BROOKHAVEN BLT’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST HITS HAVEN STAGE | AUSTIN SAID KEEPS LOCAL YARDS IN ORDER
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39 features 17 HOW TO Get ready to build a container Garden 23 HARD AT WORK Austin Said keeps local yards in order 35 GAME, SET, MATCH Brookhavenite reflects on first women’s tennis team at MSU on the golden anniversary of Title IX
arts & culture 13 SPRING READS Enjoy warmer weather with these page turners 29 THEATER INTERRUPTED After two year delay, BLT’s Beauty and the Beast hits Haven stage
in every issue 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 23 Features 43 Where am I? 46 Out & About
32 LEARNING TO UNLOVE Poet’s journey from love to heartbreak
past & present 39 THE ALLURE OF HISTORICAL BEAUTY The Ole Towne Church, formerly First Presbyterian, is a century-old icon
Brookhaven Magazine 5
contributors PUBLISHER
Kevin Warren
GENERAL MANAGER Stacy G. Graning
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Julia V. Miller
CONTRIBUTORS
Brett Campbell Angela Hope Cutrer Julia V. Miller
DESIGN
Kandi Thompson
MARKETING
Betsy Belk Christy Thornton
ADMINISTRATION Kristie Champagne Kaleena Brown
BROOKHAVEN Magazine is produced and published by Brookhaven Newsmedia Inc,. publishers of The Daily Leader, 128 N. Railroad Ave., Brookhaven, MS 39601. BROOKHAVEN Magazine published six times a year and is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Brookhaven Newsmedia Inc.. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: editor@dailyleader.com. For additional information on this issue or other publications call 601-833-6061. To inquire about advertising, email advertising@dailyleader.com. Copyright 2022 © The Daily Leader
6 MARCH/APRIL 2022
Julia V. Miller, Associate Editor
Born and raised in Brookhaven, Julia V. Miller is the associate editor of Brookhaven Magazine. She strives to capture small town, Southern culture and stories in all forms of writing. During a hiatus from working in journalism, she pursued an MFA degree from The W, where she studied both fiction and creative nonfiction. When not chained to her computer, she’s usually found in the dance studio. She lives in Brookhaven with her daughter, husband, and two cats. She’s been a member of Church of the Redeemer for more than two decades and enjoys the opportunity to give back to the community that created her. Creative works can be found online at juliavanstory.com.
Brett Campbell, Writer
Brett loves to write and learn. He is a proud father of five and an eclectic fan of movies, books and music. He’s happier with a cup of coffee, a cigar and his dog nearby.An ordained Christian minister, Brett has studied graphic design, English, theology and apologetics, philosophy and history, and has a master’s degree. He has authored thousands of sermons, lessons, newspaper and magazine articles and co-authored a privately-published book, “Psycho-Theology: Understanding the Mind of God.”He plays guitar and fishes equally poorly, but enjoys both. Brett loves to draw and sketches on everything.He is passionate about writing stories that tell the truth in a way the average reader can understand, learn from and enjoy.
Angela Cutrer, Writer
Angela Hope Cutrer, a Louisiana native of Mississippian parents, thinks of her Southernness as the best of both worlds. She earned double bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English and a master’s in communication, all from the University of Southern Mississippi. A writer, editor and graphic designer, she has worked as a public relations director and a lecturer of journalism and communication at several universities. She’s worked in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and, most recently, West Virginia, but now resides in the Enon community near Jayess. Her favorite things are gumbo, snow, pralines, lit wood fireplaces and books with happy endings. Her beloved daughters, Summer Hope of Gulfport and Savannah Quinn of Spring, Texas, married lovely husbands and now have seven children (so far) between then. At home in Enon, Angela’s dog Bella and cats Dexter and Tovi keep life busy - and unpredictable
Brittany Rushing, Writer
Brittany Rushing is a native of Brookhaven who has loved reading for as long as she can remember. When she is not reading, you. Can usually find her at home with her husband, Will, and their two children, Little Will and CC. She and her seven sisters-in-law share their reading recommendations at @the_rushing_ readers on Instagram.
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from the editor Spring is in the air. Days are growing warmer, flowers are popping open, and the sunlight is starting to feel just a little bit brighter. Spring has never been my favorite season. Perhaps it’s the pollen blooming wreaking havoc on my sinuses, or maybe it’s the way my body finds it harder and harder to adjust to the time change each year. Or it could just be that I hate the time each year I have to give up the cozy sweatshirts and sweatpants. But as much as I dislike spring, it does always coincide with my favorite season in the liturgical calendar: Lent. This year, I decided for my Lenten discipline would be to be more present. It’s become an ongoing conversation with myself about what I’m doing with my time and focus at any given moment. So far, it’s led to a return to baking, a hobby that had fallen to the wayside over the past year or so. It’s a hobby I’ve shared with my daughter since she was
old enough to climb on the stepstool and pour the chocolate chips into the mixer. My husband and I have spent hours in the kitchen talking instead of zoning out in front of the television. The most special aspect though has been the extra time I’ve taken to rock my baby. With my oldest, those first few months seemed to inch along. But this time around, it has felt like the polar opposite. Every day has taken on a swirl of activity from the time I wake up to the time the kids are in the bed. Each night, I feel like I’m going to wake up the next day, and I will find both my kids are all grown up. So while big sister is off at school, baby boy and me have spent a little extra time lingering in the rocking chair. I’ve slowed down to watch him giggle or take in the way his tiny hand presses against my heart once he’s fallen asleep in my arms. I know sooner rather than later, he’ll be too big. One day, he and his sister will
climb down off of my lap for the last time. For now, I’ll take in all these moments while they last. I’ll play with my daughter while she still says she’s my best friend. I’ll hold my baby while I can still give him everything he wants and needs. And I’ll thank God of a religious practice that continues to remind me of what my priorities truly are every single year.
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ARTS
& CULTURE
SPRING READS
Enjoy warmer weather with these page turners BY BRITTANY RUSHING
! Brookhaven Magazine 13
1. Verity by Colleen Hoover (psychological thriller) Verity is about a struggling writer, Lowen, who is offered a job she cannot turn down. What she doesn’t know is what she will uncover while on this job. But...what’s the truth? You decide! This disturbing psychological thriller is destined to keep you up all night until the last page is read. Fast-moving, suspenseful and just plain scary at times, Verity will hook you on page one. 2. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (contemporary romance) Who doesn’t love a little Rom Com? Sally Thorne’s debut novel, The Hating Game, is a workplace comedy following two coworkers, Lucy and Josh, as they compete for the same job within their company. This cute, fun read lets the reader “walk” the thin line between hate and love with the two protagonists. And get your popcorn ready! The movie adaptation just came out with Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell playing the leads. 3. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (memoir) This touching memoir written by Michelle Zauner, the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast, explores the relationship between identity, family and food and how they are all intertwined. This book almost seems like a therapeutic experience for Zauner, as if she was writing this book to/for herself. Crying in H Mart shows the reality of the ravenous disease that is cancer and highlights the pain death causes, the toll it takes on relationships, and what you’ll do to bring the good memories back. The audiobook is narrated by Zauner herself and truly highlights the ups and downs she feels throughout the process. 4. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (fiction) Written by one of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah, The Great Alone tells the story of Leni, a 13 year old girl with a veteran, former POW father, Ernt, who is full of grand ideas and a mother, Cora, who will do anything to please him. Thus the family ends up dropping everything and moving to the wilderness of Alaska, America’s last true frontier, with almost nothing to their name. The characters, the story, the setting, the writing – so close to perfection! A story about survival, loss and the power of love, The Great Alone is so devastating and infuriating and also so poignant. When I finished the last page, I already wished I could read it again for the first time. 14 MARCH/APRIL 2022
Brittany Rushing is a native Brookhavenite, who has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Lately, as she’s been battling leukemia, she has loved how books and their stories can entertain her for hours, transporting her to another time and place and distracting her from the everyday stress. When she is not reading, you can usually find her at home with her husband, Will, and their two children, Little Will and CC, who also keep her entertained.
5. A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (mystery) A Good Marriage follows the story of Lizzie, an attorney at an elite law firm, who gets an unexpected call from an old friend, Zach, begging for help after his wife has been found dead. He just happens to be the primary suspect and currently an inmate at Rikers. Packed full of questionable characters and multiple story lines, A Good Marriage reminds me of a Law & Order script in the best ways. So many twists and turns; however, McCreight ties it all together at the end.
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HOW TO
GET READY TO BUILD A CONTAINER GARDEN You can do it!
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANGELA CUTRER
Brookhaven Magazine 17
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There’s nothing like entering a room or outside area dotted with the calming and beautiful effects of plantings. Whether it’s healing Aloe vera, fully fluffed ferns or spindly vegetable plants, visitors will surely get the full effect of serenity when they eye that greenery. But not everyone has a green thumb. And sometimes a person just doesn’t have the room or time to nurture plants. Received a plant as a gift? Now what, you might ask. When there is a desire to nurture plants and flowers, there are also the issues of what to grow, where to grow it and how to maintain it. Some of us have little space, but that doesn’t mean gardening is off the table. A container garden is one that is grown in, you guessed it, containers rather than in the ground. Ever think about trying a container garden? Doing so means a controlled space as big or small as you like, making maintenance a breeze. How about you at least give it a go? Let’s start with what kind of container you want. There are so many types, you’ll have a tough time choosing. Let’s narrow it down: What’s your style? Do you prefer squares or circles? Hanging or on a table? Rustic or modern? Plastic, metal, wood or stone? What about a glass terrarium? What are you thinking about planting? “An arrangement of sun-loving plants means you are going to need a bigger pot,” Donna Case of Buds and Blooms suggested, since those plants require a lot of watering. So take care to think before you buy or recycle. Have an idea of what you want to grow, what you want to grow it in and where you plan to grow it — inside or out. You don’t have to be traditional: Containers can include pots, plastic buckets, old kitchen utensils, wood squares, cups, concrete blocks or hanging or vertical gardening. Decide on how much space you have to work with and go from there. There are no wrong answers here — just whatever inspires you. “It’s always bigger is better in the South because of our humidity,” said Case. “[But] it’s a challenge to grow outside in containers because of our heat and humidity. “You have to make sure you can provide ample watering so you don’t get root rot. The more ample the container and the more soil is in there, the better the plant’s roots can spread out. “So, the more soil in the pot is better. The bigger the pot the better. You want to make you go with a bigger pot unless you are going with a rock garden or succulent plants.”
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However, as Heather Bonds, a floral designer at Shipp’s Flowers, said, some plants — like orchids and the Peace Lily — actually prefer to be root bound. Research before you make any decisions. Prepare your containers by ensuring they will drain properly. Large containers are beautiful, but they are not so pretty when you need to move them. Keep that in mind for your container garden if you plan to relocate your plants. Ensure its suitability for holding soil and releasing water so that roots don’t drown. If necessary, drill small drainage holes in the bottom of your container before you line the bottom with small rocks or broken stone. Remember that sturdiness is vital so the weight of the moist soil doesn’t ruin your garden setup. If you plan to stack your containers, take care to do a trial run with weighted pots before you do anything else. Practice makes perfect — or at least saves you some valuable time down the road. “A lot of people take down their hanging pots and put them away for the winter,” Case said. “They become root bound and they need more soil to tap into to grow. You can set them in a larger pot with some soil, but by late April or May, that hanging basket has already grown in that 10-inch pot and you’re going to want to grow it into something bigger. “Most baskets are 10 inch — the ones you find in most stores. You are going to have to go into a 14- or 16-inch container, so the plant can go longer between waterings.” Choosing the right soil for your container garden is critical so your plants’ roots get the best nutrients for growing success. Some people prefer organic soil, while others find regular potting soil convenient and affordable. “Add fertilizer,” Case suggested. “They’ll go a longer period of time that way.” All-purpose potting soil is fluffy, nutritious and good for most plantings, including general containers, but remember that some water-holding plants prefer to have a little sand included. For planter boxes and hanging plants, use a “soilless mix” that includes peat moss and no sand, says getbusygardening.com. Gently leave a valley where the plant sits so water has a direction to take to thoroughly hydrate the plant. Add a good starter food to help your plants make a good start in your home. Bonds said soil containing osmocote fertilizer plant food works well because it helps hold in moisture. “It’s ‘smart release,’ so every so often, it releases food for your plant.” Brookhaven Magazine 19
Select plants that go together, whether by color, size or contrasting shapes or textures, but also by need of the same growing conditions. Planting sun-loving plants in a shaded area ensures disappointment, while shade-loving plants in full sun will not last long. And your pot choice becomes critical here. “If you try to grow in the full sun in a clay pot, they just bake in the sun,” Case warned. Prefer a vegetable garden? Try growing leaf lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or radishes. Lean toward evergreens? Boxwoods, junipers, dwarf blue spruce, dwarf Alberta spruce and dwarf mugo pine will be adorable. Like flowers? Geraniums, petunias, begonias and impatients offer stunning colors as well as lovely greenery. Want to stick with herbs? Basil, chives, mint and sage are great choices. For the general “house plant” choices, choose the everpopular spider plant, the dependable philodendron, spritely palms or mysterious jade plants to give your room a shot of airy earthiness. Clean your plants of dead leaves, branches and blooms. Break up the root ball so the plant is encouraged to spread out in its new digs. To encourage horizontal growth, cut directly above the node of leaves that sits at the height you desire, a post from gulleygreenhouse.com related. Have you heard the saying “thriller, filler and spiller?” That’s how you should plant your container garden, whether in one to three pots, or in eight to 10. You need taller plants for the thriller, filler plants to cover the soil and to bridge the gaps between the other two, and spillers to hang over the sides to give a dramatic movement effect. If you have smaller containers to make your garden, you don’t have to have all three types in one pot - you can arrange the containers so they mimic the thought: The middle or back pot can have taller plantings, while a few arranged around it can have spillers like air plants, ferns and trailing options. Within this, add fillers for softness and fullness of the arrangement. Water is life to plants. Water well so that your plants are drenched, the roots are flushed and the soil is left moist. No trickling drips for2022 your garden — watering well means your 20 MARCH/APRIL
plants drink hungrily, but not often. Bonds said “watching your plants” will tell you everything you need to know. “When your Peace Lily droops, it’s saying it needs water,” she said. “When you water it, it actually stands right back up.” But it’s not always so easy to tell what your plants need. “There is a balance there,” Case said. “The soil should start looking kinda gray. Stick your finger a inch down in the soil. Dry? Time to water. And water it good. It flushes through and makes the fertilizer, which are salts, flush those roots and leach out the bottom. “You don’t want to keep it wet all the time, though. You have to let the soil tell you when it’s time for watering.” Case suggested feeling the weight of hanging plant to see if it needs watering. “Lift it a bit with your hand and if you feel half the normal weight, it’s time to water,” she said. “You can’t always tell with other plantings, but you can tell with hanging plant.” Case suggested mulching is vital to keep your container plants safe and happy. “When you grow in a bigger container, always mulch,” she said. “Anything you can do to protect that plant from drying out from the sun and the wind is important. Water is evaporating out of the top of that pot and if you mulch, it stays moister that way. “You can mulch with anything — straw, leaves, purchased mulch. Watering balance, mulch and having more soil are the keys to successful planting.” Bonds said it’s also important to remember to check indirect light and temperature where you’ll place your plants so that they get the right amount of sunlight and don’t have a draft drying out the soil. Now the only thing is to maintain your garden. You’ve done the hard work and now comes to good part. Sit back and enjoy. To provide proper maintenance, research your plant type and follow those instructions. Good light, enough water and thoughtful attention will keep your container plants healthy and hearty all year long.
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FEATURES
HARD AT WORK Austin Said keeps local yards in order BY JULIA V. MILLER PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Brookhaven Magazine 23
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When Austin Said was just a few months old, his parents, Mike and Melinda Said, would sit him in a swing on the front porch of their home. Mike would start the lawnmower, and Austin sat there taking it all in. “It just fascinated him. It would keep him quiet forever,” Melinda said. “We’d wind that swing up, and he’d watch his daddy.” From there, a love for lawn care was born. As soon as he could sit up and move, he was anxious to get his hands on the equipment. His parents have memories of him sitting with a lawnmower at just a few months old. By the time he was 10 years old, he got his first backpack blower for Christmas. “He really didn’t want the play stuff; he wanted the real stuff,” Melinda said. Since then, Christmas, birthdays and every occasion in between has fed this passion. Mike attributed a lot of Austin’s growth in the lawncare work to one of their neighbors,
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Jimmy Wright. When Austin was at Brookhaven Elementary, Wright signed up at the school to be his mentor. “We lived in the neighborhood together, and he just knew Austin from being around the neighborhood,” she said. Soon, they formed a special friendship. “Austin would go anywhere Jimmy would go,” Mike added. By the time Austin was in high school, that included following Wright to his yard jobs and pitching in. It was also Wright that taught Austin how to do most of the yard work he does now. Today, Austin still helps Wright out on bigger jobs, but Austin has five yards and one business that he manages himself. For some of them, Mike is on sight to help out, but it is Austin who is in charge. “He tells me what I’m going to do,” Mike said. “He says ‘You’re going to weed eat, and I’m going to mow.”
Austin said he knows the yard is finished when everything looks straight. “When you leave, how do your yards look?” Melinda asked him. Austin answered by kissing the tips of his fingers in a chef’s kiss. When asked what his favorite part of yard work was, he was quick to answer mowing the grass on his zero turn Exmark lawn mower. His least favorite, though, is weeding, and he only does that on his jobs with Wright. When asked why he liked working in people’s yards, he excitedly answered, “Everybody takes me to lunch.” And what is his favorite lunch spot? “Loyd Star,” he answered referring to The General Store in Loyd Star. “They eat the Good Burger, and any burger anywhere we go is compared to Loyd Star,” Melinda said. “Magnolia Blues has a burger as good as Loyd Star.” Each of the people whose yards he works in have a certain place they take Austin. Wright takes him to The General Store, and Daniel Calcote goes to Bouie’s. The Ricceris take him to Wendy’s or Mexican. Austin remembered one time with Cathy Pigott, they were eating Mexican, and when they came out they got in the wrong car.
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“He has quite the adventures with his dining out people,” Melinda said. Mike started naming all the different pieces of equipment Austin own: three blowers, two weed eaters, the Exmark lawn mower. “Too many,” Austin said interrupting his dad. He also loves to pick old pieces of equipment of the trash to see if he can get them to work. “Our house is where all lawn mowers, weed eaters and blowers go to die,” Melinda said. “The rule is when a new old one comes in, an old old one has to leave, or we would get kicked out of town.” His first piece of equipment he trash picked was a weed eater, when he was very young. Melinda didn’t think much of it because she assumed it wouldn’t work. At home though, he plugged in and whirred to life. “Nic Ricceri called one time and said ‘There’s a blower in the trash. Can I get it for Austin?’” Melinda remembered. “So he has his troops trained.” Austin’s lawn care business is one that exists because of the comradery Brookhaven has offered him. “Brookhaven is the most perfect place for a child like Austin to grow up,” Mike said. Austin also knows all the lawn crews in town and all the city workers.
“He calls them his city folks,” Melinda added. “They’ve even given him a vest.” He also knows which neighbors he can borrow equipment from when he needs something he doesn’t have. “I bring it right back,” Austin added. “Do you know what a Q rating is?” Mike asked referring to a measurement of popularity used by celebrities and brands. “In my opinion, Austin has a higher Q rating than Melinda does.” A lot of times, Austin will tell his parents he knows someone, and they’ll be skeptical until that person comes over to talk to Austin. Recently that happened in Jackson at doctor’s office, where the three Saids were completing a job for Melinda’s Fabrics / Interiors. “We pulled up, and Austin said, ‘I know that guy.’ He was on the construction crew,” Melinda said. “We got out of the truck, and he said ‘Hey, Austin! What are you doing up here?’” At the end of the day, Austin’s success comes from the kindness of the people around the Saids, and his own willingness to work hard and get dirty. “If you cut the grass, and you didn’t get dirty, you probably didn’t do a very good job. Isn’t that right?” Melinda asked Austin. Brookhaven Magazine 27 “Yep,” Austin agreed with a succinct nod of his head.
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ARTS
& CULTURE
THEATER INTERRUPTED
After two year delay, BLT’s Beauty and the Beast hits Haven stage STORY AND PHOTOS BY JULIA V. MILLER
Brookhaven Magazine 29
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“Two years in the making.” Director Paden Phillips summed up Brookhaven Little Theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast in just a few words. “Two years of something that is so intricate. It’s amazing.” It may have been two years since the play was originally cast, but in reality, Phillips has been working on and thinking about Beauty and the Beast for much longer than that. “The way the theatre works is you have to always be thinking about what’s next,” he said. When he was on the board about three or four years ago, they were brainstorming ideas for their next big spring musical. The BLT had done three back to back: Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid. “I was in the mind frame of what can we put in that time slot that will be really fun and be equally big,” he said, and he decided to pitch Beauty and the Beast. “Everyone knows it. It’s Disney. It’s fun. It would attract a big cast.” From there, it took on its own life. BLT put out their casting calls, held auditions and began rehearsals. Phillips remembers practicing in the rehearsal space while Diary of Anne Frank was running in the theater. Then COVID-19 swept in, and production shut down. “There were a lot of things we talked about doing because of the Director Paden uncertainty of it,” he said. “This could be Phillips over in three weeks, or this could last four months.” Ultimately though, like theaters all across the country, Brookhaven Little Theater went dark for over a year. When they reopened last summer with BLTeens High School Musical, Phillips began thinking about the possibilities before them. Once they solidified the 2021-2022 season with Beauty and the Beast back in that spring slot, they reached out to the original cast members. Each one
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It’s the suspense of knowing we’re so close. We went from nothing two years ago and this is what we have now.
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Paden Phillips imagines what opening night will look like for Beauty and the Beast, over two years after the original casting call.
was offered their roles back, and around 80 percent hopped back on board. “That’s something that really shocked us,” he said. “We thought we were going to have to start from scratch again.” There are 11 principal characters, and only three had to be recast. “The mentality going in was hope that we could pick up where we left off,” he said. “But the reality of the situation is two years after you’ve staged something it’s very wrong to expect someone to remember exactly what they did.” There were, however, a lot of small things from the original staging that inspired this second round. “Luckily, since we had a big part of the cast that still had the scripts, a lot of them were coming in with notes scribbled in already,” he said. One of the big changes for the director’s role was how the staging came together. Because of some shifting behind the scenes, he took on a bigger role and functioned as a co-choreographer. At the beginning of rehearsals, the cast and crew have the script and that’s it. So the director has to be able to supplement the stage directions in the way that best helps the story progress. “No one knows where to go. No one knows where to walk on what line, so you have to present that image,” he said. One fun aspect of this particular production comes from the casting of a married couple as Belle and the Beast. Evan and Haven Busbin have both been involved in the BLT for a few years, and they both jumped at the opportunity during the original casting call to audition. Though Phillips said it’s a happy coincidence to have cast them both in the leading roles, it really came about because of their own individual talents. “Evan has this very big commanding presence on stage, and Haven is a Disney princess in real life,” Phillips said. “A lot of it really came from their sheer talent. The fact that they are married strengthens the belief behind their parts.” Phillips also said casting some of the former BLTeens actors has been special. He has been the director of that program for the last five years, and he’s seen many of those kids graduate to pretty prominent roles in other shows. Two BLTeen alums that jump out were Mary Lawrence McKay, who is his co-choreographer, and Mcclain Boyd, who plays Lefou.
BLT’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES • Thursday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. • Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, April 2, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, April 3, 2:00 p.m. • Monday, April 4, 7:30 p.m. • Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. • Friday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, April 9, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, April 10, 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at brookhavenlittletheatre.com “I’ve seen a lot of kids blossom and take on new responsibilities,” he said. For Phillips, this show has really exemplified all the aspects that make community theatre great. There’s a balancing act of casting people you’ve worked with and giving newcomers the opportunity to jump in. “You see [returning cast members], and it does make it so much easier. You can give a direction that is understood by them because they know how you work,” he said. “But you don’t want to knock anybody from having a genuine chance. There are a lot of new people in this show who have really come out of their shell that I hope continue to stick with it.” When the curtain lifts March 31, Phillips said he will be standing at the back of the theatre or in the sound booth amazed that his vision has finally made it to the stage. “This show, whether directly or indirectly, people remember this is the last thing they were doing when the pandemic hit,” he said. “It’s the suspense of knowing we’re so close. We went from nothing two years ago, and this is what we have now.” Brookhaven Magazine 31
ARTS
& CULTURE
LEARNING TO UNLOVE
Collection illustrates poet’s journey from love to heartbreak BY JULIA V. MILLER PHOTOS SUBMITTED 32 MARCH/APRIL 2022
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In February 2021, Brookhaven native Katherine Ezell found herself struggling with the all too common grief of a broken heart. It was a time of intense feeling and a fury of creative energy, and ultimately it led to her first collection of poems. “I used poetry as a way to heal when I would get very emotional – as an outlet really,” Ezell said. Ezell had illustrated two different children’s books published by authors in Laurel, and she had already begun to toy with the idea of putting together her own book. Her vision in the beginning was to focus on falling in love for the first time at 29. Instead she found herself on the other side of a break up, and unloving him. began to take shape. “I actually had discussed publishing my writing with the subject of my book, the guy I was writing about,” she said. “In the middle of it, I decided I was going to publish anyway, even if he’s left me.” The collection follows the evolution of the relationship. It begins with those poems from the early, giddy stage when she first fell in love with the boyfriend. Then she begins to explore the fear of him leaving her, and then the aftermath when that fear is realized. Importantly, though, it ends on a hopeful note: the realization that she will find love again. “I’m very much a mood artist and a mood writer. I would even say I’m a mood reader. So whatever is going on in my life or that interest me that comes out of me,” Ezell said.
loving him.
katherine e. ezell
Ezell self-published the collection through Amazon’s KDP platform in April of 2021. Her motivation for going this route was two pronged. “I wanted to share what I was going through, but I also wanted revenge,” she said with a laugh. “It
was my way of proving I’m going to come out on top, proving I’m OK and that I have a little bit of control in my life.” When she first published the book, Ezell did not go out of her way to promote it. The poetry collection shows a certain amount
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“
I love how [poetry] is a very artistic way to write. You get to bend rules and play with structure and play with words. Katherine Ezell
of vulnerability, and it took her time and healing to really open up publicly. “It’s really putting it out there: that fear that something’s missing from me or I’m not enough,” she said. It felt especially vulnerable when she held a poetry reading and her great aunts and uncles showed up. “Well, they’re about to find out what happened to me,” she remembered thinking. “It can be a little scary, but I feel like the majority of people have faced something similar to that or at least the fear of not being enough. It’s a very human feeling.” Since the book’s publication, Ezell has seen her writing life transformed. She is more
Maybe one day I will forget him Maybe I’ll forget all the ways I have been wronged The interference of my happiness Someone will ask me to recall this moment This memory in which I am now living
And I will laugh at how time took the mistreatment And softened her in the folds of my brain Like the edges of an old daguerreotype Maybe my next love, my second love, Will be so resplendent that I will forget A lesser one came before it Time – she will be my pilot
And kindly guide me into forgetting him
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organized and deliberate. She is already working on a second book that focuses on poems about nature and the Southern landscape. “I love how poetry is a very artistic way to write. You get to bend rules and play with structure and play with words,” she said. “I would like people to enjoy my writing as a work of art more than anything.” Ezell never really expected to have a published collection, but writing has always been a big part of Ezell’s life. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t write,” she said. “I vividly remember at Lipsey – I don’t remember if it was fifth or sixth grade – I wrote a play based off of Romeo and Juliet. I did a modern day twist on it, and I wanted to perform it on the playground.” As she’s gotten older, she hasn’t gone out of her way to pursue writing, but it’s always been there. She took creative writing courses in high school and college, but she always considered herself an amateur. Now though she realizes the value of all writers getting their work out there. “Everyone has their own unique perspective and voice that can’t be copied,” she said. “I feel like I have imposter syndrome. That voice will be like who do you think you are, but I think people should just do things they enjoy more and not listen to that voice.” Unloving him. is available to purchase online at Amazon.com.
FEATURES
GAME, SET, MATCH Brookhavenite reflects on first women’s tennis team at MSU on the golden anniversary of Title IX BY JULIA V. MILLER PHOTOS BY BILL PERKINS
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Barbara Davis sports her letter sweater she earned as the captain of the first MSU Women’s Tennis Team.
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This year marks 50 years since Title IX of the Education amendments providing women protections to equal access in educational settings that receive federal monies. As part of this groundbreaking legislation, colleges across the country began creating women’s athletic teams. Brookhaven’s Barbara Davis, who began at Mississippi State in the fall of 1972, helped jump start MSU’s women’s tennis team, which got its start in the spring of 1974. Davis began her tennis career on Brookhaven High School’s tennis team, where she played singles in the No. 1 slot, and she spent most of her free time on the tennis court. Back then, Mrs. Fox was the tennis guru in town, but Davis would pick up a few individual lessons at the Country Club on weekends. During the summers, she would spend all day out on the court four or five hours a day during the summer with another couple hours with her peers. Once Davis was at State and talk began of putting together a new women’s team, she quickly jumped on board helping to identify other potential players based on who she played against in high school. The school supplied MSU warm ups and a coach, Peggy Wehr, but everyone used their own rackets, and they would car pool to their tennis matches at other schools.
The 1976 Women’s Tennis Team from that year’s Reveille.
“Now they have jets,” she said with a laugh. “But you’ve got to walk before you can run.” At that time, each player played both singles and doubles matches. They consisted of the best 2 out of 3 sets, and tiebreakers were 7 points with a 2 point lead “And of course [the tiebreakers] could go on for a long time,” she said. There was one match in particular that Davis remembered because of a unique injury. She had to stay up the night before working on an art project for school, and she fell asleep in her contacts. When she woke up, she had an abrasion on her eyes. She visited the infirmary for some eye drops before they left for Memphis. “It was extremely windy that day, which made it worse.” she said. “It was horrible. I think I won that match, but I don’t know how.” One of their opponents that Davis recalled vividly was Candy Reynolds. She went on to become a major female tennis player in the ‘80s, but in the ‘70s she was playing the college circuit and was the best women’s tennis player in the South. “We all knew her name, but back then, you didn’t see much women’s tennis on TV until after Title IX happened,” Davis said. “It increasingly got better and better.”
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State’s No. 1 player faced off against Reynolds and managed to win two games off of her, which Davis thought was a huge feat considering Reynolds went on to play professional doubles. “She hit like a men’s Davis Cup player,” she said. “Hard as can be.” Later in life when Davis lived in Houston, she met the cousin of Chris Evert, another big tennis player of that decade. Evert’s cousin invited Davis to the last Virginia Slims that Evert played in. “On the way over there, I was like please don’t talk about how I played tennis,” she said timidly. But of course he did as they sat next to Evert’s mom during the tournament, so Mrs. Evert invited them to a reception afterwards. After the match, the players iced down their shoulders for an hour. Finally Evert and Reynolds show up, and Mrs. Evert proceeds to introduce the players to Davis. “She says ‘Oh Candy, you might remember Barbara.’ I was like she’s not going to remember me. First of all, I didn’t even play her, and second, she probably didn’t even remember Mississippi State,” she said laughing. “But she ended up being real nice.” Because of Title IX, Davis remembers that all major universities were starting women’s tennis teams at the same time. The one team she remembers playing against that already had a team established was Mississippi University for Women, which was still a women’s only college at the time.
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“We went to The W for a tournament,” she said. “They were good, really good. There was one girl that played on their team that played with Chris Evert in Florida.” Davis also recalled several of the men’s tennis players that would practice on the court at the same time. One of them, Raul Espinosa, who was from Bolivia, played in Florida in the Juniors tournaments. She actually brought Espinosa down to Brookhaven and taught a few lessons to some local tennis players. “Our No. 1 tennis player was fun to watch,” she said. “His strokes were so fluid.” Now, nearly 50 years later, tennis is coming full circle for Davis as she watches her nephew play for Oak Grove’s team. Earlier this year, he actually played in Brookhaven against BHS winning in a tiebreaker, and hanging on his wall is Davis’s tennis wooden racket from her days on Mississippi State’s first women’s tennis team.
PAST
& PRESENT
THE ALLURE OF HISTORICAL BEAUTY The Ole Towne Church, formerly First Presbyterian, is a century-old icon BY BRETT CAMPBELL
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The iconic structure sitting at the corner of South Jackson and West Chickasaw streets is known by a handful of names. These include First Presbyterian Church, Ole Towne Church and “that beautiful red brick wedding venue near downtown that looks like it used to be a church.” All three monikers are correct. The First Presbyterian Church building was erected in 1906 by J.M. Tedford and is now known as Ole Towne Church. The congregation was part of The Presbyterian Church in the United States (established in 1789), not to be confused with PC(USA), founded in 1983. The members’ first pastor was Rev. W. E. Phifer. Members of “First Pres” joined a new denomination in 1973, the Presbyterian Church in America, and formed Faith Presbyterian Church. In 1978, the congregation moved to its current facility on Magee Drive. The once-beautiful red brick building with towers, arch windows and detailed stained glass was beginning to show signs of ruin when it was purchased in 2012 by Asem and Mimi Zeini. The Zeinis bought the building with the idea of constructing an events venue in mind, naming it The Ole Towne Church LLC. Brookhaven native Mimi is the owner and operator of
CREATIVE COMMONS
A January 1908 postcard featuring First Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven.
Merritt Oil and Gas Inc., whose office is located in the Ole Towne Church building. Asem is a general contractor specializing in restoration and construction. The first event at the venue was a wedding in July 2013, followed closely by a Lincoln County Republican Party induction ceremony attended by then-Governor Phil Bryant and other state officials. The original part of the church building was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style. The elaborate stained-glass windows with intricate four-petal dogwood flower designs floating around hand-painted centerpieces in each of the towers of the sanctuary depict Christian themes such as Mary, Mother of Jesus holding the newborn King, lilies with commemorative
PHOTO BY BRETT CAMPBELL
Ole Towne Church sits at the corner of South Jackson and West Chickasaw streets.
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DAILY LEADER FILE PHOTO
Asem Zeini, co-owner of The Ole Towne Church LLC, demonstrates movement of Egyptian shutters in the courtyard behind the venue in 2012.
insignias of church founders, a hand-painted crown, and an engaging painting of the Eye of God, a triangle with a single eye floating inside of it – a symbol of Christian imagery used to depict God looking down from the heavens, a symbol that represents protection and power. The sanctuary’s four towers served as the church’s original Sunday school classrooms. The leaded stained glass windows were created in Germany. A M. P. Moller pipe organ — added in 1947 — sits behind the podium, encased in an intricate screen trimmed with pointed arches, echoing the building’s four towers. The fellowship hall area was constructed in 1956 or 1957. “Both of us love the history of Brookhaven,” Asem said when the Zeinis made the purchase in July of 2012. “We live in a house built in 1853. One of my passions is to restore older homes.” The church building’s historical allure was what drew the Zeinis in the beginning. “The historical power of it is really what attracted us to it,” Asem said. “It’s right in the center of Brookhaven. We just love the building.” No matter what name you call the building by, its restored beauty is evident to those who have been part of a wedding or other event there, who remember attending FPC there, to motorists entering or exiting downtown, and to those who regularly jog by or walk their dogs in the area. Its heaven-aimed towers are a reminder that the building’s historical allure is ongoing.
PHOTOS BY BRETT CAMPBELL
ABOVE: The “cornerstone” of First Presbyterian Church lists Rev. W. E. Phifer as pastor, J. M. Tedford as builder, and the names of 11 building committee members. BELOW: Some of the stained glass windows of the original First Presbyterian Church.
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WHERE AM I?
Do you know where this is? Email your guess to Brett. campbell@dailyleader.com. We’ll choose one winner from among the correct guesses to win a $25 gift card to one of our Brookhaven Magazine advertisers.
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OUT & ABOUT
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BARL FUNDRAISER PHOTOS BY ANGELA CUTRER
Brookhaven Animal Rescue League held a formal wear sale as a fundraiser on March 4 and 5.
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Mary Fore, Bitsy May, Peggy McNeil and Maeleigh Bowman
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Becky Doty and Deana Pendley
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Julie Montalvo and Deana Pendley
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Tansley Case and Mary Petty
5.
Amy Estess
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OUT & ABOUT
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CAMELLIA SHOW PHOTOS BY BILL PERKINS
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The Brookhaven Camellia Society held its 69th annual show on February 19th at The Homestead – Whittington Farms
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David Phillips
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Ted Dear and Betty Ann Perkins
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Melinda Taylor and Janet Smith
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Wendy Smith and Jeri Swink
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Patsy Yates and Jim Campbell
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Bill and Jasmin Clark
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Jim Campbell and Lynn Richardson
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Carl & Mary Shahan
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Lisa Miller and Bill Perkins
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OUT & ABOUT
1
DOWNTOWN JAZZED UP PHOTOS BY BILL PERKINS
The Brookhaven Tourism Council hosted the annual Downtown Jazzed Up Saturday, Feb. 26 to celebrate Mardi Gras in downtown Brookhaven.
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Anna and Mark Guist
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Bill Perkins and Kellye Sicks
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Ashton and Blake Ballard and Erin and Aaron King
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Katie Nations
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WHY I LOVE BROOKHAVEN
Emily Rossie
BROOKHAVEN OFFERS CONVENIENCE TO RETIREES
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BY JULIA V. MILLER
1. How long have you lived in Brookhaven. I have lived in Brookhaven for 15 months but have worked and gone to church here for almost 10 years. 2. Why did you decide to move back to Brookhaven? I moved to Brookhaven because I wanted to be back in a town with an active community and closer to medical facilities as I get older. 3. What has been the most surprising aspect of living here? The most surprising thing is how almost everything is within 10 minutes from my house. 4. How has Brookhaven impacted you? Being in town rather than in the country means I can spend more time with other people, aside from Covid. I was too isolated away from town.
Emily Rossie currently serves as the president of Angel’s Attic, a thrift store that serves the community both in its low priced goods it sales and its charitable contributions to area organizations throughout the year.
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