Invitation Tupelo - Holiday 2017

DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018

welcome to the

HOLIDAY SEASON

The Cannon family wishes you a

MERRY CANNON CHRISTMAS!

Cannon Nissan of Oxford

Cannon Chevrolet Buick Cadillac

662.236.3300 • 479 Hwy 6 E Oxford, MS

662.234.2311 • 100 N Thacker Loop Oxford, MS

NobodyBeatsACannonDeal.com

106 Pinecrest The Cannon Cleary Team of

Diamond & Platinum Club #1 RE/MAX Team in MS

5 Bed 4 Bath

$820,000

114 Sycamore St. Sardis, MS

Belle Maison Unit A

4 Bed 2 Bath

3 Bed 3.5 Bath

$375,000

$979,000

2014-2015-2016

(662) 234-5621

(Main Office)

Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924

Markccleary@gmail.com

Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144

Blake.OxfordVIP@gmail.com

148 Oxford Creek 4 Bed 2.5 Bath

Alison Alger (662) 832-1697

Alisonmalger@gmail.com

Lee Pittman (662) 645-3695

Lee.pittman1@gmail.com

3730 Lyles Dr $329,000

4 Bed 2 Bath

149 Oxford Creek

1544 Jackson Ave. E 4 Bed 3.5 Bath

$554,000

Camilla Parc #10 $319,000

3 Bed 3.5 Bath

4 Bed 3.5 Bath

818 Brentwood Cove $469,000

18 CR 164 $369,000

4 Bed 4 Bath

4 Bed 3.5 Bath

$449,000

216 Sivley $419,000

Close to the Square!

$419,000

6.8 acres w/ pool!

120 Hot Spur Lane 4 Bed 4.5 Bath

402 Sadie Cove $335,000

3 Bed 2.5 Bath

131 PR 3089 (Carrollton Condos)

133 Breckenridge

2 Bed 2 Bath

3 Bed 2 Bath

$130,000

$207,500

970 Hwy 7 South Water Valley

911 Bonnie Blue

3 Bed 3 Bath

4 Bed 3 Bath

$399,900

218 Massee Circle

139 Edgewood $239,000

3 Bed 2.5 Bath

136 Breckenridge $244,500

$190,000

4 Bed 4.5 Bath

3 Bed 2 Bath

$210,000

800 Park #2304 $204,900

3 Bed 3 Bath

$456,900

Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com • 662.234.5621 • 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.

Renderings are to be used for marketing purposes only and subject to change.

Starting in the Mid $300’s Surrounded by the Country Club of Oxford Golf Course, Fairmont will be developed immediately adjacent to the fairway of Hole #2, and all condominiums will have pristine views onto the golf course. A 1.5 acre wooded preservation area will be created on the property to give the condominium owners a feeling of quiet solitude.

Access to the second and third floors will be provided with elevators and stairs.

www.FairmontOxford.com

Floor Plans Starting at $230,000 Oxford’s Newest Townhome Development! Located approximately 1.7 miles to the square and approximately 1.9 miles to Ole Miss The Mill offers 3 floor plans to choose from all featuring 3 Bed 3.5 Bath condos with a main level master, granite counter tops, hardwood floors, full stainless steel appliance package and so much more! Amenities accompanying your ownership at the Mill include a resort style pool, garden terrace, lake and lush landscaping.

www.TheMillOxford.com

Harrison Square Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924

Oxford’s Premier Luxury Condominium Located in the Heart of Downtown Oxford. Just Steps from the Square!

HarrisonSquareOxford.com www.TheMillOxford.com

Starting in the mid $300,000’s Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924

Luxury with Breathtaking Pat Lamar Park Views!

Glen Alden

www.800Park.net www.TheMillOxford.com

Starting in the low $300k’s

Conveniently located next to the Medical Park as well as just a few minutes from the Oxford Square and the Ole Miss campus. Spacious master bedroom and master bath with his/hers closets, hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless appliances!

www.GlenAldenOxford.com

Search the entire Oxford Market at www.MarkClearyOxford.com and www.OxfordVip.com • 662.234.5621 • 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Each office independently owned and operated. All information deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and subject to change without notice.

Renderings are to be used for marketing purposes only and subject to change.

Amahl and the Night Visitors and Händel’s Messiah

Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility Aquila Theatre

Friday, Dec. 1 • 7:30 p.m.

Sense and Sensibility is one of Jane Austen’s most popular novels. The characters live in a world in which choices are limited – especially for the women. The story revolves around the lives of two sisters, Elinor, who is level-headed and full of sense, and the hopelessly romantic Marianne.

After the untimely and unexpected death of their father, both sisters and their mother are forced to leave their comfortable lives, while their half-brother and his wife inherit the family estate. The only hope for these two sisters is a profitable marriage. Seduction, courtship, love, heartbreak and surprise abound in this classic romantic comedy.

Tuesday, Feb. 13 • 7:30 p.m.

One of the most popular operas of all time, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors tells the story of how faith, charity, unselfish love and good deeds can work miracles. This production is a collaborative project with the university and the Oxford community.

This exciting project is funded by Nancye Starnes and the Kite Foundation.

NATIONAL TOUR

“SPARKLING, FRESH AND LIVELY.” - Los Angeles Times

The Sound of Music Wednesday, Jan. 24 • 7:30 p.m.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE! A brand new production of The Sound of Music is coming to the Ford Center. The beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.

Considering Matthew Shepard Conspirare, a Company of Voices

Tuesday, Feb. 27 • 7:30 p.m.

Malpaso Dance Company Artistic Director, Osnel Delgado An Associate Company of JOYCE THEATER PRODUCTIONS

Saturday, Jan. 27 • 7:30 p.m.

MC

MC Cuba’s hottest contemporary dance company shares a little slice of Havana in a sparkling program of movement and music.

Based in Havana and founded by Osnel Delgado, Dailedys Carrazana and Fernando Saéz, 10 talented young dancers from Cuba’s premier dance schools and companies create work that embodies the country’s rich dance tradition and illuminates the untapped passion that defines Cuban life. The performance will feature acclaimed Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton’s work Indomitable Waltz and a dance performed by Mississippi, the Dance Company.

The presentation of Indomitable Waltz was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Birdland All-Stars: The Art of Jazz featuring Tommy Igoe

Monday, Feb. 5 7:30 p.m. MC Featuring the finest musicians in New York, New!The Birdland All-Stars have been thrilling audiences at “The Jazz Corner of the World” for the last 10 years. The Birdland All-Stars have created new series arrangements featuring the music of David Bowie, The Police and Steely Dan, as well as fresh treatments of iconic compositions by Charlie Parker, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.

In October 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Five days later, when Shepard passed away, the world was watching.

Approaching the eve of the 20th anniversary, Craig Hella Johnson has created the concert-length work Considering Matthew Shepard. This three-part fusion oratorio speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles and passages from Shepard’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents, newspaper reports and additional texts by Johnson and Browne.

Led from the piano by Johnson, Considering Matthew Shepard showcases the awardwinning artistry of Conspirare’s singers with a chamber ensemble of renowned instrumentalists. They are joined by the UM Choirs for the final number.

Celebrating Gershwin: A Stroll Down Tin Pan Alley | The Julian Bliss Septet Thursday, March 1 • 7:30 p.m.

MC

In 2010, Julian Bliss – one of the finest clarinetists of our day – joined a handpicked selection of some of the best musicians on the jazz scene to form the Julian Bliss Septet.

Most recently, the New! Julian Bliss Septet has delved into the treasured Tin Pan series Alley sounds of Gershwin and his contemporaries. The well-loved melodies and swinging tunes explore musical stories and are showcased by original arrangements for the septet, including a suite from Porgy and Bess, an excerpt from “Rhapsody in Blue” and the great songs: “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “Lady Be Good.”

MC

Masterclass will be held in conjunction with this performance.

Details will be announced at a later date prior to the event.

Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra Thursday, Mar. 6 • 7:30 p.m.

Folk instrument orchestras have been popular in Russia for more than 150 years.

Originally made up of the plucked instruments of the dorma and balalaika families, in recent decades the addition of accordions and nonfolk instruments such as the flute and oboe has resulted in ensembles with a uniquely engaging sound. This engaging pops concert, which features an array of popular selections as well as traditional Russian folk music, will delight a broad variety of musical tastes.

Revolutionaries: Ginastera and Beethoven featuring Andreas Klein with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, conductor Steven Byess

Sunday, March 25 • 3:00 p.m.

Acclaimed German pianist Andreas Klein joins the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for a performance contrasting the styles of Beethoven with the works of 20th-century Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera.

Macbeth Ole Miss Theatre Friday & Saturday, April 20 & 21 • 7:30 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, April 21 & 22 • 2:00 p.m.

Set in medieval Scotland and partly based on a true historical account, Macbeth charts the bloody rise to power and tragic downfall of the warrior Macbeth. At the start of the play, three witches appear to Macbeth and his comrade Banquo and tell them Macbeth will become king, and the descendants of Banquo will also reign. Macbeth is overcome by ambition and greed plots to kill the reigning king, setting in motion a series of events that leads to madness and tragedy.

NATIONAL TOUR Rodgers & Hammerstein’s

Cinderella Tuesday, April 24 • 7:30 p.m.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award®- winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific that’s delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love — the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more — plus some new twists!

Rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream ... or a really great pair of shoes.

fordcenter.org • 662-915-7411

y t i c g i B

s w o sh in the co

D R O F X O f mfort o 2017-18 SEASON

F C G C.

for the Performing Arts

N OUNDATIO F T N E M P ELO UNITY DEV M M O C Y B D PRESENTE

JANUARY

Jon Acuff

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

IN TUPELO

It only takes a spark

to ignite your

leadership, your your passion,

purpose.

What is Ignite?

Ignite is a one-day leadership summit that will engage and develop dynamic and effective leaders in the community who are committed to a prosperous future and powered by purpose.

Who should attend?

Anyone looking to lead and create desired change within their organization and community with renewed passion and drive.

Ignite will provide professional and personal development for you and/or your entire work team—in fact, many companies will use Ignite as a staff training day.

TICKETS & INFO:

igniteleadership.com

Inky Johnson

INSPIRATIONALIST

Kelly Williams Brown NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Jon Gordon

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

David Stillman

GENERATION GURU

Liz Forkin Bohannon FOUNDER, SSEKO DESIGNS

Sean Suggs

VP MANUFACTURING TOYOTA | MS Lineup subject to change.

This event is open to the public.

8 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018

47

ON THE COVER Ginny and Cooper Terry will welcome guests into their Oxford home for the Doors of Hope holiday home tour and fundraiser. photographed by Joe Worthem

IN EVERY ISSUE 14

Letter From the Publisher

18

What’s Happening: Oxford area

22

What’s Happening: Tupelo area

24

InstaLove: Tartan and Tinsel

FEATURES

28

In Season: Healthy Holidays

136

Out and About

32 Joyful Generosity

53 Hot on Ice

144

Giving Spirit: Emily Tickle Thomas

Make donations that help organizations and people close to home this holiday season.

The University of Mississippi ice hockey team has racked up plenty of wins over the years.

40 Bird’s-Eye View

59 200 Years in the Making

An annual festival gives nature lovers an up-close look at one of the largest wintering populations of eagles in the country.

In celebration of the state’s bicentennial, the Mississippi Museum of Art unveils its most comprehensive exhibition to date.

47 Deck the Halls

65 3...2...1...Happy New Year!

Beautiful holiday decorations are as fun to create as they are to admire.

Whether you’re a socialite or homebody, there are many exciting ways to ring in 2018.

ANNOUNCEMENT 26

Spragins & Prewitt

10 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

28

EVENTS 74

Baptist Hospital Preview Party

76

Girl Scouts Dinner

78

Harvest Supper

82

Jason Aldean Concert

84

Corinth Holiday Open House

88

Regents Fall Festival

90

Ole Miss Theatre’s Chicago

92

Union Co. Master Gardeners

94

Vietnam Memorial Dedication

98

Chicago Concert

100

Thacker Mountain Radio Hour

102

Thisbe & Noah Scott Fundraiser

104

Muttvember Fest

106

Night for a Hand Up

108

OHS Breast Cancer Walk

110

Veterans Day in Corinth

112

Buddy Walk

116

Toyota Back Porch Concert

118

Sigma Chi Anniversary Party

120

Conference on the Front Porch

124

Rent 20th Anniversary Tour

126

Literacy Council Genius Trivia

128

Kudzu Kings Concert

130

OFF Double Feature Bash

132

Thacker, Jr. Kids Hour December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

11

THE PUBLISHER

I

think I say it every December: “How did this year fly by so quickly?”

In July, I turned 40, and folks told me time goes by faster after that milestone. If the last six months are any indication, they are correct. And so, as a promise to myself and my family, I’m committed to enjoying and absorbing every moment of holiday time with my 6-year-old daughter, my husband, and other family and friends. Our Invitation family is celebrating together too, and we are excited to bring you our first-ever joint holiday issue. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we loved working on it together.

During the holiday season, we celebrate generosity and the many ways children and adults alike give to others. There are many opportunities to be generous this time of year, from raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to decorating cemeteries in north Mississippi. Read more on page 32.

We also highlight a few fun things to do around the area this winter, even after the holidays are over. Be sure to check out page 40 to learn about the Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival in Tiptonville, Tennessee, where you can see a large population of bald eagles in person.

You can also catch a college hockey game on a chilly afternoon this winter. Head up to the Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch, where the Ole Miss hockey team plays its home games. Hockey is a club sport at Ole Miss, which means managing the team (financially and otherwise) falls on the dedicated coaches and players. Read more on page 53.

However you choose to spend your time, we hope it’s meaningful and enjoyable. All of us at Invitation Magazines wish each of our readers and advertisers a wonderful holiday season.

We will see you right back here in 2018.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

14 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Clockwise from top: Young ballerinas take part in Hope for the Holidays, a benefit for St. Jude that takes place annually in Tupelo. College ice hockey is a club sport at Ole Miss, and the team is working to rack up wins and grow its fan base.

Tennessee’s Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival offers visitors an opportunity to see a number of wintering bald eagles.

publishers

Phil and Rachel West

editorial

EDITORS IN CHIEF Lena Anderson Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton STAFF WRITERS Melanie Crownover Ginny Cooper McCarley CONTRIBUTING WRITER Kim Suddeath SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Katherine Henson

art

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Olivia Barrow Brittany Brown Carina Marino Jessica Richardson Lisa Roberts Megan Wolfe Natalie Wood Whitney Worsham

COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson

production

office

advertising

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008 ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com ads@invitationtupelo.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Zach Fields Becca Pepper

NEW LOCATION SAME SPECIALIZED CARE

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com.

To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Tupelo or to buy an announcement, visit invitationtupelo.com.

To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com.

Invitation Magazines respects the many diverse individuals and organizations who make up north Mississippi and strives to be an inclusive representation of all members of our community.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

www.drkennethjohnson.com • 662-840-8540 • 1687 North Coley Road Tupelo

Member of American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

15

in the OXFORD area

DECEMBER/JANUARY

12/1

12/1-3

In celebration of his new cookbook, The Chef and the Slow Cooker, chef Hugh Acheson will be cooking his way across the country in an Airstream trailer. His stop in Oxford is hosted

by Square Books and The End of All Music and features a cooking demonstration, street tacos, a book signing and more. Limited-edition T-shirts featuring “Listen Up Y’all” artwork

by Acheson will be available for purchase. The event is open to the public, no ticket required.

Noon-2 p.m., The End of all Music. squarebooks.com, theendofallmusic.com

Festivities kick off Friday night with the Holly & Ivy Gala, presented by the Marshall County Historical Museum. The event includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing and live music by Moonstone and Friends. 7-11 p.m., Montrose. For reservations, call 662-252-3669.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 28th annual Christmas in Holly Springs Home Tour (pictured above) will include tours of seven local homes, the Yellow Fever Church and Holly Springs Depot. Tickets $20. Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit marshallcounty museum.com or search MC Historical Museum on Facebook.

Hugh Acheson Book Tour

12/1-3

Holiday Art Market Shop local this holiday season at a pop-up market featuring some of the area’s most talented artists. The event, hosted by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, kicks off Friday evening with an opening reception. Saturday evening features a performance by Damein Wash and his Pop Up Christmas Choir. Friday: market hours, 1-7 p.m; reception, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Saturday: market hours, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; choir performance, 6-7 p.m.; Sunday: market hours, noon-5 p.m.; the Powerhouse. oxfordarts.com

18 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Holly Springs Holiday Celebrations

12/2

12/7

View the holiday decorations of six homes in Oxford’s South Lamar historic district. All proceeds will benefit Doors of Hope Transition Ministries to help homeless individuals and families in the area. Tickets $20 for tour only, $150 for tour and Holiday House Party at the home of Judy and Chris Riddell. For more information, turn to page 33. doorsofhopeoxford.org

As the council’s largest fundraiser, the auction features food tastings from local restaurants, live music by the Yes Virginias and one-of-akind ornaments crafted by local artists.

7-9 p.m., the Powerhouse.

12/4

Join the Oxford Civic Chorus for A Garland of Carols concert, and enjoy an afternoon of holiday music and festive spirit. Tickets $10 adults, $5 students and children. Ten percent of all proceeds go to the OCC’s Angel Fund Scholarship. 3 p.m., Nutt Auditorium. oxfordcivicchorus.org

Doors of Hope Holiday House Tour & Party

Oxford Christmas Parade Hosted by the Lions Club of Oxford, the annual holiday parade features floats, marching bands and guest of honor Santa Claus. 6:30 p.m., the Square.

Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Holiday Ornament Auction

12/10

Oxford Civic Chorus Holiday Concert

1/20-27

Pop Up Oxford The week-long celebration includes various events, speakers, exhibits and musical performances honoring Oxford’s literary, musical and cultural heritage. For a list of events and a full schedule, go to visitoxfordms.com/popup-oxford.

1/24

The Sound of Music The national tour of the Tony- and Academy Award-winning musical takes the stage at the University of Mississippi. The story follows Maria and the von Trapp family and features iconic songs such as My Favorite Things, Do-ReMi and Edelweiss. Tickets $63-$75. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center. fordcenter.org

Ole Miss Home Basketball MEN’S:

1/16 vs. Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m.

1/23 vs. Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S:

1/18 vs. Missouri, 8 p.m.

1/28 vs. Mississippi State, 1 p.m.

The Pavilion at Ole Miss For a full schedule, visit olemissathletics.com.

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

19

in the TUPELO area

DECEMBER/JANUARY

Now-12/15

12/7-9

Oren Dunn City Museum is the region’s official drop-off location for the Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots toy drive. Donate new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0-16 MondayFriday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., through Dec. 15. facebook.com/orendunnmuseum

Tupelo Community Theatre presents a play based on Barbara Robinson’s 1971 book about the Herdmans, six delinquent children who are unexpectedly cast in a Sunday school Christmas play. Tickets $20 adults; $10 students. Thursday and Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Lyric Theatre. tct.ms

Annual Toys for Tots Drive

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

12/9

Christmas with the NMSO The North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s holiday concert features choruses from Itawamba Community College and Northeast Mississippi Community College, and the NMSO Children’s Chorus. Tickets $10-$30.

7:30 p.m., Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center.

12/15 and 12/22 Pictures with the Grinch

Visit Oren Dunn City Museum to get a picture with Tupelo’s own Grinch. While you’re there, check out the museum’s vintage doll exhibit and enjoy activities for children. Grinch photos $5, including the print. 6-8:30 p.m. facebook.com/orendunnmuseum

Now-1/21

12/23

Hit the ice at BancorpSouth Arena. $10 per skater, including skate rental. The ice is open to the public from 1 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 2-3; Dec. 16-23; Dec. 26-31; Jan. 2; Jan. 6-7; Jan. 13-15; and Jan. 20-21. Birthday parties during public skating and private parties also available. Visit bcsarena.com or call 662-841-6573 for details.

Visit downtown Tupelo retailers for lastminute Christmas shopping and specials, 5-7 p.m. You might even spot Santa and his elves.

Downtown retailers will also offer extended shopping hours (until 7 p.m.) on Thursdays Nov. 30-Dec. 21.

Ice-Skating

12/7-10 Frozen

Disney on Ice brings Frozen to BancorpSouth Arena. Tickets $18-$63. Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. bcsarena.com

22 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Santa’s Last Stroll

12/31

Family New Year’s Eve Party Northeast Mississippi Birthing Project’s Birthing Project’s annual family-friendly party rings in the new year with food, games, dancing, music and more. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets, $9 per person or $25 per family (up to six people). 2-6 p.m., Link Centre.

1/8

Happy Birthday, Elvis Celebrate the King’s 83rd birthday at the Elvis Presley Birthplace with a cake cutting at 2 p.m. and discounted museum tickets. 306 Elvis Presley Drive. elvispresleybirthplace.com

1/21

Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball The 55th annual Charity Ball, themed “Once Upon a Time in Tupelo,” features music by The Party Jammers, dinner by Park Heights and Bar B Que by Jim, and more. The ball is the organization’s only fundraiser and benefits its many projects designed to help children in Tupelo and Lee County. 7 p.m.-midnight, BancorpSouth Arena. Tickets $50. Visit jatupelo.com or call 662-321-0197 for details.

1/25-27

Last Train to Nibroc Tupelo Community Theatre stages Arlene Hutton’s romance about two strangers who meet on a train in the 1940s. Tickets $20 adults; $10 students. Thursday and Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Lyric Theatre. tct.ms

1/27

NMSO String Fever Concert Featuring the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra strings, award-winning violinist Tessa Lark and NMSO concertmaster Jenny GrĂŠgoire. Tickets $10-$30. 7:30 p.m., Link Centre. nmsymphony.com

2/3

Evening of Jazz The American Red Cross of North Mississippi hosts its 11th annual Evening of Jazz.

Tickets, $50, include food, music, dancing and a silent auction, and the 2018 Humanitarian of the Year will be honored. 7 p.m., BancorpSouth Conference Center. For more information, call 662-842-6101, or email cheryl.kocurek@ redcross.org or michael.upton@redcross.org.

Ongoing

at Tupelo Automobile Museum

12/5-31: Corvette Christmas Exhibit 1/6-28: Dragsters Exhibit 2/1-26: Hot Rods & Street Rods Exhibit Admission $10 adults; $5 children ages 5-12.

The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m. tupeloautomuseum.com December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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TARTAN AND TINSEL written by Lena Anderson

T

o Emily Burns, Christmas isn’t just the most wonderful time of the year; it’s the most wonderful time all year. That’s why she started her blog, Tartan and Tinsel, a yearround homage to all things merry and bright.

Scrolling through Tartan and Tinsel’s Instagram feed will certainly spark the spirit.

Burns posts festive pictures almost daily, from cozy winter attire and decorative holiday cards to Christmas trees and DIY decorations.

Burns, a Texas native and current Nashville resident, likes to pay tribute to her Southern roots through her blog and Instagram feed.

“I think Southerners make some of the best Christmas revelers,” Burns said. “Even the understated decorations in elegant Southern estates are abundant. We want our Christmas celebrating big enough to match our spirits.”

Burns is always looking for fresh ideas and accepts submissions from others who wish to share their holiday inspirations. Those interested in being featured should send an email to tartanandtinsel@gmail.com. Her one request is that contributors showcase their originality.

“My favorite part about the holiday season is that each year you get to make it your own,” Burns said. “I love my heirloom ornaments and decade-long traditions, but it’s the differences in my celebrations each Christmas that make it memorable. Tartan and Tinsel is all about finding new ways to spread holiday cheer.”

For more, visit tartanandtinsel.com and follow @tartanandtinsel on Instagram.

24 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAYLOR SQUARE PHOTOGRAPHY

MARY GUNN SPRAGINS & JASON REED PREWITT

r. and Mrs. Gene Franklin Spragins of Marion, Arkansas, announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Gunn Spragins, to Jason Reed Prewitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Eugene Prewitt of Clinton.

The bride-elect is a 2005 graduate of Marion High School in Marion. She attended the University of Mississippi and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders in 2008. She graduated in 2013 with a doctorate in audiology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Dr. Spragins is currently an assistant professor within the department of otolaryngology, division of pediatric audiology, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Mr. Prewitt is a 2005 graduate of Clinton High School. He attended Mississippi College, where he was a member of the Choctaw baseball team and graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He is currently employed with the family business, Prewitt Contract Services Inc., in Clinton.

The couple will exchange vows Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at Paris-Yates Chapel, with a reception to follow at the Powerhouse in Oxford. Following a honeymoon to the Bahamas, the couple will reside in Madison.

26 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

This season, gather in a place that truly feels like home.

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

written and photographed by Kim Suddeath

H

oliday meals are full of quintessential comfort foods like turkey with dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes with gravy.

While it’s fine to indulge in your favorites every now and then, having several food-centric gatherings only a few weeks apart can quickly lead to overindulgence and unwanted weight gain. The good news is there are ways to enjoy the holidays without overdoing it on these high-calorie staples. Here are three strategies to help you keep your health in check.

1Serve plant-based proteins

High-fat proteins such as ham, roast beef and bacon are common options during the holidays. Although they are great for special occasions, eating them too frequently is not good for your health because they contain a lot of calories from animal fat.

Consider swapping out a high-fat protein with a plant-based protein, such as whole grains; nuts and seeds; or beans and legumes.

Consuming plant proteins on a regular basis will do great things for your health and wellbeing. Plant proteins contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. The Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe shown on the next page is an example of a delicious, plant-based holiday dish.

2 Cut the sugar

Statistics show Americans consume an average of 75-95 grams of added sugar every day, which is twice the recommended amount.

These 300-400 extra calories come from table sugar and other sweeteners such as corn syrup and honey, which, unlike the natural sugars found in whole fruits and vegetables, provide no nutritional benefits. Added sugars are linked to weight gain, heart disease and diabetes.

Many holiday recipes call for much more sugar than is necessary. Sweet potato casserole, for example, can have up to 1 cup of added sugar. Try decreasing the amount in casseroles and desserts by one-fourth or one-third. More

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often than not, no one will be able to tell a difference. Another idea is to include only one or two sugary foods on your menu: Instead of serving sweet tea, sweet potato casserole and a dessert, remove one or two of those to reduce added-sugar intake.

3Swap out dairy

Holiday dinners usually come with a great

deal of bloat due to excessive amounts of dairy from cheese, butter and milk. To reduce this undesirable symptom, try plant-based options.

Sprinkle nutritional yeast on top of casseroles instead of cheese, make gravies out of unsweetened and unflavored nut milk, or use coconut oil for some or all of the butter in a recipe, like the Butternut Squash and Leek Galette pictured above (recipe at right).

Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash Yield: 6 acorn squash halves (4-6 servings) 3 small acorn squash (approximately 4 inches in diameter) 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Salt 1½ cups uncooked wild rice 2 cups vegetable broth (*check rice package directions for recommended liquid amount; amount will vary) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 teaspoon dried sage 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 cup walnuts, toasted 1 cup dried cranberries 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese (about 1 cup)

Butternut Squash and Leek Galettes Yield: 2 galettes (4-6 servings)

DOUGH 2 cups whole-wheat flour ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup coconut oil, chilled 6 Tablespoons ice water

STUFFING 2 pounds (½-inch) cubed butternut squash (about 6 cups; available prepackaged) 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh sage 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt 3 small leeks, halved and sliced (white parts only) 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 Tablespoons maple syrup 1 egg, beaten ½ cup crumbled feta cheese Heat oven to 400°F. In a 10-by-16-inch baking dish, combine butternut squash, sage, garlic, 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and ½ teaspoon salt. Roast at 400°F for 30-35 minutes or until squash is fork-tender. Remove from oven, and let cool.

While the butternut squash is roasting, prepare the galette dough by combining the

whole-wheat flour and ½ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Add the chilled coconut oil, and use a pastry blender to combine until the dough forms small crumbles.

Add the ice water, and mix using your hands until the dough forms a ball. Place dough in the refrigerator, and chill no more than 5-10 minutes (any more time than this will make the dough too hard and crumbly).

Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks, and sauté until soft and golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat, and set aside.

Lower the oven temperature to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Take galette dough out of the refrigerator, and divide the dough in half. Place 1 half onto each of the prepared baking sheets. Using a rolling pin, roll each galette portion out into an 8- to 10-inch circle, making sure edges are even.

To each galette, add 1 Tablespoon each of Dijon mustard and maple syrup. Spread out evenly onto the dough, leaving 1-2 inches of room around the edges. Add the sautéed leeks, and top with the roasted butternut squash.

Fold the edges of the dough over the filling, and brush with beaten egg.

Bake galettes at 375°F for 25 minutes or until crust turns golden brown. Sprinkle with feta cheese, and serve warm.

Heat oven to 400°F. Cut acorn squash in half, then cut off the stems so the squash can sit upright. Rub 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt onto each acorn squash half. Place squash halves flesh side down on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until squash is fork-tender. Remove from oven, and let cool.

While the squash is baking, prepare rice mixture: Combine rice, vegetable broth, and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until rice is al dente (cooking time will vary depending on the type of rice you buy). Turn off heat, and let cool.

While rice is simmering, heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion to skillet, and sauté until onions are soft and golden brown, approximately 10 minutes.

Add sautéed onions to wild rice, along with sage, thyme, toasted walnuts and dried cranberries. Stir to combine. Fill each acorn squash half with ⅓ cup rice mixture. Sprinkle evenly with feta cheese, and serve warm.

Kim Suddeath is a nutritional food blogger and registered dietitian nutritionist at the Oxford Counseling Center. For more recipes, visit her blog at unrefinedrd.com.

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Joyful Generosity It’s the most charitable time of year, and there are more ways than ever to make your donations matter close to home. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem

Doors of Hope Transition Ministries Doors of Hope Transition Ministries makes a difference for homeless people in Oxford year-round, but this holiday season, they plan to make an even bigger impact.

The group’s inaugural Holiday House Tour on Saturday, Dec. 2, is an opportunity for visitors to glimpse the interiors of several houses in the city’s historic South Lamar neighborhood.

“It’s an ironic turn to bring attention to gaining housing for the least of us by doing a tour like this, but South Lamar is the place to do it right,” board member Ginny Terry said.

“It’s the most iconic drive in Oxford because it’s known for its ‘belles.’ Most of these houses are historic and full of great stories.”

Visitors will tour six of the neighborhood’s luxurious homes, including Terry’s, for the price of a $20 ticket – unless they also prefer to attend the Holiday House Party afterward.

Party-inclusive tickets are $150, which provides tour admission and access to the after party at the home of Judy and Chris Riddell. Evening festivities include an open bar with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction featuring a beach trip, a Charlie Buckley painting and a dinner at Treehouse Gallery catered by Hog and Hominy of Memphis. Effie Burt and Tate Moore will provide live music for the event.

All proceeds go to fund Doors of Hope’s mission since 2010: to serve the area homeless population and at-risk individuals with temporary housing and real-world education in topics including parenting, budgeting and job-related skills. Since its founding, the organization has assisted 46 families, including 88 children. It is currently serving seven families.

“We’re hoping to make this a repeat event that moves to a new neighborhood each year so we can reach out to as many as we can here,”

Doors of Hope Transition Ministries’ Dec. 2 Holiday House Tour will raise funds for the organization, which assists Oxford’s homeless population. Ginny and Cooper Terry’s home on South Lamar, pictured above and opposite, will be featured.

Terry said. “Oxford is a giving city, and these people just need a place to recover and some help to get back on their feet.”

For tickets, visit eventbrite.com or doorsof hopeoxford.org. Tours are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. beginning at Shadowlawn.

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St. Jude Hope for the Holidays

Support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is strong in north Mississippi, and it only takes one look at the statistics to see why.

The survival rate for leukemia patients has gone from four percent to 94 percent, and the childhood cancer survival rate has mushroomed from 20 percent to 80 percent since it opened in 1962. The staff sees approximately 5,700 children from all over the country there each year, and no patient’s family gets a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food while the child is in their care. Although the hospital is Memphis-based, numerous local childhood cancer survivors and current patients benefit from its innovative treatments and research.

That’s why fundraisers for the center are such a part of the winter landscape in Tupelo and Oxford.

North Mississippi Dance Center in Tupelo opens the season with Hope for the Holidays in late November. Since 2012, the studio has encouraged its young dancers to perform for a greater cause just before the holidays hit.

“It’s such a great way to teach them to use their talent to help someone else,” director Beth Richardson said. “Even our 3-year-olds know why they’re on that stage because we want them to learn that no matter how old you are, you can use your gifts to help.”

The dancers, up to age 20, register after Labor Day and begin rehearsing for the multiple-act dance-a-thon at the end of September. In addition to individual fundraising for the event, the group also organizes extra donor opportunities with special nights at local restaurants and by selling items through the studio to increase their collections. No admission is charged for event entry; there’s only a donation box at the door.

Organizers take every chance to promote the event’s true purpose to everyone involved.

Not only do the older dancers and their families get to help take the final check to St. Jude, but community members that have been helped by the facility also take the stage to give their testimonies at the event.

“It’s such a special night for everyone there,” Richardson said. “People come out of the woodwork to share their written stories of

34 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Young ballerinas from Tupelo’s North Mississippi Dance Center prepare for Hope for the Holidays, an annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which has benefited many area families. North Mississippians contribute thousands of dollars to the Memphis-based hospital through fundraisers like this one and Taste of Oxford.

how St. Jude has helped them, and then we dance to celebrate that. There’s hardly a dry eye in the house when it’s done.”

The event outgrew its original venue at the Lyric Theatre two years ago and moved to Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center.

Hope for the Holidays has raised nearly $65,000 for St. Jude over the past four years.

The 2017 event was Nov. 19, but donations are accepted online through Christmas by searching the event name at stjude.org/specialevents.

Taste of Oxford

Another homage to St. Jude occurs every February with St. Jude Taste of Oxford. The event features foods from 16 Oxford restau-

rants, live music, and silent and live auctions offering items from local and state businesses.

“I love this event because Oxford has a special place in my heart since I went to school there,” Lee Bobo, St. Jude’s senior event specialist, said. “A lot of our gala events are run by St. Jude staff, but this community gets 100 percent behind this event to get sponsors, guests and auction items. This auction is one of the largest in the country for St. Jude.”

Oxford volunteers include culinary institutions and chefs who take the event seriously.

Elizabeth Heiskell of Debutante Farmer, for example, serves on the Taste of Oxford board and organizes culinary events to benefit St. Jude throughout the year. “This year we have

some really exciting surprises and a lot more culinary items in the live auction,” she said.

St. Jude is special to Heiskell, who used to visit the hospital weekly to give produce from her farm to employees there. “It left a lasting impression on me,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a more worthy cause out there.”

The 10th annual event last year raised more than $270,000 for St. Jude, and, cumulatively, Taste of Oxford has raised more than $1 million for the hospital.

The 2018 event is Feb. 22 at The Jefferson.

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online at stjude.org/tasteofoxford. Potential volunteers and sponsors can get more information by emailing lee.bobo@stjude.org.

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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A GIFT THEY’LL NEVER FORGET!

SICILIAN

Culture & Cuisine Travel, learn, and taste with Candis Varnell, UM Hospitality Management Lecturer

May 14-21, 2018

• Guided tours of Historic Center, Noto, and Ortygia Island • Group lunch in Marzamemi on the Mediterranean • Traditional Sicilian cooking class • Lecture on the history of the Mafia in Sicily • Vineyard tour and wine tasting on Mount Etna • Chocolate-making workshop in Modica • Guided tour of Syracuse Market • Olive oil tour and tasting • and more!

outreach.olemiss.edu/sicily The deadline to register is February 1, 2018.

Coming July 2018: “Prince Edward Island Culture and Cuisine” /umtravel

Academic Traveler is part of the Office of Professional Development and Lifelong Learning in the University of Mississippi Division of Outreach

36 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is best known for decorating the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.; however, they also arrange for the same commemoration on veterans’ graves in more than 1,200 graveyards nationwide. One of the closest beneficiaries is Corinth National Cemetery, thanks to the local American Legion Auxiliary chapter.

For the past eight years, the chapter has organized a WAA wreath-laying at the cemetery, which holds the grave sites of more than 8,000 deceased military members, including more than 3,200 unknown soldiers.

On National Wreaths Across America Day – the third Saturday in December – the chapter gathers with volunteers and families at 11 a.m. to lay wreaths in sync with Arlington and other cemeteries around the country. Since Carlean Parker began coordinating the Corinth event in 2012, the number of graves graced that day has increased from around 300 to 1,500.

“My husband is a Vietnam veteran, so I believe in the deep respect it shows to these soldiers and their families,” Parker said. “It’s a way to show them that we won’t ever forget what they’ve done for us and support area veterans who are still with us, too.”

Volunteers place holiday wreaths at veterans’ graves in Corinth National Cemetery during last year’s National Wreaths Across America Day. Anyone can sponsor a wreath for $15 or take part in laying the wreaths. This year’s event takes place in Corinth and at cemeteries nationwide on Dec. 16.

Anyone can sponsor a wreath to be laid.

A $15 fee goes to WAA to order the arrangement. The national group sends the auxiliary the wreath, along with a percentage of money from the sale. All funds raised from the event benefit local veterans charities.

Sponsors may request that wreaths be laid on particular graves, or in memory of particular

soldiers. Pickup orders are also available for the same fee, to individuals who may want to place a wreath at a different cemetery or on their door at home to honor a soldier.

“We have people who come every year, rain or shine, representing every branch of service and the POW/MIAs. We even bring in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to help lay the wreaths,”

Parker said. “It’s a heartwarming thing.”

Wreath orders are taken year-round: Email carleanparker@yahoo.com. Volunteers to assist with the wreath-laying can just show up at Corinth National Cemetery the day of the event, Dec. 16. A ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Search @corinthhonorsveterans on Facebook for more information.

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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Unique Style

for Discerning Women

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662.255.2270 f 404 North Gloster • Tupelo, MS

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December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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40 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Bird’s-eye

View

An annual festival at Reelfoot Lake gives nature lovers an up-close look at one of the largest wintering populations of eagles in the country. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley photographed by Joe Worthem

The 14th annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival takes place Feb. 2-4 in northwest Tennessee. For more information, visit reelfoottourism.com.

E

very winter, people from all over the country flock to Reelfoot Lake in Tiptonville, Tennessee, for a festival that celebrates the state park’s most revered resident – the bald eagle – with up-close sightings, educational programming and more.

The Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival got its start 14 years ago when Vanessa Henson, then an employee with the nonprofit organization Reelfoot Lake Tourism, wrote a matchingfunds grant for just $1,500. She wanted to use the funds to organize a festival that would

highlight the park’s 35 nesting eagles as well as the many that migrate through each year.

“It’s just an awesome event,” said Henson, who now works as a clerk with the state park.

“There were so many people last year, we ran out of parking. People were just astounded. We had the most attendance we’ve ever had.”

A little more than three hours away from Oxford and Tupelo, Reelfoot Lake State Park has long been known as a paradise for birders, hunters and fishermen. Last year alone, the park drew visitors from across the world, hosting December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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Reelfoot State Park is home to around 35 nesting resident eagles and thousands of waterfowl. In the winter, more than 70 bald eagles visit the lake while on migration.

42 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

families from Denmark, France, Germany and Mexico.

Reelfoot Lake, which was formed by the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, is the centerpiece of the state park. The lake attracts more than 150,000 ducks and geese each year and is recognized as one of the world’s greatest natural fish hatcheries, with largemouth bass, catfish, bream, crappie and bluegill found in its waters.

It is this wide variety of fish, in part, that at-

tracts the park’s impressive eagle population.

“A lot of eagles migrate here, especially during the winter,” said Mary Ann Holt, administrative assistant for Reelfoot Lake Tourism and an organizer of the festival. “(They) migrate here specifically because of the lake.

There’s good fishing for the eagles, and lots of good stuff to eat. We also have many eagles who live here all year long.”

At least 400 people travel from all over the

country annually to attend the three-day festival, which features activities for both children and adults.

John and Dale Stokes, a husband-andwife team, host the popular Live Birds of Prey program.

“That has become very popular,” Holt said. “They bring in live birds and fly them across the audience. They do a really good job, and it’s just been a wonderful thing for the

festival. Twice a day, hundreds of people come to see the show.”

Another program that draws a crowd is Bob Tarter and his Amazing Animals. The show, which is back by popular demand, showcases an array of animals, including a kangaroo.

“He does such a wonderful job with the children. They just love it,” Holt said.

For those who want to see the eagles, bus tours run daily. The festival also has daily

sunrise photography walks. Amateur photography enthusiasts can enter a photography and art contest, which provides a chance both to showcase beautiful nature scenes and to win cash prizes.

There is plenty of entertainment all weekend long, but for Holt and Henson, the best part of the festival is seeing people enjoy the park.

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44 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

seeing all the people come out from all over the country and enjoying a great weekend being outside and enjoying nature, and especially seeing the children. Everyone just has a ball,” Holt said.

Henson agreed: “I love that it’s all about nature. (The festival) is about seeing not only our (national) symbol, but these are birds that have keen eyesight and an incredible ability to do things,” she said. “And it’s great to get people out and off that couch, even in the wintertime.”

For those who want to make a long weekend of their visit, campsites overlooking the lake are available. At the Reelfoot Lake State Park Visitor Center, exhibits explain the

formation, history and natural diversity of the lake, and offer a glimpse into the park’s future.

After looking through the exhibits, visitors can meander over the lake and through majestic cypress trees, on the park’s scenic boardwalk.

Just a short drive away is the Discovery Park of America, which offers interactive exhibits focused on nature, science, technology, history and art, as well as an earthquake simulator that helps explain the area’s history.

For an entertaining evening, head to the area’s newest restaurant, Stump Jumpers Bar & Grill, which has karaoke most nights.

The 14th Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival takes place Feb. 2-4. For more information, visit reelfoottourism.com.

The family-friendly festival at Reelfoot Lake, which draws more than 400 guests, features nature tours, photography exhibits, art activities, educational programs and more.

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deck

THE HALLS From handmade stockings to elaborate tablescapes, beautiful holiday decorations are as fun to create as they are to admire. written by Melanie Crownover photographed by Joe Worthem

Sew a stocking from scratch

It was the birth of a good friend’s grandchild that prompted Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native and Oxford resident Andi Bedsworth to make her first recycled Christmas stocking two years ago. That handmade wool creation, accented with a hand-appliquéd bird and flower, started an ongoing project that’s become profitable for the artist and art teacher.

“I’d done a lot of appliqué before but never tried it with wool,” Bedsworth said. “[My friend] kept commissioning them after that first one, and word got out. Now I’ve developed a whole line of patterns to follow or modify for anyone who calls.”

The appliqué, a technique Bedsworth uses to fuse and hand-sew images to fabric, takes anywhere from seven hours to complete using a pattern, to 10 hours for a custom stocking with no established design.

“It’s like collage work that you hand-sew, so it’s very detailed,” she said. “It’s a challenge in Mississippi to find good 100-percent wool, but that’s part of the fun for me. I get to search

the shops for the right patterns and colors to make just what they want.”

Bedsworth finds her wool in thrift shops in the form of old winter jackets, skirts and sweaters. She takes her finds home to transform the materials into felt in the washer and dryer, creating a stronger substance that won’t unravel while she’s adding the appliqué work.

All of the 17-by-7.5-inch stockings are lined with cotton for a double layer of dura­ bility for all the Christmas goodies they’ll hold.

“The best part of doing this (locally) is I get to see people’s reactions when they get their stocking,” Bedsworth said. “Even when they’re a gift, I get to hear how much someone liked it.”

Bedsworth displays other art at the Oxford Artist Guild Gallery and sells at the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival and Oxford Holiday Market, but she only promotes and sells her stockings by word of mouth.

To order a stocking, email andibedsworth @gmail.com. See else what Bedsworth is crafting on Facebook @Andi Sherrill Bedsworth.

Artist Andi Bedsworth, pictured at left, makes lined wool Christmas stockings adorned with detailed appliqués. She buys her wool at thrift shops and creates her own custom patterns for the appliqués.

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Set a festive table

Catherine Mize has plenty of experience creating tablescapes to wow dinner guests: She and friends Tricia Cockrell, Michelle Hutto and Mimi McGraw have been working together to dress up tables for the Tupelo Garden Club’s annual flower show fundraisers for years.

“This year we chose white on white for a holiday tablescape, but we’ve done a little bit of everything over the years, including an Elvis table our first year,” Mize said. “We get a lot of ideas from entertaining at home for the tablescapes we make for the flower show.”

The key to a great tablescape, she says, is finding the right theme. Whether a holiday table is casual, formal or based on a particular color scheme, using the theme and elements to express the decorator’s personality makes the presentation even better.

“We always pool together to find items around our houses that work together to illustrate the theme,” she said. “It’s a lucky thing that we all have similar tastes, but we each bring something different to the table.”

For this year’s display, the women worked to mix fancy with casual in their tone-on-tone theme, focusing on adding texture to give the table depth. They mixed and matched everyday items with fine china, paired grocery storepurchased flowers with homegrown gems from their gardens, and repurposed forgotten items from closets and cupboards.

The end product was an assembly of white lilies, white hydrangeas, white roses, pale berries, painted spruce, birch-rimmed white candles and branches surrounded by the women’s best china and flatware.

“That’s how you do it at home, too,” Mize said. “Using your own things and adding to it gives you a way to show your taste and turn any trend you might like into your own thing.

Holidays can be over-the-top glitz or simple, depending on how you feel. I love to let the young ones bring out the glasses and silver to give them some ownership and make setting the table more fun for everyone.”

Members of Tupelo Garden Club share their table-decorating skills at the club’s annual flower show fundraiser. The whiteon-white tablescape (pictured above and at right) was featured in this year’s holiday-themed event.

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SHELBY FARMS PARK

Light up the night

Although there are several area neighborhoods that put on good light shows for the holidays, the Starry Nights display at Shelby Farms Park is well worth the drive to Memphis.

It might even provide some grand inspiration for your own home light display.

The show is a tradition that started in the 1990s, even before the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy existed.

“My family came every year when the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association put it on when I was a child,” communications coordinator Rebecca Dailey said. “We had what we call the ‘decade of darkness’ until the conservancy started in 2007, and then one of the biggest requests we got was to bring back the lights.”

The nightly drive-through light show came back shortly after. The display has expanded into a two-mile show that can be accessed by car, hayride or horse-drawn carriage. The park also offers special nights for cyclists and pedestrians only.

Organizers added a festival-style element with the Mistletoe Village, a walk-through wonderland that is not to be missed. The village offers visitors the chance to toast s’mores, enjoy live music from local choirs and musicians, and ride a camel at the petting zoo. The marketplace also sells gifts for last-minute shoppers.

“Starry Nights is now the largest holiday light show and festival in the Mid-South, and it’s the most spectacular way to experience the magic of the holidays in Memphis with your family and friends,” Dailey said.

Entry to Starry Nights is $20 per car.

The display opens Nov. 24, closes Nov. 27, and reopens Nov. 28 to run through Dec. 29.

Hours are 6-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The drive-through portion takes 20-30 minutes to complete. For more information, including discounted theme nights and other special nights, visit shelbyfarmspark.org/starry-nights.

Visit Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis for an over-the-top light display. The annual attraction includes a drive-through light show, Mistletoe Village marketplace, specially themed nights and more.

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ARTIST OPEN STUDIO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 • 1 0 : 0 0 A M - 4 : 0 0 P M 44 CR 411 | OXFORD, MS | 38655 | 662.236.7140 DIRECTIONS: FROM EITHER UNIVERSITY AVENUE OR HWY. 6, HEAD EAST ON HWY 334. GO 2.5 MILES PAST LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL. TURN LEFT ON LAFAYETTE CO. ROAD 411.

52 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

hot on

ICE

The University of Mississippi’s club ice hockey team has racked up plenty of wins over the years and hopes to increase its fan base. written by Melanie Crownover

photographed by Joe Worthem

Three invitations to the national playoffs. A trip to the regional competition five out of the past six years they’ve played.

Conference runners-up for the 2016-17 season.

The University of Mississippi hockey team has garnered no shortage of accomplishments since they first hit the ice in 2009, but their level of recognition is still lagging.

“There are so many people around here who don’t even know we have a hockey team,” team president Tommy Diver said. “I found out about the team because my brother came here to play a couple of years before me, and he only found out from something he saw on social media. We’d been playing since we were kids up in Nashville.”

Finding high-quality players like the left wing position Diver brothers to man the team is an obsession for coach Dan Armstrong, but it’s not as challenging as it sounds. The New

The University of Mississippi’s club hockey team plays Mississippi State University’s team last January at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo in the Frozen Egg Bowl. The teams are part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

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The Rebels hockey team practices and plays the majority of its games on its home ice in Olive Branch, but the players also travel to take on teams in Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Missouri. They hope to succeed in this year’s conference tournament, which takes place Feb. 9-11 in Nashville. The season begins in September and culminates with nationals in March.

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“

These are some of the hardest-working players I’ve known. With our guys, you get varsity-level play every time they’re on the ice.

-Coach Dan Armstrong

”

Jersey native regularly recruits high-level junior hockey players from states as far away as Massachusetts, Ohio and Michigan to fill the ranks.

“They come to visit and don’t want to leave because the Ole Miss experience sells itself to our players,” Armstrong said. “One of our rules is no games or out-of-town travel on SEC home football weekends, so the guys can set up the team tent on the Walk of Champions together. We want them to want to be here as students first and foremost. The ice, they have to really want.”

Hockey is a club sport at Ole Miss, which means it is a player-run organization. And while that may sound like a pastime that’s all fun and games, there are some drawbacks to playing for a team that’s not backed by the NCAA. The team is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which has its own Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference with 10 teams that compete in Division III of the ACHA; however, there are no scholarships for playing club hockey at Ole Miss. In fact, players have to pay dues just to be a part of the team. Most of the players store their equipment, which they must provide for themselves, in their dorm rooms because there is no set locker room on campus. Members must also drive themselves to and from home games and their twice-weekly practices at the Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch.

Some SEC club teams (such as the University of Florida team) have booster clubs, new ice rinks with season-ticket holders, and television networks dedicated to live video streaming of team play – but that level of support is rare in the South.

“I’m still surprised by how little the South has embraced the sport because of how good some of the teams are,” Armstrong said.

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At the University of Mississippi, ice hockey is a club sport, which means it is a player-run organization. Since they aren’t backed by the NCAA, it falls on players and coaches to promote upcoming games and build a fan base. Learn more about the team at olemisshockey.com; on Facebook and Twitter @OleMissHockey; and on Instagram @ole_miss_hockey.

hard because when they hear it, they think it sounds like a couple of people getting together to play around after school. These are some of the hardest-working players I’ve known. With our guys, you get varsity-level play every time they’re on the ice.”

Promoting that hard work falls back on the club. The 30 full-time students on the team and their three coaches, all of whom have day jobs, work together to publicize their bouts in the community. Armstrong even built the team website in his off time. Social media

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has become the team’s best friend, with more than 3,000 fan followers getting updates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The season runs August-March with around 25 games, depending on the postseason play.

Although the team is in a rebuilding year – seven seniors graduated last May – their record was still a solid 9-5-1 at press time. Last year they were the SEC runners-up after taking on three of their biggest rivals, beating out Arkansas and Vanderbilt to get to the final

before losing to Georgia.

Their goal is to make it to regionals again this year, drawing on the experienced leadership of their remaining seniors and the other talent in their mix. They hope to soon be back at nationals – and with more fans in the stands.

“If you ever get the chance to see a game live, you’ll suddenly understand why every hockey fan you’ve met is such a huge fan,” Armstrong said. “These guys will make you love Ole Miss because you can tell they love the game and the school they’re playing for.”

Modern Design Meets Nature

Situated 15 minutes from Oxford, 26 lakeside dwellings blend seamlessly into 650 acres of rolling pine forests, lakes, wetlands and trails. Hike, boat, fish, or just kick back and relax.

Contact us for a tour +1 662.260.3029 info@splintercreekms.com

splintercreekms.com

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We’ve Moved New Oxford Baptist Hosptial 1100 Belk Blvd Oxford MS 662 636 1088

58 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

200 YEARS in the

MAKING In celebration of the state’s bicentennial, the Mississippi Museum of Art unveils its most comprehensive exhibition to date. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley

The Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson has always been in the business of telling the story of the state, but its latest exhibit, which covers a sprawling 12,000 square feet of gallery space, is the museum’s biggest undertaking yet.

Picturing Mississippi, 1817-2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise has been in the works for years. The exhibition was envisioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the statehood of Mississippi by investigating how Mississippi identity resonates through art.

“Picturing Mississippi allows us the unique opportunity to look at our state’s history through the creative lens of an artist,” said Betsy Bradley, director of the Mississippi Museum of Art. “We are excited to share art with the world about Mississippi’s people, places and histories.

We hope the exhibition will inspire honest conversation about where we’ve been, where we are and where we hope to be.”

The exhibition, curated by the museum’s interim chief curator, Jochen Wierich, features 175 works by more than 100 artists. Many of the pieces represented in the exhibition are on loan to the museum from prestigious institutions all over the country, including the Theora Hamblett (1895-1977), Hamblett Hill, 1965. Oil on canvas. Collection of the University of Mississippi Museum.

Bequest of Theora Hamblett, 1978.11.9.

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Harvard University Art Museums, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

“We’ve been working on this exhibition for a long time,” said Julian Rankin, director of art and public exchange for the Mississippi Museum of Art. “This exhibition is pulling art from all over the country, from dozens of museums and lenders. We’ve really been building an exhibit from scratch. It’s been a big endeavor.”

Though Rankin noted that it’s difficult to choose favorites from the many pieces, two highlights of the exhibition will be a portrait of writer Eudora Welty, painted by Mississippian Mildred Nungester Wolfe, and Andy Warhol’s Triple Elvis.

The portrait of Welty, which was publicly displayed in the state very briefly during Welty’s 80th birthday celebration, is being sent from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The Elvis piece, in which Warhol depicts a photograph of the iconic Mississippian with aluminum paint and printer’s ink silk-screened on canvas, is on loan from the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

“That’s going to be an exciting and fun piece for people to see. It’s going to be exciting to see Andy Warhol, who everyone knows, taking Mississippi as his subject matter,” Rankin said. “Everyone understands that Mississippi has produced so many artists, and this exhibition really illustrates how deep that Mississippi influence runs in the country in physical form.

Mississippi has such a place in the national collective consciousness, and that’s what we’re really exploring.”

Though the exhibition celebrates the far-reaching influence of Mississippi’s talented artists around the country and the world, the exhibition does not shy away from illustrating the state’s torrid and brutal past as well.

“We’re celebrating wonderful things; we’re also looking honestly on periods of slavery and civil rights and all the things Mississippi was ground zero for,” Rankin said. “It will be

Top: Mildred Nungester Wolfe (1912-2009), Portrait of Eudora Alice Welty, 1988. Oil on canvas. Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. NPG.88.163.

Bottom: Andrew Bucci (1922-2014), The River, ca. 1955.

Oil on canvas. © Courtesy of the Estate of Andrew Bucci.

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Above left: Benny Andrews (1930-2006), Mississippi River Bank (Trail of Tears Series), 2005. Oil on canvas with painted fabric collage. © Estate of Benny Andrews, Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, New York.

Above right: George Ohr (1857-1918), Biloxi Lighthouse Pot, ca. 1895. Glazed ceramic. Collection of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, Mississippi. Gift of Elizabeth Munro and the O’Keefe Family Foundation, 1998.007.001.

Left: Joe Overstreet (born 1933), The Basket Weavers, 2003.

Oil on stainless steel wire cloth. Collection of the artist, Kenkeleba House, New York, New York.

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John James Audubon (1785-1851), Wild Turkey, Cock, Hen, and Young, 1826. Oil on linen. Collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas. 2013.44

a really interesting exploration of the past as well as a look at what Mississippi means going forwards. Hopefully it will be a collective reenergizing of Mississippians to think, at this bicentennial moment, ‘What do we want the depictions and interpretations of Mississippi to be in the future?’ ” Rankin is looking forward to seeing two pieces in particular: a 2013 portrait of assassinated civil rights leader Medgar Evers, painted

by Oxford artist Jason Bouldin, and a 2015 piece by New York artist Jeffrey Gibson titled Sharecropper.

Gibson’s piece is an intricately beaded punching bag, in tribute to his grandmother.

“It is a really powerful piece,” Rankin said.

“He is a New York artist with Native American ancestry and roots in Mississippi. Those are the

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kinds of connections we’re making. Mississippi claims people who have just passed through.”

In 2007, when the museum moved into its current facility, staff launched a permanent exhibition titled The Mississippi Story. Curated by art historian Patti Carr Black, the exhibition explored Mississippi art.

“The Mississippi Story was created to evoke a sense of place and to explore what it means to be immersed in Mississippi. It has served visitors spectacularly, a tribute to the vision of curator and Mississippi treasure Patti Carr Black,” Bradley said.

Though the museum will deinstall the exhibition to make room for Picturing Mississippi, it is not the end of The Mississippi Story.

Instead, the museum plans to reimagine and expand the project during the year that Pictur-

ing Mississippi is on display.

“When we deinstall the galleries of The Mississippi Story, it will not be a conclusion but a continuation,” Bradley said. “We will be inviting public dialogue on multiple fronts about what stories, technologies and experiences will compose the reimagined and expanded Mississippi Story exhibition of the future.”

As Mississippi celebrates its bicentennial and the museum braces to open its largest exhibit yet, the focus is on evolution and progress.

“Mississippi’s story is always evolving,” Rankin said. “We want to evolve with it and evolve with the community.”

Picturing Mississippi, 1817-2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise will be on display Dec. 9, 2017, through July 8, 2018. For more information, visit msmuseumart.org.

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3…2…1… Happy New Year!

Whether you’re an extroverted socialite or a laid-back homebody, there are many fun and exciting ways to ring in 2018. written by Ginny Cooper McCarley illustrated by Maddie Beck

Out on the Town

W

hat better way to celebrate New Year’s Eve than with a craft cocktail in hand and no dishes to clean up?

For an intimate New Year’s Eve celebration, make a reservation at your favorite restaurant.

Prix fixe menus are the standard for the holiday, so check out what different restaurants will be offering before making your reservation.

But don’t wait too long – it’s one of the busiest days of the year in the restaurant industry,

so you’ll want to make sure you get a table ahead of time.

If you find yourself without dinner plans and your favorite restaurant is all booked up, consider popping by early in the evening for a drink and bite at the bar. And if you just can’t decide where to go, consider throwing your own progressive dinner out: Cozy up at a bar for apps and cocktails before your dinner reservation, then head to a third location for dessert.

Though leisurely dinners are the standard for the night, you don’t have to spend a fortune. To skip the crowd and the wait, consider grabbing a few slices of pizza and beers before heading to your favorite dive to dance the night away. Or go high and low by pairing your favorite takeout with a nice bottle of Champagne. Be sure to check into what your favorite bars are offering: Often, you can get small bites and drinks while you wait for the ball to drop.

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Life of the Party

N

othing says New Year’s like a great party, replete with champagne, tasty food and all your closest friends.

Invitation Magazines’ food blogger Kimme Hargrove has hosted several New Year’s Eve parties and says you don’t have to throw a huge extravaganza to have a successful party.

“Make it as fancy or as not fancy as you want to,” she said. “But it doesn’t have to be a huge formal production.”

If you’re hosting the party, your main responsibility is preparing and decorating your house. “New Year’s is all about sparkle and gold and glitter,” Hargrove said. “But it doesn’t have to be overdone. Gold confetti or gold balloons with gold streamers will give you a festive feel.”

Also, according to Hargrove, everything

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doesn’t have to fall on the host. One way to keep things casual is to ask each guest to bring an appetizer and a bottle of champagne to share.

“People like to attend something that they feel like they were a part of,” Hargrove said.

Shake things up with a small bar of fresh fruits or juices that can be added to champagne to keep the drinks interesting. Try grapefruit, orange and cranberry juice in glass carafes (available at dollar stores or craft stores) and an array of bowls filled with vibrant fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blood oranges. One year Hargrove labeled champagne cups for each of her guests with nicknames that were a hit throughout the evening.

For entertainment, play festive music, or just turn on the television so people can watch

revelers ring in the new year in Times Square and elsewhere around the world. Provide giant sparklers (or even fireworks) to light up outside as midnight gets closer. Try turning New Year’s resolutions into a game: have everyone write theirs down, drop them in a large glass bowl, and then let guests figure out who wrote what.

Of course, you can get much fancier by requesting guests dress in their best, hiring a small band or even opting to throw an intimate sit-down dinner party instead. No matter how formal the party, the real celebration is sharing with friends.

“New Year’s is a celebration,” Hargrove said. “Make your first moments in the new year memorable with smiles, kisses, bubbles and your dearest friends.”

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Wedded Bliss

N

ew Year’s Eve is a popular date for a winter wedding and for good reason: What better way to start a brand-new year than surrounded by your family and friends, kissing your brand-new spouse?

Water Valley residents Kathryn and Joe York were married in Oxford at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with a reception at the Powerhouse on New Year’s Eve in 2011. The Yorks picked the date for a number of serendipitous reasons.

“It was on a Saturday night! And what

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better time to start a new life together than the turn of a year,” said Kathryn, who noted they were able to use the holiday greenery and poinsettias already at the church for their ceremony.

For Kathryn, the best part of the night was ringing in the new year surrounded by friends and family.

“At midnight we stood onstage at the Powerhouse, sang Auld Lang Syne and had a Champagne toast with all of our guests,” she said. “Such a beautiful Oxford moment.”

New Year’s Eve also makes a great time

for a wedding because friends traveling from far away will most likely be more flexible around the holidays, though make sure to give your guests as much notice as possible. Also, remember that New Year’s Eve is a holiday for everyone, so transportation home (Ubers and taxis) could be a challenge; be prepared.

Another added bonus of a New Year’s Eve wedding? You’ll never forget your anniversary. “(It’s) always a fun time to celebrate your anniversary with a ready-made party,” Kathryn said.

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Happy at Home

E

verything is at a premium on New Year’s Eve: Reservations (and babysitters) are hard to come by, as are rides home. So why not skip the crowds altogether and cozy up at home instead?

If you decide to avoid the bustle and the fuss, there’s no reason your New Year’s Eve can’t be one for the books.

Consider grabbing pillows, blankets and sheets from around the house to make a massive fort in the living room. Snuggle in with the whole family (or just your significant other) to have a marathon of all your favorite New Year’s Eve movies. Go classic, with flicks like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle or

70 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

The Godfather: Part II. For a good laugh – and inspiration for relaxing your resolutions a bit – screen the hit Bridget Jones’s Diary.

For family-friendly flicks, Ghostbusters 2 is a crowd favorite. If you want to mix things up, consider Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year or Sesame Street Celebrates Around the World.

Is everyone getting sleepy well before the clock strikes midnight? Start a board game marathon. Monopoly is sure to last well into the wee hours, or consider a spirited game of charades or Apples to Apples.

A few bottles of sparkling apple juice are a great addition to a family-centric celebration, but consider mixing things up with a chocolate

mock-tini or sparkling sangria served in a special glass.

For a chocolate mock-tini, coat the inside of a martini glass with chocolate syrup, then blend together ½ cup chocolate milk, 1 cup of your favorite ice cream and a handful of ice.

Pour it into the glass, then top with crushed candy canes (for the adults, consider adding a splash of Bailey’s).

Mix up a big batch of sangria by adding sliced apples, strawberries, oranges and frozen grapes to a sparkling juice of your choice.

Have your glasses ready and sparklers waiting at midnight so you can toast the new year with the people you love best.

Pop Quiz Not sure which celebration is right for you? Answer these questions to plan your perfect New Year’s Eve. 1. What does a fun night to you include?

A. A delicious meal B. Dancing the night away C. Romance with your honey D. Binge-watching Netflix 2. What is your favorite outfit?

A. Something dressy yet classic B. Today’s hottest trend C. The fancier, the better D. Pajamas 3. Which of these holiday movies do you like best?

A. Sex and the City B. Boogie Nights C. When Harry Met Sally D. Home Alone 4. What is your favorite meal?

A. The chef’s selection B. Bites of this and that C. Anything, as long as there’s cake after D. Whatever is delivered to your door 5. How do you want to spend New Year’s Day morning?

A. Brunching B. Sleeping in C. On Instagram D. Avoiding crowds Mostly As: Out on the Town Mostly Bs: Life of the Party Mostly Cs: Wedded Bliss Mostly Ds: Happy at Home December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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1923 University Avenue Oxford, Mississippi 38655 Main Office: 662.234.5621 www.oxfordms38655.com Each office Individually Owned and Operated

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Paige Davis

Realtor of the Year 2016 paigedavis38655@gmail.com

662.801.6435

It's the

Season of Giving!

Mid South Nursery 339 Coley Road, Tupelo Mississippi • 6 6 2 . 8 4 2 . 4 1 9 4 Mid South N ursery 339 Coley Road, Tupelo Mississippi • 662.842.4194 662.842.4194

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December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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BAPTIST HOSPITAL PREVIEW PARTY Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi hosted a VIP preview party Nov. 2 in Oxford. The event included guest speakers, hospital tours and food. photographed by Joe Worthem

Jan and Bill Henning

Cassie and Jeff McCutchen with Matt Hagne, Brett Pickens and Mark Heath

Ramey and Carley Smith

Larry and Debbie Little with Justin Smith, Tracie Russell and Marlow Williams

Purvis McLaurin with Mae and Carroll Stone

Rhodes and Kellie Thompson

74 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Beth Fitts with Sherryin and John Adams

Tracy Diercks, Lacey Keen and Whitney Hodge

Eli and Kate Gross

Kate Rose and Patti Valdez

Vanessa and Tim Moore

Brent Deshae, Brigham McCraw and Monica Dabney

Summer Vanderford, Katie East, Jenny Filgo and Beth Robertson

Ney and Dana Williams

Sandra Roy and Fergie Crill with Sally and Tyre Buntin

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STAND BESIDE HER GIRL SCOUTS DINNER The Lee County Service Unit of Girl Scouts Heart of the South hosted the second annual Stand Beside Her Girl Scouts Scholarship Dinner Oct. 28 at the Bouldin Building in Tupelo. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Harmoni Hadley, Shaylyne Martin, Raleigh Doss, Treasure Miyongo, Maesyn Daniel and Aubri Washington

Taylor Babbitt, McKayla Smith, Kessiah Mitchess, Mariah Wilson, Mckenzie Metcalf and Abby Martin

Breanna Shelley and Hannah White

76 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Diamond Sharpe and Anita Ambrose

Jenny Jones and Rasheda Kemp with Kris and Nikki Ivancic

Jala Kels Washington and Jamela Heard

Bailey Drennan with Lori and Lucy Robertson

www.bcbsms.com Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ÂŽ Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

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HARVEST SUPPER Friends of the University of Mississippi Museum hosted the fifth annual Harvest Supper Oct. 12 on the grounds of Rowan Oak in Oxford. The event included an art auction, live music and dinner. photographed by Carina Marino

Jason Finch and Kate Kellum

Steve and Mary Ann Cockerham with Rick and Claire Miller

Thomas and Will Wilkins

Joie Blount, Emily Shelton, Jessica Dennis, Kristy Bridgers, Lauren Renfroe and Jessica Perkins

Stephen and Harriet Gorove

Marla Lomax and Geri Smith

78 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Mary Schiele Scanlon and Kim Eickholz

Christopher and Natalie Damore

Riley Busching and Wesley Self

Patty Tatum and Angela Brown

Keelan Ready and Sarah Morris

Joli and Mac Nichols

Julia Thornton, Susan Taylor and Ginger Clark

Michelle Perry and Emily McCauley

Sam Webb and Margaret Jordan

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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80 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

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JASON ALDEAN CONCERT Country music singer and recording artist Jason Aldean performed Oct. 27 at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo as part of his They Don’t Know tour. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Jason and Hope Marsh

Taylor and Julie English

Corbin and Jessica Boyd with Kaitlyn Kincade

Sandy Day and Jheree Aldridge

Sara Harrington, Natalie Wallace, Samantha Bobo and Carrington Campbell

Amber Williams and Emily Owens

Anna Carter Lake, Bailey Phillips, Allison Kaelin, Kimberly Gibson, Shelby Bourgeois, Allison Ann Gusmus and Graham Vandiver

Victoria Brumley and Renee Johnson

Merrit Lee Banks and Paul Bailey

Happy Holidays!

Seeing

is believing!

Dr. Laurie Wade Cagle, Optometrist

(662)862-EYES www.cagleeyecenter.com Gift Cards Available.

82 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

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DOWNTOWN CORINTH HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Local businesses in downtown Corinth hosted a holiday open house Nov. 4. Guests enjoyed decorations and refreshments while shopping. photographed by Whitney Worsham

Terre Smith and Hugh Wilder Jones

Teresa and John Smillie

Dana and Carli Bullard

Alissa Ann and Kellie Williams

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Noah and Sara McQueen with Clay Hubbard

Amy and Frank Archer Davis

Susan Bailey, Emily McGrath and Christiana Wharton

Ronda Windham and Leah McQueen

Ashley, Aiden, Hadley and Hank Howell

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Visit Batesville 662.578.0290 377 Hwy 51, Batesville, MS

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REGENTS SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL Regents School of Oxford held its annual Fall Festival Nov. 3. The family-friendly event included a petting zoo, games and refreshments. photographed by Natalie Wood

Daniel and Ashley Wren

Caroline Kiamie and Ruth Hogue

Kate Weatherly and Sydney Turnage

Anna and Robert Magee

Isaac Wren, Brianna Leister, Trey Taylor and Izzie Cummins

Rorie Bolton and Mary Acker

Brooke Smith, Rebecca Garner, Emily Callicutt, Elizabeth Paine, Lindsey Leach and Alice Kelly Morgan

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Kette Dornbusch and Andy Edwards

Fin, Carla and Mac Cole

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OLE MISS THEATRE’S CHICAGO The Ole Miss Theatre Department presented an adaptation of the Broadway musical Chicago Nov. 3-4 at Fulton Chapel in Oxford. The production was directed by Matthew R. Wilson. photographed by Megan Wolfe

Warren and Janet Porter

Sean Sardi and Montre Boga

Rohini Malkani and Jonathan Seeger

Deterrian Jones and Adrian Ridley

90 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Alex Vining, Alyssa Ortlepp and Ann Kelly Patrick

LaDarius Lee and Rachel Staton

Liz Sally, Andrew Sunshine and Buster O’Connor

Aylon Gerrig and Cade Standard

Kellie Kampen and Katie Prange

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UNION COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS Union County Master Gardeners hosted the Creative Holiday Designs program and luncheon Nov. 1 at First United Methodist Church in New Albany. The event featured floral designer Tracy Proctor. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Lindsey Toler and Miriam Tinajero

Keavious Blackmon and Wesley Blackard

Troy Payne and Eli Keener

Jan McMillin, Dee Shields and Collett Cross

92 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Judy Harrison and Martha Cook

Patrick and Lisa James with Jo Simpson, Pat Campbell and Joyce Reese

Barbara Little, Alice Scott and Beckey Enfinger

Libby Harrington and Mary Joyce Summers

Sherra Owen and Judy Henry

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VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL DEDICATION A dedication ceremony was held Nov. 2 at Veterans Park in Tupelo for the new replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. The wall is inscribed with the names known of those killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Michael Gray, Stan Caldwell and Danny Stanford

Phillip and Butch Douglas

Judy Ryan and John Rowan

94 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Leo Windham, Clarence Partlow and Jerry Bratton

Jerry May, George Schmitz and Chuck Schieffer

Chad McMahan, John Weddle, Russell Jolly, Copey Granthum and Chuck Hopkins

John Goosman, Jim Coleman and Bob Lunde

Ben Logan and Charlie Brett

Kim, Miner and Indiana Sistrunk with Linda Douglas

Denning Moon and Jay Patton

Tate Reeves and Phillip Gunn

Jason Shelton, Camille Dulaney and Mark Weathers

Rex Moody

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CHICAGO CONCERT Chicago, one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups in history, performed a live concert Nov. 2 at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Heather Latham and Tonya Dodd

Jeannette Foster and Jessica Ramirez

T.J. and Beckey Adams

Steven and Stacey Blaylock with Dan and Jodi McCrimon

Jackie and Sheryl Blackburn with Kim and Joe Estess

Donna McNeece, Janet Smith, Teresa Horton and Ellen Caldwell

Kevin and Lora Lee Sweat with Caroline and Ariel Davis, Amanda Fristick and Trey Scallion

98 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Ashlyn and Anna Lauren Inmon

Ginger and Brian Bryant

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THACKER MOUNTAIN RADIO ANNIVERSARY Thacker Mountain Radio Hour celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special performance Oct. 19 at the Lyric Theater in Oxford. Special guests included Jimbo Mathus, Kenny Brown and Finn Murphy. photographed by Olivia Barrow

Josh Turner and Chloe Lloyd

Lila, Tommy, Lucy, Bryan and Ava Ledford

Julie Howell and Anne Marie Hanna

100 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Mitch and Jenny Campbell

Gloria and Alan Lamb

Denise Gilbert, Cindy Grant and Paulie Taylor

David and Nancy Dunavent

Gary Morris and Betty Zinn

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THISBE AND NOAH SCOTT FUNDRAISER The Thisbe and Noah Scott Foundation held a fundraiser Oct. 20 in Oxford. The dinner benefited the foundation, which assists children and families affected by pediatric neuromuscular diseases. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Laurie and James Walker

Emily Blount and Wally Morgan

Dan Lowery and David Calhoun

Ben Justus and Stefano Capomazza

102 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

John Scott, Dan Latham, Laurian Scott and Lindsay Ballew

Malcolm and Leah Rowland

Kate and John Green with Barbra Jim and Bill Turner

Toni Capomazza and Jessica Perkins

Danny Bulian and Melissa Sweatland

engagement

THIRD PAGE ($50); Includes one photo and up to 150 words

wedding

HALF PAGE ($90); Includes one photo and up to 200 words FULL PAGE ($150); Includes three photos and up to 300 words TWO PAGES ($275); Includes five photos and up to 500 words FOR MORE INFORMATION, call (662) 234-4008 or email emilysuber.invitationoxford@gmail.com.

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MISSISSIPPI MUTTS MUTTVEMBER FEST A fundraiser was held Nov. 12 at Plein Air in Taylor to benefit Mississippi MUTTS, an organization dedicated to animal rescue, foster, transport and adoption. The family-friendly event included food, an auction and children’s activities. photographed by Megan Wolfe

Tanner and Meagan West

Kannika and Sam Thamutok

Samatha Cote and Janelle Corliss with Hendrix and Eli

Gregory and Ann Ferrell Alston with Charley

Katie Henderson, Drew Mills, Barrett Teller and Ryan Granger

Bijou David with Molly Yates

Chris, Caroline, Melinda, Carder and Cohen Scruggs with Chance

Stephen and Rosemary Watley with Remmy

Michael and Andrews McLellan with Millie

www.iccms.edu

Itawamba COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Above the Bar Be better. Accomplish more. Make a difference.

104 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM PRESENTS

Guest Artist Lecture:

Mary Zicafoose Wed., Jan. 24, 2018, 7–8:00 p.m.

Join us for a lecture by the weaver currently exhibiting in Faultlines. Mary will also present at the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival, Friday, January, 26, 9:00 a.m.

The University of Mississippi Museum

UNIVERSITY AVE. & 5TH ST., OXFORD, MS

Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Closed every Sunday and Monday along with most University Holidays.

For assistance related to a disability call 662.915.7084.

E V E N T

I S

F R E E

MUSEUM.OLEMISS.EDU 6 6 2 . 9 1 5 . 7 0 7 3

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NIGHT FOR A HAND UP The Tupelo/Lee County Community Foundation hosted its Night for a Hand Up event Nov. 7 at BancorpSouth Conference Center in Tupelo.

Twenty-four local nonprofit organizations competed for $25,000 in grant funding. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Heather Palmer and Teri Ward

Rubye Del Harden, Sherri Adams, Charlise Latour and Rhonda Horton

Michael Upton and Cindy Ring

John and Barbara Vaughn with Jeff Barber and Kerri Puckett

106 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Alicia Smith, Zell Long, Kareah Freeman and Mattie Mabry

Bailey Elle Crawford, Natasha Enos, Toni Hill and Teffanie Green

Melinda Tidwell and Robin Matkin

Jennifer and Jason Martin

Robby Parman with Carey and Alonna Snyder, Nicole Calvert and Sharon Young

Maggie Weatherford and Kirk Reeder

Debbie and Carolyn Parson

EVERYONE

NEEDS A HELPING HAND SOMETIMES

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Melissa Mabry, Katina Holland, Patricia Parker and DaMonta Thornton

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL BREAST CANCER WALK The second annual Oxford High School breast cancer awareness walk and fundraiser was held Oct. 13 at Oxford High School. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Sarah Breithaupt and Nikki Logan

Hailey Everett and Mary Clark Hayward

La’niya Flemons and Allysha Certion

Matt Redfearn with Shabaz and Sharjeel Gul

Brooke Burleson with Mandy and Katheryn McCord

Alexis Barlow and Brandon Pettis

Trent Collier, Anna Abel, Shelby Singletary and Mary Katherine Bishop

108 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Daisy Moreno and Nakya Barr

Ciarra Nicholson and Malaysia Spearman

HOME IS WHERE THE

ANCHOR DROPS!

Elyse Smith

Broker/Owner 115A Town Creek, Saltillo 662-205-4113 office 662-871-5718 cell smithelyse@rocketmail.com December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

109

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VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS The 16th annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony was held Nov. 10 in downtown Corinth.

The tribute to veterans included live music and a luncheon hosted by the American Legion. photographed by Whitney Worsham

Anna Tucker, Hadley Rutledge, Annie Stanley, Marleigh Brooks and Paisley Hughes

Eric Watson and Ralph Gilliam

Jeannette and Robert Stewart with Keri Brubaker, April Duckworth, Thomas Barnett and Chelsey Thrasher

Bill Rogers with Honnel and Patsy Lancaster

Henry Bailey, Jack Johnsey and Oliver Bailey

Gerald Nichols and Al Newman with Lance and Connor Gargus

Lawrence Watson, Mike McDaniel and Tina Hurst

206 Country Club

Stunning 4Bd/3Bt home with a dream kitchen and beautiful living spaces indoors and out! The best of locations, near campus and town!

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110 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

4Bd/3Bt heart pine hardwood floors, relaxing screened porch, and great fenced in back yard. Beautiful home with an open layout!

Eugene Holland and Reggie Rickman

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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BUDDY WALK The third annual Buddy Walk was held Oct. 15 at the Old Armory Pavilion in Oxford. The fundraiser was sponsored by 21 United of Mississippi and included food and children’s activities. photographed by Megan Wolfe

Jack and Mary Kate Whelan

Margaret Luckett and Vicki Armstrong

Danny and Junior Moody with Ashley Hill

Cindy and Lily Cate King

112 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Emily Mitchell, Emily Vasiloff, Taryn Bewley and Kaylin Pridgen

Quinten Humphrey, Elise Alexander and Phil Jacquot

Buddy Walk participants with Oxford Middle School cheerleaders

Lucas and Jenny Edwards

Mary and Samuel Thompson

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

113

SUMMER 2017

GET OUTSIDE!

Creative ways to learn from the great outdoors

SUN SAFETY tips from an expert

A Quick & Easy

Date-Night Dinner

Take a Trip

to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast

For more information about advertising in Invitation Magazines, call (662) 234-4008.

114 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

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TOYOTA BACK PORCH BLUES CONCERT Toyota hosted a community concert to celebrate its 10th anniversary in northeast Mississippi Nov. 4 at Fairpark in Tupelo. The event featured performances

by Soul Shockers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. photographed by Lisa Roberts

Takehiko Ito, Michituro Morakam, Hiroki Ito, Sean Suggs, Stuart Woods, Jonathan Smith, Hiroyuki Minematsu and Tetsuaki Yoshikawa

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi Inc.’s original 23 employees

Glen McCullough, David Copenhaver, Haley Barbour and Davis Rumbarger

Craig and Robin Satcher with Nikki and Mark Smithey

116 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Dylan Lindsey, Kiley Johnson, John Paul Michael and Alison Abernathy

Cora Polson, Kim Wade, Angy Abner and Becky Tucker

Shane and Angie Homan

Mary Werner, Kathryn Ragsdale and Jane Spain

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Doing a Better Job for Over

70 Years!

Mitzi and Wayne Stokes

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Walker and Madison Caver with Jody and Tanya Channell

1328 North Lamar, Oxford, MS 38655 • www.browninsurance.biz December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

117

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SIGMA CHI 160TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY The Eta Chapter of Sigma Chi at the University of Mississippi held its 160th anniversary party Oct. 13 at the Old Armory Pavilion in Oxford. The event included food, cocktails and live music. photographed by Jessica Richardson

Chappell Emmons and Caroline Hughes

Thomas Yoste, Todd Murphey and Will Hoel

Nick Zouboukos and Bob Buchanan

Virginia Whitsitt and Jacob Parker

Sharon and Harry Alexander

Frank LeGree, Rainy Daze and Shyrod Taylor

Mollie and Noel Reed

Logan Morris and Lexie Fantasai

Rick and Yvonne Sankey

Dena and David Elliott

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PAYROLL 118 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

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CONFERENCE ON THE FRONT PORCH The Mill at Plein Air in Taylor held a conference Oct. 18 and 19 centered around the history and significance of the front porch. The event included panel discussions, food and entertainment. photographed by Natalie Wood

Ann-Marie Wyatt with Glen and Paige Evans

Ann Marie and Kenneth Shivers

Wayne and Alison Smith

Anita Herrington, Nancy Chamblee and Pat Werne

Joanna and Felicity Lack with Brendan Lowe and Kay and Ed Croom

Carlton Smith and Paul Jurik

Susie Martin and Shelly Mallett with Butch and Pat Cothren and Susan McNease

120 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Gina Adams and Suzanne Stern

Ygondine Creasey and Frances Zook

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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Please

SAVE THE DATE for The Lafayette County Literacy Council

Reads, Beats & Eats

Celebrating local literary culture, music and food

Saturday

April 7, 2018 In the garden at the

Barksdale-Isom House For more information email lafayetteliteracy@gmail.com

122 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

www.thehaven.studio | www.facebook.com/Haven StudioTupelo | Instagram: @havenstudiotup

Joe C. Kea,Tupelo, O.D., Primary Mississippi 38804 Eye Care BUY ONE, Spectacular Specs Optical is proud to offer GET ONE 3437 Tupelo Commons, Suite 101

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December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF RENT A special 20th anniversary performance of the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning rock musical Rent by Jonathan Larson was held Oct. 26 at the Ford Center in Oxford. photographed by Olivia Barrow

Jill Siler, Cindy Reed and Rhoda Maloney

Dave, Peyton, Karen and Alexa Hillis

Anna Speights and Jordan Johnson

Hunter and Bettye Parham with Ronnie and Debbie Philley

Nadia McIntosh and Janae Owens

Derek Starnes and Ragan Kutrow

124 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Charles Caldwell with Eliza and Diana Noe

Morris and Carolyn Denton

Meg and Mickey Gousset

Warren Lott and Chelsea Breland

Sherry and Richard Cooper

Lucy Blaylock, Neely Hudnall and Leigh Blaylock

Cady Pittman and Lila Grace Lara

Alexandria Jones and Justin Merriman

Jessica Clark and Samya Clayton

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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GENIUS TRIVIA NIGHT Lafayette County Literacy Council hosted its annual trivia night contest Oct. 24 at The Blind Pig in Oxford. The event raised $1,200 to benefit the Adult Basic Literacy Education Program. photographed by Carina Marino

Mike Hipp and Meaghin Burke

Heather Crockett and Gail Johnson

Brian and Leigh Carole Mullins

Flyn Flesher and Katie Young

126 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Jason Wilkins and James B. Justice

Kelly Zeidner, Kaytee Hazlewood, Susan Martin and Alex Sanders

Chauncey Pegues and Sarah McLellan

Taylor Daniels and Eleanor Bush

A.J. Houpt and Alexandra Peters

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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KUDZU KINGS CONCERT The Kudzu Kings performed a Halloween concert Oct. 27 at Proud Larry’s in Oxford. The local country, bluegrass and rock band formed in 1994. photographed by Brittany Brown

Robyn Brown, Chris Perry and Lauren Logan

Glenda Landrum and Alana Dotson

Pauline Conn and Matt Kelly

Toni Anderson with Glenn and Stacy Brogan

Rob Winkler, Carley Lovorn and Matt Perryman

Jessie Heppenstall, Liza Jones, Brett Lapeyre, Sarah Vizard and Lee Bobo

128 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Kimberly and Joey Vaughan with Melissa and Nathan Latil

Kristen Phillips and Summer Anderson

Mark Nelson and Mary Beth Moore

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DOUBLE FEATURE BASH Oxford Film Festival hosted a Halloween double feature movie night Oct. 31 at the Powerhouse in Oxford. Guests dressed in costume to watch Halloween and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. photographed by Megan Wolfe

Michael McClatchy and Lynzee Barnes

Haley Lovvorn with George Boone

Allison and Bill Bailey

Julia Smith and Christie McCoy-Smith

130 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

R.J. Morgan, Alex Kerwin, Kim Chrestman and Dawn Bullion

Kharisma Morris and Trich Lee

Cassandra Miller, Taylor Cabrera, Kat Balmes and Shelby Hall

Ethan Bennett with Rustin Suray

Hudson and Susan Hickman

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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THACKER, JR. Thacker, Jr. Kids Hour was held at the Oxford Community Market in the Armory Pavilion Nov. 7, featuring readings and musical performances. photographed by Carina Marino

Bailey Bracken and Saraid Racicot

Rachel Winstead and Rosa Salas

Alec Schicker and Andrew Molloy

Natalya Jones and Natasha Gatewood

132 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Anna Richardson, Garland Patterson and Amelia Hanks

Zach Digregorio and Tyler Payne

Liam, Jessica and Lawson Fortner

Walton Turnage and Kayla Foell

Amanda Hunt and Jessie Gregory

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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The Women’s Clinic of New Albany, P.C.

David J. Williams, M.D., R.PH., F.A.C.O.G. Robert E. Barnett, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

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134 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 138

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS JAZZ BAND

Jaime, Ashton, Abigail and Samantha Swearington

David McDonald and Rose Mary Marecle

OLE MISS BUSINESS: THE FIRST 100 YEARS BOOK SIGNING

Cooper Haywood, Rick Murphy and Deanna Kieffer

EXCEL BY 5 COMMUNITY PLAYDATE John Palmernames names names names names names names names names names names names

Ken Cyree, Neil White and Danielle Ammeter

John Palmer

JUDGE ROBERT L. WILKINS LECTURE AND DINNER

Patrica Brassel, Robert L. Wilkins and Beatrice Daniels

136 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Tricia DeFelice and Edy Dingus

Marcella Santos with Nico and Renan Bosque

TREEHOUSE GALLERY DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION

Preston Taylor

Jennifer Harrell, Jamie Petty and Tre Carothers

Chinny Carothers and Jacqui Lear

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I look forward to working with you in

2018 CHRIS SUBER (662) 419-0231

CLSuber@gmail.com 1923 University Ave. Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.5621 Each office independently owned and operated.

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 136

DELTA DELTA DELTA PLEDGE PICNIC

McKenzie Tyler, Miller Elliott and Sadie Wilson

Sarah Simmons, Maggie Wakham and Savanna Tillman

SALTILLO DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Sandy Simmons and Mary Lou Walden

STEELE’S DIVE CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

Sydney Duggers and Diane Hood

THACKER 564 RESTAURANT OPENING

Ellen Raiford and Christiane Tristan

Gracie Meeks, Harris Owsley and Caroline Pollard

Mike Kelly and Toby Collins

Ivey Page and Kathy Gratham-Pitts

OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK

Joseph Kennedy and Anne Cofer

138 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Sarah Brocksmith and Kaitlyn Keebaugh with Blu

Kaitlin Bost and Brooke Ferguson

VOTED #1 WEDDING VENUE IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI FOR THE 2016 & 2017 DAILY JOURNAL READER’S CHOICE AWARDS

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Celebrating Mississippi Families

Invitation Family is a quarterly magazine published by Invitation Magazines. It is focused on trends and healthy lifestyle tips for parents and children of all ages. Areas of content include education, home, health, food and much more. Each issue will be distributed four times per year in more than 460 LOCATIONS across the state, and it is free for readers.

FALL

2017

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INVITATIONFAMILY.COM FOLLOW: @invitation_family @invitation_fam Invitation Family CONTACT: 662-234-4008 InvFamilyMagazine@gmail.com

140 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

Catering

Good Eats

Check out our

Holiday menu!

662-380-5122 1221 Van Buren • Oxford, MS (UNDERNEATH NEILSON’S)

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

141

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to find out what’s going on in North Mississippi!

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CMYK / .eps

CONTACT

(662)234-5725

440 North Lamar, Oxford, MS

W. EDWIN DAWKINS, Jr., D.D.S.

www.dawkinsfamilydental.com

December 2017 / January 2018 | INVITATION

143

EMILY TICKLE THOMAS interviewed by Melanie Crownover

Tupelo High School and Ole Miss alumna Emily Tickle Thomas moved to the Memphis area in 1993, but she still makes a difference in north Mississippi and beyond with The Cancer Card Xchange, an organization that gives gift cards to people who have cancer.

Q: Where did you get the idea for the exchange?

A: In 2007, I was diagnosed with oral cancer while pregnant with my fourth son and referred to MD Anderson in Texas for treatment.

The first time my husband and I went, we were there for two weeks. Some of our friends arranged a gift card at a restaurant for us to just go out and eat. It meant more than they knew.

Q: How did it actually get started?

A: A couple of years later, a good friend was sick with cancer, and he and his wife couldn’t work, so we collected gift cards online from friends and family. Word got out, and we ended up raising a couple thousand dollars in gift cards.

I started thinking maybe this is something we should do for others. On my 40th birthday in 2011, I told everyone to bring gift cards to my party instead of gifts so that I could give them to people with cancer. That was it.

Q: Has it been successful?

A: It’s grown beyond anything I ever dreamed.

Since 2011, we’ve given more than $250,000 in gift cards to 2,740 people across the country.

Q: How does it work?

A: Cancercardxchange.org

is the portal for everything. Anyone can donate gift cards or make monetary donations there, or refer patients and their families to us. [People] can list special needs like money for groceries or gas so we can get them the right cards.

Q: Is the holiday season a busy time of year?

A: It’s one of the best times. We love a regift here. If you get a gift card you know you won’t use, send it to us, and we’ll put it to good use.

Any donation we get is usually in somebody’s hand that needs it within a couple of weeks.

144 INVITATION | December 2017 / January 2018

THE SOUTH’S LEADER IN ESTATE JEWELRY AND DIAMOND SOLITAIRES.

129 W BANKHEAD ST, NEW ALBANY & 124 COURTHOUSE SQUARE, OXFORD 1.866.VANATKINS | WWW.VANATKINS.COM