
One unique service that we provide at McComb OBGYN is our “Girl Talk.” The topics covered in our Girl Talk can vary depending on the age of the audience. Twice a year, we offer Girl Talk to girls ages 9-12 to explain changes to their bodies that occur during puberty, including teaching them how to properly manage their menstrual cycles. Last fall, Kappi also participated in Southwest Community College’s first Women’s Health Summit. Along with a mental health professional, Kappi spoke with their junior college female athletes about the importance of menstrual regularity as well as the dangers of pre-marital sex. Recently, one of our area schools asked us to do a Girl Talk as part of their life skills classes. This allowed Kappi to speak with their middle and high school girls to address common menstrual problems as well as emphasize the importance of abstinence. Girl Talk gives these girls accurate information and allows our health care professionals to discuss difficult, but very important, age-appropriate topics in a fun, informative, and relaxed environment. If you have a daughter aged 9-12 years old and would like to be placed on the waiting list for our next Girl Talk, please contact our office.
Visit Us Today
McComb OBGYN is conveniently located next to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center on Marion Avenue in McComb, Mississippi. Call 601-684-9116 to schedule your appointment! We are accepting new patients.
Mississippi OROFACIAL Pain Specialist
What is TMJ ?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, or temporomandibular disorders (TMD), refer to conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. These disorders can cause pain, discomfort, dysfunction in the jaw, and other symptoms such as clicking or popping sounds; difficulty chewing or talking; headaches, ear, neck or facial pain; and ringing in the ears. TMJ/TMD causes can include jaw injury, teeth grinding or clench ing, teeth misalignment, or stress.
At Mississippi Orofacial Pain Specialists in Ridgeland, Mississippi, we are dedicated to providing compassionate care and long-term conservative, non-surgical treatments to help you find relief from TMJ disorders, headaches, and ear, neck, and facial pain. We offer a variety of advanced TMJ/TMD treatments to get you back to feeling your best.
Dr. Paul Riley, DDS, is a board-certified Orofacial Pain Specialist with over 30 years of experience and expertise diagnosing and treating TMJ pain and TMJ-related disorders. Dr. Riley has undergone extensive training to handle the most challenging TMJ problems and complex pain conditions. Being board-certified means you’ll receive the best possible care from a specialist who understands the cause of your pain and focuses on lasting relief.
Personal HOMECARE Services
In April of 1998, an idea was hatched by Al Clifton to start a company providing live-in care to the elderly. His vision was to provide a 24/7 live-in service for those who wanted to remain at home during their twilight years. Years and thousands of clients and caregivers later, Personal Homecare Services, located in Ferriday, Louisiana, is still going strong. When you can't be at home to care for your family member, you want peace of mind knowing that the person who is there will treat your loved one with the same level of care and concern that you would.
Personal Homecare Services is one of the first non-medical services specializing in live-in care and working in conjunction with doctors, healthcare providers, and hospices to provide continuous around-the-clock care without the worry and expense of hourly services. They've built a solid reputation with word-of-mouth referral, evidence of the trust their clients have in their caretakers and services. These services include meal preparation, help with personal hygiene, medicinal reminders, light housekeeping, transportation to/from appointments, and companionship.
To learn more, visit PersonalHomecare.net or call 877-336-8045 or 318-757-1225
Easy Divorce? Yeah, Right!!
Divorce is a legal subject that affects virtually everyone who is reading this article regardless of whether you personally have gone through a divorce or a family member or close friend has done such.
Mississippi has just adopted something called the “collaborative agreement” approach to divorce that is designed to do several things, but the main two are to soften the harsh and brutal effects of divorce and to make it cheaper for both parties. A “collaborative agreement” may also, under the new law, be reached in any child custody, prenuptial, or childsupport matter.
Basically, the idea under the Mississippi Supreme Court’s order is that parties who want a divorce and who can still talk rationally about the issues of the marriage, before anything is ever filed with any Chancery Court, can just hire their own attorneys. Then, these attorneys would draw up a collaborative agreement stating that both parties during the pendency of the agreement will forgo filing a court proceeding for divorce; describe what the purpose and goal of the agreement are in trying to reach a consensus; identify both attorneys, the parties, and any other professionals to take part, i.e., financial advisors, social workers, guardian ad litems, etc.; and provide a statement that, if the effort fails, neither attorney can participate in any following divorce proceeding. This document must be signed by parties and attorneys.
The following endeavor then begins with the issues being laid out before all four individuals, i.e., lawyers and parties, and with their frank, transparent, and honest discussion and flow of important information ensuing.
The role of both lawyers is to take the facts, hopefully agree on the application of the law to the facts, and try to move both parties to an agreement or even a partial agreement with any remaining issues (if any) to be litigated later.
An example of what I mean by the above is this: Say child support is at issue and a couple has two small children and the wife has been an at-home mother taking care of the children. Further assume that the father makes $85,000 per year. Under these facts, the probabilities are that joint custody would be ordered; but with small children and the mother not working, a court in all probability would order child support paid to the mother. The law under these facts is pretty cut and dried
ARTICLE | Sam Gwin
in that a father, under these facts, is going to pay 20% of net adjusted gross income in child support under statute. There is no reason to litigate the above scenario when it is pretty cut and dried, and this is an issue that should not have to be litigated with all of the expenses and drama that go on in divorce court.
A collaborative agreement should only be attempted if both parties can communicate and there are no explosive issues involved like adultery, child or spouse abuse, etc. Also, hiring a rambo divorce lawyer is not advisable because such a lawyer can see only one side of the argument; and the attorney must be able to be a negotiator without threats or bravado.
The other two ways to get a divorce involve going to court, which can take years, eat up tens of thousands of dollars, and become incredibly bitter. I used to handle divorces, but I now no longer do them for the above reasons. In fact, I cannot stress enough how couples should strive with all their might to stay married, especially with children involved. I have never seen a divorce yet involving young children wherein the child or children were not emotionally scarred.
The other way that couples are divorcing is through non-binding mediation. This process requires both parties to present their issues to a mediator, a non-partial, experienced divorce lawyer, after suit has been filed. In fact, some divorce judges order mediation before the parties go further. In mediation, each of the party’s attorneys is an advocate for their client and tries to persuade the mediator to their way of thinking. The issues are presented to the mediator and a good mediator will be frank and tell each side what he thinks they can expect at trial. This often persuades parties to then settle.
I like mediation and usually employ it in all of my cases. You learn the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, and there is better than an 80% chance of settlement without more bloodletting that is so prevalent in divorce.
Back to the collaborative agreement approach--Will it work? It will work in some cases that are not so volatile. This approach is by far cheaper than divorce by trial or mediation. However, for a collaborative agreement to work, two mature adults and two reasonable attorneys must come to the table. Good luck with the two reasonable attorneys!
Lucien C. “Sam” Gwin III was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981 and has been practicing many aspects of the law at the firm of Gwin, Punches & Kelley in Natchez, Mississippi, ever since.
January/February
March/April
May/June
Enrichment
July/August
Patriotic
Summertime
September/October
Back-
November/December
Women Caring for Women
THE socialSCENE TYLERTOWN, MS
Pilgrimage Garden Club’s Royal Ball
Pilgrimage Garden Club (PGC) held their Royal Ball celebrating the 2025 Royalty at Stanton Hall on January 11, 2025. Prior to the beginning of the grand ball, members of the royal court were presented as follows; King Samuel Rush Mosby; Queen Caroline Faith Guedon; Gentlemen of the Court Hollis Lees, Charles Hayden Kaiser IV, and Harris Pyron; Ladies of the Court Mackenzie Bertrand, Allie Claire Feltus, Annalyce Noel Riley, and Brooks Alise Speed; and Royal Pages Mary Noble Guedon, Mary Carlyle Killen, Shepard Barron Borden, and Nathan James Carter. Photography by Natalie Segrest
Betsy Mosby and Fayla Guedon
Betsy, Sam, and Sim Mosby
Caroline Guedon and Sam Mosby
Cole Mosby and King Sam Mosby
Delia Ann Guedon and Kelly Robertson
Betsy Mosby and King Sam Mosby
Grayson, Noble, and Fayla Guedon
Kelli Mendenhall, Queen Caroline Guedon, and Quinn Burgess
PGC Royal Court: Front—Mary Killen, Mary Guedon, James Carter, and Shep Borden
Back—Brooksie Speed, Harris Pyron, Annalyce Riley, Queen Caroline Guedon, King Sam Mosby, Mackenzie Bertrand, Lees Hollis, Allie Feltus, and Hayden Kaiser
Pilgrimage Royal Court and attendants
Molly, Brooksie, and Charlie Speed
Noble, Caroline, and Fayla Guedon
Queen Caroline Guedon with her Delta Gamma sorority sisters
Tracy, Mackenzie, and Robin Bertrand
Spring and Easter Musings
April is one of my favorite months. The arrival of spring with all its intense color and fragrances in the plant world make it a month hard to ignore: so much beauty around us, so many pleasing activities outside to make us thankful to have survived another winter. April is overload month when it comes to setting out the new annuals and perennials, and it is a month of great optimism.
Birthdays have taught me to plan a little better with all those beautiful spring bedding plants, for they all need care throughout their growing season. After years of saying to myself, “not so many plants this year,” I am always adamant in the spring about planting lots of extras. And I have managed to cut back from say, fifteen years ago; but a visit to Badges Nursery just up the road or to Buds and Blooms in Wesson, Mississippi, really tests my resolve.
Now, understand this, all you theologians and historians out there who may scoff at my humble words. My explanation is just a synopsis in laymen’s terms of what happened. There are learned works on the early pagan religions and their introductions and confrontations with Christianity that are very enlightening in their explanations. If a person is interested, he can look up these articles and books and become more educated about the beginnings of Christianity as it spread west across Europe.
Easter is April 20 this year; and though the rabbits and eggs and chocolates have tried to dominate the holiday for us, we Christians know that the Easter holiday, celebrating the resurrection of Christ, is the most sacred on our yearly calendar. I don't remember if I've ever done a column for Bluffs & Bayous on the reason for rabbits and eggs in our Christian celebration or not, but I have written on this before, trying to explain the connection.
The early church fathers incorporated pagan celebrations with Christian celebratory occasions to win over the populace to the new religion. They had learned that the old religions being mixed with Christianity made it more palatable to the masses and much more likely to be accepted without a fuss.
Oestre was a goddess of spring and rebirth; eggs, a symbol of fertility and life; and the resurrection was Christianity's own celebration of eternal life through the raising of Christ from the tomb. These early Christian leaders then wondered why not combine the three if it meant that people would begin to understand the importance of the resurrection better if some of their old ways were allowed to tag along.
In the South, two non-religious traditions about Easter are embedded in my mind; and no amount of modernity can change them. One is the rule about white shoes and white dresses: under no circumstance can a person wear a white dress (except a bride) or white shoes before Easter Sunday. It is not done. Period. Anyone who breaks the rule lacks training in social morés and will be looked upon as a heathen. I did not make this rule, but it was placed in my head at any early age. No white shoes before Easter meant no white shoes idea why it was so taboo, but it definitely was. Notice I have typed “was” because the masses break this rule all the time now; and when I see them walking around in white shoes before Easter, I know that they did not have a mama and grandmothers like mine.
The other not-before-Easter tradition concerned going barefoot. As little children, we longed for the day when we could shuck our shoes and run in the grass as barefoot as our pagan ancestors did (the ones who believed in Oestre and eggs, etc.). But you didn't dare take those shoes off before Easter, or you would catch pneumonia or something equally potentially fatal. Even if Easter was in March and the wind chill put the temperature in the 40s, we were going to go barefoot that afternoon, just because it was safe and legal to do so.
I can remember Mama warning us on warm spring, preEaster days, not to take off those shoes and saying that, if we did, she would know. We would get out of her range, take the shoes and socks off, play in the abundant clover, then recover our feet before going home.
barefoot children would have green-stained feet, a dead giveaway to our disobedience. To keep us from catching pneumonia, we would have to drink some dreadful dose of something that almost made it not worth going barefoot again when we got a chance. None of us ever got pneumonia for our disobedience, but the lectures and medicine were almost as bad.
This must not be a rule anymore, either, for I have seen barefoot people in town before Easter is even thought of. I figured that to go barefoot on the germy, nasty streets of town they must have been making a statement of some kind of rebellious nature. You know, the “look at me I am such an unconventional rebel” sort. While I might go barefoot in my house before getting out for the day, I don't go barefoot outside at all, either before or after Easter, with one exception. A patch of clover is still irresistible. That cool, green, lovely plant just feels so good against bare skin that it's hard to ignore even now, decades after being put on a going-barefoot schedule by Mama and Mimi.
I wish a Blessed Easter for all our readers. May you enjoy your chocolate, white shoes, and walks in clover; but remember, first of all, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who gave His life that we might have eternal life.
ARTICLE | Alma M. Womack
Alma M. 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.
WWII Veteran “Wink” Collins Celebrates 100 years
World War II veteran Wingate “Wink” Marion Collins, born January 29, 1925, recently turned 100 years old. On his birthday, he received a surprise resolution from City of Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson; and Adams County Sheriff Travis Patton presented Collins with a Centenarian Award. In addition, Magnolia Village’s Assisted Living Facility honored this veteran and centenarian with a birthday party attended by friends and family.
Mark and Ashley White, Wink Collins, and Lori Isbell
Wink Collins, surrounded by family members, blowing out candles on his birthday cake
Wink Collins with Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson
Rhonda and Thomas Smith, Kenny Isbell, Wink Collins, Isabelle White, Ashley White, Lori Isbell, Crystal Isbell, and Mark White
Sheriff Travis Patten and his deputies with Wink Collins
Mark White and Braxton Bell
Braxton Bell, Isabelle White, Kenny Isbell, Jeff Beamon, Tim Vance, and Rhonda Smith
Wes and Lynn Collins, Wink Collins, and Randy and Sherri Collins
Isabelle White and Lori Isbell
Jeff Beamon and Kenny Isbell
Tim Vance, Jeff Beamon, Kenny Isbell, and Rhonda Smith
Isabelle White with Wink Collins
Rhonda Smith, Ashley White, and Tim Vance with Lori and Kenny Isbell
Braxton Bell and Wes and Lynn Collins
Wink Collins with Randy, Sherri, and Wes Collins
Wink Collins and Randy Collins
Lori Isbell and Jeff Beamon
Wink Collins and Lori Isbell
Lee Smith, CFP™, Stephanie Smith, Emily P. Maxwell, CFP™, John C. Bergeron
Krewe of Phoenix Celebrating Mardi Gras
Various scenes filled the multiple Krewe of Phoenix activities as they celebrated Mardi Gras. A new addition was a communitywide Children’s Walking Parade on the bluff in downtown Natchez, Mississippi. Visit their FB: Krewe of Phoenix and kreweofphoenixnatchez.com.
Children’s parade winners with 2025 Royalty
Family fun for the McGivaren family Curtis Moroney and GA Mayers
Rex Chris Maxwell and Emily Maxwell with Rosalie Robin Branton and John Branton
Melissa and Marli Vaughan
KOP Royalty 2020 Mallory Hinson, Jennifer Slover, Mike Norris, Missi Johnson, Chris Maxwell, Robin Branton, Catherine Brown, Brant Jones, Marli Vaughan, and Kevin Samrow
Children’s Parade Chair Tracy Gammon and Lisa Dale Mayers
Maria Smilo, Curtis Moroney, and Missi and Butch Johnson
Donna Ball, Jennifer Smith, Lisa Whittington, and Dana McGivaren Lisa Mayers and Tracy Gammon
William Dunbar DAR Chapter Meeting
The William Dunbar Chapter of the Mississippi State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR) had their January meeting in Natchez, Mississippi, at historic Rosalie on January 13, 2025. The speaker was Dr. Bryant Boswell of Jackson, Mississippi, who presented a short program on the upcoming celebrations for the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration and for the Sons of the American Revolution “Follow the Frenchman Through Natchez: The Farewell Tour of Lafayette.”
Susan Cassagne, Dr. Bryant Boswell, and Caroline Seale Cole
Milestone Celebration
On February 6, 2025, Concordia Bank & Trust Company held a milestone Retirement Celebration in honor of Pat Biglane, who has served with the bank for forty-five years. The reception from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the lobby of the bank’s main facility in Vidalia, Louisiana, welcomed co-workers and community members from throughout the Miss-Lou area, along with the Biglane Family. Retiring from his twenty-nine-year stint as President and CEO of Concordia Bank & Trust, he has transitioned into the role of President Emeritus.
Melissa and Peyton Cavin, David and Patricia Cothren, and Lauren (Biglane) Middleton
Rebecca Grantham with Cole, Betsy, and Sim Mosby
Mary Lessley, Wettlin and Sally Treppendahl, and Scott Singletary
Mallory and Logan Sewell
Kate Feltus with Eddie and Karen Foley
Front—Linley, Jett, and Grace Biglane
Middle—Karen and Pat Biglane
Left—Patrick Biglane; Gerry and Mary Jane (Biglane) Dahlander; Lauren (Biglane) Middleton; Joanna (Biglane), Jason, and Connor McNeel; Kay (Biglane) and John Taylor; Freddie and Jean Biglane; Linda (Biglane) Pieklik; Derick Biglane; Dr. John Pieklik; and Nancy (Biglane) and Bruce Kuehnle
Cullen Foley, Ryan and Brittany Thomas, and Brooke Roberts
Molly, Laura, and Scott McLemore with Ginger Laurent
Tom and tJanet Matthews
Phillip Trosclair, Ann Rabb, Angela Crosby, and Paula Edwards
Larry and Edith Chauvin with Patricia Anderson
Ronnie and Pat Lashute, Carol Frank, and Kay (Biglane)Taylor
Reve and Brian Chandler
Jerry and Rachel Gandy, Karen and Tom Martin, and Pat Biglane
Bonnie Slavent and Sue Grayson
Patrick and Pat Biglane
Jeanne Edwards, Paula Edwards, Sally Treppendahl, and Kay Savant
Carter Burns and Scott Adams
Deborah Sewell and Ann Rabb
Joanna (Biglane) McNeel, Niles and Melanie McNeel, Gina James, and Patti Landrum
LOUISIANA
louisianatravel.com A great site for
ALEXANDRIA / PINEVILLE
alexandriapinevillela.com rapidessymphony.org riveroaksartscenter.com lagniappetheatre.com themuseum.org
March 7
Collage Dance Collection
Coughlin-Sanders Performing Arts Center 7:30–9:30 pm / $30
March 8
Red River Dance
The Tales of Beatrix Potter
Alexandria Museum of Art 2–3:30 pm / 4–5:30 pm
March 15
Shamrockin’ Fest Riverfront Center 6–10 pm / $50 hsmfest.com
March 21
Marshal Tucker Band w/ Will Moseley
Laborde Earles Entertainment Center 7:30 pm
April 5
Spring Herb Day / Arts & Crafts Festival
Kent House Plantation 8 am-1 pm / Free
April 5
The Sleeping Beauty
The State Ballet of Ukraine
Coughlin-Sanders Performing Arts Center 2 pm / $38
BATON ROUGE
visitbatonrouge.com
lsumoa.org rivercenterarena: baton-rouge. tickets-center.com batonrougeballet.org Red Stick Farmers Market Breada.com brso.org lasm.org
For Mardi Gras Events Visitbatonrouge.com
March 1–2
225 Fest Airline Hwy Park 1–6 pm 225fest.com
March 15
40th Annual Wearin’ of the Green wearinofthegreen.com
March 21–23
LA Red Beans & Rice Heritage Music Festival Downtown BR Town Square louisianaredbeansandricefest.org
March 23
Crawfete Perkins Rowe 2–5 pm
March 29
Holi Festival Repentana Park
FERRIDAY concordialibrary.org deltamusicmuseum.com
Throughout January/February Concordia Parish Library Various programs concordialibrary.org
MONROE / WEST MONROE monroe-westmonroe.org
March 8
Empty Bowls Monroe Civic Center 11am–1 pm
March 13–15
Spring Market
Monroe Civic Center Thur. & Fri. 10 am–4 pm Sun. 10 am–5 pm jlmonroe.org
March 15
St. Paddy’s Day Bicycle Parade & Festival Kiroli Park 10 am–1 pm / Free
March 22 & April 5
Landry Vineyards Concert 4–7:30 pm
March 23
World Ballet Company The Great Gatsby Monroe Civic Center 6–8 pm / $39–$89
March 26
The Sleeping Beauty State Theatre of Ukraine Monroe Civic Center 7–9 pm / $55–$89
April 3
Gallery Crawl Downtown 5–9 pm / Free
April 12
Dragon Boat Festival ULM 9 am–4 pm
April 19
Rides on the River Forsythe Boat Ramp $10 entry fee / Free Spectator
April 19
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Calhoun Middle School 10 am–Noon / Free
April 24
Grease Strauss Theatre Center strausstc.com
April 25
Biedenharn’s Garden Symposium Museum & Garden
$75 / 9 am–3 pm bmuseum.org
NEW ORLEANS
neworleanscvb.com ogdenmuseum.org nola.org FB: nolajazzmuseum/live newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu neworleansfilmsociety.org neworleanscitypark.com
For Mardi Gras Events neworleans.com
March 15–17
St. Patrick’s Day Events Neworleans.com/events/saintpatricks-day/
April 8–20
Hamilton Saenger Theatre saengernola.com
April 10–13 French Quarter Fest frenchquarterfest.org
April 19
Crescent City Classic ccclok.com
April 24–May 4
New Orleans Jazz Festival nojazzfest.com
ST. FRANCISVILLE
audubonstatehistoricsite. wordpress.com explorewestfeliciana.com/ events stfrancisvillefestivals.com
Every Thursday
St. Francisville Farmers Market 9 am–1 pm 9961 Wilcox St.
March 8
Walk In the Park Parker Park 10:30 am–5 pm
March 9
Uncorked, Wine Tasting The Mallory in Downtown 3–7 pm
March 15
Spring Opener Garden Stroll Afton Villa Gardens 11 am–2 pm $40 Adult / 12 under Free
March 22
Tunica Hills Music Festival Parker Park
April 6
Azalea Polo Classic 2 pm
azaleapoloclassic.com
April 26
Angola Spring Rodeo Angolarodeo.com
April 26
The Civil War @ Oakly Reenactment & Living History 10 am–3 pm
MISSISSIPPI
visitmississippi.org hikinginmississippi.com
BROOKHAVEN
FB: VisitBrookhavenMS visitbrookhavenms.com brookhavenrecreation.com brookhavenlittletheatre.com llf.lib.ms.us
March 1
Goin’ to Town Car show Downtown
April 3–13
Shrek the Musical Brookhaven Little Theatre 2 & 7 pm shows brookhavenlittletheatre.com
April 5
Southwest MS Children’s Advocacy Center ‘Chances for Children’ Gala Butterfield Mansion swmscac.org
April 17
Taste of the Trust Ole Towne Church 5:30–9:30 pm / $50 FB: Taste of the Trust
JACKSON dulinghall.com msmuseumart.org visitjackson.com jacksonfreepress.com/ calendarmsnla.org balletms.com msmetroballet.com operams.org downtown-jackson.com newstagetheatre.com
March 14–15
Jxn Food & Wine
MS Museum of Art jnxfoodandwine.com
March 22
Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival halsstpaddysparade.com
March 22–24
Spring Trade Market
Ms Trade Mart Fri. 9am–8 pm Sat. 9 am–5 pm exploreridgeland.comts
McCOMB pikeinfo.com mccombarts.com mcrrmuseum.com
FB: McComb Farmers Market
March 22 2nd Annual Picking & Peeling pikeinfo
April 10–13
For Colored Girls who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf Pike County Little Theatre pcltmcomb.org
NATCHEZ
Live Music Events Calendar visitnatchez.org/full-eventcalendar visitnatchez.org natchezpilgrimage.com thetowersofnatchez.com natchezgardenclub.org natchezlittletheatre.com natchezfestivalofmusic.com
FB Downtown Natchez Farmers Market
Saturdays
Natchez Farmers Market
Downtown
300 N. Broadway 8:30 am—Noon
Through April and May Natchez Festival of Music natchezfestivalofmusic.com
March 8–April 19
Natchez Garden Club Spring Pilgrimage littleeasytours.com
March 13–16, 27–28
April 5–6
Barefoot in the Park Natchez Little Theatre 2 & 7:30 pm natchezlittletheatre.com
March 15
Krewe of Killarney
Annual Party & Auction
St. Mary’s Family Life Center 6 pm
March 16
Empty Bowls Natchez Bluff visitnatchez.com
March 17
Krewe of Killarney
St. Patrick’s Day Walking Parade
Downtown begin @ Basilica of St. Mary 5:30 pm
March 20
Highlights from the Great American Songbook Natchez Festival of Music Stanton Hall natchezfestivalofmusic.com
March 20–23, 29–30
April 3–4
Del Shores’ This Side of Crazy Natchez Little Theatre natchezlittletheatre.com
March 21
Natchez Food & Wine Festival Downtown beginning Conde Contemporary $75 visitnatchez.com
March 22
Pilgrimage Garden Club Save the Hall Ball Stanton Hall 7–11 pm / $100
March 27–29
Natchez Literary Cinema Celebration 2025 601.446.1104 nlcc@colinh.edu visitnatchez.com
March 27–30
April 3–6
Pilgrimage Garden Club Spring Pilgrimage pilgrimagenatchez.com
March 29–30
Natchez Powwow
Natchez Bluff Park natchezpowwow.com
Through April
Heirlooms of Innocence Exhibit ArtsNatchez 425 Main St. visitnatchez.com
April 4–5
Junkin’ on the River natchezdna.org/junkin-on-the river
April 5
Natchez Garden Club
Magnolia Festival Ball
Magnolia Hall 6 pm / $50 natchezgardenclub.org
April 13
Natchez Garden Club
Easter Egg Hunt The Towers natchezgardenclub.org
April 25–27
Bluff City Open Disc Golf visitnatchez.com
April 5
Township Jazz Festival 1111 Highland Colony Parkway townshipjazzfestival.com
April 10
Easter Egg Hunt Freedom Ridge Park 5:45–7 pm
April 12
12th Annual Dragon Boat Regalla Old Trace Park 8 am–4 pm Madisoncountychamber.us
SUMMIT pikeinfo.com
March 29
Songs of the South Natchez Festival of Music Landsdowne 7–9 pm / $35 natchezfestivalofmusic.com
March 29
Miss-Lou Makers Market South Broadway St. 9 am–4 pm / Free
March 29
A Very Natchez Revue
500 LaSalle St. 7 pm / $55 visitnatchez.com
May 2
Crawfish Countdown
Cathedral Catholic School 701 Dr. MLK
May 3
National Football Foundation Joe Fortunato/Allen Brown Memorial Golf Tournament Duncan Park Golf Course 601.496.6450
PORT GIBSON
msculturalcrossroads.org
FB: Port Gibson Chamber of Commerce
RIDGELAND/MADISON
visitridgeland.com madisonthecity.com craftsmensguildofms.org mscrafts.org
Tuesdays
Farmers Market Main St. @ Caboose 3:30–6:30 pm
VICKSBURG
visitvicksburg.com vicksburgartassociation.org vicksburgtheatreguild.com downtownvicksburg.org
March 8
2nd Saturday Downtown 1 pm
March 28–April 6
Gold in the Hills Parkside Playhouse 2 and 7:30 pm e-vtg.com
WESSON
FB: Wesson Chamber Happenings
WOODVILLE woodvillems.org woodvillemainstreet.org FB: Woodville/Wilkinson County Main Street Association
Choctaw
Ellicott's
Frogmore
