Oxford Magazine Nov/Dec 2023

HOLIDAY RECIPES | ARTIST CAMP BEST

CAKE AS CANVAS: BREMMA’S CAKERY & CONFECTIONERY THE HEART OF OXFORD JOHN COFIELD: CHRISTMAS PAST

DECEMBER 2023 OxfordMag.com Volume 7 | Issue 6 $4.95

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GUIDE TO GIVING 2023 11/29/23 4:44 PM

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HERNANDO . OXFORD . TUPELO . RIDGELAND Your Premier Lighting Store and So Much More...

W W W. M A G N O L I A L I G H T I N G . C O M OxfordMag.com 1

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2 December 2023

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FEATURES

38

43 GUIDE TO GIVING 38 EDITOR’S PICKS Holiday Gift Guide

home & style 22

The Heart of Oxford

arts & culture 10

An Untold Story: Artist Camp Best

14

Thistle Ridge Band

18

Sanctuary Arts Festival Featured Artists

food & drink 29

Cake as Canvas

58

Recipes for Entertaining

OM in every issue 4 Contributors

5 Letter from the Publisher 8 Events

28 Book Picks 33 Q&A

64 Out and About 71 Said and Done 72 Marketplace

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contributors

Joey Brent, Photographer EDITORIAL

Joey Brent is a local photographer in Oxford, Mississippi.

Jimmy Durham

CONTRIBUTORS

Davis Coen Angela Cutrer Joey Brent Jim Dees Allyson Duckworth Bruce Newman Julie Hines Mabus Elizabeth Tettleton Mason Maya Martin Cody Morrison

Julie Mabus, Writer

A native of Jackson, Mississippi and graduate of Ole Miss, Julie went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Finance from Columbia University. During her marriage to Governor Ray Mabus Julie served as First Lady of Mississippi from 1988-1992 then accompanied him to Saudi Arabia during his tenure as U.S. Ambassador. She now resides in Oxford, is a mother of two beautiful daughters. and has recently written her first book “Confessions of a Southern Beauty Queen” to universal acclaim.

DESIGN

Allison Dale

EDITOR

Amelia Ott

Allyson Duckworth, Contributor

Allyson Duckworth is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and a lifelong resident of Mississippi. She owns interior design firm Pearly Peacock in Oxford. She draws inspiration for design from her world travels.

MARKETING

Clifton Clements Odom Mike Haskins

ADMINISTRATION

Rebecca Alexander, Publisher Emily Presley, Audience Development

Davis Coen, Writer

Davis Coen is a freelance writer and newspaper reporter from Oxford by way of South Carolina. He’s had stories published in various local publications including Oxford Eagle, Oxford Citizen and Daily Journal. He also maintains a music career with over a dozen tours of Europe and regular airplay on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Elizabeth Tettleton Mason, Contributor

Elizabeth Tettleton Mason is a freelance writer based in Oxford, MS with her husband, Scott. A two-time graduate of Ole Miss, Elizabeth and Scott both work at the University full-time. Coming from a food service and event management background, Elizabeth focuses her writing on culinary topics such as restaurants, chefs, small business development, the arts, and supporting the expansion of food sovereignty for Native American Foodways.

4 December 2023

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from the editor

A ON THE COVER HOLIDAY RECIPES | ARTIST CAMP BEST

Ah, Christmas! What captivates my soul during this season is the gentle pause it brings, a moment of appreciation. In the hustle and bustle of recipe searches, gift hunts, travel plans - you name it - we dive into a dance of getting ready, but boy does our hard work turn into a beautiful melody!

There is a magic that unfolds when family and friends converge in shared laughter and love, creating an indescribable warmth within my heart. These are the moments of pure joy that I eagerly await all year!

The ritual of unwrapping our cherished life treasures, adorning the tree with ornaments that tell the story of our lives. Each bauble tells a tale, transporting us through time and compelling us to pause – a pause to express gratitude to the divine for these moments given to us, and the moments that lie ahead.

In this issue, Allyson paints a vivid portrait of the renowned ‘heart’ of Oxford, unraveling the rich and enchanting history of the Lafayette County Courthouse. Her narrative is a testament to the magnificence that resides in the very soul of our beloved town.

Then, Elizabeth graciously invites us into the culinary haven of Brooke Ferguson, the new custodian of what once was ‘The Cakery’. Bremma’s sweet story unfolds, leaving behind an irresistible craving for the delicious Christmas treats they craft with love.

In John Cofield’s captivating “Christmas Past In Oxford”, he immerses us in the nostalgic warmth of Oxford’s festive charm. From illuminated homes to the spirited chaos of the Christmas Parade, he beautifully captures the essence of small-town celebrations, adding a timeless touch to the holiday joy echoing in the pages ahead.

As we draw the curtain on this edition, my wish is for you to immerse yourself in its pages, to find resonance in those fleeting moments, and most importantly, to pause. May the magic of Christmas infuse your spirit, may you remember the reason for the season and may these stories resonate with the echoes of your own cherished memories.

With warm and festive spirit,

Amelia

amelia.ott@oxfordeagle.com CAKE AS CANVAS: BREMMA’S CAKERY & CONFECTIONERY THE HEART OF OXFORD JOHN COFIELD: CHRISTMAS PAST

DECEMBER 2023 OxfordMag.com Volume 7 | Issue 6 $4.95

GUIDE TO GIVING 2023

Mary Leary, founder of Lovepacks Photo by Bruce Newman Design by Allison Dale

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6 December 2023

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WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD NOVEMBER 18 - JANUARY 7 Holly Jolly Holidays Visit Oxford’s 4th Annual Holly Jolly Holidays. Ice skating at the Old Armory Pavillion and holiday cheer.

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2 Theatre Oxford presents Peppermint Bear and the Toy Elves November 30 and December 1 | 6:00 p.m.

December 2 | 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Christmas planning is underway at the North Pole, and con artist Seymour B. Liverworth is there to sell the elves on his new amusemachine. Will the machine revolutionize toy-making or put an end to Christmas? See this holiday musical with the whole family to find out!

DECEMBER 4 Oxford Magazine Sip and Sign Paragon Bank | 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 pm.

Author John Cofield will sign his new book, The Cofield Collection Vol III. Photographer Susan Mah will sign her photography book. Small bites and sips offered.

NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2

The Holiday Art Market The Powerhouse | 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The Holiday Art Market provides artists a pop up retail location for the holiday season. The event will be held in the Gallery of the Powerhouse offering 10’ x 6’ booths. This is limited to artists and makers with homemade, home-baked, and handmade items.

November 30 11:00 a.m - 7 p.m, December 1-2 event from 9:00 a.m. . to 7: 00 p.m.

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DECEMBER 10

Holiday House Tour 2023 Benefitting Doors Of Hope University of Mississippi |

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m Tour Sorority houses decorated for the holidays. Tickets are on Eventbright for $30 and day of the event are $35.

WHAT TO DO IN OXFORD Museum Milkshake Mash-Ups University Museum - For middle schoolers & teens, frees December 7 | 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

DECEMBER 9 Oxford Civic Chorus 25th Anniversary Winter Concert David H Nutt Auditorium, University of Mississippi | 3:00 p.m.

Featuring John Rutter’s “Magnificat” and other familiar seasonal works such as “Sleigh Ride” and “12 Days of Christmas.” Oxford Civic Chorus’ annual winter concert is sure to transport listeners straight into the heart of the holiday season! Free admission. Donations accepted in support of the 25th anniversary season.

DECEMBER 31 CASAblanca New Year’s Eve Gala The Powerhouse | 7:30 p.m.

Ring in the New Year with CASA of North Mississippi. Tickets are $100 and include dinner, casino fun, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Cash bar. Featuring the band, Groove Factor. All proceeds benefit the abused and neglected children we serve in North Mississippi.

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ARTS

& CULTURE

AN UNTOLD STORY

CAMP BEST

BY JULIE MABUS PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN AND CONTRIBUTED

10 December 2023

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T

The backdoor of his Highlands cottage was unlocked. Driving sounds of horns and a keyboard wafted through the glass door, signaling he was in a music-kind-of-mood--but he always was. I tapped on the glass, and Emma, his beloved rescue, a Great Pyrenees and Lab mix, bounded from the bedroom, announcing my arrival. Camp waved me in.

Without a word, we started our jitterbug moves. Camp and I have been dancing together for as long as we have been friends--nearly six decades. When we were in the eighth grade at Bailey Junior High School in Jackson, I asked him to escort me to WLBT TV's Saturday evening Teen Tempo show, setting the stage for a life-long partnership.

Nathan Campbell Best is a walking contradiction. He presents himself elegantly in dress and manner; he's always a favorite at social events and as handsome as he was in his youth.

But he has forever struggled with a deep and darker view of himself. And that complicated struggle has spawned an artistic expression laced with lines and colors telling curious stories of unimagined joy and dread, often inextricably woven together.

He directed me to his sofa and handed me a headset connected to his laptop. "I want you to listen and watch, and I want you to do it alone. I'm going to leave the room. It takes about twenty minutes."

A recording of The Pat Metheny Group's "So May It Secretly Begin," a mesmerizing jazz sound, launched the video. In that video, Camp used the pen and paper artwork from his black-and-white period as a canvas for his color-infused drawings, creating a montage of his work through sound and vision. Each piece is small, usually no larger than a sheet of typing paper. But to absorb the intensity of the work, one must sit with each colored pencil drawing and study every square inch of the patterns and designs embedded within it. Even the borders framing the subject are rife with complicated geometry, not unlike the tiniest spiderwebs.

An elaborate history of childhood dreams and fears ooze through those gossamer images... And so his story began.

"Every week when I was a little boy, my family went to Nanny and Jim's (his mother's parents) after church for Sunday dinner. Before we ate, Nanny put a stack of drawing paper and a box of crayons on the dining room table. I remember the feeling so clearly; I loved that time. I think Nanny sensed my affinity for colors and shapes.

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"Sometimes, when we were alone, Nanny would point to a little cabinet by the sofa, 'There's a box of paper dolls in the chest.'

For me, it was like fashion and architecture combined. I could build the outfits and make the characters real."

But Homer, Camp's father, was a rough-and-tumble sort of man and wanted his two boys to hunt and fish like he did. Camp resisted.

Even if he didn't know how to articulate his thoughts, Camp deeply respected the sanctity of all life. He wasn't going to kill. But how could Camp please his father now? That desire relentlessly drove him from his earliest years.

Thankfully, Camp found Little League Baseball and was all-star good at it. Those summer-night games on Lakeland Drive in Jackson were a family affair, filled with bright lights and boys running around in uniforms, proudly signifying their team sponsors. Camp made life-long friends, and the old team photographs hang on his den wall today, boys proudly sporting their Jackson Tile uniforms. But, most of all, Homer was proud of his son.

"A few years earlier, I had found music. My paternal grandmother was one of the "Singing Dotys" and a wonderful pianist.

Consequently, I easily slipped into piano lessons from Mrs. Dollarhide, Jim Dollarhide's mother." Jim was a great cinematographer from Jackson whose life was cut short in a 2016 fire. "I loved the keyboard, and Mrs. Dollarhide said I had a natural talent for it. But that confused me, and I didn't stay with it. Music wasn't manly enough. What a shame! You know how much I love music."

Camp pointed to a stack of weathered "Wizard of Oz" books his mother had read to him as a

child. "Mama had all the Oz books.

They were about a mystical journey and a powerful man hiding behind a curtain. And those magical characters..." Oz's theme of journey and fantastical friends along the path would eventually creep into his web of shapes and colors when he finally began to respect and embrace his talent. But it would take many years.

Junior high introduced a whole new social structure for Camp. He was painfully shy, but people flocked to him with his sculptured face, perfect clothes and hair, and kind heart. I was one of them. And no one would have ever suspected the torment racing beneath that ideal persona.

"As I grew bigger and more athletic, I still longed for acceptance from my father.

Thankfully, I discovered tennis. It was a respected sport that took me across the Southeast to play in tournaments. I felt normal. My parents were proud." At the same time, he suppressed all his artistic talent. The dark hole was getting a bit crowded.

"When I got to Murrah High School, I realized some guys like Johnny Barranco and Johnny Buffalo were good at music and proud of it. That gave me permission to participate. I joined the Murrah Singers and sang and danced in every school musical.

All the guys were doing it." He sat back for a minute. "I missed so much along the way."

I reminded him of the notes we passed in high school. He always drew little geometric shapes on them. "Yep, I doodled. I always doodled. That was my safe artistic expression. All things grew from there.

"Going to Ole Miss was expected. I joined a fraternity and became one of the guys. And I loved my time there. I slipped into

a mold that made me feel normal for those first two college years."

Then, out of the blue, Camp transferred to Florida State to study meteorology. A bit of longing for something different?

Perhaps, but after a semester in Tallahassee, he returned to Mississippi and finished his B.A. at Millsaps. "I went to class during the day, waited tables at Poet's at night, and hung with older guys doing things I probably shouldn't have done. I felt free, maybe for the first time."

But what next? "I thought about architecture. The precision and geometry of the drawing requirements really appealed to me. But that would mean going to Mississippi State. Ha. So, in 1976, I earned a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Ole Miss, eventually working for the city of Jackson. I got to draw--parks, city blocks--all things geometric.

"Eventually, my dad lured me into his oil and gas business. I was supporting a family, and it was lucrative." But, once again, that artistic muse raised her head, and Camp found himself the owner of Fridge's Gift Shop in Jackson.

Who knew? On the first day, Camp was greeted by a group of "older ladies," both black and white who had been at the shop for years. "I knew nothing of the business, but with their help, things started flowing. It was the table settings, the china patterns, the colors. And suddenly, my introverted self had to get out there and sell."

Life intervened again when the Millsaps Arts District opened in Jackson. "I was still running Fridge’s, but I rented a studio in the Arts District and began experimenting with geometric designs using acrylics, marker pens, and glitter. I loved being there with people I considered ‘real artists.’"

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After Fridges and a successful foray into designing and selling for John Simmons and other wholesalers in the South, Camp took a job and eventually became the executive director of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation. He set the neighborhood on fire--art shows, art walks, a radio program, all things leading to the revitalization of one of Jackson's oldest and most eclectic neighborhoods. In a 2003 "Jackson Free Press" article, Camp spoke of his coined moniker, the Fondren Glow. "It causes this light to shine on a community; it causes a feeling amongst people of community, and it starts to heal things," a surprisingly prescient statement given his later career move to Oxford.

The Fondren experience provided more freedom. Camp opened a new studio in the neighborhood and painted every night. True to form, he didn't like brushes. He used his fingers and acrylics, experimenting with light and colors, applying and scraping off layer after layer. Moon images floated through much of his work.

"Sometimes, I would leave the studio completely covered in paint, my face, my fingernails. Pure joy."

He started selling his pieces around the state.

He produced a printed program for an event in Jackson, writing a poem for each art piece. Yes, the boy can write, too.

In 2007, Camp got a call from the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council. They were looking for an executive director. "I didn't hesitate for a second." He would return to his beloved Oxford.

In that same year, he entered his black-andwhite period. "I missed drawing. And though I've never had formal training, I was a constant student." Camp picked up a book on his coffee table, "Kurt Vonnegut Drawings," and handed it to me.

I was astounded. "It's like your black-andwhite drawings from the video."

"I know. Vonnegut grabbed me." he said I had no idea Vonnegut had been an artist.

Vonnegut's daughter, Nanette, had selected a hundred and forty-five pieces from her father's artwork and created the book.

Vonnegut's style was clearly influenced by Picasso's cubism and Alexander Calder's black-and-white drawings of sunbursts, abstract human forms, lines encircling lines-all ink on paper. In the book's introduction, Nanette writes that she comes from a long line of "Master Grand Doodlers."

"You know, that's what I am. I'm a doodler."

he said The drawing always starts as a line on paper, but his finished work is a kaleidoscope of private lives and stories to be told. "I guess I could call it abstract expressionism."

If you had gone to Ole Miss, there is something about this town, this campus, that rains down on you if you come back. I call it fairy dust. You drive the streets and travel through campus, and the memories come flooding back--those memories of a time gone by yet still so palpable.

That feeling eventually planted him on campus. In 2012, after earning a M.A. in Southern Studies and a Masters of Education in Counseling, Camp found himself in the belly of the beast, counseling students who desperately needed a loving hand to help heal their swallowed and unspoken pain. He was a natural.

Today, Camp is a mentor and teacher in the FASTrack program on campus--an initiative helping first-year students make the massive transition from home to college life. He often starts his classes with a guided meditation, presenting the new students with a fresh and powerful tool on the lifelong path of selfawareness.

But over these years, with Oxford as his backdrop, Camp has continued to draw.

"Ironically, I produced a lot of my new work during the pandemic lockdown. Covid was terrible, but Emma and I were alone, and I could stay here and do my art. No one was telling me what to do. I had this stash of ink-on-paper drawings from 2007--frogs, figures, dogs, crabs, insects, birds. I had been protective of them, wanting to keep them safe, waiting for the right time to let them come out. I never had any

thought of seeing them in color.

"But that's what happened. During and after Covid, I took those drawings and added color. I call them my 'one plus ones.' The color allowed me to take the abstract drawings and make them into real characters.

"I also created new characters, fellow travelers, inspired by Tarot cards. I believe this is the best work I have ever done. The pieces are the most honest depiction of who I am as an artist. These are the characters I carry around inside of me."

"All in ink and colored pencils?"

He nodded. "Layer on layer, mixing colors, blending red first, then yellow over it. Nothing is more rewarding than getting the color right, in the right spot."

"What is your motivation when you start a new piece?" I asked.

"I just get an urge to draw something. It's mostly unconscious when I start, and then something happens along the way...perhaps a song I love. I did a piece of Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' and another of Traffic's 'The Low Spark of High Heel Boys.' The music is the cue, and I go with it. Unless it's one of the 1+1's, and then, I have the black-and-white drawing as a basis for creating something new and alive with color."

"Have you told it all?" I asked.

Camp laughed and shook his head. "I've told more of the story than I thought I could. But so much of the untold story is in my art. Maybe it is time to remove the lid and share these new characters. A gallery showing, perhaps, or prints? I don't know, but I do believe they are ready to meet the world."

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ARTS

& CULTURE

Thistle Ridge Band hits the ground running New sounds in Oxford

BY DAVIS COEN PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

14 December 2023

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Thistle Ridge Band has been carving out their way in the Oxford music scene since they began doing live performances in mid-2022.

The band’s core is made up of two Oxford High School graduates, Lucas McKeown and Cole Campbell, who both sing and play guitar and first met during their senior year.

After playing a couple of shows in the spring of his freshman year at Elon University in North Carolina, Lucas returned home to Oxford, still pondering how to brand his music venture to better promote live performances.

He began playing piano at Christ Presbyterian Church while home for the summer, where he was allowed to use the sanctuary as a sort of audition space for band personnel, particularly bassists and drummers.

“Just to see what worked well together,” said Lucas. “Then it dawned on me that Cole played guitar and sang a bit.” He then called up his high school buddy to coordinate a jam session and share ideas and thoughts on music.

He also made a connection with drummer Sam Lewis, who was still only a junior at

Oxford High, as well as a bass player who lasted only briefly.

Around this time, Lucas grew tired of driving around backroads looking at street signs for inspiration, so he just settled on naming the band after his family farm off Highway 30, Thistle Ridge Farm.

He and Cole quickly made many connections when it came to music tastes, and both shared a liking for classic artists such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Michael

Jackson. Also, country singers like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Tammy Wynette were touchstones - since Lucas grew up hearing their songs by way of his grandparents.

“I walked around the Square one day, and went into Rooster’s Blues House, The Library, Funky’s, Rafter’s, and Proud Larry’s, just sort of saying ‘Hey, can we play here?’”

The first opportunity that came was an appearance at the long-running Tuesday open mic night at Rooster’s. “It was just to get

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any type of live performance out there,” Lucas said. He also recalled that members of another rising young Oxford rock band, The Pinksheets, performed songs that evening.

Since he was still attending Elon University, Lucas would also have to strengthen his live set with another set of musicians in North Carolina, as a sort of extension of his Thistle Ridge project. “There’s kind of two branches of the band,” he said.

The summer of 2023 was a productive one, as they managed to book a short residency at Proud Larry’s, as well as multiple shows at the popular outdoor venue The Green at Harrison's.

Other local live performances included Taylor Grocery in Taylor, Rafter’s on the Water in Sardis, and the Old Armory Pavilion on Bramlett Boulevard the latter as part of the Velvet Ditch Music Fest. The pavilion being unenclosed made the fest audible to passing traffic and pedestrians at the busy intersection. This gave them an opportunity to showcase their eclectic cover songs and engaging originals and vocal harmonies to a broader audience than the usual restaurant/bar crowd.

Lucas also maintained an internship at a church in Johns Creek, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, during weekdays throughout the summer, and would drive back to Oxford for weekend shows.

He recalls the highlight of his summer being the result of signing up for a songwriter’s open mic at renowned music venue Eddie’s Attic in nearby Decatur, GA. Winners of the cutthroat open mic competition take part in the bi-annual Shootout, which has been won in past years by the likes of John Mayer, Clay Cook, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland.

Although the band didn’t win,

they made it to the top three out of more than 20 competing acts.

The evening was also significant because it was the first time his North Carolina bassist Julian Brown had sung and played with Lucas’ other collaborator Cole, who attends community college but entertains the idea of relocating to Elon for the band.

The open mic at Eddie’s Attic was also significant because they were soon after contacted by a casting director of American Idol about auditioning. We made it to the winner’s circle, but sadly did not get to Hollywood,” said Lucas. “It’s still a pretty cool story, that one random Monday open mic in July led to that.”

Thistle Ridge Band now has two singles available for streaming but has plans to return to the studio and release an EP in 2024.

They also intend to book a tour for the album, stopping in all of the band member’s hometowns, to theme along with one of the album’s tracks, “Everybody’s Hometown.”

This would prospectively include the Raleigh-Durham area, Arlington, Va., New York City, and Boston, from which additional Members - Kai Evans, guitartist Peter Collings and keyboardist Nicole Bazos - hail Referring to Sam, Lucas said, “I don’t wanna ask a drummer who’s still in high school in Oxford to leave his senior year and travel.”

Upcoming local shows for Thistle Ridge will be on December 8th and 21st at Proud Larry’s. It will be their first time back since they opened a show for nationally touring band, Easy Honey, on September 27th.

Lucas said he’ll be leaving Elon the day before the show, which will kick off his Oxford holiday.

“So we’re hitting the ground running with a gig.”

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ARTS

& CULTURE

Sanctuary Arts Festival Featured Artist 2023-2024 Mike Cinelli: Greek Pottery Meets the `80s

BY ZOE FITCH PHOTOS SUBMITTED

18 December 2023

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The South is a place for Discovery - or rather rediscovery - of an influential time in one’s life and the world. It is a place where one can enter a time warp and create something new from the connection to the past. Creatives have historically been drawn to this place in search of a space to welcome discovery and gain knowledge, as well as create their own strange recipe for art. Now imagine, a Greek pottery collection fell into a portal back in time to the 1980s and returned to the future in North Mississippi. That’s pretty punk if you ask me. And where else can someone find something so strange and playful than in Mississippi, well besides Florida?

Mike Cinelli is from Daytona, Fla., and moved to Oxford in 2011 when he enrolled at the University of Mississippi. He went on to accomplish his Master of Fine Arts degree at Ole Miss with an emphasis in ceramics. He currently lives, works, and helps raise his family in Oxford. While Cinelli is inspired more so by time, cyberpunk aesthetic, and narrative than place, he might not be making the work he does today without his journey to Ole Miss.

Upon entering the MFA program at the University of Mississippi, Cinelli viewed the university’s collection of ancient Greek pottery. He recalls this being extremely influential to his research and lifelong practice. Cinelli says this was his “oh shit” moment. These forms inspire his work today while the aesthetic used in his color/ glaze application and usage of figurative forms, such as text, reflect a very different time period, the 1980s.

The University of Mississippi Museum houses the largest collection of Greek pottery in the South and one of the finest in the nation within the David M. Robinson Memorial Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

Many of the items were brought to the University of Mississippi from the personal

collection of Professor David M. Robinson, a world-renowned archeologist and academic.

Dr. Robinson came to teach at the University of Mississippi in 1949 after retiring from Johns Hopkins University.

Upon his death in 1958, Robinson entrusted his Roman sculptures to the University of Mississippi while the remainder of his collection was divided between his widow, the late Helen Tudor Robinson, and Harvard University. The collection at the University of Mississippi is not only magnificent in quality, but is also extremely useful in teaching the culture, archeology, and artistic practices of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Cinelli’s pottery aesthetic is influenced by 1980s cyberpunk, mid-century ideas of the future, comic books, and video games. His

artwork and research are rooted in video games, and he recalls being a life-long comic book kid. He aims to portray a connection to science fiction with an air of escapism.

Cinelli intends for his pottery to be both utilitarian and simply “just existing.”

One can view Mike Cinelli’s art at the Companion Gallery and East Mitchell Clay in Humboldt, Tennessee where he exhibits an annual solo show every August. He describes his playful work as “tangible fiction”. When viewing his pottery one feels transported to a different era, and the feeling of discovery is offered to his viewer.

And even though “place” is not a direct guide in Cinelli’s artwork, Mississippi has provided a conduit to an epiphany and become home.

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ARTS

& CULTURE

Sanctuary Arts Festival Featured Artist 2023-2024 Sierra Dexter: Horror and Beauty in Southern Lighting

BY ZOE FITCH PHOTOS SUBMITTED

20 December 2023

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There is a saying in the South that refers to a sunshower, “The Devil’s beatin’ his Wife”. When this anomaly occurs it is usually during the time of day when the sun is at its highest position in the sky, and the rain falls when you least expect it.

The lighting in the South is said to be like no other. At a certain time of day, the world is transitioning into night but the sun is not yet gone, a spiritual presence can be felt. A similar feeling, experienced in instances such as these, can be felt when critiquing Sierra Dexter’s photography.

Traditionally the South has held a reputation for being backward or underdeveloped yet spiritually advanced. While this argument is ongoing, the latter has proven true to an extent. But this concept is sometimes hard to conceive in all of its aspects.

You see, spirituality does not necessarily refer to the bible-thumping barefoot people-filled shacks seen in representations of the South in history books but something more universal.

When your environment is still and you see what isn’t there reality is seen most clearly.

The term ‘Southern Gothic’ refers to a type of writing style employed by many writers from the American South that utilizes macabre, grotesque, ephemeral, and fantastical characters and situations, as well as a visual aesthetic used by fine artists. These narratives also criticize the region’s racism, sexism, classism, and the fall out of a decaying economy recorded in history. The tension between the grotesque and the beautiful fascinates artist Sierra Dexter. Characteristics of horror and beauty can be found in twilight lighting, abnormal settings

and posing, allusions to the past seen in dilapidated buildings, and overgrowth of native flora. The pictures become symbols that mimic the past and inspire folklore. Forgotten sites, such as those seen in Dexter’s images, are a bridge between the past and present.

Her work pays homage to regionalism as well as her subject’s lineage and connection to land. The visual agony and ecstasy of growing up in the South is captured by Dexter’s lens.

Spirituality inevitably is seen in lighting.

When the sun begins to set and the insects begin to hum, when the humidity is seen in the air and smelled, too. It is the time of day in the South when you know you are seeing the same thing your ancestors saw; authentic nature.

Sierra Dexter is a contemporary photographer and fine artist from Memphis, though she has called Mississippi home for most of her life.

She currently resides in Water Valley, MS, which is an old town with an upcoming and thriving art community.

Though she might not have imagined her current career growing up, she recalls her grandmother supporting her craft and creativity most of all.

Dexter has offered boudoir sessions and wedding photography when she is not working on passion projects.

Dexter usually begins her process with open model calls and a mental note of a weird and funky location. She uses unique angles and editing to use chiaroscuro techniques and allude to a past time that still lingers in the region.

Her fine art approach began from a business-minded aspect. Dexter claims she was called home after losing the openness that Mississippi offers to the Dallas city terrain during her time there. Much of her process and/or

research starts with driving around rural areas finding old country roads that house old trees dying next to rotting, dilapidated buildings. These objects hold history in their fibers, and Sierra Dexter captures their stories with her keen eye behind the lens.

Much of these found places are where Dexter and her family members have called home or have at least visited. In some ways she searches for her own history in the land in which she is from while capturing a new one that she curates.

Southern blues culture, horror and cinema, eerie southern history, and the beauty of the regional landscape inspires Sierra Dexter. She is inspired by the juxtaposition of beauty and horror, grotesque and wonderful. This balance can be seen in her work featuring traditionally attractive women with floral arrangements and/ or fantastical poses in dark, sometimes foggy lighting. Dexter says she is inspired by the unique lighting in the region where you can “hear the sound of summer”. Like many creatives, Dexter is a night owl. She claims that at night, when all else is sleeping, she “comes to life” much like her photographs.

Sierra Dexter finds life in the dilapidated, life in death. And just as the rhetoric of the southern way of life has changed, the natural environment has too.

Though change is uncontrollable, much stays the same.

Remnants of the past are embedded in our environments. So next time when you find yourself still looking at the sunset when it has just gone down or when the Devil’s beatin’ his wife, remember history is always present in your view.

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ARTS

& CULTURE

THE HEART OF

OXFORD

BY ALLYSON DUCKWORTH PHOTOS BY JIM HENDRIX AND BRUCE NEWMAN

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Amidst the picturesque landscape of Oxford, Mississippi, stands a timeless gem, our majestic white Greek revival courthouse with its intricately adorned clock tower that serenades us with its hourly chimes.

This architectural masterpiece is more than just a building; it is the very soul of our beloved town, a place we Oxonians proudly call home. The Lafayette County Courthouse, a historical landmark of Mississippi, has stood resolute in the heart of Oxford since 1871, preserving its storied legacy.

Lafayette County itself, established in 1836, pays homage to the Marquis de Lafayette. The founding of Oxford, in that same year, was a gracious gift from three Lafayette residents: John Chisholm, John D. Martin, and John L. Craig. The town's namesake, Oxford, was borrowed from the renowned university town of Oxford, England. This charming Southern enclave was erected upon 50 acres of land that once belonged to Princess Hoka, the Chickasaw Indian Maiden.

Since its incorporation in 1837, the town square has remained the beating heart of our quaint community, with the present courthouse serving as the cultural nucleus of our illustrious city.

The courthouse, a symbol of resilience, suffered the ravages of history when it fell victim to flames during the Civil War on August 22, 1864. While most of the square was reduced to ashes, the enduring brick walls of the courthouse miraculously endured.

Reconstruction efforts commenced in 1871, culminating in its completion in January 1872, where it has dutifully served our citizens’ ever since.

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has undergone multiple renovations, with significant restoration work taking place in 1980 when it earned a welldeserved spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The latest and most extensive renovation transpired in 2007.

This year, the courthouse is receiving a much-needed facelift, ensuring that its timeless glory endures for future Sgenerations to cherish.

The interior of the courthouse is a testament to timeless elegance, boasting a staircase with gracefully curving railings. Simply walking through its hallowed halls, both inside and out, is an experience that resonates with anyone who appreciates history and architectural grandeur. This edifice has withstood the test of time, serving as a vital part of our city's identity and an enduring symbol of Oxford. The very scent that greets you upon entering its

PHOTO BY BRUCE NEWMAN

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doors is a reminder of the countless stories, both big and small, that have unfolded within its walls - from political victories and weddings to jury duty and voting. The courthouse, undoubtedly, plays a leading role in our own version of "Mayberry," and we are fortunate that our elected leaders prioritize its preservation.

William Faulkner once captured the essence of the courthouse beautifully when he wrote: "the courthouse in its grove the center; quadrangular around it, the stores... school and church and tavern and bank and jail each in its ordered place... But above all, the courthouse: the center, the focus, the hub; sitting looming in the center of the county's

circumference like a single cloud... musing, brooding, symbolic and ponderable, tall as a cloud, solid as rock, dominating all: protector of the weak, judiciate and curb of the passions and lusts, repository and guardian of the aspirations and the hopes..."

During the holiday season, this opulent white structure is adorned with festive

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decorations, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Robyn Tannehill. In 2018, Mayor Tannehill reintroduced beloved Christmas traditions from the 1950s and 60s, which were warmly embraced by our community. The moment you step onto the square during the holiday season, you are greeted by a breathtaking canopy of lights that envelops the area. If you haven't experienced this enchanting sight, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to the city center. It is truly a magical experience that will

set your holiday season aglow. Colorful lights are strung from the heart of our town to every corner of the square, and upon entering, it feels like receiving a warm and festive embrace from Oxford itself. Maintaining these cherished traditions is a testament to what makes our town truly extraordinary. We extend our appreciation to Mayor Tannehill and our leaders for their dedication to preserving these traditions, and to the city and county employees who diligently work to

install these festive decorations in the early hours of the morning.

This December, make it a priority to visit the heart of Oxford and partake in the joy that our unique slice of paradise has to offer.

For information about events happening throughout the holiday season, be sure to follow Oxford MS Chamber (@ oxfordmschamber) and the City of Oxford (@ cityofoxfordmississippi) or visit www. oxfordms.net.

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READ THIS BOOK

BOOKS FOR December

By Maya Martin and Cody Morrison From Square Books

The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac

by Louise Kennedy

Brilliant, dark stories of women’s lives by “a very major talent” (Joseph O’Connor, Irish Times.)

In these visceral, stunningly crafted stories by the author of the much-acclaimed Trespasses, women’s lives are etched by deprivation—material, emotional, sexual—but also splashed by beauty, sometimes even joy, as they search for the good in the cards they’ve been dealt.

The Frozen River

by Ariel Lawhon

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

The Savage Storm: The Battle for Italy 1943

by James Holland

Acclaimed WWII historian James Holland both narrates and reframes the controversial first months of the Italian Campaign and sets a new standard in the chronicling of war.

Silent Cavalry

by Howell Raines

A Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist reveals the little-known story of the Union soldiers from Alabama who played a decisive role in the Civil War, and how they were scrubbed from the history books.

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William Eggleston: Mystery of the Ordinary

by Felix Hoffman, Joerg Sasse, Thomas Weski

Mystery of the Ordinary captures the full scope of Eggleston’s evolution and legacy: from the early black-and-white work of the late 1950s, in which we witness his discovery and exploration of themes and unconventional croppings, to some of his most iconic color images.

When I Was Your Age

by Kenan Thompson

Kenan Thompson is Saturday Night Live’s longest-everserving cast member, starring in such pioneering sketches as “Black Jeopardy!,” and is hugely beloved, thanks to a tidal wave of nostalgic fans who grew up on early 2000s classics All That, Good Burger, and Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon.

Square Books Jr. Picks!

Cat Kid Comic Club #5: Influencers

by Dav Pilkey

The newest graphic novel in the #1 bestselling series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of Dog Man!

Mercy Watson is Missing!

by Kate DiCamillo, Chris van Dusen (Illustrator)

Every favorite character from Kate DiCamillo’s New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson books makes an appearance in this extended, riotously funny series crescendo.

A Christmas Carol - Kid Classics: The Classic Edition Reimagined Just-for-Kids!

by Charles Dickens, Maïté Schmitt (Illustrator) The timeless tale by Charles Dickens is now an illustrated storybook for children with Kid Classics: A Christmas Carol.

11/29/23 4:45 PM

FOOD

Cake as a

Canvas

Bremma’s Cakery and Confections Brings Edible Art to Oxford

BY ELIZABETH TETTLETON MASON PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ELIZABETH TETTLETON

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As Oxford grows, so does its citizen’s appetite. We crave southern home cookin’ as much as we do New York-style pizza and Beard level cuisine, but only recently have Oxonians been able to truly get their sweet tooth cravings fulfilled.

Bremma’s Cakery and Confections was created from the passion of Oxford-local Brooke (née Mardis) Ferguson and the kitchen of Fergndan’s Wood Fired Pizza (owned by John, Laurabeth, William, Daniel, and Emma Ferguson).

This cakery wasn’t baked in a day, but through several strategic, and patient moves by the team, Bremma’s has hit the sweet spot here in Oxford.

Every Christmas, Laurabeth Ferguson and her sister, Kerri Tettleton (my mother) would get together to make our family recipe of sugar cookies.

There were six cousins, including myself, and we all had various preferences on our annual Christmas cookie creations. By the time I was 20, every December we were making about 10-14 batches – roughly 28-30 dozen cookies.

Some of us heavily spackled our cookies with the Wilton decorator frosting and sugar crystals, while others delicately smoothed out the surface with hot water and a level knife to make artful designs. There was a systematic process for rolling, cutting, baking, cooling, frosting, sprinkling, and storing the cookies. Every surface in the house was covered. Many of our friends made requests for a dozen or two, and we’d gift them out like gold to the lucky few who made the cut.

The recipe for our family

sugar cookies was one which my mom found in a magazine and tweaked to her liking and is a uniquely soft sugar cookie.

It is the recipe that is used in the Bremma’s cakery today, with a few adjustments to make them more ‘level’ for decorating.

“At Christmas every year my sister and I would talk about opening a bakery,” said Laurabeth. “I’d wanted to do it for years, but it wasn’t in my wheelhouse. Brooke coming on board brought that possibility to life.”

Brooke Ferguson is the creative you’ll never see, as she is usually found in the back of the bakery, fastidiously working, and guiding every creation that goes out the door.

She pours her heart into her work, and what she creates is not simply sugar and flour in the form of a caricature or replica of a Pinterest photo.

Each recipe in the pastry case is distinctly hers, each special order is an opportunity for Brooke to create art.

In February 2017, Brooke was deep into her junior year of the Culinary Arts studies program at the Mississippi University for Women when she began work as one of the first non-family employees of Fergndan’s. At this point, it was still only a food truck with no brick-and-mortar restaurant. Now a fixture in the Oxford community, Fergndan’s Woodfired Pizza is located on Highway 30 and operates two food trucks for large events and catering.

Nearly every day Brooke showed up to work on the food truck with a new dessert – the first she brought was an Oreo Cheesecake. Laurabeth asked

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Brooke if she baked every day, and Brooke explained baking was how she relaxed, and it was one of the things she did nearly every night after work. Laurabeth soon realized Brooke’s true passion for pastries, and she told her, ‘One Day, we will start a bakery, and you can help us get there if you hang on with us. Just let us get our feet under us with the restaurant.’

“It was invaluable to have had Brooke with us from the start,” said Laurabeth. “She was able to see the restaurant’s metamorphosis, so she understands us and our mindset and why we do what we do and the reasons for the way we do it.”

Brooke and Laurabeth had trouble deciding whether to bring desserts into the restaurant or launch the bakery first. In the end, starting small made sense.

“We were just dipping our toes

into it,” said Laurabeth. “It was a complete diversion from Fergndan’s, so we were dividing our time and energy, as well as wanted to see what people would buy and at what price.”

They started with classics like peanut butter, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies, then brought in Brooke’s unique cheesecake recipe in multiple flavors and formats. Later they added cupcakes, baby bundt cakes, and their very-popular cake bites.

Before long, they had requests for birthday cakes and wedding cakes.

Laurabeth struck a deal with Brooke: She would handle the people, the front of house, and let Brooke do what she does best and had always dreamed of doing – her creative work through baking.

The formula was working. The orders kept coming, as word spread on its own of the newest

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bakery on the block, tucked away into the family pizza joint in the renovated house on HWY 30. In February 2019 they launched Bremma’s as its stand-alone brand from Fergndan’s.

The Ferguson’s two food business ventures – Fergndan’s and Bremma’s – have been a family affair from the start.

While the businesses were growing, so was the Ferguson family. Brooke married into the family in June 2021, becoming sister-in-law to her best friend, Emma.

“Emma and I became best friends working on the food truck,” said Brooke. “After work we’d go back to her house and bake. Sometimes while items were baking in the oven, we’d watch TV. We had a Pinterest board that we named ‘Bremma’s’ where we stored our baking recipes and design ideas (a portmanteau of their names, Brooke and Emma). Basically, Bremma’s was around before the bakery.”

By early 2022, the Ferguson team knew it was time for a major change. They were quickly running out of dry and refrigeration storage, prep counter space and room in the front display case and storage for pre-orders.

“The opportunity to grow presented itself at the perfect time,” said Laurabeth. “We were turning down orders because we could not keep growing in the Fergndan’s kitchen.”

In late summer 2022, Kelli Smith Russell and Cole Russell, owners of The Cakery, gave Bremma’s a call. Ready to retreat to full-time mom life as she welcomed twins to her growing family, Kelli was looking for a local person to take over her business and inquired if Bremma’s was interested in buying them out. Excited for their next chapter, Bremma’s took over The Cakery in mid-August 2022, and managed their orders and The Cakery’s order commitments on the first Ole Miss home football game weekend of the season.

On Easter weekend of 2023, Bremma’s doubled in size by demolishing the wall next door and completing a massive renovation of the now two-location space on the strip adjacent to Larson’s Cash Saver. With more staff and space than ever, Laurabeth and Brooke are already thinking about the future.

“My focus today is having enough day-to-day staff to handle the nuts and bolts so Brooke can focus on the creative side,” said Laurabeth.

Brooke echoed that sentiment, “Once we

get our footing better, and are not worried about the cases being filled every morning, I’d like to do more creative things like a ‘theme of the month’ or something beyond whatever the closest holiday is right then. I want to get our customers excited to see what we are doing next each month!”

The team has an interest in expanding into the wholesale market, starting with their bestselling cheesecakes. “I’d love to see Bremma’s cheesecakes in other businesses!” said Brooke.

We have no doubt she will see that dream come true.

You can expect exciting things from Bremma’s for the holidays, as it is one of Brooke’s favorite times of year. Of course, you can call in special orders, but you can expect to see holiday flavors like raspberry white chocolate, caramel apple, and pumpkin spice cheesecakes, chocolate peppermint cakes, and gingerbread and sugar cookie cookie-kits for making with your kiddos at home. Holiday breakfast items are also a specialty with Bremma’s, such as their house recipe cinnamon rolls, muffins, and scones.

For the latest holiday menu, visit their site at bremmasbakery.com.

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5

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Mary Leary

Founder of Lovepacks Oxford

1. How did Lovepacks get started While visiting with family from rural Missouri over the holidays in 2009, I learned about a program that provided food to hungry children.

Over the entire holiday season, when I dined and shopped in beautiful Oxford, I couldn’t get the thought of children being without enough food out of my mind. My husband and I went to Ole Miss, graduating in 1984, and we finally got our wish about living in Oxford one day when we moved back in 2008 for his job as a federal prosecutor. My perception of Oxford stemmed from my days at Ole Miss and our recent transition back, where good food, beautiful people, and warm welcomes were in abundance.

Still…the thought of hungry children nagged at me. I contacted my long-time friend, former school nurse and Oxford School Board member, Helen Phillips, knowing she was the perfect one to talk to about this nagging thought. Helen was passionate about helping children and knew how to get things done. Helen immediately said she had experienced children who were not getting enough food when she was a school nurse. She said the children can get free breakfast and lunch

at school but on the weekends, they often go without enough and have to scramble to try to get something to eat. After explaining my idea, we decided to move forward.

Helen and I met with the principal at Bramlett Elementary to see if she thought food insecurity was a problem there and if she would be interested in us piloting our program there. She embraced our idea whole heartedly and offered whatever support we needed. Spring semester 2010, “Lovepacks” launched.

We began taking bags of food to the school on Fridays, the children were identified by their teachers as being in need but were anonymous to us, the teachers would then discreetly slip the bags (“lovepacks”) into the students’ backpacks at the end of the day. We wanted to convey that not only were the children getting supplemental food on the weekend, but there were people in our community that cared about them. With the success of the first semester, we got other likeminded moms, Camie Bianco and Alyce Krouse and formed a Board, opened a checking account, and got our 501(c)3 status. Alyce’s organizational skills kept us on track while she managed our

finances and paperwork. Camie’s leadership and passion for children provided us with the longterm vision we needed to ensure Lovepacks would be around for the duration.

Our mission “to provide supplemental food to school-age children in need” expanded to include high school students when a coach told us a story about how he provided food for a student whose mother kicked him out of his house and was living on the couch of a friend but that family said he couldn’t eat their food.

The following year, we began to provide Lovepacks to the students in the Lafayette County School District in addition to all of the Oxford Schools. We later expanded our Board to include another community activist, Liza Fruge.

Today, Helen, Alyce, and I are still on the Board and assist with long-term planning, but Camie and Liza are the “feet on the ground” for Lovepacks. They tirelessly help pack and distribute Lovepacks each week, meet with teachers and counselors, coordinate volunteers, and speak to groups to raise awareness about childhood hunger and Lovepacks.

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each week of the school year. We have served thousands of Lovepacks to children in need over the past 14 years. This could not have been done without the support of our wonderful community! From churches, to businesses, to University groups the generosity is unimaginable. This grass-roots organization is truly grateful and humbled by the support of Oxford and Lafayette County.

2.Tell us about the team that helps gather food items for distribution The “heart of Lovepacks” are the student volunteers and their teachers that help put together the Lovepacks each week and the coalition of school moms and dads that volunteer to pick up the Lovepacks and deliver them to their assigned school each week. The Lovepacks pantries are at Oxford Middle School, Oxford High School and Lafayette County Elementary schools. The Special Needs classes and their teachers incorporate packing Lovepacks into their curriculum. An added blessing is the camaraderie and mutual respect that develops between the special needs students and other student-group volunteers. We are just so

thankful for everyone, every group that volunteers. We have groups organize food drives and bring the food to us, we have individuals that send us money or food each month-it just is another testament to the great people that live in Oxford. The school districts post a “Food of the Month” each month in their Newletters, and students bring that food in, it helps us not only stock our pantries, but also raises awareness about food-insecurity and Lovepacks.

3. Each year, how many children are helped by lovepacks Approximately 280 children in the Oxford and Lafayette School Districts are served each week 4. What do you wish people knew about hunger in Oxford We love Oxford and truly believe it is one of the best small cities in which to live in the country! However, like everywhere, food insecurity is a problem here. While you may not see it, there are children who are struggling to have enough food. If our children have to worry about where their next meal is going to come

from, it’s hard for them to focus on math and reading.

Food insecurity affects school attendance, focus, and even behavior. If we can help them so they don’t have to worry about food, we are ensuring our community will be a better place in the future.

5. What kind of donations are the most impactful Because Lovepacks has zero overhead-our pantries operate out of the schools and are totally run by volunteers, all of our donations go to purchasing food. We appreciate food donations and financial donations! Cash Saver (Brent Larson) has been a supporter- partner from the beginning and has been a tremendous help for us in ordering our food. Food drives and donations help fill in the gap when certain food is out of stock. Financial Donations can be made out to “Lovepacks” and mailed to P.O. Box 721-Oxford, MS 38655 or venmo’d to @ lovepacks-oxford, Lovepacks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit for tax purposes. Food donations can be delivered to Oxford middle schools on Wednesdays of the school year between 9-10 a.m.

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EDITOR’S PICKS: Holiday Gift Guide 2023 FOR HER

Barefoot Dreams, Cozychic Robe, Chaney’s Pharmacy

Lauren Dunn Angels, Neilson’s Department Store

Bene, The Samuel Bag, JANE

Furbish Pillow, Oxford Floral Isabel Marant, Beth Sneaker, Cicada Etta B Spoon Rest, Olive Juice Suncoo Sweater, Pavaro, Style Assembly Spongelle Body Buffer, The Daisy Gift Company

Zodax Martini Glasses, Discount Building Supply

Grand Casablana, Casablanca Lily, Katherine Beck

SantaFront + SantaBack - Jingle Nog Ornament, Oxford Floral

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EDITOR’S PICKS: Holiday Gift Guide 2023 FOR HIM

Ariat, Crius Insulated Coat, Vincent Outfitters

Polo Ralph Lauren, Flannel Workshirt, Neilson’s Department Store

Blue Delta Bespoke Demin, Blue Delta Co. American Needle Hat, Hinton & Hinton

Ole Miss Sweatshirt Blanket, University Sporting Goods

Roostas, The Newport, Finch & Kelly On Cloud, Cloudnova, Core Cycle

Mistral, Bourbon Vanilla, Finch & Kelly

Vuori, Sunday Performance Jogger, Hinton & Hinton

Vuori, Strato Tech Tee, Hinton & Hinton

Tom Beckbe, Piedmont Jacket, Tom Beckbe

Mizzen & Main, City Flannel, Neilson’s Department Store

Peter Millar, Essex Travel Quilted Vest, Hinton & Hinton

Turtlebox Speaker, Core Cycle

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EDITOR’S PICKS: Holiday Gift Guide 2023 FOR KIDS

Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain by Jonathan Graziano, Square Books Jr.

Icy Color Block Puffer Duffel, Elliot Lane

Plush Interactive Gamer, Elliot Lane

Little English Nutcracker Sweater, Olive Juice Kids

Wubels, Riley the Robot Doll, Olive Juice Kids

Princess Block Party, Olive Juice Kids

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HISTORY

Past Christmas

A trip down memory lane in Oxford, MS

BY JOHN COFIELD PHOTOS BY THE OXFORD EAGLE AND SUBMITTED

BACKGROUND: Santa Claus played by Oxford Eagle editor Nina Goolsby, The Oxford Eagle archives ABOVE: The old Square lights were multi-colored and dazzled us all. Photo by Steve Gates, The Oxford Eagle

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I

It was always a chilly early December night. Momma bundled us up, Daddy warmed the car up, and off we went to the Christmas parade! It was and is Americana and Oxford fulfilled the creation of childhood memories we can smile at all these years later.

We were so excited to ride around town with Momma and Daddy and see the Praham house, the Square lights, and the majesty of the Peddle's home. -June Davidson Goza We left Park Drive, went to Handy Andy, and turned onto N. 14th Street to see the Parham home with its multitude of lights. The cars were lined up from North Lamar to Jefferson easing by from both directions and we hung out the window wide-eyed at Mr. Aubrey Parham's work of Christmas art.

While the bands, cheerleaders, and floats lined up to go, we parked at Granddad's studio on Jackson and briskly walked to the Square. And here

Oxford High School Band at Eastgate Shopping Center came the Oxford High band as I climbed on a mailbox and Dad put Glenn on his shoulders. Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful marched on by as we waved and smiled. We were staging an imitation of many parade

memories gone by.

I will always remember all the years being in the parade as a child representing the Deborah Kaye School of Dance. Amie Ewing and I had a trick where Amie would flip me over her back

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and we did that over and over. We flipped the whole way down North and South Lamar. -Cara Gober After Oxford High came the Central High Mighty Eagles Marching Band.

And we stared wide-eyed as they danced, pranced, and played their hearts out.

The parades from years ago. Simpler times with the small town atmosphere. Church choirs singing on the floats, high school bands, Santa throwing candies, and all of us scrambling to get as much as we can.

-Vincent Campbell

ABOVE: Parham house. The photo was found in the rubble of the Feb. 1986 Country Village Mall and Cofield's Studio fire.

LEFT: 1940’s Christmas Parade, The Oxford Eagle

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Then came the Ole Miss Band, "The Pride, of the South" with their bright uniforms and next-level performance.

Loud and clear, we swelled with pride because we knew Oxford's Christmas Parade was the best of any small town around.

And then, here came Santa. Several donned the outfit through the years but the Oxford Eagle's legendary editor Nina Goolsby is the one best remembered. As she threw handfuls of candy from the big sled, it was a kid's delight.

Yes, in the Christmas world of our youth, we celebrated the birth of Jesus.

But on ground level on our Square, it was all about the kids on those chilly early December nights.

I remember driving to Grandmother's from Illinois for Christmas. When we topped the hill and you could see the colored canopy of lights around the Square, we knew it was really Christmas and we were home!

-Celia Jackon Roberts

Alex Rayburn, Little Miss Firecracker

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How many cardboard boxes does your household receive this time of year?

Recycle those boxes!

HERE’S WHAT TO DO: 1.

2.

3.

4.

EMPTY

BAG

FLATTEN

RECYCLE

Remove all items that are in the box

Place all styrofoam & plastic in a garbage bag

Break down box until it is completely flat

Place flattened box under recycling bin & put bag of trash in garbage can

• Visit our website, OxfordMS.Net • Click on Departments > Recycling • Click Sign Up for Curbside Recycling 42 December 2023

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e

Giving GUIDE TO

At this season we are thankful for our blessings, but also keenly aware of the needs of those in our community as well.

In Guide To Giving, local businesses partnered with charities to help them get their story out about the ways they help and how we can help them continue their mission.

Consider these charities for your end of year giving and support.

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Oxford happy

Holidays

we’re wishing you & your family a happy holiday season!

1400 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655 662.234.3232

Our friendly, knowledgeable team is here to help you with all of your home maintenance and repair needs.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

Humanities Hub is what the next 50 years looks like for YAC T

BY WAYNE ANDREWS AND ANGELA CUTRER

he Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, YAC to most residents, will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the next 12 months.

Founded in 1975, YAC is an organization committed to a diverse offering of artistic and cultural opportunities in and around Oxford. Each year, YAC creates and delivers a package of projects, programs and good works in the spirit of its mission to the community. The board and volunteers work to present more than 300 days of art programs, ranging from student programs, exhibits by emerging artists, live theater productions, concerts, classes and independent film screenings.

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council serves as a hub in the region, supporting artists and programs, and managing spaces that sup-

ported ongoing contributions to the arts, literature and community development.

YAC’s support of 20 thriving arts and cultural organizations was reflected in the 221,000 people who attended events generating just under $11 million of economic impact in the community and supporting 148 jobs annually. The Arts Council served as a starting point assisting many of Lafayette County’s signature events in building their programs.

The Powerhouse Community Arts Center - the overhead, of managing the building is underwritten by YAC - provides a home for Theatre Oxford, Hinge Dance Company and Thacker Mountain Radio. While these important cultural organizations fill the evening with a wide range of programs from a weekly radio show, modern dance and the annual 10 Minute Play Festival, the staff uses the facility to host programs that focus on teaching creatives how to grow as a business.

The Arts Council has created a proposal for a physical humanities hub as a facility that will offer artists and creatives studio and living space, ensuring creatives have a place in the community. These interactive spaces for classes, workshops and conferences will be a place to connect to the people, voices and stories that have shaped our community and make them part of a shared future, said Wayne Andrews, executive director of the Arts Council.

YAC’s membership drive is one of the key fundraising tools to enable free art camps for children in the summer, concerts in the Grove, live music at The Powerhouse, a rotating schedule of free art exhibits and equipment to present live productions by Theatre Oxford, Leda Swan and others at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.

To donate or for more information, call 662-236-6429 or visit http://www.oxfordarts.com/.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

The Pantry

T

BY ANGELA CUTRER SPONSORED BY SHAW HARDWARE

he Pantry in Oxford has been a mainstay in the area for people needing extra help for their families.

In 2020, The Pantry served 30 percent more visitors than ever before, mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic issues. Changes had to be made toward pre-sacked bags to feed a family of four instead of visitors being able to shop for their unique needs.

This past May, The Pantry served 580 families, and in June, The Pantry served 640 families, a significant increase above the normal number.

Those rising numbers are concerning, but not totally unexpected, due to inflation and other unique issues America has been facing, including rebuilding at the pandemic.

In 2021, The Pantry served 5,705 families for a total of 12,500 individuals, said The Pantry’s coordinating director, John Kohne. “In 2022 so

far, we’ve already far exceeded that number because of the issues going on in the country,” he said. “Since June, we’ve served 640-680 families, which is 25 percent up more.”

The need is everywhere, but The Pantry can only do so much. “There has been an increase in folks coming to The Pantry from neighboring counties,” said Pantry Publicist Juanita Boutin to the Oxford Eagle about how only residents of Lafayette County can be served, as spelled out in the organization’s by laws. “...The

Oxford Pantry keeps a listing of food pantries available in adjoining counties, and we will do our best to direct clients to them.”

The agency is supported by a collaboration among 16 local organizations. All monetary donations go toward refilling The Pantry shelves not benefitting from the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis and from local venders. Kohne said they are fortunate enough to have had enough contributions, but the holiday season is coming up.

“The bulk of our donations comes from individuals and corporations,” he said. “They really make this thing work.

“Dollars are what we need to keep up with the holidays coming up. That money goes to purchase the other half of our products.”

Main needs revolve around keeping up supplies of soups, hot cereals, canned and dried beans and peas, and canned meat and vegetables. Your donations provide more variety than bulk purchasing.

Donations can be mailed to The Pantry, P.O. Box 588, Oxford MS 38655 or via paypal.me/ pantryoxfordms.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

C

BY ANGELA CUTRER SPONSORED BY PARAGON BANK

ourt Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of North Mississippi, as do all CASA organizations, advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children through the service of trained, court-appointed community volunteers called “advocates.”

CASA names as its purpose as one “to train volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children in court proceedings to ensure every child is in a safe and permanent home.”

As an important part of the LOU community, CASA volunteers speak for abused and neglected children who are placed in foster care.

Its core values revolve around helping children, having a highly trained volunteer advocacy, providing service, using a collab-

CASA orative alliance and good leadership, and serving the community.

CASA recruits, trains and supervisors volunteer advocates, who are prepared through a 30-hour pre-service training before being sworn in by the youth court judge. That judge then appoints a CASA advocate to be a particular child’s voice court.

These advocates work with many different people and entities to ensure the quality of care of children. The volunteers speak with officials from court, those from the Guardian Ad Litem program and officials from the Department of Human Services to help provide children with a safe and healthy environment.

Advocates work hard to see the entirety of a child’s life while accompanying them on parental visits, court, doctors and school. CASA also supports foster children by helping pay for other needs, such as psychological assessments, therapy, bedding,

clothing, and equipment for extracurricular activities.

CASA of Lafayette County has been a nonprofit since 2018 and has been partially funded by grants in the past. However, financial support is now desperately needed from community members and businesses, who have always been so generous in the past.

Volunteer advocates for children in foster care in Lafayette County are also still a big CASA need. The right people for the job should have a desire to help the most vulnerable of children, want to ensure the safety and protection of the children they serve, and agree to training, interviews, an extensive screening process, as well as to providing references and undergoing background checks.

To donate, visit www.casaoflafayettecounty.com. To volunteer, call 662-8324747 or email lafayettecountycasa@gmail. com for more information.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

How did Lovepacks get started

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hile visiting with family from rural Missouri over the holidays in 2009, I learned about a program that provided food to hungry children. Over the entire holiday season, when I dined and shopped in beautiful Oxford, I couldn’t get the thought of children being without enough food out of my mind. My husband and I went to Ole Miss, graduating in 1984, and we finally got our wish about living in Oxford one day when we moved back in 2008 for his job as a federal prosecutor. My perception of Oxford stemmed from my days at Ole Miss and our recent transition back, where good food, beautiful people, and warm welcomes were in abundance.

Still…the thought of hungry children nagged at me. I contacted my long-time friend, former school nurse and Oxford School board member, Helen Phillips, knowing she was the perfect one to talk to about this nagging thought. Helen was passionate about helping children and knew how to get things done. Helen immediately said she had experienced children who were not getting enough food when she was a school nurse. She said the children can get free breakfast and lunch at school but on the weekends, they often go without enough and have to scramble to try to get something to eat. After explaining my idea, we decided to move forward.

Helen and I met with the principal at Bramlett Elementary to see if she thought food insecurity was a problem there and if she would be interested in us piloting our program there. She embraced our idea whole heartedly and offered whatever support we needed. Spring semester 2010, “Lovepacks” launched.

We began taking bags of food to the school on Fridays, the children were identified by their teachers as being in need but were anonymous to us, the teachers would then discreetly slip the bags (“lovepacks”) into the students’ backpacks at the end of the day. We wanted to convey that not only were the children getting supplemental food on the weekend, but there were people in our community that cared about them. With the success of the first semester, we got other like-minded moms, Camie Bianco and Alyce Krouse, and

formed a Board, opened a checking account, and got our 501 (c) 3 status. Alyce’s organizational skills kept us on track while she managed our finances and paperwork. Camie’s leadership and passion for children provided us with the longterm vision we needed to ensure Lovepacks would be around for the duration.

Our mission “to provide supplemental food to school-age children in need” expanded to include high school students when a coach told us a story about how he provided food for a student whose mother kicked him out of his house and was living on the couch of a friend but that family said he couldn’t eat their food.

The following year, we began to provide Lovepacks to the students in the Lafayette County School District in addition to all of the Oxford School. We later expanded our board to include another community activist, Liza Fruge. Today, Helen, Alyce, and I are still on the board and assist with long-term planning, but Camie and Liza are the “feet on the ground” for Lovepacks. They tirelessly help pack and distribute Lovepacks each week, meet with teachers and counselors, coordinate volunteers, and speak to groups to raise awareness about childhood hunger and Lovepacks.

Lovepacks currently serves about 280 children each week of the school year. We have served thousands of Lovepacks to children in need over the past 14 years. This could not have been done without the support of our wonderful community!

From churches, to businesses, to university groups the generosity is unimaginable. This grassroots organization is truly grateful and humbled by the support of Oxford and Lafayette County.

2.Tell us about the team that helps gather food items for distribution The “heart of Lovepacks” are the student volunteers and their teachers that help put together the Lovepacks each week and the coalition of school moms and dads that volunteer to pick up the Lovepacks and deliver them to their assigned school each week. The Lovepacks pantries are at Oxford Middle School, Oxford High School and Lafayette County Elementary schools. The special needs classes and their teachers incorporate packing Lovepacks into their curriculum. An added

blessing is the camaraderie and mutual respect that develops between the special needs students and other student-group volunteers. We are just so thankful for everyone, every group that volunteers. We have groups organize food drives and bring the food to us, we have individuals that send us money or food each month-it just is another testament to the great people that live in Oxford.

The school districts post a “Food of the Month” each month in their Newletters, and students bring that food in It helps us not only stock our pantries, but also raises awareness about food-insecurity and Lovepacks.

3. Each year, how many children are helped by lovepacks Approximately 280 children in the Oxford and Lafayette School Districts are served each week 4. What do you wish people knew about hunger in Oxford We love Oxford and truly believe it is one of the best small cities in which to live in the country!

However, like everywhere, food insecurity is a problem here. While you may not see it, there are children who are struggling to have enough food.

If our children have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from, it’s hard for them to focus on math and reading. Food insecurity affects school attendance, focus, and even behavior.

If we can help them so they don’t have to worry about food, we are ensuring our community will be a better place in the future.

5. What kind of donations are the most impactful Because Lovepacks has zero overhead-our pantries operate out of the schools and are totally run by volunteers, all of our donations go to purchasing food. We appreciate food donations and financial donations! Cash Saver (Brent Larson) has been a supporter- partner from the beginning and has been a tremendous help for us in ordering our food. Food drives and donations help fill in the gap when certain food is out of stock. Financial donations can be made out to “Lovepacks” and mailed to P.O. Box 721-Oxford, MS 38655 or venmo’d to @lovepacks-oxford, Lovepacks is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, for tax purposes. Food donations can be delivered to Oxford Middle Schools on Wednesdays of the school year between 9-10 am.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

Canopy Children’s Solutions I

BY ANGELA CUTRER

t’s been more than a 100 years since Canopy Children’s Solutions opened its doors to supply the needs of vulnerable children. Whether it’s helping children find loving homes to later soothing victims of trauma and emotional challenges, Canopy is the pioneer of finding solutions to help Mississippi’s children and families.

Canopy’s devoted staff ensures every child they meet has the tools for success.

With more than 500 mental health behaviors health experts, educators and social service professionals all throughout the

state, Canopy’s driving force to help suffering children is sponsored by community partners who believe in the mission to ensure kids thrive.

Canopy Children’s Solutions is Mississippi’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health, educational and social service solutions. Founded in 1912, Canopy offers a full array of integrated, community-based services in all 82 counties as well as intensive campus-based and educational programming.

By working with law enforcement, Child Protection Services, mental or medical health professionals and many other orga-

nizations, Canopy provides a wide range of services to help children and their families overcome extraordinary challenges and to thrive.

Mississippi’s 24-hour child abuse hotline (1-800-222-8000) allows any person who suspects a child is being abused to file an anonymous report. If you see something, say something. The physical, mental and emotional well-being of abused children relies on adults who will advocate for their safety and healing.

For more information on Canopy Children’s Solutions, visit their website at: mycanopy.org.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

Palmer Home for Children P

BY ANGELA CUTRER SPONSORED BY HARRIS SHELTON

almer Home for Children was founded in 1895 as a small orphanage for needy children. Now, almost 127 years later, Palmer Home has expanded into a multi-faceted faith-based nonprofit that aids children of all ages.

Located on a 150-acre Panther Creek Ranch campus, Palmer Home sports cottages headed by house parents. That sense of home can help children feel comfortable while receiving personalized educational and therapeutic services to build their knowledge as well as their moral and social skills within a Christ-centered family atmosphere.

Not satisfied with staying still and letting the years flow past them, Palmer Home’s officials continue to search for more ways to help vulnerable children while instilling a love of God. The home expanded its scope of services to other types of care for children who need extra help.

This means there are now four distinct care settings arranged to meet the necessaries of each child they serve throughout the various stages of their lives they’ll meet. The four services include campus care, foster care, family

care and transitional care.

Campus care: Children live on a campus family atmosphere connected to trustworthy adults.

Foster care: Children receive support and a family connection through Palmer Home’s certified foster families.

Family care: Infants of mothers in prison receive nurturing care with the goal of reunification; staff also offers support for the mothers after release.

Transitional care: Young adults receive guidance about education, careers and life skills needed for independence.

This is all done at The Dr. Hugh Francis, Jr. Wellness Center, a 25,000-square foot facility with classrooms, counseling suites, therapy rooms and recreational areas. It’s a space for hope and healing in accordance with Palmer Home’s “Whole Child Initiative.” This initiative states that Palmer Home’s “proprietary approach to care provides a trauma informed, holistic and relationally centered foundation and guides” all they do. They seek to help vulnerable children overcome trauma and position them to thrive in home, school and community life.

The Whole Child Initiative operates through four core principles: whole story, whole child, whole team and whole caregiver.

This guarantees that a “whole” child can benefit from the wholeness of his or her world and those who inhabit it.

Last year, Palmer’s Home celebrated these milestones: ●250 children served ●15 incarcerated mothers served through family care ●26 reunifications to biological families ●3 high school graduations ●5 college graduations ●3 young adults in the military ●10 young adults in college Palmer Home for Children is completely donor based. It receives no state or federal funding - everything they do, they do through you. Whether it is a monthly gift or a one-time one, Palmer Home will use those funds from individuals, corporations, organizations and groups to help children be children, families get back together after tragedy and teens with getting ready for college or the military - the list goes on.

If you are looking for a mission this holiday season, consider Palmer Home. Your donation means one of your loved ones will receive a holiday card from Palmer Home, thanking them for the donation made in their name.

To learn more about Palmer Home for Children, visit palmerhome.org.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi

BY ANGELA CUTRER SPONSORED BY DELTA DOG

B

oys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi seeks to fill the gap between school and home by providing welcoming, positive environments for children and teens. The staff want to create places where kids can have fun, can participate in life-changing programs and can build supportive relationships with peers and caring adults.

The organization’s mission is “to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.”

Every day, 63,413 Mississippi children go unsupervised after school, risking being unguided and unsafe

until a parent returns home. In Mississippi, after school programs provided expanded learning opportunities to 70,558 students as a lifeline for working families, according to afterschoolalliance.org.

That’s why the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi boasts five clubhouses, including the L.O.U. Barskdale Boys & Girls Clubhouse in Oxford, as well as two in Tupelo, one in Ripley and one in New Albany.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi welcomed 377 children on an average day after school in the last year and served 54,574 meals and snacks to those attendees. Almost 940 youth were served, and 95 percent of club members are minority races, with 59 percent being male and 41 percent being female.

Around 31 percent were teens, 69 percent aged 12 and younger, 88 percent qualified for free or reduced lunch and 56 percent lived in single-parent households.

At the L.O.U. Barskdale Boys & Girls Clubhouse in Oxford last year, 239 youth were served, with 19,195 meals and snacks provided. Minority races counted for 96 percent, with 32 percent of the attendees being teens and 68 percent aged 12 and under.

Activities include sporting lessons and support services such as tutoring, mentoring and good old-fashioned supportive relationships. By helping youth feel positive about themselves at home and at school, the organization’s staff feel it is important in building confidence and helping the children make good decisions to

reach their true potentials.

The Oxford Boys & Girls Club has a 100 percent high school graduation rate.

“I love being at the Boys & Girls Club,” said member and volunteer Cianna Davis on the club’s website. “It really helps me stay academically focused.”

Oxford and its surrounding communities always rally around to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. Monetary donations are in dire need at this time so that activity fees and supplies may be paid, as well as utilities and transportation costs. Community members are encouraged to donate snack foods, gift cards and cleaning supplies.

To donate, contact the L.O.U. Barksdale Boys & Girls Clubhouse at bgcnms.org. Monetary donations can be made through BGCMS.org.

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Haven House

BY ANGELA CUTRER SPONSORED BY OXFORD MAGAZINE

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ince 1963, Communicare has served as northern central Mississippi’s community mental health center by providing quality, individualized care to Calhoun, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tate and Yalobusha counties. Its mission is “to deliver caring, professional assistance to people of all ages seeking mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, school-based services, IDD services and 24-hour crisis services.”

The Haven House, a residential treatment facility run by Communicare, welcomed its first resident in August 1978. As the first of its

kind in the area, The Haven House’s treatment services originally could house 15 male residents at a time in its repurposed church building in rural Lafayette County. Treatment ranged from 30 to 90 days.

By the time of its first anniversary, The Haven House served 94 people, and by 2001, the organization moved into its own state-ofthe-art, 48-bed facility off Highway 7 in Oxford. This new building meant The Haven House could serve both men and women suffering from addition.

The Haven House now treats more than 300 individuals a year, helped by a staff of both medical professionals and master’s level therapists.

GUIDE TO GIVING

The Haven House also provides treatment for clients suffering from both substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders.

Services include residential substance abuse treatment, medicated assisted treatment, with-

drawal management services, intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment, recovery support service, outpatient substance abuse treatment and sober living.

For more information, call 662234-7237.

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GUIDE TO GIVING

United Way MCKENZIE LITTLE PLLC

A

t a time when our world can often seem far too dark, I encourage everyone to be a light to the Lafayette-Oxford-University community and partner with the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County to brighten the lives of those less fortunate.

One of my biggest blessings in life has been to have the distinct pleasure as well as privilege of collaborating with all the incredible donors, partners, volunteers and advocates who make up our local United Way team. While our staff consists of just me, our outstanding team totals thousands and includes every single person who selflessly gives of themselves for the betterment of Oxford and Lafayette County.

If you are not already a member of our amazing team, please know we have a spot for you and want you to join with us as we work

hand in hand to help our neighbors in need. Our team roster has no restrictions and everyone has an opportunity to make a significant impact as we improve health, advance education, promote financial stability and meet basic needs within the LOU community.

Similar to bringing even the dimmest of lights into the darkest of rooms, it does not take much to illuminate the lives of others and every contribution to our organization is an investment in our community that yields incredible returns. A donation of simply $5 is enough to purchase two new books for a young child through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a home-delivered meal for an elderly resident through the Meals on Wheels program or a lovepack to ensure a local student has food over the weekend or holiday break.

The positive outcomes multiply as the dollar amount increases and our donors can make a one-time

donation or have their contributions recur on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Whether the gift entails dropping loose change in a donation canister at a local bank or making a million-dollar contribution to our endowment, every donation to the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County makes a meaningful difference, especially to the local families and individuals who ultimately benefit.

We proudly provide the means to annually support approximately twenty worthwhile programs as well as thousands of

LOU residents of all ages and backgrounds through a single contribution. However, we also offer donors the ability to designate their donations to a particular program or focus area if they desire. The key is we want everyone to be a part of our tremendous team as there are no limits to what we can and will accomplish by working together.

You can learn more about the many ways you can brighten our community at uwoxfordms.org and let us all allow our light to shine onto others this holiday season.

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RECIPES

Recipes for Holiday

Entertaining

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BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE

By Peggy Walker Enjoy Christmas morning or take as a sweet gesture to a new or dear neighbor.

2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (thawed) 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 tablespoon set aside Zest from one lemon 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup set aside 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup butter milk

Wash and sort through blueberries, removing little stems.

Drain well. Cream butter, 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beating until combined. In another bowl combine dry ingredients except the ¼ cup flour. Toss blueberries with the saved ¼ cup flour and set aside. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stir with spatula to incorporate. Add all of the buttermilk and stir in gently. Add remaining half of flour mixture, stir until the four is all absorbed. Now, gently fold in blueberries, leaving any excess flour from blueberries in that bowl. Pour batter into an 8” greased (with pan spray or butter) baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake for 35 – 45 minutes. Check for doneness with toothpick or cake tester. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

CHRISTMAS TREE SPINACH DIP BREADSTICKS 12 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 6 oz cream cheese, softened 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon onion powder ¼ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon italian seasoning ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 1 cup cheddar or mozzarella cheese 1 tube refrigerated thin crust pizza crust 2 tablespoons butter ½ teaspoon each garlic salt+ Italian seasoning Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, beat together the spinach and cream cheese. Add garlic, salt, onion powder, pepper, chili powder, Italian season and beat to combine.

Add parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and beat to combine.

For shaping directions, visit this post: httpsJ/wp.me/p405LX-3SX Bake tree for about 22 minutes until quite golden brown on top and cooked through on the bottom. Melt butter and stir in garlic salt and seasoning, brush over breads ticks. Serve warm.

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JAMBALAYA Just right for the cool weekends.

1 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup chopped white onion ½ cup chopped celery 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon dried basil Dash ground red pepper 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 bay leaf 2 (14.5-ounce) cans Cajun-flavored stewed tomatoes 6 ounces 2. Andouille sausage, cut into ¼-inch thick slices 1 2-ounce jar diced pimento, drained 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice ½ pound peeled, deveined medium shrimp, raw Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and next 9 ingredients; cook 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Stir in rice and shrimp; cook 6 minutes or until shrimp are done (have turned pink). Makes 4 servings, 2 cups each.

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GRANNY’S CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE 1½ cups sugar 1/3 cup cocoa 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 6 tablespoons margarine 1 cup evaporated milk 2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla 1 9-inch, uncooked deep-dish pie shell ½ cup chopped pecans (*optional) Mix sugar, cocoa, and flour. Set aside. In saucepan, melt margarine, slowly add milk, eggs and vanilla. Whisk until well

blended. Add the dry ingredients; beat with mixer for 3 minutes until the batter is very smooth. Pour into pie shell; sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired. Bake in 350° preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cool on wire rack before slicing. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or Reddi Wip

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SHRIMP DESTIN This is a perfect starter for festive occasions 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined ¼ cup chopped green onions, with tops 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 cup butter, melted 1 tablespoon white wine 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried) 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley *Hot cooked white rice Sauté green onions and garlic in butter until onions are tender. Add shrimp, wine, juice, salt and pepper; cook over medium heat about 4 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in dill and parsley. Serve over rice or spoon over toasted French bread, split lengthwise.

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2ND CHANCE MS FALL

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The Green at Harrisons 1810 October 5, 2023 All Photos © Joey Brent

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Cassidy Grace Porter and Sarah Rose Lomenick

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R. Tyler Ellis, M.D. OxfordMag.com 65

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Grounds at Rowan Oak Photos by Photobomb

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The Powerhouse

October 17, 2023 All Photos © Joey Brent

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Heather Outlaw, Kim Patterson and Kate Victor

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Barry and Carrie White

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Josh and Meghan Hairston

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Lauren Fassero-Alias and McGhee Monteith

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Glenda Landrum and Jennifer McClure

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Crystal Elliott and Kasandra Brownlee

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Ellen Chism, Lindsey Mitchell, Crystal Elliott and Kasandra Brownlee

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Kem Walker and Gabby Rush

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Mary Margaret Andrews pours Glenda Landrum a glass of red wine

10. 1265 - Mary Margaret Andrews and Kelley Hunsberger 11. Peyton Hill and Aaron Herrington 12. Harland Jones and Amanda Haley 13. Leigh Bass, Esther Crumpton and Ginny Abraham 14. Carrie White and David Strong 15. Lauren Bloch, Hannah Tice, Kristen Smith and Kate Kenwright 16. Aleciean Mathis and Kathy Shoalmire 17. Mary Klepzig and Kallen Alderman 68 December 2023

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STAY CONNECTED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON While you’re busy connecting with the people that matter in life, NE SPARC will keep you connected everywhere else.

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www.nesparc.com OxfordMag.com 69

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TAILGATE FOR PALMER HOME

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Archie and Olivia Manning Center Ole Miss Campus October 21, 2023 All Photos © Joey Brent

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Jessica Corley and Madison Drake

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Mirenda Gilmore, Graci Leitner, Maggie Coers and Natalie Grace Decker

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Brenna Brooks, Sophie Pitts, Ashley Wolfley, Ashley Duke and Marisa Martin

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Stephanie Brown, Jonathan Sengisiry, Caydence Trost, Angie Sicurezza and Lauren Gallagher

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Sean Nelson and Annie McNutt

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Luke, Amanda and Scott Angle

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Bill Sloan, Sarah Hollis and Lynn Sloan

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Jodi Rives with Austin and Faith McCarty

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Amanda Haley and Harland Jones

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SAID AND DONE

T

A CLOSER WALK

COUNTRIBUTING EDITOR JIM DEES is a writer and longtime host of Thacker Mountain Radio. He is the author of The Statue and the Fury - A Year of Art, Race, Music and Cocktails.

The end of the year typically prompts bursts of re-assessment, remembrance and resolve, even if those flimsy resolutions have the life expectancy of the common house fly.

This season is my time to recall friends who have passed away and November always reminds me of the late author and Lafayette Countian Larry Brown. Larry passed away the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2004.

As it happened the Egg Bowl was in Oxford that year and the funeral was scheduled to be held during the game. What a strange sensation to tailgate with the folks and then head to the stadium, only to keep walking. I went to my truck and made my way to Yocona for the service with the game on the radio, another strange sensation.

That day was appropriately dreary and rainy for the sad task of saying goodbye to one gone too soon - age 53.

Observers of that day have noted the appearance of a hawk, Larry’s favorite bird for its vision and gliding strength, appearing intermittently in the soggy sky. Perhaps it was Larry, some suggested.

Besides the hawk and the overall surreal feeling of that day, what really stands out is the six-mile drive from the service at the Yocona church to Larry’s burial at his land in nearby Tula.

I recall being amazed that people still pulled over for funeral processions. Such a gesture really registers when you’re part of the processional, in line with your lights on.

There had to be 100 cars in Larry’s funeral drive.

The road curved at Cornish, allowing one to look back and see the slow-moving serpentine line snaking to the end of the horizon, the dark clouds looming so low as to almost cover them.

That endless queue of cars – and motorists pulled over in a show of respect — was repeated this past summer at the funeral of Hank Burdine of Lake Washington in Washington County near Greenville.

Hank was a noted outdoorsman and served on the county Levee board to help manage Greenville’s river and lake needs.

He contributed articles to Delta Magazine and was known as a world-class raconteur, grill cook, bartender and, as it turns out, Sunday school teacher.

“He was my Sunday School teacher, “ a mutual friend, Lindsay Thomas Dowdle, told me at his visitation. “He took us to Shoney’s.”

Hank never taught me Sunday School but he was my de facto neighbor during football season twenty years ago while his son, Matt, attended Ole Miss. I lived in Taylor at the time and Hank set up shop across the street in an Airstream trailer which he occupied most home football weekends for four years.

For his patio there was a broken piece of concrete with treacherous footing presided over by a durable Sycamore tree. Hank strung up some twinkling lights, put John Prine on the jam box, lit a fire in the fire pit and declared the “Sycamore Plaza Ballroom” was open.

For those years there was always a gathering of friends at the Ballroom. On Sunday mornings the smell of sausage, wafting from across the street, worked better than an alarm clock.

In late June, 1993, the great bluesman James “Son” Thomas passed away. Son played Oxford numerous times throughout the 1980s and was always a favorite.

My buddy Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro had often booked Son to play the Hoka, Oxford’s much-lamented arthouse movie theatre/deli. We had spent many cordial evenings with Son and decided to attend his funeral.

We drove to Eden, the decidedly non-blues name of Son’s hometown in Yazoo County.

After the burial, just outside the cemetery, we happened upon Hank Burdine and his wonderful wife, Sally. We began talking - Ronzo and Hank deep into blues vibe was a thing of beauty. Hank mentioned he and Sally were on their way to a party and did we want a roasted chicken leg.

He opened his ice chest to reveal stacks of warm, roasted chicken legs.

Of course.

Hank produced paper plates and said, “How about a Budweiser?” He opened another ice chest and passed around the chicken and the beer and just like that, we were tailgating a funeral.

We need more like Ronzo, Hank, Son and Larry.

As we look to a new year, perhaps trying to emulate their spirit might make for worthwhile New Year’s resolutions: Work hard, play harder, care for others and wear interesting clothes.

If wealth was measured by how many people attend your funeral, these guys were billionaires.

World affairs may trudge on but our lost loved ones stay alive as long as we can remember the love and the laughs.

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