NOVEMBER 2016
#1 Re/Max Team in MS in 2014 & 2015 LEGACY R EALT Y
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Markccleary@gmail.com
Blake Cannon (662) 380-7144 blake@oxfordvip.com
2696 West Oxford Loop $285,000 •Parkway Centre • Joined Together w/Oxford Galleria II • Building Pad W/ Potential for 4690 square feet
Alison Alger (662) 832-1697
Shelbi’s Place NEW Homes Starting at
$143,900 Act Fast and Choose Your Finishes! 3 Bedroom /2 Bath 4 Floor Plans to Choose From!
alisonmalger@gmail.com
Starting in the mid $300,000’s
Lee Pittman (662) 645-3695
Contact Mark Cleary (713) 303-8924
lee.pittman1@gmail.com
Experience the beauty and serenity of Tuscan Hills - with 2 stocked lakes - just 5 minutes from Downtown!
Starting in the mid $200,000’s
Measuring in at just under 1 mile from campus, 800 Park includes luxury features like gas fireplaces, 10 foot ceilings and heart pine floors. Professionally designed, each of the 4 floor plans are one level and have private screened in porches overlooking Pat Lamar Park and Davidson Creek. There is also a pet park that will be exclusive to the 800 Park owners. The 800 Park development has plans to include some specialty retail shops, as well.
The Belmont
at 1769 East Jackson
$499,000
707 Deerfield
505 Highpointe
•3 BR/2 Bath
•3 BR/3 Bath
• Newly Renovated
•Overlooks the Pool
• Select Appliances
•Gated Community
$156,900
$143,900
On the corner of East Jackson Avenue and Bramlett Blvd, you are a zip to campus and a short distance to the square! Enjoy every bit of this condominium with a screened in porch, outside balcony, two car garage, top-notch finishes and large open living area!
The Hamlet
A charming Old-English style development located in the heart of the medical community and just minutes from Oxford’s downtown square !
Starting in the mid-$300,000’s
1023 Scarlet •Semi-Circle Drive •Large Fenced in Backyard •Huge Covered Back porch
$250,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
108 Vail Cove •3 BR/3.5 Bath, Main Level Master Suite •Stamped Concrete Floors & Granite Counter Tops
$190,000
Features include: Wet Bar Private Courtyards Gas Range 10’ Ceilings Garages available
Complimentary interior design service to help customize finishes on new builds.
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.
Harrison Square
Coming Fall 2017
Oxford’s Premier Luxury Condominium Located in the Heart of Downtown Oxford. Just Steps from the Square! • Roof top terrace • 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms • Gated Community • Gourmet Kitchen • Private Balcony • Gas Stove Top Oven • Washer/Dryer • Wet Bar
• Wine Cooler and Ice Maker • Gas Fireplace • Engineered Hardwood Floors • Elevator • Reserved Parking Per Unit • 10’ Ceilings • 8’ Solid Core Doors
Mark C. Cleary (713) 303-8924
Markccleary@gmail.com
7005 Bluff Lane
126 Rosemont Loop
• 4 Bed 4 Bath
• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath
• 3 Covered Porches
• Great Location • Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplace
• Access to Goose Creek Tennis Club
$649,000
$315,000
621 Park Drive
129 Sivley $1,395,000
• 4 Bed 3 Bath •Totally Custom •Heated Master Bath Floors
• Walk to the Square!
$779,000
• 3900sf , 5 BR/4 Bath • Wrought Iron
• Wolf Subzero • Marvin Doors/Windows Show Home
• 5 Bed 3 Bath • 10 Min. from Ole Miss
Show Home
Courtyard w/Gate
33 CR 143 • 3 Car Garage
$599,900
1300 Beanland
7003 Macdui
3839 Majestic Oaks
512 Easel Street
101 Tam O’Shanter
• Located in the Heart of downtown Oxford
• Custom-Built Home
• 5 Bed 4 1/2 Bath
• 3 Bed 2 Bath
• 4 BR/ 3 Bath
• Completely Updated
• Oxford City Schools
• Front & Back Porch
• Large Screened in Porch
• Top of the Line Finishes
• Main-Level Master
•1.7 Acres Overlooking Golf Course •Brand New Theater Room w/ HD Screen
• Open & Inviting Living & Kitchen Area
• Located in the Old Country Club
• Access to the 80 Acre Private Lake
$699,000
$525,000
$899,000
Old Taylor Place Unit O6
107 Garden Terrace
416 Andalusia
• 2 Bed 2 Bath
•4 Bed/2.5 Bath
• 3 Bed 3.5 Bath
• Ideal Location on Old Taylor Rd.
•Large Fenced in Back Yard
• 4 Bed 3 Bath
• End Unit Condo in Oxford Station • Heart of Pine Floors • Large Open Patio
• On Site Amenities
•Main Level Master
2611 Little Street
$154,000
$207,142
$269,000
• City Schools • Two - Way Fireplace
$399,999
$505,000
4435 Sardis Lake Dr.
126 Oxford Creek Dr
• Beautiful Lake View • 107 Acres, Large Lake
• 3 Bed 2.5 Bath
$450,000
• Community Pool
• Brand New Construction • Brick Feature Wall in Dining Room
$310,000
$399,000
LEGACY R EALT Y
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.
November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
NOVEMBER 2016
65 ON THE COVER Erin and Ben Napier are the stars of HGTV’s show Home Town, set to air in 2017. photographed by Jean Allsopp
IN EVERY ISSUE 12
Letter From the Publisher
16
What’s Happening
18
Community Corner
21
In Season: Squash
99
Out and About
104
I Am Oxford: Kerry Hamilton
FEATURES
EVENTS
42 Home Town Pride
26
The Great 38 Race
UM graduates are bringing national attention to the state with their efforts to revitalize their Laurel neighborhood.
28
Leap Frog Open House
30
A Summer Bounty
32
Fame the Musical
34
L.Q.C . Lamar Celebration
36
9/11 Day of Service
38
L.O.U. Oktoberfest
58 Under the Sea
72
Xanadu
In between trips to photograph sea life and sunken ships, certified scuba diver David Reid teaches the sport to his students.
74
Jam Jam Fundraiser
76
Moonstone and Friends
78
Oxford Commons Tournament
80
Oxford Garden Club
82
Lunch Tray Town Hall Meeting
84
University Dames Newcomers
86
Tailgate for Palmer
88
Red Clay Roadhouse
90
Artist Reception
92
Buddy Walk
94
Literacy Council Trivia Night
51 Dinner in the Delta Delta Supper Club’s family-style pop-up dinners create a sense of community that pays homage to Southern supper clubs of the past.
65 Going Home The next generation of the Tosh family are making new memories in their Oxford home.
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THE PUBLISHER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM (TOP) AND BETHANY BYRD
I often joke that my family could have a reunion in a shoebox. I’m a third-generation only child on my mother’s side and have no first cousins. When I married a man who is one of five children, I was at first a little overwhelmed and found his stories of growing up with a big family, full of sibling rivalries and large family functions, both fascinating and funny. This month we’re celebrating families of all shapes and sizes and sharing their stories of the past, present and future. On page 65, you’ll find a heartwarming story about Mandi and Denny Tosh, who are making new memories raising their three children in the Lamar Park neighborhood home where Denny grew up. Our cover story (page 42) features Ole Miss grads Erin and Ben Napier. The couple and their town of Laurel (where Erin grew up) will be the stars of the HGTV show Home Town, set to air early next year. We hope you enjoy celebrating and spending time with your family this holiday season. Have a very happy Thanksgiving.
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
EGG BOWL TICKETS
Thanksgiving tradition in Oxford isn’t just about turkey and mashed potatoes – it’s also about football! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be on the lookout for a chance to win tickets to the MS State vs. Ole Miss game happening Nov. 26 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
Top: Denny and Mandi Tosh, along with their three children, are creating new memories in the home where Denny grew up. Bottom: Ben and Erin Napier are helping revitalize their hometown of Laurel.
INVITATION Oxford publishers
Phil and Rachel West
editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lena Anderson CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly EVENTS EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lanie Anderson Sunny Young Baker Meaghin Burke Melanie Crownover Ginny McCarley Toni Overby EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Katherine Henson COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson
advertising
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com
art
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hallie Thomas STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Becca Bailey Zach Fields Holly Vollor CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Brent Michaela Cooper Jessica Richardson
production
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Emily Suber
office
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard COMPTROLLER Julie Clark DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE (662) 234-4008
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford 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
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NOVEMBER 2016
11/6 Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes The 3-mile walk raises funds for the programs and services of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. This year’s theme is “Be Someone’s Hero.” Registration at 1 p.m., race at 2 p.m., the Lyceum, $20, msdiabetes.org
S A V E T H E D A T E
11/2
Jonathan Safran Foer Reading The best-selling author of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Everything Is Illuminated reads from his latest novel, Here I Am.
11/3, 10 and 17
Thacker Mountain Radio Hour A live weekly radio show featuring readings and music. 6 p.m., Off Square Books thackermountain.com
11/4
The Soul Rebels The eight-piece New Orleans-based brass band stops in Oxford after a tour that took the group to four continents and New York’s Brooklyn Bowl. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m., Proud Larry’s $10, proudlarrys.com
11/5
Georgia Southern vs. Ole Miss Football Time TBA, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Wear red.
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11/8 Election Day
5TH ANNUAL
Head to the polls and cast your vote for the next president of the United States, various state officials and special elections. For designated voting locations and a sample ballot, go to sos.ms.gov/pollingplace. Polls are open 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
11/9
2016 UM Humanities Teacher of the Year Lecture Dr. John Gutiérrez, Croft Professor of Spanish at UM and the 2016 Humanities Teacher of the Year, will present his lecture Untapping a Linguistic Resource: Teaching Spanish as a Heritage Language in the United States. Reception to follow. 7-9 p.m., University of Mississippi, Bryant Hall, Room 209
11/12
My School Color Run
Oxford University School hosts the 5K race and children’s 1-mile fun run where particiCommunityWide Watch Party Benefiting pants are splashed with color throughout the Our Team Our Town Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississ route and at the finish line. Members of Young Professionals of Oxford Saturday, November 12 at the Powerhouse Community Arts C Check-in at 8 a.m., race at 8:30 a.m. host a tailgate to benefit the Family Crisis Starting line at the parking lot on the Square during the Ole Miss/Texas A&M game. Center of Northwest MS. Watch the Ole Miss at Jackson Avenue East and 13th Street. vs.Doors open 2 hours before kickoff. Texas A&M away game on the big screen. $15-$40, ouschool.org Time TBA, the Powerhouse, $15
11/12
Title Sponsors: INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
11/14
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana The University of Mississippi Department of Music presents one of the best-known cantatas of the 20th century. The hourlong work for large orchestra, three solo singers and chorus is divided into three sections: Springtime, In the Tavern and The Court of Love. 7:30 p.m., the Ford Center $19-$25, fordcenter.org
11/26
Egg Bowl Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss Football. Time TBA, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Wear blue.
11/26
Oxford Square Alliance Holiday Open House Celebrate Small Business Saturday with sidewalk sales, photos with Santa, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and more. The Square November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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VOLUNTEER OXFORD written by Katherine Henson
Volunteer Oxford serves as matchmaker for volunteers and nonprofit organizations. With so many options for volunteering – from becoming a literacy tutor to collecting gifts for children to serving holiday dinner at a local church – it’s easy to be overwhelmed and not know where to start. Those interested in volunteering can create an account at volunteeroxford.org and answer a short survey about their interests, skill set and any previous volunteer experience. Once the profile is complete, the user will get a list of organizations in need of help and receive weekly updates about volunteer opportunities in the area, such as working with the Food Pantry, Doors of Hope or Compassion Ministries. “We want to match people with the right fit for the long term,” Kaitlin Wilkinson, director of Volunteer Oxford, said. “Whether you’re a college student needing service hours or an Oxford citizen looking to help keep our community great; we have an opportunity for you.” Volunteer Oxford has been fulfilling its mission to “develop, promote and support volunteerism for the Lafayette-Oxford-University community” since August 2011. In the past five years, it has built a strong network of individuals, nonprofit organizations and local businesses and is now expanding its services to include Pontotoc and Yalobusha counties. Twice a year, Volunteer Oxford also holds a communitywide Day of Service. One is held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, and the other is on September 11. This year, the group collected clothing, toiletries and other items to donate to the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford. Join now at volunteeroxford.org.
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SQUASH
written by Sunny Young Baker photographed by Joe Worthem
F
armer Steven Richardson has spent his whole life tending to crops and animals. “When I was 13 years old, I had my own acre of commercial cucumbers,” he said. It’s been his passion ever since, and after a career as a Mississippi State University Extension agent, where he helped farmers come up with better farming solutions, he began to grow his own produce once again in 1990. “Vegetables are easy to grow, and they are more reliable [to sell] than cotton, corn and soy,” Richardson said. He sells his crop of colorful cauliflower, pink watermelon and year-round squash to local grocery stores and farmers markets. Richardson likes to grow squash all year because it is what he calls a “short production” plant, meaning it requires less time between planting and harvesting than most crops. He grows Gentry yellow squash, a type of crookneck that is typically smooth, bright in color and, in Richardson’s opinion, the most aesthetically pleasing. Richardson starts his squash in the greenhouse and plants it in the ground starting in April after the last frost and then again in September right before the first. In just 15-20 days, the crop is ready for harvest – one of the fastest turnaround times for garden vegetables. He attributes his success in growing squash to his keen ability to know just the right time to harvest. “We don’t want them to get big at all,” he said. “I sell more squash than anyone at market because we pick them small.” The right size to pick squash, according to Richardson, is between 6 and 9 inches. Anything bigger will lose flavor. “When we’re picking, we throw away bigger ones so we can keep our standards,” he said. Richardson enjoys his vegetables minimally cooked so the true flavors come through. His favorite way to eat squash is the way his mother used to cook it – fried in a little bacon grease and butter and sprinkled with some salt and pepper. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Classic Squash Casserole recipes by Kimme Hargrove
2 Tablespoons butter 2 cups yellow squash, halved and sliced 1 onion, chopped 1 egg 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated ½ cup milk ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon each salt and black pepper Cooking spray ½ sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed Preheat oven to 350°F. Over medium-low heat, melt butter in a skillet. Add squash and onions. Cook until tender, about 5-8 minutes. Whisk egg in a large bowl. Add cheese and milk; stir. Add squash and onion to egg mixture; stir until combined. Add cayenne, salt and black pepper; mix. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray; pour in squash mixture. Sprinkle crackers evenly over top. Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes or until top has evenly and slightly browned.
Vegetable Tian 1 onion, chopped 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced 1-3 zucchini, sliced about 1/4 inch thick 1-3 yellow squash, sliced about 1/4 inch thick 1 large tomato, sliced 1½ teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped 1½ teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup Italian cheese blend, shredded Preheat oven to 400°F. Over medium heat, sauté onion in skillet with olive oil (about 5 minutes). Add garlic; sauté another 2 minutes. Spread onion mixture in a small, greased baking dish. Place sliced vegetables on top of onion mixture, standing up vertically, alternating each vegetable. Sprinkle thyme, parsley, salt and pepper over the top. Cover with foil; bake 30 minutes. Remove foil. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, brushing it off the vegetables so it falls in between. Sprinkle with additional herbs, salt and pepper to taste. Cook, uncovered, 20 more minutes or until cheese is golden brown. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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BATESVILLE
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
THE GREAT 38 RACE Run Oxford and Ole Miss Athletics held a race to benefit the Chucky Mullins Foundation Oct. 8. Participants followed a route through campus, down the Walk of Champions and into VaughtHemingway Stadium to finish at the 38-yard line. photographed by Joey Brent
Katie McLeod and Lizzy Pitts
Kristen Farrell and Kirsten Bowen
Bill Redding with Moni and Stuart Simpson, Trenia and Bruce Reynolds, and Audrey Redding
Ash Jelks and Randy Credille
Kevin Lewellyn and Todd Baldwyn
Haden and Richard Edmonson
Mary Elizabeth Killian and Grace Munro
Rick Mize and Marvin King
Gunner and Jarrod Vega
1400 University Ave • Oxford, MS 38655 • 662.234.3232
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
John Parker and Amy Hornback
Audra, Marty, Whitten and Thompson Matthews
Erica Marconi and McKenna Coughlin
Caroline Parnell, Brady Lott, Austin Pointer and Joseph Wright
Carla and Bo Bradley
Sandra Guest, Claire Guest Lowe and Ron Guest
Allie Hendry, Haley Marks, Megan Garner and Leigh Christian
Kelsea, John, Robin and Briana Dolan
Rebecca Secrist and Charles Hurst
Wade Holland, Lori Beth Ellis and Kacey Byrd
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
LEAP FROG OPEN HOUSE The after-school program Leap Frog held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 15 to celebrate its new location on Washington Street. The program serves more than 140 children. photographed by Joey Brent
Tracie Russell and Lisa Coleman
Tyanna Jones and Hailey Grisham
Amanda Knight and Macon O’Bryan
Jason and Cathy Lowe
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
Teresa Adams and Rick Mize
Liza Mallette, Mary Ann Frugé and Rosie McDavid
Emory Wills and Jamie Cox
Jessica and Pressley Windham
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
DOORS OF HOPE A SUMMER BOUNTY The annual Doors of Hope fundraiser A Summer Bounty was held Sept. 15 at the Shelter on Van Buren. The event included a silent auction and live gospel music by the band Favored. photographed by Joey Brent
Noel and Suzanne Wilkin
Toni Coleman and Henry Clarke
Brenda West and Tom Howorth
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Conny Parham and Susan Bartlett
Rance and Ginny Kilgore
Ginny Terry and Melody Webb
Bess and John Currence
Chinny Carothers, Judy Riddell, Caroline McIntosh and Dorothy Laurenzo
Anne and Brian Simmons
David and Kent Magee
Reba and Lance Greer
Fran and Karen York
Sital Sigh and Hayley Gregory
Joyce Smiley and Cara Carpenter
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
FAME: THE MUSICAL NATIONAL TOUR Fame: The Musical was performed Sept. 29 at the Ford Center. The show was based on the Academy Award-winning film and Emmy Awardwinning television series. photographed by Joey Brent
Pi-Lillebi Hermansson and Allison Whatley
Sarah Noble, Joyce McCoy and Leigh Anne Carpenter
Jaravia Hemphill and Morgan Hobbs
Marie Outlaw, Terry Buffington, Heather Outlaw, Kim Patterson, Regina Black and Kate Victor
Cindy and Morris Stocks
Randi Patterson and Carlie Stanford
Lois and John Arrechea
Deena Heath and Crystalin Lewis
Scott and Anita Drury
Rose and Hubert Spears
Gaye and Steve Case
names names Shan Carrasco names names and Terry names Rockette names names
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
Amanda Tailyour and Jake Gibbs
Sumin Jeon, Clara Bersch and Marina Forster
Chase and Brittany Dudley
Jo Dale Mistilis and Kay Bryant
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
L.Q.C . LAMAR’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Lamar Legacy Friends hosted a birthday party Oct. 2 in honor of L.Q.C. Lamar. George Kehoe portrayed the statesman while guests enjoyed cake, refreshments and tours of the L.Q.C. Lamar house. photographed by Joey Brent
Andrew Stirling and Millie Meaders
Priscilla and Mills Hawkins
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Deborah and George Kehoe
Richard Copp and Jim Pryor
Nila Williams, Darlene Copp and Martha Ellen Byars
Richard and Gale Gurner
Ray Neilsen, John Hardy and Ken McGraw
Mary Queyja and Helene Berton
Robert Saarnio and Andi Bedsworth
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View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
9/11 DAY OF SERVICE & REMEMBRANCE Members of the L.O.U. community gathered for the 15th annual 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance at the Oxford Activity Center. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Kaitlin Wilkinson and Rebecca Bishop
Kail and Jenny Gains
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
Jeff Busby and Tim Potts
Lawson Brines and Sid McManus
Jeff Roy, Chad Ferguson, Larry McKinney and Jeremy Williams
Joe and Rebecca Seawright
Anna Takerer, Hayden Brines, Justine Perrier and Bradley Hatcher
Halee Pate Russom and Anthony Fleming
Deb Helms and Carolyn Faust
INVITATION Oxford IS GIVING AWAY
EGG BOWL TICKETS! Thanksgiving tradition in Oxford isn’t just about turkey and mashed potatoes – it’s also about football! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be on the lookout for a chance to win tickets to the
MS STATE VS. OLE MISS GAME
NOV. 26 AT VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM Facebook “f ” Logo
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @invitationoxford
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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/invitationoxford
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L.O.U. OKTOBERFEST L.O.U. Oktoberfest, a fundraiser benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, was held Sept. 23 at the Lyric. Guests enjoyed authentic German cuisine and craft beer, and a performance by the polka band Oom-Pah-Sters. photographed by Joey Brent
Judith Thompson and Zell Long
Brenna Ferrell and Pontus Andersson
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Adam Denney and Joey Carlisle
Vic Kunakowsky and John Bishop
Mary Morgan Wade, Dee Hobbs, Billy Catlin and Ken Edwards
Will Eubanks and Hershey Tate
Ali Buchanan, Chesney Petkovsek, Vaughn Phipps and Catherine Hughes
Joe and Elizabeth Sweeney
Preston and Ansley Synder
November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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CREATIVITY. CRAFTED FOR YOU. CUSTOM BUILT ONE OF A KIND
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES DESIGN PLANNING - WALLS TABLES - FURNITURE CEILINGS - FLOORING
THE MAGNOLIA COLLECTION
128 HWY 30 E • THEGREENDOORCO.COM • #LIVEFORIT
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
901.647.5850
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY BETHANY BYRD
University of Mississippi graduates are bringing national attention to the state with their efforts to revitalize their Laurel neighborhood through an HGTV show, an online store and more.
written by Melanie Crownover
W
hen Erin and Ben Napier open their store Laurel Mercantile just before Christmas, it will bookend a wildly successful year for the University of Mississippi graduates. In January 2016, the pilot for the couple’s renovation show, Home Town, premiered on HGTV to an audience of 2.2 million viewers. There was so much support for the television project that the server for Erin’s blog temporarily crashed the day they announced network approval for the series. The first season of the show will feature the couple renovating various houses in their neighborhood. Filming just wrapped up, and the show will air in 2017. The Napiers have the same goals for the show and the store, which will be the brickand-mortar version of their successful online shop at erinandben.co: to showcase and fortify the town they love. It’s a mission they’ve attached to almost every personal and business venture they’ve undertaken since they married and moved back to Erin’s hometown of Laurel in 2008.
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN NAPIER
Going Home “This is a lumber town that almost died in the 1990s,” Ben said. “When we moved here, the Main Street Association had just started, and there were hardly any people living downtown. That was our neighborhood then, and we just wanted people to see what we saw. We kind of became the unofficial ambassadors after that.” He became president of the association; she was the pro bono designer for neighborhood projects. Meanwhile, Erin’s event and wedding stationery business, Lucky Luxe, took off, and Ben, who was working as a student minister, started making furniture. In 2008, they took on the renovation of their 1910 downtown loft. The website Apartment Therapy featured the renovations, and Erin continued to tell their story through social media when they moved into another downtown home in 2011 that was structurally rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. Instagram pictures of the cosmetic renovations to their home, along with shots of Ben’s furniture and Erin’s graphic designs, drew an HGTV exec to their story. By the time they shot the pilot, their own home renovation was finished and Ben had been a full-time woodworker with his own business, Scotsman Co., for about a year.
The Napiers renovated their own home while also focusing on Erin’s stationery business and Ben’s furniture business. His elder’s bench (opposite) and kitchen cart (left) are pictured. Erin is on hiatus from Lucky Luxe to focus on Home Town and Laurel Mercantile.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN NAPIER
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INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016
mississippi made Keeping their products local was a point of pride from the beginning for the entrepreneurs. Ben still uses reclaimed Mississippi pine and oak in most of his handmade furniture, including his trendsetting elder’s bench and mobile kitchen cart. Even his outdoor pieces, which need more durability to face the elements, are made from Delta cypress. Despite the national production, the show is still a very local product. All of the houses they redo, three at a time in an eight-week span, are in Laurel. The construction crew hails from there or Hattiesburg. And when a complex problem or needed supply takes them out of their zip code, they keep the outsourced work as close to home as possible. “We’ll head to Tupelo and Jackson when the story line leads us there for a particular product, but we try not to go out of state,” Erin said. “Our production company and the network are as invested as we are in showcasing what’s here and changing the narrative about our state. It’s 100 percent positive and 100 percent Mississippi.”
new venture, same love Resuscitating the Laurel Mercantile, one of the town’s classic businesses, fits right into Erin and Ben’s ongoing efforts to revive Laurel. The sizable department store had been a downtown hallmark offering home goods of all types from 1901 until it closed in the 1930s. The pair partnered with their next-door neighbors and best friends – Ben’s college roommate, Josh Nowell, and his wife, Emily, and Erin’s college roommate, Mallorie Rasberry, and her husband, Jim – to make the revival happen. The couples are regulars on Home Town, and now they will help manage the mercantile, too. “Erin and Ben already had a great online store, but since most of us are from here, we have that same passion for making Laurel what we’ve always known it can be,” Josh, the
A skillet breads towel, cutting board, Laurel candle, Scotsman Co. cap, soup and cereal mug, Scotsman Co. sweatshirt and rolling pin are just a few of the Laurel Mercantile products available at erinandben.co. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY LINDSAY MILLER
mercantile’s chief operating officer, said. “We wanted to give people a reason to come here and see how charming it is in person.” The mercantile will be housed in the 6,000-square-foot former Smith Furniture building, which had stood abandoned for decades. The partners closed on the site in August and began construction the following month. The open-floor-plan structure was in good condition, requiring just functional repairs, including a new roof, minor masonry, salvage of the back freight elevator and reconstruction of the front facade to resemble a plate-glass storefront from yesteryear. Josh expects to finish in time for a holiday grand opening. The online Laurel Mercantile store featuring Ben’s and Erin’s products launched in November 2015. The website (currently erinandben.co, which will change to laurelmercantile.com after the physical store opens) offers just a preview of the goods to come. It’s now the only place to buy Scotsman Co.’s line of furniture, men’s bags, flannel shirts and sweatshirts. Other vintage and signature items available through the mercantile range from kitchenware and decor to hand towels, quilts and candles. Most of the products are made in the state, around the South or by a dedicated craftsman elsewhere in the United States. The variety of merchandise should grow after the Laurel storefront opens. The Napiers and their partners plan to expand the mercantile over the next five years to rival its past glory, selling what Erin calls “well-made Americana meant to be loved and used until it’s worn out or passed down.” “We know all [television] shows end eventually, but we want our brand to last because what you get with us is something you can depend on,” she said. “We want Laurel Mercantile to be a community place that inspires people to visit our local stores and other towns to see what’s there. If someone comes here because of Home Town, we want it to touch all of Laurel and this state in a positive way. ”
The Nowells (left), Napiers (center) and Rasberrys, best friends and co-owners of the Laurel Mercantile, are pictured in front of the historic building that will soon house the store.
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Delta Supper Club’s family-style pop-up dinners create a sense of community that pays homage to Southern supper clubs of the past. written by Toni Overby photographed by Rory Doyle and Tate Nations
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ot many would think to throw an elaborate dinner party under the wing of an airplane in a cavernous hangar at a small-town airport. But when left to Delta Supper Club, a place like Greenwood-Leflore Airport can be transformed into a five-star restaurant with a meal prepared by a James Beard Award-winning chef. For an annual fee of $100, DSC members have the chance to buy up to two tickets to attend five to seven pop-up events such as this at various locations throughout the Delta and north Mississippi. Local and out-of-town chefs with ties to the South are brought in to cater the events, which are reminiscent of supper clubs from the past – a generations-old Southern tradition but with a new twist. Stewart Robinson, an insurance claims adjuster from Oxford who also works as a chef and hunting guide for Esperanza Outdoors, came up with the idea of creating a supper club a little over a year ago. After a chance meeting on social media with chef David Crews of Cleveland, whose experience in the culinary world includes working as a private chef for Morgan Freeman and serving as chef for the annual Southern Foodways Symposium, the pair exchanged a few phone calls and set up a face-to-face meeting. Robinson explained his vision to Crews: bring in Southern chefs to create unique dishes for guests at local historical landmarks and share the history of the Delta over a good meal. Delta Supper Club dinners are as much about the ambience as they are the food. The May 20 event transformed the Greenwood-Leflore Airport into an elaborate restaurant with custom-made place settings. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Crews liked the concept and believed the two were onto something. “Having spent almost the last two decades in the culinary industry building a reputation as a hardworking chef, Robinson and I had the back of the house down pat,” he said. Robinson brought on Kimme Hargrove, a marketing executive from Greenwood, as the public relations representative, and the three officially launched DSC in 2015. Hargrove’s role at DSC is a departure from her usual one whipping up new recipes from the kitchen of her Greenwood home for her personal blog and as food blogger for Invitation Magazines. Though her posts are popular on social media, Hargrove is quick to distinguish herself from a trained chef. “In the culinary world, you must be careful with the term ‘chef,’ ” she said. “Chefs go to school. If anything, I am a homegrown cook.” At DSC pop-up dinners, Hargrove leaves the cooking to the trained professionals and focuses on her duties as the front-of-house manager. She leaves no detail overlooked, from place cards to seating to entertainment. At the dinner held at Kimmel Aviation Insurance Hangar in Greenwood, she made place cards shaped like paper airplanes with each guest’s name written on a wing. “It doesn’t matter if I have to prepare 100 or 200; each one is important and takes time, thought and effort,” she said. “We love our diners and want them to have the best and most unique experience possible at each dinner.” DSC provides unique experiences for the guest chefs it features, too. Chef Alex Harrell of Angeline in New Orleans catered the aviation event and enjoyed his time with DSC. “Cooking for Delta Supper Club was a true pleasure,” he said. “The team’s passion for the area’s unique culture and history is infectious. After experiencing some of it, I understand how DSC attracts such welcoming and engaging members.” Member Sara Gray Jackson of Madison attended the dinner and said that Harrell’s cooking was as good as the company. Stewart Robinson, Kimme Hargrove and David Crews (pictured at top) founded Delta Supper Club in 2015 as a way to spotlight Southern chefs, celebrate the culture of the Delta and promote local businesses.
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“Everywhere you turn, there is an expression of love: for the food, the land and the tradition.” -chef Edward Lee
“One of my favorite things about Delta Supper Club is how the food is served family style. It has been fun getting to know new people and then become friends over an incredible dish,” she said. “I have been blown away by all the delectable courses. They use local ingredients, yet the dishes are ones that you wouldn’t see on many menus around Mississippi.” Harrell’s menu featured Wagyu beef and passed plates of cheddar and charred green onion biscuits that members filled with Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Ham and Linden Plantation honey. The scenery in the hangar included models dressed as WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots), the women stationed out of Greenwood who flew aircraft during World War II. This blending of history and good food has been the goal of DSC from the start. Its inaugural dinner was held Oct. 30, 2015, at the historic Dockery Plantation outside of Cleveland. Dinners have also been held at the New Roxy Theater in Clarksdale and the B.B. King Museum in Indianola. Although there are about 150 members, the number of guests in attendance at each event depends on the logistics of the venue, including seating availability. Members are emailed the specifics of the next dinner about six weeks ahead of time with a deadline to RSVP and a reminder that seats are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. “The Greenwood event’s 178 seats sold out in three minutes,” Hargrove said. In an effort to give back to the region it promotes, the supper club has also evolved into a philanthropic organization, donating 30% of the annual membership fees to scholarships for Mississippi culinary arts students and to the Delta Seed Bank, which provides local The inaugural DSC dinner was held Oct. 30, 2015, at the historic Dockery Plantation outside of Cleveland and featured food prepared by chef Edward Lee. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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gardeners with heirloom seeds to harvest in their personal gardens. When the crops grow, the seed bank buys back some of the bounty and gives it to Delta Supper Club chefs to use in their dinners. Crews says this was Robinson’s goal from the start: blending good food, a family-style atmosphere and a good cause to benefit this part of Mississippi. Everyone involved, from the guests to the chefs, can appreciate that sentiment and experiences it when they take part. “Working with the team at Delta Supper Club is like walking into a family with big dreams and bigger hearts,” said chef Edward Lee, who was the featured chef at the first DSC dinner. Lee is author of the cookbook Smoke & Pickles and starred in season 3 of the PBS television series Mind of a Chef. “Everywhere you turn, there is an expression of love: for the food, the land and the tradition. Like family, everyone helps out with anything that needs to be done. This same spirit extends to the guests who enjoyed themselves so much. I don’t think I have ever done a dinner where I heard so much laughter coming from the dining room.”
Michelle Bernstein (pictured far left) was the featured chef for the Aug. 26 DSC family-style dinner at the legendary B.B. King Museum in Indianola. November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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written by Lanie Anderson photographed by David Reid
In between trips to photograph sea life and sunken ships, certified scuba diver David Reid teaches the sport to students in his diving classes.
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avid Reid spent the summers of his childhood swimming and snorkeling at his family’s lake house in Canada. Now the Oxford resident has turned the hobby of his youth into his dream job. “This planet we live on is 70 percent covered with water,” Reid said. “Don’t you want to know what’s in all of that water? That’s where my interest lies.” Reid owns Reid’s Electric Service in Oxford and has been an electric contractor for 24 years. But when he is not working for his own company, Reid teaches scuba classes at the
University of Mississippi and is an open-water instructor at The Dive Shop in Memphis. In 1985, Reid received his scuba certification (“scuba” stands for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”), but he stopped diving for several years. He renewed his certification in 2013 when he and his wife, Denise, decided to take an all-inclusive vacation to Jamaica, which included amenities such as complimentary scuba diving. “It was like falling off of a cliff,” Reid said. “I just got back into [scuba diving] in a big way. I do roughly 100 dives every year now.”
Reid goes on two or three diving trips each year with The Dive Shop and is also a public safety diver for the Search and Recovery Team of Braden, Tennessee. Reid has taken scubadiving trips to Útila, Honduras; the Bahamas; and the Florida Keys. “At the end of every dive, I tell people that it was my second favorite dive ever,” Reid said. “The next question people ask is, ‘What’s your favorite dive?’ I answer, ‘The next [dive].’ ” Reid recently earned his certification to teach scuba diving and splits his time between Ole Miss and The Dive Shop, which connected November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
“This planet we live on is 70 percent covered with water. Don’t you want to know what’s in all of that water? That’s where my interest lies.” -David Reid Reid to the teaching opportunity at Ole Miss. Lee Anne and Ron McDonald of Southaven are two of Reid’s students at The Dive Shop. Lee Anne said Reid’s relaxed teaching style is her favorite thing about the class. “David is very calm in the water,” she said. “He was very thorough with his instructions. Even his instructions with hand gestures underwater were very specific. He was always calm – never jerky or unsure of himself.” Reid teaches his students about the physiology behind scuba diving, such as pressure differentials in the body above water versus underwater and their effects on the body. He also teaches students different precautions to take while diving. “We teach people how to be safe underwater,” Reid said. “It’s considered an extreme sport, and there are risks involved like there are with skydiving. We teach people how to safely handle those risks.” Reid also teaches specialty classes such as underwater photography, which is another of his hobbies. He invested in special equipment to take pictures underwater to capture the special moments of his dives. “I take pictures of fish, lobsters, corals and sponges,” Reid said. “I also take a lot of pictures of the people I dive with because some of those people become my students or closest friends.” Reid also photographs old shipwrecks. In July, Reid explored a Russian Brigadier Type II Class Frigate, a warship built in the Soviet Union in 1984 that sunk in 1996 off the coast of Cayman Brac. It is affectionately called Captain Keith Tibbetts after the local Cayman
David Reid, who teaches scuba classes at the University of Mississippi and serves as an open-water instructor at The Dive Shop in Memphis, goes on many diving trips each year to places like Honduras and the Cayman Islands to photograph sea life and sunken ships.
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dive operator instrumental in its purchase from Cuba. The McDonalds accompanied Reid on the trip and were with him while he snapped photographs of the warship and its surrounding sea life. “It was really cool to watch David when he was photographing,” Lee Anne said. “He would swim up on a section of fish and stay very still. Even with this huge camera, he would just snap off some of the best pictures I’ve ever seen. It was like the fish were posing for him.” Reid’s underwater bucket list has many places left on it, but he finds fulfillment in passing on his love for scuba diving, which has grown since he was a child. What he enjoys most about teaching is when he sees a student’s “lightbulb” come on and he or she has a successful dive. Reid recalled one student who struggled but finally succeeded with openwater diving. “He caught me and said that if I hadn’t helped him, he would have quit,” Reid said. “To me, that’s the most rewarding thing. If I can see someone else enjoy the sport that I enjoy so much, it makes my day.”
The Russian frigate #356 (pictured left at about 95 feet deep) sunk off the coast of Cayman Brac when it was split in half by a storm in 1996. This is one of the few Russian frigates that can be explored by scuba divers.
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The next generation of the Tosh family are creating new memories in their home near Lamar Park. written by Ginny McCarley
before
photographed by Joe Worthem
Though his parents, Dennis and Beth, sold his childhood home in 2002, Denny Tosh and his wife, Mandi, kept an eye on it. The couple had the idea to one day make the cozy, two-story house nestled among the trees in the old Country Club neighborhood their own. When the interim owners decided to sell, however, the couple weren’t ready to move out of the house they loved in Northpointe where they were raising their children, Stone, 14; Elle, 11; and Claire, 9. “It was on the market maybe for a couple of years, so we just started thinking, ‘What if? Why don’t we do it?’ ” Mandi said. “It just became a good opportunity, and we felt like it was the right time.
It felt like the house had been waiting on us.” Denny, an account manager with FNC, and Mandi, a speech therapist at Lafayette Elementary, closed on the home in January 2012, a decade after Denny’s parents sold it. They knew they wanted to update the home, which was built in the late 1960s, so they enlisted Shapiro & Company Architects in Memphis to add high, vaulted ceilings and an airy, open floor plan, along with a large picture window in the main living area to showcase the sweeping outdoor views. They also expanded the upstairs area and added a master suite. Following the extensive renovations, the family moved November 2016 | INVITATION OXFORD
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“IT FELT LIKE THE HOUSE HAD BEEN WAITING ON US.” -Mandi Tosh
in just a few weeks before Christmas 2012. “I absolutely didn’t imagine this [when I was growing up],” Denny said. “We knew we had to redo it, but it was centrally located and in a great area. It was a really good opportunity.” The Toshes love the house not only for its location but also for the memories it holds, such as Stone’s baptism luncheon and family get-togethers at the holidays. When Denny’s parents decided to sell the house in 2002, just a year after their son Tommy’s unexpected death, they were reluctant to leave behind family memories. “They said, ‘We’re packing all our memories up with us,’” Mandi said. They were initially unsure what Denny’s parents would think of the purchase and renovation, but they were thrilled about the decision. The elder Tosh couple loved the changes Denny and Mandi made. “I remember them saying, ‘That’s exactly what we would have done,’ ” Mandi said. Though much of the house has been changed, special marks of a unique family
Denny and Mandi Tosh (pictured at top with children Stone, Elle and Claire) renovated Denny’s childhood home when they bought it in 2012, making the floor plan more airy and open and adding vaulted ceilings.
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history remain, including a fence Dennis built in 1984, which is now covered in vines and twists around the family’s outdoor area. The backyard now also has a pool and a fire pit, making the area perfect for entertaining. According to Stone, having a house close to downtown with friends in the neighborhood was the best part of the move. “I like that I can walk a lot of places, and I have a lot of friends that live around this area,” he said. His sister Claire also enjoys the amenities. “I like that we can swim at our house,” she said. The family often hosts church activities and family get-togethers, and the warm wood floors, open kitchen and big windows make for a great gathering place. “With the open space, we invite more people over and really look forward to having people over,” Mandi said. “It was rewarding coming back. It brought back a lot of good memories.”
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The Toshes love to entertain and often host church activities and family get-togethers at their home. The large porch, with its wooded view, and the poolside fire pit are popular spots for guests to gather and celebrate.
LET OUR EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU! (662) 234-3878 • WWW.CMREHOMES.COM
CARRIE FULLER (901) 487-1299 JEAN DAULTON (662) 816-0348
WIL MATTHEWS (662) 832-1266 LARRY MCCAY (662) 816-1667
SARAH HAMILTON (662) 801-3640 MIDGE MCCAY (662) 607-1650
ERIC CARLTON (662) 832-1616
CARLYLE THOMAS (662) 934-3515
BETSY PATTON (662) 801-4502
CHERIE MATTHEWS (662) 816-0499
RHONDA RODGERS BECKY TAYLOR (662) 419-0948 (662) 544-2146
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OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE’S XANADU Oxford High School Theatre presented the musical Xanadu Sept. 15 at the Kayla Mize Auditorium. The show, based on the 1980 film, was the season opener for the new school year. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Chloe Busick and Jesse Abbott
Hunter and Kim Henderson
Patrick Lane, Ali Walker and Brynn Ashmore
Mitchell and Tammy Diggs
Tabitha, Adam, Abel and Deborah Sanders
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Mary Gough with Mary Victoria, Hope and Sally Sullivan
Addie Thompson and Katelyn Rock
Ney and Marshal Williams
Jacelyn Frierson, Moriah Price, Melissa Presley and Nayiah Dean
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JAM JAM FUNDRAISER The second annual Jam Jam fundraiser was held Sept. 15 at the Powerhouse to benefit Sustainable Oxford. The event included a jam contest and tasting, live music and children’s activities. photographed by Joey Brent
Jack and Elizabeth Speed
Alice Ricks and Sylvia Mendoza
Rowan and Carley Lovorn
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Steven and Caitlin Hopper
Jamie Hill, Mary Margaret Sanders and Katy Hill
Andrew and Lindsey Abernathy
Betsy Webster and Clara Hopper with Thomas, Declan, Seamus and Siobhan Ray
Stacey Sanford and Nico D’Emidio
Andrew Tackett and Eli Baker
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MOONSTONE AND FRIENDS SHOW Moonstone and Friends performed Sept. 22 at Nutt Auditorium. The fundraiser benefited the Patrons of Music organization, which raises scholarship funds for UM music students. photographed by Joey Brent
Buck and Lil Nelson
Virginia and Neal Huskison
Jerry and Annette Lee with Rex Harrison Brunt
Chloe Craft and Kimberly Ables
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Dr. Gary Lockheimer, Juanita Boutin and Dr. Joyce Sidorfsky
Emma Finley, Julia Plauche and Trey Skocy
Jake, Kent, Bob and Amy Koehler
Melva and Mort Mortimer
Toni and Joe Paolillo
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OXFORD COMMONS CHARITY BOWLING Oxford Commons held the second annual Charity Bowling Tournament Sept. 29 at Premier Lanes. The event benefited Love Packs and included food and prizes for the top winners. photographed by Joey Brent
Holly Taylor, Teresa Pass and Karen King
Kay Hightower and Kristen Elliott
Eileen and Travis Saunders with Sanders Edmonson
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Andrew and Brooke Gobert with Bradley and Ann-Marie Gordon and Andrew Richardson
David Blackbourn with Brooklyn and Wesley Meidl
Sharon and Andy Grace
Kelsie Wright and Bonnie Farris
Dunbar Jenkins and Clint Mitchell
Vic Sullivan and Harry Alexander
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Camie Bianco and Olivia Schnetzler
Michael and Gabby Dawkins
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OXFORD GARDEN CLUB The Oxford Garden Club held a meeting Sept. 15 at the home of Carol Dunn. The club’s objectives are to advance gardening, encourage community beautification and assist in all forms of conservation. photographed by Joey Brent
Barbara McIntosh and Dianne Fergusson
Christy Knapp and Barbara Jim Turner
Jacquelyn Gage and Brinkley Gaia
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Gaye Flynt and Fannie Elliott
Mary Burton McGee and Debby Tomes
Julie Montgomery and Judy Youngblood
Ashley Windham, Tanya Coombs, Lona Waller and Samantha Morris
Susan Heyman and Kathy Wood
June Goza and Elizabeth Fisher
Annette Lee and Ann Wilson
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LUNCH TRAY TOWN HALL MEETING The Oxford School District held a Lunch Tray Town Hall Meeting Sept. 27 in the Oxford Middle School cafeteria. Participants sampled new menu items and discussed healthy eating options. photographed by Joey Brent
Liz Young and Mary Elizabeth Smithson
Vanessa and Milo Keeler
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Whitman and Stacey Smith
Draiden and Dauquiri Thompson
Samantha Little, Kathy Howington and Meagan Maloney
Anne and Tommy McCauley
David, Natalia and Mai Urbina
Julius and Sirena Morgan
Brian Harvey and Tim Howington
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UNIVERSITY DAMES NEWCOMERS RECEPTION The University Dames held its new-members reception Sept. 18 at the Lyceum. The social and charitable group of women affiliated with the University of Mississippi was founded in 1927. photographed by Joey Brent
Inoka Widanagamage and Faith Bachus
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Sue Gaston and Barbara Neyses
Susan Zachos and Keri Dibrell
Katie Garner, Ginger Justice and Toni Paolillo
Rebecca Colby and Amy Johnson
Kelli O’Reilly and Gabby Coggin
Sara Platt and Ashley Brewer
Michele Fier and Linda Whitten
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Sharon Lee and Lindsey Hendrickson
Patricia Stewart and Nancy Shankle
Shirley Gray and Ann Tucker
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TAILGATE FOR PALMER The Palmer Home for Children held a tailgatethemed fundraiser Oct. 8 in the Field Level Club at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The event included SEC football on the Jumbotron, live music and food. photographed by Joey Brent
Jennifer and Scott Romero
Ramano Craig and Chloe Brown
Charlie Edwards with Cory and McKenzie Williamson
Brian and Catherine Phillips
Roane and Robert Grantham
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Bethany Cooper, Sabrina Caruso, Mark Yacovone and Chris Caruso
Elizabeth and Robert Paine
Allison Chimenya, Kellum Kim, Drake Bassett, Sarah Hollis and Meredith Humphries
Kelley and Jesse Pinion
Ginger Farris and Josh Whelan
Anna and Jonathan Harrington
Barbara Jim and Bill Turner
Craig and Heather Webb
$119,900
• 3 BR/3 Bath condo • 2 levels, with balcony • Stainless steel appliances • Hardwood floors • Community swimming pool • Great investment property!
CHRISTOPHER SUBER (662)419-0231 CLSuber@gmail.com 1923 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.5621 Each office independently owned and operated.
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EDWIN HOLT WITH RED CLAY ROADHOUSE University of Mississippi alumnus and blues musician Edwin Holt performed with his band Red Clay Roadhouse on Sept. 16 at the Powerhouse. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Lynne King and Virginia Campbell
Gregg Mitchell and Jay Stoltz
Katie Lovelace with Stassa and Jeanne Moore
Abby and Allen Galyean
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Ben Warren, Lauren Long and Steve Hayes
Bradford and Alison Barry
Hunter and Austin Daughtry with Drew Derge
John Howie and Doug Thompson
Shelley and Kelly Foy
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ARTIST RECEPTION Southside Gallery hosted an artist reception on Sept. 15. Guests viewed current exhibitions Fire Water Earth by Lucius Lamar and Which Wert and Art by Jerrod Partridge. photographed by Michaela Cooper
Jessie and Jerrod Partridge with Carlyle Wolfe
Brian Whisenant and Casey Hester
Marie Darden, Emma Tkachuck and Betsy Webster
Abby Daniels, Talbert Toole and Jennie Denton
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Margaret Ault, Dorothy Chadwick and Sallie Kate Ray
Mary Ruth Womble and Caitlin Holland
Jawan Elliott, Rochelle Harwood, Sheena Edwards and Callie Everett
Lucius Lamar with Carole and Bill Dye
Robert Porter, Anne Etheridge and Kerry Hamilton
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21 UNITED’S BUDDY WALK The third annual 21 United Buddy Walk was held Oct. 9 at the Armory Pavilion. The event featured special guest Ross Bjork, children’s activities and live music by Luke Fisher and Moon Pie Curtis. photographed by Joey Brent
Brad, Vicki and Dale Armstrong
Sara Logan and Clay Sanders
Christa and Canaan Davis with Mona Russell
Sarah Ann Ratliff and Cofield Collins
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Ethan Tellier with Dan and Joe Warnecke
Mary Carson and Terry Sherali
Reagan Baker, Brittany Sneed and Reed Baker
Allie Rose Baquie and Jennie Denton
Lynn and Bill Sloan
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LITERACY COUNCIL TRIVIA NIGHT The Lafayette County Literacy Council held a trivia night Sept. 20 at the Blind Pig. Proceeds from the event benefited local literacy programs. photographed by Jessica Richardson
Brian Mullins and Phillip Spencer
Sarah Jane Miller and Ramona Brawner
Derek Moreton, Michael McLellan and Eldon Blount
Whitney Huber and Lizzy Demoss
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Quentin Dornan and Edward Andrews
Greg and Bremen Earnest with Meaghin Burke
Ashley Sheils with Joey and Angela Rutherford
Brittany and Jared Smith
Erin Killion and Wallis Cronin
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S A V E T H E D A T E 5TH ANNUAL
CommunityWide Watch Party Benefiting Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi Saturday, November 12 at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center during the Ole Miss/Texas A&M game. Doors open 2 hours before kickoff. Title Sponsors:
Opportunities available for monetary, food, and silent auction sponsorships. Contact YPO@OXFORDMS.COM for more info. Purchase tickets at oxfordarts.com
SILENT AUCTION . CASH BAR . FOOD FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS
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2016
Sardis Lake Chapter
DU Banquet
NOV. 29 JACKSON CENTER 1111 Jackson Ave. Oxford, MS
For tickets, sponsorship information, or to become a committee member, contact: Joseph Murphy (662) 397-2608 Robbie Swearingen (662) 316-9381 Hunter Pridgen (662) 699-0208
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 100
COMMUNITY TALK WITH FELDER RUSHING
Felder Rushing
Jan and Bill Henning with Frank Poole
EVANS PETREE WELCOME RECEPTION
Paul Edwards and Julie Wells
OXFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISNEY FUNDRAISER
Alex and Brooke Bridge
SENIOR LIFESTYLE EXPO
Barbara and David Kern
Stephen Threlkeld and Jason Hoeksema
Natalia Brown, Leah Tullos, Lyndsey Wade and Amy Daniels
Pat Patterson and Tamara Hillmer
Q&A WITH OLYMPIAN SAM KENDRICKS
Mike and Carolyn Windham
Leanne Zimmer and Sam Kendricks
Mae and Mindy Maxwell with Marni Kendricks
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OUT AND ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 99
OLE MISS THEATRE’S CLYBOURNE PARK
LAFAYETTE COUNTY DEMOCRATS OFFICE OPENING
Amanda Johnson and Shanleigh Roberts
Anna, Morgan and Ree Beavers
BIG BAD BREAKFAST COOKBOOK RELEASE EVENT
Katie Adams and Olivia Lyberg
ED CROOM’S BOOK SIGNING
Karen Kettells and John Currence
ELECTION COUNTDOWN
Kiara Mathis and Trenton Scaife
Sharon Schreiber, Anne Steel and Kataria Webb
Pat Tatum, Richard Howorth and Dickie Scruggs
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Matthew Mazzanti, Wesley Rule and Tia Floyd
PROVISION FOOTBALL FRIDAYS
Jake McGraw and Allison Pena
Missy Wilson and Caroline McIntosh
Emily Chiste and Jennie Hamilton
Join us for an evening of FREE Family-Friendly Holiday Fun!
Tuesday Nov. 29, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at The Powerhouse Food • Live Music • Silent Auction • Visit with Santa Student Art Auction • Children’s Activities • Raffle
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INVITATION Oxford
Check out our
Fridays are tasty at INVITATIONOXFORD.COM! Visit our food blog for delicious recipes contributed by food blogger Kimme Hargrove each week.
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KERRY HAMILTON interviewed by Meaghin Burke photographed by Joe Worthem
Trials of the Earth: The True Story of a Pioneer Woman by Mary Mann Hamilton is a firsthand account of life in the Mississippi Delta in the late 1800s. The author’s great-grandson Kerry Hamilton helped get her book reissued. Q: How did your great-grandmother’s diary originally come to be published? A: In the 1930s, while my great-grandmother was first working on getting it published, she had a dream that my great-grandfather told her not to do it. So she pulled it. Fast-forward to 1992: I’m reading a Square Books newsletter and found out the book had just been published by the University Press of Mississippi. We were thrilled.
Q: Has it taken a lot of work to get the new edition published? A: It took 20 years to get it all done, but we finally got the rights back. The funniest thing is that [publishing company] Little, Brown turned the book down in 1936, and they are the ones that won it in the bidding war. We sold the rights to them two years ago, and it was published in July. Q: What kind of response is the book getting? A: It’s doing very well. We were lucky that we had interest from a lot of newspapers and have had great media coverage. It’s been reviewed in the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal. NPR On Point and Fresh Air covered it. We’ve had offers from film companies, and hopefully soon it will become a series. Q: Is it a big responsibility to take care of your great-grandmother’s legacy? A: It is, but I am honored to represent the family. She died in 1936, but I get to keep her memory alive. I manage all the rights for the book, but the manager for our LLC is Governor Ronnie Musgrove, who is also a great-grandson. Our family is thrilled that she took the time to write this book, and all we’re doing is trying to keep her voice alive. 104
INVITATION OXFORD | November 2016