Delta Magazine November/December 2021 by Delta Magazine

Delta

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

y a d i l Ho the

issue

Delta Magazine 2021

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Is it time for a lung cancer screening? Lung cancer screenings save lives. And the best time to have your screening is now, especially if you are at high-risk for developing lung cancer. • Are you at least 55 years old? • Do you smoke, and have you smoked for at least 30 years? • Have you quit smoking within the past 15 years? If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we encourage you to take our lung cancer screening quiz at www.baptistcancercenter.com/lung, or call 662-371-6519 to schedule your screening. Early detection is the best defense in the fight against cancer. Schedule your screening today.

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Delta Magazine 2021

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Delta m

Publisher: J. Scott coopwood Editor: cindy coopwood Managing Editor: Pam Parker Contributing Editors: Hank burdine, Maude Schuyler clay, Jim “Fish” Michie, brantley Snipes roger Stolle, noel Workman Digital Editor: Phil Schank Consultant: Samir Husni, Ph.D. Graphic Designers: Sandra goff, Maggi Mosco Contributing Writers: Jim beaugez, Sarah Fowler, liza Jones, Sherry lucas, Susan Marquez, Sparky reardon, aimee robinette, angela rogalski Photography: greg campbell, austin britt, rory Doyle, Johnny Jennings, anna Satterfield Account Executives: Joy bateman, cristen Hemmins, Kristy Kitchings, Wendy Mize, ann nestler, cadey true Circulation: Holly tharp Accounting Manager: emma Jean thompson POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to Delta Magazine, Po box 117, cleveland, MS 38732

ADVERTISING: For advertising information, please call (662) 843-2700 Delta Magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials or photos and in general does not return them to sender. Photography obtained for editorial usage is owned by Delta Magazine and may not be released for commercial use such as in advertisements and may not be purchased from the magazine for any reason. all editorial and advertising information is taken from sources considered to be authoritative, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. neither that information nor any opinion expressed on the pages of Delta Magazine in any way constitutes a solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities mentioned. no material in Delta Magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publication. Delta Magazine is published bimonthly by coopwood Magazines, inc., 125 South court St., cleveland, MS 38732-2626. Periodicals postage paid at cleveland, MS and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Delta Magazine, Po box 117, cleveland, MS 38732-0117. Delta Magazine (USPS#022-954)

Delta Magazine is published six times a year by Coopwood Magazines, Inc. EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE ADDRESSES: Mailing Address: Po box 117, cleveland, MS 38732 Shipping Address: 125 South court Street, cleveland, MS 38732 E-mail: publisher@deltamagazine.com editor@deltamagazine.com

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from the editor

Bound by Tradition ’ve often said that with each issue we produce, a theme seems to organically evolve and this one is no exception. With this issue i would have to say it’s a Our family has many cherished traditions close look at holiday traditions—with a heavy dose of during the holidays. A favorite one we added in nostalgia thrown in. i guess that’s not groundbreaking 2001 is celebrating our daughter Travis’s birthday every December 23rd! this time of year, but it wasn’t necessarily planned. one thing leads to another as they say, and when we began to ask our readers on social media to share some of their favorite family traditions, most of them involved food. one in particular that caught my eye was from Mike lucas, of West virginia, who mentioned his mother’s date pinwheel cookies. it reminded me of some of my own family’s must-have date recipes that are decades old, but still expected to show up every year. anksgiving and christmas wouldn’t be the same without them, so i decided to share ours (and his) in this issue, page 104. We also enjoyed hearing from many others, including the Delta Magazine staff who shared their memories and traditions both old and new. it is very heart-warming and unifying to realize how much alike we all are. Stories of family, food, and time spent together truly connect us all. read these shared memories on page 142. one thing that’s a given, is that family gatherings vary widely, depending on the size of the group and age of the children. With that in mind, Delta entertaining experts elizabeth Heiskell and Sarah Smythe have brought us three ideas with menus, recipes, and decorating tips to suit almost any crowd. but i have to say my favorite just might be the sweet charcuterie and cookie bar, which was thoroughly enjoyed by Sarah’s niece and nephew charlotte carter and Daniel Smythe page 106. let us know what you think! Speaking of nostalgia, i would be remiss if i didn’t mention the closing of lusco’s. it’s almost unthinkable that it is no longer one of our standbys. like Doe’s in greenville, lusco’s and the crystal grill in greenwood have been iconic Delta eateries for decades. i remember the first time i ate there in 1987 when Scott and i had only been dating a couple of months. i was born and lived in greenwood until i was five years old, when my family moved to Jackson, so i was aware of this iconic restaurant in the Mississippi Delta, of course, but i had never eaten there. We got to our booth and Scott closed the curtain once we’d been seated, and we proceeded to have a blast dining with friends in the dim light under the butter pats stuck to the ceiling above us. in my mind at the time, it was surreal. Fast forward to the last time we ate there this past summer with Don and nancy barrett of lexington. it was a special but bittersweet night to be sure. We sent writer Sarah Fowler to cover the last night it was open. Her story and photos by greenwood photographer Johnny Jennings from that evening, along with many collected by owner Karen Pinkston over the years, tell the whole story. We’ve also dedicated extra Delta Seen pages to this end of an era, turn to page 162. and, in another nod to the historic town of greenwood, we bring you the Melton home, a tudorstyle home that has anchored the town’s beautiful grand boulevard for a century. You will be inspired by the festive decor and cherished heirlooms throughout the house for the holidays, page 120. i believe maintaining family traditions, or creating new ones, is more important these days than ever before, so i hope you find the time to do just that with your own families this holiday season. and as we wrap up another year at Delta Magazine, Scott and i want to personally thank all of you—our readers, advertisers, and our staff for the opportunity to continue to share the stories and specialness of the Mississippi Delta with the rest of the world. DM

The menu, signed by long-time server Rob McCurdyrom, from our last night at Lusco’s spent with Don and Nancy Barrett of Lexington.

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Cindy Coopwood Editor

@cindycoopwood | cindy@deltamagazine.com

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contents noveMber/DeceMber Volume 19 No. 3

120

104

departments BOOKS

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

ART

MUSIC

120

HOME

148

HISTORY

GREG CAMPBELL JOHNNY JENNINGS

RORY DOYLE

features

80 92 112 136 142

Lusco’s—The end of an era

3 Holiday parties to suit your family with Elizabeth Heiskell and Sarah Smythe

Goose Hunting in the Delta A Touch of Nostalgia

A decades-old pastime for avid wing shooters Old-fashioned date recipes that stand the test of time

Holiday Traditions

Family traditions and memories from readers and the Delta Magazine staff

Handpicked holiday happies and stocking stuffers for everyone on your list

ANNA SATTERFIELD: Self taught and still seeking inspiration

A Delta Musical Christmas: A round-up of 10 performances by musicians from the region

A Winter Wonderland on Grand: The Melton home in Greenwood is holiday ready

Clarksdale’s historic Fletcher Field: Training ground for WWII cadets

in every issue

The last night at Greenwood’s iconic restaurant

Holiday Entertainment

Reviews of new releases and what Deltans are reading now

16 Letters 22 On the Road Where we’ve been, where we’re going next

26 Off the Beaten Path Roaming the real and rustic Delta

30 156 162 168

Hot Topics Events Delta Seen The Final Word by Sparky Reardon

ON THE COVER: A lovely holiday fireside breakfast spread by Elizabeth Heiskell and Sarah Smythe. Photo by Rory Doyle 14 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

LETTERS m

in Ridgeland

C.A.R.E.S. Clarksdale Sheltering animals in need

Architect

THE 2021

Outdoor&

HUNTING ISSUE

FR FRANCE FRANC FRAN FRA FRANCES ZZOOK ZO ZOO

Inspired designs from Greenwood and beyond FALL RECIPES WITH

Sausage and Sweet Potatoes DELTA DOG PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Kudos on editor Cindy Coopwood’s editorial, “Deceptive Simplicity,” on the Delta lifestyle in the July/August issue. What a perfect description of life in north Mississippi, the Delta, and Memphis— actually, the whole South. i love and thrive on our lifestyle…there is none better! those of us who know the art of such a fun, entertaining life have a masters degree in how to juggle it all with graciousness and ease. We held our degrees from birth! in addition to style, we all have spirit and energy. i feel blessed to have grown up in this part of the world and that it is my chosen home as an adult. Elizabeth Scott Memphis, Tennessee

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You don’t know me and I don’t know you but we have one thing in common— your excellent Delta Magazine. My wife and i have been subscribers for several years now and thoroughly enjoy each issue. although i live in the hills of attala county in Kosciusko, Mississippi, my mother was born and raised in anguilla, Mississippi, and i love to visit the Delta! the reason for this email is the comment you made in the September/october issue about not being a fan of Daylight Savings time. i want you to know you are not, as you say, “utterly alone in this except for Scott.” i am in that very small group also (and it may be larger than both of us think!)! When you say you love for it to be dark by 5:30 p.m., i go a step further and

love for it to be dark by 5 p.m. (which is only about two weeks a year). i also like rainy, dark days, except when i must take my wife to the doctor in Jackson. We are both retired senior citizens and driving in the rain is not easy for us, but the lord has been with us each time. i just wanted to take a little of your time to let you know how much we appreciate you and your husband printing and publishing Delta Magazine. it is unique among magazines and always has a healthy, christian tone. very uplifting! Kailey Burroughs Kosciusko, Mississippi MUSIC

GERALD WILSON’S Jazz Odyssey

He played with the best-known names in jazz—and often composed their music. BY JIM BEAUGEZ But his roots run deep in the Delta. BOB BARRY

Delta

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Thank you for the Gerald Wilson article! What a treasure he is. i especially appreciated the connection that his son, anthony, references between the blues and jazz. We always hear, “jazz is america’s only original art form.” but what about the blues? is there a connection between the two? i’d love love love to find more musicians making that connection and discussing it. Much love for Delta Magazine! Mary Lee McKee Huntsville, Alabama Many thanks to editor Cindy Coopwood, for her article “Ready for Fall.” it reflects my sentiments for sure, and i loved it! i am absolutely ready for fall. Lois Russell Yazoo City

SEND COMMENTS AND LETTERS TO: editor@deltamagazine.com or Delta Magazine, PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732 16 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Y’all Said SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS @deltamagazine

We Asked...

Have you ever watched a college football game from your tailgate tent instead of going into the stadium? And what’s your go-to tailgate food? Yes, we tailgate at Mississippi State, but have rarely watched the game from the tent. My favorite tailgate food is smoked pulled pork, baked beans, and cole slaw. – Jim Flautt We sat in the tent and watched the game on TV during the Ole Miss/Arkansas game because it was so blazing hot! Our favorite tailgate food is easy sandwiches like Hawaiian ham sliders and our favorite sausage dip. – Regina Watson

READER RESPONSE deltamagazine.com HISTORY

Nitta Yuma Courage and perseverance have kept this historic Delta home in the family for two hundred years BY KATIE TIMS

The Phelps’ family home is actually a former carriage house, which was positioned behind the original Nitta Yuma Plantation’s mansion.

Nitta Yuma is about forty-five minutes north of Vicksburg, where the highway veers gently to the left and manicured grounds with white fences abound. It’s impossible to miss. An impressive antebellum home and charming chapel grace the west side of the highway, while genteel, tree-lined grounds, log cabin and pretty white house adorn the left. Delightful old buildings, in various stages of disrepair and restoration, dot the landscape on both sides. At the speed limit, Nitta Yuma is a historic Mississippi plantation

that has been held together by strong family bonds—black and white, North and South—with mutual respect, devotion, sacrifice, sorrow, joy, hardship, progressivism, and stubborn resilience. That is what has kept Nitta Yuma alive and in one family for nearly two hundred years. To really understand, one has to stop where the road bends. The Place Nitta Yuma is what remains of a larger plantation carved from Choctaw Indian land in the early 1800s. Major Burwell Vick— the founder of Vicksburg—and his two brothers, Thomas and Newit, migrated from Virginia to Mississippi sometime between 1803 and 1810. Immediately, they began buying land for the cultivation of cotton. Burwell had four children. He and his oldest son, Henry William Vick, pushed the family’s holdings north into the unsettled,

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NITTA YUMA ARCHIVES

ighway 61 has plowed its way through fields, towns, what used to be yards, and whatever was in its rambling path from Memphis to Vicksburg. But at Nitta Yuma, a little baby girl turned the road all by herself. More on that later.

wild, swampy Delta woodland between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers. The race was on to acquire the best land for growing crops, acreage with navigable waterways, and enough elevation to stave off annual floodwaters. In 1829, the Vicks used family jewels to purchase land that would become known as Nitta Yuma. Family history reports that Choctaw Indians guided Burwell and Henry W. along Deer Creek. At one stop, a little Indian boy got out of the boat and scampered up the creek’s embankment. He pointed to the ground and shouted, “Nitta yuma! Nitta yuma!” (“Bear track! Bear track!”) That’s where the Vicks chose to build their plantation. Nitta Yuma’s history could fill a book—and it has. The late Dorothy Phelps and her husband, Henry Vick Phelps II (Henry W. Vick’s great-grandson) wrote and published Nitta Yuma – King Cotton in the 1970s. Two of her children, Henry Vick Phelps III and Carolyn Phelps May, still live at Nitta Yuma with her husband, Woody. Their other two children, Irene Phelps Terry and Vicki

Phelps Domin, live in Brentwood, Tennessee, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, respectively. There’s also a seventh generation directly tied to Nitta Yuma: Henry Vick Phelps IV, 33, who also lives at Nitta Yuma; and Cooley May, 42, who resides in Houston, Texas. The Nitta Yuma plantation has defied the odds—almost all of it has stayed in one family from the start until now, two centuries long. Marriage Bonds At the time Nitta Yuma was formed, cotton growers were at the mercy of governmental policies and economic conditions that exerted significant impact on agriculture and banking. Landowners had to weather the extreme ups and downs of cotton prices, plus weave their way through droughts, floods, and everything in between. Headwinds cascaded in 1849, and the family almost lost Nitta Yuma. Henry W. was forced to sell the plantation at a public auction in order to settle a $45,988 promissory note. DELTA MAGAZINE 2021 | 125

May-June Issue Nitta Yuma by Katie Tims ~ Since I first saw Nitta Yuma I have been fascinated, and this is certainly the only in-depth account I have run across of this plantation—or is it five plantations? I am hoping to send this to several friends. Several years ago Henry Waterer of Tchula and I enjoyed the play very much—about the bride with Mt. Helena, Annandale, and Nitta Yuma connections. You have a lovely magazine. I also particularly enjoyed the fall mantel decorations! – Penny Frazer I so enjoyed reading this history of Nitta Yuma!! I have lived in this Delta my entire live and did not know all the history. Thank you for sharing this with your readers. – Judi Otts Delta Magazine 2021

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Christmas time in the City

PHOTO BY GREG CAMPBELL

the city of greenwood checks all the boxes during the holidays. cute shops, great restaurants, and beloved traditions such as the roy Martin Delta band Festival and christmas Parade. last year, to add a little extra sparkle to the mix, the town launched Under the Delta lights, a lighting and holiday décor trail offering the sights and sounds of the holiday season. the trail takes revelers through the main thoroughfares of town with hundreds of feet of string lights, updated street decorations, and festive holiday storefront windows. if you’re hungry for that “Hallmark” small town holiday experience, a visit to greenwood is a must-see this christmas. DM

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ON THE ROAD

where we’ve been, where to go next

QUITMAN COUNTY

JACKSON

rks a m e d a r T Delta Grain bins past their use solemnly lined up and keeping guard.

– JIM HENDRIX

A long-treasured Jackson icon, The Mayflower Restaurant in downtown Jackson. – TY AUSTIN

ARKANSAS

PHOTO OPS QUITMAN COUNTY The mural contains great tributes to six people from Jackson County, Arkansas, who had a huge influence on the music industry. – DELTA MAGAZINE

ew i V e y E Bird’s HELENA

a Bygone D

A shotgun was traded for this Model A Ford by Jaby Denton’s father in 1964. It burned in a barn fire in Marks many years ago and has been sitting there ever since. – JABY DENTON Overhead view of the Helena catfish tournament participants, all lined up and ready snag a big one. – MAYOR KEVIN SMITH

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LELAND

tch

a Keeping W

CLARKSDALE

Country dogs leading the way down the dusty turnrow while their counterpart looks on. – GAILA OLIVER

& FUNKY STOPS

Tree yarn bombing has officially made it to the home of the Blues. – MAXINE HARLOW

ll A o t e t o N NEW ORLEANS

WALLS

Abandoned, neglected, and covered in Kudzu, but beautiful in its own right. – JIM HENDRIX

A warning to be heeded seen on a neighborhood street in New Orleans. – GEORGIA JORDAN

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OFF THE BEATEN PATH roaming the real and rustic Delta

MESSENGER’S POOL HALL AND CAFÉ IN CLARKSDALE Clarksdale’s oldest, continuously running business since 1910 BY ANGELA ROGALSKI

OCATED IN THE NEW WORLD DISTRICT OF CLARKSDALE, historically the

african american business district, Messenger’s Pool Hall and café has been a part of clarksdale’s blues, ragtime, and jazz scene since the turn of the century. Messenger’s is the oldest, continuously running business in clarksdale, so the history is unmistakable. as early as 1907, Messenger’s received its liquor license and according to one of the original owner’s great-grandsons, Michael Messenger, who is the current owner, the business has been going strong ever since. “My great-grandfather, edward Messenger, opened the pool hall around 1910,” Michael Messenger says. “but i remember it more when my father, george, ran it. My dad ran it from the 1970s until the 2000s and i ran it a while in between until i relocated. My dad passed away in 2017 and my aunt and uncle operated it after that until 2020. now i’m running it again.” Messenger says that today the pool hall and café serves hamburgers, fries, and bbQ sandwiches, and has four pool tables that bring back the old juke joint days of old when the pool hall was also a domino den, juke joint, and café and served sharecroppers who came to town after they got paid. “it’s a great atmosphere, you can feel the history of the place when you walk in” he adds. “We open up now on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and i’m working on bringing live music to the venue. We’ve also been a part of every Juke Joint Festival in clarksdale since the beginning.” 133 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Clarksdale, Mississippi 662.351.5795

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MOLLY’S PLACE, A BAR & GRILL Good food, craft cocktails, and live music in Grenada

N THE HEART OF GRENADA’S DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT, there’s a great place

to eat, have a cocktail, and listen to some awesome live music: Molly’s Place. named after owner Deborah Hicks Midanek bailey’s mother, Molly, who was a WaSP (Women airforce Service Pilots) in World War ii, the establishment is as original as its namesake. “it’s a neat little place, right on the edge of the Square in downtown grenada,” bailey says. “it just celebrated its third birthday and has grown beautifully. We have a full menu with weekly specials, and the food is delicious. We have a killer filet mignon, and our famous smash burger with our secret sauce, and a fried shrimp po’boy that will melt in your mouth. We also have something that people love called a country-fried ribeye. it’s really popular.” recent specials have included fried crawfish tails with creole remoulade sauce, blackened filet of redfish with cajun cream sauce and a jalapeño crunch burger loaded with fried jalapeños and bacon, and dressed with spicy ranch dressing. the restaurant seats forty to fifty people, with an outdoor courtyard. there is a full bar and weekly live music. recent acts to perform include the green Street band, ben Shaw, Marlow Dorrough, and ralph Miller. “You can sip a handcrafted cocktail, enjoy a craft beer, or choose a fine wine,” bailey adds. “and of course, have a great meal. So, we’re jumping. there’s something about Molly’s that you just can’t bottle or describe. You can’t walk in without making a lot of friends. the atmosphere is amazing, everybody talks to everybody with this friendly intimacy. it’s just a great place.” Molly’s Place is open thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and is open also for private events. 120 Green Street, Grenada, Mississippi 601.638.9221 mollysplacegrenada.com Facebook: MollysPlaceABarandGrill Delta Magazine 2021

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HOT TOPICS VANCE’S MEAT & GROCERY A New Grocery Store in Cleveland cleveland now boasts a new grocery store dedicated to offering high-quality cuts of meat and a wide variety of seafood in addition to a unique selection of grocery items. vance’s Meat & grocery opened two months ago and has been bustling ever since. “i started thinking about this about a year ago,” vance said. “My lifelong friend victor Miller, who lived in Jackson, moved back to partner up with me on this, so the two of us are in it together. and i love good food, so it made perfect sense.” vance has experience in the food industry having grown up working with his father, Johnathon vance, at cleveland’s popular airport grocery for years. He says working at the restaurant gave him the incentive to start his own business. “i’ve worked with my dad a lot, especially since the pandemic began, and i’ve learned a lot about business from him.” “Providing people with great cuts of quality meat and seafood was something that i really felt a need to do. and giving them a wide selection of other specialty products fell into that desire too.” He continues, “We really have a little bit of everything— beef, pork, chicken, and a lot of different seafood, such as scallops, oysters, tuna, and salmon. i’m also selling a huge

variety of bbQ sauces and specialty seasonings, salad dressings that you can’t find at other grocery stores.” customer service and convenience are two things vance says his business will focus on. “our store is small and it’s easy to get in and get out and we want to give the best customer service possible. those things are vital to our mission.” 3604 Highway 61 North, Cleveland; 662.545.4551; Facebook: Vance’s Meat and Grocery

TURNROW ART COMPANY New art Gallery in Downtown Greenwood With a life-long passion for art, Mary neff newsom Stewart has always been intrigued by Delta homes that are filled with thoughtful and unique pieces. Her desire to share that passion led her to open turnrow art company, a new gallery on the mezzanine level of turnrow book company in downtown greenwood. a regional art expert and designer, Stewart brings two Mary Neff Newsom Stewart decades of experience to the gallery and art consultancy. the new venture is the culmination of all aspects of her work in the art business, in various roles such as teacher, design writer, interior designer and most recently as the Senior Wall art Designer for the global high-end line at John-richard, which is based in greenwood. “after working in corporate art and design for the last ten years, the opportunity to curate a unique and inspiring collection of Southern artists to showcase in greenwood is very exciting,”she says. Stewart’s goal in establishing turnrow art company is to showcase an eclectic curation of one of a kind, original artwork from hand selected creators in the South. the art boutique is a space designed to inspire creative endeavors. a rotating selection of Southern art will be on display and available for purchase. turnrow art company also works with personal and corporate art collectors to build art collections of long-term value. “What i strive to offer most through turnrow art company is the opportunity to locate a piece of art that truly speaks to someone. Whether it is a overscale oil painting that will completely recreate a room or a small sculpture to top a stack of books on a table, art should make people sense real emotion,” says Stewart.

PHOTOS BY RORY DOYLE

304 Howard Street, Greenwood; 662.820.1200; Facebook: @turnrow.art.co; Instagram: @turnrow_art_company 30 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

UNCLE HENRY’S ON MOON LAKE Restaurant opens in historic location Moon lake. the name alone conjures up a beautiful evening with stars glittering and the moon shining bright on the water. now imagine having dinner and drinks on that beautiful lake—Uncle Henry’s is the place for you. owned by Donald Knapp and David Solomon, Uncle Henry’s may be reached by boat or car as the restaurant faces the lake on one side and Moon lake road on the other. Manager Whitney Myers says that the lakefront restaurant and bar is an alternative to everyday dining and offers a beautiful view, while serving a gulf coast style menu. “i think of it as the gulf coast meets the Mississippi Delta,” Myers says. “We do po’ boys, gumbo, shrimp etouffee, and of course, steaks, shrimp, pork chops, catfish, and barbecue; i’m incorporating the gulf coast, where i grew up, into the Delta food we all love.” looking ahead to next summer, Myers says she envisions long, warm days with live music playing from the nearby pavilion and water sporting events to entertain patrons and involve them in the fun. “Donald Knapp lives on Moon lake and has an obstacle course for jet skis outside of his house, so we are thinking about hosting water events and having bands on summer days to get people out to the lake,” she says. “We have a lot of people out here now and we would love to provide them with great food and more fun things to

watch and do.” to that end, there is already a ten-space boat dock in place, so people can come in straight from their boats to enjoy drinks and a meal. established as an elk’s lodge in 1926 and transformed throughout the decades, Uncle Henry’s is conveniently located fifteen minutes from both tunica and clarksdale, and about fifteen minutes from Helena, arkansas. “So, we’re that meet-in-the-middle spot—convenient for many people.” Having secured resort status allows Uncle Henry’s to offer an extensive and full bar for their customers. During the winter months the restaurant is open thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 5 p.m. – until. 5860 Moon Lake Road, Dundee, Mississippi Facebook: unclehenrysonmoonlake; Instagram: unclehenrys_moonlake

MISSISSIPPI DELTA HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS! Holiday events are scheduled throughout Delta there’s no better place to celebrate the holidays than in the Delta. open houses, christmas parades, fun pop-ups, and holiday lights are on the calendar for the season and make each of our towns unique. Here are just a few of the events on the lineup to kick off the christmas season. christmas on Deer creek in leland will be held on Saturday, December 4. Spearheaded by Sherry Smythe, owner of lagniappe Fine gifts, this long-held tradition has been revamped this year, and will be an all-day event beginning at 9 a.m. with a breakfast featuring the characters from the movie Frozen at the thompson House in leland. the new Deer creek Marketplace will be going strong all day in downtown leland, hosting vendors selling gifts and wares from all over Mississippi. there will be children’s activities, a parade, a 5K run, visits with Santa, and much more throughout the day. the day will end with the arrival of Santa claus on a waterpropelled sleigh on Deer creek and all the festive floats lit up and beautifully decorated.

the city of greenwood will hold its Holiday open House november 18 – 20, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. there will be carriage rides around town, Santa sightings, giveaways, and food and beverages at participating stores. everyone is invited to come out for all the fun! the month of December will also be jampacked with christmas happenings and excitement. Downtown cleveland will celebrate the season beginning with a Holiday open House november 13 and 14, Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. the annual window-decorating winners will be announced Saturday at the christmas tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. the tree lighting also kicks off 50 Nights of Lights which transforms the crosstie Walking trail into a Winter Wonderland for the season with live music from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. these events are sponsored by the cleveland-bolivar chamber of commerce and the city of cleveland and everyone is invited to come out to enjoy the festivities. Check out our calendar of events (page 156) for more holiday events and happenings throughout the Delta. Delta Magazine 2021

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www.TomSmithLandandHomes.com Delta Magazine 2021

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BOOKS

Buzzworthy Comments

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron Books) charlotte Mcconaghy truly showcases her talent in her latest novel, Once ere Were Wolves. it is a startling, beautiful read complete with compelling language and an addictive plot. two sisters, inti and aggie, are running from a terrifying past, living in Scotland where inti, a biologist, is leading a conservation project by rewilding wolves into the Highlands. Here in the mountains and forests of Scotland, they come head-to-head with not only their past, but also with the local community of farmers and landowners who are vehemently against rewilding wolves into the area. is story is a must-read with all the excitement it has to oﬀer: a bold heroine’s voice, a gorgeous setting, a mystical tone, an interesting cast of characters, a gut-wrenching plot, and a doubly dramatic climax. (liza Jones)

Charlotte McConaghy

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (Gallery Books) e People We Keep is a wonderfully written novel about what it means to be alone, to belong, and to find family of your own in a hard world. Sixteen-year-old april Sawicki is living in a motorhome in 1994 in little river, new York, when she makes the decision to leave home after an argument with her father. is choice takes her on an odyssey wherein she strives to become a singer-songwriter, singing in coffee shops and dive bars while meeting vivid characters along the way. e reader’s heart will break and mend and delight and cry as april moves through the world trying to make her life. Slow-burning yet satisfying, this coming-of-age tale will be a gem for anyone who enjoys a character-driven story. larkin made it near impossible not to be emotionally invested with this young protagonist trying to find her way and her people. (liza Jones) Allison Larkin

We asked Facebook friends and Delta Magazine Fan Page Group Members to share with us the book they will be reading during the holidays. o Nancy Armstrong, teacher Cleveland, Mississippi

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by barbara robinson. it makes me laugh out loud, but also perfectly captures the true spirit of christmas. o Missi Gail, photographer Carrollton, Mississippi

Sears and roebuck’s big christmas book!!! every toy a kid could imagine and every item a parent needed to create what they thought was the perfect christmas. o Leslie Joan Hill, deposit operations reconcilation team

Matrix by Lauren Groff (Riverhead Books) lauren groff is an author of the highest order, and she doesn’t disappoint her fans with her latest novel, Matrix. it’s no surprise this book has been longlisted for the national book award at the time of this writing. amid the stark discomforts and atrocities of the Middle ages, Marie de France is sent to live in the French royal court when her mother dies. but at the age of seventeen, she is ordered by the queen to leave the plush life of the courtier and become prioress of an impoverished abbey. is Marie’s strength and savvy enough to save the abbey and its suffering women? groff has outdone herself. it’s clear that every single sentence was styled, every word chosen to convey the tone, which in turn creates the uniquely hypnotizing, charged pull of this story. this one is for serious lovers of literature. (liza Jones)

For the Record Books Delta Magazine fans are currently reading

o Jerry Ferguson

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

o Terre Taylor Gildon

America’s Apocalyptic Reset by Perry Stone

o Scott Wooten Black Ice by Brad Thor

o Andy McWilliams Darkness by Dubhghlas Kraus 34 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

o Lynwood Wright

The Giant Killer by David A. Yuzuk

o Cassandra Covington Doolittle Rivers by Michael Farris Smith

o Lisa Bills Terrell

The Mama Chronicles by Teresa Nicholas

o Jennifer Kitkowski

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

Tupelo, Mississippi

An Angel’s Story by Max lucado because i love the mixture of imagination and truth. o Sandra Kerr, stay-at-home mother Valley Park, Mississippi

The Bible because it tells the real story of christmas. o Connie Cobb Ross, teacher Belzoni, Mississippi

Lauren Groff

charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. it’s my favorite because it is a classic novel, and because the story is inspirational.

o Kim Wilson November 9 by Colleen Hoover

o Suanne R. Brown

A Place Like Mississippi by W. Ralph Eubanks

o Martha Green Howard

When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash

o Rose Gnemi Vaughn

The Gift of Heaven by Dr. Charles F. Stanley

Amid the Cypress by Jim Crews (Tilda Bogue Publishing, LLC) Duck hunting memoir Amid the Cypress vividly describes memorable ducks hunts in the Mississippi Delta and far beyond. Duck hunting is a way of life in the Delta and generations of sportsmen have enjoyed this rich heritage in its cypress breaks and fields. Amid the Cypress is a collection of waterfowl hunting tales set mostly in the Delta, but just for seasoning the author has included a few sagas of his family’s “travel hunts” for waterfowl and upland game in such exotic locales as argentina, alaska, and South africa. these recollections will take you to the wild places where ducks, geese, and other game birds abound. the tradition, lore, excitement and beauty of duck hunting are richly expressed. For those who cherish duck camps, dogs, decoys, guns, and other trappings of life in this field, this book is one you will enjoy by a crackling fire with a glass of your favorite beverage close at hand. (Special/DM Staff)

Rulers of the SEC: Ole Miss and Mississippi State, 1959-1966 by James R. Crockett (University Press of Mississippi) During the years 1959–1966, Mississippi universities dominated the Southeastern conference (Sec) in the big three sports—basketball, baseball, and football. of the twenty-four championships that could be earned in those sports, the University of Mississippi (ole Miss) won six and Mississippi State University (MSU) won six. that is, the two Mississippi universities won twelve of the championships. Picking up in the late 1950s, James crockett explores the most decisive wins in each major sport, beginning at the source of these victories: the extraordinary coaches and their interesting personalities. Stars and coaches that shine in the book include John vaught, tom Swayze, Jake gibbs, and Donnie Kessinger from ole Miss; and Paul gregory, bailey Howell, babe Mccarthy, and the amazing Sec champion bulldog basketball team of 1962–1963. Rulers of the SEC enraptures readers with harrowing victories and multiyear, dynastic championships. it is a tale of great coaches, great athletes, and great teams as they adapted to a controversial era of college sports. (Special/DM Staff) The Mama Chronicles: A Memoir by Teresa Nicholas (University Press of Mississipp) growing up in the Delta town of Yazoo city, teresa nicholas believed that she and her country-born-and-bred mother weren’t close. She knew little of her mother’s early life as a sharecropper during the great Depression. nicholas left Mississippi to attend college, then settled in new York to work in the hard-driving world of commercial book publishing. twenty-five years later, eager for a change, she and her husband decided to shift careers to writing, trading their home in the new York suburbs for a casita in the Mexican highlands. torn between her new home in Mexico and her old home in Mississippi, nicholas struggled to find her place in the world. She discovered that the past isn’t always the way we remember it, and as the years ticked by, that she and her mother could grow closer still. The Mama Chronicles: A Memoir is a funny and poignant account of a mother-daughter relationship and, ultimately, a meditation on acceptance and what it means to call a place home. (Special/DM Staff ) DM Delta Magazine 2021

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Tis the Season to Shop...Historic Downtown Cleveland

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Specializing in everything beautiful for the home.

ANTIQUES • BRIDAL • FLORAL & GIFTS

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Hide tiny baubles and treasures in miniature stockings that are just as cute as the surprise inside!

In metallic silver, this bag is elegant and just the touch you need for the holiday season. Carry it by the structured handles or the gold-dipped chain! Jane, Oxford @jane_oxfordms 662.281.8711

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Mod + Proper, Cleveland @modandproper 662.400.3111

holiday gift guide

The white boot trend continues with these Matisse stunners. They can be dressed up or down and need to be under your tree!! Mod + Proper, Cleveland @modandproper

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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The bird-watcher on your list will love Preston, Buttons, and Hoot—our favorite seed bird feeder characters! Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, Memphis @wildbirdsunlimited 901.681.9837

❄ Fill his stocking with Mixologie roll-on fragrances for men. Cleveland Fresh, Cleveland @clevelandfresh 662.441.0500

If you have a cook on your list, tuck a little joy into their stockings with these fun silicone spatulas. Magnolia House Lifestyle Store @magnoliahousestore 662.469.9825

From the hunting camp to ski lodge, keep him warm and stylish this winter with a new Madison Creek quilted nylon jacket.

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Neilson’s Department Store, Oxford @neilsonsdepartmentstore 662.234.1161

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

❄ Uggs Classic Clear Mini gives a mod update to your favorite weatherproof boot!

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The Country Gentleman, Greenville 662.332.1356 @thecountrygent

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

For the crafty one on your list—this adorable Christmas Tree quilt kit will keep them busy all season!

❄ Love these Louis Vuitton keychains for the college girl on your list—or your trendy new driver—nothing but the best will do!

For the new little one in your life— Commemorate their first Christmas with a keepsake ornament! Magnolia House Lifestyle Store @magnoliahousestore 662.469.9825

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A felt hat is the ultimate accessory for the well-dressed woman! Kutworks Boutique, Cleveland @kutworksboutique 662.545.8004

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Lavender Lane, Indianola @lavenderlaneindianola 662.452.5131

Refresh her travel accessories with a PreneLOVE + Laura Park Designs cosmetic bag. Kutworks Boutique, Cleveland @kutworksboutique 662.545.8004

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Delta Threadz, Cleveland @deltathreadz 662.545.4485

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Not just for the holiday season—add a little sparkle to your entire social calendar with these fuchsia stunners!

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H Squared Boutique, Cleveland @hsquaredboutique 662.843.4504

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What could be cuter than a plaid holiday jumper and black Mary Janes? Your little girl will be precious from head to toe! Punkin Patch, Cleveland @punkinpatchcleveland 662.843.0434

Keep smiling with these cozy slippers. What a perfect gift to tuck under the tree! Daisy Gift Company, Oxford @daisygiftcompany 662-607-4061

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Little ones will love to bounce and play on their new Bouncy Pals inflatable plush ride-on toy! Such a fun surprise for Santa to leave under the tree!

On Cloud waterproof running shoes look amazing and will be much appreciated by the athlete on your list! Kinkade’s ﬁne Clothing, Ridgeland @kinkades 601-898-0513

Puddleducks, Grenada @puddleducksgrenadams 662-229-0766

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

A perfect happy for your hunter who enjoys those early mornings at the deer camp! Simply Sunﬂower Gift Shoppe @simplysunﬂowergifts 662.756.4438

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The Swig Bombshell collection is a great way to stay toasty for winter nights and holiday bonfires. Hair Tenders, Greenville @hairtendersms 662.820.9368

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Keep these mixes on hand for a delicious addition to your holiday breakfast—or a thoughtful hostess gift. Cotton Row Uniques, Memphis @shopcottonrow 901.590.3647

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Holiday Luster Champagne flutes are a festive way to celebrate the season or ring in the New Year! Mod + Proper, Cleveland @modandproper 662.400.3111

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Always a classic, add a touch of blue and white to your holiday decor this season! The Gift Box, Grenada @thegiftbox_alice 662.226.1188

Don’t neglect those blonde locks over the holidays—a few Bumble and Bumble products in her stocking will be a hit! The Alluvian Hotel & Spa, Greenwood @the_alluvian 866.600.5201

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Beautiful holiday scented candles by Swan Creek make the best hostess gifts or a wonderful gift for the person who has everything.

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Neysa’s Fireside Shop, Cleveland @neysasﬁresideshop 662.843.3311

Love these dainty, stackable, layers from Lulu’s! Lulu’s, Oxford @lulusoxford

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Nothing like cute hoops and Lip Lip Hooray lip gloss inspired by their favorite bubbly. Girly girls will love these stocking stuffers! The Olive Tree, Starkville @theolivetreestarkville 662.722.3019

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The coffee lover on your list will be mad about plaid with the new Scout Swig coffee mug.

Guy or girl—there’s a Yeti cooler for everyone on your list. Take your pick! Reed’s, Starkville @reedsms 662.323.2684

Downtown Marketplace, Yazoo City @downtownmarketplace 662.746.5031

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Beautiful throw pillows are a special gift for anyone looking to freshen up their space. Howard and Marsh Exchange, Greenwood @howardandmarsh 662.219.0756

Elevate every outfit with sparkle and shine this holiday party season in gold metallic booties. Saint + Social Boutique, Hernando @shopsaintboutique 662.298.3566

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Pickwick & Co. candles are always a wonderful holiday gift. Stock up for teacher gifts, office parties, and hostess happys! DCI Home, Memphis @theshopsofdci

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Sweater weather has never been better. Comfy and colorful, this is a great one to wrap and tuck under the tree.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

The Wishing Well, Cleveland @thewishingwellofcleveland 662.843.7881

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What could be better than to wake up on Christmas morning with your snuggle bug in these precious footie PJs!

Young Ideas, Indianola @young_ideas 662.887.5539

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For a truly memorable Christmas gift, you can’t top these diamond drop sparklers wrapped under the tree!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Van Atkins Jewelers, Oxford @vanatkinsjewelers 662.534.5012

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Acrylic block art pieces are a lovely accent in any home decor and a unique gift for that hard-to-shop for friend! The Mississippi Gift Company, Greenwood @themississippigiftcompany 800-476-7763

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Keep meal time fun for little ones with Bella Tunno silicone baby bibs from the new Olive Juice Kids. They are all the rage and new moms and dads will love them! Olive Juice Kids, Oxford @ojk_oxfordms 662.380.5078

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Add a touch of cheer to the kitchen or bath with Christmas-y hand towels. Keep these on hand for easy hostess gifts, teacher gifts, and more!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Lina’s Interiors and Antiques, Leland @linasinteriors 662.332.7226

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A winter refresh is a real treat after the stress of the holidays— and a stocking stuffed with gift cards for a special treatment at Skin Medical Spa will be huge hit! Skin Medical Spa, Oxford @skin_oxford 662.484.4772

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Have bags? Will travel! Christmas is the best time to update your luggage collection before those mid-winter ski trips—and we love these metallic beauties! Gilbow’s, Cleveland @Gilbows 662.843.1151

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Experience Mississippi’s Premier Christmas Shopping Destination Where you’ll find beautiful surroundings for your holiday celebrations, the perfect holiday attire for you, and the gifts you know they’ll love.

For your grill master— there’s no better gift than a Big Green Egg and all the accessories! Ace Hardware, Cleveland @clevelands_ace_hardware 662.843.8200

Join us for our

Renaissance Holiday Open House

Sunday, November 21, 2pm-5pm

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Classic cardigans in soft colors for chilly mornings and cool nights are perfect for our mild winters and are always a great gift. Finchers Inc., Greenwood @ﬁnchersinc 662.453.6246

The Michael Aram gingko napkin holder is perfect for your friend who loves to entertain, or treat yourself and set it out on your home bar! Babcock Gifts, Memphis @babcockgifts 901.763.0700

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND DINING: Aerie ■ Allure Plastics ■ Altar’d State ■ Alterations by Tailor Kim ■ American Eagle ■ Angie’s ■ Another Broken Egg Café ■ Anthony Vince’ Nail Salon ■ Anthropologie ■ Apple ■ Aqua the Day Spa Aria Boutique ■ AT&T ■ BankPlus ■ Barnes & Noble Booksellers ■ Barnette’s Salon ■ Basil’s ■ BellaChes Specialty Gifts ■ Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano ■ Brooks Brothers ■ Buckle ■ CAET Seafood|Oysterette ■ Charming Charlie ■ Chico’s ■ Club Pilates ■ The Commissary ■ European Wax ■ Five Guys Burgers and Fries ■ Free People ■ The Fresh Market ■ Gifts by KPEP ■ Gingersnaps ■ Hallmark ■ The Headache Center ■ Highland Park ■ The Hyatt Place Hotel J. Jill ■ Jolly Orthodontics ■ Kendall Poole Event Planning Koestler Prime ■ Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry ■ Libby Story The Little Village Children’s Boutique ■ Local 463 Urban Kitchen ■ LOFT ■ lululemon ■ Magnolia Soap & Bath Co. Material Girls ■ Mindful Therapy ■ Monkee’s ■ The Orvis Co. ■ Oswego Jewelers ■ Pandora ■ Panera Bread ■ Penn Street Investments ■ Red 8 Kitchen ■ Red Square Clothing Co. ■ Regus ■ Renaissance Cinema Grill & Bar ■ Results Physiotherapy ■ Ridgeland Visitors Center ■ Rivers Spencer Interiors ■ Sand Dollar Lifestyles ■ Sephora ■ SleepStore by Miskelly ■ Smoothie King ■ Soft Surroundings ■ Soma Intimates ■ Spark Confectionary ■ Starbucks Coffee Shop Sunglass Hut ■ Talbots ■ Traditional Jewelers ■ Vintage Wine Market ■ Whimsy Cookie Co. ■ White House|Black Market ■ Williams-Sonoma ■ Zea Rotisserie & Bar

H Squared Boutique, Cleveland @hsquaredboutique 662.843.4504

FIND US ON FACEBOOK I-55 at Old Agency Road, Ridgeland, Mississippi | 601.519.0900 See all our retail stores and restaurants online at www.RenaissanceAtColonyPark.com

Jump on the newest accessory trend with a fun headband! A great gift for your teen and college girls!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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For leasing information, contact The Mattiace Company at 601.352.1818

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Sophisticated little Oxford is waiting for you

Ice skating, carriage rides, visits with Santa & more!

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE ON THE SQUARE NOVEMBER 7, 11 A.M.-3 P.M.

SHOP OXFORD 1013 Jackson Ave. East | Oxford, MS | 800.758.9177 | visitoxfordms.com

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YOU WANT A BETTER COMMERCIAL BANKER. REGIONS IS WHERE YOU’LL FIND ONE. EXPECT BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE THAT GOES BEYOND THE BALANCE SHEET. There will come a moment when you realize your Regions Commercial Relationship Manager is someone who will bring you a lot more than just ways to raise capital. You’ll see we’re here to demonstrate our value to you as local, knowledgeable business consultants. You’ll find we ask smart questions, listen to your answers and deliver smart solutions for your business. You’ll know we’re true partners. In that moment, you’ll realize you made the right choice.

LET’S START THE CONVERSATION TODAY. Walt Stephens | Commercial Banking 662.433.6685 | walt.stephens@regions.com

Commercial Banking | Treasury Management | Capital Markets | Wealth Management © 2020 Regions Bank. All loans and lines subject to credit approval, terms and conditions. | Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

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ART

Anna Satterfield Inspired by nature, this Merigold photographer and water colorist is selftaught and still seeking inspiration BY SUSAN MARQUEZ • PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

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t’s always uplifting to hear stories of something positive arising from difficult times, and Merigold Artist Anna Satterfield has a great one to tell. but we’ll start from the beginning. growing up in a farming family, Satterfield never knew exactly what life would bring her way, but it’s safe to say becoming a professional photographer and now water-colorist was not what she expected. in fact, at one point she was certain she was headed toward a career in pharmacy. Satterfield excelled in both biology and chemistry, so she thought it would be a natural fit for her to study pharmacy at Delta State. “i shadowed a pharmacist during my senior year in high school for a paper i had to write, and i really thought that would be a great field for me.” While at Delta State, Satterfield became involved in a program with the Delta arts alliance. “i went into elementary schools that were involved with the program and i taught thirty-minute art classes for kindergarten through third grade. that sparked my interest in teaching.” teaching? or art? additionally, she was exposed to art at an early age by her mother, lynn Flint, who has worked as both a potter and a painter, painting on canvas, reclaimed wood and

more. “My mother has her own art business, lynn Flint original art,” says Satterfield, who not only learned about art from her mom, but about running an art business. always creative, Satterfield had many different interests throughout her life. “i was always interested in something artistic.” Photography gradually became a passion. “i always enjoyed looking at good photography. i really studied the photographs. a few years ago when the

iPhone quality increased, i became more perceptive about what went into taking a good photograph. eventually, people began commenting on the photos i took.” Satterfield remembered she had a camera her mother had given her in 2018 that had gone mostly unused. “i dug it out and started taking photographs. i became a self-taught photographer, learning entirely by trial and error. i observed what other photographers did, and began analyzing my own photos to see what i could do to make them better.” Delta Magazine 2021

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Satterfield’s photo of the Baby Doll House in Benoit, recently placed in the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places photo contest. Satterfield’s first watercolor of a similiar mourning dove received great response on social media, encouraging her to continue her new pursuit.

Satterfield enjoys exploring creative outlets and having fun with her clients.

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Soon friends were asking her to take photos of their children. “they shared the photos on social media, and others asked who did the photography, and they’d give them my number. i wasn’t on social media at all at the time, so that came as a shock to me,” she laughs. Soon Satterfield made enough money to invest in better equipment. “My friends told me i needed to be on instagram, and once i did that, i felt like i had a legitimate business. instagram has been a great platform for me to have my work seen, and to connect with others.” then life took another twist when the coviD pandemic seemingly shut down the world and many artistic endeavors along with it. but for many that uncertain time also created the perfect environment for creativity to occur spontaneously. Satterfield was no exception, as she added an untapped talent as a watercolorist to her list of artistic skills. Painting had always been in Satterfield’s wheelhouse of interests. “i have always had a room with paintbrushes and boxes of paint. last year during the covid pandemic, her painting to the next level. “i believe it town. i love it here so much!” She enjoys i almost went stir crazy during quarantine. recalibrated my brain! the trip to ocean time with her family including her three then finally when we were able to get out, Springs was also rejuvenating. it all came brothers, two of whom are married with my mother and i went to ocean Springs. together to help me find my way as an children. “i’m a good aunt!” she chuckles, While there, we visited the Walter anderson artist.” Satterfield says the trip was so “i’m the official photographer for all the Museum, and that lit a spark in me. it was cathartic, that she and her mom did it again birthday parties!” a joy for me to experience his work, and outside her artistic endeavors, to be reminded of how i feel when i am Satterfield works full time at her family’s painting.” farm. “i’ve been working there during Just like Walter anderson, the week for eleven years,” she says. “i Satterfield’s medium of choice is love farming and i love being outdoors, watercolor. “Watercolor has always which may explain why i choose to intrigued me.” acting on her inspiration, paint so many nature scenes. My work she painted a mourning dove and posted tends a little towards the masculine, but it on her instagram page to great women seem to like it, too.” the crops response. “the timing was right, i grown at Satterfield Farm includes believe. it was fall, and the beginning of wheat, corn, soy, and rice, so Satterfield hunting season. that painting opened a can see all those up-close and that helps lot of doors for me.” it wasn’t long before Clients sometimes bring photos of their most prized her to do more true-to-life paintings. catches for Satterfield to paint. she was being commissioned to do From a business perspective, Satterfield paintings for several cabins. being a Delta this year. “We stay at the beau rivage and says that when her photography business girl through and through has helped inform just spread out from there, all up and down slows down, she can fill in with painting. her work. “i paint a lot of fish,” she laughs, the coast.” “it just works for me.” explaining that people will give her pictures images on Satterfield’s instagram page recently featured as an artist at of their most prized catches to paint. She include her photography, especially of turnrow art company in greenwood, also paints deer, ducks, birds, and other children, one of her favorite subjects. there Satterfield’s work is on display there as wildlife. “i also paint crops—soybeans, are also images of the portraits she has been well as the Martin and Sue King railroad cotton, or whatever the family i am painting commissioned to paint of beloved pets and Museum in cleveland. Her work is for is involved in at the time.” of Delta scenes, all painted in dreamy also available at cleveland Fresh in Satterfield readily acknowledges that the watercolor hues. cleveland or through her instagram time she spent in quarantine sparked a raised in cleveland, Satterfield now @annasatterfieldphotography.” DM boost of creative energy she needed to take lives in Merigold. “it’s just the loveliest little Delta Magazine 2021

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Good times in Greenville, Heart & Soul of the Delta

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A DELTA

Musical Christmas Delta Magazine’s

Holiday Playlist

◼ A Christmas Celebration of Hope ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼

B.B. King “Santa claus Wants Some lovin’” Albert King “Santa’s got the blues” Denise LaSalle “Merry christmas, baby” Ike & Tina Turner Merry Christmas Mary Wilson (with the Supremes) Merry Christmas With Sam Cooke Sam Cooke “blues for christmas” John Lee Hooker “away in a Manger” Bobbie Gentry “catﬁsh christmas” Steve Azar “ghost From christmas Past” Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Ring in the holiday season with a Delta twist as we highlight ten top Christmas performances by musicians from the region. BY JIM BEAUGEZ

he MIssIssIppI DelTa and the countless reels of music it has inspired are so tightly entwined it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

e vast Delta songbook, based on centuries-old musical traditions from africa and europe, reveals the struggles and joys of the people who have lived on the alluvial ﬂatland between the Mississippi river and the loess Hills that form its eastern border. among those traditions are celebrations of faith and family, and as a result many musicians who hail from the Delta have recorded christmas songs over the years. Mary Wilson recorded an entire album of christmas hymns and secular holiday songs with e Supremes. b.b. King did as well with songs rooted in the blues tradition. Some, like Denise laSalle, John lee Hooker, and Steve azar, wrote their own tributes to the season. Here, we have gathered the work of ten famous musicians from the Delta who have celebrated christmas in song, so you can dance, sing, and praise all season long. Editor’s Note: Check out our Delta Magazine Spotify Holiday Playlist for these and more of our favorite Holiday tunes!

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B.B. King A Christmas Celebration of Hope What do you do after conquering the world and achieving the highest levels of success in music? in 2001, riley “blues boy” King added a pair of grammy awards to his shelf (he won ﬁfteen total) for A Christmas Celebration of Hope, winning best Pop instrumental Performance for “auld lang Syne” and best traditional blues album. e King of the blues was in victory formation when he led his band through these thirteen mostly non-traditional christmas songs, fresh oﬀ his 2000 collaboration with eric clapton, the double-Platinum, grammy-winning Riding With the King. From the hopeful “Please come Home for christmas” to clarence carter’s winking “back Door Santa,” King takes listeners through all the emotions of the holiday season, ending on billy Ward’s upbeat 1953 single “bringing in a brand new Year” and “auld lang Syne”—a perfect reason to keep this album spinning throughout the holidays.

Albert King “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” albert King recorded this tight r&b track for Christmas in Soulsville, a 1974 compilation produced by Stax records that featured a who’s-who of the soul icons of the era, including isaac Hayes, otis redding, and e Staple Singers. Written by Mack rice, a songwriter from clarksdale who also wrote the inescapable “Mustang Sally,” “Santa claus Wants Some lovin’” has King playing his upside-down ‘59 gibson Flying v with fervor as the groove stretches out behind him. e song was released as a single with e emotions’ “What Do the lonely Do at christmas” as the b-side. King, who was born albert nelson in 1923 in indianola and had no relation to b.b. King, started playing music on a diddley bow and then built himself a cigar-box guitar before acquiring a conventional guitar. He inspired artists like eric clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie ray vaughan and was inducted into the rock and roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Denise LaSalle “Santa’s Got the Blues” even Santa gets the blues. Sidon native Denise laSalle (née allen), who grew up in belzoni, penned this soul blues song about all the woes keeping St. nick from being jolly. She picks him up while hitchhiking, and he lays it on her: His sled was stolen and his reindeer abandoned him, but, even worse, he didn’t have enough toys to begin with, and the whole world is counting on him to deliver presents for christmas Day. is 1985 single on the Malaco label is a playful blues with roadhouse piano and laSalle’s storyteller style of singing, keeping consistent with her other recorded output—like her 1971 smash hit “trapped by a ing called love” and the follow-up, “now run and tell at”— which earned her accolades and fans far beyond the blues and soul scene. Delta Magazine 2021

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Ike & Tina Turner “Merry Christmas, Baby” ike and tina turner were a combustible couple, but they left a huge legacy of recorded music before their 1976 split. Songs like “a Fool in love” and a soulful, strutting take on the creedence clearwater revival tune “Proud Mary,” which won a grammy in 1972, solidified their place in pop music history. During the ‘60s, as the group graduated from the chitlin circuit to the Billboard charts, they recorded “Merry christmas, baby” as a single. e song was written after bing crosby’s “White christmas” became a massive success and was first recorded by Johnny Moore’s ree blazers in 1947. but ike and tina helped popularize the song, and in the years to follow, it became a modern christmas standard. to date, more than eighty artists have covered it, including elvis, bruce Springsteen, christina aguilera, and ceelo green. Prior to joining forces with tina, ike, a clarksdale native, recorded what some say is the first rock ‘n’ roll record—”rocket 88,” credited to Jackie brenston and his Delta cats—in 1951.

Mary Wilson (with the Supremes) Merry Christmas greenville native Mary Wilson made music history with the groundbreaking pop group the Supremes, recording and performing hits like “Stop! in the name of love,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ on,” and “You can’t Hurry love.” at the height of their popularity, in 1965, the group released Merry Christmas, an album of popular holiday standards representing both secular and religious songs. backed by an elaborate orchestra of strings, woodwinds, and other instruments, the Supremes glide through “White christmas” and “e First noel,” then take a lighthearted turn on the swinging “rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” and an r&b “Santa claus is coming to town.” an expanded edition released in 2015 includes ten bonus tracks, alternate takes, and live recordings of christmas songs. Wilson passed away this past February 8, 2021, at age seventy-six.

Sam Cooke Merry Christmas With Sam Cooke Sam cooke, the original King of Soul, had an enormously successful pop music career, notching thirty hits in the top Forty in seven years from the late-’50s into the mid-’60s. Songs like “twistin’ the night away” and “You Send Me” launched him into the upper tier of pop singers. born in clarksdale and raised in chicago, cooke was childhood friends with fellow soul singer lou rawls and even collaborated with him on “bring it on Home to Me.” During the civil rights era, he wrote “a change is gonna come” after his arrest for refusing a hotel’s denial of service in Shreveport, louisiana, and it became a rallying song for the freedom movement. cooke recorded dozens of gospel songs during his recording career, and the compilation Merry Christmas with Sam Cooke brings together ﬁfty performances. Standouts including “Jesus, i’ll never Forget” and “Must Jesus bear is cross alone” make a worthy addition to any christmas playlist.

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John Lee Hooker “Blues for Christmas” no one wants to have the blues on christmas, but if you’ve got ‘em, John lee Hooker can relate. “blues for christmas” tells a story of a man who is broke, drunk, and alone on christmas day, left to pine for his love. You could think of it as a song to play after dinner and presents, when the kids are in bed and there’s nothing left to do but enjoy a mellow blues by one of the masters. released as a single in 1961, the song came out just before his career clicked into high gear after performing across europe with the american Folk blues Festival, a traveling event that also featured Mississippi natives Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny boy Williamson. He would later record with e Doors, b.b. King, and van Morrison, and his songs “boogie chillen” and “boom boom” were included in the rock and roll Hall of Fame’s list of the Five Hundred Songs at Shaped rock and roll.

Bobbie Gentry “Away in a Manger” Woodland native roberta lee Streeter, better known as bobbie gentry, is most remembered for her number one hit “ode to billie Joe” in 1967, which earned two grammy awards and enduring fame. e song was so popular that it eclipses the body of work she produced into the 1970s, including television appearances and recordings with “Wichita lineman” singer glen campbell. in 1969, she appeared on a promotional record sponsored by b.F. goodrich tires called e Christmas Sound of Music alongside campbell, ella Fitzgerald, and other artists, singing the classic “away in a Manger.” later, in 1976, she sang a christmas medley with Dick van Dyke for network television. During her career gentry charted eleven songs from seven albums, and she hosted her own tv variety show, e Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour, on cbS in 1974. after contract negotiations with capitol records stalled in the early ‘70s, though, her recording career never recovered. gentry made her ﬁnal public appearance to date at the academy of country Music awards in 1982. Delta Magazine 2021

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Steve Azar “Catfish Christmas” back in 2005, Steve azar was riding high in the saddle from his hits “i Don’t Have to be Me (‘til Monday),” which reached number two on the country chart and spent four months on the Billboard top 100, and “Waitin’ on Joe,” which also charted. With the one-off “catfish christmas,” he envisioned a new holiday tradition where he and his buddies go fishing for their christmas dinner. in a promotional video for the song, former chicago bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who led the legendary 1985 team to the club’s first Super bowl victory, makes a cameo as a fisherman who can’t seem to hook anything but trash—while Santa himself pulls up a stringer loaded with catfish. celebrity chef cat cora (originally from Jackson) cooks his catch around a bonfire for the hapless fishermen and their families. azar has since returned to greenville, where he writes and records music, runs ride records, and serves as the state’s cultural ambassador.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram “Ghost From Christmas Past” e pride of clarksdale, blues prodigy-turned-phenom christone “Kingfish” ingram, released his first-ever holiday recording for the 2020 season to put some joy back into a tumultuous year. While the world dealt with a pandemic and america reckoned with riots, ingram was dealing with a pain closer to home—the loss of his mother, Princess Pride ingram, at age forty-nine. While “ghost From christmas Past” doesn’t directly address her passing, it was part of the songwriting and recording process with collaborator tom Hambridge that helped heal his heartbreak and resulted in his second album, 662. on this classic Delta blues, ingram blazes on his guitar with characteristic intensity and flair between verses that lament a lost love, wrenching every soulful note. vocally, his twenty-two-year-old pipes emote on a level far beyond his years. but after playing the blues since he was twelve, ingram knows the ins and outs of his gifts and just how to use them. What more could a blues fan want for christmas?

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Statement of Ownership, management, and circulation for Delta Magazine. Publication No. 022-954 as of September 1, 2021. Six issues published bi-monthly for a subscription rate of $28 at P.O. Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732. The names and address of the publisher and editor: Publisher and Owner, Scott Coopwood, PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732; Editor, Cindy Coopwood, PO Box 117, Cleveland, MS 38732.

See the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees, holiday movies and planetarium shows. Shop for gifts at the MoSH shop.

Average No. of Copies Actual No. of Copies Each Issue During Single Issue Published Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date

Total no. of copies printed Paid circulation through mail Paid circulation through dealers and carriers, street vendors, and counter sales Paid circulation by other classes of mail through the USPS (First-Class, Priorty) Total paid distribution Free distribution through mail Free circulation by other classes of mail through the USPS (First-Class, Priorty) Free distribution outside mail Total free distribution Total distribution Total Percent paid Paid electronic copies Total paid print copies and paid electronic copies Total print distribution and paid electronic copies Percent paid

9,217

9,000

6,178

6,246

890

864

7,123

7,154

1,119

956

457 1,622 8,745 9,217 81.45% 33

509 1,500 8,654 9,000 82.67% 23

7,153

7,177

8,778 81.49%

8,677 82.71%

I certify that the statement made by me above is correct and complete. (Signed) Scott Coopwood, Publisher

Bene�iting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

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End of an Era after a century, lusco’s was more than just Greenwood’s oldest restaurant—for many, it was the centerpiece of family celebrations and rites of passage BY SARAH FOWLER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHNNY JENNINGS

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The original buildings purchased in 1933 before they were transformed into the Lusco’s of today.

THEY CAME BY THE DOZENS. Gathering by the front door of a beloved restaurant that was established long before many of them were born, friends old and new shared stories, posed for photos, and exclaimed, “You have to get the pompano!” Dressed to the nines and carrying in their own wine or liquor hidden in brown paper bags, there was an almost tangible current in the air; the emotional weight of the last Friday night at lusco’s was palpable. the evening held all the trappings of a family reunion, farewell party, and an old Southern funeral combined. everyone seemed to know each other, and those that didn’t were quickly acquainted. there was talk about the time zz top came for dinner. and who could forget the night a popular tv show host was accidentally turned away, so hostess-turnedwaitress Marshell boyd tracked him down at another restaurant and lured him back? then, to the bemusement of his wife, at least one customer offered to buy the stuffed, hatwearing squirrel with a cigarette in its mouth; he’s guarded the lobby for as long as anyone can remember. and the memories, well, they do go back a ways. there were tears, too, of course. Standing over her famed salads, complete with anchovies and homemade dressing, owner Karen Pinkston choked up at the thought of not seeing her beloved customers every day. longtime waitress iris ezell, who was recently voted best Waitress in greenwood,

questioned how she’ll spend her Friday nights now that she’ll no longer be working with people who have become like family. Wearing a tuxedo and cummerbund, lusco’s regular Johnny Jennings walked from booth to booth, remarking over and over, “it’s like the beatles have broken up.” Jennings and his fellow diners had dressed for the occasion. it was only fitting, after all. For those unfamiliar with the famed greenwood establishment—and those are undoubtedly as few and far between as the long Delta miles—lusco’s has been the cornerstone of the community for one hundred years. but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s never heard of lusco’s. they come from near and far, as evidenced on the wall. Dozens of snapshots, autographed headshots, and yellowed newspaper articles proclaim what everyone who has entered those hallowed booths knows: there’s no place on earth like lusco’s. charles and Marie lusco immigrated from italy to the United States in the early 1900s. by the 1920s, they and their three children had settled in the Mississippi Delta. they opened lusco’s in greenwood in 1921 as a grocery store and restaurant. it burned

The hand-written menu board was the first thing patrons checked.

Karen Pinkston, beloved owner of Lusco’s, on it’s last night in operation. Delta Magazine 2021

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The entrance to Lusco’s was a welcome sight and a veritable museum to the decades gone by.

The Litton family of Greenwood: Bill Litton, Martha Bradford, Jack Powers, Ann Litton, Powell Litton and Megan Litton.

Chad McNeer, server 82 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

The Singh family celebrating with each new generation. Bob Singh, Kathy Singh, Holly Ann Singh and Jason Singh Holly Ann and Jason Singh with baby daughter, Ann Pender.

Walt and Swayze Pillow during college years.

Walt and Swayze Pillow during later years with cousins Anna Claire and Charlie Swayze.

Written on a tablecloth by Willie Morris while dining with William Styron. Morris dined at Lusco’s often and had a reservation on August 2, 1999, for dinner. “Someone called to inform us that he had died earlier that day, but had left a note on his refrigerator which read “Going to Lusco’s.” We were all extremely saddened by his death and always loved to see him and visit with him,” says Pinkston.

Nancy, Susan, and Janet Ehret (sisters)

Dutch Ehret, Bebe Pinkston (3rd generation Lusco), and Mary Ehret. Delta Magazine 2021

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Some of Lusco’s signature dishes: The house salad with Lusco’s famous vinaigrette. Fried shrimp in Lusco’s batter.

Fresh onion rings dipped and fried in Lusco’s batter.

in 1929, and the restaurant was closed for several years until it reopened in 1933 on carrollton avenue. it has changed hands through the generations but always remained in the family, passed down like the cherished recipes. then in 1981, fresh off of being newlyweds, andy and Karen Pinkston took the helm. For years, Karen was at the front of the restaurant, and andy manned the kitchen in the back. She’ll tell you she’s not that great with names but has a rolodex filled with years of orders in her mind. So if you went to lusco’s once, chances are Karen knew your order the next time you walked in the door. in a way, an evening at lusco’s is like stepping back in time to a place where dinner was an event and men stood when women left the table. as time has a way of doing, the neighborhood has softened a bit, worn at the edges. inside, among the many mounted animals, hangs a deer head equipped with a red light zip-tied to his nose 84 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Lusco’s caramel flan.

from a season long-ago past. a pad of butter is still stuck to the ceiling above booth sixteen, an ancient reminder of when that used to be the fad for those feeling especially adventurous. and, if you’ve been to the men’s room, you know about the mound of discarded oyster shells just outside. an old curio holds the glassware and a piano with the keys worn to the wood sits quietly against the wall. as for the walls, well, paint chips in places and wallpaper is peeling in parts. but if anything, it adds to the ambiance. (the phrase “if walls could talk” was surely invented for a place such as this.) inside the curtained-off booths, the tables are set with candles and white tablecloths, but the food is all anyone is really paying attention to. and on Friday night, the food didn’t stop coming. Wheeled out on carts by the dedicated wait staff, the heavenly smell of shrimp—there’s no other word but heavenly—sitting in a bath of butter and spices lingered in your nose long after it had

been whisked away. Plates and plates of onion rings rolled out the kitchen door; by 8:30, the kitchen had sold out. Snippets of conversation wafted over the curtained booths: “...the most beautiful girl in tchula.” “is there a Presbyterian meeting in here?” and when taking a photo: “Women lift and separate; men suck in.” over the sound of laughter and storytelling came the scraping and rattling of empty plates; not a single pushed-away plate returned to the kitchen with an ounce of food. When the meal was finished, folks seemed to linger, not quite ready to bid farewell to the old mainstay. it meant so much to so many. Susie and Jim tackett, of greenwood, walked in Friday night, and barely in the lobby, Susie was asking if the pompano was on the night’s menu. between the two, they rattled off half of the menu, the fried chicken, hot shrimp, the e’s crabmeat salad; there’s not a dish they haven’t tried.

Rob McCurdy, Iris Ezell, and Marshell Boyd—all servers at Lusco’s.

Jim tackett has been frequenting lusco’s for forty years and has the stories to match— from throwing butter on the ceiling to folks who get deep into their libations and wander around the restaurant popping their heads over the booths of fellow diners. “it’s just part of the old history,” he said. When she heard lusco’s was closing, Susie made reservations for the last three weekends in a row, trying to experience as much of lusco’s as she could before it closed its doors. Friday night, when they were joined by their children, allie and Walker culver of Madison, Susie said she was tempted to order one of everything. She’ll miss the food, of course, but the atmosphere, she said, is truly something special. Walker culver chimed in, saying, “everybody wants to go to lusco’s.”

bryan Jones recalled a story from years ago when he and his wife, Sara Jones, came to lusco’s to celebrate her birthday. Sara, who refuted parts of bryan’s story, started crying when she was told the pompano wasn’t available that night. but their waiter went to the back, talked to andy, and he cleaned and cooked the fish just for her. the Jones were joined by Don barrett, and the men wore coats and ties “because that’s what our parents would have done.” “i almost cried thinking about this,” barrett said. “i ate here when i was four years old, that was 1949. i’ve been coming here all my life. this is the place to come for people here in the Delta.” barrett recalled being a little boy and his parents giving him nickels to shoot a mechanical bear that used to be in the front

of the restaurant. after using up the roll, and as his parents had a “drink or two,” he would eventually wind up with ten dollars’ worth of nickels. laughing at the memory, barrett then quickly grew somber. “it’s like a death in the family,” he said. longtime waiter rob Mccurdy feels the same. Mccurdy has been at lusco’s for nearly twenty years on and off and can recite his regulars’ orders in a single breath. the idea of lusco’s closing “is breaking my heart,” he said. Friday night, Karen was in the bustling kitchen, too busy to stop for too long and think about what lusco’s has meant not only for her family but for generations of families. andy, as usual, was cooking, head down and focused. as diners passed by the kitchen, Delta Magazine 2021

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Photo of a ’30s-’40s era Cotton Association Meeting at Lusco’s.

The Lusco sisters, Marie Correo, Mary and Sara Gory.

Lobby shot of Marie Lusco. 86 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

they all poked their heads in to say hello. then they said their goodbyes. now, with the last customer gone, the couple turns to what’s next. they’ll still host family dinners at the restaurant in the coming months, and Karen is toying with the idea of starting a new venture, but, for now, she and andy hope to take a welldeserved break. they started working at the restaurant in their twenties and, at sixtyeight and seventy-two, it’s been their lives ever since. “it’s been our home,” she said. “When you came to lusco’s to dine, you were coming to a restaurant, but we felt like you were coming into our home...we always tried really hard to provide consistently good food, and we worked really hard at trying to provide good service. it was important to us.” So for the people of greenwood and the many, many years of beloved customers, she has a message of gratitude. “it’s been everything to us. it was the lifeblood for andy’s grandmother and his great aunt. it’s been ours as well. it’s been our livelihood; it’s been our life. it’s how people know us; it’s how we know people. it’s been a pleasure; it’s been a joy. it’s been fun, but it’s also been the hardest and most stressful thing you could have ever done. but it’s so rewarding, especially when you know that you’ve been able to make a lot of people happy.” as lusco’s heyday draws to a close, you’d like to hope every city has a place like this: some mom-and-pop restaurant made good, run by honest, hardworking people who take pride in their food and offer diners a reprieve from their troubles, if only for a little while. a place that celebrates life’s milestones with the generations of diners who grow up and bring their children and grandchildren to share in the traditions they cherish. and while there may be places similar, treasured by the community they’re a part of, one would think it impossible to replicate the magic created by Karen and andy Pinkston. they captured lightning in a bottle; describing what makes lusco’s special is as hard to define as the Delta itself. So while the lights are turned off for now, if you listen carefully, you still may be able to hear the hum created by years of memories rising from those old booths. and while we can’t blame you for trying and failing to recreate the feel of lusco’s at a new place, maybe keep the butter off the ceiling. DM

We’ll all miss our Lusco’s specials but thankfully we can recreate some of our favorite meals at home with their bottled sauces. Try their famous Broiled Shrimp recipe at home!

LUSCO’S BROILED SHRIMP Prepared the easy way—in your large wok or large skillet. 1 stick margarine 16 medium shrimp (clean and devein) (for 8 per person) salt and pepper ½ cup Lusco’s Sauce

Melt margarine in a skillet. add shrimp and season on one side with salt and pepper. Stir over medium to medium high heat until just pink. turn shrimp over and season the other side. reduce heat and cover. Simmer for three minutes or until shrimp are cooked. remove from heat. Slowly add lusco’s Shrimp Sauce. Serve over rice and with toast. May serve it from the same dish you cooked it in! Make sure to sop up the sauce with your bread. Serves 2

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Holiday

Entertaining Three holIDay parTIes TaIloreD To suIT your faMIly anD frIenDs BY ELIZABETH HEISKELL AND SARAH SMYTHE PHOTOGRAPHY BY RORY DOYLE

hen two creatives combine their high-octane ideas W for food, decor, and entertaining the results are spectacular.

When they are elizabeth Heiskell—cookbook author, toDaY Show food contributor, and chef, and Sarah Smythe—interior designer, event planner, entrepreneur and floral design whiz, you’ve got a dream team. not to mention they’re both Delta girls, raised in the land where entertaining is like breathing. add all the holiday feels to the mix and these two will provide you with inspiration for gatherings throughout the season. because every family has its own traditions and unique ways to celebrate during the holidays, Smythe and Heiskell have collaborated on three christmas gatherings covering the bases from casual to formal. there is something to suit all ages: a formal christmas eve dinner, a cozy breakfast by the fire, and a sweet charcuterie board and cookie bar for the little ones pattering around your house. – C.C.

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Sarah’s Tips and Tablescape Details

MENU Shrimp creole lemon rice grapefruit avocado Salad with Parmesan coconut cake Peppermint espresso Martinis

Formal Christmas Eve Dinner

if you’re dreaming of a white christmas, this one is for you. Smythe brings her considerable eye for detail, tablescapes, and floral design to the forefront. Her preference for white and gold creates a formal backdrop for Heiskell’s menu, which is elegant but simple, keeping it manageable during the busy holidays. “i’ve always loved christmas eve dinner after church as a way to slow down from the craze that is the holidays,” says Smythe. Many are able to celebrate throughout the season, but for Smythe, who owns lagniappe gifts in leland with her mother, Sherry, things don’t slow down until christmas eve. “With a very busy store during this time of year, christmas eve is the first time i feel like my job is officially done, and i can switch gears to entertain. even though it’s just my family and nothing fancy is required, i welcome the chance to pull together many lovely collections and some of my favorite details to set a gorgeous table.”

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use what you have Smythe used her year-round china, Herend elegance, for the basic setting, but switched a few things up to make it more festive. “i’ve changed out the salad plates for a mix of their christmas characters including a gingerbread man, tree, snowman, and a classic Herend bunny in a Santa’s hat. and, i always say work with what you have, and because this is a new collection for Herend i have not quite collected enough for the entire family, so i simply set them at every other place setting. then i added holiday figurines to set atop the elegance salad plate to give them a festive vibe. Know your strengths this is my biggest entertaining tip and is very general, but has served me well. Know your strengths and find co-hosts who have different ones than you. For instance, i love setting the table, the flowers, and the tiny details of an event, while my sister-in-law, ann Marie, loves to focus on the menu and cooking. also, know when you can’t pull something off. i’m often overzealous when it comes to entertaining, but i’ve learned i can’t do it all, hence the gorgeous store bought Sugaree’s coconut cake! floral arrangement For this arrangement, i used a low-profile, linear gold trough filled with varying shades of white roses and hydrangeas, gold pinecones with a neutral velvet ribbon, ranunculus, and a mix of gold, cream, and silver ornaments. it’s actually such a simple arrangement as everything is packed in. once the flowers were in place, i tucked in ornaments that i had simply removed the tops from and inserted floral stems in the opening to secure them into the arrangement. then i just finished it with touches of gold using the pinecones and velvet ribbon.

Tnapki he cunstsomar-eemavbraioliadblereedatChrLagniistmappeas trGie fts.

With lots of family nearby, the beautiful home of Sarah’s brother and sister-in-law, Ann Marie and Will Smythe, is often the location for holiday family gatherings.

Dish patterns and details on the table ～ annie glass ruffle charger ～ Herend elegance dinner and salad ～ Herend christmas salad plates in 4 scenes ～ vietri footed etched-glass compote ～ Herend figurines (gingerbread house, nutcracker, tree) ～ Michael Wainwright truro gold wine glass ～ christmas tree embroidered napkins (lagniappe custom) ～ Hand-painted menu card and place cards by beth Hunt ～ vintage brass candlesticks with modern white and gold taper candles. Buffet details the buffet is styled with a lovely collection of selenite trees in varying sizes and colors of silver, white, and gold. add snow or miniature ornaments when not using for food service. i used some wedding tricks with a fresh floral wreath on the mirror, however, you could easily replace with a fresh greenery wreath! add special touches like the velvet ribbon on the cake dome. Dish patterns and details on the buffet ～ vietri gatsby martini glasses ～ Juliska berry and thread cake stand ～ royal crown Derby fluted gold aves dinner plates ～ Selenite trees in various shapes and sizes (lagniappe gifts)

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Elizabeth’s Menu Tips and Advice “if you’re like me and wait until the last minute to prepare for your dinner parties, christmas eve is particularly hard. i mean i’m still wrapping presents! So it’s best to have a couple of simple recipes you know you can whip up in a flash. i adore this Shrimp creole for that reason, i can get the base made earlier in the day and add the shrimp right when company arrives. and nothing could be simpler than my grapefruit and avocado salad! it is so fresh and is absolutely the best with the creole. Keep it simple “i’ve learned a streamlined menu is all you need when feeding a crowd. this is a lovely menu and just has three basic elements—the creole, a flavorful rice, and a beautiful salad. believe me, during the holidays when most everyone is overindulging, a simple lighter meal is greatly appreciated. and it’s just more doable. add a store-bought dessert and you’re done. Just be sure you have plenty on hand in case anyone wants seconds—and plenty of wine!” prepare ahead “i may be last minute by necessity, but i always try to see if there is anything that can be done ahead,” says Heiskell. in this menu, there are several things that can be made ahead. the base of the creole can be made (omitting the shrimp) earlier in the day or even days ahead of time and frozen. Just warm it up and add the shrimp, cook until they’re pink, and adjust seasonings. the vinaigrette can be made several days ahead of time and kept in the fridge—and the rice can be made several hours earlier in the day.” serve a festive after-dinner cocktail Your guests will feel special and it’s a simple, but memorable way to end the evening!

With years in the wedding industry, I’ve gained many creative friends like Beth Hunt who does calligraphy place cards and menu cards for all of my formal dinners. It’s not at all a requirement, but I love seeing her talent on paper! – SS Delta Magazine 2021

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GRAPEFRUIT AND AVOCADO SALAD 1 4 2 1

head of bibb lettuce grapefruits, segmented avocados, sliced recipe of Disappearing Vinaigrette (see below) Shaved Parmesan cheese, optional

Place 2 bib lettuce leaves on the salad plates to make “cups.” Divide avocados and grapefruits between the lettuce cups. Drizzle with vinaigrette. Sprinkle with shaved Parmesan, if desired. Serves 8

DISAPPEARING VINAIGRETTE 3 cloves garlic, chopped Salt and pepper ¼ teaspoon dry mustard ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 cup good-quality olive oil

Place the garlic in the bottom of a salad bowl; sprinkle with the salt and pepper and mash with a fork to release all the garlic’s juices. Stir in the dry mustard and then the lemon juice. Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the bowl, whisking vigorously until the olive oil and lemon juice are thoroughly combined. Serve over your favorite salad. Store in a Mason jar in the fridge for up to three months.

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SHRIMP CREOLE ¼ ¼ 2 1 1 ½ 2½ 1 ½ 2 2 6 1 8 1 4 ½ 1 1 2

cup bacon drippings cup (about 1-ounce) all-purpose flour cups chopped yellow onion cup chopped green bell pepper cup chopped celery with leaves cup chopped scallions teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon chopped fresh thyme teaspoon black pepper garlic cloves, minced bay leaves ounces tomato paste 16-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained ounces tomato sauce cup seafood stock or 1 cup water pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley tablespoon fresh lemon juice teaspoon hot sauce cups cooked long grain white rice

Heat the bacon drippings in a 4-quart Dutch oven over medium-heat; add the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is dark brown, about 7 minutes. reduce heat to medium; add the onions and next 8 ingredients. cook, stirring often, until the onions are transparent, about 30 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, and cook 3 minutes reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and stock. Simmer 1 hour, partially covered. add the shrimp. cook until they just turn pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley, lemon juice, and hot sauce. remove from heat. Discard bay leaves. Serve over the hot cooked rice. Serves 8

LEMON RICE 1 3 ½ ½

cup uncooked jasmine rice teaspoon extra virgin olive oil cup finely chopped yellow onion cup roughly chopped fresh mint Zest of 1 lemon plus 4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ¼ cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup pine nuts, toasted (optional)

bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over medium high heat. Stir in rice, cover and reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Pour the rice into a fine wire mesh strainer and drain. rinse with cold water until cool. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. add the onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Place the rice and onion in a large bowl, add the mint, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, salt, remaining 2 teaspoons oil, and if desired, the pine nuts, and toss. Serve at room temperature. Serves 8

PEPPERMINT ESPRESSO MARTINI 2 5 3 4

ounces simple syrup ounces fresh espresso ounces coffee liquor ounce vodka Several dashes peppermint Schnapps Chocolate syrup and coffee beans for garnish, optional

chill martini glasses for 30 minutes or longer before serving. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake well for about 45 seconds before pouring between four chilled martini glasses. garnish glasses with extra chocolate syrup if you wish before serving. Serves 4

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Above the fire place hangs a stunning landscape painting by Elizabeth’s talented mother, artist Sheila Gourlay.

No fireplace? No problem. Just find a comfy spot in your home where your guests can relax and enjoy the morning.

MENU egg casserole with asparagus, colored Peppers, and Parmesan cream cheese Danish casserole Fresh Fruit and berries Mimosas and coffee

A stocking lasts forever and these gorgeous Fig & Dove silk stockings with a custom vintage-inspired monogram are filled with special gifts on Christmas morning. – SaraH

Breakfast by the Fire

Smythe and Heiskell agree that christmas morning is wild enough as is and should be kept as simple as possible with an easy breakfast spread. “christmas morning is usually one for the kids and most parents are exhausted! So why not make breakfast fireside so you don’t miss a thing as your family opens their gifts?” says Smythe. Heiskell agrees, “Make breakfast an easy affair. after all, adults should enjoy christmas morning just as much as the children. this egg casserole and cream cheese danish are both make-ahead so all you have to do is put in them in the oven that morning! Simply add fruit, coffee, and mimosas and you’ve got a spread everyone will love.” elizabeth’s tips for serving ～ Simply set out your plates, napkins, and utensils so guests can serve themselves. ～ Keep champagne and juice chilled and ready to pour for mimosas ～ Set out casseroles when warm, pile fruit on a platter, and breakfast is served.

ManTel Decor TIp Mix real and faux greenery “one of my favorite tips is to mix faux and real garland at the beginning of the season—as it is easier to clean up and maintain! then just add in fresh flowers for when you have guests over! i added dendrobium orchids to this mantel because they last longer than many other flowers and can be kept in flower picks. tuck in ornaments to give a bit of sparkle to the space and it’s perfect!”– SaraH Delta Magazine 2021

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ASPARAGUS, COLORED PEPPER, AND PARMESAN EGG CASSEROLE 8 2 1 ½ 8 4 ¾ 2 10 1 2 2 2 1

Tip:

white bread slices, crusts removed pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces cup coarsely chopped fresh spinach cup coarsely chopped yellow, red, or orange bell pepper ounces fresh Parmesan cheese, grated (about 2 cups) ounces pre-shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup) cup goat cheese cups whole milk large eggs, lightly beaten tablespoon Dijon mustard teaspoon Creole seasoning teaspoon Worcestershire sauce teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon black pepper

cut 4 of the bread slices into triangles, cut the remaining 4 bread slices into cubes. arrange the bread triangles in the bottom of a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking dish, top with the bread cubes. cover bread layer with the asparagus, spinach, and bell pepper. combine the Parmesan, goat, and mozzarella cheeses in a small bowl. in a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, mustard, seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and half of cheese mixture. Pour the egg/cheese mixture over the vegetable layer. top with remaining half of cheese mixture. refrigerate about an hour. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. remove casserole from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature about 10 minutes. bake in the preheated oven until set and the cheese is lightly browned, about 50 minutes. Serves 8

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This may be prepared on a flat baking sheet or in a lightly greased 9' x 13" casserole dish as pictured.

CREAM CHEESE DANISH CASSEROLE 1 2 1 1 1½ 1 4 1

17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened large egg teaspoon vanilla extract cups granulated sugar cup chopped pecans ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. line a baking sheet with parchment paper. roll 1 puff pastry sheet into a 12x9 inch rectangle, place on the prepared baking sheet. combine the cream cheese, egg, vanilla, and 1 cup of the sugar in a bowl; beat with an electric mixture on medium-high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread evenly over the prepared pastry sheet. roll the remaining puff pastry sheet in to a 12x9 inch rectangle, place over the cream cheese mixture, pinching the edges of the pastry sheets together to seal combine the pecans, butter, cinnamon, and remaining ½ cup of sugar in a bowl. Spread evenly over the top layer of the pastry. bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 30 minutes. cut into rectangles, and serve warm or at room temperature. Serves 16

Breakfast setup details ～ annieglass Jaxson small plates ～ Michael Wainwright truro gold pitcher ～ engraved mint julep cups ～ Heirloom silver flatware and servers

Vietri Old St. Nick is a fun pattern for festive, casual holiday entertaining

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Sweet Charcuterie &

Kid’s Cookie Bar

Keep the kids and neighborhood gang busy (and happy) with a sweet charcuterie board just for them. it’s an easy way to check all the boxes for the young set with store bought delights— cookies to cut out and decorate, petit fours, candy and, of course, hot chocolate. “in my business, fancy cheese and charcuterie boards are all the rage among adults but children are not the biggest fans,” says Heiskell. “this is the perfect paring to a cookie decorating party. it is so simple because you can purchase all the cookies and candy from your grocery store or local bakery.”

WHAT TO INCLUDE ● variety of store-bought cookies ● favorite candies ● chocolate chips ● marshmallows ● chocolate-covered pretzels ● locally made petit fors and other pastries ● fudge ● cookie dough for rolling ● cookie cutters ● colored icing ● sprinkles ● chocolate milk ● hot chocolate

charcuterie and cookie board ideas When choosing the ingredients, remember to get a variety of color, sizes, and shapes. Make generous piles! this makes your platters look so much more visually appealing. also, be sure to elevate some of your platters and embellish with greenery and other fun decorations. – elizabetH

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Sarah’s niece and nephew Charlotte Carter Smythe and Daniel Smythe were delighted with the sweet charcuterie board!!

i have five nieces and nephews who range in age from two to ten. they love being together and this is a great activity for the wide age range. they can all decorate cookies at varying levels of skill but each one has a blast! this is such a fun (and slightly messy) way to share the holidays with them. and this is an easy concept to scale up in size by simply by adding more quantity to your supplies according to the number of guests. – SaraH Topiary tips these myrtle and rosemary topiaries are perfect for year-round tablescapes. i’ve used them for parties and just to add a touch of green around the house! to make them christmas-y, i simply added green and red grosgrain ribbons! christmas gifting tip Start a collection that you can continue to add to for years to come. i’ve given each of my nephews a mint julep cup engraved with their names and the year all their lives. i know these are gifts they’ll always keep! sarah’s favorite collections to start for easy gifting ～ engraved mint julep cups ～ christmas or everyday china ～ Herend figurines ～ Keepsake ornaments

Afilefudnwifathvosrwiedetsa-toi-sgao hoforlideaaychccohf eild!mug

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Indulge Yourself in Greenwood—Happy Holidays

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Wrap up your holidays in GREENWOOD

211 FULTON ST. | GREENWOOD, MS

662-453-4411

Merry Christmas From Our Home to Yours

123 Main Street Greenwood, MS 662.219.0756

For more than 70 years, Lynbar Jewelers has continually found ways to impress the Mississippi Delta and its guests. Lynbar’s offers an always-evolving selection of fine jewelry, including estate pieces and custom designs. lynbarjewelers.com 307 Howard Street | Downtown Greenwood 662.453.2741

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“Bo Weevil” Law, an ardent and long-time goose hunter with three succulent specklebelly geese, which are often referred to as “The Ribeye of the Sky”! If geese are in the area, Bo is hunting!

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GOOSE HUNTING in the Delta BY HANK BURDINE • PHOTOS COURTESY HANK BURDINE COLLECTION

something alluring and intriguing about the huge canada goose that stirred the blood and soul of those early sportsmen. to hear their honking and calling to one another and then to look up and see the always changing, yet constantly the same, vee formation of channelization by the corps of engineers, after the the canada goose stirred something wild devastating 1927 flood, which and deep within and caused those early took out miles of meandering bends in an hunters to venture out onto the river, to effort to speed floodwaters to the gulf and camp or to stay on boats, while accessing eliminate bottlenecks, the Mississippi the wildness and dealing with the everriver was a wild and pristine place, ever changing nuances of the big Muddy. changing yet always the same in the eyes a goose hunt in those days was a well of a duck or a goose. in those days, there planned out adventure that sometimes were no slack water ports or cut-off oxbow lasted four to five days, if not longer. lakes that opened to the river. cabin Food, provisions, water, liquor, bedding, cruisers and small outboard boats had no guns, ammo, and dogs had to all be place to tie up except on the banks of the carefully planned, laid out, and fast moving and fluctuating river. Unless apportioned so as not to run out of you had a houseboat tied up behind a anything during the trip. there were no willow brake and accessible from land, it Quik Stops on the river during those days, was fairly hard for the average sportsman as there are none today! My Mama, baby to partake of the plethora of waterfowl Jane rule, often commented that on the that annually migrated south along the return trip to greenville from vicksburg river’s confines by the millions. geese, after a goose hunt hosted by my Daddy ducks, swans, pelicans, and other for his anderson, South carolina, friends, waterfowl followed the age-old migration in which she was driven down to return pattern of the Mississippi river, possibly Hal and Baby Jane Burdine preparing to goose upriver with my Daddy, “there was no the largest migration route in north hunt on Luna Bar north of the Greenville harbor america. the Mississippi Flyway attracts entrance to the Mississippi River in the winter of drinking water left on the boat, yet the about 40 percent of north american 1938. The pit had been dug the afternoon before best coffee i’ve ever had was made each waterfowl and shorebirds. it was wild and and lined with plywood for a comfortable and morning from water dipped straight from the Mississippi river.” wooly out on the river during the 1930s, effective hideout. in the 1930s and ‘40s, the series of but avid sportsmen and sportswomen rock dikes had yet to be permanently placed by the corps of were soon able to access it from the newly created lake Ferguson engineers and large sandbars formed each year, only to be washed and lake Whittington. Ducks were everywhere, but possibly the away and moved downstream to other locations during each spring main quarry of those early hunters on the big river was the icon high water event. Ducks would use back channels and slashes along of the north american wilderness, the canada goose. there was

he MIssIssIppI rIver, as we In The DelTa Know IT ToDay, has noT always Been as easIly accessIBle as IT presenTly Is. before the

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Frank Rule from Ruleville on the bow of the BeeJay during an afternoon scouting trip upriver.

Returning from a scouting mission up Luna Chute on a balmy November afternoon in 1939, Hal Burdine is probably looking forward to a libation and good meal aboard his boat, the BeeJay.

Dr. Burrus from South Carolina was a frequent guest on goose hunts in the late 1930’s.

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the river in search of grass seeds and nuts and acorns that covered the water in the rising river. geese, however, feed on the leaves and stems of grassy plants along with berries, roots, and seeds that are found on the large sandbars overgrown with grasses and young succulent tubers. Huge swirls of geese could be seen descending on certain bars from afar, and it was on afternoon scouting missions that these locations could be seen and decisions made as to where to hunt the next morning. but on a sandbar, on the river’s edge, there are no willow trees to hide behind or under and the geese land out in the open, milling about and feeding randomly. Pits had to be dug in the dark in the sand to hide in and many silhouette decoys placed around in hopes of attracting the wary geese. a flock of a hundred or so migrating canada geese, some having been known to travel 1,500 miles in twenty-four hours, would circle overhead slowly losing altitude with two hundred eyes looking down for something amiss. once committed though, a mass descension of honking, cackling, and wind-whooshing wings would settle in over the decoys and pit, and then it was time to get busy! the wild Mississippi river would offer up its bounty to the big guns, but it took a lot of hard work to make her do so! During the 1950s, a series of federal wildlife preserves, funded by the federally mandated duck stamp, were established up and down the river’s migration route. a goose, or a duck, will only go so far south as need be in search of food that has not been covered up by snow. Soon it was noticed that these federal preserves were holding very large numbers of canada geese with ample food and

George Scott of Bolivar County was often onboard the BeeJay for goose hunting excursions. Here, on a willow brake off of Luna Chute, he shoulders a Winchester, Model 12, 12 gauge, full choked 3” Magnum shotgun, an ideal goose gun for long range effective shooting of the big Canada goose.

Hal Burdine returning from a goose hunt on the Mississippi River in 1939.

On one hunt aboard the BeeJay, Hal Burdine hosted a group of his Anderson, South Carolina friends to a 5-day hunt on the Mississippi River from Greenville to Vicksburg. Licensed boat captain, major domo and master chef, Sylvester Paige was always aboard to ensure the safety and comfort of the guests. Delta Magazine 2021

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SETH VANCE

During last year’s snow storm, Delta fields were covered with migrating snow and blue geese. Ample allowable bag limits of these geese allowed for a bonanza of birds for hunters willing to brave the cold and hunt. This hunt supplied many freezers of wonderful eating!

A successful Canada goose hunt today with a mixed bag of migrating and resident geese close by Zumbro Plantation north of Cleveland.

wide-open fields to rest upon and graze around on. and suburbia was being opened up with subdivisions surrounding lush green golf courses being built everywhere. the canada goose is a highly adaptable animal and will go wherever there is open grass and water. Some geese were even captured and purposefully set out on golf courses and suburban lakes for their beauty and tranquil aura. if not hassled or shot at constantly, why leave? there became a subculture of the canada goose that began not to migrate and were known as “resident” canada geese. With no need to migrate back north to their historic breeding grounds, some of the earlier geese had their wings clipped and would raise their babies without ever taking them back north; these geese stayed down south and were 116 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

happy and well taken care of. a goose is no fool and will adapt to changing conditions. However, as some areas were inundated with geese, harassment techniques around airports and some golf courses, a fifty-bird flock of resident canada geese can produce two and a half tons of droppings each year, have caused the resident goose to take up with their wild kin and begin migrating back north. the total numbers of canada geese have steadily been on the rise since near extinction because of unregulated hunting and habitat loss around the middle of the last century. So what are the geese we see during the winter covering the fields all across the Delta, literally by the thousands? these are what are called “snows and blues” or, technically, the snow goose in one of its two different color plumages and the reason you always see them together in an open field. Sometimes, separated and off to the side, you will see a gaggle of brown geese known as the specklebelly goose or white-fronted goose. it is these “snows and blues” and specks that are the quarry of goose hunters today. However, it takes a special type of hunter to be a successful goose hunter in today’s environment. With the current farming techniques available, the grain fields have been harvested and rowed up and grasses have begun to grow in anticipation of spring planting. corn and bean fields have an ample supply of grain left in the fields with succulent young grasses emerging in the tender phase, an absolute smorgasbord for overwintering geese. to attract a thousand geese into a decoy spread takes a lot of decoys, hundreds if not a thousand white silhouettes, rags, wind socks, and white flags mimicking the movement and locations of a live feeding flock of geese. and the incessant calling, honking, and

whistling of that many fake geese is imperative to bringing a thousand geese into a spread and a successful hunt. Ducks will normally fly in groups of three to four or ten to twenty and will light in sloughs, brakes, flooded timber, or flooded bean or cornfields with ample cover or blinds for the hunter to hide in. Yet the goose lights in a wide-open field with no cover and no place for the hunter to hide. Dressed in white coveralls, the goose hunter, after spending several hours putting out decoys in the dark, will just lie down in the mud with his head propped up on a v-shaped ramp and await the geese. and once the hunt is over, the work ain’t, as those hundreds of decoys must still be picked up and packed away in anticipation of the next hunt!! goose hunting is tough business but can be amply rewarding to the avid hunter. because of the rapidly exploding population of the snow goose and the declining number of hunters who are willing to partake of such an arduous sport, their breeding grounds in canada are being severely affected by the expanding numbers of geese returning each season. there is a fear that at some point in time there will be a major destruction of the breeding grounds and then a massive die-off of the snow goose and other waterfowl will be affected by this. to try to prevent this from happening, game laws and bag limits on the snow goose are opened up and expanded in order to hopefully reduce the population to a manageable number. So enjoy the beauty of a field of thousands of white geese in the middle of a gray, wet Delta winter day. and listen for the lonesome honking of the canada goose, as he may just be waddling into your back yard from the golf course nearby. DM

SETH VANCE

The Canada goose is highly adaptable and will settle in anywhere there is water, food and protection. Certainly this flock of resident Canada geese are not being shot at by hunters!

Jessie, a seasoned Black Lab, anxiously awaiting her master Seth Vance of Cleveland to command her to retrieve one of the 8–10-pound geese during last year’s snow storm and freeze up.

Uncle Hank’s Goose Gumbo Bo Weevil says, “Hank’s goose gumbo is so good you don’t need teeth to eat it with!” 5-6 2 2 1 2 1 2

whole skinless goose breasts (10-12 pieces) large yellow onions large green bell peppers large stalk celery with tops and butt removed boxes chicken broth bag frozen chopped okra (optional) packs Louisiana Fish Fry Cajun Gumbo Base Lawry’s garlic salt black pepper

in a large slow cooker or crock pot, place all goose breasts and cover with chicken stock. Season generously with garlic salt and pepper to taste. cook on high for one hour then set to low for twelve hours, or overnight. after cooling down take each breast out and instead of cutting into cubes shred the meat and set aside. Dice vegetables, and sauté in butter. With remainder of cold chicken stock, thoroughly mix in the two packets of gumbo base. combine all ingredients in large pot and bring to a boil then return to low for several hours, stirring and scraping bottom of pot with a wooden flat bottomed roux spoon to keep from burning. Serve in bowl with scoop of white rice in middle. “goose appetit!”

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Save Room For Dessert For 50 years, The Crystal Grill has been serving Delta Classics to generations of families for lunch and dinner. The Crystal Grill is known for its generous portions and legendary desserts. Locals know to save room for dessert. What will you try?

OPEN THURSDAY - SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM 662.453.6530 423 CARROLLTON AVENUE GREENWOOD, MS

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HOME

Winter Wonderland on Grand

family heirlooms and creative accents add grace notes of christmas cheer in every room of this historic Greenwood home. BY SHERRY LUCAS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG CAMPBELL

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Metallic hues add a special shine to the garland decorating the antique wooden mantel in the Meltons’ living room at Christmas.

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Outdoor spotlights, the open porch, and strategic touches of decor make the home a welcome beacon for the season.

olor is king when it comes to Christmas cheer at Lisa and Floyd Melton III’s Grand Boulevard home in Greenwood.

“i was one of those who never really got out of the color world,” says lisa Melton, who leans toward the traditional with a sprinkling of current trends. Sentiment and style are major forces, too, and the annual input of decorator Margie barger helps turn her collection and the setting into a vision that makes the christmas spirit pop. the house’s character, history, and locale all weave into the winter wonderland that is christmas at the Meltons’ each year. the 1916 tudor revival home’s long, barrel-ceilinged second floor was used as a ballroom in earlier times, and the house’s friendly flow contributes to entertaining ease. the grand boulevard setting puts it right on the route of the roy Martin Delta band Festival and christmas Parade. “We have always participated in the party atmosphere of that whole event,” lisa Melton says. “to me, my house is just the prettiest at christmas time.” that first weekend in December, parade festivities amp up the neighborhood spirit with folks gathering in front of houses and setting up chairs along the street. the Melton children, Floyd iv and anne craig, were in second grade and kindergarten, respectively, when the family moved in, in 2008. now, they’re both bringing friends home from ole Miss to enjoy the greenwood hospitality. 122 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Lifesize nutcrackers and potted plants add a festive touch of tradition and cheer at the Melton’s home.

inside the house, family heirlooms, special gifts, and creative accents work their way into charming displays tucked into strategic spots here and there. “i’m very fortunate,” lisa says. “i have a lot of pretty things i inherited from my grandmother and my aunt and uncle. Most every little detail has a story behind it.” the foyer sets the tone with a pair of chairs in burnt orange, black lampshades for cool contrast, some oversized gift boxes to ignite the imagination, and the first of many colorful trees. “it’s definitely a mod pop, and it gets you excited as you walk in the door,” Margie

The foyer sets the tone with an explosion of color and cheer, framed by an old salvaged window from Staplcotn. The captivating setting often entices guests to stop and take selfies.

The dining room’s farmhouse table, hewn from cypress trees on family land and passed down from Lisa Melton’s grandmother, has seen many Christmas celebrations over the years.

Deer heads on hexagonal bases—unique display elements created by designer Margie Barger—draw attention to a buffet, and the Equen Rhodes portrait of Lisa Melton with her children.

Silver candelabras flanking the table were passed down from Lisa Melton’s great-grandmother.

The dining room was designed around a beloved corner cabinet, which becomes an effective display case at Christmas.

Oyster shell trees bring a seasonal touch to a tabletop. Delta Magazine 2021

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Santa and Mrs. Claus Annalee dolls add a merry, mischievous touch to the modern bar.

Green velvet dining chairs are complemented by a poinsettia and gold cone trees—perfect holiday touches in the breakfast room.

barger says. “For me, it takes me back to childhood, walking in and feeling that magic.” an old window frame rescued from Staplcotn in greenwood makes the setting even more enticing. “it gives a little life and light back there,” lisa notes. the corner cabinet in her dining room came out of her grandmother’s home and features cypress doors hewn from the trees that grew on their land. “We brought it out of their house when they moved on and purposely designed the dining room around that piece and the dining room table,” lisa says of the big farmhouse table that was made long before such tables became the rage. every year, she appreciates the pieces even more, for their timeless style and their connection to her maternal grandmother, anne craig Milner (whose name lives on with lisa’s daughter). the cabinet becomes a perfect display spot for handcrafted angels that are family treasures. Her grandmother’s antique italian papiermâché angels, purchased from lina’s interiors in greenville (the store her uncle cary Karlson owned with his family), have now passed down to her. Decor around the dining room’s edges helps set the stage for the holidays. an equen rhodes portrait of lisa and the children, set in front of the family’s heirloom tapestry, enjoys a prominent place. on

the buffet in front, a trio of gold deer heads, set on hexagonal white bases, catches the eye. the creative twist solved an issue of cool accessories that previously lacked the scale to stand out. “i just wanted to build them up and have them fit with the holiday decor,” Margie says of the deer heads. “lisa’s great at finding things with the idea, ‘i know if i buy this, Margie will create something out of it.’” So it was with the white octagonal vases. Margie flipped them to form the bases, providing height, interest, and a unique focal point on the dining room’s buffet. the Meltons’ annual christmas eve family gathering, a sit-down dinner for twenty to thirty people, is always a special occasion, enhanced by the elegant silver candelabras that trace all the way back to her great-grandmother. lenox lowell china, reed & barton burgundy silver, and cherrywood crystal make the setting even more inviting. every room gets a grace note of christmas cheer. in the den, a fur wreath makes an intriguing contrast with to the icy gleam of silver atop a chest in the den. gorham silver ornaments—family collections started by her mother-in-law elizabeth Melton’s annual gifts—dangle on a silver display. the silver horse’s head, a nod to Pillow academy’s Mustangs and used widely for school-related functions, gets another trot around the party circuit during the holiday season.

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design details

ACHIEVE THE LOOK

tabletop decor and countertop details amp up the holiday spirit throughout the entire Melton home. From majestic stags and metallic frosted pinecones, to daughter anne craig’s personalized christmas tree, to the Wise Men, a gift from her aunt and uncle, to the jolly, martini-sipping Santa doll in the home’s bar area, every room has received a festive touch!

Lisa and Floyd Melton

the tapestry inherited from her grandmother becomes a compelling backdrop for soft, snow-white trees and frosted branches that tuck prettily between coral lamps in a sitting room off the master bedroom. in son Floyd Melton iv’s room, the christmas tree provides a highlight reel of his interests, from the pheasant feather topping and snowflake and deer ribbon to the ornaments that tag football, tacky sweater fun, karate lessons, an arcade video game, a Delta sunset, and sports. “every one tells a story in a unique way,” lisa says. “it’s youthful yet masculine.” the tree in anne craig’s room has similar personal flair with fun ornamental nods to fashion and travel. a vintage Santa couple—annalee dolls from the ‘70s with handpainted faces, a gift from aunt craig Karlson—occupies a fun corner at the bar. one year, Margie stuck a big martini glass in Santa’s hand to add extra cheer to the arrangement. “they have little bendable hands, and i couldn’t resist, especially at parade time,” says Margie. “You can’t not be happy seeing Mr. and Mrs. claus. they were a fun addition, so they stayed in the bar area.” little cocktail ornaments on a bar tree take the theme another fun step forward, and the starburst light fixture brings in finishing sparkle. Margie has helped with the Meltons’ holiday decor for more than a decade, after she and lisa met through their work as speechlanguage pathologists. When her son brandt was little, “He used to say i decorated for Jesus’ birthday,” Margie says. “there has always 128 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

The den’s coffee table, in the same style as the dining room table, is another family heirloom from Lisa’s grandmother. End table lamps make way for Christmas trees this time of year.

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In the upstairs den area, a Christmas tree showcases the kids’ childhood ornaments.

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been joy and love behind it. He’s spot on—that’s why i love doing it.” at the Meltons’ home, incorporating family pieces is particularly meaningful. “even though they’re not there, their memory is there.” Stockings hang from a living room’s antique mantel, framed by a fabulous garland that guarantees all will be noticed. the wooden mantel, found in a barn on lisa’s family’s land, came out of her greatgreat-grandmother’s house that burned more than a century ago. the stunning mantel could easily stand alone, but the garland’s layers of neutral coppers and whites give it a festive top note for the holidays. the breakfast room’s green chairs and mirror-top table are cheery year-round, and the antique horns above a print of venice— instruments that were lisa’s grandmother’s—seem to take on more meaning at christmas time. a poinsettia and cone christmas trees pull in the spirit of the season. in the den, tabletop trees are a festive plus, perched on barrels from the old ice House in greenwood that were a treasured find of lisa’s great-grandfather. the three Wise Men, a gift from her aunt and uncle, are a tasteful touch for the coffee table, inherited from her grandmother and made in the same style as that beloved dining room table. Upstairs, the former ballroom turned kids’ hangout has a tree that suits that use, displaying childhood ornaments that reach back to kindergarten crafts. “they honestly use every ornament in the house,” says Margie, “and they enjoy every bit of the glitter i spread around.” the christmas spirit shines brightly outside, too, spotlighting the open porch and front door’s “Joy” sign with skis on either side—a decorative touch for a family that loves the sport. outdoor cutouts of Santa and his sleigh that once merrily traversed the bayou where her aunt and uncle live, were passed along to the Meltons for yard display. “Floyd relit it with rope lights. He wires them up in the yard and puts an angel in the tree,” lisa says. “People enjoy seeing that as they drive down grand boulevard.” it’s one more way the Meltons bring their home to holiday life. DM

Floyd IV’s Christmas tree toasts hobbies and holiday fun, with ornaments about hunting, sports, ugly Christmas sweaters and more.

A nook in the long, barrel-ceilinged second floor, a ballroom in a previous life, works well as a guest room.

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Clarksdale for the Holidays!

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A Touch of Nostalgia old fashioned date recipes for the holidays

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GRANNY’S DATE NUT LOAF This simple dessert was a holiday staple for my maternal grandmother, Bessie Jordan, of Kosciusko. I can’t remember a Thanksgiving or Christmases spent in her home without it! ½ ½ 1 ½ ½

pound dates, chopped pound graham crackers cup chopped pecans pound small marshmallows cup half and half additional graham cracker crumbs to coat

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, until mixture holds together. Pour extra crumbs on a flat surface, form mixture into a loaf and roll in crumbs. Wrap in plastic and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Tipowdered p: Loaf msugar,also ibef desrolirleed.d in

PHOTOS OBTAINED FROM DIGITAL MEDIA SOURCES

ike hearing a favorite song from long ago that instantly conjures up special memories, some dishes also just have a taste of nostalgia. With one bite—or the comforting smell of cookies baking at your grandma’s house—you’re instantly transported to another time and place. this seems even more common with holiday recipes. When we asked readers about their favorite holiday traditions, they almost all involved food. one reader’s recipe that particularly caught my eye was for date pinwheel cookies. Several of my family’s mosttreasured and must-have-every-year recipes include dates as well. i hope you’ll give these old-fashioned holiday treats a try and take a trip down memory lane this season. – C.C.

DATE LOAF CANDY My mother, Mary Katherine Callahan, has made this old-fashioned candy from the 1963 Starkville Junior Auxiliary Cookbook almost every Christmas I can remember. 3 1 1 2 ¼ 1

cups sugar cup milk 8-ounce package of dates cups chopped pecans stick butter teaspoon vanilla

cook sugar and milk to soft ball stage. add dates and cook until dissolved and a small amount of mixture will not stick to a wet hand. remove from heat. add nuts, butter, and vanilla. beat mixture until stiff. roll into a narrow loaf in dampened dish cloth. chill in cloth in refrigerator. Slice loaf into bite-size pieces for serving. DATE SKILLET COOKIES This holiday favorite from my paternal grandmother, Travis Callahan, is a family favorite of all generations. Rolled in coconut or powdered sugar the buttery, crispy sweetness of these cookies is absolutely the best. 1 ¾ 1 2 1½ 1 1

stick butter cup sugar package pitted dates egg yolks cups crispy rice cereal cup chopped pecans teaspoon vanilla

combine the dates, sugar, butter, and beaten egg in a heavy skillet over low heat. While stirring constantly, cook for 5 to 7 minutes until dates dissolve and the mixture is bubbly. remove from heat and stir in vanilla; then add rice cereal and pecans. Mix well. When cool enough to handle, roll into balls and coat with shredded coconut or powdered sugar.

DATE PINWHEEL COOKIES When we asked our readers about favorite holiday traditions, reader Mike Lucas, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, responded, “My mom, Maxine Lucas, always had date pinwheel cookies at Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were my favorite. I think she knew it and I always felt she made them just for me.” He shared the recipe with us! ⅓ ½ ½ ½ 1 2 ⅛ ¼

cup salted butter cup brown sugar cup white sugar teaspoon vanilla egg cups sifted flour teaspoon salt teaspoon baking soda

Filling BACON-WRAPPED DATES WITH ALMONDS Sweet and salty, these are always delicious and so pretty. These were a hit at our December 1989 wedding reception! pitted dates unsalted roasted almonds bacon slices, cut in half or thirds as needed toothpicks

Stuff pitted dates with the almonds. Wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on a broiler pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn up to broil for a minute or two to brown bacon—watch closely! Serve warm.

1 package dates ¼ cup sugar ⅓ cup water dash of salt 1 cup of chopped walnuts

chop 1 package dates in small pieces. bring to boil with ¼ cup sugar, dash of salt, and ⅓ cup water. Simmer 5 minutes stirring often. add 1 cup of chopped walnuts and cool. cream butter and sugar. add vanilla and egg, beat until light. add flour a little at a time and mix well. chill until firm enough to roll. Divide dough in half. Wrap in floured wax paper and put in refrigerator. Spread with filling and roll up tightly. Wrap in wax paper and chill over night. Slice and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

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Ring in the Season Visit Yazoo City

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CLASSIC AMERICAN QUALITY.

Spicy Cornmeal Crusted Simmons Catfish By Chef Steven Goff at the Delta Supper Club at Hopson Plantation - Clarksdale, MS.

FRESH FROM THE POND TO YOUR PLATE. SIM M ONSCAT F ISH.COM

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THROUGH THE YEARS Our holiday traditions

BY SARAH FOWLER

ith the holiday season in full swing, we know many of you are celebrating with friends, family, and plates filled high with yummy treats and Delta delicacies. gathering together is a large part of what makes this time of the year so special and, along with it, traditions old and new. We asked a few of our neighbors to share a favorite way they celebrate the holidays, and from midnight mass to eggnog made in a bathtub to a seafood dip no one quite knows the recipe for, these stories will have you in the mood to start a new holiday tradition of your own!

Fratesi family of Leland a second-generation italian american, lisa Fratesi ivy grew up making ravioli for christmas and tortellini for easter—her parents’ and grandparents’ way of connecting with the home they left behind. as the family grew, tortellini became the star of the show and is now proudly showcased on christmas Day in a big pot of soup. the 142 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

tortellini themselves—two thousand total—are made months in advance from a dough recipe of flour, egg, and oil by lisa’s mother, ninety-one-year-old Josephine baioni Fratesi. “My grandparents, all four of them, came to america between 1895 and around 1901. they made the pasta as a way to make something from the home country

that they liked to eat. they made the dough by hand and the meat filling. traditionally, we made ravioli. i grew up watching my grandparents and my mom make it. i have three brothers Mark, louis, and Kenny, we’re all married and have eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, and we wanted to continue to pass it down throughout the generations. as our family grew and the generations created larger and larger amounts of people, we decided once a year to get together to make them, so we have all hands on deck. We make the dough from scratch. the most important part of it is that my mom, at ninety-one, still helps us make them. it’s hard to give a recipe because she’s done it by hand for so long and for so many people. they’re really, really good, and it’s just gotten to be such fun to make them. it’s really not christmas without the homemade tortellini.” The Tucker family of Drew What started as a family event in the 1930s with a dozen eggs and 100 proof whiskey whipped together in a bathtub has turned into the can’t miss social event in Drew. Friends and family of the Millers gather in the home once owned by tucker Miller’s father and grandfather and concoct the famed eggnog from a stained recipe card that has been handed down for generations. once held on christmas morning, the party is now held a couple of days before christmas and has only been canceled once (during WWii). “they would get up early christmas morning and make the eggnog. it’s an oldstyle recipe. i think the recipe calls for twelve dozen eggs, where they crack the eggs and separate the whites and yellows and put them in different pots. they would use 100 proof old grand Dad whiskey; it had to be 100 proof. i don’t know how many cups of sugar, but it was an exorbitant amount of sugar, and they beat the yellows and added the sugar to them, then drizzled the whiskey in there and beat it in there. they would whip the egg whites up until they were frothy and foamy and blend all that stuff

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS AND STAFF My MoM, Maxine Lucas, always had date pinwheel cookies at Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were my favorite. I think she knew it and I always felt she made them just for me. – Mike Lucas, Parkersburg, West Virginia For Many years and for as long as I can remember, my parents always hosted both sides of our family for Christmas eve breakfast. It was the perfect way to start the day before our Christmas festivities started that evening. Due to many factors, this tradition stopped a few years ago, but it will always be my favorite Christmas tradition. – Mandy Ervin Zuniga, Cleveland

A tradition in our family from both sides is that our stockings are all handmade. My paternal grandmother made mine, my siblings and all my cousin’s stockings, Scott’s godmother needlepointed his, and my mother made all my children’s and all their cousins stockings as well. I love hanging them on the mantel every year and plan to carry that tradition on—one day! – C.C.

Love ThIs quesTIon! Coming from an Italian family, I didn’t know until I got married, that “other people” ate turkey and dressing for Christmas because we always had spaghetti gravy and meatballs. – Vernette Griffin, Yazoo City ThanksgIvIng eve is always nina’s spaghetti. I would be afraid to change it! – Linda (Nina) Smith, Lake Chicot In our FaMILy, what we have the night before Thanksgiving depends on where we are. My husband’s mother, Dale Morgan in Indianola, always has tamales and Doe’s salad the night before Thanksgiving—but my mom, reva Pampuro of Memphis, always has barbecue. – Ann Morgan, Cleveland

together back and forth. They did it in an old baby bathtub, a big old tub, and then they would pour it up and ice it down. That’s the same recipe that we use. My grandfather used it, and he gave it to my mom and dad, and they used it, and they passed it on down now to my brother and me, and we do it. It’s about a hundred-year tradition that we do the eggnog party.”

ChrIsTMas eve we invite all our family and friends over after church. santa always stops by for a quick visit too…It’s always so much fun! – Ginger Gober, Grenada every ChrIsTMas eve, the family gathers at my aunt Jeanne’s home in Cleveland. she always cooks gumbo and rice while my cousin, Johnny, smokes a brisket. Following dinner and dessert, we all squeeze into the living room to drink wassail (hot cider and spices) while my little cousin reads the Christmas story. We end the night by singing Christmas carols while aunt Jeanne plays piano. she will undoubtedly make my husband, kevin, sing a solo— “o’ holy night.” It doesn’t get more “norman rockwell” than this! – Holly arp, oﬃce manager

Maggi Mosco with her mother Kerri on Christmas morning.

eaCh year, my family and I go to Christmas eve mass. after mass, we drive over the levee to our hunting club to have dinner at the cabin. My mother and aunt always cook homemade meatballs and spaghetti gravy, and it is always served over rigatoni noodles. There is nothing like waking up and sitting on the porch looking at the lake drinking a mimosa out of a Christmas glass with my mother on Christmas morning. – Maggi Mosco, graphic designer

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My ChILDren are noW 23 anD 27, but they still stay at my house on Christmas eve and my husband cooks the same thing on Christmas morning he has cooked for them since they were little. Chocolate chip pancakes and tons of bacon!! one year we spent Christmas in Fort Myers, Florida and even there it was the same, chocolate chip pancakes and bacon! – Pam Parker, managing editor I Love our FaMILy TraDITIon of the night before Christmas. no matter where my kids live, we always gather back at “home” for our tradition of snacks, hors d’oeuvres and eggnog. We open one gift each and spend family time playing card games! My favorite night of the year! – Kristy Kitchings, account executive I Love DeCoraTIng my Christmas tree every year! I have Kristy and Todd on Christmas Eve several special ornaments that my grandmother made for me and it brings back so many happy memories. – Ann Nestler, account executive our TraDITIon is Does hot tamales on Christmas eve then Candlelight Christmas at the church. each year my mother cooks her favorite recipe—granny’s Lemon squares!! – Wendy Mize, account executive We aLWays Make our FroM-sCraTCh gingerbread house between Christmas and new year’s eve. The process takes a few days, so that’s a great time to do it, when it’s more quiet and the kids are home from school and there’s not as much happening. It was always hard to make them hold out until after new year’s eve to eat the thing! – Cristen Hemmins, account executive sunDay MornIng, aLL oF My ChILDren and grandchildren—after they have opened their presents from santa Claus at their houses—come over to my A throwback photo of Cristen Hemmins’ crew making and eating their annual house to open presents and have brunch. We always have the same thing; several kinds of quiche, cheese holiday gingerbread house! grits, baked rum fruit, honey Baked ham, LaBaguette pastries and homemade rolls. This year I hope to cut way back on the presents! – Joy Bateman, account executive every oTher year, we host the “holly Follies” at our home for our extended family on Christmas eve. The theme varies from year to year, but festivities always include holiday skits and delicious food; we end the night by reading the Christmas story and singing Christmas carols as a family from a song book illustrated by our boys. – Rebekkah Arant, copy proofreader aFTer DInner on ChrIsTMas eve, and nestled around the fire, I always read with a child in my lap to look at the pictures, the Cajun Night Before Christmas, and always in Cajun dialect... “Cuz dere on de bayou when I stretch my neck stiff... Dere’s eight alligator a pull in’ a skiff! an a little fat drover with a long pole-ing stick, I know r’at away got to be ole st. nick.” – Hank Burdine, storyteller extraordinaire our sTanDBy Menu for both Thanksgiving and Christmas is potato salad, fruit salad, baked beans, cornbread dressing, southern rice dressing, beef tenderloin, and turkey with rhodes frozen dinner rolls. Dessert is always banana pudding, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and Texas fruit cake. our tradition is always to swap Christmas ornaments with my sisters and all in-laws and (outlaws). It is a special time to reflect on a wonderful life, well lived and blessed beyond measure. – Emma Jean ompson, bookkeeper and mama to all the office.

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The Shurden family still gathers every Christmas Eve for church and then home for great food.

Shurden family of Drew For the Shurden family, “it’s all about the food.” Stafford Shurden’s grandfather was one of eighteen children, and every year they all gather together at the holidays. What started in the early 1960s—with family that lived as nearby as across the highway—has continued into a tradition relatives cross state lines for. It’s the only place you can get Aunt Nell’s seafood dip. She’s since passed, but her son Bill continues to make it every year. Just watch out for the bowl of horseradish on the table that resembles a desert; that family joke will be making the rounds for years to come. “My grandfather died in 1979, and even though it was just my grandma there, we always did it at her house, and it would be like thirty-five Shurdens over there in her little bitty house. We always cooked two big beef tenderloins. Somewhere down the line, it got to be my job to cook the beef tenderloin. After my grandmother got a little too old to handle it, it moved to my dad’s house. In 2006, my dad passed away, and I bought his house from my mom, so we continued the tradition there. At least for the last twenty-five years, we’ve been doing it there at that house. “Me and my uncle are the only two left (in Drew), yet everybody still drives all the way to Drew every Christmas Eve. They’re coming from Louisiana and all over to come here to Drew because that’s the tradition, and nobody wants that to die.” DM

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GRAMMY Museum ® Mississippi invites you, your family, and friends to come visit us this Holiday season. With an exciting new interactive Mississippi Map and our temporary exhibit, MTV Turns Forty: I Still Want My MTV, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

4FF XFCTJUF GPS TQFDJBM )PMJEBZ IPVST Monday Closed Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. 662.441.0100 www.(3"..:.useum.4.org

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HISTORY

clarksdale’s historic

FLETCHER FIELD Created During World War ii For training Cadets BY SHERRY LUCUS • PHOTOS BY AUSTIN BRITT

This special airﬁeld holds a treasure trove of history and memories that connect, both globally and locally, to an era of war, great sacriﬁce, and the young men dedicated to serve

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apan’s 1941 surprise attack on pearl harbor, hawaii, plunged america into world war II, and aviation was critical in the effort.

Fletcher Field was among several Mississippi airfields pressed into service for training cadets. the South’s warmer weather and milder winters, plus the flat land of the Mississippi Delta, provided good flying conditions for training. as chronicled in former research librarian Philip carter’s My Southern life

PHOTO COURTESY OF DELTABORN.BLOGSPOT.COM

POW German soldiers working on the Bailey Bridge which was built across the Hushpuckena River three miles west of Alligator in 1945.

blog, spring 1942 saw the U.S. government’s contract with the clarkdale School of aviation, establishing a primary flying school north of clarksdale. Fletcher Field was named for local football hero Jack Hughes Fletcher, an aviation cadet killed in an accident during training at curtis Field in texas in 1941. construction was immediate and rapid, and the first class started training that July at Fletcher Field. clarksdale’s welcome mat rolled out for the facility. individual and civic donations funded a recreation center, catering to

officers anytime and to cadets during “open post,” carter writes. a reading room and lounge was sponsored by the local red cross, and local citizens invited cadets to their homes for a home-cooked meal or a weekend stay. “the whole country was at war. it wasn’t just the military fighting,” betty Porter, a 1943 bobo High graduate in clarksdale recalls, in an interview archived in the Fletcher Field Project. the project is a current effort to preserve the airfield’s history and tell the story of World War ii

in clarksdale and coahoma county. citizens sacrificed for the common good, limiting consumption through rationing, and many families had relatives and/or close friends in the military. local boys signed up right after graduation. the USo, located in the basement of the old elks club in downtown clarksdale, provided entertainment for the military personnel at Fletcher Field, and many local girls attended the wellchaperoned dances there. as the site for 69th army air Force Delta Magazine 2021

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Army Lieutenant Lorry Stokes, in dark jacket in front on far right: Commandant of the POW camp with other American soldiers and some German POW’s.

Flying training Detachment from 1942 to 1944, Fletcher Field saw more than 3,000 cadets from across the country receive 65 hours of primary flying instruction over a three-month period, research for the Fletcher Field Project shows. For many young recruits, it was their first time in an airplane. Fletcher Field’s military training facility employed about 600 civilian and army personnel—a count that included 100 flight instructors. Successful cadets went on to basic training, received their wings, then moved on to advanced and specialized training before being sent to europe and Southeast asia. civilian flight instructors were committed to graduating the best recruits, but occasional lapses in regulation happened. two fatal accidents that involved civilians in fall 1943 prompted stricter oversight to prevent and report violations, carter’s blog details. Stearman 17s and later Fairchild Pt-23s were used in flight training. in 1943, Fletcher Field also became the site of a prisoner of war camp for german and italian prisoners, and about 1,000 prisoners were sent to branch camps in coahoma county for internment. Many

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A display case of artifacts which are housed in the north terminal.

labored on area farms, helping fill a shortage with so many men away at war. lorry Stokes, commanding officer at the

Fletcher Field camp, and coahoma county agent Harris barnes worked together to assign groups of PoWs to work on various sites, and workers were paid 80 cents a day. there was even a PoW band that provided music when there were dances on the base. Some PoWs were able to continue to ply their skills in the clarksdale area, as carpenters, bricklayers, artists and sculptors, local research and remaining artifacts show. local stories, too, tell of friendships forged during that time, and family treasures such as paintings, wood carvings, hooked rugs and other memorabilia that highly skilled PoWs left behind. For instance, brick sidewalks, a curving wall and swimming pool at the Dickerson home at clover Hill were constructed by PoWs, as evidenced by the recently discovered “PW 1945” inscription on concrete work there. in the Fletcher Field Project, chuck lamb’s photography of PoW relics, Delta council archives provided by Frank Howell, Harris barne’s son John’s personal recollections, and PoW work forms from H.o. Mosby Farm provided by his granddaughter lisa Mosby

Lieutenant George Dudley Pieck was an army officer and part of the flight training detachment at Fletcher Field.

Woods, helped pull together the PoW work story at Fletcher Field for the first time. after the war and selloff of surplus planes and equipment, the airfield was deeded to the city of clarksdale, with a joint board of city and county members appointed to oversee its operation. Fletcher Field’s next role came in support of concerns closer to home. Mabry anderson, ben White and berkley ellis leased it to open the Mississippi valley aircraft Service, an agricultural flying firm, and bought and converted surplus Stearmans to cropdusters. innovations ensured its success, carter’s history of the airfield shares. the firm was sold to another agricultural business by 1970. two large hangars at Fletcher Field remain today—one in use for private plane storage and a mechanics shop, and the other housing an ag flying company. the airport mechanic resides in what was once the operations building. extension of the runway and construction of the new north terminal and additional hangars for private airplanes on the property’s northern end in recent

years poised clarksdale-coahoma county airport and Fletcher Field for continued service in the 21st century. the rural public airport’s use is 99.9 percent private aviation—agricultural, corporate visitors,

tour groups, blues fans, duck hunters, etc. the airport averages 99 aircraft operations a day, about three-quarters of the aircraft based there are single-engine planes, with the remainder multi-engine and small jets, according to the city of clarksdale’s website. even as local and airport leaders look to the future, they don’t want to leave the airfield’s vital history behind. When airport offices moved to the new north terminal, two new roads were named in honor of Jack Fletcher, for whom the airfield is named, and Jack Mcclennen, an aviation cadet fatally injured in a 1942 crash at Fletcher Field, says coahoma county Supervisor Paul Pearson. “it was important to me. it’s part of history,” he says, recalling the fresh-faced recruits pictured in training class yearbooks from that era. “they were just kids.” aware of the airport’s World War ii history, “We, over the years, tried to collect as many items as we were able to save from the old military hangars at the south end,” airport board chairman David Huggins says. “We have a few of the military plane parts, a prop, the piece of a wing,” and made a small display of those early on.

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L.T. Payne, flight instructor, August 21, 1943.

One of two existing hangers built for the flying school.

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those efforts were “minuscule,” he says, compared to what the steering committee in the Fletcher Field Project has been able to gather. in 2018, the airport board, at the request of local residents, approved plans for exhibits in the north terminal that document Fletcher Field’s story. the Fletcher Field Project’s ad hoc group of 15-20 local volunteers and another half dozen or so out-of-county contributors put out the call for pictures, memorabilia, artifacts and recollections. Judy Flowers’ research for a 2016 clarksdale and coahoma county picture book for the carnegie library, provided a strong foundation, and the collection continues to grow as word spreads. Pearson and his wife, Jen Waller, manage the private Facebook page, Fletcher Field Project of clarksdale, coahoma county (simply request to join), which shares photos and updates. “Many of airport board members, including myself, didn’t realize so many artifacts were in the hands of people who had direct involvement with either the prisoners of war, or the army air Force training base,” Huggins says, and project members have been able to coordinate donations or loans for a potential permanent exhibit. “they’ve done a wonderful job.” He notes, too, a sense of urgency in gathering stories, documents and memorabilia before time claims more lives and memories of those who lived through the World War ii era in clarksdale. this past February, the airport board budgeted $5,000 for the project. the startup funds spurred preparations for last July’s visit by two widows of Fletcher Field flight instructors, sisters Martha cooper Quinn and Doris cooper neal, now in their 90s. a reception held by the airport board, and an initial display of donated artifacts, pictures and memorabilia welcomed their clarksdale visit. the sisters’ tales of those World War ii days in clarksdale, and getting swept off their feet by their future husbands, enlivened both a local newspaper feature and the airfield’s history. their donations of more pictures, artifacts and a video of recorded memories adds to the stash of materials bound for a more extensive Fletcher Field exhibit in the works. that early, temporary display remains

Work orders from the Mosby farm documenting POW work that was done there in 1945.

Bricks marked “PW 1945” are evidence of construction performed by POWs at the Dickerson home at Clover Hill.

on public view at the airport’s north terminal. as the Fletcher Field Project pursues grants for the permanent exhibit, they have longer term goals for a major grant to restore the operations building, its possible designation as a Mississippi landmark and a historical marker on U.S. 61. the hunt is still on for artifacts connected to Fletcher Field, to further bring its story to vibrant life. the project adds another layer of tourism potential to an area already steeped in blues music, civil rights and literary history and more. visitors, particularly

those from great britain, are keen to know more about World War ii’s impact on this side of the atlantic ocean. “it was so prominent in their country, but they weren’t sure how it affected us and what we did,” says clarksdale-coahoma county tourism Director bubba o’Keefe. “blues music is a magnet, but when they get here, they want to explore all aspects of our community, both past and present, and Fletcher Field was such a big part of our community here,” o’Keefe says. “it adds another facet to our gem.” DM

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Touching lives. Powering the future. At Entergy Mississippi, the communities we serve are the communities we call home. That’s why we stay active and involved – because we know our responsibility reaches beyond the power grid. So, we invest in education and industry, while developing new solutions to power tomorrow. As a community, our successes fuel each other. We’re all on a circuit. And together, we power life. entergybrightfuture.com

154 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Shop Leland for Christmas

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Mississippi Blues Marathon, November 13 Josh Turner, November 27

FESTIVALS, MUSIC & FUN THINGS TO DO November 3-6

Jackson

November 7

Yazoo City

November 12-13

Greenville

Mistletoe Marketplace

Christmas Open House

Rivertown Christmas Open House

Mississippi Trade Mart mistletoemarketplace.com

visityazoo.org

wceams.com

November 7, 11 am – 3 pm November 4, 7:30 pm

Cleveland,

Lonestar Bologna Performing Arts Center bolognapac.com

Vicksburg

Classics in the Courtyard Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation visitvicksburg.com

On the Square visitoxfordms.com

Mississippi Capitol Complex msbluesmarathon.events

Memphis

Fieldaze Memphis 2021

Jackson

November 13, 5 pm

Harvest Festival

2021 Glow Run 5k & Fun Run

MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum msagmuseum.org/events/harvest-fest/

Camp Seminole starkville.org

November 11-13 November 5-7

November 13

Mississippi Blues Marathon

November 9-13 November 5, 12 pm

Oxford

Holiday Open House

Grenada

November 13-14

Holiday Open House

greatergrenada.com

Downtown Cleveland

Jackson

Starkville

Cleveland

memphisadventures.com/fieldaze

November 11-28 November 6, 9 am

Vicksburg

Vintage Motorcycle Show Downtown Vicksburg visitvicksburg.com

Tunica

Tracy Lawrence Fitz Casino & Hotel fitzgeraldstunica.com

November 13-14

Hernando

Hernando Christmas Open House

Orpheum Theatre Orpheum-memphis.com

Hernando Courthouse Square visitdesotocounty.com

November 12 November 6, 8 pm

Memphis

Disney’s The Lion King

Memphis

November 14

Marshall Tucker Band

Foreigner

The Soundstage at Graceland gracelandlive.com

Brandon Amphitheater brandonamphitheater.com

November 15, 7 pm

Brandon

Cleveland

Words & Music: Don Bryant Lonestar, November 4

Grammy Museum grammymuseumms.org

November 18

Greenwood

Holiday Open House greenwoodmschamber.com

November 19

The Commodores Gold Strike Casino Resort tunicatravel.com

156 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Tunica

Delta Magazine 2021

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Disney’s The Lion King, November 11-28

Mistletoe Marketplace, November 3-6

December 4

Oxford

Ornament Auction Yoknapatawpha Arts Council oxfordarts.com

December 4, 8 am

Vicksburg

Reindeer Run 5k Catfish row visitvicksburg.com

December 4

Vicksburg

Holly Days Arts & Crafts Show visitvicksburg.com

December 4 56th Annual Christmas on Deer Creek, December 4 November 20, 7 pm

Memphis

December 2-5

Greenville

Luke Combs

Miracle on 34th Street

Levee Street Marketplace visitvicksburg.com

Fedex Forum fedexforum.com

Delta Center Stage deltastage.com

December 7, 7:30 pm

November 21, 2-5 pm1

Ridgeland

December 3

Renaissance Holiday Open House

Delta Band Festival

Renaissance at Colony Park renaissanceatcolonypark.com

greenwoodmschamber.com

Starkville

Eggbowl

Chris Stapleton

Memphis

Josh Turner

Ridgeland

Chimneyville Arts Festival

December 21 December 4 Vicksburg

Leland

56th Annual Christmas on Deer Creek

Old Fashioned Christmas Open House

lelandchamber.com/christmas-on-the-creek

Downtown Vicksburg downtownvicksburg.org

December 4

December 1-12

Oxford

Holly Jolly Holidays Ice skating, carriage rides, visits with Santa and more! visitoxfordms.com 158 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Tunica

Rodney Carrington Horseshoe Casino tunicatravel.com

Bill Waller Craft Center natcheztracetravel.com

The Soundstage at Graceland gracelandlive.com

Jackson

Homestead for the Holidays

December 17 December 3-4, 10 am-4 pm

November 28

Bologna Performing Arts Center bolognapac.com

MS Agriculture & Forestry Museum discoverjxn.ms

Fedex Forum fedexforum.com

Davis Wade Stadium starkville.org

November 27

Memphis

Cleveland

Mountain Holiday

December 9-10 December 3

November 25, 6:30 pm

Greenwood

Vicksburg

Levee Street Marketplace Christmas Open House

Memphis

Hamilton Orpheum Theatre Performances through January 2 Orpheum-memphis.com

Memphis

Jason Mraz

December 31

Cannon Center thecannoncenter.com

2022 Tupelo New Year’s Eve Party Downtown Tupelo tupelo.net/newyear, tupelo2022

Tupelo

LITERARY EVENTS William Boyle

Shoot the Moonlight Out

Spa

AT THE ALLUVIAN

November 1, 6 pm: Square Books, Oxford squarebooks.com Tom Clavin & John Evans

Lightning Down November 3, 5 pm: Lemuria Books, Jackson lemuriabooks.com David Magee & Ivan Maisel

Dear William & I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye November 3, 6 pm: Square Books, Oxford squarebooks.com David Magee

Dear William November 4, 5 pm: Lemuria Books, Jackson lemuriabooks.com Suzanne Stabile & Dr. George Patton

The Journey Toward Wholeness November 9, 12 pm: Lemuria Books, Jackson (Virtual even on Facebook Live) lemuriabooks.com

32 5D Howa rd St reet G reenwood, M S 662- 4 51- 670 0 t hea l l uvian.com/t he-a l l uv ian-spa

Dante Stewart & Mateo Askaripour

Shoutin’ in the Fire November 10, 6 pm: Square Books, Oxford (Virtual event on Zoom) squarebooks.com Joshua Nguyen & Maggie Graber

Come Clean November 12, 5 pm: Lemuria Books, Jackson lemuriabooks.com Dr. Robert Khayat

60: A Year of Sports, Race, & Politics November 18, 6 pm: Square Books, Oxford squarebooks.com Robert St. John & Anthony Thaxton

Walter Anderson: The Extraordinary Life and Art of the Islander November 26, 11-2 pm: Lemuria Books, Jackson lemuriabooks.com Steve Robertson

Dawg Pile December 4, 11 am: Lemuria Books, Jackson lemuriabooks.com

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160 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Come visit and stay a while to enjoy all the fun!

2021

December 3-4 December 10-11 December 17-18 December 10-11

TOURHARDINCOUNTY.ORG

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DELTA SEEN

Lusco’s last night of operation before closing on September 25 Photos by Johnny Jennings

Cliff Camp, Anthony Cascio, Shirley Cascio, John Doty Porter, Gale Porter, Christy Camp, Brenda Persons, Barbara Williams, Romana Leflore, William Leflore, Patty Brock, Bethe Becker, Dave Becker and Dale Persons

Amy and Timmy Lott

John and Kathryn Pittman, Cathy and Johnny Jennings, Tommy and Susan Gregory

John Trusty, Lauren Trusty, Mary Jane Trusty, Kristen Trusty, John Reed Trusty, III and Reed Trusty

Woods and Lynn Eastland, Kirkham and Hilda Povall, Bond and Jim 162 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

Woods and Lynn Eastland, Kirkham and Hilda Povall, Bond and Jim Moore, Laura and Walton Gresham

John Lucas, Hal Flowers, Tell Flowers, Catherine Lucas, Robert Lucas, Mickey Naaman, Beth Naaman, Toni Lucas, Aubrey Lucas and Marsha Lucas

DELTA SEEN

Will Yandell, Lewis Williamson, Jennifer Yandell, Barbara Williamson, Elizabeth Williamson and Russell Williamson

Eric Meier, Sykes Sturdivant, Cindy Sturdivant, Jake Keiser, Rose Bowman, and Chris and Randy Ouzts

Doug Bowden, Mark and Dot Miller, Oliver and Julia Williams, Edi and Andrew Mcllwain, Martha and Garner Williams and Kola Sue Bowden

Jim and Susie Tackett, Allie and Walker Culver with Paula and Bob Provine

Avery Lee, Liza Booth, Karen PInkston, Claire Green, Kelly Connell and Kitt Bailey

John and Kathryn Pittman, Johnny and Cathy Jennings with Susan and Tommy Gregory

Dr. Dick Meek with Charlene and Allan Wood Delta Magazine 2021

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DELTA SEEN

Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet at GRAMMY Museum MS on September 20 Photos by Christian Marquez

Vicki and Wayne Spell

Anna and Alan Sledge

Aquarius and Geoff Terry

Ben and Lauren Powell

Betty and Ned Mitchell

Bill and Nancy Laforge

Dr.’s Terrence and Theresa Rash

Emily and Andrew Whalen

Heather and Brian Robinson

Kevin, Shelby and Anita Cox

Kristen and John Land

Laquisha Williams and Linda scott

Sarah and Brig Aylward

Sean and Susannah Wessel

Wilma and Bob Wilbanks

Linda and Roy Collins

Nancy Havens and Paul Janoush

Representative Tracey and Nicole Rosebud

Ryan Reddick, Mary Parker Janoush and Mary Catherine Roark

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DELTA SEEN

Bologna Performing Arts Center Diane Warwick on September 16 and Martina McBride on October 14. Photos by Gunner Sizemore and Maggi Mosco

Vonda Meadows, Sara Sprouse, Boyce Christopher with Ezell and Joann Williams

Sandra nad Andy Campbell

Cedric and Shaquonna Burnside, Sarah Story and Laura Howell

Jeff Nick, Renee Flynt and Betty Lynn Cameron

Nancy Boggs, Scottie and Rodney Batts, and Richard Boggs

Morgan McCain, Hannah McNeer, Maribeth Kovac, Lauren Cummins, and Neely Antici

Shine and Susan Sizemore with Kendall and Sid Melton

Jerry and Beverly Short

Sandra Avritt and Kitty Kossman

Kathleen Lott with Diane and Vic Aguzzi

Kendall Roberts, Ferris Love Capocaccia, Alex Janoush, Shelby Swafford, Maggi Mosco, Destiny Livingston, Shelby Kitchings, and Kerri Mosco Delta Magazine 2021

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DELTA SEEN

Zina Taran, Pat Brown, Mary Lynn Powers and Nancy Stone Street

Photos by William Powell

Morris

and

Jack Jackson and Melissa Moyse

Mike and Betsty Mauceli, Leslie Davidson and Rose Marie DeMarrer

Charlie and Jan Brock

Stephanie Lynn Shurden and Rose Strahan

Hilda Povall with Don and Nancy Joe

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Euphus, Cody, Caroline and Scarlett Ruth

Sandra Stillma, Evelyn Brown and Camille Collins

Candace Dalton and Lauren Caston

Lauren Powell, Tara Howse and Candace Lori Dalton

Tina and Charles Young

Photos by Mary Catherine Brooks

Delta Arts Alliance Annual Membership Meeting on October 12 in Cleveland

Austin Frye, Jack Jackson and Mary Lynn Powers

Lincoln and Eden Brent with James Horton

Ashley and Jeff Lorenzo

Euphus Ruth opening reception at the E.E. Bass Center in Greenville on October 8.

Tricia Walker and Tara Howse

Dana Baugh, Don Conger and Carol Hilburn

Ron Koehler and Pete Horne

Will Garrett and Libby Switzer

DELTA SEEN

A selection of photos by Delta Magazine readers

Houston Weaver, Maggi Mosco, Kerri Mosco, Kate Weaver and Jay Weaver celebrating Houston’s 76th birthday

Bill Lucket, Jen Waller and Howard Stovall

Scott Coopwood, Wayne Spell, Cheryl Comans, Lea Turnipseed and Haley Fisackerly

Clay Cavett with Ben Napier at McCormick’s at The Inn at Ole Miss

Leah Rupp Smith and Anna Moak

Drew High School classmates from classes1964 and 1965. From left, Butch Mixon, Jody Callender Couch, Don Blackwood, Maret Maxwell, Dudley Waldrop, Sammy Maxwell and Pete Baughman

Maggie and Mike Tyner, Margaret and Pete Johnson, Linda and Terry Dulaney, Sheryl and Abbott Myers, Claire and Dudley Barnes, Lynn and Hartley Kittle, taken in Italy at Scilla on Strait of Messina

Thomas Coopwood and Abbey Bufkin

Roger Dautrey of the rock band The Who with Maxine Harlow Delta Magazine 2021

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Thefinalword

The Promise of Christmas stark beauty inhabits the Mississippi Delta during this darkest time of the year. black blankets of rich alluvial soil, stripped of crops, stretch endlessly along the roads. Silhouetted against heavy gray skies, lonely willows point their gnarled, old-lady-finger branches skyward. Hawks sit in silent sentinel, scoping for a meal. Smoke drifts from a teetering kindling-like shack with multicolored christmas lights hanging haggardly in a window. but against the season’s gloaming, the promise of christmas shines in those lights. to me christmas is three equally important parts: anticipation, observation, and celebration. anticipating christmas meant working for many of us home from school. in clarksdale, high school guys and college guys from ole Miss, State, DSU, and colleges around the country tended the haberdasheries on Yazoo and Delta. each place offered its own aromatic environment—Wilie’s, where i worked, smelled like canoe and british Sterling; Shankerman’s like Jade east; landry’s like english leather. anticipation meant reliving traditions: the christmas parade, the brightly lit white-clad waving mechanical Santa claus on West Second, the tinny sound of carols played on a speaker hanging on the alcazar Hotel. it was fun to watch our friends freeze in live nativity scenes posing as Joseph, Mary, and abiding shepherds and hoping that the pony posing as an ass was gentle. i marveled at how many Methodists in the singing christmas tree could climb so high, sing so beautifully, and not fall into heap of white and red robes and battery-lit candles. e observation of christmas always meant church first and that meant midnight Mass and the mommas crying when Joyce Mcalexander sang Ave Maria and the smell of incense and some revelers showing up late in their tuxedos and gowns, well into their cups of eggnog, and the hope that it would be snowing when Mass ended or that trent Wood or Dick Hawley had really seen Santa on channel 5’s radar. christmas Day meant opening presents and,

Sparky Reardon has lived in Oxford since 1976. When people ask where he’s from, he says, “Clarksdale!”

168 | noveMber/DeceMber 2021

BY SPARKY REARDON

of course, food. Somehow, amid the din of greeting cousins coming from afar (maybe Jackson), the screech of children, the obvious brooding of teenagers, the orders of mommas in the kitchen, there would appear platters of ravioli and pasta and salad and sausage made by our own hands. and wine. ere was turkey and dressing for the in-laws with less adventurous palates. before the last plate was cleared, aunt Marjorie (“Moi” to us) would take her place at the piano taking requests. “Play Sheik of Araby!” “Play Darkness on the Delta!” “Play Oh, Marie!” and with a heavy left hand that turned the simplest of tunes into a boogie, she played and played. but that is an understatement—she rocked. We sang and we danced and we laughed and we cried. it’s a scene that plays vividly even today on the 8MM memories of my clarksdale christmases. i fully believe in christmas as a holiday celebration that lasts for twelve days. according to my grandmother, we were destined for six or seven more years in Purgatory if we took our christmas tree down before the epiphany. During those twelve days, we didn’t have a partridge in a pear tree or ﬁve golden rings, but we had reunions and bachelor clubs, cotillions, cavaliers, and Yuletide revelers, and if the beer was cold and the tams, the Pieces of eight, the basement Wall, or Poo nanny were on stage, there would be some lords a-leaping and long after the party had ended riding the backroads alooking for one more beer. nothing to do on new Year’s eve? no problem. Just get eight or ten buddies to chip in, hire a DJ or local band, set a dress code of anything from jeans to tuxes, rent the cat cave or alcazar ballroom, dance like there’s no next year, kiss your date at midnight, hope the pipes don’t freeze, and then go looking for one more beer. anticipate. observe. celebrate. in the Delta, it’s the trinity that truly makes it the most wonderful time of the year. at and looking for that one more beer. DM

Fred Zepponi III 662-418-6767 fzepponi@mossyoakproperties.com

5741 Hwy 45 Alt South West Point MS 39773 O ce 662-495-1121

223 Sharkey Avenue Clarksdale MS 38614 O ce 662-624-8282

Darrell Bullock 662-392-3010 dbullock@mossyoakproperties.com

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