Greenwood, Mississippi
A River Country Journal / Summer 2013
features
9 5. Jadavis Sanders loves reading
19. Slide into summer in fashionable
and learning
24. Loyal customers flock
for a light summer lunch
to McCarley restaurant
9. Do-it-yourselfers brewing their
27. The Revs. Peter and Giulianna
favorite beers at home
Gray enjoy small-town life
13. Belk family’s home full of
Dentist Johnny Smith makes art with his camera
39.
Nathaniel Rosebur keeps courthouse clock ticking
42.
Adron Belk was born to be a farmer
31. Fountain Building has been a local
memories, old and new
landmark for nearly a century
27
31
4. From the editor 34. Calendar of events
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35.
poolside attire
7. These recipes are perfect
departments
24
13
40. 44. 48.
Shopping pages Event snapshots The Back Page
On the cover: Leflore Illustrated offers its annual look at pretty girls at the pool.
Editor and Publisher Tim Kalich
Managing Editor Charles Corder
Associate Editor David Monroe
Contributing Writers Bill Burrus, Bob Darden, Jo Alice Darden, Lee Ann Flemming, Ruth Jensen, Jeanie Riess and Ruthie Robison
Advertising Director Larry Alderman
Advertising Sales Linda Bassie, Susan Montgomery, Jim Stallings and Kim Turner
Photography/Graphics Joseph Cotton, Johnny Jennings, Andy Lo and Anne Miles
Production Clifton Angel and Charles Brownlee
Circulation Director Shirley Cooper Volume 8, No. 4 Summer 2013 —————— Editorial and business offices: P.O. Box 8050 329 U.S. 82 West Greenwood, MS 38935-8050 662-453-5312 —————— Leflore Illustrated is published by Commonwealth Publishing, Inc.
Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 3
From the editor
PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS
New member of the family I
’m shy about calling Theodore “our granddog,” a term of endearment Betty Gail has been using to refer to the puppy who has taken up residence with our daughter and her husband in Nashville. Dogs, I like to say, are still dogs. I have loved all three of the dogs we have owned in our married life, but I haven’t treated them like my children. They have received a boringly steady diet of dog food (no table scraps); they have lived outdoors or in the garage yearround; and they don’t hear any soothing baby-talk out of me. They have loved me back unreservedly, regardless. I guess that deficit of sentimentality about pets is why, after Elizabeth and Chris brought Theo home from the animal shelter this past January, I felt no need to rush five hours north to welcome him. When Elizabeth two months later asked about bringing Theo for a visit, I told her I could wait until he was fully house-broken. Betty Gail and I, in fact, tried to discourage the newlyweds from getting a dog. The conversation went something like this. “You like to travel, and the responsibility of a pet would tie you down,” we told them. “You need to spend some time just getting used to each other.” Their response: “We understand what you’re saying, but you know we are going to do what we want to do anyway.” We really didn’t expect them to listen. Getting a dog, I’m told, is one of the first things many young couples do these days. It’s their trial run at parenthood. They think that if they can successfully master together taking care of a dog, they should be able to do the same with a 4 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
human being who at least starts off on all fours. Boy, is that naive. Theo is cute — I’ll give him that. We’re not sure what breeds are in his gene pool. Certainly some terrier. Maybe a little beagle. Possibly some monkey. He’s got this long tail that curls mischievously around and ears that seem like they’re always having a bad-hair day. He’s been great company for Elizabeth when work takes Chris out of town, and he has stimulated Chris’ soft side. Our daughter tries to be the disciplinarian in the family, with mixed success. After a few early sleepless nights of the puppy’s whining, she purchased a cage and trained Theodore to nest in it at night in the kitchen — overruling Chris’ reservations. Theo, though, has free rein to jump on the couches and stuffed chairs in their home.
We’ve gotten to know Theo well this summer. We spent four days at his place in Nashville, over the course of which he went from warily growling at me to considering me a best buddy. He came to Greenwood for another five days soon afterward. While we were in Nashville, Elizabeth gave me a new pair of sandals for a birthday gift. I presented one of my worn-out ones to Theodore in return. It has become his favorite toy. He’ll throw it around the room by its strap for hours until he’s exhausted, and then sleep with it by his side. I never knew my foot odor could be so alluring. In Greenwood, he made himself right at home. At first, our beagle mix, Max, seemed jealous as he gazed through the glass door separating him, on the outside, from our citified visitor in the kitchen. On their first encounter, I thought Max, who is more than twice Theo’s size and strength, might be playing too rough. By Day Two, though, they were fast friends, romping together outdoors for long stretches. Even Kitzer, our alpha male cat, was willing, by the end of Theo’s stay, to be in the same room with the puppy and not scratch his eyes out. When the morning came for Theo to head back to Nashville, I felt a bout of sadness. Betty Gail, too. Elizabeth keeps us up on his progress by regularly emailing photos. The other night, we talked to Theo via videolink. This might be vanity, but I think he perked up when he heard my voice. Granddog or just grand dog, Theo has definitely become part of the family. — Tim Kalich
Just Ask a Kid: Jadavis Sanders
J
Driven to read
adavis Sanders likes going to the Greenwood Mentoring Group’s Learning Center on summer afternoons with his brothers and sisters. The 9-year-old actively participates in all the activities, but his favorite times at the center are story time and snack time. Jadavis, who wears a positive attitude as well as a contagious grin, says he doesn’t mind helping his family with chores at home. This soon-to-be fourth-grader at W.C. Williams Elementary School is a community leader in the making; when Jadavis grows up, he wants to be a police officer. What is your favorite subject at school? Jadavis: Math, because I like adding. What are your favorite summer activities? Popping fireworks! And I went to the skating rink this summer.
Jadavis Sanders, 9, is an avid reader, but his favorite subject is math. When Jadavis grows up, he wants to be a police officer.
I want to be a policeman because when someone does something bad, the police take them to jail.
What do you like most about the summertime? Getting a break from school. I like going to the Learning Center during the summer, too.
What’s your favorite sport? I like playing football.
If you could invent anything, what would it be? A four-wheeler. It will shoot fire when it goes really fast.
What is your favorite candy? I can’t decide. I like all kinds.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is your favorite food? Pizza.
What is your favorite movie? Last year we went on a field trip with the Learning Center to Greenville to watch a movie, The Avengers.
Why do you like coming to the Learning Center? Reading books. I like the SpongeBob book. I read books at school, too. What is your favorite book? I like the cartoon books, like Batman. Who is your favorite super hero? The Hulk. He was in The Avengers. He’s green and really strong. If you could change anything about Greenwood, what would it be? I’d like there to be a movie theater, a water park and a bigger library. LI
STORY BY RUTHIE ROBISON PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 5
Food
Co ol summer recipes
Salad, bread and iced tea make up the perfect menu for a light and refreshing lunch on a hot and humid Delta summer day.
H
ow hot is it in the Mississippi Delta during the summertime?
It is so hot, I just saw a tree and a fire hydrant fighting over a dog. It is so hot, chickens are laying hardboiled eggs. It is so hot, the birds are using pot holders to pull worms out of the ground. It is so hot, you can just pull the potatoes out of the ground and add butter, salt and pepper. It is so hot, kids are frying eggs on the
sidewalks. One of the few ways to cool off during a Mississippi Delta summer is to find a cool, refreshing pool. Summer is not the time for a heavy lunch. A delicious salad, bread and some iced tea are the perfect combination to keep you going during the hot, humid days. Crutinized bread can be made ahead and is quite economical. Marinated cherry
STORY BY LEE ANN FLEMMING PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 7
tomato salad is made early in the day and left to marinate before quickly throwing it together for your guests. Almond tea is a variation of the South’s wine — sweet tea. Combine good luncheon friends, a pool and delicious food to help survive the summer heat in the Mississippi Delta. CRUTINIZED BREAD Stale bread Melted butter Garlic salt Dried parsley flakes Brush bread with melted butter and sprinkle liberally with garlic salt and parsley flakes; cut into halves or fourths. Place on baking sheets and bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Turn off oven and let stay until oven cools. MARINATED CHERRY TOMATO SALAD 1/2 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon sugar
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1 heaping tablespoon basil pesto 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved 1 small purple onion, sliced thinly Fresh parsley Iceberg lettuce Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, sugar and basil pesto; whisk to mix. Place cherries, red onion and a handful of parsley in a large Ziploc bag. Pour marinade over and squeeze out excess air before sealing. Refrigerate several hours before serving. To serve: Quarter iceberg lettuce and place on a large platter or serving bowl. Pour cherry tomato mixture on top and
garnish with additional fresh parsley. SUMMERTIME ALMOND TEA 8 cups water, separated 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 large tea bags Juice of 4 large lemons 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon almond extract Boil 6 cups water and sugar for 10 minutes; let cool. Boil 2 cups of water and steep tea bags for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and mix with sugar-water mixture. Add remaining ingredients and serve over ice. LI
Homemade Beer
BREW YOUR OWN
From left, Zeb O'Bryant, Gary Dyksterhouse, Neil Pillow and Stephen Pillow hold up their glasses before taking a sip of their award-winning home brew, a Belgian saison.
F
or one group of Greenwood residents, home brewing offers an opportunity to exercise some creativity and spend quality time together in addition to enjoying some good beers. Over a friendly dinner one night, Zeb O’Bryant, Gary Dyksterhouse, Stephen Pillow, Neil Pillow, Heston Powers and their wives tossed around the idea of pur-
chasing equipment to create their own beer. After about three hours of discussion, they decided to pitch in the funds to pur-
chase the equipment and supplies that night. “We’d been talking about it for a while, and we were like, ‘Let’s just do this,’” Dyksterhouse said. Since then, they have been brewing and experimenting with ingredients, creating their own recipes for specialty brews. “You can brew it any way you want to,” O’Bryant said. “You can make it any style. You can make it gluten-free. You can add raspberries or cherries to it or make a pecan ale or smoked. You can make stuff that probably wouldn’t be commercially
STORY BY RUTHIE ROBISON PHOTOS BY JOHNNY JENNINGS Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 9
acceptable.” They have made several varieties of IPAs (India Pale Ales), a stout, a saison, a brown river ale, a Belgian ale and a wheat beer. They even made a gluten-free pumpkin beer for O’Bryant’s wife, Robin, who maintains a gluten-free diet. “There are not many options out there for her,” O’Bryant said. “I can make her beer that she can actually drink.” And their creations have earned praise from others besides their friends. At last year’s Jacktoberfest in Jackson, their Belgian saison took home third place, and one of their IPAs won a fourth-place prize. The equipment is stored in the “brew closet,” an air-conditioned room in a shed behind O’Bryant’s home. O’Bryant is working on the construction of a small house that will be used as the group’s personal brewery. “The more you brew, the more you get an idea of the taste you like, the flavors you like and what you want to put in it,” Dyksterhouse said. “Then, you can predict how it is going to turn out,” O’Bryant said. O’Bryant and Dyksterhouse said they have learned that temperature is an essential factor in how the beer will taste. No matter the recipe, differing temperatures can be used to produce a variety of flavors. “There is a science to it,” O’Bryant said. “The pH and mineral count in the water affect the way the grain extracts. How much sugar and the kind of sugar you get out of your grain affect the flavor. And then there are 100 different kinds of yeast, and there are different temperatures you can use with each.” Before they developed their brewing techniques, they used a simple method called extract brewing, which uses premade malt concentrate to brew. “When we first started, we were making beer like easy-bake cookies,” Dyksterhouse said. “We ordered all of the supplies pretty much premade. We dumped them in the pot, brewed it, and it came out, and it was beer.” Now they use grains, such as barley or wheat, and extract the sugar from the grain that the added yeast converts into alcohol through the fermentation process. This advanced level of brewing is known as allgrain brewing. “It takes a little longer, but it’s fun,” O’Bryant said. O’Bryant and Dyksterhouse, the main brewers of the group, like to experiment with various recipes. “As we have progressed, we use grains and hops. We can extract the malt and 10 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
Zeb O’Bryant and his band of home brewers attended last year's Jacktober fest in Jackson and entered their homemade Belgian saison in the Belgian ale category of the festival’s home brew competition. The Greenwood brew finished third.
know the temperature we want,” Dyksterhouse said. The day the beer is brewed, all five of the friends meet at O’Bryant’s home. O’Bryant and Dyksterhouse said the atmosphere on a brewing day is similar to that of a barbecue with close friends. They set up the equipment in O’Bryant’s backyard and spend the day tinkering with recipes and contriving a unique-tasting beer, while their wives visit and their children play in the backyard. “We have a good setup,” said O’Bryant. “It takes about three hours to go from start to the fermenter.” Then the beer ferments for about two weeks before it is ready for kegging or bottling. To develop a richer flavor, sometimes they wait a couple of months before drinking it. “It’s a quick cycle, too,” Dyksterhouse said. “You spend one afternoon working, hanging out with friends and having fun. Then, six weeks later you find out how you did, how it turned out and if there are things that need to be changed for the next time.” They take good notes while making the beer, O’Bryant added. During the fermenting process, O’Bryant will send friends updates, pic-
tures and videos of the beer bubbling, which is a reaction from the yeast. “We’re always anxious for the video of it bubbling,” Dyksterhouse said. They make five-gallon batches, which produce about 50 bottles of beer, and divide them up. They usually make two types: a seasonal beer and a variation of an IPA, which is the group’s favorite type. Dyksterhouse said the process of making beer from scratch seemed to come naturally to them. “In our group, we have two construction guys and three farmers,” he said. “I think it appeals to our nature of wanting to build stuff, create something.” The process of home brewing can be simple, but trying to perfect the flavor of the beer can turn into a complex procedure. “It’s like trying to improve your golf swing. You have something you want to change, but you’re not exactly sure how to do it. So it’s trial and error,” O’Bryant said. “We always make things more complicated than they have to be. Like now, we’re not just talking about making beer; we’ve started talking about growing our own barley.” Home brewing had been a legal gray area in Mississippi since 1978, when it became legal in the United States. In March, Gov. Phil Bryant signed legislation allowing anyone over 21 to make beer for personal consumption but prohibiting the selling of homemade brews. The law took effect July 1, and home brew supply stores have been popping up across the state offering supplies and an assortment of craft brews. “I think its popularity is just a result of American culture,” Dyksterhouse said. “People like to be independent and do their own thing.” The recent increase in the number of home brewers and consumption of craft beers has converted beer into a culture rather than just a beverage. “It’s kind of a community thing, and the people who do it like to talk about it,” O’Bryant said. To these five friends, home brewing is a way to connect and spend time with each other and their families — and then they get to drink the fruits of their labor a few weeks later. “I like it because everyone is coming to my house and hanging out,” O’Bryant said. “The only problem I’ve found with home brew is that I don’t have enough room to store all the beer that we make. Having a keg in your fridge takes up a lot of space.” LI
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The Belk House
Cherishing memories old and new
W
hen Debbie Belk was a little girl, her mother, Janie Warren of Greenwood, occasionally took her to a house on West Harding Avenue in Greenwood to visit friends.
Debbie loved playing there because, among other attractions, it had a railed balcony on the second floor where she could look down into the great expanse of the living room and den. She could hide and listen to the grownups if she wanted to. Or she could pretend to be a princess overlooking her loyal subjects. She had no way of knowing that when she grew up, the house would be hers. Fast-forward to 2010, when former high school sweethearts Debbie and Ricky Belk had been married for 23 years and were living in their beautiful house near Glendora. Ricky had been farming since 1981, and the couple had three children — two sons, Adron and Christian, and a daughter, Merritt, in the middle. Adron was at Ole Miss, and Merritt and Christian, both at Pillow Academy, were becoming more and more active in sports and social activities with their friends in Greenwood. Making the trip between Glendora and Greenwood, often several times a day, was beginning to complicate their lives. To simplify things, Debbie and Ricky started looking for a house in Greenwood. In 2012, they heard the house on West
Debbie Belk played on the balcony overlooking the living room when she visited in this home as a child.
STORY BY JO ALICE DARDEN „ PHOTOS BY JOHNNY JENNINGS Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 13
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Three generations of Montgomery, Warren and Belk babies have used this antique cradle since it was bought in 1940 to rock Debbie Belk's mother. Today it displays family photos in the Belks' living room — until it's needed for its original purpose by future generations.
The iced tea is ready in Debbie Belk’s grandmother’s pitcher and glasses. Ricky Belk selected the granite countertops.
“Ricky insisted,” she said. Henry installed a cove ceiling in the master bedroom, as well as in the living room and den, with cove lighting controlled by wall-mounted panels of switches. The versatility of the cove lighting allows Debbie to vary the illumination levels in those rooms as needed. The en suite master bath is a spa-like haven in white ceramic tile, black granite and mirrored walls. It contains a large shower and an oversized Jacuzzi bathtub with two waterfalls to enhance relaxation. “Sometimes I just don’t want to leave
that room,” Debbie said. Creamy white trim and simple plantation shutters are unifying elements throughout the house; they control the sunlight and keep things feeling cool. The woodwork and cabinetry in all the additions were done by Paul Wilbourn of Grenada, Debbie said. Each room has its own wall color personality. In the center of the house, the living room soars to two stories in soft yellow. White columns and built-ins flank the fireplace, and the railed balcony where Debbie played as a child figures promi-
The den is the room where the family gathers to read, watch television, play games and just be together.
nently above the sofa, just above oil portraits of the Belk children. Brightly colored chintz upholstery covers comfortable overstuffed pieces that invite relaxed conversation. A Mediterranean-styled chandelier complements the one in the dining room. Accessories include family heirloom crystal ashtrays and silver compotes. One of the most cherished pieces in the Belks’ house is the antique wooden cradle in a corner of the living room. Debbie’s great-grandmother, Geraldine Montgomery, bought the cradle as an antique when Janie, Debbie’s mother, was born in 1940, and generations of Montgomerys, Warrens and Belks have started their lives in it. “All of our children used that cradle,” Debbie said. It now cradles a gallery of family photos. Just off the living room, the sunken den, with its cathedral ceiling, is the spot where the family and their guests gather to watch TV and talk and play games. Café latte walls complement the animal prints covering the comfy, overstuffed sofa and chairs, and a fully stocked wet bar and fridge mean fewer interruptions for trips to the kitchen. On the opposite side of the living room is the formal dining room. Its focal point is a lighted and mirrored china cabinet containing another family treasure — Debbie’s collection of hand-painted Italian pottery china that belonged to her grandmother, Jane Montgomery. Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 17
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The bedroom wing of the house was added by the Belks. The pediments over the windows of the addition use bricks from the original exterior walls of the house.
“She had these pieces as long as I knew her,” Debbie said, “and little by little, she gave me pieces for my birthday and Christmas, but she kept the plates for herself because she used them. They came to me when she died.” One of the serving platters is displayed on a stand on the mantelpiece in the living room, and a few pieces can be seen through the glass doors of kitchen cabinets. “We gutted the kitchen, down to the wall studs,” Debbie said. “It was small, and we just opened it up and started all over.” Ricky selected the granite for the countertops, and its warm browns and golds are repeated in the cabinetry and the colors selected for the comfortable breakfast nook. “We eat here,” Debbie said. “We talk here. It’s a perfect fit for us. This is where we solve the problems of the world.” Most house “tours” skip the utility room as necessary but unremarkable. The Belks’ utility room is an exception for its lively, upbeat color scheme of rose walls, dazzling white trim and shutters and the colorful prints that hang over the washer and dryer. “If you have to do laundry,” Debbie said, “why not do it somewhere bright and cheerful?” Happy memories of time spent doing laundry may be a little hard to come by, no matter how cheerful the utility room is, but Debbie does have happy childhood memories of the house, and the Belk family is continuing that tradition by adding many new ones of their own. LI Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 18
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SPLASH
Cover Feature
into summer
During the warm summer months in the Delta, the pool is the only place to be. From left, Mary Hooper Mason, Avery Alderman, Sara Grace Hemphill, Meri Del Jones, Joshlyn Lacy and Carrie Webster spend a hot summer day cooling off in a pool at the Greenwood home of James and Kimme Hargrove.
PHOTOS BY JOHNNY JENNINGS
From left, Mary Hooper Mason, Meri Del Jones, Avery Alderman, Joshlyn Lacy, Carrie Webster and Sara Grace Hemphill chat about their summers, while wearing trendy poolside attire, such as bright neons and pastels, chevron stripes, fringe, high-waisted shorts and Wayfarer shades — all summer must-haves.
Poolside social From left, Avery Alderman, Mary Hooper Mason, Carrie Webster and Joshlyn Lacy socialize in the sun before taking a dip in the pool.
20 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
Above: Sara Grace Hemphill, left, and Meri Del Jones talk poolside.share a laugh.
Left: From left, Mary Hooper Mason, Joshlyn Lacy, Avery Alderman, Carrie Webster, Meri Del Jones and Sara Grace Hemphill arrive in style, wearing bold prints and bright colors.
Fashion Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 21
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Dining: McAnerney’s
Different by design M
cAnerney’s is a bit out of the way, but for its faithful clientele, the McCarley restaurant is worth the drive.
In fact, the drive itself is worthwhile. After a turn north at the McCarley exit off U.S. 82, you drive a little more than two miles past rolling green pastures, over a no-longer-in-service railroad track, past an old store, and end at McAnerney’s restaurant just before the road turns sharply left and heads toward Carrollton. Owner Kelly Welch describes his restaurant as a “mom-and-pop place” with a limited menu. He says he depends on wordof-mouth and a pool of regular customers to keep him going. “I’m not on the beaten path. I’m stuck out here in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “I have 12 to 14 couples who come in every Friday or Saturday night and others who come from time to time.” Welch, 38, is not a formally trained chef; he learned by doing. His main love is grilling, especially steaks. For the eatery’s Southern fried food, such as catfish, Gene Hooks does the honors. Welch said he’s all about quality and serves only the freshest ingredients and the best steaks: “If it’s not USDA choice, I will not buy it.” As for fried seafood, everything is freshly breaded. “I want people to come back. There’s nothing any worse than pre-breaded shrimp,” Welch said. “Our biggest sellers are steak, shrimp, oysters and catfish. I’ve had a world of compliments on it. We use buttermilk, corn meal and flour to batter it.” From time to time, he tries something new. Sometimes his innovations work for his customers, and sometimes they don’t. He has a special dish each weekend, and
he makes sure everything he orders gets used. One special that has been popular is a sirloin with bacon and pimiento cheese. “It happened accidentally,” he said. “I had been home, had some pimiento and cheese, then decided I really wanted steak. I threw it on top.” He liked it so much that he incorporated it at the restaurant. “It is different. Some customers like it,” he said. “I mean for specials to be different. At least once a month we have fish. I also do something different with a bone-in pork chop.” He likes to travel and try new restaurants and dishes when he can. “I like to see what others are doing,” he said. “Sometimes it’s something that would work with our customers. Most of the time it’s not.” Welch and his family live in the McCarley community, a short distance from the restaurant. He loves being close to it, and he also just enjoys the atmosphere of the old township, once known as McAnerney. “It’s different; it’s old,” he said. “I respect our people here — treat everyone the same.” Despite already having a full-time job and trading cattle on the side, Welch said he was excited to take over the restaurant seven years ago when the former owners needed to do other things. He immediately changed the atmosphere, making it less formal and more laid-back. There’s a black, white and brown cow skin on the wall.
STORY BY RUTH JENSEN PHOTOS BY JOHNNY JENNINGS 24 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
McAnerny’s owner Kelly Welch says his admittedly out-of-the-way restaurant in McCarley depends on word-of-mouth and a pool of regular customers to stay in business. The restaurant is open on Friday and Saturday nights.
“I want people to feel comfortable,” he said. “I want them to say, ‘Man, that was some kind of good.’” To ensure his customers are happy, Welch comes out of the kitchen to talk with them. He tries to visit every table, and he welcomes suggestions from the patrons. Welch said he loves interacting with customers. “I love it when it’s full,” he said. “I call it controlled chaos. The place only holds 40 to 50 maximum. Occasionally, people have to wait a little while.” Because of its closeness to a church, the restaurant cannot sell alcohol, but Welch said people are free to bring their own bottles of wine if they choose. Business can be a little slight at times in the summer, but deer season brings in hunters from Southaven and other towns outside the area. Welch said he relies heavily on good
help. “We always have three waitresses — one in the back, plus Gene, helping with food prep and arranging plates.” The restaurant was first opened in 1997 by Mickey and Pam Carpenter. It stayed open for four or five years and then closed when a bridge was replaced, leaving no way to get there from the highway. It stayed closed for several years and then was re-opened by Brad and Andy O’Bryan. “The O’Bryans had their work cut out for them,” Welch said. “They cleaned the place up and got it back open. Later they both decided to do other things.” The opportunity just came up, and Welch, whose wife is a cousin of the O’Bryan brothers, decided to try it. It has worked well for him, he said. After seven years, he doesn’t foresee quitting any time soon. “I want to stay here until I can give it to my daughter Sara, who is 10,” he said. LI Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 25
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The Grays
Match made in Heaven
The Rev. Peter Gray and his wife, the Rev. Giulianna Gray, stand in the sanctuary of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood. Peter has been the priest at Nativity since March.
O
ften “culture shock” springs to mind when people hear about the move that the Revs. Peter and Giulianna Gray and their 2-year-old son, Joseph, made recently — from New Orleans to Greenwood — but the Grays are finding that life in the small town is just what they need.
And by all accounts, their new church is finding that the Grays are just what the church needed. Since early March, Peter has been the priest at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood, and Giulianna has been filling in where a priest is needed in Episcopal churches in Leland and Greenville. Both Peter, 30, and Giulianna, 34, are ordained priests. They met through a mutual friend in 2006 at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., and married three days
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Giulianna and Peter Gray with their son, Joseph, 2, on the day Peter was officially welcomed and installed as priest-in-charge at Nativity.
after graduation in 2008. “Our families were already there,” Peter explained. The couple then headed for New Orleans, where Peter had been hired by St. Anna’s Episcopal Church to run a Spanish language ministry and teach a class in English as a second language. His duties evolved and expanded exponentially, and he eventually became a priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in the Garden District. “In just a few years, I saw and worked with a broad sweep of the city,” Peter said, grateful for the foundation the experience gave him. Giulianna, who grew up in Louisiana, had been a clinical social worker before seminary; upon graduation, she became the Episcopal chaplain to Tulane and Loyola universities in New Orleans, originally based out of St. George’s Episcopal 28 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
Church, where she also served as associate rector, and later out of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Adding to the couple’s dizzying agenda, Joseph was born the day before Palm Sunday in 2011 — a week before Easter Sunday. “I think I was busier than any other clergy in town that Holy Week,” Peter said. Giulianna agreed. “Our first years were very busy years,” she said. “Our stress level has really decreased.” “We knew our time in New Orleans had been good,” Peter said. “We had a sense that our time was coming to an end, and we were open to a new position.” Because the Diocese of Mississippi had sponsored him at seminary, Peter explained, it was expected that they would return to Mississippi at some point, especially since they had already served in Louisiana for Giulianna’s sponsorship.
Peter was excited about the prospect of returning home to friends and family. His roots are deep in the state. His father, the Right Rev. Duncan M. Gray III, is the bishop of the diocese, and Peter grew up in Mississippi. His grandfather and greatgrandfather also served as bishops. Peter was looking for an opportunity to do more preaching. His dad had been a parish priest when Peter was younger, and he had always kept that option open for himself. Through college, he had developed a strong interest in academic theology, and in graduate school, he had an opportunity to do more study on his own that resulted in his need to discern between pursuing a Ph.D. in theology and going into ordained ministry. Through the process of discernment, Peter felt God was calling him to a parish setting, to read the Bible with people and open it up to them. In New Orleans he was one of several priests at Trinity, preaching on a rotating schedule. But Peter was now eager to preach more often, and eventually he began looking for a place where he would have that opportunity. The Diocese of Mississippi invited him to look at Nativity. “I saw that Nativity has good, active lay leadership, and they were very clear about what they were looking for in a pastor,” Peter said. He was also excited about Nativity Day School for Joseph. “NDS sounded extraordinary,” Peter said. “It was developed so fast. That suggested a congregation that had life and energy to it.” “We deeply enjoyed our time with the Search Committee,” Peter said. “It affirmed that (Nativity) is the place God was calling us. We saw the committee as representative of the congregation, and we knew it would be a comfortable place to live and work. And it has been wonderful to be here.” Giulianna agreed. “Small-town ministry is suiting you,” she said to her husband, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. And Peter and Giulianna seem to be suiting the small-town congregation. Harris Powers III, a member of the Search Committee, explained there were many candidates for Nativity priest, “but there was just something about Peter.” “Even at our first meeting, when we (the committee) went to see him in New Orleans, I could readily discern his warmth and his deep, deep sense of introspection,” Powers said. The committee heard Peter preach at Trinity, and the members were impressed. “I knew he could deliver a strong message,
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well-reasoned,” Powers said. “He was passionate about communicating.” When the Grays visited Greenwood, the Search Committee families met and mingled with them, and all got to know each other better. Powers said he and others had a long “heart-to-heart” with Peter and Giulianna about life in Greenwood, and, in the end, everyone knew the fit was right. “Now,” Powers said, “Peter is not just my priest, but my friend, too.” Powers has also noted an uptick in church attendance, even during the summer months. “He has re-energized our church.” “The hardest part (of ministry) is knocking on the door,” Peter said, referring to being a new priest, reaching out and engaging members of a congregation. And the larger the congregation, the more that outreach feels like a cold sales call. But Nativity’s smaller size is a tremendous advantage. “Here, I just run into people all the time,” Peter said. “It’s so easy to drop in on folks.” Peter’s plans for Nativity are fluid for now. He said he’s not a “cast a big vision” sort of fellow. “I see my job in these early months as experiencing the congregation’s life and making sure I understand what’s important to folks and how everything fits together,” he said. “My hope is to settle in, do a lot of listening and slowly begin to look for what openings are ‘out there’ — to see what role this congregation can play in this community.” Giulianna had a few months of settling in and not doing any church work immediately after the family moved to Greenwood, and now she has been enjoying her work as a supply priest, serving one Sunday at a time wherever she is needed. Life is about to get busier for both her and Peter, however; they are expecting a daughter in late September. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know some of the Delta churches,” she said. “After the baby is born, I’ll take some time to discern a personal call for myself.” “We are so blessed right now to have a strong and growing group of young adults and young families at Nativity,” Peter said. “It’s been wonderful to share a life situation with so many people in the church. We want to pay attention and imagine how we might serve the church through them.” The situation feels like a good fit to the Grays, and they look forward to growing with the church. “I want to read the Bible, teach people to pray, be faithful and work to see where the spirit goes,” said Peter. LI 30 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
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Fountain Building
Local landmark
The former Fountain’s Department Store today houses Mississippi Gift Co. and Turnrow Book Co., as well as several apartments.
F
ountain’s Department Store was a Greenwood landmark from the time of its grand opening on Sept. 24, 1914.
Originally known as “Fountain’s Big Busy Store,” the three-story building, locat-
ed at the intersection of Howard and West Washington streets, represented unprece-
dented progress for the small but growing Delta city. Built by store owner W.T. Fountain, the building featured electric passenger and freight elevators. “The store is complete to the smallest detail. Nothing has been overlooked; it is as complete as painstaking care and money can make it ... . It is
going to take a world of goods to fill it and an enormous trade to sustain it,” reported the Greenwood Enterprise. Today, the original building, which cost $37,000 to construct, is owned by Viking Range Corp. It houses Turnrow Book Co., Mississippi Gift Co. and several upscale apartments.
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A postcard depicts Fountain’s Big Busy Store in the early 20th century. The store featured three floors of merchandise.
Still, the old Fountain’s store is fondly remembered. Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said Fountain’s was a special place in the 1950s. “It was something to me. It was a fine department store. It had more than one floor. There was an elevator. It was like going to Memphis,” she said. Advertising agency owner Allan Hammons said during his childhood, Fountain’s had a natural appeal to youngsters. “They had a toyland,” he said. “In its day, it was a big deal.” The Sept. 25, 1914, edition of The Greenwood Commonwealth covered the store’s grand opening one day earlier. “First, the building proved itself a monumental consummation of the progressiveness, stick-to-it-iveness, and the general ability of its genial owner, a credit to the ‘Queen City of the Delta,’ as well as a reflection upon the growth and prosperity of the county and state,” the paper said. The first floor displayed a number of items — from handkerchiefs, “ladies neckware” and jewelry to handbags and cloth, the paper reported. The store featured an unusual system for checking out. The second-floor cashier’s office handled all transactions from the first floor and ensured that “all goods are checked, wrapped and sent down by the handy dumbwaiter.” The second floor also con32 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
tained ready-to-wear clothing. “The myriad charms of these departments tempts the visitor and the scribe to linger indefinitely,” the newspaper reported. The third floor featured trunks, bags, blankets, toys and window trimmings as well as the store’s receiving department. In its May 14, 1919, edition, the Commonwealth reported that Fountain was planning an addition to his building for a men’s department and soda room. That portion later housed the Bank of Commerce. W.T. Fountain died in October 1919 at the age of 56. In the obituary, the editor of the Commonwealth regretted “his inability to find suitable words to adequately express how deeply we all feel the loss of this truly good and useful man.” The store continued to thrive until the end of the 1950s, but by the early 1960s, Fountain’s was a memory. A Sterling 5-and-10 opened on the site. McAdams remembers that in 1983, her late father-in-law, James McAdams, purchased the building and used the second story as an art gallery. She recalls her children roller skating around the big, open floor space. In the 1990s, Dean Ainsworth operated a print shop out of the ground floor of
The interior layout of Turnrow Book Co. is faithful to that of the original Fountain’s Department Store.
the building, McAdams said. From 2002 to 2005, the building was owned by Johnny Jennings and Dr. Todd Fincher of Main Street Investors. It was remodeled for a children’s shop and Mississippi Gift Co. before being sold to Fred Carl Jr., the then-president and chief executive officer of Viking Range Corp. In November 2007, Viking unveiled the downtown apartments located on the building’s
second and third stories. Bill Crump, Viking’s director of corporate and governmental affairs, recalls going to Fountain’s as a child. “I remember going there for pictures with Santa Claus,” he said. And, of course, he remembers the elevator with its operator and clanky cage door. “That was a pretty big thing for a little kid from Schlater,” he said. LI
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Summer Events
Bikes, Blues & Bayous, Mississippi’s largest cycling event, hits the road Aug. 3.
AUGUST 3 — The sixth annual Bikes, Blues & Bayous bicycle ride begins at 7 a.m. in downtown Greenwood. Rides of 20, 46 and 58 miles are offered, as well as a new 8-mile family ride. 19 — Mississippi Delta Community College holds its first day of fall semester classes. 23 — Mississippi public and private high schools kick off the 2013 football season. All games start at 7 p.m. 26 — Classes begin for the fall semester at Mississippi Valley State University. 29 — Mississippi Delta Community College plays host to Hinds in its football season opener at 7 p.m. in Moorhead.
SEPTEMBER 7 — Mississippi Valley State University opens the 2013 football season at home against Delta State University at 1 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium. 21 — The 32nd annual 300 Oaks Road Race starts at 8 a.m. in North Greenwood. It features 5K and 10K runs, a 5K walk and a 1-mile fun run.
OCTOBER 3-6 — The Greenwood Little Theatre presents Vintage Hitchcock: A Radio Play. 5 — The Mississippi Blues Fest, a biannual rhythm and blues show, starts at 7 p.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center. 34 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
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Dr. Johnny Smith
More than meets the eye
I
f you look at teeth day after day, you might not see much beyond the bone — molars, saliva, gums, the tongue. But look at a picture of teeth, says Johnny Smith, and you’ll see much more.
“When you look at pictures of people’s teeth, or even your own teeth, you see things you wouldn’t see with the naked eye,” the Greenwood dentist said. “The same is true for landscapes and sunsets.” Although it might not seem like oral care has much to do with outdoor portraits, those are some of Smith’s favorite photography subjects. Smith is an artist in a dentist’s coat. His photographs of the Delta landscape liven up not only his dental office but also the offices of friends and family, and he’s even started to see some of them at Traditions, a custom framing shop in downtown Greenwood. Smith, who was born and reared in Greenwood, became interested in photography during his time in the Navy, where he served as a dentist. He was stationed on Parris Island, a Marine Corps recruit depot off the coast of South Carolina. Having spent most of his life in Mississippi and earned his dental degree from the University of Tennessee at Memphis, Smith knew he would see things during his time with the Navy that he had never seen before and might never see again.
Greenwood dentist Johnny Smith became interested in photography while in the Navy. He uses the same equipment to photograph teeth and Greenwood and its surroundings.
STORY BY JEANIE RIESS PHOTOS BY JOHNNY JENNINGS AND COURTESY OF JOHNNY SMITH Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 35
Smith says this image of the Leflore County Courthouse is one of his “most successful photographs ... . It’s an architecturally interesting structure.”
It was that desire to immortalize his memories that led him to picture-taking. At the start, it was just a hobby. He began to read about photography, though he never took a class to achieve the still images for which he’s become known around town. When he moved back to Greenwood to set up his dental practice, photography became a key element of his work. Smith does all kinds of dentistry, but much of his work is cosmetic, and he also dabbles in orthodontics. All those subfields require photography, whether it be a “before and after” picture of someone’s face or pictures of what the mouth looks like to show patients. “It’s common for dentists to share pictures of their work using digital photography. Intra-oral photography is a requirement,” Smith said. He gets inspired taking pictures of people’s teeth and faces and the changes they undergo. He realized, however, that he can use the same equipment he uses to photo36 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
graph teeth to photograph Greenwood and its environs. “You can use the same equipment outside and just change the lens,” said Smith. “The same camera your wedding photographer uses is the one we use on teeth.” The dentist takes photos of local landscapes and architecture with High Dynamic Range technology (HDR). That means the photos are taken partially with the aid of computer processing and partly by photographic technique. The exposure of each photo is varied to enhance its lighting and depth. Smith also enhances his photographs with Photoshop. Smith looks for both composition and definition in his photos. “I’m not into anything expressionistic,” he said. “Mine’s more about detail, and then there’s color. I like bright colors.” By definition, Smith means clarity — the ability to see details in the photo that you might not realize with the naked eye. For what he calls a “hobby,” Smith has
picked up a surprising number of techniques. “Sometimes you don’t know whether it’s a good picture until after you take it,” he mused. “Sometime you take 100 pictures, and you like five of them.” No matter the outcome, Smith said it’s important to visualize the picture before taking it. And, of course, for a photograph to be good, its subject must be interesting. Smith’s main subject is his hometown. “I like to have pictures of Greenwood. The material is part of the appeal,” he said. “One of my most successful photographs has been the courthouse. It’s an architecturally interesting structure.” Bridges are also a favorite subject of his, as are sunsets. “I love weather photography, cloud formations. And then trees. Some trees have appeal.” That’s when it comes down to lighting. Even the most interesting subject can be rendered less magnificent by poor light, which Smith said largely depends upon the time of day a photograph is taken. “In HDR photography, the way the light hits is crucial,” he said. When asked if it’s possible to adjust the lighting, Smith laughed and answered succinctly: “Not outside, you can’t.” He said he takes most of his photos early in the morning or late at night. “That’s when you get the best light,” he said. “It’s just a general truth.” Originally, Smith had no intention of selling the photographs. “It’s a hobby,” he said. “What I enjoy getting out of selling the pictures is paying for the equipment.” He’s not interested in being a professional photographer, though he said he does get a lot of pleasure when people like his pictures. “That’s true of musicians or anyone who does anything artistic, I think,” said Smith. But he said he blew a photo up one day, and a friend asked for a copy after Smith displayed it in his office — “so I blew up a bunch of them.” “I said, heck, I’ll make a little money off them. The main way I moved into selling them was people wanting me to get them prints,” he explained. Smith prints the photos up to poster size, so that they can be framed and mounted on a wall. “The picture of downtown from the boat landing has been very popular,” he said. “I’ve gotten some pictures of the church out on River Road. I’m proud of those, too.” LI
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Nathaniel Rosebur
Nathaniel Rosebur stands beside the clock he has kept running for almost four decades in the Leflore County Courthouse tower.
Right on time
F
or the past 37 years, Nathaniel Rosebur has helped keep the clock at the Leflore County Courthouse running on time. Rosebur, 56, is the electrically powered clock’s keeper. He doesn’t perform maintenance on it; that’s done every six months by a technician from the Clock Service Co. of Dunnellon, Fla. But he’s responsible for moving the clock’s hands ahead when Daylight Saving Time occurs. “I have to wind it ahead. I’ve got a little ol’ key,” he said. Although that sounds simple enough, Rosebur has to climb to the top of the tower to do it — and it’s a long slog up from the second floor of the courthouse. He goes through a crowded third-floor
storage area and then up two ladders in the tower’s mid-section before reaching the small confines of the clock room. “I’ve been up there as much as 10 or 15 times (a day) — up and down, up and down,” he said. “That will kill you.” Still the clock can be stopped by power outages. “If there’s bad weather, if the lights go off, it automatically stops,” he said. “I can just roll it ahead.” One adjustment at the actual clock mechanism moves all four of the clock faces simultaneously. Rosebur said it takes five to eight minutes of continuously turning the key to move the clock faces ahead one hour.
The clock’s mechanism can move only clockwise. That might seem to present a problem when the clock has to be rolled back an hour in the fall. In actuality, it’s a simple fix: Rosebur simply turns the clock off at its breaker box and waits until an hour passes before turning it back on. All in all, the clock keeps pretty good time, he said. The clock tower and the courthouse portico were built in 1905 and followed a design by architect R.H. Hunt. The clock, when first built, featured a 1,000-pound striking bell. In 1933, Westminster Chimes were added to the clock as a memorial to businessman T.R. Henderson by his widow, Lizzie George Henderson. In 2001, the whole clock tower underwent $40,000 in renovations, including new timbers and support structure for the clock’s massive bell mechanism. Rosebur said that in his duties at the courthouse, he’s busier keeping the building’s aging air conditioners operating than doing anything involving the clock. For him, the clock holds little in the way of historical sentiment. A carpenter by training, he said old things don’t hold much sway in his life. “If I see an old piece of furniture, it doesn’t interest me,” he said. “I don’t want to restore it. I want to build it from scratch.” LI
STORY BY BOB DARDEN PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 39
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40 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
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Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 41
Adron Belk
Early starter
A
dron Belk was born to farm.
He started driving a tractor on his father’s farm at the age of 6, but his love of farming started much earlier than that. “When Adron was 1 year old, he was always on the floor playing with a farm set and tractors,” said Ricky Belk, Adron’s father. “He had a real obsession with it from an early age.” Adron, 24, grew up farming for his father and began to work about 400 acres of his own land before he graduated from Pillow Academy in 2007. Now he’s in his third year of running his own farming operation, which consists of 2,600 acres near Boyle on the Sunflower-Bolivar County line and another 200 acres in Leflore County. “I never thought I would do anything different than this,” Adron said. “Doing anything outside of farming was never an option for me. Working in an office — that’s just not how I am geared. I grew up outside on a farm, and that’s where I am the happiest. “I also wanted to be my own boss, and this allows me to do just that. One thing about farming is that it’s different every day, and I love that, too.” The elder Belk said someone has to STORY BY BILL BURRUS PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS
42 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
At age 24, Adron Belk runs his own farming operation, which covers 2,800 acres.
love farming to be successful at it because it can often be frustrating when the weather and other external conditions are working against the crops. “There is no doubt Adron loves it,” he said. And he always has — so much so that if he got into trouble, his father would make him stay home instead of going to work with him. “That’s just how much he loved work and working on the farm. He spent every spare second he had as a kid out there working on the farm,” said Ricky. “And he didn’t get to just ride around in the truck. If my guys were shoveling, Adron was shoveling. If they were laying polypipe, he was laying poly-pipe. He earned their respect at an early age.” Although Adron’s operation is totally separate from his father’s, the two still talk several times a day to see what’s happening with the other. “I try to do as much as I can on my own, but if I have a question, my dad is the first person I call,” Adron said. “I was very lucky to grow up around a successful farmer like my dad. What I’ve learned from him I put to use every day. “I’m very fortunate to do what I love for a living. I am very thankful for my landlords and financial guys who were willing to take a shot with a young farmer.” Because of heavy spring rains, Adron, like all farmers in the Mississippi Delta, didn’t get to plant nearly as much corn as he first planned. He settled for 850 acres of corn, 350 acres of rice and 1,600 acres of soybeans. Adron and his wife, the former Betsy Nelson of Greenwood, live in the house where he grew up on his father’s farm in Tallahatchie County near Glendora. They have been married for a little more than a year and a half. “Adron is a hard worker who loves being in control of his own operation. He’s often at his happiest when he’s working on his farm,” said Betsy. Adron describes his love of farming as something close to an addiction, stopping just short of comparing it to the rush a gambler must feel when he wins. “There is something really cool about putting something in the ground, watching it grow and later harvesting it — all the time going head-to-head with Mother Nature,” he explained. LI Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 43
Greenwood-area public and private schools held graduation ceremonies in May. (Photos by Andy Lo and Ruth Jensen)
Graduation 2013
Dr. Montrell Greene and Greenwood High School’s Michael Curry
Greenwood High School’s Tatiana Howard and Kelsey Edwards
Pillow Academy’s Watson Turnipseed and Marianna Tollison
Pillow Academy’s Peyton O’Dell and Lou Adams
Amanda Elzy High School’s LaTia Davis
Amanda Elzy High School’s Fredericka Robinson
Leflore County High School’s Grant Simms and Kieya Conner
Leflore County High School’s Jakarra Walker and Dr. Viola Williams McCaskill 44 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
J.Z. George High School: Front row, from left, Charlissa Griggs, Brook Saucier, Jasmeen Thomas, Jessica Ezell, Felicia Cook and Chanta Hughes; back row, Qunteller Gomiller, Michael Henry, and Tolanda Miers
Carroll Academy’s Trey Everett, Haley Morgan, Lindsey Clair Ricks, Jonathan Ainsworth and Faith Moore
The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce held its 96th annual meeting May 13 at the Leflore County Civic Center. (Photos by Andy Lo)
Cole Tyler and Kelvin Scott
Mary Peoples
Samantha Prescott, Jeff Hardin and Lisa Cookston
Bill McPherson, Wanda Clark and Draughon McPherson
Tijuanda Beckworth, Lora Evans and Ebony Harding
Chamber meeting
Christine Hemphill
Emma Kathlyn Hammons
Michael Blanchard, Nick Griffith and Nicholas Griffith
Ronnie Robertson and Ryan Robertson
Catherine Alderman and Hart Kittle
Jasmine Walker and Bobbie Hollins
Terry Stancil, Spencer Leflore and Frank Leflore Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated/ 45
The 2013 River to the Rails street party was held in downtown Greenwood May 3-4. (Photos by Andy Lo)
River to the Rails
Mia Grace Wood
Kaitlin McDaniel, Reed Hargrove and Emma Grace Hargrove
Nallie Swain and Keely Harrison
Rob Baker, Judson Brown and Michael Rhodes
Beth Leflore, Spencer Leflore and Cary New
Kalley Barlow and Jennifer Roden
Linsey McPherson, Audrey Harris and Alaina Matthews
Stephen Phillips and Adam Ellis
Kate Ong, Jan Michael Ong and Carla Domingo
Eustace Winn and Justin Nix
Madeline Carroll
Mary Kathryn Shaw and Jessica Peacock
46 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
Air show/ Stars & Stripes
Greenwood-Leflore Airport hosted an air show for the first time in 13 years on June 1, and the Stars & Stripes Festival was held at Greenwood’s Park Between the Bridges June 27 in honor of Independence Day. (Photos by Andy Lo)
Gary Bright and Marlene Williams
Richard McQueen, Sutton Ward and Walker McQueen
Sabrina Clunan, Jimmy Clunan, Emily Clunan and Trevor Clunan
Anna Beth Stowers and Emma Hayes Sanders
Doty Porter and Drekkerius Hicks
Briuna Pirtle
Sherri Wiggins
Tiffany Brown
Floyd Melton III and Keri Brown
Sara Belk and Emylou Hays
Janet Haynes and Michael Stubbs
J.J. Storey Summer 2013 Leflore Illustrated / 47
The Back Page
PHOTO BY JOHNNY JENNINGS
by Emily Smith Riser
A newcomer’s guide T
defoliated cotton ready for harvest, blazing lights at Friday night football games and rich tailgating food on Saturdays. And the most delightful season in the Delta is winter, with the whole town coming out for the Roy Martin Christmas Parade, fireworks over the Yazoo, holiday parties, Christmas pageants and spotlights aimed at lovely houses with green wreaths and red bows. The above four statements are not contradictory.
his July marks 10 years since my husband, infant daughter, and I moved to Greenwood from San Antonio, Texas. We came here for a job and to be within closer driving distance to our families. Moving here put us three hours from my in-laws in Louisiana and 16 hours from my family in Michigan — still a lot closer than San Antonio. We did not know how being two hours from the closest Target and Thai restaurant would affect us, but we've always been up for an adventure. And what an adventure it's been! The Delta's friendly people and fascinating culture quickly won us over, and we are now proud to call Greenwood home. I thought it might be helpful to other newcomers if I were to compile a list of helpful facts and tips that we've learned over the past 10 years. Feel free to clip this and send it anonymously to that weird new Yankee couple down the street. So here goes — The Delta for Dummies: Vocabulary “Happy” is not just an adjective. It is also a noun meaning “small gift,” e.g., “I gave a happy to the hostess.” It is always appropriate to give a happy. You have your picture “made,” not taken. A “booth” in a fine restaurant is actually a private room. Despite what their signs say, it's County Market and Cottonlandia Museum. Food Tamales are not just Tex-Mex. Dessert is its own food group, especially if it consists of caramel cake, Steven's chocolate cake or anything from The Crystal Grill. Event planning Before scheduling anything for the fall, 48 / Leflore Illustrated Summer 2013
Understanding the natives It is OK to be eccentric, as long as we know your people and you do it with a Southern accent. The neighbors know everything about you, whether it's true or not. The neighbors care. Miscellaneous tips and facts you must check the Ole Miss and Mississippi State football schedules. It is not a party without cheese straws or pimiento cheese sandwiches — always on white bread, crusts off, and cut into triangles. Seasons The loveliest season in the Delta is spring, when the trees start to bud, the Japanese magnolias (“tulip trees”) bloom, clouds of pink and white and lavender azaleas appear on every lawn, and the fields are filled with endless green rows of sprouting crops. But really, the best season in the Delta is summer, with the heady scents of honeysuckle and magnolia hanging in the hot, humid air, and the happy shouts of children splashing in the pool. Surely, though, the most beautiful season in the Delta is fall, with the finally milder temperatures, puffs of yellow and red and orange mums on porches, fields of
For fun on a rainy day: take the kids to the library, where they can ride the elevator — to the second floor. Don't drive on Park Avenue at lunchtime if you want to avoid rush minute. Local politics is better than any soap opera, and the newspaper is true even if it reads like a tabloid. If you want to write a novel, you will get your best material here. Just change the names, and outsiders will think it's fiction. Most importantly, it is indeed possible to live — and live well — without big box stores, Starbucks or a movie theater when you have thriving local businesses, a coffee pot and good friends. It doesn't hurt if a couple of those friends are Yankee transplants who will give you a pass if you accidentally say “you guys,” but the natives are truly the friendliest you'll find anywhere. LI Emily Smith Riser is on the English faculty at Mississippi Delta Community College. She is the mother of one native Texan and one native Mississippian.