Invitation Magazine - March 2022

M ARCH 2022

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CO U N T I E S

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M I S S I S S I P P I

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PET

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MEET THE COVER CONTEST WINNER, OLIVER

A N A N I M A L A DVO C AT E S H A R E S I M P O R TA N T LIFE LESSONS

A BELOVED PET I S C E L E B R AT E D W I T H HINDU TRADITIONS

FIND UNIQUE A N I M A L S AT MCL AIN RESORT

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DEPA RTMENT S

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EVENTS:

OXFORD

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Letter From the Editor

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Ole Miss Back to School

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Digital Details

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Indoor Yard Sale

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Calendar

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Ole Miss Women’s Basketball

20

Pet Cover Winners

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Princess Ball

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Pet Picks: Oxford

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Oxford Community Market

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Pet Picks: Northeast

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Marcus King Concert

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Shoutouts

EVENTS:

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Recipes: Ballgame Fare

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Out & About: Oxford

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Out & About: Northeast

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Good Neighbor: Cami Bianco

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ON THE COVER

NORTHEAST

Page & Table

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Riley Green Concert

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Cars & Coffee

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Pure International Pageant

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Tupelo Charity Ball

This month’s covers feature the winners of our annual Pet Cover Contest. Ari, an 8-month-old Pomsky, is on the cover of our Oxford magazine, and Oliver, a rescue from Saltillo, is on the cover of our northeast Mississippi magazine. Read more about the winners on page 20.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

F E AT U R E S

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FE ATURES 34 Full Circle

These former Oxford High School varsity baseball and football teammates are back at their alma mater as coaches.

38 Letting Go

A local family says goodbye to their beloved pet in a traditional Hindu service.

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42 Animal Advocate

Long dog walks present opportunities for a West Point resident to teach children about responsible animal ownership.

46 The Happiest Place

in Mississippi

From petting a zebra to enjoying a fine dining experience, find happiness in many forms at McClain Resort in Brandon.

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L E T T E R from the E D I T O R Invitation Magazines’ annual pet issue is one of my favorites. I know I’m not alone because of the number of people in north Mississippi who participated in our pet contest, submitting photos of their pets and hoping they might be chosen to grace the Invitation covers.

The March 2022 issue will forever be special to me because of an adorable, longlegged, big-eared, brown-and-white pup with random markings of black scattered about willy-nilly.

My friend and roommate Cheryl and I lost Thom Thom and George, two of our four beloved dogs last year. Left behind to help heal our broken hearts are Presley the pug, 7, and Jake, 8, my dad’s rescued golden retriever who is obviously mixed with something very, very big. Jake became mine when my dad died nearly two years ago.

I was adamant about not getting another dog for a while. “Let’s just love the two we have for now,” I said more times than I can count.

And then came the Thursday morning in January I drove to West Point to interview the daughter of my oldest and dearest childhood friend. You can read the story

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about Neely Bryan, a fierce animal advocate and director of the West Point Clay County Animal Shelter, on page 42.

Cheryl rode along with me for the interview. During lunch, Neely kept getting calls from the shelter about an adoption that was falling through. “Don’t worry about it,” she told her co-worker. “I have the perfect home for that dog.” Neither Cheryl nor I realized it was we Neely had tagged as the pup’s new humans. That truth soon became abundantly clear.

I never protested or repeated my “let’s love the two we have” rule. I kept my mouth shut because it felt like this might be one of those meant-to-be things that sometimes happens. Then we met her, held her, smelled her puppy breath and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. Truth be told, as it happens with most dogs I’ve met, it was love at first sight.

On the way back home to Tupelo late that afternoon with our new family member, Cheryl and I tossed about possible names.

“We could call her Railroad,” I said to Cheryl, who looked at me, puzzled.

“Well,” I said, “Though she did it in a very professional way, Neely did sort of

@INVITATIONOXFORD @INVITATIONM AGA ZINE

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railroad us into being this pup’s humans.”

We both laughed. Later, a text from my sister offered up Tallulah as a name option, LuLu for short. The name is a perfect fit.

And I’m pleased to report after a few iffy first days together, Jake, Presley and LuLu frolic and fight and snuggle together like normal siblings.

Lulu is not the only reason I love our pet issue. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a wonderful family from Oxford who said goodbye to their beloved pup in their Hindu tradition. They later said hello to Simba, a new pet that has helped heal their hearts. Read the story on page 38.

And to mark the beginning of baseball season, what could be more tempting than some tips to make your hot dogs even tastier? See page 28.

I hope you enjoy reading our pet issue, dedicated to all the beloved furry, feathered and fabulous creatures that make our lives more worthwhile.

LESLIE CRISS, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

@INVOXFORD @INVMAGA ZINE

PUBLISHER Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly EXECUTIVE EDITOR Leslie Criss OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rachel Burchfield Sarah McCullen COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts Abagail Hamelton Grant McLaughlin Alesha Walker J.R. Wilbanks CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Sarah McCullen

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abigail Nichols

ADVERTISING OFFICE

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

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Amber Lancaster Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNER 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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DIGITAL DETAIL S

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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

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

Pe t s Our annual pet issue is finally here! Thank you to all of the people and pets who participated in our cover contest. We received nearly 1,000 total submissions, and more than 2,300 votes for our staff-selected semifinalists. The winners — Ari in Oxford and Oliver in northeast Mississippi — are on this month’s covers. Turn to page 22 for more of our staff’s favorite submissions!

Fr id ay Fo o d Blo g

These 2 have my whole heart 4ever.

L O C A T I O N : Tupelo U S E R N A M E : @blissofmcbritt

# i nv it at io n s p r i n g b re a k

“How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.” — William C. Faulkner L O C A T I O N : Oxford Courthouse Square U S E R N A M E : @blakegore

Sunflower Slaw

Invitation Magazines’ weekly food blog has a brand-new look. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for creative ideas for seasonal suppers, after-school snacks, holiday feasts and more — all in a fun new format. And find archived food blog entries at invitationmag.com.

The countdown to spring break is on! How do you plan on getting some rest and relaxation? Be sure to tag us @invitationoxford and @invitationmagazine in the vacation photos you share on social media for a chance to be included in Social Snaps in an upcoming magazine!

CALENDAR AND EVENTS

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!

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Hey Oxford friends, Teeter needs your vote!

L O C A T I O N : The Cottage at Sweet Lucy Farm U S E R N A M E : @sweetlucyfarm |

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C O M M U N I T Y M ARCH 2022

OXFORD

OXCM

OLE MISS BASEBALL

M ARCH 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Find local produce, meat, dairy products, baked goods and more. Tuesdays, noon3 p.m., Old Armory Pavilion. oxfordcommunitymarket.com

OLE MISS VS. ULM

March 1 | 6:30 p.m.

March 2 | 4 p.m.

OLE MISS VS. MEMPHIS

March 8 | 6:30 p.m.

O L E M I S S V S . A LCO R N S TAT E

March 9 | 6:30 p.m.

OLE MISS VS. ORAL ROBERTS

March 11 | 6:30 p.m.

March 12 | 1:30 p.m.

March 13 | 1:30 p.m.

OLE MISS VS. TENNESSEE

Ole Miss Men’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt

March 25 | 6:30 p.m.

March 26 | 7 p.m.

March 27 | 1:30 p.m.

OLE MISS VS. NORTH AL ABAMA

March 29 | 6:30 p.m.

MARCH 5

Cheer on the Rebels in their last home game. Purchase tickets online. 5 p.m., Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. olemisssports.com

West Coast Wines MARCH 9

Sampling the best from the West Coast.

Purchase tickets online, $30. 5:30-6:30 p.m., The Sipp on South Lamar. thesippms.com

American Aquarium

Oxford Film Festival M A R C H 2 3-2 7

Screen short and feature-length films in both showcase and competition settings at this highly anticipated, family-friendly event. More information and a complete schedule available online. The Powerhouse. ox-film.com

“Beethoven’s 9th: Ode to Joy” M ARCH 25

Memphis Symphony Orchestra, University of Mississippi Choir and Memphis Symphony Chorus perform “Beethoven’s 9th: Ode to Joy.” Purchase tickets online.

7:30-9 p.m., The Ford Center. fordcenter.org

Conference on the Science of Botanicals M A R C H 2 8-3 1

The National Center for Natural Products Research within the School of Pharmacy at The University of Mississippi hosts an international conference on important botanical quality and safety issues. Topics include natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy and botanicals. Register online. Oxford Conference Center. oxfordicsb.org

Acoustics of Aquatics M ARCH 29

Proud Larry’s presents live music from American Aquarium. Purchase tickets online, $17, or at the door, $20. Doors open 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m., Proud Larry’s.

An innovative multimedia event featuring the dramatic live music of CORDIS, creatively affected and enhanced by the boundless properties of water. Purchase tickets online. 7:30 p.m., The Ford Center.

proudlarrys.com

fordcenter.org

M ARCH 16

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Isom Student Gender Conference M A R C H 3 0 -A P R I L 1

Explore research projects in sociology, anthropology, English, education, history, Southern studies, creative writing and poetry, among others at the annual Isom Student Gender Conference. The conference includes presentations by graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Mississippi as well as a featured keynote speaker, Minnie Bruce Pratt. More information available online. Ole Miss Student Union, Auditorium 124. isomstudentgenderconference.org

Conference for the Book M A R C H 3 0 -A P R I L 1

The 28th Oxford Conference for the Book features keynote speaker Imani Perry, author of “South to America,” plus National Book Award Winner for Fiction Jason Mott, (“Hell of a Book”), Ralph Eubanks discussing “A Place Like Mississippi,” a children's book fair and much more. See website for details. oxfordconferenceforthebook.com

Water Valley Wine Down M ARCH 31

Visit Water Valley for a wine tasting and special shopping night with Main Street businesses. Purchase wristbands in advance online for admission, which includes wine tasting and a collectible wine tumbler.

5:30-7:30 p.m., downtown Water Valley. mainstreetwatervalley.org M ARCH 202 2 | INVITATION

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Tupelo Con MARCH 5 & 6

H O L I D AY S MARCH 17

St. Patrick’s Day

Come one, come all to this year’s Tupelo Con, a multigenre event that celebrates all geek fandoms. Experience a diverse Exhibitors’ Hall, a cosplay contest, special guests and more at this year’s conference.

Purchase weekend passes online, $20; children 5 and under are free. Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m., Tupelo Furniture Market. tupelocon.org

10 for Tupelo 2022

NORTHEAST

M A RCH 26 BANCORPSOUTH ARENA

Iuka Farmer’s Market ONGOING

Find tasty fresh and locally sourced goods on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays all month long. Tuesdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursdays 1-6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.4 p.m., 1008 Battleground Drive, Iuka.

Ladies’ Night Out

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

MARCH 5

M A R C H 12 & 1 3

Join life coach and motivational speaker Coach Aquanda as she hosts this evening event for women in an atmosphere full of fun, food and R&B music. Purchase tickets online, $20-$65.

7-11 p.m., Link Centre, Tupelo.

Bring the family to see everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks come to life with gravity-defying jumps and stunts.

Purchase tickets online, starting at $12.

Saturday 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo.

eventbrite.com

bcsarena.com

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Mark your calendars for 10 for Tupelo 2022, the largest volunteer day in Tupelo.

Impact the community in a big way by volunteering to assist in litter cleanups and beautification projects bettering Tupelo.

Volunteer anytime between 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and receive a free T-shirt. For more information, search “10 for Tupelo 2022” on Facebook. FairPark, Tupelo.

MASA Spring Leadership Conference M A R C H 2 7-2 9

Learn alongside some of Mississippi’s strongest professional educational leaders.

For more information, visit the MASA website. BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. msasa.org

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I nt ro duc i n g O l ive r Meet Oliver, winner of our northeast Mississippi cover contest. An impressive 1,100 people voted for this adorable rescue to be on the cover of this magazine.

NAME AGE BREED

Oliver 6 years old Shepherd/Bernese mountain mix (best guess from Oliver’s veterinarian). Oliver was abandoned at a rural church when he was about 6 weeks old. He was spotted along the side of the road by his now-owners who were on their way to the local animal shelter to adopt a cat.

HUMAN HOMETOWN FAVO R I T E T R E AT BEST TRICK

Barbara Brown Saltillo Oliver loves all food but has a passion for peanut butter.

Oliver will sit, shake, lie and come on demand — most of the time.

FAVO R I T E PA S T I M E

Oliver loves car rides and going for walks. He gets so excited any time he see someone pick up car keys and will pout if he is not allowed to go along.

FAVO R I T E TOY FAVO R I T E N A P P I N G S P OT

Oliver prefers sticks to any toy and he loves to chew on them.

Oliver loves to lie in the recliner in the sunroom and watch the squirrels and the neighbor’s guinea hen.

P re s e nt i n g A r i Ari is the winner of our Oxford cover contest. Almost 100 people voted for this adorable and playful pup to be on the cover of our annual pet issue.

NAME AGE BREED HUMAN HOMETOWN

Ari 8 months Pomsky (part Pomeranian and part husky) Terri Hovious Oxford

FAVO R I T E T R E AT

“Anything I will give her.”

BEST TRICK

Ari dances for her treats.

FAVO R I T E PA S T I M E FAVO R I T E TOY

Getting tummy rubs A rope she uses to play keep away or tug of war with her brother Scooter, a jet black Pomsky.

FAVO R I T E N A P P I N G S P OT

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Next to Daisy, the 20-year-old beagle that shares her home.

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P I C K S Oxford

More than 350 readers submitted pet pictures for our staff to consider selecting as the semifinalists for our Oxford cover contest, then you voted to choose the winner, Ari. Here are the other semifinalists and a few more of the original submissions that had us talking.

OUR SEMIFINALISTS

OTIS

FLOPSY

PRINCESS TAPIOCA

Rottweiler-Labrador

Flemish Giant Rabbit

Ragdoll Cat

(in training for therapy work)

TEETER

OPAL

OVI

TRIPP

CERBY

Domestic Indian Runner

Siberian Husky

Rescue dog and nursing

Pit Bull

(short for Cerberus)

Duck

Italian Greyhound

MILO AND OTIS

BOUDREAUX

ADELE

LUNA

BOOZY

Brothers rescued

Peacock

Mountain Cur-Labradoodle

Bearded Dragon

Aussiedoodle

by brothers

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home favorite at YGH

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P I C K S Northeast

The Invitation Magazines staff carefully considered more than 600 submissions before selecting the semifinalists for our northeast magazine cover contest, then you voted to choose the winner, Oliver. Here are more of the original submissions that had us talking.

OUR SEMIFINALISTS

ALFIE

JOHNNY & JUNE

BABY ENGLISH

French Bouvier Des Flanders

Nigerian Dwarf Goats

Persian Cat

WINSTON

HOME DEPOT

ANNIE

TRUMAN BLUE

DJ TANNER

Maine Coon Mix

Speckled Sussex Chicken

Old-Time Scotch Collie

Mixed Hound

Yorkshire Terrier

(therapy and crisis response dog)

(rescue)

SANS LIL DOC N DASH

HEIFER

(found in Home Depot lot)

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HARLEY GRACE

MERLOT

DOBBY

Great Dane

Persian Cat

Sphynx Cat

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AKA FANCY

Just a mutt.

American Quarter Horse

(Mutts need love, too.)

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S H O U T O U T S C R E AT E’s 50 t h A n n ive r sa r y A r t wo rk Unve i le d he found so much of CREATE’s mission is education-related.

The 39- x 54-inch painting, now on display in CREATE’s front office, includes portraits of George and Anna Keirsey McLean, who founded CREATE in 1972 for the purpose of building up leadership and encouraging community support all around northeast Mississippi. Jack Reed Sr. and James Hugh Ray are also a part of the painting. The painting’s background is a map of northeast Mississippi, signifying the geographical reach of CREATE. Buckley’s hope is that when people see his painting, they will better understand just what the CREATE Foundation is all about.

“When someone sees it, I want them to think, ‘Oh, now I get what they do,’” he said.

“The goal, in this circumstance, is to show in one image a concrete view of CREATE’s mission statement.”

RYAN COON FOR CREATE FOUNDATION

When Oxford-based artist Charlie Buckley was commissioned to produce a painting celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CREATE Foundation, it was a tall order. But Buckley rose to the occasion. His painting was unveiled at the Community Development Foundation Feb. 9.

To prepare for the painting, Buckley immersed himself in the history of the organization.

“The CREATE staff and I had a number of meetings,” Buckley said. “And they laid a history out before me. And, of course, there are people there, like Juanita (Floyd), who has been at CREATE 37 years, with so much institutional memory who offered great insight.”

Working with a finite space, Buckley found it a challenge to get a half-century of CREATE’s myriad services on canvas.

When he reached further into the past years,

M i s s i s s i p p i -M a d e Te a Fi nd s I nt e r n at io n a l S uc c e s s The Great Mississippi Tea Company in Brookhaven earned top honors in the 2021 Golden Leaf Awards. The Australian awards program recognizes quality teas from Australia and other teas that are imported and sold commercially.

The company’s Mississippi-grown teas that received Gold Awards are its Grilled Southern Peach Tea and Mississippi Sunshine Yellow Tea. The third Gold Award was given to the Great Mississippi Tea Company Cookbook, which contains recipes in which teas have been added.

“We always submit samples and hope for the best,” said Timmy Gipson, co-owner of the Great Mississippi Tea Company. “We were shocked to find out that we had won all three categories with a gold medal.”

The Golden Leaf Awards are presented by the Australia Tea Masters and feature a

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number of categories. Judging is blind and is done by industry professionals.

The Great Mississippi Tea Company, owned by Jason McDonald and Gipson, was started in 2012, after McDonald’s family timber acreage was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the Great Mississippi Tea Company has grown into a successful business with its tea sold through retailers nationally and internationally as well as on the company’s website, greatmsteacompany .com. The owners also welcome visitors to the farm for tours by appointment.

“We really put our best foot forward with the cookbook, and we are so very glad it is appreciated,” McDonald said. “We never know when we are creating something — be it a tea, a class or any product — how it will be received by the public. We are just so happy people are enjoying our work.”

SHOUTOUTS

continued

OLE MISS ATHLETICS

To p gol f L ive C o me s to O x fo rd

Tee it up March 24-27 inside VaughtHemingway Stadium when Topgolf Live brings the Topgolf experience to Oxford.

The stadium will look a little different with Topgolf’s giant targets set up on the field and hitting bays that accommodate six players each set up in the upper deck.

Here’s how the game works: Each round, players have five shots to hit golf balls at the on-field targets, which are placed 60 to 140 yards from the tee box. Topgolf’s Toptracer technology traces the flight path of the golf balls and scores the shots. The further the ball goes, the more points the player receives. Instant replays and scores will show up on game screens in each bay.

Up to six players are permitted per hitting bay, and they can continue to play rounds until their one-hour tee time is up. Food, drinks and music add to the fun. Golf clubs, including children’s clubs, are provided.

Ticket options include a tee time with one-hour of playing time, or the Rebel Experience which tacks on two drink tickets, a stadium tour, a sideline picture and more.

Spectator tickets are also available for $10.

In addition to coming to Oxford, the Topgolf stadium series also visited T-Mobile Park in Seattle in February and will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, in March.

Learn more and purchase tickets in advance at topgolflive.com.

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CELEBRATE BASEBALL SEASON WITH THESE FESTIVE TOPPINGS AND TREATS. RECIPES AND STYLING BY SARAH McCULLEN

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

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rom Oxford-University Stadium at Ole Miss to Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville and all around the country, college baseball season is underway, and no food choice says baseball like a hot dog.

Whether you’ve secured a grill in left field or are pregame picnicking at home, try these tasty toppings and accoutrements for your homemade hot dogs.

BEER CHEESE DIP 16 ounces processed cheese (such as Velveeta) ¾ cup light beer (such as Coors Light or Bud Light) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon dry mustard ½ teaspoon hot sauce In a saucepan over low heat, combine processed cheese and ½ cup beer, stirring constantly just until melted. Add Worcestershire, dry mustard, hot sauce and remaining 1/4 cup beer. Stir to combine.

Serve with soft pretzels or crudités.

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Pulled Pork

BBQ DOG Pulled pork Barbecue sauce Mustard Pickled onions

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D O G topping B A R

Beer

CHEESE DOG Beer Cheese Dip (see recipe on page 28) Dill pickle spear

Buffalo-Blue

CHEESE DOG Buffalo sauce Smoked blue cheese Scallions

Pimiento

CHEESE DOG Pimiento cheese Candied jalapenos

Grill hot dogs on a charcoal or gas grill or in a hot skillet on the stove. Butter the hot dog buns, and toast until lightly browned in a skillet. Add the hot dogs to the buns, then top with your favorite topping combinations. Serve with Tater Tots, french fries, coleslaw, onion rings or potato chips.

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EASY

Coca-Cola

SHEET CAKE 1 box German chocolate cake mix 1¼ cup Coca-Cola, plus another 1/3 cup (at room temperature) for frosting ½ cup vegetable oil 3 eggs ½ cup butter (at room temperature) ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa 2 cups powdered sugar Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9-inch square cake pan. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, cola, vegetable oil and eggs. Whisk until well combined, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour into prepared pan, and bake until the center is no longer jiggly and a toothpick comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Turn cake out from the pan, place on serving dish, and let cool completely.

In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add cocoa and powdered sugar, beating until well combined, about 1 minute. Add remaining 1/3 cup cola, and beat on medium-low speed to combine, about 1 minute. Spread frosting evenly over top of cake, and serve.

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T H E S E F O R M E R OX F O R D H I G H S C H O O L VA R S I T Y B A S E B A L L A N D FOOTBALL TEAMMATES ARE BACK AT THEIR ALMA MATER AS COACHES. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

W

hen Oxford High School staff members gathered at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, it was a reunion of sorts for head football coach Chris Cutcliffe and baseball coach Cade Hoggard.

Cutcliffe, 35, and Hoggard, 34, met as seventh graders at Oxford Middle School.

The Knoxville, Tennessee-born Cutcliffe moved with his family to Oxford when he was in sixth grade; Hoggard, born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was in kindergarten when his family moved to Oxford.

The two became friends and teammates on both the baseball and football fields, playing summer baseball together through middle school and later varsity baseball for the Oxford High School Chargers. Hoggart played multiple positions for the Chargers — pitcher, outfielder and first base; Cutcliffe played second base. And one of their best memories from their time on the baseball field

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remains their team winning OHS’s first state championship in 2005.

There are also highlights from their varsity football years, when Cutcliffe was Charger quarterback and Hoggard tight end. In fact, both smile big behind their beards as they recall a specific 2004 Friday night under the lights.

“No score,” Cutcliffe said. “We were in the fourth quarter.

I threw the ball to Cade, he caught it, and we won the game 7-0.

Against Tupelo.”

After graduating from Oxford High School, Cutcliffe went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he served as manager of the Tennessee Volunteers football team. Later, he attended graduate school at Duke University, where he was a football intern for two years. His father, former Ole Miss football coach David Cutcliffe, was also coach at Duke at the time.

Hoggard spent three years at Mississippi State University and

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two years at Delta State University, where he got his degree. He played baseball at both universities.

The long-held hopes each had to one day coach became realities after college. Hoggard stayed on at Delta State two additional years as a graduate assistant; he coached at Olive Branch seven years — two as assistant baseball coach and five as head coach; and he was head coach in Amory two years until signing on as head baseball coach at OHS for the 2021-22 school year.

Cutcliffe’s been a football coach at OHS 11 years — five as assistant and six as head coach.

The two lost touch after high school, but they’ve had plenty of opportunities to catch up since both are back in the place their friendship started. Cutcliffe and his wife Molly are the parents of five sons, ages 10, 8, 6, 4 and 1½.

“My wife has known Cade longer than I have,” Cutcliffe said.

“There are pictures of them from kindergarten — the two red heads.”

Hoggard and his wife Caitlin have two sons, ages 5 and 2.

“Between us, we need two more sons to have a baseball team,” Hoggard said.

Both coaches also spend time in the classroom. Cutcliffe is an algebra teacher; Hoggard teaches leadership and economics. If he ever had to choose between coaching and teaching, Hoggard says the choice would be easy.

“I love coaching,” he said. “When you’re in small town, USA, and the lights go up on the field and the whole town shuts down for the game, it’s awesome. There’s just something about it.”

Cutliffe confesses he’d consider it challenging to choose.

“I love interacting with all kinds of kids,” he said. “I love it in the classroom, and I love it outside on the field. I learn so much about coaching from the classroom. In fact, for me they go hand in hand.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coaches and their players lost a season of their sport. But with the 2021-22 school season, came a new chance.

Last football season ended with the Chargers finishing with an 8-5 record, and now Cutcliffe and the team are pressing on, preparing for the season to come. And Hoggard is looking forward to the baseball season, his first at OHS, with excitement.

The two see each other often as they fulfill their longtime desires to coach. But they’ve not yet had the opportunity to just hang out.

“He’s chasing his 4-year-old, and I’m chasing my 2-year-old,” Hoggard said. “We did hang out at a middle school basketball game recently. And Chris was there when I interviewed for the coaching position. It was good to see a friendly face.”

WHAT ABOUT THEIR PETS? Since this is our annual pet issue, we also asked Cutcliffe and Hoggard about their pets! The Cutcliffe family has a standard poodle named Bear and a female cat named Ares, after the Greek god of courage and war. And the Hoggard family includes two dogs: Roxie’s a Shih Tzu/Yorkie mix, and Sandy is a “Delta mutt.” Sandy is 12 and still going.

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“When you’re in small town, USA, and the lights go up on the field and the whole town shuts down for the game, it’s awesome. There’s just something about it.”

- CADE HOGGARD

Chris Cutcliffe and Cade Hoggard were teammates on Oxford High School’s 2005 state championship baseball team.

Now both coach at OHS.

“I love it in the classroom, and I love it outside on the field. I learn so much about coaching from the classroom. In fact, for me they go hand in hand.”

- CHRIS CUTCLIFFE

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Letting Go A L O C A L FA M I LY S AY S G O O D B Y E T O T H E I R B E L O V E D P E T IN A TRADITIONAL HINDU SERVICE AT SARDIS L AKE. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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ILLUSTRATED BY SAR AH McCULLEN

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hen Sankar Bokka left his home in India in 2001 to study at Ole Miss, he left behind the woman to whom he was engaged.

Jyothsna (pronounced Jo-thsna) Sankar speaks good naturedly about how Sankar promised her a move to a big city after he finished masters’ degrees and a PhD. After 19 years of marriage and two daughters, Oxford is still home, and Jyothsna is fine with that.

Early in their marriage, the couple made a decision that changed their lives. They adopted a puppy.

“The mother of the litter of six was rescued off the highway,” Sankar said. “We decided to go see them. There was one puppy sitting very quietly and calmly. I thought he would be a nice, lazy puppy. So that’s the one we chose.”

Sankar’s initial perception of Mac was completely wrong, but the fact the pup had an unlimited amount of frenetic energy did not matter — the couple already loved Mac. Jyothsna had grown up with a pet back home in India; Sankar had not. But the Hindu couple holds all living things in high esteem.

“We believe animals have a soul just like human beings,” Jyothsna said. “To us, Mac was, from the very beginning, like a member of our family. He was like our first child.”

The Lab/beagle mix was 1 ½ years old when Sankar and Jyothsna’s daughter, Disha, was born. Mac was a constant companion to Jyothsna during her pregnancy.

“It was as if he knew and understood my labor pains,” she said.

From the moment baby Disha, now 14, arrived home from the hospital, she and

Mac were inseparable.

“When she was born, it was like Mac felt he’d gotten a real, live toy,” Jyothsna said. “He sat at her feet when she ate; he slept beside her crib. I always felt my kids were very secure, thanks to Mac. It was like they had a big brother.”

And when daughter Isha, now 8, was born, Mac proved he had enough unconditional affection to share. He couldn’t stand for his girls to get in trouble.

“When they got into trouble, he sensed it,” Jyothsna said. “He would get up and head to another room, glancing back at them as he walked away.”

Photos of their sweet, brown-eyed boy have positions of prominence in their home and there are computer files galore of family pictures that always include Mac. These days, they peek at those pictures often, and as time continues to pass, the photos bring them laughter rather than tears.

Mac died March 12, 2021. He was nearly 15 years old.

“He’d had a tumor for quite a while,” Sankar said. “But no issues. The vet kept an eye on it.”

At some point, the tumor began to spread, Mac’s vision was affected and he started to experience pain.

“The day he died, he could hardly walk,” Sankar said. “I picked him up and put him in the car, and he looked at me with a look I will never forget.”

Five days after Mac’s death, Sankar called on his friend and neighbor Aaron Barton, a hunting and fishing guide who owns Barton Outfitters in Oxford. They needed his assistance to help them say goodbye to Mac in their Hindu tradition.

“They wanted me to take them out on my boat to scatter the dog’s ashes,” he said.

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Sankar Bokka, Jyothsna Sankar and their daughters Disha and Isha truly loved their family dog, Mac (pictured above, left and on pages 38 and 39). When he died last year at nearly 15, they honored him with Hindu funeral traditions at Sardis Lake. The family recently welcomed Simba, a goldendoodle puppy (above, right), and he has brought much happiness to their home.

told them we should wait until a better day, but there is a religious timeline, and it had to be done that day.”

The family drove to Sardis with Mac’s ashes and other special items that became part of the ritual.

“We were all bundled up, and they piled in the boat,” Barton said. “It was the time of year the lake was low, too low to motor out.”

But it was important Mac’s ashes be scattered out on the lake, not near the shore.

“For Hindus, water is sacred and holds the memory of everything; it carries memory,” Jyothsna said. “That’s why we needed to be away from the shore. We needed to scatter the ashes in the middle of the lake so the flow of the water would not sweep them back to shore. The boat got stuck, and Aaron, bless his heart, pushed the boat until it was in deeper water.”

Barton was moved by the Hindu funeral traditions he witnessed.

“After they scattered Mac’s ashes, each said goodbye in their own way,” Barton said. “The girls read letters they’d written and then let them go into the water Then they pulled out bread and broke it up and tossed it in like they were feeding ducks.

Apparently, the crusts of bread were one of Mac’s favorite treats.

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“I’ll tell you, it tugged at my heartstrings.

I was an emotional train wreck, and I was just a passive observer. But I’ve lost dogs I’ve loved, and it is overwhelming.”

In the early days of life without Mac, the family missed him terribly. One of his favorite toys was a stuffed puppy named Gilbert. When Disha felt sad, she’d pick up Gilbert and carry the toy around with her.

For the past three years, Mac had been Sankar’s shadow, becoming even more attached during the COVID-19 pandemic when the principal data scientist worked from home.

“He took it hard,” Barton said. “We talked several weeks after Mac’s funeral, and Sankar told me he couldn’t eat or sleep or think. He said all he thought would help was getting a new puppy.”

In early June 2021, the family welcomed a goldendoodle puppy named Simba. Truth is, it may well have been Mac who let his family know it was OK to move on.

“Our loss was immeasurable, but we wanted to remember Mac and cherish our memories of him, so we started watching videos of Mac through the years,” Jyothsna said. “After a few days, it became a routine to watch him before bedtime each night. As time passed, our grief was lighter and our memories sweeter.

“The girls loved Mac’s puppy videos so much they started asking for a puppy.

We weren’t sure we were ready, but they convinced us. We started looking and found Simba. Mac can never be replaced, but Simba is a beautiful way for us to share our love again with a pet. And we will love Mac forever.”

The now-9-month-old, Kentucky-born Simba has clearly brought great joy into the family’s home.

“When we first got him, he would just sit quietly,” Sankar said. “Now, look at him.

He ran three miles with me the other day and still had so much energy.”

Memories of Mac still abound, and his name enters the conversation easily.

“We still miss him every single day,” Jyothsna said. “Sometimes I slip and call Simba Mac. Still, Simba is the center of attention, and we are spoiling him too much.

It’s a much happier house with him in it.”

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Animal Advocate LONG DOG WALKS PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WEST POINT RESIDENT T O T E A C H C H I L D R E N A B O U T R E S P O N S I B L E A N I M A L O W N E R S H I P. WRITTEN BY LESLIE CRISS

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hen Neely Bryan talks about dogs, chances are she’ll likely not be oohing and aahing about their cuddly cuteness.

Oh, that’s part of her pup passion, but her primary concern is always for their wellbeing. And make no mistake, when she is speaking out for the canine population of West Point, Mississippi, and beyond, listeners will see much more than a beautiful young woman. They’ll meet a fierce and fiery advocate for all animals, but especially dogs.

Since October 2019, the 43-year-old Bryan has been director of the West Point Clay County Animal Shelter.

She’s quite happy to have somehow acquired the title of “crazy dog lady,” and proudly introduces herself as such to those with whom she comes in contact.

Bryan moved to West Point a little more than five years ago with her husband, Cole, and their beloved dog, Bronx.

“Bronx is our son wearing a dog suit,” Bryan said. “He is one of those once-in-alifetime dogs.”

Bronx, a pit bull, was found chained

and starving in the Bronx, New York, where the Bryans lived before eventually moving to Cole’s hometown of West Point. While Neely has a particular passion for pits, it’s clear she adores dogs of every persuasion.

Bryan blames this on her parents, Betsy Boone Bates and the late Bobby Bates.

“I came out of the womb like this,” Bryan said. “Both my parents picked up anything abandoned on the side of the road. And in Tennessee, we lived on a farm.

Whatever Mom brought home got spayed or neutered before it became a part of our family. I am hard-wired to spay and neuter.

And I’m grateful for that; it’s the only way.”

While “spay and neuter” tops Bryan’s registry of rules for responsible animal ownership, another edict fights for first place: “It is not natural for dogs to be chained and alone.”

When she was new to West Point, Bryan noticed a pit chained outside a house during her lengthy daily walks with Bronx.

Bothered by the dog’s plight, Bryan knocked on the door.

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whoever answered. In her neighborhood and beyond, this became a common practice for Bryan. She’d ask if she could take chained pits on long walks, and she’d also turn the walks into teachable moments for the children who began accompanying her on these West Point walks.

“The kids would find me other dogs to walk,” Bryan said. “I averaged 30,000 steps a day for two years from walking dogs, and I always had kids with me. These kids became my family.”

Several times while walking, Bryan and her young friends came across bodies of animals that had been hit by cars. Together, they’d bury the animals, and Bryan would talk about the importance of having respect for all living things. They’d share pizza with the Bryans, and she drove several of the neighborhood kids to school for a couple of years. In their time together, she talked not only about caring for animals but other life lessons.

“We’d talk about gratitude and about breaking cycles,” she said. “I’d tell them to find what they liked about people and then emulate those things. They’d often say, ‘Miss Neely, we’re cycle breakers.’”

With the help of Sweet Paws Rescue in Boston, Bryan helped build fences for some of the dogs she began walking.

“Even if my coming along and walking their dogs makes someone realize there is a dog in their yard or it creates a ripple of awareness, that’s made it all worthwhile,” Bryan said.

Serving as director of the local shelter keeps Bryan busy these days, but she can still be seen taking Bronx and Willow for their daily 3-mile walks. Willow, also a pit, is a rescued bait dog who now has a home with the Bryans. A third Bryan rescue, Courtney, is a hound who spent two and a half years at the shelter.

For Bryan, animals have long been a source of great joy.

“But animals are also my greatest source of suffering,” she said. “I have to stay busy working to save them doing everything I possibly can. It’s just who I am.”

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The Happiest Place in Mississippi FROM PETTING A ZEBRA TO ENJOYING A FINE-DINING EXPERIENCE, FIND HAPPINESS IN MANY FORMS AT MCCL AIN RESORT IN BRANDON. WRITTEN BY RACHEL BURCHFIELD

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while back, Buddy and Joni McClain took their kids and grandkids on a trip to the Global Wildlife Center in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Everybody had an unbelievably good time, Buddy said — they rode the wagon through the safari park there, feeding the animals, soaking it all in.

“I turned to my grandkids and said, ‘Pop Pop can do this,’” Buddy said. “And we came back and did it. It’s a lot easier saying it than doing it — it was a great challenge.

But it was fun.”

The McClains launched McClain Resort in Brandon in February 2018, with its very own safari park opening in May 2019. The resort includes not only a wildlife safari and an accompanying petting zoo but also three restaurants (a steakhouse, a Southern-style buffet and a tavern), on-site hotel accommodations, events and catering for weddings and corporate events, and a general store that sells Mississippi-made products and local produce and boasts a butcher shop, a coffee shop and a bakery. It’s six separate businesses under one proverbial roof, and there’s never a dull moment. “[The six businesses] are all so very different, and its an exciting challenge to bring all of them together to mesh,” Buddy said. “What we kept figuring out was families need a place to go. There’s not many great family places to go that have the wholesomeness of McClain. We want to be a destination for families — grandparents can bring their grandkids, and people can bring their friends from out of town. If there’s five places in Jackson you want to take ’em, we want McClain to be one of them.”

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animal. Joni, for her part, has been an event planner for more than a quarter century.

(For the record, not shockingly, neither has any experience operating a wildlife safari.)

Buddy and Joni themselves were married at the chapel on the nearly 2,000 acres of the resort; now they plan weddings for others there all the time. The McClains take great pride in the resort that bears their name, and 16-hour days are commonplace, they say.

“There are so many moving parts,” Buddy said. “When you go to work in the morning, you never know what you’re going to do throughout the day. The day is over in a few hours, but we’ll be there 16 hours and tired and didn’t even do what we came to accomplish. There’s so many things to do, and we’re all over the place doing a little bit of everything.”

The resort started out with 230 employees, but, like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic hit McClain hard: Prior to the pandemic, visitors to the safari rode around in a wagon pulled by a tractor.

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pivoted to a drive-thru safari, which it remains today. Weddings had to cease, and the restaurants were shuttered as well.

“We lost 90% of our business in a 30day period,” Buddy said. “There was a lot of shuffling.”

McClain employees are “like one big family,” Joni said, so cutting the staff down to 84 during that time was tough. The employee count is now back up to around 150, and, while 2021 has still been difficult — just in a different way, Buddy said — the woes of 2020 seem to, thankfully, be behind them.

“We are back as good as we ever was,” he said. “The adjustments we made were wellthought out and planned and fit the world better today. The crew is back together, and we’re stabilized and consistent.”

Even in the worst parts of the pandemic, when their staff had been cut by nearly two-thirds, the team at McClain showed strength, Joni said.

“It’s amazing what people can do, even when short-staffed,” she said. “They stepped up and got fast and furious. Now, we are getting more and more busy. When we

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In addition to its animal safari, McClain Resort includes multiple restaurants and a chapel, pictured.

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walked in one Sunday after church, the line was out the front door of people waiting to get in. It’s so rewarding to see that again.”

Buddy and Joni cross-train their employees, teaching their staff about the entire resort and pushing them to find their passion on the property.

“They’re ambassadors of McClain,” Joni said. “With six businesses now under one roof, a guest may come in and say ‘Where’s the restaurant?’ or ‘Where do I go for the safari?’ We’ve cross-trained everybody to know the whole resort. It’s exciting to me to watch people blossom and bloom. They are excited to learn so many different things — it’s never the same ol’, same ol’.”

There are no immediate plans to add to the resort, but Buddy said they will continue fine-tuning, finding the right animals for the safari, birthing new baby animals, and updating the exteriors of the resort with a large focus on beautification and making the safari bigger, better and more enjoyable.

Ultimately, he said, it’s about making the guests happy.

“We have something for everybody,” Joni said. “It doesn’t matter what age you are — we see everyone from great-grandparents to infants. It’s a wholesome, feel-good, warm, inviting place. People post how happy they are when they leave, and I think that’s what brings us joy. The greatest thing for us is seeing the joy on people’s faces. That’s the reward for us — it’s not about making money. It’s about seeing people happy.”

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OLE MISS BACK TO SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRANT McL AUGHLIN

University of Mississippi students returned to classes Jan. 18 following their holiday break. The spring semester began with inperson classes and will culminate with 2022 graduation exercises, scheduled to take place on campus May 4-8.

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1. Harrison Carmichael and Alan Leird 2. Lois Paney and Gregory Rodgers 3. Mathew LaFaver, Sarah Hall and Derek McKenzie 4. J.R. Marlbrough and C.J. Browder 5. Clare Mansoor and Amanda Bradshaw 6. Kate Wall and Lou Alidor

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INDOOR YARD SALE PHOTOGRAPHED BY J.R. WILBANKS

The Oxford Conference Center’s annual Indoor Yard Sale returned Jan. 8 after a twoyear hiatus. A multitude of vendors offered shoppers a vast variety of items, including children’s and adult clothes, toys, books, electronics, furniture and much more.

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1. Lara and Doug Archer 2. Jennifer Henry and Amberlyn Liles 3. Gloria and Jerry Worsham 4. Jenna Ursic and Dee Jones 5. Jo Anne Brannon and Nekeisha Burney 6. Lindsay Corstange, Annabelle Evans and Kelly Reyes 7. Bonnie and Mitchell Clinton 8. Hayden Guest and Micah Quinn 9. Mary and Margaret Wise 10. Wallace and Sandy Hawkins

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OLE MISS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRANT MCL AUGHLIN

The 12th-ranked Georgia Lady Bulldogs bested No. 24 Rebels 62-52 on Sunday, Jan. 30, in Oxford in the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss.

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1. Jesse Pearson with Raven and Skylar Booker and Juanita Pearson 2. Angela and Mark Ladner 3. Ginny Sosebee and Lynnette Johnson 4. Eddie and Audra Rester 5. Merritt Tompkins and Logan Watrous 6. Drew, Amanda and Maddox Broyles 7. Webb Robert and Madison Odom

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PRINCESS BALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABAGAIL HA MELTON

The Powerhouse Community Arts Center was transformed into a castle in the Highlands of Scotland for the Princess Ball, held Jan. 24 to Jan. 26. The ball began as an opportunity for a father-daughter date night and is sponsored by Chick-fil-A. 1

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5 1. Bill and Kate Rosenblatt 2. Skylar and Eric Cobb 3. Layla and Joey Williams

4. Landon and Mary Claire Steimle 5. Allie and Noah Jane Eijali 6. Madilyn and Marcus White

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OXFORD COMMUNITY MARKET PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABAGAIL HA MELTON

Oxford Community Market vendors offered local produce, baked goods and more to loyal shoppers Feb. 22 at the Old Armory Pavilion. The market takes place Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m. throughout March. Learn more about the market at oxfordcommunitymarket.com.

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1. Gladne and David Harris 2. Karen Lafferty and Laura Scales 3. Case Draughn and Schuyler Dickson 4. Alexis Slade and Beniaih Riley 5. Tyler Jr., Tyler, Danny and Grayson Williamson 6. Stark Aldridge and Michelle Zerangue

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MARCUS KING CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRANT MCL AUGHLIN

Marcus King played live at The Lyric Oxford Feb. 16 as part of his ongoing tour. The Southern rock and blues guitarist is known as frontman for the Marcus King Band and for his recent solo album, “El Dorado.”

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8 1. Hunt Stevens and Emily Williams 2. Ansley Plunk, Walt Pillow and Russ Lewis 3. Lauren Townsend and Daniel Hodges 4. Joe Hogue Jr. and Ryan Sockwell 5. John and Carron Wooten with Will Stanford 6. Owen and Houstyn Hodson 7. April Smith and Jonathan Pittman 8. Olivia Gilroy and Tessa McLane 9. Jamie Todd, Cousin Chipper and Jason Campbell

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OUT & ABOUT “ Wa it re s s” Nat io n a l Tou r at t he Fo rd C e nt e r

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PAGE & TABLE PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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Reed’s Gum Tree Bookstore and Lauren McElwain’s Cooking as a First Language presented another Page & Table event on Feb. 3 at Gum Tree Bookstore. The book and supper club community event combined Julia Claiborne Johnson’s “Better Luck Next Time” and a menu inspired by the book.

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1. Monica Lameless and Tommy Green 2. Mary Markle, Lane McClellan and Lauren McElwain 3. Leah Hendon, Jessica Lilley and Sara Edwards 4. Cathy Fitzpatrick and Maribeth Kirkpatrick 5. Merissa Rambo, Lindsey Stevens, Liz Bervers, Allie West and Chris Potts 6. George and Lori Jones

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RILEY GREEN CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Country music singer-songwriter Riley Green and his “We Out Here” concert tour took the stage at BancorpSouth Arena Feb. 4. Also appearing were Corey Smith and Kameron Marlowe.

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CARS & COFFEE PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALESHA WALKER

Once a month, TupeLow car club hosts Cars & Coffee, where car enthusiasts gather to drink coffee and talk about cool cars. The group’s Feb. 5 meeting was at Lost + Found Coffee Co. in Tupelo. Learn more about TupeLow at facebook.com/tupelow.official.

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1. Jeff Thompson and Carlo Garcia 2. Jake Nichols and Brennan Gray 3. Keilan McCoy and Chris Gilbert 4. Sarah Gamiel and Collin McIntyre 5. Will Barron, Austin Vaughn, Devin Bain and Trey Cleveland 6. Calie Howell and Colton Bailey

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PURE INTERNATIONAL PAGE ANT PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

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The 2022 Pure International Mississippi State Pageant hosted a meet-and-greet Feb. 4 at the Civic Auditorium at Tupelo Middle School. Offering state, national, continental and international pageants, Pure International Pageants stress faith, family and community service.

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1. Margaret Simmons, Misti Appleby, Mylie Stiddom and Amy Emerson 2. Hadley Childress and Miller Richey 3. Morgan Hanlin, Keri McMillin, Ivy Edwards, Molly Scott and Jaggers Edwards 4. Jordan Springer, Hailee Spradling, Riley Tate and Miranda Richey 5. Addison Shaw, Jennifer Burns, Lillybeth Shouse, Cerritos Johnson, Angie Stevens and Kayla Lee

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TUPELO CHARITY BALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo presented its 59th annual Charity Ball at BancorpSouth Arena Feb. 11. The Back to the ’80s-themed fundraiser supports various projects of the auxiliary throughout the year.

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1. Crosby Clayton, Ella Pittman, Arianna West and Rayli Arriola 2. Madalynn Minica, Emma Mask, Emma Gregory and Abby Covington 3. Charity Ball Escorts 4. Celeste Ellis, Kelly Merlin, Nicole Kilman, Candace Waterer, Amanda Perry, Valerie Delgadillo, Jennifer McAdory, Liz Beavers, Susan Daughdrill and Jamie Ramels 5. Macy Blanton, Abby Tidwell and Emma Grace Miles 6. Juliana Repato, McKenzie Armstrong and Ella Friloux 7. Lauren Marshall, Mackenzie Hamlin, Dailee Frans and Jordan Springer 8. Mary Vandersteeg and Grace Chandler 9. A.V. Leake, Rylie Knight and Morrison Sliman 10. Lainie Conway, Kylie Luker and Georgia McBride 11. Brina Rogers, Celia Williams and Allyssa Holmes 12. Mary Lauderdale and Bella Thorn 13. Sarah Buzzell, Maddie James and Anne Thomas Green

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CHARITY BALL

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OUT & ABOUT C o ok i n g a s a Fi r s t L a n g u a ge C u ba n C o ok i n g C l a s s

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Nat c he z Tra c e G ol f C lu b S up e r B owl Pa r t y

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C R E AT E Fou nd at io n 50 t h A n n ive r sa r y

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1. Monica Lameless and Mary Ann Plasencia 2. Cooper Hayward and Ashley Gillespie 3. Shelia and Tim Tolleson 4. Denise and Grant Gillespie with Eric Cole and Misty and Tyson Taylor 5. Cora and Patsy Polson 6. Lara Evans and Ed Tedford 7. Amy Thomas and Letisha Jackson 8. Casey Knight with Andy and Brooke Burleson 9. Charlie Buckley and Albine Bennett

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INTERVIEWED BY LESLIE CRISS

B I A N CO |

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

L

ouisiana born and raised, Cami Bianco has lived in Oxford for almost 22 years.

She has been married to Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco for 29 years, and they are the parents of five children. A member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Cami is currently serving on the board of Lovepacks, and she helps each week with packing and ordering food. She also serves on the Oxford Boys and Girls Club board.

She teaches middle school girls at St. John on Wednesday nights and is also part of the Oxford High School PTO.

Q: Were you a baseball fan before you met

and married Coach Bianco?

I have always enjoyed baseball. I had several close friends who played in high school, and I would go to games whenever I could. I was a student trainer and a “batgirl” at LSU when I met Mike, so, I guess I was already a big fan. Baseball is how we met and has been a huge part of our lives ever since. For that reason, it has become my favorite sport.

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Q: You are the mother of five. Have all of

them been involved in a sport?

A: All five of my children have been athletes.

The boys all played football, basketball and baseball. A couple of them ran track in middle school. My daughter just finished up her high school volleyball career. Each sport has brought joy, some heartache, many valuable lessons and new friends.

Q: Tell us a bit about Lovepacks and your involvement with it.

A: Lovepacks is a 501c3 organization. We have three pantries within the area schools and three groups of students within those schools who pack for us each week. We are currently serving 200 students per week. We 80

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have no guaranteed funding, but we live in the best and most generous community. The Oxford/Lafayette community has supported us every year since the fall of 2010. Our mission is to provide food to students in Oxford and Lafayette school districts on weekends and holidays within the school year. Many of our Lovepack kids depend on school breakfast and lunch for their food needs. We wanted to supplement that and help them on the weekends and over the school holidays.

Q: What drew you to Lovepacks?

A: I became involved in the summer

of 2010. My friends Mary Leary and Helen Phillips had just finished a pilot program at Bramlett Elementary to see if there was a

food insecurity need within the local school district. They asked Alyce Krouse and me to help them create Lovepacks.

Q: Since this is Invitation’s pet issue, tell us about Bianco family pets.

A: Our family has three pet members — all three rescues. Our oldest dog is Miss RBI — we call her Ribby. Her litter was found at Sardis Lake almost 16 years ago. We also have Coach, a rescue from the animal shelter. He is almost 15 and thinks he is the king, which is funny because he is only 8 pounds. Our youngest dog, Versace, came to us through our oldest son, who rescued her while in junior college. She came to us named, so she did not get a baseball name.

They are all such a big part of our family.