Profile 2024

CELEBRATING THE PAST CRAFTING THE FUTURE

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Celebrating the Past Crafting the Future Profile

PUBLISHER

Rebecca Alexander

Profile is our giant-sized annual publication that allows us to go beyond regular news to tell positive stories that showcase people and our community. Each year we choose a theme that reflects what is special about Oxford and Lafayette County and the people who make it great.

The theme this year is “Celebrating the Past, Crafting the Future” and is derived from William Faulkner’s famous quote, “The past is never dead. It’s not event past, it’s not even past.” From the theme, our writers took direction for interviews with people from all walks of life in Oxford and Lafayette County.

Celebrating the people who make Oxford

and Lafayette special is hard to narrow down, because there are so many. We talked to people who are well known and have been here all their lives, and relative newcomers who are helping shape Oxford’s future. We hope you enjoy reading these stories, and come away knowing a bit more about these exceptional people.

Thanks to our writers, photographers, designers, and staff who spent hundreds of hours putting Profile together. We also thank our sponsors who help us provide this kind of yearlong publication to serve the community. We hope you enjoy reading this keepsake edition.

Rebecca Alexander

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Jeremy Weldon

EDITORIAL

Jake Davis

Kelby Zendejas

Alyssa Schnugg

CONTRIBUTORS

Angela Cutrer

Bruce Newman

Joey Brent

Jake Thompson

Denise Strub

Lauren Jones

Julie Mabus

Harold Brummett

DESIGN

Allison Dale

MARKETING

Amelia Ott

Clifton Clements Odom

Mike Haskins

A supplement to

JASON PLUNK Oxfordian for life

CIRCLE AND SQUARE Oxford’s third place

FAULKNER FARMS Farm and family

SHERIDIAN MAIDEN Decades of service in law enforcement

WILL LEWIS The dean of Oxford

BILL GRIFFITH Curator of Rowan Oak

CELEBRATING THE PAST Historic places in Oxford

KURT BRUMMETT Service to community

DAN SHELL M.D Plastic surgeon inspired by father’s success

SAM PHILLIPS Lafayette veteran

CHICKORY MARKET A new chapter

DON JONES Leading NWCC’s Oxford Campus

STUDENT INNOVATION Ole Miss students create app

AN ABBEVILLE TREASURE

MAX HIPP Lafayette County Historic Society

OLE MISS & OXFORD TRIVIA

On June 8, 1971, a boy was born at the “Methodist Home Hospital for Unwed Mothers” in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana. For obvious reasons, the birth was fraught with fear and anticipation, and within days, the baby was put up for adoption. But this baby boy--this life--held untold secrets intended to right the wrongs and calm the chaos of mistakes made and choices gone awry.

A young couple, Bill and Gloria Plunk, steeped in conservative, southern values, a church-going couple, was gifted with this infant son. And so began the extraordinary life of Jason Taylor Plunk.

Jason grew up on Beanland Drive in his parents’ hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. The Plunks also adopted a baby girl named Jenny; and Gloria, like many young mothers of the 1970s, dedicated her life to creating a stable and loving home for her two young children.

Bill, an Ole Miss graduate, ran Colonial Savings & Loan, but he had a bent for elective office and was voted in as Lafayette County’s Chancery Clerk in 1974 when Jason and his sister were toddlers. He held that position for twenty-eight years. Gloria became the family’s focal point and raised the children with a loving and attentive hand.

Typically, children do not do well with a geographic move, even if it’s just three miles down the road. When Jason was eight, the family moved “out of town” to Highway 7, just south of Oxford, building a house next to Gloria’s parents, M.T.

“

I was never interested in finding them. When I was old enough to raise the question, I remember the talk show host, Sally Jessy Raphael, devoting a program to the subject. I asked my mama about the idea. 'I don't want you to do it, but it's okay if that's what you want.' When I asked her why, I'll never forget her answer. 'I don't want to share you.' That was all I needed to hear. I never thought about it again.

Jason Plunk

and Faye Rotenberry. How was he going to play with his friends? He would never get them to come to his new home so far away from town-all thoughts critical in the life of an eight-year-old boy. But in an interesting foretelling--his new house would be half a mile from his life’s work, broadcasting music from a radio tower just one Lafayette County hilltop away.

He responded to my question about his birth parents. “I was never interested in finding them. When I was old enough to raise the question, I remember the talk show host, Sally Jessy Raphael, devoting a program to the subject. I asked my mama about the idea. ‘I don’t want you to do it, but it’s okay if that’s what you want.’ When I asked her why, I’ll never forget her answer. ‘I

”don’t want to share you.’ That was all I needed to hear. I never thought about it again.”

For Jason, recognizing and capitalizing on fortuitous situations are as natural as breathing. Everything is an opportunity in his eyes. When I walked into his radio station/office, a refurbished shack at the south end of South Lamar, his bigger-thanlife personality marked every inch of the structure. Two barber chairs from the sixties, embedded with ashtrays in the armrests, invite guests to have a seat. An oversized, gilded vanity mirror hangs behind the barber chairs, reminiscent of Floyd’s Barber Shop from “The Andy Griffith Show.” A vaulted ceiling of corrugated metal rises above old wooden support beams; and wide-planked pine flooring cradles the room in

warmth and earthy smells. Decorated Harley-Davidson engine covers hang from the wooden paneled walls. “Look at my desk. It’s from a 54 Chevrolet pickup my daughter spotted at a salvage yard when she was nine.”

Jason bought the radio station in 1995. “You were so young when you bought it. How did you know what to do?”

“I’ve been working since I was twelve. I started at Big Star bagging groceries, making $2.85 an hour. From an early age, I knew life was sweet, and I was going to partake in it. Eventually, I told my parents I wanted to be a rock star. The thing was, I had no musical talent, none. So, I made up my mind to do the technical part. My parents believed in me and loaned me the money to buy the needed equipment. I went to Ron’s Music Center and bought two speakers and an amp for $1,200. I was going to be a D.J.”

“How in the world?”

“I got the idea when I was at a party in high school. The ‘Sunshine Kid’ was spinning records. Johnny ‘Sunshine’ Buford was Angelo Mistilis’ main cook. We called him the ‘Sunshine Kid.’ When I saw him deejaying, I decided that’s what I wanted to do.”

His efforts paid off. Jason made $100 a night from local parties, weddings, and school dances. “When I barely had my driver’s license, I worked a party in Tunica. On my way home, I got pulled over by a highway patrolman, and when I reached for my driver’s license in

the glove compartment, the officer balked. He pulled me out and threw me against the car. To make things worse, he found an open cooler of a dark liquid on the front seat. ‘Sir, that’s just my grandmother’s sweet tea.’ It really was. The lesson here is never reach for the glove box without asking permission first.”

When Jason graduated from Oxford High School in 1989, he accepted a scholarship into a notable program at Northeast Community College, a country music group called Campus Country. Chosen students joined a ready-made performing band with singers, technicians, and instrumentalists. It was a perfect fit for Jason. He was the lead technician, and for a year, he performed with the group at school events and around the state.

Though Booneville wasn’t far from Oxford, Jason missed home, and in his sophomore year, he transferred to Ole Miss. “But school really wasn’t for me. I never graduated.” Jason wanted to taste life his own way.

“I started bar-tending at Irelands’ Irish Pub, right off the Square. Yeah, I know, I wasn’t twenty-one. But in those days, getting emancipated before the Chancery Judge to serve drinks was commonplace. Also, bartenders had to be fingerprinted and have a license issued. I did it all.”

After Jason left college, he also worked at General Generics on North Lamar. “It was a telemarketing position. We serviced many of the North Mississippi pharmacies with their generic prescriptions. It was mainly cold calling. I didn’t mind that, but I wouldn’t say I liked sitting behind a desk. I wanted to be out with the people.”

In 1991, Jason made his foray into the broadcasting business at WODX, working for Mel Chrestman, the station’s owner and a radio entrepreneur from the early AM days. Jason began with a Sunday morning church program and worked his way to a Saturday night slot. Four years later, Jason bought the station and never looked back.

“I remodeled a building on Highway 7 and moved the station there from the original South Lamar location. Back then, the old Baptist Hospital had a radio tower to contact its ambulance drivers--no cell phones. We broadcasted from that tower.

“We started as ‘Oldies 96,’ but with

Y2K, I rebranded the station ‘Bullseye 95.5,’ like the music is ‘right on target.’ I play classic rock from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. It’s still older music, but it’s programmed ‘for 25 to 54-year-old females.’ I believe women are the decision-makers in the home when it comes to spending money. My advertisers are pleased with the format. And I love the music.”

Jason kept his hand in the hospitality industry as “Mr. Music,” the house DJ at Oxford Billiard Club on West Jackson. He bought the club in 2001 and renamed it Night Town Billiards, hosting such talent as Dirks Bentley and Otis Day and the Nights. He later bought Taylor’s Pub in 2008. “But when my daughter was born, I knew it was time to give up that life.”

“And what about your family?”

“As I said, I have a wonderful thirteen-year-old daughter, Anna Claire, who helped me pick out the truck for my desk. He smiled. “And, yeah, I can see myself getting married again someday.”

“After Taylor’s Pub, where did you direct your business energies?”

“For one thing, I moved the station again.” In 2016, with the continuation of the new Highway 7 project, Jason had to sell his property to make way for the highway’s interchange. His choices for a new station location were limited as the tower and the broadcasting site had to be in close proximity. “I found this little shack.” It was a mess, covered in debris. But the location was perfect for the nearby tower.”

When Jason first spotted the cabin, he walked up to the house next door, hoping to find the owner. His instincts were right on target. “I offered to buy the building, and we made a deal on the spot. But, I had to

gut and rebuild the whole thing, and that took some time.”

Jason has a knack for taking things in stride. “It’s like when I got into the shuttle business.” In Jason’s energetic pursuit of advertising dollars, he approached one of the apartment complexes in town. “I ran into a young tenant looking for weekend transportation to the Square. Bingo, I bought a bus and started shuttling kids every weekend. Then, I sold the idea as an amenity to other apartment complexes. I hired drivers, and at one point, I had five buses.”

Covid put a dent in the business. Undaunted, he repurposed the buses and rented them out for wedding parties. That was also the time Jason started his Hotty Toddy Wedding Cars business. Once again, the idea came serendipitously.

Jason harbors a love for classic cars. When I drove up to his radio station for the interview, an immaculately restored 1948 Chrysler Windsor graced the building’s gravel driveway. “Jolene, that’s her name; Jolene got me into the business.”

In 2020, on one of Jason’s occasional joy rides in Jolene, a young man and his father waved him down on the Square. The rented “getaway car” for the son’s upcoming wedding was in the shop, and Jolene caught their attention. Jason agreed to chauffer the newlyweds in his Chrysler. At the wedding, he met the wedding planner and, with her encouragement, Hotty Toddy Wedding Cars with “A Perfect Ending to Your Perfect Day” was off and running. But the fleet didn’t end with the Chrysler.

For some time, Jason had been eyeing a 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud 1, the very car that was out of service for the wedding. Oxford

couple Charley and Trisha Meyers owned the fully restored Rolls, but the mechanical parts needed a little tender loving care. “When I first approached them, they weren’t quite ready to let her go. Eventually, Jason and Charley shook hands on the deal, and ‘Eleanor’ the elegant white Rolls with her red leather interior, joined Jason’s fleet.

Jason’s studio is a small sound room at the back of his cabin off South Lamar. His broadcasting equipment sits beside a computer where the content is preprogrammed, playing 24 hours a day. He grabbed a microphone, announced the weather, and pushed a few keys on his computer to schedule the report. “That’ll play next hour. Things have significantly changed in the broadcasting business, and we do offer streaming at Bullseye955.com, but most of our broadcasting is on the FM radio dial.”

I asked about his position as chairman of the Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve participated as a volunteer with the Chamber for years. It’s a great organization. I’m committed to increasing membership and am proud to continue with upgrades to the property. The Chamber is the perfect organization to meet people and network in the community. And in a place like Oxford, that’s a key ingredient for a successful business.”

“You mentioned you can see yourself married again. Is there anyone special in your life now?”

He smiled and offered, “Yeah, I’ve been seeing somebody for several years. I really outkicked my coverage.”

“Explain, please. I’ve never heard that one.”

“It has a football meaning. When your team has kicked a ball too far down the field, and the other side picks it up while your coverage team is still yards away, that’s outkicking your coverage. But it also has a nonsports meaning. It’s when your partner is better looking than you are.”

It took me a minute, but I got it. “I find that hard to believe.”

Jason is fifty-two years old, with the energy of a teenager. Broadcasting is the mainstay of his life’s work. But given his propensity for new business ventures, whether by serendipity or organized effort, this “almost” native son is a gift to his beloved Oxford.

JASON PLUNK

Between home life and work life it gets hard sometimes to find the time to relax in a neutral environment that does not remind someone of those two environments.

Sumner Abraham and his group — consisting of Taylor Webb, John Adrian and Rick Hollander — worked to create a location that could be that ‘third place’ in Oxford resident’s lives with Circle and Square Brewing Company.

The City of Oxford’s first brewery is one that is embracing not only its unique location but also providing not just another place for beer and food, but a place that becomes more than the local water

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Abraham was living in Charlottesville, Virginia where he was doing his medical training. This is where the concept of wanting to mesh several concepts into one was formed.

“First became infatuated with this idea of a brewery being a third space,” Abraham said. “We had seven breweries where we could go with our kids.”

When Abraham’s brother-in-law was visiting in 2019 the question of why does Oxford not have such a place similar to those breweries in Charlottesville became a topic of discussion.

Fast forward a year later Abraham went to work on providing an answer to that question but there was already an answer in place. State laws were keeping Oxford from moving into the craft brewery

industry without having to cater to some specific requirements.

After the law changed in 2021, allowing breweries to sell 80 percent of its beer made on site, Abraham and his group were all set to create that ‘third space’ for Oxford’s residents.

“That was the game-changer,” Abraham said.

Craft beer was not necessarily the passion for Abraham or the motivation behind creating Circle & Square. That was left to head brewer Joel Weyenberg, who moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota and the ‘créme de la créme of craft brewing,’ according to Abraham.

Instead the drive behind this passion project for Abraham was cultivating a place of fellowship for all of Oxford’s walks of life.

“I was more interested in creating spaces for the people by the people,” Abraham said. “Our goal was we want to go find the best people to do what they do and combine our forces together and create a really cool space that Oxford can be proud of.”

The food and beverage community that has been cultivated in Oxford is attributed by Abraham to the success of chef John Currence for “putting Oxford on the map.”

Abraham also credits and thanks to Emily and Joie Blunt of Saint Leo for being welcoming during the incubation process of the think tank that became Circle & Square.

When it comes to the location and the name it was one of those ‘chicken or the egg?’ type of situa-

“ ”

Oxford, I think, has deserved a place like this. We were just happy to provide it. I enjoy having a cold beer and it’s even better when you have a really talented brewer to make it. … Living in Charlottesville and seeing what breweries can do for a community and create spaces for people to hang out. Places to bring your family. I do think that’s where we’re at an advantage is that you can bring your family here.

Sumner Abraham

tions. The name was one from the early rounds of brainstorming but was not the favorite of the group’s, Abraham admits.

But the location where the brewery currently resides (100 Depot Street) just happened to be exactly half a mile from Oxford’s historic downtown square and half a mile from The Circle on the campus of the University of Mississippi. Everything fell into place.

“It’d be fun to go back and look at our initial naming exercise,” Abraham said. “We knew we needed to leverage what makes Oxford great and (for) a lot of people, that’s synonymous with the square. There’s a lot more that makes Oxford great but kind of when people think of Oxford the square is kind of synonymous and with the university we didn’t want to be the university’s brewery but we wanted to leverage that.”

Two years after coming up with the idea Oxford’s first microbrewery opened in the late summer of 2023. Ever since the doors opened the community has latched on to the ideas that Abraham wanted Cir-

cle and Square to become.

“Oxford, I think, has deserved a place like this,” Abraham said. “We were just happy to provide it. I enjoy having a cold beer and it’s even better when you have a really talented brewer to make it. …Living in Charlottesville and seeing what breweries can do for a community and create spaces for people to hang out. Places to bring your family. I do think that’s where we’re at an ad-

graining itself into the sporting community, partnering with The Grove Collective. Brewery has its staple beer ‘Full Ride’ being sold at all Ole Miss football, basketball and baseball games with the 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Rebels NIL collective.

Making sure to have a healthy relationship with Ole Miss Athletics was another goal Abraham has with this venture.

vantage is that you can bring your family here.”

After a slow and intentional roll out of the beer menu there are nearly10 different varieties on tap currently with the eventual goal of having 12 beers on tap at all times. There is also a menu that caters to nearly all appetites, kids included, plus cocktails on draft and a coffee menu for the early risers.

Circle and Square is even in-

“We sat down and said, ‘What would it take for us to do it?’ About that same time the collective came to be and college sports as we know it changed forever,” Abraham said. “Our thought was people are drinking beer in the stadium and how can we support the collective.”

The brewery is a passion project for all involved but not for the reason of making money by providing alcohol and food to hungry customers. The reason is to help Oxford residents have a place where they can feel comfortable to spend time with family and friends while enjoying good food and beer and soak in the atmosphere.

Oxford has found a ‘third place.’

By ANGELA CUTRER | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

THE FALKNER FARM FAMILY

Falkner Farms provides steady supply of fresh ingredients

Afamiliar friendly face at Oxford’s annual farmer’s markets, Reed Falkner – representing his family’s Falkner Farms in south Oxford – provides pasture-raised chicken eggs, as well as grass-fed and grass-finished beef, all with a big smile and a humble personality.

In 2023, Reed’s dedication to his work had him named as one of the “20 under 40” in Lafayette County. His vote tally came from people who know his family, know what hard work is and know what kind of man Reed is. One can’t hide from honors bestowed from those who know first hand the kind of leader you are. But that is just a simplified definition of Falkner and the family from which he sprung.

Born and raised in Oxford, Reed’s childhood revolved around sports as well as the family farm. He attended Delta State University and then headed to California and Georgia for work involving fitness.

By 2016, Reed – whose life now included his wife Elizabeth – arrived right back in Oxford, where Reed began work as the head coach and a teacher at Coffeeville High School.

“

It’s a family farm that started as a hobby farm and transitioned to a small business. We have cattle, horses and chickens. We started with like 25 birds and now have 1,500 birds.

Reed Falkner

However, by 2020 when COVID-19 reared its ugly head, Reed went back to the place he knew best: the family farm. He said it seemed to be calling him, as that was where he learned to work and play hard while enjoying the nurturing of animals as well as the earth.

Anyone in the business knows that farm life is not for the weak. Luckily, Reed embraces the hard work necessary to be successful. He learned by watching his father, Ley, and the two now run Falkner Farms, along with other family members pitching in.

Falkner Farms has a large egg and Angus beef production, which is why its products are well known around the county, including in Oxford.

Caring for cattle and chickens is something Reed “just knows is

”where he belongs.” He has 10 years in the selling of eggs and beef and he finds the activity more than satisfying. “It’s a family farm that started as a hobby farm and transitioned to a small business,” he explained. “We have cattle, horses and chickens. We started with like 25 birds and now have 1,500 birds.”

Reed’s brother, who works on the University of Mississippi campus, helps out when needed, but mainly it’s Reed and his father in the trenches.

Reed was a coach and teacher for two years before COVID-19 lockdown. “That kind of messed with everything [at his job], so I jumped into working on the farm,” he said. “I thought I’d try it and see how I felt about it. I ended up changing career paths a little bit during COVID and

then I decided to keep doing this.”

And yes, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Reed is one of those Falkners - the ones who begat William Faulkner, who decided to add the “u” to his name because he was fancy like that. Fancy or not, the Falkners have long been a part of this community, as well as the North Mississippi area.

Reed’s great-great uncle William had a brother, John, and that’s Reed’s family line. “It’s definitely an honor to be related to William - it’s something we are proud of,” Reed said. “We have some of his old keepsakes and it’s really cool to be related.”

Reed shares his life with Elizabeth and their three little future farmers: Annie, 5; Dolly, 3; and Sadie, 1. Perhaps when they’ve grown up, Reed will have help with perfecting their cattle’s genetics, something Reed is interested in doing.

The Falkners’ current plans for their small business is to expand their farm-stand exposure and maybe open a storefront in the near future. “We’ve gotten really good feedback on our farmers’ market products and we hope to have more offerings for people.”

“I’ve trained well over 1,000 officers while at the academy. I’ve seen a lot of guys move up and become chiefs – both black and white – and it makes me feel good knowing I helped these guys be able to move up in their career.

Sheridan Maiden

”

attending Ole Miss and the couple raised two daughters, Melanie and Sherae.

“My oldest was in college already and the younger one was about to start college, so we decided to move back to Oxford,” he said.

However, Maiden received a phone call from the governor’s office and was asked to take a job with the State Capitol Police Department under Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. There he served as chief and director of law enforcement of the Department of Finance. When Gov. Haley Barbour was elected, Maiden left Jackson and went to work for the Madison Police Department for four years before returning to Oxford again to work for the University of Mississippi Police Department.

In May 2008, he was hired at the Oxford Police Department by thenChief Mike Martin as a patrolman and accreditation manager. He was promoted to sergeant and eventually, to Major. When Chief Jeff McCutchen took over OPD as chief in 2019, he was promoted to deputy chief.

When not being a police officer, Maiden spends time with his family and working with other children

from Lafayette County through the Oxford Park Commission where he volunteers regularly, whether helping at the Oxford Activity Center, working at FNC Park or coaching.

With retirement looming, Maiden said when that time comes he will spend more time with his quickly-growing five grandchildren.

Maiden has seen many changes over this 40-year career, both in law enforcement and in Oxford.

“Technology has really changed the way we do things,” he said. “And Oxford has grown a lot since 2008. We always had heavy game day traffic but not like it is now. With the city’s growth, we had to look at new ways to manage the larger crowds in that area. We also manage all the school traffic as well.

When Maiden joined OPD there were 55 officers. Today, there are 83 sworn officers with a total of 118 employes.

Working with new and younger officers, Maiden offers the following advice:

“Don’t be afraid of talking to the public,” he said. “You’d be surprised how much you can learn and have in common.”

SHERIDAN MAIDEN

THE DEAN OF OLD OXFORD

By JOHN COFIELD | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN

He would slightly roll his eyes at me for stating he is "The Dean of Old Oxford." But he is. It is an honorary title with no plaque hanging anywhere proclaiming it. It won't be on the news. No congratulations are in order because it lives and is understood well only in the hearts of Old Oxford's spirit. An unspoken acknowledgment of a man with memories beyond measure.

An Ole Miss man all the way, Will Lewis Jr. has the first Ole Miss sports season ticket issued to his father. Will Lewis Sr. He has a William Faulkner letter of note. Add to that Patty and Will Lewis hold an Oxford treasure, the beautiful Neilson/Cully/Lewis home on South 11th Street, and his family's legacy in town matches the Neilson family. Once again the keys to both the store and the home are on the same ring in the same pocket. But Will Lewis did not age into the management of The J. E. Neilson Company.

Through Ole Miss ROTC he was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco and from there as a courier Will

“

“We have stayed ahead of the trends and recognize what the Ole Miss students as well as the local folks want and expect to find at the store. Today my daughter Amanda and the crew do the heavy lifting and I help when needed.”

— Will Lewis

”

spent time in Japan and Hawaii. Upon his arrival back home he went to Ole Miss law school. "Yes, I was an attorney, Ole Miss undergrad, and then law school class of 1962. After graduating I clerked in Columbus for Judge Clayton. One day he called me into his office and told me he was giving up private practice and was headed to Oxford to be University Attorney. And that I should head back to Oxford too.

So in 1964, Will came back to town and started working with his father and sister, Olivia Lewis Nabors. It wasn't a hard transition. "Of course, I grew up in the store and knew every nook and cranny." He rarely worked the floor but rather administrated the store's running. He moved from piece goods and upgraded the store's inventory. Sales increased. "We have stayed ahead of the trends and recognize what the Ole Miss students as well as the local folks want and expect to find at the store. Today my daughter Amanda and the crew do the heavy lifting and I help when needed."

W. S. Neilson rolled two ox carts

loaded down with merchandise into town and set up his business in a log cabin on the Square. The year was 1839. The decades from log cabin to today's centerpiece of the businesses on the Square have seen a small handful of Neilsons and Lewises navigate the Oxford business world and the many changes that have come. Asking Will what major changes he and the store have faced got me a quick response, "The internet, online shopping, online marketing and advertising, and online customers changed everything. We adapted to it from the start of the internet and continue to grow with it today."

Will Lewis will turn 88 about the time this article comes out. He's at the store every day and my chance to sit in the back room of Neilson's and go one-on-one with him is why my heart recently moved me back home. And I know I'll never get this kind of Oxford anywhere else. The Square is the town's crown and the center jewel sits at 119 Courthouse Square... Neilson's with Will Lewis, the Dean of Old Oxford.

When my publisher mentioned that we would be interviewing Bill Griffin at Rowan Oak for our 2024 issue of Profile I eagerly raised my hand, hoping I might get the nod. In all my years at Ole Miss and working in Oxford I’ve never actually taken the time to go to Rowan Oak during business hours and get the “full experience”. As I walked beneath the steady cedars I was struck (as always) by the hushed beauty of that space. It was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon except for an occasional tourist snapping a selfie or glancing at a map.

I was invited through the creaking screen door by Rowan Oak curator Bill Griffin, who was holding a cordless phone and patiently explaining event rental details. The minute I entered I felt like I was in someone’s comfortable home. The house features an eclectic mix of Victorian, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival styles, photography and memorabilia reflecting the various periods of its existence. I’m directed to a well-worn chair in the foyer and wait patiently. After his

“

“Part of keeping a historic structure in good working order is constant maintenance,” Bill

explained. It’s at this point

in our

conversation that a female visitor from Baltimore walked in the front door clutching an Oxford map and wearing athletic shorts, fanny pack, visor and sunglasses. I got to see Bill in his element welcoming one of his guests and realized that one of our area’s best and most knowledgeable guides is right here at Rowan Oak. Bill, along with his Assistant Curator Rachel, welcome

between 10-12,000 visitors per year. Numbers have

suffered due to Covid-19 but are on the rise.

”shifted from the University of Miss. English Dept to University Museums and Historic Homes. It was at this time that the curator also departed. After a two-year search Bill became interim then full-time curator in 1999. During his twenty-five years he has overseen several extensive renovations. ”Part of keeping a historic structure in good working order is constant maintenance,” Bill explained.

call I start with my questions and immediately realize with pleasure that this interview will be anything but formal!

Bill joined Ole Miss in 1992 as the

University Museum Collections Manager after extensive training in preservation and archaeology. Shortly after he started at the university Rowan Oak’s management

It’s at this point in our conversation that a female visitor from Baltimore walked in the front door clutching an Oxford map and wearing athletic shorts, fanny pack, visor and sunglasses. I got to see Bill in his element welcoming one of his guests and realized that one of our area’s best and most knowledgeable guides is right here at Rowan Oak. Bill, along with his Assistant Curator Rachel, welcome somewhere between 10-12,000 visitors per year. Numbers have suffered due to Covid-19 but are on the rise.

When Bill arrived at Rowan Oak in the early 1990’s the property was still basically “a private home” and a shrine to the literary legacy of

BILL GRIFFITH

William Faukner. He saw the potential for muchmore. It was during his tenure that Rowan Oak evolved into a working museum where people could not only visit the grounds and the historic home but also learn about the life of Mr. Faulkner and get an idea of what Oxford and the South was like during that time. Tucked away in the back gallery is a very impressive exhibit of images and memorabilia from the renowned Cofield Collection. The images give visitors a glimpse of Faulkner the man. Who he was and how and where he lived. When I asked where he got this amazing collection Bill proudly said that he had rescued it from storage in the basement of city hall. The exhibit had been featured in the previous Visit Oxford location but due to lack of space had been stored away.

A quick history of Rowan

Oak:

Rowan Oak, located in Oxford, Mississippi, is a historic home on Old Taylor Road with a rich history married to the region’s cultural heritage. Built in 1844, Rowan Oak has become an iconic landmark and symbol of the Southern literary tradition. Rowan Oak was originally named “The Bailey Place” after its first owner, Robert Sheegog, who constructed the two-story Greek Revival style home. In 1859, the property was sold to Colonel Robert Sheegog’s daughter, Lucy Thompson, and her husband, Dr. Thomas Bailey Aldrich. They subsequently renamed the estate “Rowan Oak” after the rowan tree, an ancient Celtic symbol of protection and inspiration.

Of course the most famous resident of Rowan Oak was the renowned American author William Faulkner. Many visitors assume Mr. Faulkner lived

BILL GRIFFITH

here for generations but he purchased the property only in 1930, making it his home until his death in 1962. During his thirty-plus years at Rowan Oak, Faulkner penned some of his most celebrated works, including “As I Lay Dying,” “Light in August,” and “Absalom, Absalom!”. The house served as a source of inspiration for Faulkner’s fictional setting of Yoknapatawpha County, which appears in many of his novels and short stories. Visitors can even see his handwritten notes for the novel, “Sanctuary” scribbled on the walls in an upstairs bedroom. Rowan Oak is not only significant for its association with Faulkner but also for its architectural and historical value.

In 1972, Rowan Oak was designated a National Historic Landmark, a token to its literary and architectural significance at a national level. That same year the house and surrounding grounds were sold to Ole Miss and are now open to the public as a museum and meeting/event space. Visitors to Rowan Oak can explore the rooms where Mr. Faulkner lived and worked, view his personal belongings, and gain insight into his creative process weekly, Tuesday through Sunday.

My last question for Bill was whether or not he could confirm one of the more colorful “tall tales” I’ve heard about Mr. Faulkner. He smiled wryly and responded with the perfect Faulker quote: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story…”

Rowan Oak stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of William Faulkner and his timeless influence on the Southern literary tradition. It serves as a cultural mecca for literature enthusiasts and a place of high inspira

ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was organized in 1851 and held its first service on Easter Sunday in 1860 at South 9th Street and Jackson Avenue.

BURNS-BELFRY MUSEUM & MULTICULTURAL CENTER

Oxford’s first African-American Church, called Sewell Chapel, was located in this spot on Jackson Avenue. Burns Methodist Episcopal Church was completed in 1910 and was used until 1974 when the church relocated. The building’s restoration was completed in July 2013 and is now the Burns-Belfry Museum & Multicultural Center.

CELEBRATING THE PAST

Historic Markers in Lafayette County

PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN

National Historic markers in Oxford and Laffayette county mark the spot and tell the story of significant places and events.

BUCKNER-CRAIG-ISOM CEMETERY

The grave of John J. Craig, an early settler, is located in the Buckner-Craig-Isom Cemetery on Old Taylor Road. Craig purchased Indian lands which later became Oxford.

WILLIAM FAULKNER GRAVE

Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner, who died in 1962, is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL RAILROAD CAMPAIGN

On December 8, 1862 Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. Sherman met during the Civil War, where they made plans to capture Vicksburg. The Lafayette County Detention Center is now located there.

LAFAYETTE AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

LAFAYETTE AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL

Lafayette Agricultural High School was located in this building located in the College Hill community.

The LQC Lamar House, built by Lucius and Virginia Lamar in 186970, is located on three acres at 616 N. 14th Street in Oxford, Miss.

COLLEGE HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Bible sits on a podium at College Hill Presbyterian Church in Oxford, Miss. on Sunday, May 10, 2015. The church was organized between 1844-1846. On Saturday, August 13, 2022 at approximately 10:30 p.m. the church was heavily damaged by fire.

By DENISE STRUB | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY JOEY BRENT

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

KURT BRUMMETT

Community, partnership and service are three words you will hear often when talking to Kurt Brummett, executive director of the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County.

For Brummett, these words form a philosophy of not just the United Way but also of his personal life.

“I try to always look at what’s best for the community as opposed to what’s best for the United Way. Everything we do is a partnership,” he said.

Brummett grew up in Tremont, located in Central Illinois, but he spent holidays and vacations in Oxford.

“My family was from here and I always like to say when other people went to the beach or the mountains or Disney World for vacations, we came to Oxford for two weeks to visit family.

“

I remember we went to the pumpkin patch one time and they had us split up in groups and made us come up with a name for our group, which was like Run LMC or something. But then I went later and had lunch at the school and saw the kids from our group. Seeing them and just knowing it’s the little things that can make an impact.

Kurt Brummett

“My mom was actually here when they consolidated the county schools. She was a part of the first graduating class of Lafayette. When they four-laned Highway 6 between Oxford and Pontotoc, it took the house where dad grew up.” Brummett said he obtained his undergradu-

”

ate and masters degrees from The University of Mississippi.

“I came here in ‘96 with plans of walking on the baseball team but I hurt my arm that summer. Then Donny Kessinger, who was the coach, retired and there was a new staff. So I never

ended up playing the baseball side. But I came to school and stayed six years and continued to live here.”

Brummett worked at Three Rivers Planning and Development District for 14 years before taking his position with the United Way in 2016.

“(With Three Rivers), I was doing everything from securing grant funding to helping Toyota locate here,” he said, adding he also worked on recruiting Winchester to the area.

Brummett said though the work was rewarding, he believes the United Way offers him a chance to do something a little more impactful and personal.

“I get to work with the amazing organizations and people here. I could really see what a giving and philanthropic community it (Oxford) was.”

He also said working with United Way has given him the opportunity to spend more time with his son, who is a freshman in high school.

“I remember we went to the pumpkin patch one time and they had us split up in groups and made us come up with a name for our group, which was like Run LMC or something. But then I went later and had lunch at the school and saw the kids from our group. Seeing them and just knowing it’s the little things that can make an impact.”

Brummett said the United Way offers the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations and people in the community.

“Everytime you go somewhere, you are going to run across someone who knows someone who has benefited or who has benefited through the United Way. Remember there are no income related criteria when it comes to child abuse or domestic violence or tutoring assistance, it could be anybody.”

Brummett said he is grateful for the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing people in the community. “I have an amazing board and amazing grant recipients. It’s all about being a team. We (United Way) are a one person staff but our team numbers in the hundreds and thousands in the community.

“So many think it takes a huge donation to be a part of our team but $2 is enough for one book through the Dolly Parton Imagina-

tion Library and that could be The Book that helps a child learn to enjoy reading.

“A $5 gift to Love Packs makes sure a child doesn’t go hungry over the weekend or a frozen meal for an elderly resident, who is also getting a safety check which could be saving their life.

“The thing I love about United Way is it touches every age group and demographic in the community, whether it’s through children receiving a free book or an elderly person receiving a free meal.”

Currently the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County helps to fund programs in 19 organizations and Brummett explained it’s important for the community to know specific programs are being funded and a wide range of residents who are being helped.

“It’s not the organizations we are funding. It’s a program that is actually helping the community,” said Brummett, who added the organizations are held accountable and have to show how the funds they’ve been given are used and if they believe a difference is being made.

“We think it’s important when people are generous and give of themselves for whatever reason, their gift should be applied exactly how they think it should be.”

Brummett said with a chuckle he hopes to continue working with the United Way in the future and living in Oxford, with his son and wife Kelly, who works at the Health Department in Early Intervention.

He said much has changed over the years, especially in the area of fundraising. “We’re doing things now that maybe 20 years ago we didn’t think about doing. However every gift to us is going to be a partnership, whether it’s a designated contribution to a single organization or to us for the 19 different programs we help throughout the community.

“While this (United Way) is a nonprofit, so many things are applicable to a business. There may not be sales per say but there are donors and it’s the same principle. You have to engage your donors just like you engage customers. You have to build that relationship, not just take it for granted,” ended Brummett, who again bragged about his amazing board and the amazing people he partners with in the community.

DR. DAN H. SHELL

Shell Plastic Surgery in Oxford is the only practice offering advanced plastic surgery in the area. However, some may think the medical office is just there for “beautification” services.

Owner Dr. Dan H. Shell IV would disagree. In fact, on the practice’s website, Shell relates that he “is not trying to transform someone into someone they are not. I just enhance their beauty and natural characteristics.”

Shell’s office “provides reconstructive and aesthetic services to the community,” he added. “Half of my practice is dedicated to reconstructive surgery. These are procedures designed to restore form and function after cancer resection and traumatic injuries. The other half of my practice is dedicated to aesthetic surgery and treatments.”

Dan and Mary Anna Shell – the owners of the practice as well as life partners – both grew up in Memphis, with extended family in Jackson, Miss. From there, they both attended the University of

“ ”

When I was 13 years old he took care of a young girl named Fatima who was from Bolivia. Fatima was bitten by a Bushmaster snake and was facing a near-certain amputation of her leg. She was transported to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, where my dad took a muscle from her back and transplanted it into her leg. When she walked out of the hospital, I knew that I [too] wanted to be a surgeon. Dr. Dan H. Shell IV

Mississippi in Oxford. “My wife majored in English and has a master’s degree in journalism,” Shell said. “I attended the University of

Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis.

“After graduating from medical school, I completed a general

surgery residency at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and then matched into plastic surgery residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. I am board certified in general surgery and plastic surgery.”

Getting their practice off the ground was a challenge. “Oxford never had a plastic surgeon and we spent a great deal of time educating the public and fellow physicians on what a plastic surgeon does and how we can contribute to the medical community,” Shell said.

“When I was training in Birmingham, we would see quite a few patients from the Oxford area. Recognizing a need and with a desire to live in a town like Oxford, I approached the hospital to see if they had any interest in recruiting me. They were and have been very supportive of my practice.”

Shell is dedicated to the area since it’s a location he and his wife chose. The Shell family slipped into Oxford life easily. The couple has three boys: Dan Shell V, a ju-

nior biology major at Ole Miss; William, a sophomore civil engineering major at Ole Miss; and Andrew, a 7th grader at Regents.

The practice provides employment for many. “As a plastic surgeon, my role is to serve the community by providing both reconstructive and aesthetic services,” Shell said. “My practice employs 14 people, including two nurses, one nurse practitioner, six office staff, four aestheticians and one massage therapist.”

Shell’s practice should not be thought of as one where frivolous types of medical treatment are available. Instead, it is one that follows in the footsteps of Shell’s father, who was also a doctor. “I have been around medicine all of my life,” Shell said. “My father, Dr. Dan Shell III, is a plastic surgeon in Memphis.

“When I was 13 years old he took care of a young girl named Fatima who was from Bolivia. Fatima was bitten by a Bushmaster snake and was facing a near-certain amputation of her leg. She was transported to LeBonheur Children’s Hospi-

tal, where my dad took a muscle from her back and transplanted it into her leg. When she walked out of the hospital, I knew that I [too] wanted to be a surgeon.”

Shell is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, is a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a published author and has won many awards due to his skill and publications. Shell is currently on active staff at Baptist North Mississippi.

Shell’s variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures include breast surgery (reduction, reconstruction, augmentation and lift); body contouring (tummy tuck and liposuction); facial rejuvenation (surgical and nonsurgical); and wound management and skin cancer treatment. The practice also offers nonsurgical facial procedures such as Botox, Dysport and dermal fillers.

The Shell Plastic Surgery practice is located at 2680 West Oxford Loop. For more information, contact them at 662-236-6465.

DR.

“The Otter crews also earned their pay in the resupply effort. Even though the M76 Otter ‘was always broke,’ the boxy, open-topped, tracked vehicle ‘did more than it was ever designed to do’. The Otter was able to negotiate water obstacles by floating. ‘The vehicle was totally devoid of armor, it had a high profile on land, and was mounted with a .50-cal MG (machine gun) that invited RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). It was slow and ungainly in water, but could and did perform in places that would not support an LVT. (Light Tactical Vehicle) These craft were invaluable and those who manned them were completely without fear.

Sam Phillips

One of the things that helped Sam get on with his life was a book by Carlos Hathcock, Sam said a passage stuck with him, ‘you can’t dwell on the lives you took, you must think about the lives you saved.’

Sam worked at several jobs after the service and driving a truck and vehicle maintenance was the general theme in the employment he had. Sam raised a family and as the family matured, Sam found helping Veterans gave him a sense of purpose and of giving back.

”Sam belongs to the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and the Marine Corps League and is active in all of them. Sam helps at the Veterans Home, Veterans hut, or by visiting and talking with other veterans. Veterans have a different rapport with other Veterans, a shared bond of experiences no matter what branch of service they served. Sammy Phillips is a Marine and continues to serve. Semper Fi.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR CHICORY MARKET

BY LAUREN JONES | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN

In the heart of Oxford, a town steeped in history and tradition, Kate Bishop and her husband, John Martin, embarked on a journey that transcended the boundaries of a simple grocery store. Their venture, Chicory Market, bears witness to the growth of local food trends, the fusion of diverse communities and a dedication to fostering a healthier, more sustainable way of life.

Kate, an Oxford native with roots deep in the 1980s, and John, originally from North Carolina, found themselves drawn back to Mississippi after years of exploring. Inspired by their experiences in the Delta, where they witnessed the paradox of the richness of the land and a region lacking accessible healthy food, the couple developed a vision for Chicory Market.

The market’s origins were deeply intertwined with the community’s history. Once a hub for local produce under the care of Burlyn Hollowell and Liz Stagg, the original site laid the foundation for Chicory Market’s mission. Kate and John, with backgrounds in education and

“ Chicory Market, in essence, was a testament to collaboration and shared purpose. Working with more than 75 local farmers and vendors, we aim to grow the local food economy and make healthy, local food accessible to all income levels.

John Martin

the arts, respectively, saw an opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before them. Their goal was not just to create a grocery store, but to establish a community-centric space where food brings the community together. By championing community connections and supporting a network of local businesses, the local market distinguishes itself from larger chains.

“Chicory Market, in essence, was a testament to collaboration and shared purpose,” explains John. “Working with more than 75 local farmers and vendors, we aim to grow the local food economy and

make healthy, local food accessible to all income levels.”

As the market outgrew its original space, the couple seized the opportunity to expand within the old Sears building. The move allowed them to create a collaborative food space for their business, while also supporting other local ventures. The new Chicory Market became a haven for vendor partners that includes Johnston Hill Creamery, Heartbreak Coffee and Home Place Pastures.

For customers stepping into Chicory Market for the first time, the experience is more than just a shop-

”ping trip. The staff personalizes the journey, offering the chance to sample dishes from the deli to experience their diverse array of Mississippi-grown produce. The market’s commitment to providing a unique and engaging experience extends to pop-ups and direct deliveries from local farmers.

From Harvest Roots kombucha to Native Son’s bok choy to freshbaked sourdough, Kate and John’s personal favorites reflect the market’s dedication to quality and locality. The evolution of Chicory Market mirrored the growth of Oxford itself. What started as a modest

endeavor with just a few team members expanded to more than 50, transforming the market into a cornerstone for the community.

In pursuing their mission to make healthy and local food more accessible, Chicory Market joined the Independent Natural Foods Retailers Association (INFRA), gaining leverage on prices that could be passed on to customers. The larger space enabled them to offer a range of price points, catering to a broader audience and including those who had felt excluded from the local food movement.

As they look to the future, Kate and John envision additions like the Atrium –a space for community gatherings, cheese plates and even a brown bag license for onsite beer consumption. They plan to collaborate with other local markets and community organizations to develop the local food economy further and address food insecurity in Lafayette County.

Born out of a passion for community, local food and shared experiences, Chicory Market stands as a testament to the transformative power of a small-town grocery store. With each interaction and each meal shared, the market continues to weave itself into the fabric of Oxford, nurturing connections and fostering a healthier, more vibrant future.

GROWING CAMPUS

Change to Dr. Don Jones leads Oxford’s Northwest Community College

BY ANGELA CUTRER | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY BRUCE NEWMAN AND JOEY BRENT

Dr. Don Jones is known as the kind of man who can make you laugh, and that’s even when he’s being serious. He can’t help it: He enjoys making others feel better. It’s evident he’s sharing his joie de vivre with anyone he meets to spread a bit of sunshine, even on a drab day.

The serious side of Jones can also focus on one of the loves of his life: Northwest Mississippi Community College. But you can still hear a happy, positive lilt in his voice when this man, who serves as dean of Oxford Center, speaks about the school.

“Don’t have a high school diploma? We can help you with that,” Jones started off. “Need a job? We have a WIN Job Service branch on campus. Want to be in the medical field or trade? We can take the unskilled person to certification. We have a great nursing program and we can help students with what they need, whether it’s nursing or front office. We also have a very robust cosmetology program.”

There is a reason NWCC has so many programs to offer. The college, an open-access, public two-year in-

“

Don’t have a high school diploma? We can help you with that. Need a job? We have a WIN Job Service branch on campus. Want to be in the medical field or trade? We can take the unskilled person to certification. We have a great nursing program and we can help students with what they need, whether it’s nursing or front office. We also have a very robust cosmetology program.

Dr. Don Jones

stitution, belongs in the Mississippi cohort of community colleges, helping to provide sources toward developing job skills in hopes of better security.

Northwest Mississippi Community College, founded in 1928, is one of 15 state community and junior colleges in Mississippi. It is accredited

west Mississippi.

All of these stats reveal just how important NWCC is to Oxford, to Lafayette County and to every community and county that surrounds it. Its vision statement explains: “Northwest Mississippi Community College transforms our students’ lives, enriches our communities, and strives for excellence in our educational programs and services.”

”

by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award the associate of arts and associate of applied science degrees, as well as professional career certificates. NWCC, in particular, covers Tate, Desoto, Marshall, Benton, Tunica, Panola, Lafayette, Yalobusha, Quitman and Calhoun counties in north-

Jones described why: “NWCC fills the gaps,” he said. “Sure, there is a very large flagship university here in Oxford, but there is a place for a community college also. Both [contribute to] drive the economy …” and each has specific ways to provide its students with measures they need to become who they want to be.

Locally, NWCC has 450 students registered on the Oxford campus, 50 on the Water Valley campus and 85 on the Batesville campus. Jones said the college’s cheer and dance teams are national champions and “our students have one of the highest GPAs of any community college. Our athletes are scholars. They have to excel in the classroom before they

can play on the fields,” he said.

Jones said that for every 45 applications they receive, 15 get in. “We have to ensure we have the staff and facilities to do the best for those students,” he said. “That’s why we have cohorts limited to only 15.”

Dr. Andrew Dale, NWCC associate vice president of community relations, explained how the many differing programs and the wellrun leadership structure helps keep each NWCC campus connected. He said many of the successes of the system rely on the opportunities offered – including student housing, the cost and the transitional programs – that help bring NWCC to the forefront when thinking of which school to attend.

“Collegewide growth is happening in Senatobia with a new men’s dorm with an additional 100 beds this fall, and the new building in Oxford to bring a RN program to DeSoto County for the first time ever,” Dale said. He mentioned that there is also the current construction of a baseball and softball hitting facility and indoor athletic facility in Senatobia occurring, as well as renovations to one of the historic college libraries as well.

“The college has had $100 million worth of new construction or renovations in the past five years and we have much more work to do keeping our footprint positioned for safe student instruction and wrap-around services,” Dale added.

According to historical records, the seeds of the NWCC college sys-

tem first sprung from Tate County Agricultural High School in 1915. By 1928, support from Tate and Quitman counties and the Mississippi Junior College Commission helped open the doors of a now-college with President Porter Walker Berry at the helm. SACS gave accreditation to Northwest in 1953 and

the institution changed its name from Northwest Mississippi Junior College to Northwest Mississippi Community College in the 1980s. Northwest now has three campus locations within the 11-county district it serves, as well as four off-campus sites that provide career-technical educational opportu-

nities for area residents. It also has an eLearning “campus” for online learning through the Mississippi Virtual Community College System.

The DeSoto Center has full-service opportunities at the Southaven location and an off-campus site in Olive Branch. Programs include aviation maintenance technology, commercial truck driving and utility line worker training. The Benton County Career-Technical Center partners with Benton County Schools and provides career and technical programs, cosmetology and practical nursing.

Northwest offers residents in the Yalobusha County area educational opportunities in Water Valley at Everest as an incubator for technology skills training. Programs offered include coding technology and health care assistant, phlebotomy certification and various workforce training offerings.

The Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center, located near Baptist Hospital, is a commuter campus that sits on approximately 18 acres of land, totaling 69,000 square feet. It offers both academic and career-technical programs. A recent campus beautification project offers updated outdoor and interior spaces.

Panola County collaborated with the city of Batesville to create the Panola Partnership. Local industry and Northwest converted a 138,000-square-foot former factory outlet mall into a workforce training and off-campus college-credit instructional site. Common spaces for

DON JONES

students include the Ranger Café, the WIN Job Center, adult education classrooms, a proctored HSE testing center, instructional classrooms, technical lab spaces and a 10-bay shop for a diesel technology program.

The Senatobia campus serves as Northwest’s main campus and is the hub of administrative, athletic and performance activities at the college. It features nine residence halls, a Student Union, a fine arts auditorium and a conference center/cafeteria as well as numerous educational and administrative facilities.

The campus at the DeSoto Center encompasses a full-service center location in Southaven as well as an off-campus site in Olive Branch.

The ability to learn from any location means students have more choices than ever. In fact, whether on campus or online, students of all ages can now work on most any type of degree.

For example, just this year, 20 students who are juniors at Oxford High School are enrolled at NWCC Oxford as freshmen.

“When they graduate from OHS, they’ll also graduate from NWCC with an associate degree,” Jones explained.

Therefore, those students already have not only a foot in the

business-of-tomorrow’s door, but a degree to speak of and back up whatever they choose to do next.

“We can help those students who need help with getting that

GPA up so they can transfer to Ole Miss, [as well as the student who just doesn’t want to go to school for four years,]” Jones said. “And we can help them without them ever leaving Oxford.”

STUDENT INNOVATION

BY ALYSSA SCHNUGG | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Ole Miss students use technology to create app that tracks local bar information

There seems to be an app for just about everything today and the tech-savvy are using that technology to craft a way into the future by bringing knowledge of a myriad of subjects to the fingertips of everyone with a cell phone.

At 18 years old, Julian Bourgeois has already developed two new apps. While still in high school he created an app that tracks basketball shots for the Apple Watch. After arriving at the University of Mississippi in August as a freshman, an idea for a new app came to him while out and about in Oxford.

“When I came here, I immediately noticed the problem of the how high the bar covers were, but I didn’t really act on it right away,” he said. “Then one of my friends who is an Uber driver, said, ‘Hey, what if there was a way to track bar covers. And that got me thinking.”

After doing extensive research, Bourgeois decided to develop his new app, Crowd Cover, using crowdsourcing technology to allow users to see how much a bar is charging for a cover charge, whether there is a waiting line to get in and how crowded the bar might be.

Crowdsourcing is a technology where users that are on the app input the information and based off a general consensus of that input, the app delivers the information to other users.

By September, Crowd Cover was released for iPhones on the App Store, allowing Oxonians, visitors and Ole Miss students to see which bar was charging a cover and whether or not they’d have a wait to get into the restaurant or bar.

“It was an instant hit right away,” Bourgeois said. “In the first month, we had 10,000 downloads.”

Bourgeois grew up in Metairie, Louisiana and attended Haynes Academy. While there, he participated in basketball and baseball until he suffered an injury in his sophomore year.

“During rehab I started to explore programming with more interest and took more structured pro-

“

When I came here, I immediately noticed the problem of how high the bar covers were, but I didn’t really act on it right away. Then one of my friends who is an Uber driver, said, ‘Hey, what if there was a way to track bar covers. And that got me thinking.

Julian Bourgeois ”

gramming classes,” he said. “With the skills I learned, I developed the basketball app for Apple Watch.”

In November, Bourgeois enlisted the help of fellow Ole Miss student, Larson Carter, who now holds the title of chief technology officer for Crowd Cover.

Both Carter and Bourgeois are computer science majors and Carter is also doing an entrepre neurship track for his minor.

Carter, 19, and a sophomore, has been working on develop ing new features for the app that will allow restaurant/ bar owners and managers the ability to provide cover charge and other information to in clude on the app.

ture set to make it more in

influence from my father,” Carter said.

Experienced in computer networking and mobile app development, he is specializing in DevOps over time as his skills develop. He started working on the concept of “Official Partnered Bars” in his freshman year at Ole Miss.

The duo are also working on making the app eventually avail

down the road,” Carter said. “We just have a lot of features we’re trying to get stable first before we add another device structure to our umbrella.”

The app currently tracks bar information in 11 cities, mostly homes to SEC colleges, including New Orleans, Auburn and Starkville.

Bar owners/managers who would like to partner with Crowd

AN ABBEVILLE TREASURE

Honoring Abbeville’s history one old school building at a time

BY ALYSSA SCHNUGG | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS SUBMITTED

More than 15 years ago, the Abbeville community rallied behind an idea from one of their newer neighbors, Janice Carr, who took up the reigns to lead the charge in getting the dilapidated old Abbeville School renovated.

Ann Delores Herod was one of those people.

A Board of Directors was formed and the building’s name changed to the Gordon Community and Cultural Center. The fundraising and renovation efforts soon followed.

Herod has served as the Board’s secretary and treasurer for “many years.”

“Janice was new here and she saw a need and I just felt we needed to help her,” Herod said. “This is our community and these buildings were just getting destroyed. Kids would throw rocks at the windows. I just thought, I can at least do something to help and not to sit back.”

The school was built in 1949 and opened to students in January 1950 for grades first through eighth. The land for the school was donated by the Gordon family who lived in Abbeville. It was the first “real” school many of Abbeville’s black children

“

We had a lot of people come out and help and we got some younger folks to come and help when we first went into the building to clean it out,” Herod said. “You wouldn’t believe what we found in there. It was just a mess.

Ann Delores Herod

ever attended. Most had attended one-room schools in church buildings before the Abbeville School was built.

A second building was built a few years later for ninth through 12th grades. In the 1960s, a third building was built for grades first through sixth and the original building served as a middle school for seventh and eighth-grade students.

However, when schools were integrated in the late 1960s, the Abbeville School was closed and its students were transported to the public schools in Oxford.

”

The school stood deserted for more than 40 years. In the 1970s, the state opened up a Head Start school in the newer of the three buildings. It shut down years later and moved to Oxford where it is now the Mary Cathey Head Start. The second building that served as the high school was demolished in the 1980s.

“We had a lot of people come out and help and we got some younger folks to come and help when we first went into the building to clean it out,” Herod said. “You wouldn’t believe what we found in there. It

was just a mess.”

After several years of fundraising and elbow grease from community members, the Gordon Center was completed enough to start holding an after-school program and summer enrichment program in 2014, where Herod taught several topics including history and language arts, and watched over the younger children at the after-school program.

In 2020, the Gordon Center was officially listed as a Mississippi historic landmark.

Herod and her fellow board members aren’t done yet. Fundraising continues to renovate the former Head Start building in hopes of turning it into a trade school for adults in the fields of carpentry, electrical and plumbing.

Herod wasn’t raised in Lafayette County. She grew up in Greenville and moved to Lafayette County after meeting her husband, James Herod, who went to school at the Abbeville School as a child. His father, the late Rev. Arthur Herod served on the Abbeville School board.

They have three children –Anne-Marie, Jordan and Caleb.

BY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONTINUES TO GROW ITS OFFERINGS

ANGELA CUTRER | THE OXFORD EAGLE | PHOTOS BY REBECCA ALEXANDER

“

Our collection has more than 2,000 books in the Genealogy Room at the public library. We’ve cataloged and inventoried hundreds of publications we know we have plus, more that we did not know we had. During this process, we’ve cleaned and reorganized our holdings to be more researcher friendly.

Max Hipp

Lafayette County has a precious jewel inside the Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library on Bramlett Boulevard in Oxford: It’s a dedicated room for reviewing historical relics that reflect Lafayette County life and the people who lived in it.

It’s all a part of the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogical Society. “Most of the publications we provide are unique and have not received broad coverage in other collections or online,” said Max Hipp, the society’s president.

“While most people recognize the familiar genealogy websites like Family Search and Ancestry, our collections of items like marriage licenses and bonds date from the 1840s and have not been digitized. Therefore, we believe some hard-copy documents and out-of-print books are still valuable and irreplaceable.”

Back in 1967, the group first formed as the “Skipwith Society” in Lafayette County. Later, it became the more descriptive Lafayette County Historical and Genealogical Society. The society has 70 members, many of whom are out of state and have a keen interest in Lafayette County, said Hipp.

Today the society can boast an extensive research library sure to help anyone wanting to know about the history of the area, complete with vintage photos and resident listings. On the group’s website, the organization notes that a new addition includes an index to Enslaved

”

Persons mentioned in probate cases in early Lafayette County.

All the work of the nonprofit charitable educational society is through volunteer society members. Dues are $20 a year and members receive an informative newsletter every quarter. Donations are tax deductible. The quarterly meetings are set on the third Sundays of January, April, July and October each year.

In 2023 more than 500 recorded visits to the group’s genealogy room were documented, including those of volunteers who designate certain times of the week to be in the library to assist visitors and process inquiries. They received more than 50 inquiries through e-mail, phone calls and regular mail last year and each inquiry is handled individually or collaboratively with all volunteers. Inquiries in-person and otherwise have come from more than 10 states, 15 Mississippi cities as well as many citizens of Lafayette County, the website homepage reports.

“Our collection has more than 2,000 books in the Genealogy Room at the public library,” Hipp said. “We’ve cataloged and inventoried hundreds of publications we know we have plus, more that we did not know we had. During this process, we’ve cleaned and reorganized our holdings to be more researcher friendly.

“We have knowledgeable people available in our room most weekday afternoons. We also take inquiries over the phone or

Society volunteers have been instrumental in making progress in rearranging, cataloging and displaying on shelving directories. “Our staff is composed totally of volunteers; we have spent the better part of two years making sure our books, periodicals, maps and family folders are updated and cataloged so that anyone can view our resources online by subjects or titles,” he said.

The society has also revamped its website and coordinated efforts with the Heritage Foundation and the Lafayette County Digital Museum. These two websites, which concentrate on the people, families and history of the county, have feature stories, videos and photos of those who have contributed to the rich heritage of the area. “Our major effort now is to continue to improve both websites and merge

Quarterly society meetings in the Genealogy Room offer programs of interest to members. “We recently have had speakers who presented facts about genealogical research and ways to prop-

erly store that information,” Hipp explained. This research focused on women who fought in the Civil War and local legends, including blacksmith Wohlleben.

“We have provided the venue for other local nonprofit organizations teaching genealogical research,” Hipp said. “We plan to collaborate with our local Lafayette-Oxford library, as well as the University of Mississippi Library Special Collections, to improve our society’s footprint in the community.”

Hipp said the group has great expectations for the future of the society. “We’re making strides to improve the presentation of our holdings to the public,” he said. “And in the case of some of our resources, we’re making them available online for the first time. Our goal is to let everyone know what is available from us for research, both for genealogy and history, here in Oxford.

“Our future, like so many volunteer organizations, will depend on the interest of future volunteers, along with any technical abilities to help keep our offerings up to date and relevant to researchers.”

1 WHEN WAS THE CITY OF OXFORD INCORPORATED?

Located on land ceded by the Chickasaw Nation, Oxford was incorporated in 1837.

Incorporated after the civil war, 1889.

Incorporated before the civil war, 1865.

2 HOW WAS THE LAND FOR THE CITY OF OXFORD ACQUIRED?

Deeded after the Louisiana Purchase

& OLE MISS OXFORD

TRIVIA

4 WHO OWNED THE HOKA?

Oxford legend, Ron “Ronzo” Shapiro

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council

Ole Miss students

In 1837 three pioneers, John Martin, John Chisom, and John Craig, purchased the land from Princess Hoka, Chickasaw land owner

Land was granted by the King of England

3 WHAT OXFORD LANDMARK WAS NAMED AFTER PRINCESS HOKA?

The alley mural by the parking garage

An oak tree at the courthouse

An empty cotton warehouse that became a movie theatre, restaurant, and hang out

A.

A.

A.

A.

B.

B.

B.

B.

C.

C.

C.

C.

5 WHAT DID THE SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR SAY?

Eat, or We Both Starve Sorry We’re Open. No shoes, No shirt, Who Cares

No shirt, no shoes, no service

If you leave hungry, you don’t know the rules

6 HOW LONG WAS THE HOKA OPEN?

1970-1985

1965-1990

1976-1996

& OLE MISS OXFORD TRIVIA

7 WHERE DID THE NAME “OXFORD” COME FROM?

It was named after the British university, in the hope that Mississippi's first public university would be located there, and the University of Mississippi did indeed open there in 1848.

General Lamar Oxford, a general in the revolutionary war.

Named as a place where the oxen crossed over the Yacona river.

8 WHERE IS OUR SISTER CITY?

Aubigny Sur Nere, France

Oxford in the United Kingdom

Thacker in the United Kingdom

9 WHAT REGION IN MISSISSIPPI IS OXFORD LOCATED IN?

The Delta former flood plain for the Mississippi river

The Hills, known for heavily forested hills made of red clay. The Midlands

A.

A.

A. A.

10

HOW ARE THE STREETS IN OXFORD LAID OUT AND NAMED?

A. B.

C.

Numbers and presidents

Family names for the city founders

For the states, in order that they became a state.

11

WHICH ONE IS NOT ONE OF THE 4 MAJOR FILMS FILMED IN OXFORD

A.

C.

Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag

Intruders in the Dust

The Firm

12 WHAT HONOR WAS OXFORD’S WILLIAM FAULKNER AWARDED?

A.

A Grammy

A Tony

13 WHAT FICTIONAL CITY DID FAULKNER CREATE?

A.

Mayberry

& OLE MISS OXFORD TRIVIA

14 WHERE DID WILLIAM FAULKNER LIVE IN OXFORD?

Isom House Rowan Oak

The Lamar House

15 IS THERE A REAL TREE CALLED A ROWAN OAK?

A.

Yes, it stands for peace and solitude. No, it was just a name Faulkner gave his home.

16 WAS FAULKNER’S NOVEL, “INTRUDER IN THE DUST” EVER MADE INTO A MOVIE?

17 BESIDES FAULKNER, THERE ARE OTHER WELLKNOWN OXFORD AUTHORS. WHO IN THE LIST OF WRITERS BELOW IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH OXFORD.

Larry Brown

Barry Hannah

John Grisham

Willie Morris

Ace Atkins

James Patterson

Curtis Wilki

Kiese Laymon

18 WHAT IS THE AFFECTIONATE NAME THAT OXFORD IS KNOWN AS?

Larry Brown

Willie Morris

Barry Hanna

The Velvet Ditch - a term coined in the 1950s to describe Oxford and its surrounding areas, implying that it is easy to fall into its comforts, but hard to leave. Big Easy, like New Orleans

The Emerald City, as in the Wizard of Oz

Yes 1949, made and filmed in Oxford. No, it is still only a book.

19 IN WHAT YEAR DID OLE MISS ENROLL THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN?

20

WHAT IS THE LONGEST RUNNING LIVE RADIO MUSIC SHOW IN OXFORD?

Thacker Mountain Radio

Hill Country Blues Hour

Live from Oxford

21 WHAT TWO RESTAURANT FRANCHISES STARTED IN OXFORD. Burger King Fox’s Pizza Den McAlister’s Deli Newk’s Eatery

A.

A.

A.

B.

B.

B.

C.

C.

C.

D.

D.

22 WHAT STORE IS KNOWN AS THE OLDEST DEPARTMENT STORE IN THE SOUTH

Belk Department Store

Neilson’s Department Store

Vincent Outfitters

23 WHAT FAMOUS SINGER WROTE A SONG ABOUT OXFORD?

Elvis Presley Bo Diddly

Bob

24 HOW MANY RED PHONE BOOTHS ARE IN OXFORD?

25

HOW MANY ROUNDABOUTS ARE CURRENTLY IN OXFORD AS OF FEB. 2024?

Dylan wrote a song called “Oxford Town,” which is about James Meredith’s admission into Ole Miss.

A.

C.

C.

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. A

5. B. We’re open, No shoes, no shirt, Who Cares. (Eat or We Both Starve is familiar, but is on a sign at Taylor Grocery in Taylor, MS.

6. C.

7. A

8. A It began as a summer study program at Ole Miss in 1953. More than 250 students traveled and learned French and the culture over the 17 years of the initial program.

9. A. The streets in the downtown area follow a grid pattern with two naming conventions. Many of the north-south streets are numbered from west to east, beginning at the old railroad depot, with numbers from four to nineteen. The place of "Twelfth Street," however, is taken

by North and South Lamar Boulevard (formerly North and South Streets). The east-west avenues are named for the U.S. presidents in chronological order from north to south, from Washington to Cleveland; here again, there are gaps: John Quincy Adams would be indistinguishable from John Adams; "Polk Avenue" is replaced by University Avenue, and "Arthur Avenue" is lacking.

10. C While the Firm was written by John Grisham, The Firm was filmed in Memphis.

11. D. Faulkner was awarded the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his powerful and unique contribution to the modern American novel." He is the only Mississippi-born Nobel laureate.

12. C. Faulkner based many books around a fictions county of Yoknapa-

& OLE MISS OXFORD TRIVIA ANSWERS

tawpha.

13. B. Rowan Oak still stands much as it did in the early 1960’s with original furnishings. It is open to the public and is owned by the University of Mississippi\

14. B. People are surprised to find out that there is no such tree as a Rowan Oak. It was just a name Faulkner gave to his home.

15. A

16. F. All the other writers have lived and worked in Oxford during their careers.

17. A

18. C. James Meredith was admitted to the University in 1962.

19. A. Thacker Mountain Radio since October 15, 1997. I attended that first show.

20. C and D. Oxford is home to the first McAlister’s Deli that began as a food truck to feed a film crew and

Newk’s. McAlister’s was founded in 1989 and Newk’s in 2004. McAlister’s original location was built as a film set on University and closed in 2022. The original location is now an urgent care facility.

21. True. Located on the Square, Neilson’s was established in 1839.

22. C. Bob Dylan wrote a song called “Oxford Town,” which is about James Meredith’s admission into Ole Miss.

23. Two. There is one by City Hall and another between the city parking garage and The Square.

24. 25. There are 25 in the City of Oxford, 3 at the University and 6 in the county for a total of 34 In Lafayette County as of Feb. 2024.

25. Note: For a real feel of the Hoka and Oxford treat, 40-minute documentary, go to: Sorry We’re Open - http://vimeo.com/2236933