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WHITWORTH COLLEGE ICONIC SCHOOL HAS QUITE A HISTORY
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 GENERAL MANAGER
BROOKHAVEN
THE CITY AT NIGHT
Jan Griffey
MAGAZINE
WHITWORTH COLLEGE ICONIC SCH OOL HAS QUITE A HISTORY
EDITORIAL Brett Campbell
Gracie Byrne
CONTRIBUTING Hunter Cloud Robin Eyman Keith Hall Brianna Moore-Christa ADVERTISING Kristi Carney
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DESIGN Rob Sigler BROOKHAVEN Magazine is produced and published by The Daily Leader, 128 N. Railroad Ave., Brookhaven, MS 39601. The magazine is published six times a year. For additional information on this issue or other publications or for copies, call 601-833-6961. To inquire about story content, email news@dailyleader.com, or to inquire about advertising, email advertising@dailyleader.com. Copyright 2020 © The Daily Leader
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ON THE COVER: Photo by Gracie Byrne
The marquee of The Haven Theatre proclaims the promised return of Brookhaven Little Theatre productions following pandemic restrictions.
FEATURED
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Local tea farm caters to tastes all over the world FOOD & DRINK Page 30
Page 20
Page 40
Page 12 SHOPPING
VOWS BRIDAL OPENS ITS DOORS TO HELP LOCAL BRIDES-TO-BE
ARTS 8
DAY TRIP
ROAD TRIP TO HATTIESBURG PROVES TO BE FUN AND ADVENTUROUS 12
HISTORY
WHITWORTH COLLEGE HAS QUITE A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL 20
ASPIRING FILMMAKER ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO ATTEND MSA 22
BUSINESS FEATURE
ALLIE WILLIAMSON CREATES FUN CLEANING BUSINESS
40
BOOK REVIEW
KING OF HORROR HAS A NEW NOVELLA ON BOOKSHELVES
WELLNESS
24
MEDISPA OFFERS DAY SPA AS WELL AS MEDICAL TREATMENTS 26
DEPARTMENTS
PHOTO ESSAY SOCIAL SCENES GARDEN WHY I LOVE BROOKHAVEN
34 38 45 46
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 7
shopping SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Vows Bridal
Longtime friends open shop for brides-to-be
“
Story and Photos By Gracie Byrne
We want to make it all about you. We cater to you while you’re here. I hope they feel like the only ones in the room.”
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Kelsey Beassie
Vows Bridal, the brainchild of two longtime friends, has opened and is ready to serve Brookhaven, providing a personalized experience any bride is sure to love. For many girls, their wedding day is the stuff dreams are made of. You grow up envisioning
every detail, from the jawdropping venue to the flowers you’ll carry in your bouquet. While the details are important, nothing beats the dress. Saying yes to the dress is such an important time for a bride-tobe, because it’s been a dream for so long.
Kelsey Beassie and Joy Stingley have opened Vows Bridal, located at 128 South Whitworth Avenue in Brookhaven. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 9
Top: Vows Bridal carries sizes 2-22 in a variety of brands. Opposite left: Beassie pulls dresses from the rack. Opposite right: Vows also carries accessories to make any dress pop. Having the perfect dress is often the top priority. For Kelsey Beassie and Joy Stingley, it’s their priority too, not just the bride-to-be. Longtime friends, the two opened Vows Bridal in April. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shop was shut down due to its nonessential status. Vows opened its doors again in July and has been serving customers by appointment since then. As for opening a bridal shop, it was Stingley’s idea. “Brookhaven is such an amazing town,” Stingley said. “With Imaginations being closed, we wanted to bring something similar but still different. You don’t want something just like what was here before. Both of us remember getting married, and finding your dress is one of the most special times. We wanted to bring a shop back to Brookhaven.” The pair has been friends since they were 14, with Stingley’s mom working as Beassie’s vocal coach. “We love working together,” Stingley said. Beassie and Stingley both carry years of experience in
specialty retail. Beassie’s experience comes from working at Susan’s Shoppe in high school. “I’m used to the dress aspect of it,” Beassie said. “Different ball game though.” Stingley has served as a district manager for several companies. She also worked at a bridal shop in Jackson. “I worked in retail heavily,” Stingley said. “I love specialty retail — it’s so different than everyday retail.” For the two of them, opening Vows was a dream come true. “It’s been so much, it’s like our dreams have come to fruition,” Stingley said. “It’s been such a joyful time, even with the setbacks we’ve had.” Despite having to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vows has been able to keep up. Just because there’s a pandemic doesn’t mean brides-to-be don’t need dresses. “We’ve had a great turnout,” Stingley said. “We love our brides, and we make sure every bride feels special.” Vows Bridal operates by appointment only, so that their
From left, co-owner Kelsey Beassie, consultants Sherri Mathis and Carly Fleming, and co-owner Joy Stingley. team can provide a personalized experience for customers. The bridal shop carries sample dresses in sizes 0-22, but they can go to size 30. If a customer finds their dream dress, it can be ordered in their selected size and color. Customers can find dresses, veils and belts. The shop will soon have earrings and shoes as well. The shop even carries engagement dresses and pantsuits. Vows carries well known brands such as Allure Bridal, Morilee and Rebecca Ingram, but there are also brands exclusive to the shop. Every business has a name, and Beassie was the one to choose the name “Vows.” The pair was brainstorming to find a name and she suggested “Vows,” since it’s wedding related and vows are said on the wedding day. “I was just popping off names and I said Vows,” Beassie said. Beassie and Stingley both remember their wedding days and hope their customers feel the way they did. This is why they strive to offer a personalized experience. For Beassie, she remembers getting dressed and getting
her hair and makeup done before finally stepping into her dress. The preparation process stuck out to her the most. “That’s when it became real that I was getting married,” Beassie said. “That’s the main thing I remember.” For Stingley, it was her dramatic dress. It wasn’t exactly what she envisioned herself in as a child, but it was perfect to her. “It was very important to me, because you hope you’ll only get married once,” Stingley said. “I had thought about my dress since I was a little girl. The most fun part to me was trying on dresses and having my mom, grandmother and aunt being there for everything.” The pair hopes brides-to-be come in and feel special after their experience. “We want to make it all about you. We cater to you while you’re here,” Beassie said. “I hope they feel like the only ones in the room.” ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 11
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day trip SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
The Hub City Hattiesburg is full of adventure and affordable fun Story & Photos By Gracie Byrne
Hattiesburg, also known as “Hub City,” showed me a rainy adventure I won’t soon forget. My boyfriend and I traveled to Hattiesburg on a rainy Saturday morning. The rain was heavy enough to be noticed, but light like dust. I’ve driven through Hattiesburg plenty of times on my way to the beach, and I’ve attended several camps and workshops at The University of Southern Mississippi, but I’ve never really been to Hattiesburg.
You haven’t been anywhere until you’ve seen where the locals go. Once we made it to downtown, our first stop was one many visitors like to make in Hattiesburg: The Lucky Rabbit. When we stepped inside, it felt like we had traveled somewhere else. The organized chaos of it all really reminded me of “Alice in Wonderland.” Nothing made sense, yet it all flowed together as if it did, the way things were stacked and arranged throughout the building.
One attraction I was excited to see was the Pyrex bus. This particular oddity, an old bus turned glassware shop, was one of my favorite things to see on this trip. Looking around, I admired the sets of casserole dishes and serving bowls. If they could talk, I’m sure they’d say a lot. Each booth was more interesting than the last. While we both enjoyed perusing the booths, I think my boyfriend enjoyed the Lucky Rabbit’s most recent setup the best. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 13
The Lucky Rabbit is located in downtown Hattiesburg. The warehouse, featuring local artists and vendors, is open one weekend a month. Because of COVID-19, they are temporarily open every weekend to cut down on crowd sizes. Their setup room was made to look like “The Office,” and any fan would have enjoyed pretending to be Jim or Pam in this lookalike Dunder Mifflin office. We enjoyed taking pictures and pretending to answer the phone. As we made our way upstairs, we could see more characteristics of the building. The Lucky Rabbit originally served as a warehouse, with train tracks running behind the building. It was a supply depot, and many engines came and went with new shipments in tow. The original elevator, which 14 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
operates with a pulley system, is still used today to move furniture and other large objects to the upstairs level. Truth be told, I could have stayed there all day. But for the sake of this trip, we moved on to our next stop. As we drove to our next destination, I couldn’t help but notice the architecture of the older homes in the area. Majestic white homes with perfectly manicured green lawns — there isn’t anything like it. Our next stop was Bombshell Comics & Stuff. The store carried anything your nerdy little heart
desired, whether it was Marvel or DC Comics. The people were nice, and so were the comics. We didn’t stay long, but I made sure to peruse the Archie comics section while we were there. The next stop on our rainy day adventure was down the sidewalk at T-Bones Records and Café. This was a place that came highly recommended to me, both for the food and the records. A good friend of mine always talked about T-Bones, and I can see why he liked it so much. It had a nice vibe,
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Bottom: T-Bone’s Records & Cafe carries vinyl records and books and includes a cafe and sitting area. and it felt like a warm sweater on a cold day. It reminded me of him and how cozy he always seemed. This was another place I could’ve stayed at all day. I loved looking through all of the vinyl they had, and I found several pieces I would’ve bought if I owned something to play them on. The store also had a great collection of books. I spent a lot of time looking through those as well. Due to the
pandemic, the stage was empty, but that didn’t stop the patrons from enjoying their afternoon sandwich and coffee under a sea of string lights. We left empty handed and made our way to meet a friend for lunch at Ed’s Burger Joint. I had heard about Ed’s from a lot of friends who attend Southern. After researching the menu, my decision was made. We sat in the back of the BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 15
restaurant after we ordered. I chose the “El Magooey,” an Angus hamburger with a scoop of pimento cheese on top, side of fries and ranch on the side. My boyfriend ordered the barbecue chicken nachos, something akin to a stadium food. The two of us shared a cookies and cream milkshake. Thank the Lord for the diameter on that straw, because we surely needed it. Once our meal was over, we departed and began the drive back up Highway 49 home, with antiques and milkshakes on our minds. With the way we enjoyed ourselves, I’m sure we’ll be back soon. I just know it. /////
Ed’s Burger Joint, a local eatery in Hattiesburg, is known for their Angus hamburgers and milkshakes.
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history SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
The Milton Whitworth family.
Whitworth College Historic Brookhaven icon has a story to tell Story By Brianna Moore-Christa Art Courtesy of Lincoln County Public Library
The history of Whitworth College is much more colorful than many would assume for a small Methodist girl’s school. Over its long era, the college that has become an icon in Brookhaven history was host to an array of fascinating happenings and beginnings, linking Brookhaven to the American Civil War, the founding of 20 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
Millsaps and Belhaven Colleges, and even the outlaw Jesse James. The College was founded in either 1858 or 1859, depending on which historical marker you read on which side of the campus. In actuality, the college was probably founded in a nearby parlor. Mr. Milton Whitworth, originally of Tennessee, had
been leading a team of horses to New Orleans when he stopped to rest in Port Gibson. That night he was awakened early in the morning and witnessed a phenomenal occurrence: the Leonides Meteor shower of 1833, in which hundreds of thousands of fireballs scoured the sky in every direction over several hours.
Whitworth was inspired by this event to become a born-again Christian and decided to settle in the area. After the closing of Elizabeth College, near Natchez, the Methodist Conference sought to choose a new location further from the swamps to build a new women’s college. Due to a chance meeting, Whitworth was able to convince the conference to abandon their plans to build the college in Hazlehurst and choose Brookhaven instead. It’s likely that he had already established a temporary college in the area, but with the backing of the Conference he had the opportunity to grow that college into the esteemed institution that would eventually become Whitworth College. In another chance meeting on the train, Whitworth met the architect Alfred Moreton and convinced him to exit the train at Brookhaven and entertain his vision of a modern women’s college. Moreton was convinced and would eventually go on to become one of Brookhaven’s most celebrated citizens, designing several buildings and homes in the area. The college opened, and in a twist of fate was closed just a few short years later due to the American Civil War. Whitworth himself enlisted, along with his sonin-law, James Hoskins. They served in Hoskins’ Battery, which had many adventures during the Harvey Johnson war protecting the bluffs of the Mississippi River near Grand Gulf, in Clinton, near Yazoo City, and out of the state in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Meanwhile, although the school was closed, the main building, Whitworth Hall, was designated Louisiana Hospital #1 and used as a hospital for injured soldiers after the Battle of Jackson. The War Between the States was hard on Milton Whitworth, who died just a few years later after losing most of his fortune. His son-in-law, James Hoskins, continued to grow the Brookhaven area through his efforts in the logging industry. After the war, the school reopened under the leadership of Dr. Harvey Johnson, who had been president of Madison College. This was one of the most prosperous eras of Whitworth College. Dr. Harvey Johnson, a talented speaker and minister, grew the college to over 200 students, re-paid all the col-
Whitworth Hall
lege’s debt, and was able to procure funds to build two brick buildings on the campus of the College valued at $65,000: Margaret Hall and Johnson Institute, which he generously deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church. His efforts weren’t without scandal — on the day that Johnson Hall was dedicated, Dr. Johnson would later write that the Brookhaven Brass Band refused to play. A special speaker who was arranged to give a speech, Jefferson Davis, also canceled at the last minute. This is likely because Dr. Harvey Johnson had the soldiers who were buried in the original Confederate Cemetery Alfred Elliot Moreton re-interred to Rosehill Cemetery, something relatively unheard of at the time, and built Johnson Institute in its place. The building still stands today, in use by the Mississippi School of the Arts, although Margaret Hall was eventually torn down. After Dr. Johnson’s death by the then-common Yellow Fever after serving Whitworth for 20 years, the next memorable president of Whitworth was Professor Lewis
T. Fitzhugh, who would eventually go on to found a companion college for Millsaps (then a boy’s school) which he called Belhaven College. Another notable President of Whitworth, Dr. Inman Cooper was known for his friendliness as well as his temper and will forever be remembered for his incredible fundraising skills. During his presidency, he helped procure donations and WPA funds to build several new buildings, including the iconic Mary Jane Lampton Auditorium, Cooper Hall, Enoch Hall, the Y-Hut (or Teen Tavern as many remember it), along with several other buildings that are no longer standing. Dr. Cooper served Whitworth until his death of heart failure in 1925, when Whitworth College was at its height of achievement after achieving his often-spoken dream of a “Greater Whitworth.” In 2003, the campus of Whitworth College became home to the Mississippi School of the Arts, a two-year high school for artistically gifted high schoolers with programs in Visual Arts, Theatre, Vocal Music, Dance, Media Arts and Literary Arts. Students from throughout the state attend MSA in their 11th and 12th grade year to receive special instruction on the historic campus in Downtown Brookhaven, bringing frequent visitors and showcasing the beauty of Brookhaven. A detailed history of the early years of Whitworth College is detailed in the book Theatre of War, available for purchase on Amazon. /////
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 21
arts SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
A filmmaking journey begins MSA’s McLain Boyd on road to creating movies Story By Keith Hall Photos By Gracie Byrne
McLain Boyd, a senior at Mississippi School of the Arts, is making strides in the school’s film program. Boyd describes his audition to the arts school as his filmmaking journey, citing the Brookhaven Little Theatre as his foundation. “My media arts video audition submission was really the beginning of my filmmaker journey,” Boyd said. “You know the cliché, start with what you know. Since my second home is our community theatre, that felt like a natural fit for me to stage my first attempt at filmmaking. And like many of my peers at BLT, I had recently taken up tap dancing thanks to being in our local production of ‘Newsies.’” His background in the theatre enabled him to create his first short film submission, titled “The Dancing Janitor.” The short film focused on a janitor working at a theatre who dreamed of becoming the star of the show, tap-dancing center stage for all to see. This dream was all in his head, because at the end of the film he is brought back to the real world where his boss is calling his name. “It was a very simple film shoot,” Boyd said. “It took probably around 30 minutes of filming at the theatre. I used my iPhone to film everything. Then, I used the iMovie app to edit the scenes. My main objective with my audition submission was to attempt to visually tell a story in 60 or 90 seconds.” The film didn’t last long, but McLain hoped to impress the instructors at MSA with his out of the box thinking. “I knew my video was a beginner level entry,” Boyd said. “Yet, my hope was that MSA instructors could see my desire to learn and see potential in working with me.” For his audition, Boyd was given 90 minutes to create a full storyline for his given scenario. He also had to prepare 22 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
camera shots, characters, costumes and other needed details. “For anyone auditioning, I would suggest to have fun with it and turn their focus to showing effort and creativity in their film submission and audition,” Boyd said. Now, more than a year after his audition, Boyd has started his senior year at MSA. “When we went home for spring break we were all under the impression that we’d be back at school the next week like everything was normal,” Boyd said. Boyd is entering his senior year of high school this fall at Mississippi School of the Arts and is eager to see all of his peers once again in an on-campus environment. The school’s environment is very welcoming with its motto being “No place for hate” and a student body that prides itself on being a part of an inclusive safe zone where all kinds of people are made to feel at home within the school’s campus. 2020 has not been a normal year, and weeks went by with school being postponed more and more due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students at MSA like Boyd had the added pressure of having to finish their projects at home. “Some students were lucky — they had the materials and supplies to create something for their projects,” Boyd said. “But some people relied on what the school could provide as well. I was lucky enough to be able to film my project with my iPhone using iMovie.” Because he was at home, Boyd was unable to use the school’s equipment, nor did he have any cast members to film. “My family helped me film mine,” Boyd said. “I worked out a script, we filmed it at our house while under lockdown and we were able to put together something that I was really proud of. None of them are trained actors necessarily, but they handled it well.”
McLain Boyd is a senior at Mississippi School of the Arts, where his discipline is media arts.
For his audition, Boyd was required tocreate and submit a short film in order to be accepted by the arts school. Prospective students audition the spring semester of their sophomore year of high school.
Boyd talked a lot about how the current situation has inspired many people to come out of their shells artistically. With apps like TikTok, people have been given a release from all the dreariness of quarantine life and a new platform to share their creativity and ideas. The film series that Boyd credits that first started his curiosity about what it takes to make a movie is the Star Wars franchise. He excitedly talked about how both the practical and CGI effects in those movies inspired many of the movie franchises we all love today like the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Like Star Wars, many people look forward to coming out multiple times a year, with big releases often times coming across has cultural events that you almost have to go see. Boyd doesn’t think that the cinematic universe concept is one that will influence filmmakers any more than it already is, citing that those kind of movie franchises rely upon world building and established lore while also calling for a budget that many projects don’t have at their disposals. But under the right circumstances its something that movie goers have shown that they do enjoy, oftentimes due to the “bigger world” each movie in the franchise takes place in. The thought that Spiderman or Thor may show up at the end probably brings a few extra people to the new MCU release when it comes out in their local theater.
Boyd’s film knowledge isn’t limited to just big ticket releases — his knowledge also includes movies from the ’50s and ’60s like “Psycho,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “North by Northwest.” He even admires foreign films providing examples of the French New Wave and the German Expressionism era of filmmaking and says “400 Blows” by François Truffaut, is a sleeper hit about 1950s France, is one film more people should check out. “One thing I kind of started to learn is that you can learn anything from watching a film,” Boyd said. “Films represent life. Even with bad films, every film has a story, and they’ve inspired me to want to tell my own. MSA has really helped me a lot with that.” Boyd hopes to inspire people who may have been curious about joining the art school and hopes that they will give it a try, saying you may be better than you think you are and not to be discouraged by other’s opinion of the school. “A lot of my friends with MSA like doing the arts and working in that field. It’s made us better people,” Boyd said. “We’ve been able to not only understand each other better, but also ourselves better. I really think if you’re working in the arts, it kind of heals you a little bit.” Boyd said three concepts would make a better world, a better Mississippi or even just a better Brookhaven: collaboration, unity and vision. “I would love to see MSA kids visit with
other schools and share our talents with some of the other students,” Boyd said. “Maybe help someone find a new way to express themselves along the way.” Boyd believes that everyone can learn by listening, not just artists. “I believe that if we should spend more time talking to each other and recognizing everyone’s value and just listen, that’s something we don’t always do,” Boyd said. “Sometimes, we only want to hear what we want to hear. Sometimes we don’t listen to what other people have to say. I feel like we’d be more united if we all listened to each other and found ways to work together and then we could make life better for everyone.” Finally, Boyd stated that having a vision has the ability to change your life. “Sometimes in the culture that we live in, we only think about ourselves,” Boyd said. “But as the saying goes, ‘The world ends with you.’ If you stay closed off, you’re only going to know yourself but if you open yourself up? You will not only get to know different people, but you’ll discover different cultures and ideas that you never could have imagined. All because you decided to open up your eyes to the world around you, and realized you were a part of something bigger than just yourself.” /////
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 23
book reviews SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
1 of 4 novellas in Stephen King’s ‘If It Bleeds’ Review By Brett Campbell Art submitted
The first iPhone was released in 2007 and revolutionized the way people interacted with each other and technology. That is a large focus of the novella “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” one of four novellas in Stephen King’s “If It Bleeds,” released in April. This new set of stories from the master of horror also includes “The Life of Chuck,” “Rat” and the titular story. “Chuck” focuses on the character of Chuck Krantz and is told in reverse, exploring a life simultaneously 24 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
ordinary and extraordinary, and the crumbling of the world around him. “Rat” is a story that revisits a recurring theme for King — a writer with writer’s block makes a devilish bargain so he can finish his novel — but this story is no re-run in the author’s library. “If It Bleeds” reintroduces Holly Gibney — of “The Outsider” and the Bill Hodges trilogy — who is suspicious of a reporter who is first on the scene of tragic events. It continues a theme introduced in “The Outsider,” though that novel is not necessarily a prerequisite read. But the first story in the book is “Mr. Harrigan’s
Phone.” The reader meets teenager Craig, who has worked for an elderly, retired and wealthy neighbor, Mr. Harrigan, since he was 9 years old, reading for him and taking care of his plants. Each year on Craig’s birthday, he receives a card from Mr. Harrigan and a scratch-off lotto ticket. One year, he wins $3,000 and buys a first-generation iPhone as a thank you for his benefactor. Harrigan, suspicious of technology in general and disdainful toward most gifts, agrees to take the phone when Craig shows him he can access his beloved Wall Street Journal and other financial market sites through his phone. The iPhone soon becomes a constant companion for the old man, right up until his unexpected death. As a kind gesture, Craig puts the phone in Mr. Harrigan’s pocket just before he’s buried. Later, missing his friend, he calls Mr. Harrigan’s phone and leaves a voicemail message. To his surprise, he gets an answer. Craig’s life takes a couple of unexpected turns. Though helped financially by Mr. Harrigan’s help investing and being included by the old man in his will, Craig is haunted by what may or may not be a little more help from the old man after his death. “If It Bleeds” is available in hardback or audiobook at most book retailers. /////
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 25
book reviews SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Empowered: A Motivational Journal for Women by Michaela Renee Johnson Review By Britain Campbell Art submitted
The first thing I noticed about Johnson’s motivational journal for women is how cute the design is. There are colorful doodles and quotes placed all throughout and it really makes filling this book out more enjoyable. In the journal, Johnson points out different aspects of what it takes to achieve your dreams, or at the very least, to prevent yourself from getting in the way of achieving them. She gives you prompts, motivational tips and little (fun!) exercises to try to help you set goals for yourself. Her wording is descriptive and provides a clear understanding of what she is saying to you and (for the exercises) what she suggests you draw, practice, etc. I believe she made a smart decision making a journal versus a normal selfhelp book mainly because a journal allows someone to organize the jumbled thoughts in their head by putting them down on paper. It allows the person to think more clearly and deeper about the subject matter, which I would argue is important for it to be effective. The length of the journal is not intimidating, coming in at about 140 pages, which makes it a more likely “pick up” than others may be. Overall, Johnson created an eye-catching, inspirational journal that I believe many women would enjoy.
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2020
CALLING ALL 2020 BRIDES! WE WANT TO FOCUS ON
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wellness SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Medspa: Getting rejuvenated Day spa, medical clinic opens in Brookhaven Story By Robin Eyman Photos Submitted
Area residents who want to reverse the signs of aging or repair damaged skin no longer have to drive to Hattiesburg, Jackson or the Coast to visit a medical spa. Brookhaven Medspa opened in late April after Gov. Tate Reeves gave the go-ahead for cosmetics-related businesses to open after the first blast of the coronavirus eased off. Business has been brisk since then, with an unexpectedly 28 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
high number of clients booking treatments to rejuvenate their skin or take years off their appearance, owner Dr. Ryan Case said. A medical spa is a combination of a day spa and a medical clinic, offering the best of both — a relaxing spa experience with treatments, procedures and expertise only found at a doctor’s office. Brookhaven MedSpa is in the historic McGrath building, constructed in the late
1880s on South Railroad Avenue, where the McGrath family owned the largest department store between New Orleans and Memphis. The spa occupies 2,000 square feet of space in the 200 block of South Railroad. The space has an airy, relaxed atmosphere and décor that accentuates historically unique tin pressed ceilings, mullion and transom windows, hardwood floors and high ceilings.
Opposite page, Dr. Ryan Case is flanked by his staff, from left, Tessa Bradford, Caroline Mills and Lindsey Foster.
“I remodeled to keep the historical relevance of the building, and I wanted it to have a different feel, not real stuffy or formal, but a relaxing, upscale place,” Case said. Considering COVID-19, he’s been pleasantly surprised that the staff’s schedules stay full and Medspa has a lot of repeat business. “I guess part of the popularity is that people are hearing from friends and colleagues on Zoom meetings and they want to look their best,” Case said. “I’ve talked with my counterparts in major cities like Dallas and they’ve seen an increase in clients too.” A number of local residents who used to go out of town for these services are now using MedSpa, he added. Case and his aestheticians (staff trained in the beautification of skin) offer numerous services. They include microderm abrasion, HydraFacial, Juvederm gel injectables and Botox. Also available are facials, waxing, eyelashes, and laser treatment for hair removal, facial rejuvenation and tattoo removal. Medspa also sells ZO medical skincare products created by Dr.
Zein Obaji and Jane Iredale’s natural skincare makeup.
The most popular treatment
HydraFacial, a name-brand treatment, is by far the most popular treatment at Medspa, Case said. “There are a lot of spinoffs or buddy brands available, but the materials used in HydraFacial are more expensive than some of the knockoffs,” he said. HydraFacial is a medical-grade resurfacing treatment that deep cleans, exfoliates, hydrates and moisturizes the skin. “HydraFacial involves using a vacuum and different serums to pull off outer layers of skin, clean the oil out and minimize wrinkles,” Case said. “The treatment infuses the skin with different serums to give the skin a hydrated, dewy look.” Case said the success of HydraFacial grew nationwide after word got out that a lot of movie stars have the procedure done before they get in front of the cameras. It makes the complexion glow and brightens it up.
InStyle magazine’s website touts HydraFacial as one of the most popular treatments performed nationwide in medical settings. Case has more than 10 years’ experience in using injectables for facial rejuvenation and is a member of the Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Nothing reverses the signs of aging like medically-administered skincare treatments and products,” Case said. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist specializing in the treatment of ear, nose and throat disorders, allergy and immunology, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Case also can perform facelifts. His experience with cosmetic treatments is an outgrowth of his ENT practice and his medical training at the University of Mississippi. His training included four years of med school and five years of residency. The Brookhaven native, who graduated from high school in Long Beach, met his wife Wendi in college. Both were interested in medicine. She decided to become a stay-at-home mother because of the hours involved in being a doctor. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 29
The couple married 18 years ago, and have a 17-year-old son, Corey, and a 13-year-old daughter, Olivia. The family attends Faith Presbyterian Church, where Case is a deacon. His wife is involved in charitable organizations. In 2012, Case bought out Dr. Joseph Mooney’s ENT practice and the McGrath building, which housed a bank after the McGrath department store closed. Mooney had owned the building since the 1990s. “Training in ENT encompasses facial plastic surgery, cancers and pediatric problems,” Case said. “There are training programs for doctors who want to exclusively do plastic surgery after a year or two, and that’s more common in urban areas.” “I wanted to practice the full practice of ENT and knew I wanted to live in a city of this size, but I didn’t realize this area is a right fit for a medical spa.”
How MedSpa was born
Case was offering aesthetic services at his 8,500-squarefoot clinic and was surprised to see an increasingly high demand for cosmetic appointments. The owner of a music store next to the clinic in the same building wanted to move to a smaller space, so Case began plans to remodel the space and open Medspa. Interior doors allow Case to go back and forth from the clinic to the spa. “The timing was right,” he said. Tessa Bradford, his senior aesthetician, has gone through advanced training and is also the spa’s laser technician. Lindsey Foster is the spa’s newest aesthetician, and Caroline Mills is the marketing and patient coordinator. Case likens taking care of your skin to going to a gym. “If you come in and get a procedure, your skin will look good, but if you don’t take care of it, the good look will go away,” he said. “Using skincare products tailored to your type of skin makes a 30 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
Dr. Ryan Case says it’s a privilege to be that involved in the lives of people who want medical cosmetics.
difference. Coming back at intervals makes a big difference. We have a lot of return business.” Medspa has been practicing safety precautions because of the coronavirus. Case wants to hold an open house when the health scare eases up. He wants people to feel comfortable coming in off the street and asking questions. He also wants the waiting room to be more like a relaxed living room. “It may sound hokey, but medical cosmetics is a little bit like an art form,” Case said. “It’s neat to see people come in and express how they want to look different and then know that they’re satisfied. It’s a privilege to be that involved in somebody’s life.” /////
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food & drink SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Jason McDonald and Timothy Gipson run the Great Mississippi Tea Company.
The Great Mississippi Tea Company Local tea farm gains world-wide following Story & Photos By Hunter Cloud
Rows of tea plants grow in a quiet field off of East Lincoln Road.The occasional car passes by and honks to a waving Jason McDonald, who is CEO and founder of The Great Mississippi Tea Company. Just 15 years ago, McDonald and his husband Timothy Gipson were living on the coast of Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina struck a deathblow to McDonald’s timber farm in Walthall County that he had inherited. “Seventy-five percent of the timber was destroyed,” McDonald said. “Knowing we were going to inherit this farm, we knew we wanted to come up with something that could 32 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
withstand hurricanes.” McDonald said he didn’t want to be a cow farmer. When he traveled to Savannah, he was handed a tea bag saying America’s only tea garden based out of Charleston, South Carolina. It was in Charleston where McDonald realized that the tea plant Camellia Sinensis was a great fit for the hot and humid climate of Brookhaven, Mississippi. “The only problem is we saw a working farm and said ‘that looks easy,’” McDonald said. “We didn’t understand what it took to get there.” What it took was a few mistakes such as planting at the wrong
The Great Mississippi Tea Company is nestled in southeastern Lincoln County.
time, and planting in areas where an army worm nest destroyed a few rows of tea plants. While the company is led by McDonald, an honorary colonel in Kentucky according to a framed letter in their home, it is a group effort as Gipson has learned more about tea to help his husband. “Jason wanted to jump off into something else.” Gipson said “Then I just supported him to do it. As we started doing more and more, I learned more about the tea.” Together since 2005, it wasn’t until 10 years later they were married. An article in The Daily Leader on July 3, 2015, states that Gipson and McDonald were the first legally-married same sex couple in Lincoln County. The two laughed in the kitchen of their home as they tried to explain the complexities behind being together for 15 years and only being legally married for about five of those years. McDonald said they had the license for a year before they were married. “We are married, if he claims me,” McDonald said. The processing stage of making the tea is done by Gipson and takes a couple of days. When Gipson first started he would write things down in a notebook. The notes are no longer written down by hand as Gipson pointed to a Microsoft excel spreadsheet on a computer screen. He said that everything is quantitative because it’s easier to teach people numbers. Now the couple have not only hit full stride with their business but are tackling a new challenge during the Coronavirus. Typically they would be giving tours of their tea farm and the tea production process, but due to social distancing they can not do so. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 33
Top; The process of tea making is shown and how the process moves in stages.
Left; An array of equipment is used to take the tea from its plant state to a finished product. Right; Gipson shows how the process works.
“We would do large tours where people could come, bring a group, and do a 2-3 day tour making tea from start to finish,” McDonald said. “So we took it all online. We just had to figure out how to make tourism a digital thing.” 34 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
As a gay-owned company in small town Mississippi, McDonald said it is really a non-issue now. While they have had people in the past drive by and yell rude things out the window, for the most part they haven’t had issues. “People have been great here, (but)
our customer base isn’t here,” McDonald said. “The people who would have an issue with us aren’t paying $1,000 for a pound of tea.” While the tea farm is out in the countryside of Lincoln County, Gipson said he is still surprised when people say
McDonald and Gipson faced a lot of trial and error when starting their farm out, but they soon found their way.
C A T E R I N G
they didn’t know Brookhaven had a tea farm. “Somebody all the way across the country will go ‘Oh yeah, that place in Mississippi,’” Gipson said. “It’s really amazing that some people know us across the world but people in town don’t even know who we are.” ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 35
photo essay SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Night Lights A look into Ole Brook when the sun goes down Photos By Gracie Byrne
While many photos of downtown Brookhaven show its beauty during the daytime, there aren’t many photos showing this same area at night. Downtown at night is just as beautiful as during the day.
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BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 37
The downtown area is lit up beautifully once the sun goes down. From string lights to street lights, anyone can find their way in the dark.
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“There is light in darkness, you just have to find it.” – Bell Hooks BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 39
social scenes SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
I Heart Local I HEART LOCAL was the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s alternative this year to the annual Girls’ Night Out “Eat, Shop, Play” event. Participants in the June 15-July 4 event received a T-shirt, coupon book and $10 meal voucher.
Hailey, Hartley and Amy Walker
Mary Henderson, Susanna Dunaway and Melissa Lester
Keylee King, Danielle, Sabrina and Vera Boyles
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social scenes SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Splash Dash 5K
The Splash Dash 5K & One Mile Kids Run took place July 18 in downtown Brookhaven. The race was the third of five in the 2020 Ole Brook Run Series. Participants received T-shirts and finisher medals. Awards were presented to winners.
Charlie Haire, Joanna, Crystal, James Michael Jabour
Chad Reed, Tina Reed, Stephanie, and Chaston Bullock
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 41
social scenes SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Splash Dash 5K
David Draut, Kristi Draut, and Kayla Jones
Hayden, Randy, Ben, and Emma Veazey
Jeff Freeman, Ana Freeman, Stephanie Freeman, Ainsleigh Freeman, Lindy Martin, Abigail Freeman and Taylor Hutchinson
42 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
social scenes SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Splash Dash 5K
Caleb Dunaway, Susanna Dunaway, and Josh Pugh
Will McCullough, Stacie McCullough, and Melissa Cupit
Taylor, Beth, Kinley, Liliana, and Kevin Hutchinson
BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 43
business feature SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Southern Domestic Diva
Female entrepreneur creates cleaning business From left: Gwen Boutwell, Renee Hearn, founder Allie Williamson and Dwana Rousse. Boutwell, Hearn and Rousse manage the Monticello branch. Story & Photos By Gracie Byrne
A small town girl from Monticello has built her cleaning business with nothing but grit, grace and Pine-Sol. Allie Williamson, a native of south Mississippi, spent her youth in Lawrence County learning how to clean from her mother and her grandmother. As an only child, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother, and that’s where the cleaning obsession started. “She would give me a bowl of warm Pine-Sol water to wipe the walls with,” 44 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
Williamson said. Her business, Southern Domestic Diva, uses a diluted mixture of Pine-Sol lemon solution. “I loved it, that’s what really started the cleaning obsession,” Williamson said. “It all came from my grandmother Hattie. She always had me cleaning.” As a kid, she spent time doing chores just like anyone else. The difference between Williamson and other kids was she enjoyed the work. “I would have rather been cleaning,” Williamson said. Her mother worked as a teacher in
Lawrence County, and if Williamson were in a class with a substitute teacher, she would go home with her mom to clean the house. “I was fascinated with it at a young age, seeing what could come off the walls or anything else I cleaned,” Williamson said. Williamson graduated from Lawrence County High School in 2004 and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. She graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality. After completing her education, Williamson found a job in hospitality and outside sales.
Savannah Hall, along with the other “divas,” wear face masks with red lipstick when cleaning client’s homes.
She worked in Fairhope, Alabama for eight years doing this before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. While living in Nashville, Williamson began to clean in the evenings and on the weekends in order to have money to enjoy Nashville’s live music scene. She mostly cleaned people’s homes and completed any other odd jobs that were needed. “I got to know the families I cleaned for,” Williamson said. “That enabled me to invest into my business.” Six months into cleaning houses, Williamson decided on starting her business. In May of 2014, Southern Domestic Divas was born. Her business started out of her double garage in Nashville, but over time she transitioned to a commercial building. Six years later, Williamson’s business has two branches, with one in Nashville and the other in Monticello. While she isn’t personally cleaning houses, she still has many of the same clients, along with new ones. “I’ve come a long way,” Williamson said. “They’ve been with me for six years.” For Williamson, cleanliness isn’t simply having a tidied up space. It’s more than that. “Cleaning is more of having an organized mindset,” Williamson said. “I think life is all about balance and having a clean, organized home helps you balance that.” When it comes to a clean space, there’s nowhere she would rather be. “I think there’s no better feeling in the world,” Williamson said. “You can be relaxed, it’s like an oasis.” BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 45
Pictured at top is the Monticello team of “divas.” Front row, from left, Skyler Cole, Sharnette Watkins, Becky Waldrop, Macey Greenlee. Back row, from left, Savannah Hall, Jimmie Grace Anderson, Grace White, Beth Creel, Jordan Anderson
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Williamson has seen her business roll with the punches. “We definitely went through the hard part of the first two months of it,” Williamson said. “We have stayed in operation through the entire pandemic.” The divas have personal protective gear in place, along with masks and foot covers. Despite the pandemic, business has soared for Southern Domestic Diva, with the Mississippi branch rising 30% since March. “I think this year has taught us all a lot of patience,” Williamson said. “It’s 46 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
taught me to keep going and taking on new tasks. You have to keep going. When life gives you lemons, you’ve gotta make lemonade.” To shine light on her upbringing, Williamson named her company Southern Domestic Diva. In college, a friend of hers commented on her demeanor and how much of a diva she was, so it stuck. Her employees are encouraged to wear red lipstick, as many women in the South were raised to not leave the house without lipstick on. Williamson herself lives by this, and this is why her company’s slogan is “I
believe in red lipstick.” Her employees, even have shirts with the saying on it. They also have personal protective masks with red lips on them. “I’m trying to make an environment that’s fun to work in,” Williamson said. “It’s fun and out of the norm.” For Williamson, this isn’t just branding, it’s a way of life. “I believe in strong women and bringing them together,” Williamson said. Having her company grow isn’t Williamson’s only goal. Not only does she want to succeed, but she wants to see her team succeed as well.
Allie Williamson is the founder and owner of Southern Domestic Divas cleaning service. The Lawrence County native has branches in Monticello and Nashville.
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“I love seeing the girls in my company grow and provide for themselves,” Williamson said. “I would like to build an empire of women that empower each other and build each other up.” /////
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BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 47
THE BEST IN LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS AND OPINION IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. IN PRINT & ONLINE. 48 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
garden SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman
Dill is easy to grow and is an excellent addition to fish dishes. It is also a food source for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Try herbs for late summer gardens By Gary R. Bachman MSU Extension Service
In the late summer and into the fall, some of my favorite garden plants are the annual herbs. On top of my list of annual herbs are basil and dill. These herbs are aromatic and really easy to grow. And have I said they’re delicious? Dill is perfect with salmon, cod and grouper. Placing the frilly fronds on the fish during cooking imparts a pleasant licorice flavor. Another favorite use is adding fresh-cut dill to my eggs for breakfast. Dill also is a forage plant for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, so I make sure to have enough to share. Basil is another wonderful plant that also is a great addition to my edible ornamental landscape. It offers a great range of aromas and flavors from licorice to lemon and lime. At my house, we love to use it to make different types of pesto and, of course, to whip up
refreshing basil mojitos on a hot second summer afternoon. There’s a wide variety of basil available for the garden. Selections come with beautiful green, red and variegated foliage. Always harvest fresh herbs in the morning, as the essential oils — which are what supplies the herbal bang — will be at their highest concentrations then. For annual herbs like dill and basil, it is important to pinch off developing flower heads. We want foliage, and flower production signals the plant to stop foliage production and favor seed development. I deadhead my dill plants and save the flower heads for homemade dill pickles. But there are always exceptions to these rules. Late in the year, I like to let a few plants flower and collect the seed. It’s as easy as waiting until the seed heads have turned brown, collecting the seed and storing it in a labeled envelope. Saving some seed this year could help your garden next year.
This year, COVID-19 fueled major growth in gardening, which caused shortages of all seed supplies. Saving some herb seed this fall could make 2021 a tasty year. Of course, you don’t have to save seed in an envelope. Sometimes I just let the seed heads disperse themselves and enjoy the surprise of where the herbs pop up the following year. Annual herbs like dill and basil are really easy to grow in containers, which is my preferred growing method. Remember to use a good-quality, peatbased potting mix. Container herbs don’t take up as much room, which is perfect for maximizing the number of herbs growing on a porch or patio. If you’re afraid you’ve missed out this year, the good news is there’s still time to grow these herbs. Many garden centers still have transplants, and you can always try growing some from seed. ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 49
voices SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20
Why I love Brookhaven For the people who know me, it’s a known fact that I love the city I live in. It’s my home, my happy place. But what many people don’t know about me is that it hasn’t always been like that. I am not native to this area. I actually moved here nine years ago. Brookhaven was far different than where I lived in Jackson, and the stark difference bothered me. I hated how quiet it was. I hated how slow everything moved. I just didn’t like it. Over time, I began to assimilate. I learned how things worked down here. I began to understand the people. Brookhaven began to feel like home. It’s ironic, considering how a majority of my family is from the area. This was home all along; I just didn’t realize it at the time. Nearly a decade later, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Anyway, this brings me to explaining why I love Brookhaven as much as I do. I love Brookhaven because whether you’re eight or 80, there is something for you. Your age doesn’t matter, because you’ll find your place. Whether it’s joining an organization, club or a church, you can go somewhere and find a community of your own. Even if it’s looking for something fun to do, nearly every age group is catered to. I love our city’s revitalized downtown. Many downtown areas in other cities and towns are run-down and empty, but our downtown is brimming with activity. Whatever you want to do, it’s there. Downtown is the place for eating and shopping, and even offers places to stay. I spent a lot of time downtown in high school, it’s the perfect place to walk around and explore with friends. I love Brookhaven because of how the church moves here. My own church family at Mt. Zion is my favorite group of people, and I feel at home when I’m at church. Even when we’ve interacted with other churches in the area at local events, it’s been comfortable and fun. As a graduate of both Loyd Star Attendance Center (2016) and Copiah-Lincoln Community College (2018), I can say that education in Brookhaven and Lincoln County is top notch. I cherish my time at both of these institutions, and I’ve learned lessons and made friends to last a lifetime. Ultimately, I knew that I wasn’t just another name on the roll sheet; I was someone that mattered to my teachers. As a reporter for The Daily Leader, I have the opportunity to go out into my community and learn more about the city I work in and the people I interact with daily. I love doing my job and getting much-needed information to the people of our city, so they may stay informed and make the best decisions for their families. History is a big part of Brookhaven, and as a history lover I enjoy learning more about what’s gone on here in the past. From reading about Whitworth College to touring the Lincoln County Historical Museum, and even walking down South Jackson Street and admiring the antebellum homes, there’s so much to learn. Our area’s history is special. 50 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
Finally, my most favorite thing about Brookhaven is the sense of community we have. If you go to town for groceries, you’re guaranteed to run into someone you know. Most faces you see are friendly, and conversations are more than likely bound to happen. If something happens to lift our city up, we rejoice together. In the case of a tragedy, we pull together, caring for those who need it. We’re there for each other, and there’s nothing more important than that. And that’s why I love Brookhaven. Gracie Byrne has lived in Brookhaven since 2011. She is the daughter of Ian and Melissa Rutledge. She has one brother; Cole, 14. She works as a journalist and a photographer. She lives with her family in the Mt. Zion community in Brookhaven. /////
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PARTY And so do our readers.
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