Invitation Magazine - April 2021 by Invitation Magazines

APRIL 2021

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Time to

CELEBRATE! A BRUNCH FOR ALL OCCASIONS M OT H E R ' S DAY S A LU T E G R ADUATION G LEE O KO LO N A G O LFE R O N PA R + LOCAL EVENTS & MORE

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APRIL 2021

DEPA RTMENT S 12

Letter From the Publisher

Digital Details

Calendar

Shoutouts

Helpers & Heroes

Recipes: Best Brunch

Out & About

Good Neighbors: Ibby and Wiley Morris

ON THE COVER

O X F O R D C O V E R B Y TAY L O R S Q U A R E P H O T O G R A P H Y

EVENTS

NORTHE A ST COVER BY J OE WORTHEM

No matter if you throw a big party or host a simple, small gathering, spring celebrations such as graduation and Mother’s Day are sure to bring plenty of joy this year.

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Flights & Bites

Ole Miss Baseball

Lee County Snow Day

‘Texas Red’

High School Golf

Mardi Ron

Ole Miss Basketball

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F E AT U R E S

TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY

FE ATURES 34 A New Beginning

Universities, community colleges and high schools are looking forward to in-person graduation ceremonies that will celebrate not only 2021 graduates but also the class of 2020.

38 Eat at McCormick’s

The University of Mississippi campus is now home to McCormick’s, a pub located inside The Inn at Ole Miss.

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44 Baseball in Full Swing

54 Young at Heart

46 Pop Up Oxford

56 Better Together

Six weeks into baseball season, the Rebels are living up to the hype.

Visit Oxford coordinates art and music pop-ups for weekends in April and May.

48 Rooms With a View

An Oxford couple built their dream home almost completely on their own.

A golf lover from Okolona is eager to be out of quarantine and back on the links.

From shooting hoops to baking from scratch to following artistic pursuits, these mothers are sharing what they love with their children and imparting life lessons along the way.

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TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY

L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R Mother’s Day has always been a special time of celebration in my family, for my mom and grandmother, and now for me. Mother’s Day will always hold sweet memories for me. Cooking with family, celebrating with friends, hugging my grandmothers and spending time with special friends who are much like mothers to me. Flip to page 56 for our feature “Better Together” to read about a few moms who have made huge impacts on their children’s lives by showing them love in simple ways, such as teaching them to cook or coaching their teams.

This month, we are also celebrating graduations, baseball season and much more. Read on page 34 about commencement plans for the class of 2021, as well as how some 2020 graduates are excited to finally commemorate their graduations. If you’re visiting Oxford for either of the Ole Miss graduation weekends — there will be one for 2021 grads and another for 2020 grads — you will find a new on-campus restaurant, McCormick’s (page 38); you can wander around the Square to experience art and music pop-ups (page 46); and you can take in a Rebels baseball game (page 44) —

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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they are a team to watch this year! After a year of a difficulty and isolation for many people, it’s refreshing and exciting to be able to gather even a little bit with others at this time of the year. We appreciate you picking up this issue of Invitation, and we hope you enjoy reading it. Be sure to look for our annual Home and Garden issue in mid-May.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eileen Bailey Allison Estes COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abbey Edmonson

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Abbey Edmonson Laurie Fisher CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Emi Hayes Lindsey Meisenheimer Taylor Square Photography Lisa Roberts J.R. Wilbanks

ADVERTISING OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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GOOD NEIGHBOR

D I G I T A L details E XC LU S I V E LY O N L I N E AT I N V I TAT I O N M AG .C O M

VICKI STEVENS | PROVIDED BY SOMETHING SOUTHERN

Po p Up O x fo rd : S p r i n g E d it io n

In April and May, Visit Oxford will host several weekends of free outdoor events celebrating the arts. Pop Up Oxford: Spring Edition will feature art vendors set up in alleyways around the Square, live music, double-decker bus tours and more. Turn to page 46 for the basics, and visit invitationmag.com for more details and a complete schedule.

Fr id ay Fo o d Blo g

social S N A P S We love being tagged in your photos!

T h a n k You , Adve r t i s e r s!

Enjoyed spending time afield guiding this morning and photographing this afternoon. L O C A T I O N : Little “q” Ranch U S E R N A M E : @bartonoutfitters

Coconut Macaroon Nests by Sarah McCullen

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so you don’t miss our Friday Food Blog posts. From seasonal weeknight suppers to after-school snacks to holiday feasts, our creative food bloggers have ideas that are sure to spice up your recipe rotation.

Visit our website, invitationmag.com, for a complete interactive list of our advertisers. We can’t thank these businesses enough for their loyal support. To our readers: Please continue to support these community businesses.

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

Our first #SpringFlavor of cheesecake… L O C A T I O N : Bremma’s Sweet Treats U S E R N A M E : @bremmasbakery

Have an exciting event coming up? Visit our website and share the details on our online community calendar. There’s a chance photos from your event will be featured in an upcoming magazine! FOLLOW US

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@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

Some of my favorite things in life… L O C A T I O N : The Grove USERNAME: @carolineunderwoodphotography

Long ago and far away... I made my way #south to #oxford... L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @jamesdowd1

Faulkner in the snow. L O C A T I O N : Oxford U S E R N A M E : @photoxlucile APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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C O M M U N I T Y A PR IL 1 - M AY 15 , 2021

Easter Sunday

Blackberry Smoke Concert

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Happy Easter!

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Truckapalooza

This American rock band hits the stage in Tupelo with the Mississippi All Stars as their opening act. 7 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena. bcsarena.com

APRIL 10

Oxford LeapFrog, an educational afterschool program, hosts this public familyfriendly event. Tickets free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Lafayette County Multi Purpose Arena. facebook.com/oxford.leapfrog

Regional Rehab 5K & Fun Walk

Ole Miss Giving Day

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Participate in an in-person or virtual 5K race to benefit Regional Rehab. Race time, 8 a.m., The Mall at Barnes Crossing, Tupelo. Visit the website for more race details and to register.

The University of Mississippi’s annual school fundraiser lasts exactly one day, eight hours and 48 minutes in honor of the school’s founding year, 1848. All gifts made during that time will count towards the Giving Day total.

runsignup.com

givingday.olemiss.edu

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Oxford Invitational A P R I L 1 7-1 8

The Country Club of Oxford hosts this 36-hole stroke play tournament for men ages 18 and older. thecountryclubofoxford.com

Maximus Challenge

Corinth Coke 10K

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M AY 1

This 4-mile competitive race with over 20 obstacles takes place in Pontotoc County. A Mini Maximus Challenge is available for kids. 9 a.m., Cherry Creek Orchards, Mississippi 345, Pontotoc.

The 40th annual Coke 10K offers runners in-person and virtual options. 7:308 a.m. rolling start, Foote Street. corinthcoke.com/coke-10k

Rose Show

raceroster.com

M AY 6

Red & Blue Race Event

The Northeast Mississippi Rose Society Rose Show returns! Free admission. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., lobby of Renasant Bank, 209 Troy St., Tupelo.

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The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce presents the Red & Blue 4-miler and 10K. Also includes a fun run for kids. Starting times from 7:30-9:30 a.m. See website for details and to register. raceroster.com

Ole Miss Grove Bowl

Blues Block Party A P R I L 24

Get a sneak peek at the 2021 Rebel football team in its annual intrasquad scrimmage, presented by Mississippi HomeCare. 4 p.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Ripley Main Street Association sponsors a downtown block party and Blues Alley Ribbon Cutting with food, drinks and live music featuring Tatum Shappley, Andrea Staten and Garry Burnside. 5 p.m.

olemisssports.com

ripleymainstreet.com

Drive-In Tour: TobyMac

Blue Suede Cruise

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A P R I L 3 0 - M AY 2

TobyMac and the Diversecity Band perform a live, drive-in concert at the west parking lot at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo. Tickets are sold on per-car basis. 6 p.m.

Car enthusiasts from across the country will showcase a variety of antique, classic and hot rod automobiles in Tupelo. Visit website for registration and schedule.

bcsarena.com

bluesc.com

Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo M AY 1 5

This long-distance bike ride offers scenic views in and around Oxford. Patrons can register for 70 miles, 45 miles and 20 miles. The deadline for registration is May 14. 7 a.m., Oxford Conference Center. For more information, search “Velvet Ditch Gran Fondo” on Facebook.

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S H O U T O U T S Ho no r i n g Ro n “Ro n z o” S h a p i ro Local artist Bill Beckwith recently created a bronze plaque to honor the spirit of Oxford’s Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro. It is on display at The Powerhouse. Shapiro was many things to the Oxford community. He had a passion for the arts. He was the founder of The Hoka, an old cotton warehouse that he turned into a movie theater that played independent films. The Oxford Film Festival honored him by naming their award the “Ronzo,” and many knew him as “the Cultural Ambassador of Oxford.” He died in August 2019. Beckwith created the artwork at Inferno Art Foundry in Atlanta; the entire process took around seven months to complete. The idea for the project came to fruition when Mike Mitchell, a friend of Shapiro’s, came across a photograph of the late “cultural ambassador” taken by local photographer, Bruce Newman.

Mitchell approached Beckwith with the idea of memorializing Ron in bronze, and Newman gave them permission to use his photograph for the project. “Ronzo never had a bad day,” Beckwith said. “He was just one of the most positive people you would ever want to meet. He loved to laugh and have a good time, and to make other people laugh and have a good time… I hope the piece captures Ron’s great attitude and fun-loving, generous spirit.” The piece was unveiled at a private showing on Feb. 23 at The Powerhouse. Following the event, Beckwith’s newest work will remain on display for public. “I was overjoyed to be a part of helping make this happy piece,” Beckwith said. “I hope it helps us all slow down, think about our priorities, appreciate and enjoy life and our neighbors and remember and honor the spirit of our friend, Ronzo.”

G l it t e ra r y Fe s t iva l D e but s i n O x fo rd Mississippi has undergone several changes throughout its history, and Oxford is preparing for yet another landmark when the University of Mississippi hosts the Glitterary Festival, April 16-18. Associate professor of English at the University of Mississippi and poet laureate of Mississippi, Beth Ann Fennelly, is working with several partners in creating Mississippi’s inaugural queer literature conference, the Glitterary Festival. The Sarah Isom Center, UM English department, Center for Southern Culture and the Ole Miss Alumni Association joined forces with several university students to put on this free, mostly virtual event that’s open to the public. It is expected to draw more than 30 writers, poets and essayists. “There’s a lot of interesting work being done in Mississippi at the intersection of

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literature and sexuality,” Fennelly said. “The organization that’s really spearheaded a lot of this thinking and organizing is the Sarah Isom Center, of which I am an affiliate. None of this would be happening if they (the Sarah Isom Center) weren’t involved.” Fennelly received a poet laureate grant from the Academy of American Poets to assist with the three-day festival.

Dorothy Allison and Jericho Brown are the festival’s featured keynote speakers. Brown is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from Louisiana, and Allison is an award-winning editor and author from South Carolina. A watch party for Allison’s interview, conducted by graduate student Sarah Heying, will be held outdoors in the Grove. “I hope that people from outside the area will have a deeper understanding of the diversity and creativity of people in Mississippi,” Fennelly said. “I hope that people from Mississippi, or people from the university and local community, will have the sense that Mississippi is a more embracing place than perhaps they had realized.” For more information about the events, including the schedule of events, visit glitteraryfestival.com.

SHOUTOUTS

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C o n g rat s , S t at e C h a m p s!

Northeast Mississippi schools were well represented in the 2021 Mississippi High School Activities Association state basketball tournament in late February and early March in Jackson. The Ingomar Lady Falcons became the MHSAA Girls Class 1A State Champions for the fourth time in six years and the 11th time in the school’s history. The Lady Falcons beat the West Lowndes Lady Panthers, 55-51. The 1A Boys State Champs were the Biggersville Lions who beat Ingomar Falcons, 47-46. In the 4A girls title game, the Pontotoc Lady Warriors took home the gold after a win over the Choctaw Central Lady Warriors with a score of 55-52. The New Site Lady Royals won the Class 2A Girls champions after defeating Calhoun City Lady Wildcats, 55-50. In Class 3A schools, the Belmont Lady Cardinals battled Kossuth’s Lady Aggies for a win in overtime, 56-55. It was the 12th state title in Belmont’s basketball program history. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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H E L P E R S and H E R O E S A COMPIL ATION OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNIT Y HELPERS THAT MAKE AN IMPACT IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI.

S a i nt s’ Bre w On early weekday mornings near downtown Tupelo, folks seen walking near All Saints’ Episcopal Church are likely headed to Saints’ Brew. Simply put, it’s all about the breakfast. In actuality, it’s about much more. Saints’ Brew is a free breakfast program for the food insecure, elderly on fixed incomes, the working poor and the homeless. All Saints donates the use of their facilities for Saints’ Brew, but the program is 100% community funded. Meals depend on donations from residents, churches and other faith-based organizations. “Saints’ Brew’s impact on our community isn’t limited to just a hot meal service,” said Hannah Maharrey, Saints’ Brew coordinator. “It is a tangible and necessary access point to our vulnerable neighbors in Tupelo. Through our breakfast program, we are

connecting our guests to resources they need to find stability and increase their long-term quality of life while also serving them a meal and fellowship.” When Saints’ Brew began in 2007, it was initially to be a ministry for a limited period of time through the Lenten season. Its first week, four people showed up for breakfast. But word spread and the ministry grew. In 2020, Saints’ Brew served a total of 17,386 meals. Even in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saints’ Brew volunteers continued their service to those who were hungry by offering a to-go service in March 2020, which helped keep Saints’ Brew active through last year. Saints’ Brew is a United Way Agency, a member of the Tupelo-Lee County Hunger Coalition, Tupelo Homeless Task Force, and Emergency Food and Shelter grant program.

G rove G ro c e r y Grove Grocery is a student-run organization working to relieve food insecurity on the University of Mississippi campus. Since 2013, this organization has offered groceries, toiletries and cleaning products to students, faculty and staff. It operates out of Room 213 in Kinard Hall, and there are several drop-off points around campus. The food pantry has made many adjustments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the winter storm in February. To decrease the number of people in the pantry at one time, Grove Grocery started an order form to allow patrons to preorder items online and then pick up outside the pantry at their convenience. Volunteers also made extra efforts via social media to encourage people to pick up food in preparation for

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For more information on volunteering with Saints’ Brew or donating to the cause, email saintsbrewtupelo@gmail.com.

the freezing temperatures in February. Mary Beth Gillespie, a senior biology major at UM, is one of two assistant directors for Grove Grocery. She began working with the organization in 2018 after taking a sociology course that highlighted food insecurity in Mississippi. “Grove Grocery hopes to leave a legacy of hope and inclusivity,” Gillespie said. “Our dream is for there to one day no longer be a need for our campus to have a pantry due to a shift in awareness and resources for faculty, students and staff. Until then, we hope to not only continue to provide food, but other resources and support as well to

Learn more at grovegrocery.olemiss.edu. Monetary donations can be made at umfoundation.com/foodbank.

HELPERS & HEROES

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I n A T i me ly Fa sh io n

Whitney Phillips launched In A Timely Fashion, a new nonprofit organization, in January 2021. Located in Oxford, the organization accepts new and used clothing donations that it gifts to patrons across northeast Mississippi. “I’ve always had a passion for helping people,” Phillips said. “In A Timely Fashion was the perfect way to help others help others.” Donations are currently porch delivery only, but Phillips uses her small business, Right On Time Errand Service, to pick up and drop off everything free of charge. In A Timely Fashion recently helped a family who lost its home in a house fire. After one of the family’s friends reached out to Phillips, She published a request for donations in the family’s clothing sizes on the nonprofit’s Facebook page, and her efforts resulted in a hefty number of donations. “I am so excited and can’t wait to share more information about donation drives and other events I am planning,” Phillips said. “It has been such a blessing to be able to witness the support and willingness to help from the community, especially during such a challenging time.”

To donate clothing, email inatimelyfashionms@gmail.com or send a message via the nonprofit’s Facebook page, facebook.com/inatimelyfashionms. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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M A R K O C C A S I O N S L I K E G R A D UAT I O N O R M O T H E R ’ S D AY W I T H A C E L E B R AT O R Y B R U N C H, OR MAKE AN ORDINARY WEEKEND BREAKFAST EXTRA SPECIAL WITH SOME OF THESE DELICIOUS DISHES. RECIPES CONTRIBUTED BY L AUREN STOKES AND DEIRDRE UNC APHER | ST YLED BY SAR AH MCCULLEN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY J OE WORTHEM

om-daughter Deirdre Uncapher and Lauren Stokes have often found themselves in the kitchen and around the table together. Turn to page 56 for their story, and read on for a few recipes they enjoy sharing.

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poached P E A R S 2 to 3 fresh medium-sized pears, any variety 4 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1½ cups red wine or apple juice or cider 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Plain, whole-milk Greek yogurt (optional) Chocolate shavings (optional) Cut pears in half lengthwise, and scoop out core. In a large, deep skillet, cook butter and cinnamon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until butter begins to bubble, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pears to pan, sliced side down, and cook, without stirring, about 1 minute. Add wine, brown sugar and vanilla to skillet, and reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pears are tender, about 1 hour. Turn heat off, and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Place 1 pear half on each serving plate, reserving wine mixture in pan. Dollop each pear half with Greek yogurt, if desired, and drizzle with wine mixture. Add chocolate shavings, if desired. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

pie crust D O U G H 1/3 cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup unsalted butter, very cold Fill a 1-cup liquid measuring cup with ice-cold water, and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Dice (or grate using a box grater) cold butter. Sprinkle butter pieces over flour mixture, and begin working butter into flour mixture with your hands just until crumbly, being careful not to overwork. Drizzle ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over surface of flour mixture, and combine mixture using your hands just until dough is moist enough to come together and form into a ball. (You will not use all of the water; use just enough to bring dough together into a ball.) Shape dough into a 6-inch disk, and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use. Thaw in refrigerator before using.

asparagus Q U I C H E Pie Crust Dough (see recipe above, right) 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 6 large eggs

¾ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt or sour cream ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup chopped, blanched fresh asparagus

Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out Pie Crust Dough into a 12-inch circle, and place in a 9-inch pie plate or 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Use a fork or knife to poke a few holes in bottom of crust. Bake in preheated oven until bottom is golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Reserve 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cheese in a small bowl. In a large bowl, stir together eggs, yogurt, salt, asparagus, and remaining shredded cheese. Pour egg mixture into baked pie crust, and sprinkle reserved shredded cheese over top.

Remove crust from oven, and let cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

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Bake quiche at 350°F until top is golden brown and center is set, about 45 minutes. Remove quiche; cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Add a bit of nostalgia to your brunch table by using special family photos as place cards.

mothers day COCK TAIL 1 bottle sparkling wine, juice or soft drink (such as cava, Champagne, prosecco, sparkling apple juice or lemon-lime soft drink) 1 quart raspberry sorbet 1 pint fresh raspberries Fill your fanciest glasses about halfway with your choice of beverage. Add a scoop of raspberry sorbet to each glass; top each with a few raspberries, and enjoy!

Vintage China works with delicate monogrammed napkins like this one from The Monogrammed Merchant in Oxford. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

popovers 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1¼ cups whole milk, at room temperature 1½ cups all-purpose sifted flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Place an empty 12-cup standard muffin pan in oven, and preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk eggs until well blended. Add milk, and whisk until incorporated. Add flour and salt; whisk well. Remove muffin pan from preheated oven, and rub butter inside each baking cup to generously grease pan. Pour whisked egg mixture evenly into greased cups, filling each cup two-thirds full. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 325°F; bake until puffed and browned, about 25 minutes more. (Do not open oven until popovers have finished baking.)

strawberry B U T T E R ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/8 cup powdered sugar Pinch of salt ¼ cup hulled and chopped fresh strawberries Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and salt in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add berries, and stir until combined but still chunky. Serve with alongside freshly baked popovers (recipe above).

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notes from the kitchen PERFECT PEARS The peel can be removed, but Stokes always leaves it on because she loves the contrast in texture between the flesh and the peel.

SIMPLIFIED STRAWBERRY BUT TER Replace the fresh berries and powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tablespoons strawberry jam, and proceed with the recipe as directed.

ADAP TABLE QUICHE Experiment with the cheeses and fillings you try in quiche. Stokes is partial to asparagus quiche, sometimes with goat cheese if she has it on hand. Ham and cheddar also work well together, and zucchini is another option. Quiche isn’t only for breakfast; paired with a large green salad, it makes for a great dinner.

CRUS T FROM SCR ATCH “If you’re going to go through the hassle of making pie crust, I find it’s best to make six at a time,” said Stokes. Then she wraps them securely in plastic wrap and freezes for later use. Another tip: Put aside perfectionism when making dough. Overworking it will cause it to be dense instead of flaky. It should look as if it might just fall apart. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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C o m m e n c e m e n t:

A New Beginning 34

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“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” — Fred Rogers

LINDSEY MEISENHEIMER

UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HIGH SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN-PERSON GRADUATION CEREMONIES THAT W I L L C E L E B R AT E N OT O N LY 2 02 1 G R A D UAT E S BUT ALSO THE CLASS OF 2020.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

raduation. That day set aside for caps and gowns, commencement speeches, turning tassels, tossing mortarboards and exchanging hugs, handshakes and highfives. Then, no matter your age, celebrating with all the people who’ve made the day possible. This year’s graduation ceremonies will be cause to rejoice for the obvious reasons, but the carefully planned in-person celebrations will also mark a much-anticipated return to normalcy (or at least closer to it) for north Mississippi graduates and their families. At the University of Mississippi, not only will the class of 2021 receive their diplomas but also, after a year of waiting, the class of 2020 will finally get its due. The university will host an in-person commencement for its 2021 graduates as well as a second graduation weekend for the class of 2020. With pandemic protocols in place, the graduates will be lauded in-person for their accomplishments, with the class of 2021 graduation exercises taking place April 29-May 2, with convocation at 8 a.m. May 1 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The class of 2020 will gather May 6-8, with convocation at 8 a.m. May 8 in VaughtHemingway Stadium. “While we were unable to hold an in-person event for the class of 2020 this past May because of the pandemic, we are eager to welcome them back to campus to celebrate and honor their incredible achievements, character and spirit,” said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. The chancellor’s announcement came as a welcome surprise to many 2020 graduates. “I was so excited to hear the news and knew immediately I would come back to Mississippi and be a part of our graduation,” said 23-year-old Katie Davis, of New Albany. Davis, who now lives in Washington, D.C., will celebrate her degree in public policy leadership and international studies. “I’d be lying to say I wasn’t really disappointed,” Davis said, referring to last year’s virtual commencement event. “I was sad to not have the opportunities for final goodbyes to professors I loved and classmates I loved.” Jamie Sproles, a 22-year-old Petal High School teacher from Hattiesburg, felt much the same. Sproles found ways to celebrate last year — by hosting Senior Week events with sorority sisters; enjoying APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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university campus as well, with a backup plan to move to the LHS football field if necessary. “As long as Ole Miss can host, that’s where we will be,” said Dr. Glenn Kitchens, LHS principal. “Everything will remain dependent on COVID restrictions, like limiting number of guests, but those things can be tweaked up until the week before graduation.” Indeed, while safety standards such as limited seating, social distancing and mask-wearing will be in place for this year’s commencement ceremonies, it is likely many participants will find those small prices to pay for a chance to celebrate graduation alongside classmates, surrounded by friends and family. “I don’t mind wearing a mask,” Sproles said. “Graduation is a big deal for me. I want to see my professors again and friends. I want to say the goodbyes I didn’t get to say last spring. It’s important.”

TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY

a special dinner with Honors College classmates; and watching her virtual commencement with her family in Brookhaven. But it wasn’t the same as the real thing. “A lot of my friends and I just felt what was planned — some sort of virtual commencement — was not very adequate,” Sproles said. “It did not feel very special at all.” Sproles said she was pleasantly surprised and is happy to have a chance to retrieve some of the celebratory moments she missed out on last spring. Her family has already reserved a hotel room to be present for the weekend. Many of Mississippi State University’s 2020 seniors who were unable to enjoy a live celebratory culmination of their college years took part in MSU’s December commencement. Those who were unable to participate in December will be included in spring commencement, said Sid Salter, chief communications officer at MSU. MSU’s graduation ceremonies will be held in-person April 29-30 in the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville. Masks will be required and graduates will be limited to four guests each. The ceremonies will also be livestreamed. Itawamba Community College, with campuses in Tupelo and Fulton, has invited graduates from December 2019, May 2020 and August 2020 to participate in its 2021 traditional commencement ceremonies. ICC plans to host multiple graduations rather than a single one in the Davis Event Center on campus in order to accommodate students and comply with public health guidelines. Reduced seating capacity, social distancing and masks will be the order of the day. And the Davis Event Center will close for a required period of time to make certain the center is sanitized between each graduation. The commencement ceremonies are scheduled to take place May 13-14 and will also be livestreamed. Colleges and universities are not the only institutions hoping for a semblance of normal this spring. High schools are also making plans for in-person graduation celebrations. At Tupelo High School, where 2020 seniors took part in five smaller ceremonies in five different places last year, Gregg Ellis, director of communications at THS, said the goal this year is to have a single graduation ceremony in one place while following protocols for safety. THS graduation will be May 21. After Oxford and Lafayette high schools had to cancel graduations scheduled to be in Tad Smith Coliseum last year, the schools arranged for seniors to each invite five guests — friends or family — to appear with them on their campus at a designated time over a multiple-day period to watch them receive a diploma. Videos made would later be broadcast for all to see. Plans are in place for more typical events this year. An agreement was signed in March between the Oxford School District and the University of Mississippi for the use, once again, of Tad Smith Coliseum for Oxford High School’s 2021 graduation, according to Heather Lenard, public information officer for the district. OHS graduation is slated for 6 p.m. Friday, May 21. Lafayette High School looks forward to a return to the ordinary as well for this year’s graduation. Ceremonies will be back on the

The joy of graduating alongside college friends is captured in popular graduation photos like these. After the past year, members of the Class of 2021 will feel especially fortunate to make these memories together.

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Eat {& drink} at McCormick’s THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI CAMPUS IS NOW HOME TO MCCORMICK’S, A PUB LOCATED INSIDE THE INN AT OLE MISS. WRITTEN BY EILEEN BAILEY

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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Ben Napier, pictured above with his wife, Erin, is building a bar top that will be installed soon at McCormick’s. The Napiers are Ole Miss alums and HGTV stars.

BROOKE DAVIS JEFCOAT

early five years of planning and work have paid off with the opening last fall of McCormick’s Bar and Grill at The Inn at Ole Miss. The showpiece of the restaurant will be a bar top built by HGTV star and Ole Miss alumnus Ben Napier. Kirk Purdom, executive director for the Ole Miss Alumni Association, said opening a bar, the only one located on the campus of a public university in Mississippi, expands the services offered to alumni and others who stay at The Inn. Before it could even happen, Purdom said, the hotel had to be granted resort status, which was given recently by the state of Mississippi. “The one thing that we needed to be a full-service hotel was a bar,” he said. Gay Bukur, general manager for The Inn at Ole Miss, said McCormick’s was named for David and Susan McCormick, both alumni of Ole Miss. The couple’s contribution was used to sponsor McCormick’s when it was a breakfast restaurant. Bukur said the restaurant and bar, like the hotel, is open to the public. McCormick’s is a full-service restaurant that serves American cuisine similar to a pub, she said. In addition regular breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items, they offer specials. The highly anticipated bar top will be made by Napier, who with his wife, Erin, co-stars in the HGTV series “Hometown.” The husband-wife duo, both graduates of Ole Miss, renovates homes in

Laurel. Purdom said he met Napier through various alumni events. “(I thought) he would love to do it,” Purdom said. “They are both such nice people. He was excited to contribute to the project.” Napier is a woodworker, who often uses reclaimed materials in the projects he takes on in his Laurel shop. “I thought it would be neat if he built a bar top that came from

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McCormick’s, located inside The Inn at Ole Miss, is a full-service bar and restaurant offering breakfast and lunch everyday and dinner on the weekends.

trees in the Grove that had been knocked over in storms,” Purdom said. So, the crew that handles the care of the trees in the Grove cut several downed trees into 18-foot-long slabs, which were sent to Napier in Laurel, where he is building the bar. Napier, who is currently filming the fifth season of “Hometown,” recently visited campus, and the bar top is expected to be completed soon. Napier said his love for Ole Miss led to his working on the project. “Building something for your alma mater is a dream for anyone,” he said. “The fact that I met my wife at the University of Mississippi, that I proposed to my wife while there, that we got married on campus, that we graduated together makes it even more special.” Wood floors, warm, dark wooden paneling and bright pressed tin on the ceiling are all new features of McCormick’s, which once served as the breakfast area for guests at the inn. A long bank of floor-to-ceiling windows allows light to showcase the bar’s new look. Several televisions allow guests to watch sporting events. Tables occupy an open space, allowing guests to spread out. “We wanted it to be a comfortable place with a pub feel,” Purdom said. Since its fall opening, Purdom said, the restaurant has seen a steady stream of visitors, especially for breakfast and lunch. “Everything looks great, and we are happy with how it turned out,” he said. “The food is really good.” Since it opened, it has followed CDC guidelines for capacity.

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They were even able to host an event in the fall with about 30 people. “It went really well,” Purdom said. The staff is now working on how to offer pickup parking spaces to expand their ability to offer to-go orders. Also in the works is the possible expansion of outdoor seating and tables. Purdom said he could not be happier with the atmosphere and look of McCormick’s. What he loves the most is how the Edison lights, combined with the outside view through the bank of windows, just make it shine. Breakfast and lunch are offered every day. Purdom said some of McCormick’s breakfast favorites include French toast and omelets. Lunch offerings that seem to be popular are quesadillas, wings, burgers and fish and chips. Dinner is offered on the weekends. Providing evening meals during the week depends on the number of people staying at The Inn. Turnout during football season was good as people came to watch the game on the screens inside McCormick’s, he said. Despite the limitations required in recent months, Purdom said, McCormick’s has done well. Additional plans are in the works for the future. McCormick’s was designed by JBHM Architects of Tupelo and Jackson. JBHM also designed the South Campus Recreation Center, which opened last fall. The Inn at Ole Miss offers a variety of services for all types of events, including conferences and weddings, and also offers their own catering services. Learn more at theinnatolemiss.com.

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SIX WEEKS INTO BASEBALL SEASON, THE REBELS ARE LIVING UP TO THE HYPE. WR IT TE N BY E M I LY WEL LY ILLUSTRATION BY L AURIE FISHER

le Miss Baseball began its season with a No. 1 ranking after sweeping TCU, Texas Tech and Texas at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas, the weekend of Feb 22. After the Texas trip, the Rebels played 13 straight games at home in late February and March, winning 10 of them.

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There is still plenty of ball to be played. The NCAA Division I regular season goes through May 22, with the tournament beginning June 4. The College World Series takes place in Omaha June 18-30. For fans, while the traditional outfield crawfish boil tailgate parties and beer showers might not be part of the revelry

this year, the atmosphere at Swayze Field is beginning to feel a lot more like we remember since restrictions have been eased to allow more spectators. Additionally, all games are broadcast on TV. And that’s good because the Rebels continue to show they are a team worth watching. Here are a few more reasons why.

Highlights Senior third baseman Tim Elko was named National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week March 8 after hitting five home runs in five games in early March. Coach Mike Bianco scored his 500th career win at Swayze Field when the Rebels beat Belmont 4-3 March 6 thanks to junior Kevin Graham’s eighth-inning home run. Pitchers Gunnar Hoglund and Doug Nikhazy were named to USA Baseball’s preseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, the top individual honor in amateur baseball. A total of 55 players in the country made the list. The award will be presented in July. Hoglund and Nikhazy were also named preseason AllAmericans by multiple organizations. Of the team’s nine seniors, about half missed last year after the season was canceled and are back playing again this year. The other half will be eligible to play next year because of missing last season, thanks to the NCAA granting athletes an extra year of eligibility. April 22, Don Kessinger’s jersey number (11) will be retired and displayed on the outfield wall. After playing for the Rebels in the 1960s, he was shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, earning six All-Star and two Gold Glove selections.

Home Games April 6 vs. Alcorn State April 9-11 vs. Arkansas April 13 vs. Austin Peay April 20 vs. Little Rock April 22-24 vs. LSU April 30-May 2 vs. South Carolina May 4 vs. Arkansas State May 11 vs. Little Rock May 14-16 vs. Vanderbilt May 18 vs. UT Martin *Games are also broadcast on the SEC Network or ESPNU. For the complete schedule, times and ticket and broadcast information, visit olemisssports.com. APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

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Pop Up Oxford Spring Edition

VISIT OXFORD COORDINATES ART AND MUSIC P O P-U P S F O R W E E K E N D S I N A P R I L A N D M AY.

imed with home Ole Miss baseball games, the Grove Bowl and graduation weekends, Visit Oxford will coordinate Pop Up Oxford: Spring Edition, an effort to highlight pop-up art and music events happening around town in April and May. “We are excited to host Pop Up Oxford: Spring Edition and look forward to welcoming back some of our visitors that we’ve been missing,” said Kinney Ferris of Visit Oxford. “By spreading out these events over four weekends, we want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy all that Oxford offers in a safe way.” Visit Oxford will host art vendors, who will be set up in alleyways around the Square in order to allow for social distancing, from noon-5 p.m. April 23, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 24, May 1 and May 8. Vendor spots were offered to Double Decker Arts Festival artists who were previously juried into the festival but were unable to participate due to the COVID-19 cancellations. Live music will also be heard all around the Square during these weekends. The End of All Music will host a balcony concert from 5-7 p.m. April 23. And music will play in the pop-up Blue Delta Blues Alley from 4-8 p.m. April 23 and 2-6 p.m. April 24. Tunes Around Town, a pop-up walking music festival around the Square, will also take place from 5-7 p.m. April 24, May 1 and May 8. Visit popupoxfordms.com for information and updates.

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VICKI STEVENS | PROVIDED BY SOMETHING SOUTHERN

WR IT TE N BY E M I LY WEL LY

While you’re in town this spring, hop on Oxford’s iconic doubledecker bus for a tour. In the spring, Visit Oxford offers tours at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Fridays of home Ole Miss SEC baseball weekends and graduation weekends (April 9, 23 and 30, and May 7 and 14). On the tour, a local historian guide provides a trip through history, visiting points of interest on the University of Mississippi campus and around the city. Tickets are $10; $5 for children 12 and under. Call 662-232-2477, email tourism@visitoxfordms.com or direct-message @VisitOxfordMS on social media to reserve seats. Seating is limited due to social distancing, and masks are required.

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ROOMS

WITH A

VIEW

WITH A LITTLE KNOW-HOW AND A LOT OF INGENUIT Y, A N OX F O R D C O U P L E B U I LT T H E I R D R E A M H O M E A L M O S T C O M P L E T E LY O N T H E I R OW N. WRITTEN BY ALLISON ESTES

own a winding country road in the Woodson Ridge area northeast of Oxford, a trim, modern, newly built home sits on the crest of a hill. You can’t tell from the front, but within, large windows and a deck along the backside of the house offer sweeping views of the valley and hills for miles beyond. Everything about the house seems perfectly suited to the site, and to the owners, Kerby and Mindy Ladner — perhaps because they did much of the work themselves. “We did electrical, we did plumbing, we did flooring, we did painting, all that stuff,”

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Mindy said. “We installed lighting, installed all the fixtures; we did the kitchen, we did everything — just the two of us. If you like it, we did it — if you don’t like it, we did it.” Mindy, who has a degree in design, did the preliminary drawings of the house, and Kerby, an electrician, handled the wiring. An architect drew up the plans to scale, and a contractor dried-in the house, including insulation, sheetrock and countertops. But pretty much everything else, from waterproofing the basement to roughing in the plumbing before the build, the couple just figured out how to do on their own. Continued on page 50 APRIL 202 1 | INVITATION

Continued from page 49 The home is on some acreage that had been in Mindy’s family. Mindy grew up near there; Kerby is from the Happy Valley area off Campground Road. The couple owned a farm in Tate County and, for a long time, had plans to build there, but things changed. Kerby’s dad died, making him want to be closer to his mom; Mindy took a job at Wildrose Kennels, while Kerby worked in Batesville. Ultimately, they decided to remain in Oxford. They broke ground in October 2016. It took about a year and a half, but in February 2018, they were able to move in. The couple designed the home to be comfortable and functional, starting with the orientation of the house on the site. The front of the house faces the road on the west side. The back of the house has large windows to take advantage of the stunning view to the east. While the house isn’t specifically passive solar in design, that did play a part in many of the choices the couple made. “We wanted to maximize our eastern view and minimize the west facing facade,

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since we are situated close to the road,” Mindy said. “We didn’t stick to strict passive solar ideals because we didn’t have a true need for solar heat gain living in Mississippi, but plenty of need for solar exclusion with the never-ending summers.” The slope in back of the house was completely wooded but has been cleared except for two trees that leaf out and provide morning shade in warmer months, as does the overhang over the deck. Clerestory windows near the ceiling allow more light in winter, but a deep overhang reduces the amount of sunlight in summer. Smaller windows on the west side allow for cross ventilation, but help keep out the hot afternoon sun. “Our house can be ventilated easily with only being a single-room depth and lots of opposite windows and doors for cross breezes,” Mindy said. “We also have a full basement that keeps at a constant temperature of about 64-65 degrees, even without any heat or AC. We took a risk with the darker paint color, but it hasn’t affected our indoor temps in summer.”

On the main floor, the master bedroom and bathroom are at one end, and a guest suite is at the other. The open common space in the center includes the kitchen, dining and living areas. Mindy’s and Kerby’s tastes are both evident in the interior design and decor, which includes clean lines, and a mix of natural and contemporary details. “My husband would love to live in a log cabin, and I would love to live in, like, a glass box,” Mindy said. “So the contemporary design kind of balances the two of us. Elements of polished and shiny and glass: That’s me. Wood and rustic: That’s him.” The ceiling height in the center area of the house angles from 10-17 feet. An exposed beam across a 30-foot span is the backbone of the house. “My husband didn’t have a whole lot of faith that it (the beam) was going to look very good,” Mindy said. “He was like, ‘This is not going to be very pretty, it’s just a glue

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lam beam.’ And I said, ‘No, when we get it stained, it’s going to be neat; it’s going to be different.’ And when they see the house, that’s the overwhelming response from people. People say, ‘Wow this is so different, but I like it.’” The couple installed the tongue-andgroove pine on the ceilings of the decks outside the kitchen and dining space, which will eventually be joined to wrap completely around the back of the house. They also built the welded metal railing around the deck. “My husband is the welder, and I’m the holder,” Mindy said. “I just held it vertical, and he welded.” Mindy intended to have the kitchen and bathroom tile contracted, but ended up doing it herself. Energy efficient LED lighting is used throughout the home, especially pretty in a multistrand crystal fixture over the dining table. For the common space, the couple chose a vinyl wood floor, which they also installed. “I could have spent the same amount of money and had hardwood,” Mindy said. “But I have dogs; I cook a lot; I don’t want to have to worry about the floor being

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messed up or scratched, and this I can go through and wet mop.” The kitchen cabinetry, which they also installed, takes advantage of the high ceilings by providing lots of vertical storage. Downstairs, in the same footprint, the unfinished basement with recycled tin walls offers ample space for office, dogs and even more storage. “You can never have enough storage,” Mindy said. “I didn’t want to clutter up the upstairs with any kind of junk. It’s probably a little more clinical and sterile than what some people like, but I like for it to be restful and simple. I don’t like clutter; I don’t like things everywhere. I don’t want to have to move all that stuff. I want to be able to go through, clean and dust in an hour.” Mindy and Kerby say the satisfaction of having everything just the way they wanted it, as well as the savings, was worth all the effort. They wouldn’t change a thing. “Doing everything yourself, it’s going to take you twice as long to get it done,” Mindy said. “But you’re going to save a whole lot of money that way. Building that value was worth it in the long run.”

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at Sistrunk has found joy in many things throughout her life but none has been as constant as the game of golf. The Vicksburg native has three adult children (she lost a son to leukemia when he was in high school); she bought and restored McRaven, one of Vicksburg’s historic antebellum homes; she speaks four foreign languages — French, Spanish, Russian and German — and while in COVID quarantine, she’s learning Italian; she piloted a plane; earned her Ph.D.; and until the pandemic put a halt to it, Sistrunk played golf every single day, weather permitting. In October, she turned 96. “You know, I contribute some of my longevity to golf,” Sistrunk said. “And I miss it terribly.” She has a putting rug inside her Okolona home and a place outside to practice chip and pitch shots, so she’ll be ready to resume her game when it’s safe. Golf has been a part of Sistrunk’s life since she was 11, thanks to her childhood best friend, Patricia “Ticky” Peterson. “Ticky was an only child and her parents loved golf,” Sistrunk said. “They would golf every Sunday, and Ticky would have to go along and walk the course while her parents played. She hated it. One day, she came to me and said she was going to learn to play golf and asked if I would learn too.” Sistrunk received a set of clubs that Christmas, and the rest truly is history. While attending college at Barnard College in New York City, Sistrunk took golf as her physical education.

Young at Heart

A GOLF LOVER FROM OKOLONA IS EAGER TO BE OUT OF QUARANTINE AND BACK ON THE LINKS.

WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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ILLUSTRATED BY ABBE Y EDMONSON

“In the winter, we couldn’t get to the golf course,” she said. “They put up a net between two big buildings and we’d hit balls and run. The balls would go into the net, hit the wall and come flying back toward us.” While raising her children after a divorce, Sistrunk taught school in Vicksburg. At the urging of a friend, she signed up for an adult education course taught in Vicksburg by a professor from Mississippi State University. His name was Walter Sistrunk and he later became Sistrunk’s husband. “He was a pilot in World War II,” she said. “We bought a plane together before we ever married. He taught me how to fly.” Sistrunk had two requirements of a second husband, and Walter met both. Her dog had to like him, and he had to like golf, which he later learned. “I always beat him,” she said with a chuckle. “But he didn’t seem to mind.” After the two married, Sistrunk spent two years as director of instruction on the Tupelo campus of Itawamba Community College. She later transferred to the Fulton campus where she taught French and Spanish for 17 years until she retired. With her husband at MSU, the two chose to live in Okolona. Walter Sistrunk died in 2004. On her 90th birthday, the Okolona Country Club, where Sistrunk has been the Women’s Champion for the past 15 to 20 years or so, gifted her with signs at the start of each hole reading “Miss Pat’s Tee Box.” Until the pandemic, Sistrunk was a daily fixture at the nine-hole course, where she owns her own golf cart. She hasn’t kept count of tournament bests, but she’s picked up myriad medals through the years for things like best putt, among others. She’s played in Senior Olympics tournaments. She admits she’s a good short game golfer but has never been a great distance driver. She speaks philosophically about the game. “Golf will teach you a lot about yourself and about other people,” she said. “Sure, it can be frustrating when you think you ought to be hitting better. But it’s a roll of the dice, some days you’ve got it and some days you don’t. You just do better the next time.”

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Better Together FROM SHOOTING HOOPS TO BAKING FROM SCRATCH TO FOLLOWING ARTISTIC PURSUITS, THESE MOTHERS ARE SHARING WHAT THEY LOVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND IMPARTING L I F E L E S S O N S A L O N G T H E WAY. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

s is often the case with history, there are multiple stories regarding the origin of Mother’s Day. However, one story that has stood the test of time is that in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, with the stroke of a pen, established Mother’s Day as an annual observance on the second Sunday in May. The reason for the observance has never been in question. It’s a day to honor mothers and those who represent the importance of maternal bonds. It’s a day to remember those no longer here and laud those who remain. It’s a day to thank them for their love and their life lessons.

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In the kitchen Lauren Stokes likely learned lessons from her mother that put her on a path leading to what she does today. Stokes and her husband, John, have owned and operated Tarasque Cucina in Oxford for the past five years. Born in Maine, Stokes lived in a cabin with kerosene lamps, a wood stove and no electricity until she was 6½ years old. “We were pretty poor when I was growing up,” she said. “Dad was a wonderful dreamer who found a cabin in our price range with stunning land, a workshop for his woodworking, a pond. It was heaven until you were in the middle of a snow storm.” It was clear to Stokes even in her childhood that her mother, Deidre Uncapher, was skillful in a kitchen, especially where cooking was done on a wood stove. “Mom is really an innate cook,” said Stokes, 38. “She read a lot of cookbooks, but there is just so much she just knows. I mean, a certain amount of planning must be done to prepare a meal on a wood stove.” When the family moved from the cabin to a Maine farm, Stokes started spending some time in the kitchen, where she witnessed more of her mother’s kindness. “She was always an encourager,” Stokes said. “She never forced us, but was very welcoming in the kitchen. It was like supervised free rein. She

gave me cookbooks, and if I had questions, she made sure I had the knowledge. But she didn’t helicopter.” Stokes’ mother said she wanted her children to feel comfortable in the kitchen. “I grew up in a privileged family,” said the Manhattan native. “We weren’t welcome in the kitchen. I wanted to cook but had no skills. So I wanted my kids to feel welcome in the kitchen. It’s where they did their homework. And one night a week when they were growing up, I let them pick the meal and help prepare it.” Perhaps the fondest culinary motherdaughter memory involves the baking of Christmas cookies. “My mom’s best friend Karen would come over and cook all day,” she said. “I’m sure I wasn’t much help, but it is a tradition we continue, my mom and I.” Stokes’ younger brother Daniel was also invited to join in the holiday baking. “The day of baking was too long-term for Daniel,” Uncapher said with a chuckle. “He participated, but fleetingly. He liked to eat the cookies but not make them.” One holiday season a few years ago, the cookie making involved at least 10 different kinds of cookies that yielded almost 1,000 cookies, most given away. Stokes remembers many other simple gifts

of grace from her mother. “We’d have sleepovers, and in the morning, she’d send us out to pick strawberries or blueberries for homemade muffins or pancakes,” she recalled. “Every year for my birthday, she would make my favorite — an asparagus quiche — with asparagus picked from a 100-year-old patch on the farm. We had homemade bread with really good butter, wonderful fresh vegetables. Life was filled with really simple, simple good things, which I love so much.” Stokes’ aunt and uncle left Maine for Mississippi 18 years ago after falling in love with Water Valley. Stokes transferred to Ole Miss soon after, and her parents didn’t wait long to follow. “They fell in love with Mississippi too,” Stokes said. “And why wouldn’t you?” It was in Oxford where Stokes met her future husband while they were both working in restaurants. They met at a “late night,” a social gathering of restaurant staffers late in the evening after eateries close. Soon after, she moved to western Australia and worked for a toy company for a year. When she returned to Oxford, the two ran into one another and began dating. They’ve been married 11 years and now live in Water Valley where they’ve bought an old house to renovate. In addition to Tarasque, Stokes has worked fulltime at BorgWarner in Water Valley for six years. Continued on page 58

Turn to page 26 for some of Stokes’ and Uncapher’s recipes, including Asparagus Quiche (pictured above), Popovers and Strawberry Butter.

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Continued from page 57

ON THE COURT Tupelo’s Natasha Lewis absolutely loves the game of basketball. And whether by some happy accident or the passing along of just the right bit of DNA, her two sons love it too. Twelve-year-old Caleb has had a basketball in his hands since he could walk, his mother proudly proclaims. And his younger brother Kyle, 9, can’t pass a goal without shooting a ball. Let’s not leave their dad Carlton out of the equation — he’s also an avid fan of basketball. “We have had a small basketball goal in our living room for years,” Natasha said. “There’s been nothing breakable in my living room. But last summer, we took it out, and I finally got a coffee table and end tables. The mini goal is in the garage, so now I can’t park in the garage.” There’s also a standard-size goal outside and little ones on the wall in most rooms in the Lewis home. For the past seven years, Natasha, a computer software engineer, has been an instructor of information technology at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville. When she’s not in her classroom, she’s enjoying serving as a basketball coach for Tupelo Park & Rec. Serendipitously, the team she’s coached most recently — The Lakers — includes her sons. “Sometimes it’s hard,” Natasha said. “I am naturally overly competitive, and I’ve played basketball all my life. I often see these kids with more potential than they are putting out there; it’s hard not to fuss, but I try not to. I want them to learn the basics and have a love of the game … but I still like to win.” Her sons agree having their mom coach their team is a little weird, but they roll with it. Kyle even admits that he doesn’t mind it at all. “I kind of like it,” he said. “She wants to teach me how to get better.” In Park & Rec basketball, teams play nine games before moving right into baseball season. Lewis has also coached her sons in baseball. “One reason I love teaching is that I need a work-life balance and teaching has given me that,” she said. “I don’t miss any of my sons’ moments. I tell them, ‘If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.’ “I learned that from my own mom who was a single parent for years. She pushed me to get an education, but she also taught me that making money is not the only important thing. She never missed any of the moments in my life or my siblings’ lives.” Whether shooting hoops or stepping up to bat in an official game, the Lewis brothers rarely refer to their coach as Coach. “They call me Mama all the time,” Lewis said. “In fact, there are several other little boys on the team who call me Mama too. After practice, I always seem to end up with an extra kid or two.” The Lewis family plays a whole lot of basketball, but when not dribbling and dunking balls, they enjoy playing dominoes and going fishing. Caleb and Kyle recognize they are winners when it comes to good moms. “She’s a great mom because she pushes us to do better and work harder,” Caleb said. “Not just physically, but mentally too.” Kyle has his own opinion. “She loves us,” he said. “She loves supporting us a bunch. That’s pretty much why she’s a great mom.” Continued on page 60

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IN THE WORKP LACE Anyone near Corinth with an affinity for unique floral arrangements or art in myriad mediums is certainly aware of Elizabeth Spencer Designs. But who is Elizabeth Spencer? Elizabeth Spencer is not a single person, but instead it’s the motherdaughter creative team of Laura Spencer Albright and Anna Elizabeth Evans. “We use our middle names for our business, said 27-year-old Evans. “A lot of people might not realize that.” The two started Elizabeth Spencer Designs in May 2017 to do what they love — florals for events, such as weddings, and custom art. “I do a lot of commission work like portraits of homes, paintings of bridal bouquets,” Evans said. Her mom will also work on commission, but it’s not her preference. “I love doing what I want to do,” Albright said with a laugh. “I’ve done a lot of watercolor paintings of homes. I had a great art teacher in Marty McLendon at Northeast Mississippi Community College.” She credits her knowledge and love of all things floral to her mother, Ann White, who’s 81 and also lives in Corinth. “She taught me a lot about wildflowers and foraging material from the side of the road,” said Albright, 57. “We’d go to Pickwick in the summers, and we’d pick phlox, black-eyed Susans. She taught me to appreciate and arrange flowers. To this day, when we go on a walk, she points out the flowers to us. “We love to incorporate wildflowers in our arrangements for a more organic look, and that’s been a big influence on Elizabeth Spencer.” As White schooled her daughter in the art of flowers and floral design, Albright passed it all down to her own daughter. “My mom taught me pretty much all I know about flowers,” Evans said. “She taught me to embrace my creative side and to not be afraid to be different, in art and in life. I grew up watching her make art in all mediums — knitting, calligraphy, even in the kitchen.” Albright is a registered nurse by profession, though these days she follows full time her love of art and flowers. Evans has a degree in journalism and eagerly lists ways she uses that degree in the design business. “I do use a lot of aspects of journalism, I think,” she said. “I communicate with clients, do some photography and graphic design, and write captions for Instagram. Does that count?” Mother and daughter admit to being perfectionists, but that has not created an obstacle to working together. “We are a lot alike, and we’re very close,” Albright said. “Anna was never a moody teen or a princess diva daughter. We like spending time together, even working hard late into the night. Anna picks up my slack, and I hope I do that for her.” Anna agrees. “Absolutely, she does. And it’s also amazing to be able to wholeheartedly trust and count on one another in life and in business,” Evans said. “So the burden is never resting solely on one of us. This has been a real asset to our mother-daughter business. We are also inspired by each other … we can develop ideas better when we’re working together.”

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FLIGHTS & BITES PHOTO G R A PHE D BY E MI H AY ES

In February, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Sola Restaurant and Flash Factory Interactive Art joined forces to offer a safe Valentine’s Day celebration. The Powerhouse served as the venue for a dinner featuring bacon-wrapped oysters, makrut lime fried chicken, brioche king cake and more.

1. Will and Taddy Pepper 2. Anne and Maura Klingon 3. Casey and Amy Lipe 4. Conner Bradley and Caroline Ingraham 5. Gale and Richard Gurner 6. Nave Graham and Adam Estes

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OLE MISS BASEBALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABBEY EDMONSON AND J.R. WILBANKS

The Ole Miss baseball team’s season-opening games at Swayze Field included a matchup against Arkansas State University and a three-game series against the University of Central Florida. The Rebels bested ASU 12-1, and the team won one of its three games against UCF. 1

1. Will and Tricia Edmonson with and Beth and Jaime Ungo 2. R.J. Mack, Wyatt Davis, Amelia Ladner, Alyssa Reed and Alex Shelton 3. Holloway and Charles Byrd with John Stevens 4. Donny and Karson Guest 5. Paul and Catie Hester 6. Gary and Judy Pickering

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BASEBALL

continued

7. Judy Mason and Linda Vaughan 8. Ava and Kate Lyon 9. Meg and Lillian Thomas with Katie Gilchrist 10. Smitty and Lindsay Smith 11. Madison DeVoss and Kendall Runzi 12. Jenny, Mila and Mark Johnson

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LEE COUNT Y SNOW DAY PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

North Mississippians excitedly bundled up and braved the cold for sledding, snowmanbuilding and more in mid-February when the whole area was treated to a rare and memorable Southern snowstorm.

1. Hayden Johnson and Layla Pastis 2. Talon Pastis and Carter Daniel 3. Lauren Dunlap, Cyanna Ashley and Anna Moore 4. Lucia, Chris, Jackson and Karen Hallmark 5. Liam and Brooke McAlpin with Kyle and Liz Turner

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‘TEXAS RED’ PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABBEY EDMONSON

Film lovers saw a new feature film at OFF to the Drive-In Feb. 25 and 27, thanks to the Oxford Film Festival. The movie, about a Black man running from a posse in the winter of 1940 in Mississippi, is inspired by true events. Grammy-nominated Cedric Burnside from Holly Springs stars, and Oxford’s Johnny McPhail is also featured.

1. Portrika and Corlilla Burnside 2. Heather, Aubrey, Jamie and Cody Mathews 3. Zamyrah, Jakalah and Martaveuion Burnside with Frederick Burnside Jr. 4. Elias and Lightnin’ Malcolm 5. Jeff and Jessica Dennis 6. Cedric Burnside 7. Annette Hollowell and Selah Simons-Jones

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HIGH SCHOOL GOLF PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Golfers from Tupelo High School, Saltillo High School and Booneville High School golf teams competed in a tournament held March 4 at Natchez Trace Golf Course.

1. Elijah Dukes, Caden Cates and Ross Reeder 2. Jack Herring, Brice Cooper and Walker Wise 3. A.V. and Lindsey Leake 4. Ayleen Garcia and Kylie Luker 5. Sydney Simmons and Anne Thomas Green

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G O L F continued

6. Cooper and Al Graves 7. Vick Scoville, J. Ross Scott and Trey Rakestraw 8. Trace Cockrell and Batton Barber 9. Patrick Dillinger and Seth Swinney 10. Matt, Andrew and Jane Miller

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MARDI RON PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

A bronze plaque honoring Oxford’s beloved Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a showing on Feb. 23 outside The Powerhouse. The artwork, created by local artist Bill Beckwith, is now on display there for the public. Read more about it on page 20.

1. Jessica Lynch and Hanna Teavan 2. Doug Roberts, Jackie Beckwith and Lynn Roberts 3. Bill Griffith and Melanie Antonelli 4. Lisa and Scott Caradine 5. Nature Humphries and Newt Rayburn 6. Bill Beckwith and Mayor Robin Tanerhill

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OLE MISS BASKETBALL PHOTO G R A PHE D BY E MI H AY ES

In the final week of the regular basketball season, the Ole Miss Rebels and the Kentucky Wildcats played in Oxford on March 2. The Rebels came out ahead with a final score of 70-62. It was the first Ole Miss win against Kentucky since 2011.

1. Aaron Howard and Sarah Evett 2. Gerry and Carrie Owens with Alice Hammond 3. Shannon Miller and Kyesen Nesbit 4. Jude and Annie Robertson 5. Annalisa, Christabell and Bryson Hamilton 6. Matthew and Andrew Engelbert

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OUT & ABOUT Taylo r Fi ke s A r t i s t Re c e p t io n at G u mTre e Mu s e u m of A r t

S i g m a Nu Frat e r n it y C y s t ic Fi b ro s i s D o n at io n

Re ge nt s S c ho ol of O x fo rd Fu nd ra i s e r

4 1. Samantha, Taylor and Craig Fikes 2. Harold and Sarah Fikes 3. Malon Stratton, Lauren Wilkinson and Riley Wade 4. Teal Salloum, Nathan Foxworth, Banks Robinson, Gray Phillips and Cameron Head 5. Alice Kelly Morgan, Brent Larson, Trey Tatum and Mark Larson

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OUT & ABOUT S i p p s a nd D i p s at T he S i p p

O x fo rd H i g h S c ho ol Fi ne A r t s C o m ple x G ra nd O p e n i n g

1. Allissa, Lexie and Laura Lee Morin 2. Jim and Sue McKinney 3. Sarah, Joey and Doug Odom 4. Pratt and Ashley Wilkinson 5. Sariah Madkins, Jamar Giles and Lasia Smith 6. Steve Hurdle and Bradley Roberson 7. John Davenport and Sarah Frances Hardy

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N E I G H B O R S &

WILE Y

INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

MO R R I S

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Q: Do you ever get to enjoy an event or are you forever just controlling the chaos?

IBBY: The joy is in serving your clients and

their guests, and it is satisfying and fun. It is said that one of the many reasons people go into the food service industry is that they receive instant feedback for their efforts. My favorite compliments come from two different sources. One, a child — they don’t lie; when they say they love your food, it is sincere. Two, the father of a bride who is paying a lot of money for your services for a special event. WILEY: After the rush is over, and before the clean-up begins, I enjoy it.

Q: What’s an unusual event you’ve catered? WILEY: Being flown to Miami, Florida, to simply do Southern fried chicken and familiar Southern dishes.

Q: What’s your favorite dish to prepare? IBBY: Wiley and I both do a lot of delicious

other-son duo Ibby and Wiley Morris joined their myriad talents two decades ago in Party Waitin’ to Happen, a custom catering company in Oxford.

What is Party Waitin’ to Happen, and what was the inspiration behind opening? IBBY: We are from Macon, Mississippi, and parties were the norm at the Morris House; hence the name Party Waitin’ to Happen. Wiley always loved to cook, and I gave him his first cookbook when he was 8. After Wiley graduated from college, he attended culinary school in San Francisco, where he worked at a restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf and later went to Colorado to work

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in a Snowmass restaurant. When I went to culinary school, my professor asked me what I would like to do. I answered, “Cater.” After asking Wiley to join me, he stated he would only move to Oxford, so we started catering in 2000.

Q: What do each of you do in the business? IBBY: Although Wiley and I have both been

to culinary school, I consider him a chef and me a cook. He loves to create with whatever is available; I say, “Where’s my recipe?” Wiley’s palate is vastly superior to mine. I do presentation, people and events. Wiley’s the chef and owner and does the bulk of the food preparation. We both do menu design.

jams and sauces that we incorporate in our catering. Wiley’s scrumptious strawberry and habanero jam is perfect in the classic cheese ring or over brie cheese. Every summer, we enjoy making green tomato pickles, pickled okra, and assorted jams and jellies. WILEY: I love lots of different seafood dishes and raw oysters. I also enjoy cooking Cajun dishes and Italian cuisine.

Q: What has the past year been like for you? IBBY: 2020/2021 has been difficult for the

food service industry around the globe. Fun times around food, family and friends will return. Remember Jesus’ first miracle was performed so a wedding would be wonderful. In May 2020, one of our weddings went from 100+ guests to 11 guests. We loved doing every aspect of this wedding and realized how much we really love what we do!

Invitation Magazine - April 2021

Articles inside

Ole Miss Basketball

Out & About

Good Neighbors: Ibby and Wiley Morris

High School Golf

Mardi Ron

Texas Red

Recipes: Best Brunch

Ole Miss Baseball

Helpers & Heroes

Lee County Snow Day

Calendar

Shoutouts

Flights & Bites

Digital Details