DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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IN THIS ISSUE
DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016
DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016
FEATURES 37 American Christmas A Tupelo family celebrates their American citizenship by decorating their Christmas tree with handmade symbols of hope.
43 Giving Trees The Tupelo Women’s Club annual Holiday Tree Festival puts guests in the Christmas spirit and supports local charities.
48 Color Me Zen Grown-up coloring books help adults manage holiday stress and color away the winter blues.
48 EVENTS
18 In Season: Hand Pies
Pam Hill of Shannon, Miss., learned to make hand pies from her grandmother and mother when she was young. Last year she perfected her own recipe, and now she makes dozens of the sweet apple-, peach- and chocolate-filled treats to share with family and friends.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
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Hope for the Holidays Disney on Ice Women’s Club Tree Festival Tupelo Arts Showcase 101 Dalmatians Kids Veterans Day Breakfast New Albany Open House Taste of Tupelo Marine Corps 240th Birthday Baldwyn Christmas Open House Tupelo Locals Fair Dave Clark’s Golf Tournament Celebrate Corinth New Albany Christmas Parade Veterans Day Ceremony Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic THS Soccer Jamboree Downtown Holiday Open House
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70 DEPARTMENTS 10 12 16 76 80
Letter From the Publisher What’s Happening Community Corner Out and About Tupelo Spirit: Tina Wilburn December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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the publisher
LETTER FROM
O
ne of the things I enjoy most about the end of the year is looking back on all that has happened over the last 12 months. I remember as a child warming up with my parents in front of our fireplace, reflecting on the events from the past year. We would discuss our family milestones, as well as community and global events. There was the summer my father traveled to Finland to coach football. There was the spring many of my friends won the state basketball championship. For a small Arkansas town, that was a huge highlight. And who could forget the year I decided to color my hair myself? As 2015 comes to a close, several things come to mind as year-end highlights for us here at Invitation Tupelo. We celebrated our fifth anniversary in May, we added new, talented staff members, and we met some of the most interesting people we have told stories about thus far. We saw how the spirit of Tupelo continues to recover from the tornado that affected the lives of so many. We saw rebuilding, new opportunities and new businesses thrive in 2015. And while I often reflect on the past, my family and I also focus on celebrating traditions, new and old, this time of year – much like the Tupelo Women’s Club Holiday Tree Festival, which brings joy to those who attend and to the organizations that benefit from the event. A couple of years ago, when organizers opted for a different annual event, they quickly learned many consider the tree festival a staple of the Tupelo holiday season. They brought it back better than ever, and now it continues to be a tradition to look forward to each year. Time has marched on since my 1994
MARCH 2015
APRIL 2015
MAY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
AUGUST 2015
BACK TO
SCHOOL
deciphering
dyslexia
in-home hair salon experiment and the 1996 AA women’s state basketball championship. This year, we will celebrate my 4-year-old ditching the pacifier, my husband being fully recovered from three major back surgeries and my experience fulfilling a lifelong goal of teaching college students. Whether you’re reflecting on the year gone by or looking forward to the year to come, we hope you and your family have a wonderful and joyous 2016.
ivy league exper ienc an e
SEPTEMBER 2015
OCTOBER 2015
WALK IN OUR PATH a family of black cats and dogs puts an end to superstitious stereotypes
THE FUTURE of Tupelo-Lee Humane Society
MEET PERCY page 14
CARVING
ANIMAL LOVERS who are making a big difference
NOVEMBER 2015
a new Halloween tradition on Jefferson Street
DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016
made in house
cheddar cheese
QUICK PICKLES PICKLED ONION HOISIN SAUCE COMEBACK SAUCE
WRIGHT DAIRY, ALEXANDRIA, ALA.
burger
AGED FILET, SIRLOIN, RIBEYE, NEW YORK STRIP CIRCLE W FARMS, HOULKA, MISS. AND SIMPSON FARMS, ATHENS, TENN.
bacon bits
BENTON’S, MADISONVILLE, TENN., AND GROUND IN HOUSE
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER What was your favorite Invitation Tupelo cover of 2015? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
PUBLISHER Rachel Malone West EDITOR Phil West EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Emily Welly ART DIRECTOR Hallie M. Thomas PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily R. Suber STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Lisa Roberts, Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Lena Anderson STAFF WRITER Melanie Crownover ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Cindy Semmes ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson, Leigh Lowery, Lynn McElreath, Stacey Raper, Moni Simpson, Whitney Worsham DESIGNERS Becca Bailey, Zach Fields CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Chasity Dees OFFICE MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney ADVERTISING INFORMATION (662) 701-8070 ads@invitationtupelo.com MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008 To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo, send payment of $50 to: P.O. Box 3192, Tupelo, MS 38802 or visit invitationtupelo.com to pay online. To request a photographer at your event, to obtain an event photo or to purchase an announcement, email Hallie at hallielandonmarshall@gmail.com.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Go,See and Do
what’s happening December 2015-February 2016
Now through 1/18 Ice Skating
This winter, hit the ice at BancorpSouth Arena. $10 per person includes admission and skate rental. Dates and times vary. Visit bcsarena.com for details.
Goodnight Tupelo Visit 24 of Tupelo’s best-known landmarks – from the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Tupelo Hardware to Ballard Park and Veterans Park – in Goodnight Tupelo, a new children’s book written by Brittany Rogers and illustrated by Brent Farrar. The book is available now at Reed’s Bookstore.
1/8
Elvis Turns 81
12/18-12/20
Elvis Presley Birthplace celebrates the King’s 81st birthday. The birthday cake will be cut at 1 p.m., and free tickets to tour the house will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tupelo Community Development Foundation will also host a meeting featuring speakers Henry Dodge and Neal McCoy at the birthplace that day. 306 Elvis Presley Drive. elvispresleybirthplace.com.
Sremm Fest
Hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd – composed of two brothers from Tupelo – and special guests take the stage at BancorpSouth Arena for a three-day music festival. Tickets $25-$35. sremmfest.com
1/1 Genesis 5K Start the New Year with a 5K run/walk. A 1-mile fun run for children is also included. A portion of proceeds benefits New Beginnings’ maternity home for birth mothers. 10 a.m., Veterans Park. Visit racesonline.com to register for the race.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Shout It From the Treetops This fall, homeowners in Sharon Hills planted 200 trees throughout their neighborhood in an effort to further recover from the April 2014 tornado that destroyed their tree canopy. More than 40 volunteers from Sharon Hills and the city, including a group of nursing students from Northeast Mississippi Community College, helped. The project was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the United Way of Northeast Mississippi and a $2,000 grant from Keep Tupelo Beautiful.
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Go,See and Do
what’s happening December 2015-February 2016
Where Do They Go on Game Day? Mississippi State University fans of all ages will want to check out Laurie Fisher’s new children’s book, Where Do They Go on Game Day?. The book is about a pack of dogs, led by Bully, who skip out on an MSU baseball game to instead run amok in Starkville on a quest for MSU’s famous cheese. Ole Miss fans shouldn’t feel left out: Fisher’s first Where Do They Go on Game Day? book, published in 2013, is about the football game-day adventures around Oxford of the squirrels that call the Grove their home.
1/22-1/23
Northeast Mississippi Championship Rodeo The rodeo comes to BancorpSouth Arena. Special highlights for local fans include professional bullfighter Cade Parks of Ripley, Miss., and legendary mid-South rodeo clown Lecile Harris. Benefits Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
1/23
2/5
Russian pianist Yakov Kasman performs Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m., Link Centre. nmsymphony.com
Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo hosts its annual Charity Ball. This year’s theme is “The Blues ... Where the Heart Meets the Soul,” and the event features music by Memphis Soul Revue. Tickets, $40, can be purchased at Reed’s or Staggs Interiors or by calling 662-678-3876. The Charity Ball is Junior Auxiliary’s only fundraiser and benefits the club’s many projects designed to help children in Tupelo and Lee County. 7 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena
Russian Romantics with NMSO
1/23
Red Cross Evening of Jazz Annual fundraiser supports the American Red Cross of North Mississippi. 7 p.m., BancorpSouth Conference Center. 662-842-6101.
1/28-1/30
You Can’t Take It With You Tupelo Community Theatre performs a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that first premiered on Broadway in 1936. 7:30 p.m., Lyric Theatre. tct.ms
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Tupelo Charity Ball
2/6-2/7 Dragsters
Tupelo Automobile Museum displays vintage drag-racing cars. Open daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day. 1 Otis Blvd., 662-842-4242
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Corner
SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1986, THE COMMITTEE FOR King has memorialized the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Tupelo. It was integral in redesignating both a portion of Highway 45 and Green Street School in the civil rights leader’s name. For more than two decades, the committee has made each anniversary of his birthday a true weekendlong celebration. “It’s encouraging to see over 500 youth gathered on Friday night in honor of his legacy,” interim chairman Kenneth Mayfield said. “It’s our responsibility to remind them what Dr. King stood for and revive that spirit within ourselves.” This year’s celebrations begin at Tupelo Civic Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 15, with an Apollo night for youth at 6 p.m. Refreshments follow, and admission is free. A black-tie gala is Saturday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Christian Life Center. Lane Chapel Male Quintet will be presented with the committee’s first Image Award. Tickets, $25, can be purchased from committee members or at Mayfield Law Firm, 106 W. Franklin St. The Sunday service kicks off with a drill team at 2:30 p.m. at Tupelo Civic Auditorium. Melvyn Leventhal, former advisor to King, will speak at 3 p.m. The program concludes Monday with a motorcade along Martin Luther King Drive at 11 a.m. and a worship service at noon at St. Paul’s Christian Life Center with the Rev. Artis Webber of Pontotoc, Miss. Scholarships will be presented in honor of Dr. King by the Modern Beauticians Club at Monday’s celebration. The 20-member committee is considering expanding the weekend in coming years by encouraging participants to team up on a service project. “As someone who was a sophomore in high school when King was assassinated, I know the influence he’s had on my life and the world around us,” inaugural member Charles Penson said. “I would love to see this become a time for us to do something uplifting for our community in memory of him.” For more information, visit committeeforking.com.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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IN SEASON Hand Pies
WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
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hen Pam Hill of Shannon, Miss., shows up to a family gathering or church social, normal pleasantries are usually followed by one question: Did you bring any pies? The more homemade apple, peach or chocolate filling Hill crimps into crusts to fry, the bigger her circle of friends seems to grow. “These aren’t like what you get at some fast-food place. It’s more like what some of us used to get at Grandma’s house,” she said.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
“They’re not really hard to make, but a lot of people just don’t do them anymore because they’re so time-consuming.” The retired bookkeeper first learned the increasingly lost art from watching her grandmother and mother fry up the flaky confections when she was a girl. And although she picked up cooking as a teenager to help her working parents get supper on the table, Hill didn’t try her hand at the portable pastries until last year. “I kind of made this conglomeration of
their recipes with what I like, to see what would happen, and by May I was whipping up 72 of them for a friend whose child was graduating,” she said. “I think I can roll out and fry about three dozen in an hour now if I need to.” Hill’s husband helps in the fruit preparation, which takes several hours for large batches because they prefer to use dried fruit that must be rehydrated. They often make extra filling to jar and store so they can more easily take on last-minute requests and large orders.
The trick to making good pies from filling fresh off the stove, Hill says, is to cool the mixture in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, she rolls out her piecrust, cuts out rounds using a small saucer as a template and fills them. She recommends frying in soybean oil or a soybean blend since it doesn’t burn easily or affect the flavor of the crust. Pam’s recipe and strategies have changed over the past year, but she says the experimenting is half the fun. That, and sharing this tasty family tradition with those she loves. “I believe recipes are just suggestions, so I eyeball a lot and change things and then change them again until they’re the kind of pies people can’t resist,” she said. “When in doubt, a kitchen taste test can’t hurt.”
Pam’s Pies 1 package dried peaches or apples (4 1/2 ounces) 1 cup sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice, or to taste (for apple hand pies) Piecrust, homemade or store-bought Put fruit in a pot; cover with water. Bring to a low boil, and then simmer until fruit is soft enough to mash with a fork, usually a couple of hours. Mash until mostly smooth with some small lumps; stir in sugar and spices. Allow mixture to cool completely. Roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut into circles. Spoon about 1½ Tablespoons fruit filling into center of each dough round. Fold stuffed round in half. Use a pastry brush to coat the edges with a little water, and then press them shut with a fork. In a large skillet, Dutch oven or fryer, add enough oil to submerge the pies; bring to 365°370°F. When oil is bubbling, add pies gently to pot. Fry for approximately 3 minutes, until crusts are light brown, turning each pie over about halfway through cooking to brown both sides. Cool on a cookie rack lined with paper towels for 5-10 minutes before serving.
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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events Hope for the Holidays View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
North Mississippi Dance Center’s Hope for the Holidays fundraiser performance was held Nov. 21 at Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center. The annual event raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, visit northmsdance.com.
Kanta Dijkwel and Corrie Cockrell
Corinne Pace, Yuuna Yanagihara, Catherine Barkley and Hannah Baggett
Hannah Park and Kristen Cockrell
Amy and Riley Williams with Jordyn, Belinda and Jacy Wilson
Arian, Beyla and Brent Waldrop
Eva Brooks Swinney, Maynor Malone, Caroline Killough and Addison Graves
Sophie and Eva Lindsey with Linda Clifford
Rachel and Riley Williams with Daphne Young
Carly Oglesby, Cameron Stevens and Maddie Toole
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Lisa Roberts
Caroline and Jennifer Buse
Emilie Chandler and Alessandra Yong
Sarah Beth Stewart, Meghan Crownover, Emma Reid and Corinne Pace
Krisha and Lacy Kate Mims with Blake Guntharp and Clytee Mitchell
Will and Amber Graves
Chloe Ingram, Lily-Claire Mann, Alissa Gates, Maggie Kimble, Kaylin Costello and Allison Griswold
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Disney on Ice Let’s Celebrate View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Minnie, Mickey and the rest of the gang hit the ice Nov. 5-8 at BancorpSouth Arena for Disney on Ice Let’s Celebrate. For a listing of upcoming events at BancorpSouth Arena, including public ice skating, the Harlem Globetrotters and more, visit bcsarena.com.
Holli and Massey Ratcliffe
Faith Livingston, O’Malley Nobert, Bailey Cummins and Ali Evans
Paula and Ja’Niya Ivy
Acaydia, Dustin, Haley and Hunter Wilemon Disney on Ice cast
Liam McAlpine, Natania Darnell and Ty Smith
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Haley and Blaklei Pounds with Kynleigh and Alisha Melson
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Brian, Emma Grace and Samantha Adair
Rebekah and Jill Morgan with Jennifer and Tinley Robertson
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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events Tupelo Women’s Club Tree Festival View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Tupelo Women’s Club Tree Festival was held Nov. 17 at Tupelo Country Club to raise money for Tree of Life Free Clinic, Women’s First Resource Center, Regional Rehabilitation Center, Helping Hands Helping Homeless Inc., and S.A.F.E. Inc. Read more on page 43.
Courtney Kinney and Melissa Edwards
Audrey Anna Roebuck, Anna Giachelli, Ashley Christian and Kenzie Bland
Rudy Dossett and Tasha Wilburn Dozier
Becky Rollins and Missy Bagley
Erika Thompson, Hannah Claire McCullough and Lauren Asters
Lauren Darsey, Loren Duke and Morgan Abraham
Zach and Rachel Beasley
Amanda Caldwell, Sarah Beth McCarter and Elise Young
Suzanne Smith, Crystal Huggins, Kami Roberts and Michelle Heisel
Jack Thompson, Wesley McCullough, Bill Cassilly and Clayton Asters
Chanda Cossitt, Maddin McCord, Sadie Smith and John Thomas Matthews
Mary and Ty Culpepper with Lauren and Justin Waldrop
Janice and Amelia Ward with Lindsey Tedford and Janya Rogers
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Joe Worthem
Mary Beth Cantrell and Kathy Beasley
Mary Markle and Cat Harder
Cynthia Colburn with Erin and Mary Stubbs December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Tupelo Arts Showcase View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Tupelo Civic Ballet hosted the annual Tupelo Arts Showcase Nov. 6 at the Link Centre. The free community event features local visual and performing artists whose talents include painting, drawing, sculpture, filmmaking, acting, music, dance and more.
Wendy Jean Garrison
Jager Palad and M.J. Torrecampo
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Madeleine Toole, Emma Reid, Madelyn Von Strahl, Rachel Frick, Cameron Stevens, Rachel Williams and Catherine Barkley
Hannah Baggett and Hannah Tybor
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Greg Johnson and Alison Schuchs
Danielle Adams and Shaundi Wall
Glenn Payne and Carlton Wall
Beth Richardson and JavantĂŠ Ingram
Hayden O’Callaghan and Ashton Waldrop
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events 101 Dalmatians Kids View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Pied Piper Players children’s theater group performed Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids Nov. 6-8 at Milam Auditorium. The show featured children in kindergarten-eighth grade. To learn more about the theater group, search Pied Piper Players on Facebook.
Mika, Sarah Foster and Walker Brown with Patrick Beaty, Jilli Grace Asa, Madison Wiggins, Emily Campbell, Camden Petrie, Kaytee Donna Witty and Louise Gable Sarah, Gavin and Easton Smith Beth Curbow, Alyssa Hutchison and Kabir Gupta
Jackson Short, Elon Slatter, Radley Jordan, Simon Heatherly, Ellie Crabb, Emma Rose Odom and Nate Swanson
Elizabeth and Tiffany Edwards with Sawyer Ali Vallarian, Noah Wiggins, Karmen Hopkins and Stella Root Phfaler, Emma Kate Fox, Collin Phelps and Arjun Gupta
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Parker Brown, Perrin Elkin, Paisley Williams, Nailah Slatter, Henry Swanson and D.J. Swanson
Nate Beaty, Sophia Grace Bean, Susanna Beaty, Virginia Robbins, Carson Phelps and Elijah Wiggins
Carley Oglesby, Caleigh Martin, Mary Chapel Whitehead, Callan Elkin, Annelise and Alice Fagan
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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events Veterans Day Breakfast View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Papa V’s sponsored the fourth annual Veterans Day breakfast Nov. 11 at Tupelo Automobile Museum to honor local veterans. The breakfast preceded a Veterans Day ceremony and the dedication of the F-105 Thunderchief warplane in Veterans Park.
JoAnn and Arthur Reed
Sheriff Jim Johnson, Kevin Parker, Mike Smith, Mayor Jason Shelton, Judge Charlie Brett, Judge Chuck Hopkins and Sen. Chad McMahan
Tyler Hill and Jane Spain
Jesse Clift and Charles Moeller
William R. Allen Jr. and John Nichols
Laura Pannell and Phil Sullivan
Jed Rutledge, Makel Hamer and Cory Williams
Mike Smith and Judge Charlie Brett
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Martha and Robert McNeil
David Adams, Kenneth Dewalt and Gregory Henderson
Joe Hardin and Ronnie Howell
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Ronald Parker and Jim Owen
Eugene Spearman, Tom Swindol and George Bogardus
Caleb, Chad and Susan McMahan
photographed by Whitney Worsham
Brendan Lanphear and Greg Craven
Kelly Cress and Tommy Locastro
Betty and Sims Reeves
Harry and Peggy Armstrong
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events New Albany Holiday Open House View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
New Albany Main Street Association hosted its annual Holiday Open House Nov. 8 to promote holiday shopping with local businesses. Downtown merchants were open Sunday afternoon, and many also stayed open late Thursday evenings in November.
Adalyn, Beth and Cindy Benson
Sydney Duggar, Carrie Lewis, Stephanie Box and Dianne Hood
Connie and Marci Lindsey with Dawn McKinney
Natalie Bullard and Lauren Garrett
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Sonya and Madison Nobles with Chloe and Allyson Grubbs
Hannah and Mollie White
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Pat Wray and Debra Cossey
Kaye Powell with Jimmy and Wilma Rhea
Jeanette Winter with Krista and South McCreight and Judy Barkley
Jeff, Deonne and Mary Tate Pannell
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We’re now on Instagram! Follow us @invitationtupelo. December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Chasity Dees
events Taste of Tupelo View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
More than 1,800 people attended the Community Development Foundation’s Taste of Tupelo Nov. 12 at BancorpSouth Arena. The networking event brought businesses, restaurants and caterers together with product demonstrations, food sampling and information.
Lionel Land and Pranati Bailey
Sawyer Ewing, Arizbeth Pickering and Kelsey Carruth
Jeff and Carey Snyder with Maria Castaneda
Elizabeth Crockett and Rexanne Hollingsworth
Jeff Herring, Victoria Hall and David Jones
Samantha Green, Kristy Hunt and Shay Seals
Dianne Elan, Sharon Jenkins and Regina Smith
Addy Warren, Brooke Whitworth and Stephanie Carnathan
Brenda and Thomas Woods with Mavis Wilson Prude and Charlotte Crump
t es USA w Lo s in ce Pri
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Christen Hartley and Pam Montgomery
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
american CHRISTMAS
Artists Koos and Antoinette Badenhorst of Tupelo celebrate their American citizenship each holiday season by decorating their Christmas tree with handmade symbols of hope. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem and Koos Badenhorst
K
oos and Antoinette Badenhorst’s family tree has become as rooted in American patriotism as it is in Christmas spirit since the couple moved to Mississippi from Cape Town, South Africa, in 1999. Last year, white lights cast their glow through translucent porcelain American flags on every branch from trunk to tip. For this couple, the holidays now represent a double celebration. Antoinette, a porcelain artist, made the ornaments to commemorate becoming an American citizen in 2014 and to mark Koos’ one-year anniversary as a citizen. When the Christmas tree was lit with the new ornaments, it became more than an emblem of the season. “For us, the light shining through those flags is a symbol of hope. That is what America was for us, and it is what we still find here,” she said. The journey to finding that hope began 15 years ago with a monumental leap of faith.
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Above, artists Antoinette and Koos Badenhorst in Antoinette’s studio in Saltillo, Miss. Her artwork has evolved since she moved to the United States from South Africa 16 years ago, and she now specializes in porcelain that has been seen around the world. She created a Mississippi-shaped Christmas ornament this year to celebrate her home and her citizenship.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
“We left our family and home in South Africa and came here with only $5,000 and three girls getting ready to go to college. We had learned English from watching movies. I had to show I had a four-year degree and 12 years of work experience just to get a work visa,” Koos said. “I don’t think most people realize how much of a change it is.” The family spent eight years in Mississippi and then seven in Chicago before moving back to Tupelo in 2013. It was an era of major transition for the family, but the spirited couple showed their children how to flourish. Antoinette’s prolific art career started in South Africa with pottery and blossomed in the United States as she moved on to porcelain. Her early American works included smokefired primitive pitch pots in homage to her native country. They later changed to fine and delicate, but deceptively sturdy, white porcelain works brushed with touches of vivid colors on the inside. The walls of her pieces are thin enough to allow light to flow through them. “Looking at all of my works together is like seeing the story of my life. I was grieving the loss of my native country at first, and you can see when I finally had relief from that and started being content with myself as a Mississippian and American,” she said. “You see through that thin wall to the color of my joy.” Museums and magazines around the world have featured her porcelain, and prospective artists from as far as Brazil and Australia take her online courses. Former President George W. Bush displayed her art in the White House, and singer-songwriter Joan Baez owns a piece. Koos, a computer engineer turned photographer, first picked up the camera after paying a professional $600 for photos of Antoinette’s work for a competition. Not many novice photographers take on the challenge of shooting porcelain. It’s difficult to capture the white of the outside, the texture and translucency of the piece and the color on the inside in one shot. Still, Koos was determined to learn. After taking a beginner course at Itawamba Community College, Mississippi Magazine published his first picture in 2001. National publications including Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated have featured his art photography, and people worldwide seek his advice on shooting porcelain via his website. December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Antoinette’s signature translucent white porcelain is often photographed by her husband, Koos, who learned the difficult skill of porcelain photography to capture her work. To see more of the Badenhorsts’ work, visit koosphotos.com or porcelainbyantoinette.com, or search for Porcelain by Antoinette on Facebook.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
“Looking at all of my works together is like seeing the story of my life. I was grieving the loss of my native country at first, and you can see when I finally had relief from that and started being content with myself as a Mississippian and American. You see through that thin wall to the color of my joy.” -Antoinette Badenhorst
Koos devoted some of his talents to the technical side of his wife’s Web classroom while he used his lens to help promote her artwork. He posted photos of the whole flag-making process on her website last year – detailing the way Antoinette shaped the waves with her fingers and gently etched every star with a template, pressing in each stripe before she signed, dated and numbered the back. When they put the limited edition ornaments up for sale, the Badenhorsts found that the story of their American journey struck a common chord. Many of Antoinette’s followers knew of her background, and when they ordered ornaments from her online shop, several buyers shared their own citizenship stories. One woman requested the ornament numbered 13 because that was how many years she’d been in the country. Another got the number 14 for a friend who became a citizen in 2014. The touching personal stories convinced Antoinette to fire up her kiln again this month to create a second series of the ornaments. This year, Antoinette’s theme is homecoming. With all three of their daughters and their five grandchildren now back in Mississippi and living not too far down the road, the family togetherness that comes along with home is a happy topic for the Badenhorsts. The new ornaments reflect that idea with a U.S. flag worked into the outline of the state of Mississippi. Additionally, the patriotic set will have the company of a new series of house-shaped ornaments this season. Each house is different, though they are all made from Antoinette’s signature translucent white porcelain. There are small-, medium- and large-sized homes to hang, or one style featuring a small village on a single ornament. “We think, ‘Where is home?’ and it is here,” Antoinette said. “I fully believe God sent us as a family to Mississippi because He knew we needed a family. They may still ask, ‘Where y’all from?’ when we talk, but this is where we were welcomed with open arms and helped whenever we needed. This place chose us too. That, I will always celebrate having.” December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Be Envied ! 662-844-2477 431 North Gloster St. Tupelo, MS www.shearenvytupelo.com
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
The Tupelo Women’s Club annual Holiday Tree Festival puts guests in the Christmas spirit and supports charities that benefit women and children. WRITTEN BY Melanie Crownover PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
FROM FLOCKING AND FABRIC GARLAND to LED lights that twinkle with personalized themes, members of the Tupelo Women’s Club have tree decorating down to a science. These women have used their creative skills to raise money for local charities through their Holiday Tree Festival almost every year for the past three decades. The event centers around the auctioning off of specially themed and fully decorated Christmas trees. The money raised is donated to a handful of local charities that benefit area women and children. The festival has become such a staple of the holiday season that the one year they missed did not go unnoticed. “We took off in 2013 and did the Run in Her Shoes Race and Giving Gala in March 2014 instead of our traditional fundraiser,” president Misty Rigby said. “I think every person in my neighborhood called to see what happened.” Club members realized the festival has December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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“We’re as picky about our trees as the charities we choose to serve. Since we’re a women’s group, we usually pick those that help women and children in our area. Our job is to make sure everything is beautiful so we can raise the most we can for them.” -Sarah Beth McCarter become an anticipated community tradition. “We found out quickly it’s something people look forward to all year,” publicity chair Sarah Beth McCarter added. “The holiday schedule is supposed to go Celebration Village, our tree festival and then the Christmas parade, to get everyone in the holiday spirit.” The group responded by bringing back the event in November 2014 with the addition of live music and a raffle, but finding tree sponsors for the festival was difficult because many of their usual partners had already given to the March gala. This year, the club focused all their efforts back on the festival, and on Nov. 17, the Holiday Tree Festival made a bigger, full-scale return at the Tupelo Country Club. More than The Tupelo Women’s Club Holiday Tree Festival includes a silent auction in which fully decorated Christmas trees along with goods and services donated by local businesses are up for grabs. A raffle was also held during this year’s event, held Nov. 17 at Tupelo Country Club. December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Tupelo Women’s Club board members include (from left) Anna Giachelli, Melissa Edwards, Cathryn Richey, Amanda Caldwell, Morgan Abraham, Leigh Monroe, Jenny Lynn Bond, Elise Young, Sarah Beth McCarter and Misty Rigby. Board members not pictured are Cat Harder, Brooke Hardin and Elizabeth Gable.
300 people attended. A lot of preparation went into making the event successful, and the community was generous in supporting the club’s efforts. More than 100 Tupelo-area businesses donated to this year’s fundraiser, either in the form of goods to auction or with funds the club used to purchase and decorate a specifically themed tree. For example, Sanders Clinic for Women usually sponsors one “baby girl” and one “baby boy” themed tree. Main Street Dentistry sponsors a pearl white and silver one. There’s always a Mississippi State tree and an Ole Miss tree, a traditional tree and a whimsical one, but the club’s board also brings in additions each year like the Disney’s Frozen themed tree for 2015.
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
The group divides and conquers by splitting their membership of 73 into smaller committees. Each handles the shopping for and decorating of at least one tree, whether it’s one of the 2-foot-tall miniatures or a large 8-footer. In all, 21 trees were up for grabs in this year’s silent auction, along with centerpieces and wreaths, holiday décor and gift items, including signed collegiate sports memorabilia and vouchers to local businesses. Additionally, ornament grab bags were sold for $5 and guaranteed every buyer a tree trinket, with some lucky individuals winning a Christopher Radko ornament. The group also offered 250 raffle tickets for $100 each in the first hour of the festival. Buyers were entered
into three drawings: one for $1,000, another for $2,000 and a final for $5,000. The organization will split proceeds from the 2015 Holiday Tree Festival between Tree of Life Free Clinic, Women’s First Resource Center, Regional Rehabilitation Center, Helping Hands Helping Homeless Inc. and S.A.F.E. Inc. “We’re as picky about our trees as the charities we choose to serve,” McCarter said. “Since we’re a women’s group, we usually pick those that help women and children in our area. Our job is to make sure everything is beautiful so we can raise the most we can for them.” For tips from the Tupelo Women’s Club on how to make your Christmas tree auctionworthy this holiday, visit invitationtupelo.com.
December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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Manage the hectic holiday season and combat the short, cold days with coloring books designed to help adults color away the winter blues and manage stress. WRITTEN BY Lena Anderson | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Joe Worthem
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Crayons aren’t just for children anymore. Adult coloring books are the latest trend, and they are becoming a popular way to relax and de-stress while also tapping into the whimsical and creative sides of the brain. Vicki Mahan, a licensed counselor with the Counseling Center at the University of Mississippi and her own private practice, says coloring can be a gratifying distraction from the daily stressors of life. “It’s a calming mechanism,” she said. “It provides a sense of control, which is what we all want. A lot of people work in a stressful occupation where they feel like they don’t have a lot of control, so this provides them with an outlet.” She also likes how coloring books set parameters, which can appeal to people with varying artistic abilities and limited free time. “Art therapy can be overwhelming to some people, but with coloring books, the patterns are already set,” she said. “They provide a sense of completion. You don’t have to finish the whole picture but can just finish one section of it at a time. It provides a quick bout of relief. It’s purposeful and goal-oriented, yet also creative.” For the many people who will have “quit smoking” at the top of their list of New Year’s resolutions, Mahan suggests picking up a colored pencil when a craving hits. “Coloring gives you something to do with your hands,” she said. “Once you get the repetition down, you don’t have to think about it. You can get in a rhythm and bring the stress down.” A variety of coloring books for adults can be purchased locally at Reed’s Bookstore and Barnes & Noble. Four Seasons: A Coloring Book is pictured. December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events 240th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
The Andrew F. Lawhon Detachment 1220 of the United States Marine Corps League sponsored a celebration of the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday Nov. 7 at the Summit Center. Mayor Jason Shelton was guest speaker, and music was provided by The D.J.
Willie and Lora Freeman
Eddie Scott and Randy Williams with Scott and Emily Burns
Frankie and Patrick Tutor with Wes and Beth Hill
Ed Ford and Linda Hall
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Steve and Sherlie Organ with Bob Verell
Janet, Larry, Jordan, Mary and David Gillentine
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Joe Petty and Bill Kendrick
Christy and Andy Chapman
Hilda Bell, Stephanie Baldwyn and Elizabeth Stephens
Cindy and Kenny Rutledge
Merry Christmas! from our family to yours
109 North Spring St. Tupelo, MS 662-687-2551
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events Baldwyn Christmas Open House View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Baldwyn, Miss., welcomed the holiday season with a Nov. 12 Christmas Open House. The event featured extended hours at local businesses, carriage rides, a visit from Santa, holiday music and more.
April and Sara Ratliff
Annika Jones, Lynsie Burns, Addie Jones and Bailey Church
Montana Connally, Monica Cooper and Morgan Gray
Tess Parker with Mady and Macy Murphy
Becky Roberts, Vickie Gentry and Bethany Stevens
Janice Godwin, Seana Bullock and Twana Miller
Cooper and Savannah Hancock with Santa
Nancy DeVaughn, Shelaine Pennington and Janice Pickett
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Lisa Roberts
Abby MaGill, Tiffany Moad, Summer Hudson and Cheyene Etheridge
Addison, Brittany, Cory and MaKynley Franks
Erin Bristow, Hannah Wilson, Keileigh Spencer, Emma Cunningham and Mollie Tucker
Lisa Swinney, Suzette Ethridge, Taylor Witt and Elizabeth Troxler
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Tupelo Locals Fair View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Tupelo Locals Fair, a senior project by Tupelo High School students Emily Anderson, Madison Hendrix and Alex Drumm, was held Nov. 14 at Gloster Creek Village to promote participating local businesses and restaurants.
Melodi McCamey and Daniele Taylor
Karah Anderson, Wallace Owen, Ben Policicchio, Justin Zosel, Caleb Fancher, Dylan Bartlett and Rachel Anderson
Jordan Poppelreiter and E.C. Emmons
Alex Drumm with Emily and Kelly Anderson and Madison Hendrix
Tiffany Franks, Vesil Dao and Hallie Andrews
Greg Morgan and Bev Crossen
Peggi Phillips and Angie Boland
Kayla and Bronson Tabler
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events Dave Clark’s Celebrity Golf Tournament and Auction View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
College and professional athletes took part in Dave Clark’s second annual celebrity golf tournament, held Nov. 9 at Tupelo Country Club. A cocktail party with silent auction was held the night before, with both events raising money for local charitable organizations.
Gary and Patsy Enis with Mary Jane and Steve Dillard
Jake Scott, Casey Bruce, Dave Clark, Johnny Bruce and Wesley Ethridge
Michael Upton, Hope Welch, Cindy Wood, Penny Barber, Peggy Lindsey, Beth Richardson and Robby Parman
Don Kessinger, Steve Fandel and Gary Enis Sr.
Mark Guin, Eli Whiteside and Brian Hicks
Will Kollmeyer, Josh Enis and Dave Clark
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Kianna Powell and Shakia Clark
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Lisa Roberts
Mark Enis, Joe Collins and Ross Milne
Curtis Wilkerson and Bob Braddy
Lee and Chris Stratton
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
At North Ms Periodontics
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events Celebrate Corinth View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Main Street Corinth’s annual Celebrate Corinth holiday fundraiser was held Nov. 19 at Farmers and Merchants Bank on Fillmore Street in Corinth, Miss. The benefit gala included a silent auction, live music and refreshments. To learn more, visit mainstreetcorinth.com.
Ryan Winter and Joey Thompson
Emily and Ben Tucker with Lara Beth and Blake Manley
Brittany and Russell Burcham
Carlos and Rocio Reyes
Chris Marshall and Scott Sawyer
Brian McCullen and Bart White
Catie Haynes, Lauren Butler and Mary Katherine Jones
Tammy Johnson and Sara Beth Stockton Green
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Mary Ann and Kimble Wilbanks
Ian and Emily Rester with Marques Reed
Josh and Candace Marlar
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
John Haynes and Steve Owens
Pam and Philip Verdung
Annette Clausel and Dale Hayes
photographed by Whitney Worsham
Freddie Braddock and Cherita Bush
Jennifer and Chad Timbes
Claire Windsor, Kate Nichols and Donna Langley
Lex Rhodes with Sue and Sandy Elam
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events New Albany Christmas Parade View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
The annual New Albany-Union County Christmas Parade, themed “A Storybook Christmas,� was held Nov. 30. The parade featured decorative floats, antique vehicles, marching bands, horses, pageant winners and more.
Evelyn Mason and Eric Holloway
Morris White and Wylee Washington with Melinda and Charlie Forester, Christy Sanders Lucy and Betty King and Sara Alexander
Cross and Marlee Hamlin
Lawanda Johnson and Edward Coleman
Caroline Renfrow and Kiya Barker with Solomon and Riley Cooper and Carrington and Micah Beene
Lance Baird, Nathan Miner and Jacob Moody
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Mayzie Kayte and Glinda Raines
Emily, Liam, Jason and Sam Derrick
Kaylee Jordan, Cody Adair, Emma Edwards, Aiden Taylor, Cadyn Works, Carter Hall, Bryan McElroy, Tony Wallace, Jasmine Kuykendall, and Scarlett and Marty Wray Eli Norton and Calvin Cooper
Issac Treadaway, Noah Cooper, Amy Bacon and B.J. Treadaway
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Jack and Riley Nicole Langford
Sarah, Beckyanne, Anne Meredith and Mickey Mallette
photographed by Lisa Roberts
Shannon Voyles, Kaylee Red and Jennifer Hamlin
Billie, Freddie and Gus Payne
Mack, Jim and Maggie McKinney with Leslie and Ryder Swords
Brenda Hopper, Rita Thompson, Rena Thompson and Carolyn Wilson
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events Veterans Day Ceremony View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
A Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Park featured the dedication of an F-105 Thunderchief warplane that is now displayed in the park. Guest speakers Col. Gene Smith of West Point and Col. Smitty Harris of Tupelo both flew the fighter bomber in the 1960s.
Wayne Chitmon and Hud Hudnell
Smitty Harris with Barbara, Karrie and Mark Weathers
Pheonia Chambers, Matia Watkins and Jada Strong
Clayton Stanley, Clare Hester and Blake Bell
Michael Schmitt, Alan Estes and Cory Lindsey
Carrie Cole, Jack Harris and Ivy McCoy
Mary Lyle, Jim and Lauren Zuelzke
Alex Farned, Leigh Ann Mattox and Bob Verell
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Whitney Worsham
Kermit Davis and Joe Kilgo
Lori and Howard Robertson
Andrianna Walker and Jacquire Sorrell
James Williams and Philip Gunn
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events Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Basketball teams from around the Southeast played in the annual Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic tournament, held Nov. 27-28 in Corinth, Miss. The event benefits the Lighthouse Foundation, a community organization that offers programs for children and families.
Priestley Worsham and Taylor Coombs
L’zasiah Howard, Markeisha Green, Lazoya Howard, Lisa Caveness, Dameshia Irons and Alissa Mayes
Merry and Vince Overholt
Devon Jones and Cord Morgan
Akaya Campbell and Baylee Cain
Hack Smith and Kendall Stafford
Will Verdung, John Ellis Murrah and Blaine Verdung
Ben Tucker and Spencer Lee
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Jon Darius Warren and Jowan Shields
Becky Null with Terre and Orma Smith
Brian and Lisa Ferrell
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Pat and Claire Palmer
Kristen Herman, Alysse Rogers and Nikidja Powell
Fantasia Holbert and Daniveah McGaha
photographed by Whitney Worsham
Alex Trice, Trevan Knight, Jaren Jones and T.J. Walker
A.J. and Mary Frances Robbins
Alma Cherry, Renee Nichols and Julia Wyke
Bennett Mills and Erin Overholt
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
photographed by Lisa Roberts
events THS Soccer Jamboree
View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Tupelo High School hosted a three-day soccer tournament Nov. 19-21 at Ballard Park. The event was open to any high school soccer team interested in participating.
Claire Waldon, Caroline Newsom, Madi Neal and Sara Eckhoff
Victoria Woodruff, Kimberly Vogel, Jordan Torres, Nathalie Bobo, Madilynn McAnally and Kellee Cornelius
Sydney Hughes, Lucy Dexter, Maddie Stanzell and Anna Fleming Quaka
Chase Huddleston, Colby Bogle, Jacob Overton and Tanner Scoville
Cole Dungan, Terra West, Delanie Williams and Mason Blankenship
Parks Taylor, Marcus Crump, Blake Nabors and Drew Wright
Fatima Rangel, Jenna Seppรกlรก and Madison Threatt
Bryce Smith and Caroline Carmody
Kassidy Young and Sydney Mask
Autumm Harra and Essence Pitts
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photographed by Lisa Roberts
events Downtown Holiday Open House View more event photos @ invitationtupelo.com.
Downtown Tupelo retailers kicked off the holiday shopping season with the Downtown Holiday Open House, held Nov. 22. Guests enjoyed special treats, door prizes, music and more while they shopped.
Sandy Bell and Allie Newby
Ahmed Daher, Elliott Sheffield, Neal Sullivan, Zach Neiman, Amy Whatley and Thomas Hilderbrandt
Shannon Snowden with Dennis and Angi Coggins
Austin Runnels and Bri McSweeney
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Courtney Shaw with Lindsay and Robin Purnell
Susan Parker, Rachael Potts and Amy Trapp
Waneisha Hadley and R’reanna Bobo
Shirley Williams and Betty Armstrong
Betsy White and Elaine Lovorn
Judson and Brittany Womack
INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Dianne, Brooklyn Joy and Jene King
Catering Good Eats
Small and large events across North Mississippi Weddings • Rehearsal Dinners 662-534-3250 New Albany, MS
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU
ADVERTISE IN For more information, please call (662) 234-4008 or email ads@invitationtupelo.com september 2012
june/july 2013
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December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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out and about
CONTINUED ON PAGE 78
NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER SPIRIT OF WOMEN GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
Patricia and Albine Bennett
Rebecca and Nan Baker
Helen Williams and Patsy Weaver
Chuck Hopkins and Grant Bailey
Dalton Hall and Jim Johnson
Sharon Minga, Tammi Coggins, Sarah Stow and Jan Williams
Cathy and Kimberly Allred
Nicole Ganger, Gina Fremont, Janya Rogers and Angie Homan
DENTAL SOLUTIONS RIBBON CUTTING
TOYOTA MISSISSIPPI DONATES CARS FOR EDUCATIONAL USE
Chuck McDougald, Rebecca Smith McDougald, Andi Nolan, Leaza Hazlewood, Ernie Joyner and Ryan Roper
Takashi Fujita, John Raymer, Emily Wilemon-Holland, Jason Williams and Tetsui Yoshikawa
LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
Mike Clayborne, J.B. Long and David Rumbarger WOMEN FIRST FALL FESTIVAL
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
Lonnie Murphy, Scott Holley and Randle Downs
ABOUT THE SOUTH’S THIRD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Shelly Daniel, Jessica Clayton and Allie West
Brenda and Keith Adams with Susan Rish NEW BEGINNINGS’ GOLF MARATHON
Bill Diggs, Matt Baker, James Hopkins and Levi Bishop SOUTHERN CLOTH CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Stephanie and Neil May with Taylor Dickens and Suzanne Russell December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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out and about
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 77
PUCKER UP FOR PREEMIES FUNDRAISER FOR THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENT ASSISTANCE FUND AT NMMC’S WOMEN’S HOSPITAL
COOKING LIKE THE STARS
Mary Ann Plasencia, Glenn Thomas, Peggi Phillips and Mike Lail
Neonatologists Ginger Pole, Bryan Darling, Dennis Wright and John Nading with Pip the Pig
Belvia and Pete Poland; Lynn and Ted Moll; Nancy and Jim Diffee; and Ann and Gil Monaghan
SOUPS FOR SALVATION: A TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PROJECT
Avery Gibens, Ellen McGregor, Charlotte Gibens and Ann Ian Sanders, Madeline Harrison and Carson Heath Douglas Stone
Liza Wise, Sarah Holliman, Meredith Friloux, Briley Chrisman and Evans Sanders
SPECIALTY ORTHOPEDICS RIBBON CUTTING
ONE YEAR CELEBRATION OF J. BRITT’S RESTORATION COLLECTION
Specialty Orthopedics staff and friends
Will Taylor with Angie and Britt Caldwell and Piggy and Mary Ann Caldwell
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INVITATION TUPELO | December 2015 / January 2016
NMMC’S PRETTY IN PINK LUNCHEON
EVERYONE
NEEDS A HELPING HAND SOMETIMES
Liz Dawson and Delois Lagrone
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Alissa Ann Williams, Addison Carter, Carly Chittom, Savanna Pulliam and Savannah Dixon December 2015 / January 2016 | INVITATION TUPELO
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TUPELO SPIRIT Tina Wilburn
INTERVIEWED BY Melanie Crownover | PHOTOGRAPHED BY Lisa Roberts Tina Wilburn’s business is cooking. Her Cowgirl Gourmet items – from chocolate gravy mix to teacake mix – can now be found on store shelves, thanks to a recent deal with Walmart and an upcoming partnership with Kroger. But Wilburn has some competition at home from her daughters, especially around the holidays.
Q: How did the Wilburn family cook-off start? A: This is our 12th year. It started in my kitchen with my two daughters and me to teach them the art of cooking. I had learned because my mother worked nights at the hospital when I was a girl, but I wanted them to learn to experiment and be challenged to step out of their comfort zones. I figured a holiday competition would be a good start.
Q: Who judges? A: There are 30 judges that are family and friends. Some of them have been judging it for almost 10 years. We had to move to the Natchez Trace Golf Club’s clubhouse because the party has gotten so big.
Q: Is the competition the main draw? A: My girls also do an after-party with the ladies they call Our Favorite Things. Each woman brings five identical gift items she loves to swap with the other guests. Everyone leaves with five wonderful presents.
Q: How competitive is the cook-off? A: The first year, my own flesh and blood disqualified me for making a tart instead of a pie, and I loved it. We see each other in the grocery store a few days before, and my own children will give me the eye and say I’m going down. If Lacee wins this year, we’ll be tied five-five, and Tasha has two.
Q: How do you enjoy the party with all that cooking to do?
A: We all prepare our dishes ahead of time; then we heat everything up there and set it out. Most of the hard work is done at home. For more of our interview with Tina Wilburn, including some tips on cooking for a crowd, visit invitationtupelo.com.
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At Thanksgiving, more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. And in this spirit we say, simply but sincerely, Thank You and Best Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!