EDITOR’S LETTER
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By JEREM Y PIT TARI
ELCOME
As we transition out of another mild southern winter into the growing season of spring, thoughts of enjoying the warm days with a glass of tea after a hard day’s work in the garden begin to cross our minds. In this issue of Picayune Living, prepare to take part in a collection of vicarious adventures in Pearl River County. In this issue we feature stories about JD Farms, just outside of Poplarville, where tea leaves are grown, a garden that produces an array of Louisiana Irises, a small pottery studio where a hobbyist practices her craft and a unique home in the Carriere community situated on 20 acres. Stepping out of the day-today grind to read these pages will give you a new outlook on our corner of the world. At JD Farms, the owners put special care into creating just the right tea. To learn their trade, they traveled the globe and brought back a unique twist on tea. Even after retirement, one
couple refused to spend their days on the porch. Instead of sitting idly, they devote their days to the care of Louisiana Irises. And they’ve been so successful that it’s turned into a small business. Some people have a lot of drive, so much so that they take on several hobbies. Inside this edition learn how one Pearl River County resident is putting that drive to use creating pottery, and sharing her knowledge with others. Our county has a number of lovely homes, and the Burge family home fits that bill. Amenities abound at this 5,000 square foot residence; from the large pond, to the pizza oven near the in-ground pool, take a tour of a home that sits atop a hill in Carriere. So, clear off a spot on the coffee table to make room for this edition, because it will take more than one sitting to experience it all.
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CONTENTS 7 MUST-HAVES4
Spring is here. Check out these seven must have items.
36 WHERE?
Test your knowledge of Picayune & see if you can identify our secret locale.
8 DIRT WORK: Also native to Mississippi, Louisiana Irises are a treat to grow.
12 HOME SWEET HOME: Take a tour of the 20-acre homestead of Randy and Debbie Burge.
16 EDIBLES & ELIXERS: A special blend of tea is being grown and processed just outside of Poplarville.
20 THE ARTS: It’s a labor of love, dedication, patience and can also be functional; pottery.
ON THE COVER
During a tour of the Burge family home, visitors will marvel at the plethora of amenities and small touches. See page 12 for the story. Photo by Jeremy Pittari
STAFF LINDA GILMORE Publisher
ADVERTISING Laci Lee
JEREMY PITTARI Associate Publisher
COMPOSITION D. Howell
WRITERS Taylor Welsh Julia Arenstam Free copies of Picayune Living magazine are available at these fine establishments: Holiday Inn Express, Glass Porch, MS Welcome Center, Stanek Chiropractic Centre, Moore Chiropractic Clinic, Scooters, Senior Center of South MS, Phillips Building Supply, City Rexall Drugs, Ford Realty, Paul’s Pastry Shop, Apple’s LTD, Watt’s Veterinary Services, Silver Medical Associates, Greater Picayune Chamber of Commerce, and the offices of the Picayune Item and The Poplarville Democrat. INFORMATION: Picayune Living is published four times per year by Picayune Newsmedia, LLC. All content is subject to copyright. POSTMASTER: Please send any changes of address or undeliverable information attn: Picayune Item, P.O. 580, Picayune, MS 39466
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ALSO INSIDE: 5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Browse the calendar page for a look at this season’s upcoming activities.
24 OUT & ABOUT
See who’s attending the city’s premier events.
30 WHY I LOVE PICAYUNE Greg Mitchell, Jr. shares his memories of growing up in his hometown of Picayune.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 1 & APRIL 2 PICAYUNE MAIN STREET BIANNUAL STREET FESTIVAL The biannual Street Festival will be held both days on Canal Street. Local and regional vendors will be selling handmade crafts, candles, antiques, jewelry and many other items. Food vendors will offer culinary treats. APRIL 2 STRAWBERRIES & CREAM FESTIVAL Bring the family and stroll the Arboretum grounds. Then join us to celebrate the history of the old strawberry farm on the lovely Pinecote Pavilion. Ice cream, fresh strawberries, and Picayune Frog Lemonade will be served. Admission is free and open to the public. APRIL 6 WILDLIFE DAY Children will be thrilled to see the wide array of exhibitors displaying their live and preserved animals, while learning how to protect and maintain wildlife in this field day open to area K-12 schools and homeschool groups from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is $2 per child, and admission is free for teachers and chaperons. Call by April 5 to schedule an arrival time. APRIL 8 SPRING WILDFLOWER FIELD WALK This is a wonderful time of year to take a few minutes to walk around and appreciate the natural beauty around us. On this field walk on the Arboretum grounds, Director Pat Drackett will talk about the native wildflowers and other plants blooming this time of year, and how to incorporate them into your landscape. Members free. Non-members $5. Register by April 7. APRIL 28, 29 & 30 PRC ARTS LEAGUE 2017 SPRING ART SHOW 43nd Annual Spring Art Show featuring local artists at Knights of Columbus Hall on Carroll Street. Traditional wall hung art, 3-Dimensional art, and photography judged and displayed for your enjoyment. Free to the public. Come join the fun. MAY 6 PAINTED POTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY The perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms who love plants! Children will decorate a clay pot and design a Mother’s Day card using recycled materials at the Crosby Arboretum. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Members’ children $3; non-members’ children $4. Register by May 5. MAY 13 RELAY FOR LIFE Join Picayune Main Street as they honor the lives lost and saved in the battle against cancer. The event starts with a survivor’s celebration tea followed by Relay laps. The event will also feature a 5K Glow Run and 1 mile Fun Walk. After the Glow Run, sky lanterns and luminaries will be lit. For more information contact Main Street at 601-799-3070. PICAYUNELIVING.COM 5
WHERE A M I ? By JEREM Y PIT TARI
FAIRLY COOL Do you know where this picture was taken? If you do, then send your guess to news@picayuneliving.com or post it on Picayune Living’s Facebook page. We will unveil the location in the next edition of Picayune Living. LAST EDITION: If you’ve ever looked up while entering the lobby of Highland Community Hospital in Picayune, you have probably seen this image.
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SEVEN ON 7 By PIC AY UNE LIVING
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DIRT WORK By JULIA ARENS TAM
Cindy’s Louisiana Irises in Mississippi
8 SPRING 2017
CARRIERE COUPLES’ BACKYARD IS PERFECT FOR CULTIVATING IRIS Cindy Dufrene and her husband Harry spend their “retired” days out in the backyard of their Carriere home tending to hundreds of Louisiana irises. Her husband worked for GE Plastics for years, she said, but the work they do now in the garden is more laborious. “I’ve always loved bearded irises. My mother and daddy always gardened and I learned to love it,” Dufrene said. When the Dufrenes got married, she started her own vegetable and flower gardens but took a break when the couple had children. “I don’t know why I waited so long,” Dufrene said. So, 21 years ago when they set out to buy some property, Dufrene took a small garden spade with her to test the soil, all with the goal of getting back in touch with her roots. Starting with a blank slate and rich soil from a former cattle ranch, the Dufrenes erected a chicken coop and got to work under the hundred-year-old live oak trees. After 12 years of love and affection, Dufrene now has hundreds of hybrid and native varieties of irises, sold in every nearly color, shape and size imaginable via her online store. While the name may seem like these plants aren’t native to Pearl River County, Dufrene said these vibrant flowers are actually quite common along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. She got her start after purchasing a few bulbs and planting them around her water garden, an area where irises particularly thrive, Dufrene said. Due to the hospitable environment and Dufrene’s green thumb, the
plants began to multiply, leaving her with an abundance of extra bulbs. As most gardeners do, she exhausted her friends and family with gifts of ready-to-plant bulbs, but still has more than enough to go around, Dufrene said. And thus Cindy’s Louisiana Iris was established as a fully certified operator by the Mississippi State Department of Agriculture. Many of the bulbs she sells are also a garden adaptable variety, allowing them to grow in raised beds quite easily. With few pests and diseases and mild southern winters, the irises keep their long green stalks year-round to store energy for the blooms in spring, Dufrene said. Until a few years ago, they were doing all of the work themselves, Dufrene said. But now, with the help of a few good friends, someone is always there to lend a hand and join in on the tranquil work of tending to flowers, she said. Dufrene has also learned how to create her own hybrid varieties, adding in a touch of Pearl River County with new names like Hobolochitto and Silver Run Creek. Dufrene is also a member of The Society for Louisiana Iris, American Iris Society, and Greater New Orleans Iris Society. During the spring, she offers tours of the garden so visitors can take in the beauty of the flowers while they’re in full bloom. “If you have a passion, don’t let age stop you,” she said. For more information, visit http:// cindyslouisianairis.com/ or find them on Facebook.
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10 SPRING 2017
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HOME SWEET HOME By JEREM Y PIT TARI
Burge family home is a dream
12 SPRING 2017
THE SECLUDED 5,000 SQUARE-FOOT, FOUR BEDROOM AND THREE BATH HOME IS PACKED WITH FEATURES On top of a hill in Carriere is the family home of Debbie and Randy Burge. The couple has been married for more than three decades and has four children. Burge owns South Gate Aggregates, which mines rock and gravel from a pit in the Stennis Space Center Buffer Zone and provides the materials to places across the country. Debbie is a gifted teacher in the Pearl River County School District. For extra money, the couple also flips houses. The secluded 5,000 square-foot, four bedroom and three bath home is packed with features. When it came time to build, Randy put his previous training as an architect to use, working with local carpenter Rayford Lee. A step out the back door will take visitors to an in-ground pool lined with the finest material Randy’s business produces, rice gravel. Next to the pool a pavilion provides a cozy place to sit by the wood burning fireplace and watch a movie on the entertainment center. Cookouts in the pavilion are made easy with everything an outdoor chef needs, even the kitchen sink. A barbecue pit and pizza oven in the back of the pavilion round out the poolside amenities. When the meal is ready, a large picnic style table and benches next to a gas powered fire pit makes a great place to gather. Randy
said the table and benches are made from cypress, much like the barn and several other structures around the property. Also in the rear of the home is an apartment atop the carport, complete with cooking area and a full bath. On the 20 acre lot is a five-acre lake fed by an underground spring, teeming with catfish. Randy says that there are also bass in the lake, but he didn’t stock them. When he chose to add outlying buildings to the home, cypress was his wood of choice. In the back yard is a cypress playhouse. Near the lake, a cypress barn is the site of a long-term project Randy plans to use as extra storage space. While there is an air of seclusion, Randy is never far from family. His acreage is part of a larger 60-acre plot of family land where his parents and brothers also reside. Granite countertops adorn the kitchen and outside pavilion. In the dining area adjacent to the kitchen is a large and sturdy dining table, made of heart pine. Attached to the master bedroom is a large sunroom where the family’s musical instruments are on display. For quiet views of the lake, the family gathers in the concrete and brick arbor, with adjacent pier.
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14 SPRING 2017
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EDIBLES & ELIXERS By TAY LOR WEL SH
Tea made the Pearl River County way
16 SPRING 2017
JD FARMS BRINGS ANCIENT TECHNIQUES TO POPLARVILLE Tea has been trending the past couple of years, with more consumers wanting to know exactly where their tea comes from. Tea lovers in Pearl River County do not have to look far, as fresh tea of many varieties is made at JD Farms in Poplarville, ranging from the freshest green tea to even a newly found peach tea. Two like-minded people, co-founders Jeff Brown and Don van de Werken, came from different backgrounds to establish JD Farms in 2004. Brown was in marketing for years before eventually moving to the restaurant industry, learning the importance of fresh produce. Van de Werken worked in the agricultural industry most of his life, learning the trade early on. “Every day on the farm is different. You will never have the same day twice because we rely on Mother Nature,” Van de Werken said. Sometimes it was relying on, while other times it was bowing down to Mother Nature’s mercy, but what was possibly the worst natural disaster in the area ended up being beneficial for JD Farms. When Hurricane Katrina came through Mississippi, it tore up everything, Brown said, but in its destruction, it also cleared out lots of trees to make room for more land for crops on their 49-acre farm. Despite that, it still took time to recover from the hurricane, after the house and barn were nearly destroyed and pine tree debris spread across the entire area. But, the great thing about the trees is that they use the mulch to help give their plants natural nutrients. “We don’t use any chemicals besides those that are absolutely necessary,” Brown said. JD farms is ever expanding, growing a
variety of crops, including over 20 acres of blueberries, olives, Asian pears, peaches and now different teas, such as green, white, yellow, oolong, pea and black tea. Before the business partners started their new endeavor of growing tea, they visited foreign countries such as China and India, to learn more about the industry. “We wanted to not just learn about the practice of growing tea, we wanted to fully understand the tradition and culture of the plant so we can continue that custom. It gives our tea a more authentic taste,” Brown said. Now, they believe they have the process of growing tea down to a science, and just acquired automated machines to help hurry the process along. There are two ways to process tea, orthodox and non-orthodox. The orthodox method starts immediately after the farmers cut the tea leaves off the shrub, called camellia sinensis, entering the withering stage to reduce the leaves water content, then there’s the big decision of which tea to make. After the decision is made, the leaves go through a rolling process to fixate and oxidize the tea, which is an ancient Japanese technique. This rolling stage is where the tea gets its bold flavor and color. After controlling the oxidation of the leaves, it is finally set to dry. In the non-orthodox process the leaves are crushed, torn and curled instead of rolled before being cut into fine pieces. The smaller pieces of leaves are more quickly oxidized, producing a one-dimensional, consistent, strong and bold black tea. “Tea is really taking over. Everyone that
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Taylor Welsh | Picayune Item
TEA TIME: At top left, although they cannot process tea by hand like the villages of India and China do, Jeff Brown demonstrates how the automatic machines do the same thing, just at a faster rate. At middle left, pictured from left, Jeff Brown,William Evans and Don van de Werken.
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comes from places like New Orleans just want to talk our ears off about our tea, and we proudly tell them what we do here,” William Evans, farmer at JD Farms, said. “Everyone wants to start a microbrewery, but that has come and gone. Now these people want to find another passion and tea offers a lot more than most other drinks; it’s healthy, tasteful, and it is enjoyed on a universal level, sometimes cherished too,” Van de Werken said.
Each tea has its unique taste, Brown said. Pearl River green tea combines hints of spring greens, fresh herbs and a slightly floral, citrus flavor. Pearl River fine black tea boasts a smooth, yet bold, note of peaches and also hints of a honey almond and fruity flavor. In fact, they found out that if a tea shrub is planted close enough to a peach plant, the tea will absorb some of the nutrients from the roots and seeds of the peach plant, which gave the tea a hint of peach flavor,
Brown said. “It’s amazing how nature plays a part in everything you do on a farm,” Brown said. Van de Werken said the first flush of tea is estimated to be at the end of March or early April at JD Farms. The farmers are working to incorporate agriculture tourism at their farm, providing educational tours to nonprofit groups, schools and families. If interested, contact JD Farms at 601795-0281.
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THE ARTS By JEREM Y PIT TARI
FOR THE LOVE OF ART
20 SPRING 2017
KAMMER DOESN’T CLAIM TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, BUT SHE SHARES WHAT SHE’S LEARNED SO FAR WITH OTHERS Deep in the woods just outside of Poplarville is a small, frame structure where Kay Kammer practices one of her artistic inclinations, pottery. For almost 12 years Kammer has been perfecting her skills in the art. She began with a class in Bay St. Louis just after Hurricane Katrina. Once she realized it was something she would continue, she rented studio space on the Coast. But the drive made the process more cumbersome. That’s because pottery and working with clay is an arduous endeavor. It involves several steps, many of which entail lengthy drying times. Pieces require a week to dry before being fired in a kiln. Afterwards a glaze is added, then the piece is fired again. Each firing process also requires a long cooling period. Opening the kiln too early can cause a piece Kammer invested hours into ending up in a pile of broken bits. And if air remained in the clay during the initial forming process, it could lead to a broken piece as the air expands during the firing process. Kammer has been expressing herself artistically in various ways for years. Previously, while her son was little she sold homemade applique at craft fairs. She also paints. A few of her paintings are displayed on the wall in her pottery studio. Of all her creative endeavors, she finds pottery to be a more physical experience. That’s evident in the effort used to mix the clay, pound it on a table and then roll it several times to form a ball of clay for use on the pottery wheel. She doesn’t claim to be a professional, but she shares what she’s learned so far with others. Utilizing a patient and reinforcing
tone, she will tell her students to keep the clay centered while working on the wheel. A task that is not as easy as it sounds. It involves locking the elbow into the abdomen, and keeping the thumbs together in a series of coordinated moves. Even after working with the clay for several minutes to get it to the right size, shape and form, it can lop over into a misshapen lump at an instant with just one wrong move. But a misshapen piece can be reclaimed by pounding it back into a ball and staring the process over, so long as the air is removed. Of all the materials used in the art, Kammer said the glazes are the priciest, especially the premixed versions. Glazes are what seals and gives the piece its color. By pooling a glaze thicker in areas, colors form as the heat from the kiln fires it. Creating those pools can be achieved in a number of ways, mostly though the use of one of various tools. That could be a knife, patterned rollers, and things around the house like a heart-shaped doily. Just like every other part of the process, glazing also consumes hours of time. A plate with several different colors to create a Christmas theme can at times take 10 hours due to the various layers. Most of the glazes she uses are safe for food storage and serving, since the glaze is essentially liquid glass. However, there are glazes that can make pottery unsafe for food, most of which are metallic glazes. While she does sell some of her work, she doesn’t plan on making a living from her efforts. To find out more about Kammer’s pottery, or possibly seek some instruction, call Kammer at Blue Cricket Designs at 601-590-3199.
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22 SPRING 2017
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OUT & ABOUT
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By TAY LOR WEL SH
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL TEAM Pearl River County residents attended home basketball games. 1. From left are Nashanti Tillman, Dante’ Buckley and Ketara Pittman. 2. From bottom left to right, Edward Sorden, Naradon Mcgill and Riley Josey. Pictured from the top left to right, Tyron Holston, Zachary Carpenter, Ahmad Harmon and Khalid Moore. 3. Pictured in front row from left, Brayden Roadcup, Jailon Robinson and Nicholas Kennedy. Pictured in middle row from left, Chris Edwards and Lain Saucier. Pictured in back row from left, Trevor Malone and Xavier Lockhart. 4. From left are Kobe Hayden, Hannabelle Hayden and Seth Hayden. 5. Pictured in front row from left, Cody Russell, Damon Anderson and Zach Goynes. Pictured in the back row from left, Savannah VanKregten, Nick Barquero, Tristen Anderson and Dominique Walker. 6. From left are Savannah Dunhurst, Macy Jarrell, Ashley Braun, Sarah Sumner and Tyler Holmes.
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24 SPRING 2017
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OUT & ABOUT
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By JEREM Y PIT TARI
FORGE DAY The Crosby Arboretum hosted the annual Forge Day event, which attracted the public to see local metalworkers in action.
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1. From left are Jennifer Joyce, Tommy Barrois, Rene Barrios, Tommy Barrios Jr., Matthew Barrios, Aidan Milford, Morgan Alexander and Taylor Gilley (kneeling). 2. From left are Julia Anderson and Jennifer Buchanan. 3. From left are Maddie Gilley, Henry Gilley and Tiffany Gilley. 4. From left are Alayna Wale, Chuck Wale, Ethan Wale, Debbie Wale and Judah Wale. 5. From left are Jeremy Robishaw, Lanxton Vogt, Eden Henley, Logan Henley, Christian Herrington, Austin Canedy, Dylan Canedy, Matthew Henley, Patrick Henley and Tee Mauldin.
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OUT & ABOUT By JULIA ARENS TAM
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KREWE OF THE PEARL BALL Members of the Krewe of the Pearl attended the annual Mardi Gras ball at the Centraplex in Picayune. 1. From left are Nick Adelfio, Mary Adelfio, Alecia Smith, Christa Groom and David Stockstill. 2. From left are Pam Schrock, Rom Reel and Susan Reel. 3. From left are Valerie Dorn, Chad Dorn, John Pigott and Dot Pigott. 4. From left are Fr. Jonathan Filkins, Tana Cochran, Sally Edwards and Bill Edwards. 5. From left are Sam, Keenau and Rea Hirstins. 6. From left are Deborah Craig, Gladys Hughes, Trina Shelton and Bonnie Hughes.
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26 SPRING 2017
OUT & ABOUT 1
By TAY LOR WEL SH
KREWE OF THE PEARL PARADE Children and adults alike lined the route of the Krewe of the Pearl parade in Picayune in preparation to catch throws. 1. From left are Justin Alfonso and Brittany Flemming. 2. From left are Kay and Eugene Craddock. 3. From left are Doma Cohen and Sara Howell. 4. From left are Emma Lennard and Joslyn Clemmons. Pictured in back row from left, Cailon Johnson, Samuel Tumminello, Teresa Adams, Taveon Gillespie, Monshell Clemmons, Joshua Clemmons and Efuntae Clemmons. 5. From left are Amanda Johnson and Caleigh Johnson.
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OUT & ABOUT By JEREM Y PIT TARI and TAY LOR WEL SH
MORNING CALL
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Members of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce attended Morning Call at Holiday Inn Express. 1. From left are Jessica Clabaugh and Nikhil Ajmera. 2. From left are Nuria Arias and Kristen Black. 3. From left are Adrianne Penley, Terry Farr and Tana Cochran. 4. From left are Mike Miciello, Danae Spence, Christy Goss and J.P. Burns. 5. From left are Tony Smith, Steve Rodgers, Zachary Kirschenheuter and Byron Hill.
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28 SPRING 2017
OUT & ABOUT 1
By JULIA ARENS TAM
WOMEN’S HEALTH SYMPOSIUM Women learned about healthy living at the annual Pearl River Community College Women’s Health Symposium.
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1. From left are Sheila Blackmon, Andi Spiers and Ann Slade Warren. 2. From left are Barbera Didier, Alma Keller and Carol Noggerath. 3. From left are Tabitha Morris, Paula Morris, Ann Morris, Dawn Becktel and Joyce Williams. 4.From left are Cane Lott, Arlene Aultman and Pam Cook. 5.From left are Monet Kees, Gina Rivero and Debbie Crovetto. 6.From left are Erin Mullins, Morgan Mullins and Gloria Whiddon.
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WHY I LOVE PICAYUNE By GREG MITCHELL, JR .
Growing up in Picayune molded me into who I am today I have many fond memories of growing up in Picayune. I truly believe that some of the most memorable times in my life center around my childhood home on the west side of town. Growing up on the west side in the 80’s was special for many reasons. We had great neighbors and within just a few short blocks were several friends my age ready to play baseball, football, basketball, soccer, or anything else to occupy our time. Living near the high school football field led to many football games and the occasional race or two on the old track. During these times, there were no cellphones or computers, so we would walk or ride our bicycle down the streets to see where our friends were. I remember racing home from church every Sunday to eat, change clothes, and get out the door to play with friends. My fondest memory is when my friends and I would dress up in camouflage and play “Army” or “Capture the Flag” along River Road on the Crosby property, which is now River Oaks Subdivision. Those were the days. I attended West Side Elementary as a child, and to this day, I have a vivid memory of the interior of the building and the wonderful educators that helped shape me into the person I am today. My first grade teacher, Ms. Dianne DuPont, and fourth grade teacher, Ms. Vel Von Henley, were two very special teachers that had an impact on me that will last a lifetime. I can still remember hearing the footsteps of Ms. Joyce Thompson, the school’s principal, coming down the hall. As kids, we would all look at one another wondering who was in trouble or if she was coming to
30 SPRING 2017
discipline the whole class. Going to P.E. class was everyone’s favorite, and the annual field day was like the Olympics to us kids. During the elementary years, a favorite spot for birthday parties was the original McDonalds in Picayune which was located on the corner of Memorial Blvd and Hwy. 11. As we grew older, Carriage County, the local skating rink, became a popular spot. Danny’s Fried Chicken, Po-Boy Junction, Huck Finn’s, and Zestos were popular places to eat. My first organized sports experience was with the Picayune Youth Athletic Association. On the weekends, Friendship Park was the place to be. During opening day of baseball season, the park would be packed for opening ceremonies and as a child, to walk out on the field with everyone cheering was a surreal experience. Two very special coaches were Dan Young and Ronald Woodson. They spent countless hours teaching me how to play sports and, most importantly, the game of life. I learned how to win and also accept defeat at an early age. Friendships made at that park will last a lifetime. A fond memory during this time was going to Don’s Sports World, which was located on Hwy. 11 where Dr. Stasney’s eye clinic is today. This was such a big deal to us kids, and I can only imagine what it would have been like to walk into an Academy Sports or Dick’s Sporting Goods at that age. I attended Picayune Memorial High School where I formed many fond memories both academically and athletically. There, numerous teachers made a lasting impact on me and countless other students.
Playing both football and baseball at Picayune was a great experience. On Friday nights, you could find everyone at Tide stadium for the game. As a player, you could feel the community come together to support their team for the win. As a baseball player, I was fortunate to play for Kent Kirkland, who is now the principal at the high school. He created a very successful baseball program and also taught us how to be disciplined in everything we do. As a former player, I can say that my experiences on those teams instilled several qualities that continue to help me in everyday life. After graduating college, I moved back to Picayune because of the quality of life. Although many things have changed over the years, Picayune has maintained its small town charm, which is important to me to raise a family. The wonderful childhood experiences along with the small town charm are just a few of the many reasons why I love Picayune.