2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
3
18 Red Knights
a o t the park! h a a s p e i g im t n a n .....fu Lake T , Camping ishing
Boating, F
In this issue: • Osyka Civic Club Club’s events promotes and uplifts community
In Step With
10
Motorcycle club focuses on charity and community service
14
• Flo’s Angels
Mike Bridwell
Lasting legacy remembers Flo Boyd
24 On the cover:
• Shop Local Mistletoe & Magic upcoming
6
28
• Holiday Events Local happenings for Fall & Winter
Liz Spears and Julie Dycus, two of the members of Osyka Civic Club, making preparations for upcoming Fall events.
34 Staff
From the Publisher
ecause Osyka is several miles away from any other town in Pike County, residents can be forgiven if they see themselves as overlooked in the big picture. There may be a grain of truth to this. Osyka is by far the smallest of Pike County’s four towns, and it may have more in common with Kentwood, about five miles down Highway 51 in Louisiana, than it does with anywhere else. However, one thing that has
B
clearly helped the town for 50 years is the Osyka Civic Club, a group of women who do a lot of little things to remind residents that they live in a very nice small town. Whether it’s a Christmas celebration, a town beautification project or comfort bundles for people who need assistance, the club is an outstanding example of creating civic pride from the ground up. The Osyka Civic Club has a big impact in its small town.
Publisher - Jack Ryan Editor - Matt Williamson Advertising Manager - Vicky Deere Advertising sales-
Stacy Godwin, LeWair Foreman, Steven Sawyer, Christy Thornton & Margie Williams.
pulse is a publication of J.O. Emmerich & Associates Inc. and is produced in association with the Enterprise-Journal, 112 Oliver Emmerich Dr., McComb, Mississippi. For more copies or advertising information, call 601-6842421, write P.O. Box 2009, McComb, MS 39649 or e-mail advertising@enterprise-journal.com.
Volume 12, Issue 2
4
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
5
In Step With Mike Bridwell
Retiree stays busy with cooking, hooking and booking By Ernest Herndon If someone asked Mike Bridwell what he’s been doing since retirement, he could honestly answer, “Cooking, hooking and booking!” Cooking? He’s been grilling chickens for fundraisers for decades since he learned how from the late great Monroe McElveen. Hooking? He helps clients hook redfish and speckled trout in the Louisiana marsh through his business, Castaway Safaris. Booking? He gets business clients to advertise with Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, which promotes outdoor resources across southwest Mississippi. If that sounds like a lot, it’s just Bridwell’s way of giving back to a community that has been generous to him. Bridwell, 72, retired in 2017 after 38 years with the Farm Bureau Federation. He managed the Farm Bureau office in Liberty. Bridwell was in his 30s when he discovered the late Monroe “Mr. Mac” McElveen’s chicken cooking skills. McElveen, longtime Amite County Extension agent and former Mississippi State football star, cooked the best grilled chicken this side of heaven. As a 1989 Enterprise-Journal article put it, “McElveen uses none of those goopy tomatoey sauces to hide an undercooked chicken with. He uses a basting sauce of apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil, Tabasco, salt and spices for just the right taste. He’s cooked umpteen-thousand chickens for dairy days, chamber events, town functions, church fundraisers, Heritage Days, county supervisors’ gatherings and more.” “He loved his community and he set a standard for all of us,” Bridwell recalled. “When he retired, his thing was to cook chicken.” Bridwell was in his 30s when he teamed up with McElveen to cook chickens for the Liberty Christmas parade. They became friends and partners in barbecuing at all sorts of community events and fundraisers. Bridwell did the math one day and calculated they cooked 500,000 chickens over a 25-year period. “We are well over a million,” Bridwell said. “I don’t know how much money he made for families
6
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
In Step With: Mike Bridwe ll
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
7
and people with medical situations.” Cooking chickens may not seem like much, but Bridwell recalled the day someone introduced him to a man who replied, “I already know Mr. Mike. He cooked chickens to raise money for my medical bills when I was 2 years old.” “Every one of us, God gives some gift,” Bridwell said. “It comes in different forms.” One day a preacher told Bridwell that God was going to bless him for his efforts. “I said, ‘Preacher, He already has,’” Bridwell said. He said it’s ironic that he is better remembered for the things he did that weren’t for money. The lesson is that job success is not as important as “what you left along the way.”
8
pulse
Bridwell has seen how that worked in his own life. “I grew up in a home with no church,” he recalled of his upbringing in Homer, La., in the north-central part of the state. “I grew up in a home alcohol and physical abuse-riddled, no guidance whatever.” He loved to frog-gig, and one day was invited to a church Royal Ambassadors campout and fishing trip. A woman named Miss Annie provided the transportation. “That was her gift that God gave her, and that’s how I wound up going to church. I accepted Christ at 14,” Bridwell said. Years later he ran into Miss Annie, then in a wheelchair, and thanked her for all she had done. She was surprised at how much her simple deeds accomplished.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Bridwell said in his 30s he was focused on self, money and job when a man cited Luke 12:48, where Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” “It really hit me between the eyes,” Bridwell said. “That’s when I really committed myself to this, and 500,000 chickens later I’m still doing it.” He uses the same recipe Mr. Mac used. Bridwell has been doing it so long he doesn’t measure anything. “It is a process. It’s not just a recipe,” Bridwell said. He lines boxes with foil and lays the cooked chickens inside, sprinkling in more salt. “When we close those boxes,
Mike Bridwell stands in cooking shed near Tangipahoa Baptist Church in Amite County. Bridwell has been charcoal-grilling chicken for decades for charity fundraisers and community events.
it’s like an oven,” he said. “It tenderizes, and they absorb seasoning.” For years Bridwell did his cooking at Ethel Vance Natural Area, which has a long grill. A few years ago he suggested his church, Tangipahoa Baptist in Amite County, build a cooking shed so he could teach younger folks. The church converted a little-used metal storage shed into chicken central, with two custom-built concrete pits that can hold 300 chickens each. Bridwell also cooks for Centreville Academy, which is likewise building a cooking shed. McElveen died Jan. 18, 1994, at age 90, and Bridwell was a pallbearer. “I’m carrying on the torch for Mr. Mac,” Bridwell said. “He would be one happy fellow to know that his work was being carried on for God’s kingdom.” n n n After he retired, Bridwell, a longtime saltwater fishermen with a camp at Golden Meadow, started a charter fishing business called Castaway Safaris. It caters to corporations, small business and individuals. “We offer a turnkey all-inclusive customer experience on our guided fishing trips,” says a brochure. “We do all the work so you can have fun and catch fish!” Typical clients are businesses offering fishing trips to their sales staff as an incentive. Castaway Safaris provides experienced guides, boats, tackle, fuel, bait, lunch, cleaning and icing fish, gourmet meals and lodging. Companies call Bridwell, tell him how many people are coming, and he lines up the rest. “All I do is do the logistics and make sure everything goes well,” Bridwell said. He has six captains with their own boats that can go for redfish, speckled trout, tuna and bowfishing. “We take all the hassle out of it. The companies like to write one check,” Bridwell said. Since then, Bridwell also went to work for Scenic Rivers, a multi-county state agency, as public relations director. He helps with ad layouts, brochures and business recruitment. Bridwell praised Scenic Rivers director Joseph Parker for his tireless efforts promoting southwest Mississippi outdoors. “I would encourage everyone in the Scenic Rivers umbrella to get behind them,” Bridwell said. “This is the first organized, well furnished effort to promote southwest Mississippi recreation.” He praised the Legislature, county supervisors and others who are supporting it, including the businesses that advertise with it. “The welcome that I’ve had fron the business community in Pike County, all over the region, is overwhelming,” he said.
Bridwell is also involved at his church, where he is in charge of media outreach and serves on the budget committee, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Dot. He can also be found taking meals to people in nursing homes and elsewhere. He considers all these efforts a way of using the gifts God gave him to help others. “This is really not about me. This is really His work,” Bridwell said. “All I am is the messenger.” n
Mr. Mac’s Chicken 8 to 10 broiler halves Salt 1 cup cooking oil 2 cups cider vinegar 2 tablespoons garlic salt 1 teaspoon red pepper 1 teaspoon red pepper sauce Salt chicken heavily before placing over fire. Mix together oil, vinegar and seasonings. Brush with sauce when chicken begins to look dry. Barbecue about 11/2 to 2 hours or until legs and thighs may be twisted easily. — June 25, 1986, Enterprise-Journal
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
9
Osyka Civic Club
Osyka’s Christmas parade, is one of the many community events the Osyka Civic Club sponsors, in addition to breast cancer awareness.
10
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Rockin’ Round the Clock By Gabrie l Perry The Osyka Civic Club is a Pike County institution determined to uplift their community through service and fellowship. It holds community-oriented events throughout the year and performs acts of charity as the main focus of its charter. The group is preparing for its traditional holiday event to be held Dec. 14, a Christmas parade and celebration complete with fireworks. It turns out there’s a lot that goes into this rockin’ event. “The town looks like Mayberry for Christmas,” Kim Wall said, explaining that a committee headed by Julie Dycus decorates the town park and Gina Mitchell takes care of store windows. Liz Spears and Holly Roberts are in charge of organizing the vendors and activities and, Abigail Liuzza manages the Coca-Cola booth and Jill Taylor organizes children’s activities. The Christmas celebration includes fun activities for children such as cookie decorating, free pictures made with Santa, a pageant and a parade. The parade is free to enter and includes an appearance from a live santa. Only Christmas music is allowed and horses are not — unless they’re pulling a carriage behind. Other than that, floats on cars, trucks and just about anything else are allowed. “Everything is done for a family day,” Kim Wall said. The grand finale includes a professional fireworks display to begin at 6 p.m. “You won’t see a display like this unless you go to Disney,” Wall said. Led by energetic president Barbie Stamps, of Amite County, many of the women jokingly refer to
theirs as the “Kim Wall club”, a nod to the legacy honorary member and four-time president Kim Wall has cemented. The word ‘legacy’ is in no way a stretch in describing Wall’s impact on the club — her daughter is an active member as was her mother. That’s three generations of Wall’s contributing to the group. “I’m a third-generation member,” Wall’s daughter Abigail Liuzza said. “My grandmother, whom I never met, she was one of the members. And then my mom and I have been members together for 10 years. It means a lot to me to be here with my mom once a month for ten years.” Kim Wall started in the club in 1984 with her aunt Liz, who served as president then. Stacey Ott was already a member when Wall joined, so they estimate she’s had 40 years or more of experience. “And I raised five kids,” Ott said. “So you can be in the club and still manage your kids. You’ve just got to make it a priority.” You could chalk the club up as a community service organization, but you’d be remiss of nuance because it is certainly much more than that. The Osyka Civic Club has been active since 1969, making this its 50th consecutive year of operation. Longtime members of the organization remember only one canceled meeting in those 50 years — the week that Hurricane Katrina tore through. The Osyka Civic Club means a lot to the small town on the Louisiana state line. Not only is it responsible for pretty much all community programing in Osyka, but also strives to uplift its community by offering support to anybody in need. Its influential to the point of impacting neighboring communities throughout Pike County as well.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
11
Fletcher Hemphill walks across the stage in a kids pageant.
12
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
The civic club prepares comfort bundles for those in need, generally individuals dealing with severe health complications. Anna Boyd, the McComb girl who’s battle with cancer was recently publicly described, will receive one of the handmade kits from the Osyka Civic Club. The club also maintains a well-loved contest in the town in a bid to encourage homeowners to perform routine upkeep. A lucky resident of Osyka is awarded “yard of the month,” which club members say helps keep Osyka looking beautiful. Another important aspect of the club’s community service tradition is its participation in the annual Great American Cleanup campaign, aimed at cleaning up city streets to reduce litter. Seeing as Osyka is small, club members extend their reach far from city limits, even picking up trash along Interstate 55 near Osyka. The club also maintains flower beds at the post office. The main idea behind these acts of service is to ensure Osyka stays a nice place for
all who live there or come to visit. One of the most fondly remembered events is the club’s annual Senior Citizen banquet. Each senior citizen gets their picture made, a meal and door prizes. One lucky senior is named senior citizen of the year. Lacy Philabar moved to Pike County recently and found her place in the club sisterhood. “My husband and I just moved to the community in April or March and I joined to help with the community and get out and about,” she said. “Just from living in Pike county I’ve seen what this club does and I wanted to be a part of something that’s awesome.” That is one of the main similarities between the members of the group — they all view membership in the Osyka Civic Club as a valuable form of sisterhood, leaning on one another for support and striving to uplift each other and the whole community. Dawn Santalucito moved to Pike County to work for Wall Timber after the widespread damage of Hurricane Katrina pushed her to
move away from Louisiana. She too found fellowship with the club. “I wasn’t from here and I came to work with Kim,” she said. “It was a way of meeting other ladies in the community.” Stamps said that the small-town nature of Osyka helps build a strong community and
“The town looks like Mayberry for Christmas.” Kim Wall, Osyka Civic Club that the civic club is one representation of that community. “We’re so close to the county and we’re so close to the state line that you could still be a part of the community even if you’re not directly in Pike County or within city limits,” she said. “Just as long as you’re close to the community itself or have some kind of ties.” Wall noted that active members come from different areas throughout the region, not only in Pike County. Several members,
including Stamps, live in Amite County or around Magnolia. Wall noted that the youth and enthusiasm throughout the club keeps it strong. “I must say this — it is so good to see young women in the club again. Barbie, Abigail, Holly, Julie and Kristin. All these young women back into the club again so that we know the legacy will continue,” she said. “It’s like a family.” Over the years Wall has made a lot of memories. “We’ve had a lot of laughs,” she said. One of her favorites came as Diane Harrell set her dining room table on fire at a meeting long ago. “She had a sterno, lit it, and she had gotten some fluid all over her table and she just wiped it. And when she lit it, it literally caught her dining room table and everything on fire. Liz and her were trying to put it out,” she said. “She had just bought the table, it was brand new. The meeting went on, smoke coming up everywhere.” n
Nell Ott is doused in pink coloring after walking in the club’s Run for the Girls 5K walk/run.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
13
14
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
C
Rumbling Roaring
Local Red Knights unit prepares bikes for Governor’s Ride in Jackson recently.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
15
By Gabrie l Perry If you felt the ground shaking over the weekend, theres’s no reason to duck for cover — it wasn’t an earthquake. That shaking came with the deep rumble of 105.5 ft/lbs of torque of Jim Brown’s Twin Cam 103 2016 Ultra Classic Limited and a dozen other local bikers as they rolled up to Jackson for the Governor’s Ride. The McComb chapter of the Red Knights, an international motorcycle club made up exclusively of current or former firefighters, attended a massive annual motorcycle rally in support of the Mississippi Wounded Warriors. With a Marathon station between McComb and Tylertown serving as the staging point, riders made their way up to the capital Saturday morning. Each member wears a vest, on the back of which bears the club insignia. The front of each vest is decorated with various patches and a peculiar nickname for each member. Jim “Captain Rolex” Brown, President of the Red Knights chapter in McComb said that the club begins each meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. He worked at McComb from 1986 to 2014 and retired as Captain. The Red Knights aren’t your typical motorcycle club. Every member has served in the fire department and they carry those experiences with them. The club was founded in 1982 in Boston by a group of firefighters at Randy’s Cycle Shop and has grown since then. Most of the local group are volunteer firefighters for stations throughout the region while holding down other jobs. Two of the members fight fire professionally. Those experiences create a bond and brotherhood that is difficult to pick apart. McComb Firefighter Chan “Sir Thomas” Thomas, who first stepped on a motorcycle as a toddler, has been riding with the Red Knights for about two years. Close relationships with the community brought him to the club. “We’ve all known each other forever, it’s a brotherhood,” he said. “When the opportunity came to join, I did. I’ve been riding ever since.” He said that the biggest mistake someone can make is taking tomorrow for granted. He said his work has provided him a reverence for human life, and motivates him to take each day as an opportunity. “You can’t expect to have tomorrow given to you,” he said. “At any moment, tomorrow could be gone.” That point was particularly poignant as the members of the club are mourning the loss of a firefighter and rider from Zachary, La., who had once worked in McComb. Brown wrecked once, back in 2003. He suffered severe injuries in the motorcycle accident that left him unable to feel sensation in part of his torso. Despite that experience, he hasn’t stopped riding.
16
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Chapter president Jim ‘Captain Rolex’ Brown talks with fellow member Darrell Boyd.
He just made a trip up and down the West Coast and has also been to one of the country’s largest motorcycle rally’s in Sturgis, S.D., six times. A photo album in his home documents his entrance by motorcycle to nearly every state. The McComb chapter of the Red Knights was formed in the summer of 2013 when two McComb firefighters submitted the first application for a charter. The club had eight members. In 2014, Brown became the chapter president, with Doug Rayborn serving as vice president. “Red” Biggart is club treasurer and has held a single position for the longest period of time. His wife, Julie, serves as interior secretary and Darrell Boyd and “Tiny” Eubanks are Road Captains. Glenn Sanders and Chris Kyzar are the sergeants at arms. The Red Knights meet monthly and also embark on group rides each month. Brown estimates that they make organized rides between 14 and 16 times per year as a group. Since members are also friends, they tend to ride together unofficially fairly often as well. Thomas and Brown enjoy rides to Natchez to eat at Fat Mama’s. Sometimes the club goes on extended trips and those have produced some of the best memories, many members agreed. The club fondly remembers making the trek down to Biloxi for this year’s Dixie Rally, where most chapters of the Red Knights located in the Deep South gathered in May. They also fondly recall a trip down to the Abita brewery in Abita Springs, La. The club loves to ride and swap stories from their time in the fire service, but the most important piece of the club according to its members is its impact throughout the local community. Unlike many motorcycle or other enthusiast clubs, the Red Knights focus specifically on charity and community service. “We’re a civic club on wheels,” Brown said. They participate in the Mississippi Wounded Warrior’s charity at the Governor’s Ride each year and also host a motorcycle show at the Smokin’ On The Tracks festival in Summit and this year held a show at the Iron Horse festival in McComb. Each year the club holds a raffle for a gun, with the proceeds going to charity. All of the money raised throughout the year by the local Red Knights is used to support vulnerable members of the community. One key service the club provides is financial assistance to individuals whose homes were damaged by fire. The club also adopts families and children over the holiday season, buying gifts and otherwise helping those in need have a happy Christmas. The club rides in the Mardi Gras parades in Summit and Magnolia each year. “We chuck more beads than anybody,” Brown noted. The club volunteers with the Salvation Army over the holidays. Red Knights can be seen rolling around town ringing Salvation Army donation bells. Last year the club made rounds for over six hours and brought in the most money over that period of time. The connection with the community of first responders also runs deep. Several Red Knights wear Patriot Guard insignias on their vests. The Patriot Guard riders are mostly ex-military person-
Red Knights displays vests worn by local chapter.
nel and post colors and a flag line at funerals for fallen first responders, always at the request of family members. Red Knights posted colors at the funerals of recently slain police officers in Brookhaven and in Hattiesburg. Their shared occupation and love for the open road creates a strong bond. The word most commonly used to describe the club by members themselves is “brotherhood.” “It’s no different than at the firehouse,” Brown said. n
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
17
Turning 80! Percy Quin celebrates
18
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
19
Percy Quin State Park A true gem for Southwest Mississippi By Matt Wi lliamson
Park Manager Will Busby
20
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
This year marks a milestone for one of Southwest Mississippi’s true gems: Percy Quin State Park is turning 80. A celebration for the park, built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, will be held on Nov. 9, park manager Will Busby said. “We're going to do a history of the park and have something on the Civilian Conservation Corps,” Busby said. And while cooler weather should have set in by then, Percy Quin will still be a busy place, considering it’s a destination for campers, boaters, skiers, hikers and anglers during the spring, summer and fall
and for snowbirds fleeing the brutal northern winters, he said. “Even that time of year, we're full on the weekends year ’round,” Busby said. The state park, named after a local congressman, came to be 80 years ago as part of a massive, nationwide civil engineering and public works initiative through the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps, designed by the federal government to give hard-working men an honest wage in an effort to work their way out of the Great Depression while adding to the public infrastructure. The park has seen a long and storied history, Busby explained during a recent interview in the park’s main lodge — one
Anglers on Lake Tangipahoa waiting to catch that big one!
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
21
of the orignal CCC-built buildings at the park that also doubles as office space for park management. “I've been here about 27 years now,” he said. “There was a lot of stuff that happened way before me.” There are plenty of highlights in the park’s history. Percy Quin had a brush with a deadly tornado that plowed through the area in January 1975. The construction of the Quail Hollow Golf Course just inside the park occurred in the mid-1990s. Deeper inside the park, a convention center, hotel and golf villas were built around that time. “We got something like $40 million for the park system and they built all of that here,” Busby said. In 2012, an encounter with Hurricane Isaac brought a lot of disruption, stressing the dam and eventually requiring it to be built up, along with a new spillway at the park’s centerpiece Lake Tangipahoa. Fishing was off limits for years and has since returned. Busby said bass anglers are in the right place if they’re wetting hooks at Percy Quin. “It’s back. The bass fishing is exceptional. We're up to 11 pounds. A couple of weeks ago they caught an 11-pounder,” Busby said in early September. I would guess somebody would catch something in the 10s this spring.” Busby said he recently caught back-to-back 7-pounders using a topwater lure at the dam. “The best day I ever had fishing,” he said. “The fishing is outstanding.” Percy Quin has long been one of Mississippi’s most profitable state parks. Busby said it does a good job of luring a lot of people — mostly Louisianans — inside its gate to check out the serene lakeside scenery, where heavenly sunsets are almost a magical occurrence evening after evening. “I think the scenery has a lot to do with it,” Busby said. “I think even though we have a large guest list or a large population of people coming through it's still a quiet place to come. I think this location is a big thing. We're an hour and a half away from three major metropolitan cities — Jackson, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. “The property is just beautiful. From the golf course to the nature trail, it's a beautiful piece of land.” Busby has spent a good bit of his life at the park. He’s lived on its grounds for the past 27 years, bought a house there and raised two children at the park. “I started off as a ranger. I was the head ranger. I lived over on the group campsite on the west side of the lake,” he said. He went to work at USM as a police officer and returned to become assistant park manager. Now, in addition to running Percy Quin he also serves as the manager of Lake Lincoln and Natchez State Park. As the park marks its eighth decade, Busby said it’s about to undergo a lot of work. The lodge will soon be renovated and campsites
22
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Wayside Chapel on the grounds of Percy Quin State Park.
These cabins were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. were being renovated beginning in October as part of a $1.5 million project. Busby said 38 RV sites will be redone and five new sites will be created, along with five new handicap-accessible sites. “The whole campground is gong to be redone with electricity,” he said, adding that all of the wiring will be placed underground. Busby said many of the RV sites are decades old and built long before 30- and 40-foot campers and bus-sized motorcoaches became the norm. “What we've got down here now we just can't keep up with these big campers,” he said. Busby said the park’s amenities are one of the best kept secrets for meals and lodging in the area. The group camp has plenty of space for reunions and retreats. “You can have three meals and spend the night in a nice renovated camp hut and the dorm for $34,” BusNature trail, one of by said. “I'm talking about good meals. the highlights for visitors to the park. “It's set up for church groups, family reunions, business organizations, football camps, band camps — anything you can come up with.” There also are cabins, including some nice brick chalets built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. “We don’t have any cabins that's over $100 a night,” he said. RV camp sites are $28 per night. Primitive camping is $15 per night and includes water but no electricity. Percy Quin is not only a bargain in terms of cost, but it’s also a true treasure, Busby said. And the fact that it’s both work and home for him makes him a fortunate man. “It's beautiful place. How many people say they get to go home at the park?” he said. “The park's been good to me. I'm not going to leave.” n
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
23
Live to better By Mack Spe ncer Flo Boyd was renowned for her big heart and her generosity – not to mention her ability and willingness to involve more people in her charitable endeavors. “She just made you want to help,” said longtime friend and partner in charity Janet Stewart. “You didn’t tell Flo ‘no.’ She would ask and you’d say, ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ and she’d say, ‘Yeah, come on, you can do it.’ She could get anybody to do anything.” Flo Boyd Boyd’s example and influence led Stewart and Boyd’s daughter, Brandy Dyess, to continue her good works. Stewart and Dyess talked with Boyd in her waning days about all the special events she had held to help others and how she had accomplished them. It was then that the pair told Boyd that they wanted to give the name Flo’s Angels to the organization that would continue Boyd’s good works. “She was just delighted. She was thrilled,” Stewart said. Boyd’s motto was “Live to better the lives of others,” and it lives on not only on her headstone, but as the motto of Flo’s Angels. It covers the back of Flo’s Angels T-shirts that the organization sold as its only fundraiser ever. It lives and works on dona-
24
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
tions and volunteers. Its major event each year is a Christmas party for underprivileged children and their families, continuing a tradition that Boyd started almost 50 years ago. As Boyd aged and fought declining health, she downsized the Christmas party from the 100 or more children she sometimes prepared for and held it at her home. Since her death, Stewart and Dyess have moved the party back to J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church’s fellowship hall and have built attendance back up to as many as 60 children and their families. Dyess and Stewart have a small committee of about 8, including themselves, that sees to soliciting monetary donations to help buy Christmas gifts for the children, working with local restaurants to get food donated for the party and organizing efforts to fill food boxes for the participating families. School personnel help to determine which children will benefit the most. Members of the J.J. White Girl Scouts troop and the Junior Auxiliary Crown Club help by going with committee members to help shop for gifts and stocking stuffers, including underwear, socks and other clothing items, by wrapping the presents and by helping to decorate for the party. They also attend the party to socialize with the children and help pass out gifts. Santa Claus always attends the party, and a Walgreens employee takes pictures of all the children with Santa and gets them developed and returned to go home with the children. “Miss Mattie” Rials usually attends, as well, to tell tales of Scooter Mouse, and there are dancers and other entertainment. The Higgins Elementary School dance team often attends, as well as the students of private teachers. In fact, “one of the dance teachers who brings her students danced at the parties when she was young,” Stewart said. While much of the organization’s effort goes into the Christmas party, it doesn’t limit itself to just that event.
the lives of others. Flo Boyd Annual Christmas Party for disadvantaged children, one of the benefactors of Flo’s Angels, the legacy of Flo Boyd.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
25
Some of the organizers of the Flo's Angels Christmas party, from left, Joanna Barr, Marla Hinckley, Brandy Dyess, Melanie Carruth and Janet Stewart.
“We raised money for relief for Hurricane Michael, and we took children’s clothes to Florida,” Dyess said. “When they had that big flood in Baton Rouge, we collected school supplies and took them to a school in Denham Springs after it reopened.” Flo’s Angels even reaches beyond McComb and Pike County to Atlanta, where Dyess’s brother Brandon lives. He and his family assist a few families in that area each year. Dyess’s sister, Allison Strong, meanwhile, also works with the hometown branch. “It was instilled in “It was instilled in all of us to give back to others,” all of us to give back Dyess said. to others.” “If you look at (Boyd’s) Brandy Dyess daughter of the late children, they’re all comFlo Boyd munity and service-oriented,” Stewart said. “She took an interest in me and affected me, as well. (The committee) all works well together, and we were all trained by Flo. “Those who were without just flocked to her. She was equitable in how she treated others. She taught swimming at Camp Sunshine for years, and after she had to stop, she would just go
26
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Girl Scouts Lydia Williams, Ruby Dyess and Natalie Semo help Flo's Angels members shop for Christmas gifts for needy children who will attend the organization's Christmas party.
and sit under one of the tents. The campers would just flock to her because she made them feel good. She was so much fun.” Boyd also helped people on a smaller scale. Stewart cited examples of a child Allison Strong, her daughter Whitney and whose father was dysister Brandy Dyess are all involved in Flo's Angels, a charitable organization inspired ing of cancer, and Strong and Dyess's mother, Flo Boyd. another family with a sick father that lacked access to clean water. A 34-year-old woman who learned some life-saving skills in part thanks to Boyd recently sent a thank-you note to Flo’s Angels. “She said her child is alive today because she knew what to do,” Stewart said. “The child swallowed a quarter, and she was able to pop it right out. She had a learning disability. I know Flo is kicking up her heels in heaven right now, she’s so happy.” n 2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
27
Local businesses gear up for the annual Chamber Mistletoe & Magic event to be held Thursday, November 7.
28
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Chamber event promotes local businesses By Mack Spe ncer Mistletoe, even more than candy canes and elves, evokes Christmas. Christmas brings thoughts of home. Pike County retailers hope that mental association leads more people to shop locally as the season of giving approaches. The 16th edition of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s “Mistletoe and Magic” promotion is Nov. 7, and – as intended – “it has grown over time,” said chamber Executive Director Catherine Sanders. “It’s a branded event. People know what it is, and they know what it means.” Started under the auspices of the McComb Main Street Association, the chamber took over sponsorship of the event seven years ago. It used to be limited to chamber members, but now non-chamber members are joining in, as well. “We support all our members, but this is bigger than our membership,” Sanders said. “Non-members ask to be a part of it, and with the benefits of participating, it sells itself. A handful of our participants say it’s their biggest sales day of the year.” She said the businesses included make it worth shoppers’ whiles to browse and buy. “We have so many merchants, and they have so much to offer,” Sanders said. “These businesses work so hard between Halloween and Christmas to knock their customers’ socks off. We owe it to ourselves to support these businesses. “It’s so neat and festive that day. I make a point to go to all of the businesses and see what they’ve done. It’s fun to see and shop for friends and family and get excited about the holiday season … It’s a win-win for everyone.” While many of the businesses have participated for years, not all of the owners have been involved before.
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
29
Gulf South Art Gallery is a familiar name on the participation list, but owner Carolyn Ford Quin is new to the process this year. She bought the gallery earlier this year and moved it from 5th Avenue in McComb to 811 Robb Street in Summit. “I’d seen the ads before, and I used to go to a lot of the stores during the event,” Quin said. “It has a broad reach, and I wanted to be a part of it.” Quin plans a festive atmosphere that night, with Christmas decor throughout the store, punch and cookies for shoppers, and possibly a drawing or other special promotions. She said she had not talked to previous owner Lynn Wells about the event, but she expects “a great turnout. Most of the businesses here participate. “I think we’ll get a lot of people who have never been in before. A lot of people are excited to see something like this in Pike County. I hope we get a lot of new people who become regular customers.” n
30
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Mistl & M etoe Parti agic cipan ts Alford’s Flowers & Gifts Blue-eyed Sisters Boutique and Salon Cornerstone Consignment debec’s District 51 Facets by Selman’s Friendgirl Things Gulf South Art Gallery High Five Athletics and Apparel Holmes Stationers & Gifts Magnolia Sun Tanning Selman’s Jewelers & Gemologist Southwest Vendors Upscale Market Summit Express Pharmacy The Flower Nook The Sweet Tooth Café The Vintage Hydrangea Unique Treasures, Monogramming & Vendors Mall Wizard Electronics
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
31
32
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
Fall treat Marinated Squash Hot, hot, hot. That's the only way to describe our summer this year. I have tried to remember one as tardily hot as we have just gone through but I really don't think we have had one as awful as this summer has been. Not only hot, it has been impossible to stay outdoors, and I'm sure everyone has a cooling bill that is out of sight. I especially do not like to turn my stove on during this hot weather. It is difficult to cool my cottage off enough without turning on the stove. My favorite lunch during this steaming summer has been cottage cheese and fresh fruit. The heat has not kept us from having fresh fall vegetables in the store, thank goodness. ANN Delicious, cold, sliced home-grown tomatoes JACKSON on a tomato sandwich is what most of my friends have had often. Just keep that stove off. CLEAN I love to see all of the fabulous vegetables, zuc- PLATES n chini, fresh corn, sweet potatoes, okra, mirlitons, eggplants, pumpkins are all my favorites. I especially like spaghetti squash. All of these taste wonderful and are easy to prepare. Don't rule out having a great dinner of some of our fall vegetables. Not only are they great to decorate your home with, they are easy to prepare for dinner. Try this great and easy recipe for yellow squash:
Slice squash, place in colander and blanch by lowering into boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds. Immediately lower colander into ice-cold water. Remove and drain well. Combine squash, onion, green pepper and celery in large bowl. Toss lightly. Combine wine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, canola oil, cider vinegar, garlic and parsley. Stir well and spoon over vegetables. Chill at least 12 hours, stirring occasionally. Drain and serve. n
Marinated Yellow Squash 10 servings 5 medium yellow squash, about a half a pound 1/2 thinly sliced green onion Half a cup of julienned green pepper 2 cups diagonally sliced celery 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar 1/2 cup of sugar 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons canola oil 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1 glove garlic, crushed 1/2 cup chopped parsley
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
pulse
33
Holiday events SUMMIT FALL FESTIVAL is Saturday, Oct. 12. n CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK in Tylertown driving tours begin Thanksgiving night, with admission $5 for cars, $10 for vans and $20 for buses. Use Highway 198/Holmes Water Park entrance. n
JOHNSTON CHAPEL U.M.C. will have its live nativity scene 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6-8 along Chapel Drive northwest of Summit. n MCCOMB CHRISTMAS PARADE is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. n SUMMIT CHRISTMAS PARADE is 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9.
34
pulse
2019 Fall-Winter Issue
MCCOMB RAILROAD DEPOT MUSEUM will host a MAGICAL VISIT WITH SANTA 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. CHRISTMAS BY THE TRACKS is 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13. A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Satuday, Dec. 14.
OLE BROOK WIND SYMPHONY is Thursday, Dec. 12, at the State Theater in McComb. n LIBERTY CHRISTMAS PARADE is 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12. n OSYKA CHRISTMAS PAGEANT is Saturday, Nov. 23. The CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, with arts, crafts and food vendors. The CHRISTMAS PA-
RADE is 4 p.m. Dec. 14, with lineup at 2 p.m. at Osyka Baptist Church. Entertainment and pictures with Santa will follow on the town stage downtown. The festivities will conclude with a fireworks show. n THOMPSON BAPTIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARADE will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, with line-up at Brown’s Chapel at 9:45. Singing, a potluck dinner and fellowship will follow in the Thompson Baptist Church fellowship hall.