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MAY/JUNE 2020 GENERAL MANAGER
BROOKHAVEN
HOUSES OF WORSHIP
MAGAZINE
BROOKHAVEN HA S UNIQUE CHURCH ES
Jan Griffey EDITORIAL Brett Campbell Gracie Byrne CONTRIBUTING Kim Henderson Aaron Paden
Cliff Furr Hunter Cloud
MAY/JUNE 2020
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ON THE COVER: Photo by Gracie Byrne Light shines through stained glass windows on the front of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brookhaven.
FEATURED may/june 2020
Brookhaven couple makes the Reel Home their own Page 30
Page 8
Page 26
ARTS
LOCAL ARTIST CHANGES COURSE WITH UNIQUE 3-D ART
BOOK REVIEW 8
HISTORY
MURPHY, TURK HONED COACHING SKILLS PLAYING AT CO-LIN
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WELLNESS 12
DAYTRIP
CHILDREN CAN STILL LEARN AND EXPLORE MISSISSIPPI ONLINE
BOOK TAKES NEW PERSPECTIVE ON JFK ASSASSINATION
YOGA HAS CHANGED BETSY BELK FOR THE BETTER 26
FOOD 20
MAMA RUBY’S RESTAURANT IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
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PHOTO ESSAY GARDEN WHY I LOVE BROOKHAVEN
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arts MAY/JUNE 20
A path all her own
Olivia Hodgson creates her own 3-D art style
“
Story By Donna Campbell
My process usually comes when I sit down and knit or sew, I turn on some quiet music or a podcast, shut off my brain, and let my fingers take over.”
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Olivia Hodgson
During her freshman year of college, Olivia Hodgson hoped she’d learn everything there is to know about digital art and land a job animating the newest princess for Disney. What she learned instead was that sitting in front of a computer to create art is not her forte.
When it comes to art, the 22-year-old from Brookhaven is extremely hands on. Hodgson is a student at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond working toward a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis in sculpture.
Photos by Gracie Byrne
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Though she wanted to work for an animation studio, she realized in her digital art class at Copiah-Lincoln Community College that computers and technology were not well suited for her. “After that, I took a three-dimensional art class and fell in love with the process,” she said. “The feeling of working with my hands to make a threedimensional form was satisfying to me, and it just felt natural to me.” The daughter of Geoffrey and Lisa Hodgson, she got her start in art at Ava Jane’s Art Barn when she was in first grade. Owner Ava Jane Newell saw talent in young Hodgson and encouraged her passion. Hodgson continued her classes with Newell through her senior year. Some of her hobbies are crocheting and sewing, which she also uses in her art. She uses fabric, yarn and other textiles to create what is called soft sculpture or textile sculpture. “It’s not traditional bronze and wood sculpture,” she said. In college, she dug deeper into the field, developing her style. When people see her work, she wants them to recognize it as an original Olivia Hodgson piece.
Creating art comes naturally for her. “My process usually comes when I sit down and knit or sew, I turn on some quiet music or a podcast, shut off my brain, and let my fingers take over. I try and keep my process simple, but at the same time, calculated as possible. I try not to put too much thought into my work, I build upon the visual aspect of the art piece as I go along, making small adjustments here and there, and I let my instincts tell me when I feel like the sculpture is complete.” At Southeastern, Hodgson won Best in Sculpture at the 2020 Student Art Show. She also won first prize for Best Computer Artwork at the Hinds Community Art Show in 2017 and honorable mention in the Drawing category in the Co-Lin Art Show in 2018. She’d planned to show her work in the spring art show at Southeastern, but the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled that. However, the pandemic has also inspired her creativity. “The art piece that I call ‘Pathogen’ is the piece I’m the most pleased with,” she said. “In this piece, I wanted to use my creative problem solving skills to
talk about COVID-19 and how different people respond to the virus. ‘Pathogen’ is an interactive piece, where people can walk up to the sculpture and pick it up, kick it around, throw it to their friend, whatever the person feels is the appropriate way to handle a foreign object, much like how people are handling COVID-19, how some people will either take action to prevent the spread, while others might ignore it, or others might not care about the disease or other people. The piece represents how we as a society respond to a foreign substance.” After graduation, Hodgson plans to continue her studies to earn a master’s degree and teach. She doesn’t think she can be satisfied staying at home working as a full-time artist. “I’m a person who enjoys having interaction with other artists,” she said. “I like to have a sense of community.” To see more of Hodgson’s work visit her on Facebook or on Instagram at olivia_the_sculptor. /////
Olivia Hodgson thought creating digital art would be the path she chose, but that changed when she found her passion for three dimensional art. She enjoys creating pieces that not only have meaning, but can be handled by the viewer as well.
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history MAY/JUNE 20
Different paths led future OM, USM coaches to play at Co-Lin Unwinding the intertwining tales of Ed Murphy and M.K. Turk Story By Cliff Furr
What are the odds? That was my thought when I was reading through the eulogies written about former Ole Miss head basketball coach Ed Murphy after he passed away on February 16. Murphy played basketball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College (then Co-Lin Junior College) and his roommate was M.K. Turk, the future Southern Miss head basketball coach. What are the odds I thought that the future coaches of Ole Miss and
USM would be roommates —not to mention that Murphy was from Syracuse, New Yok and Turk hailed from Kentucky. I knew a little about the backstory of Turk coming to Co-Lin and I’ll relay that later, but I was most curious about Murphy and how he ended up in Wesson. Luckily, I can call the man who recruited them both. That’s what I did as former CoLin coach Alton Ricks is as fit, sharp and active as any 93-year-old
on planet earth and still lives in Wesson.
Gangly Murphy grows into a man in Wesson
Ricks thought he had a big man recruited from Louisiana in 1959 when he got a letter that threw a wrench into those plans. “I had a center from Louisiana lined up and he wrote me a letter saying he’d gotten married and would need an apartment for him BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 13
Previous pages, Co-Lin yearbooks show photos of Ed Murphy and M. K. Turk as Wolves. At left, Murphy during his coaching years at Ole Miss. Above, Turk during his tenure at Southern Miss.
and his wife,” said Ricks. “I didn’t even write him back because we didn’t have anything like that at Co-Lin.” Ricks called Beryl Shipley — head coach at what was then known as Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now UL-Lafayette) and asked him if he knew about any tall recruits. Shipley said his brother in Syracuse, New York knew about a young player that was thinking about going to a prep school to get a little more experienced. He was tall, but raw and needed some more work before he was ready to be a college player. Shipley gave the contact info to Ricks who soon got in touch with the tall, skinny Ed Murphy in Syracuse, New York. “It cost me seven cents to airmail a letter to Ed and it told him what flight to get on and when I’d be there to pick him up from the airport after he decided to come play for us,” said Ricks. “I wasn’t sure if he’d show and I’m probably he wasn’t sure about me either, but when the plane started unloading I saw this tall, skinny kid getting off and I told him, ‘come on, Ed, let’s load up.’” Murphy needed to gain weight, but he also needed to finish high school. So, 14 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
he enrolled at Co-Lin High School and joined the Wolves basketball team. At that time a player could play three years of junior college athletics. If they needed to finish up high school, they could attend classes at Co-Lin High School on the campus of the college while suiting up for the college athletic teams. That’s what Murphy did in 1960 when he joined a Co-Lin team that featured future West Lincoln head coach Jack Case. “He played three years with the college team and that’s something that you could do back then,” said Case. “He was really skinny when he got here.” Ricks said it wasn’t often that a player put in three years for the Wolves, but it did happen from time to time. “We had a few players that were with us for three years, but I don’t remember any of them turning out better than Ed,” said Ricks. “When he got here he was over 6-foot-7 and weighted only 165 pounds.” Wesson native Bobby Britt was a junior at Co-Lin High School when Murphy arrived. He’d go on to play with both Murphy and Turk on the college team. Britt said Murphy bulked up during his
time in Wesson and began to fill out. “You could push him all over the court when he first got here,” said Britt. “He worked very hard though and became a better player and when we were teammates he had become a much better big man. Ricks says one of the reasons that Murphy gained weight was a love of southern cooking. “He’d never had black eyed peas or mashed potatoes before he came to school,” said Ricks. “One of the first times he ate in the cafeteria he came out and had seven small pieces of cornbread stacked up in his hands. He didn’t know what cornbread was, he thought it was cake, but he knew he liked it.”
Ricks finds out about Turk through chance encounter
Ricks is filled with stories from his time teaching and coaching — a literal treasure trove of tales from times gone by. His story about getting Turk to Wesson is even better than how he pulled Murphy in from Syracuse. “At that time, we could three players from out of state on our roster,” said Ricks. “One night we were playing
Northeast Mississippi was a slob, but he was kind of Community College and their a slouchy at that time,” said manager came and sat next to Ricks. “He didn’t care much to me. He said that he was from clean up after himself or how Kentucky and Northeast had his clothes fit him. M.K. was brought in more out of state the complete opposite. He was players than they needed. a neat freak, and everything They made him a manager had to be just right for him.” and he didn’t like the way Both Murphy and Turk they had treated him. He told signed to continue their me that he had a friend back careers after Co-Lin. home in Kentucky who was a Murphy ended up at Hardinvery good player and he didn’t Simmons University in want him Abilene, to end up at Texas Northeast.” while Turk Ricks went to the wrote a University letter to of West that player Alabama and that’s — then how M.K. known as Turk ended Livingston up visiting University. Co-Lin in “M.K. Wesson could really after shoot the playing ball from high school Former Co-Lin basketball coach Alton outside,” basketball said Ricks. “If RIcks is 93 and still lives in Wesson at Carlisle there would with his wife, Jean. County High have been a School in 3-point line Bardwell, Kentucky. back then he’d have averaged Turk was impressed with even more points than he did.” what Co-Lin offered and signed to play with the Wesson long been hotbed of Wolves. future coaches Visits back home were much In Abilene Murphy would easier for him than Murphy. play for Lou Henson, his Turk was just over 400 miles future boss as the pair worked from home — compared to together at New Mexico State. Murphy who was 1,3000 miles Henson later went on to win from his family. over 400 games as the head Turk also had the luxury coach at the University of of having a car — a yellow Illinois. Mercury as Ricks remembers Ricks didn’t know that now all these years later. Murphy would go on to be “Oh yea,” says Britt with a coach when he was on his a chuckle when asked about team at Co-Lin, but he felt the car. “M.K. babied that confident in Murphy’s ability thing. He would crank it and to talk his way into success no sit there and wait for the oil matter what he did. level to rise before he ever “Ed was a great put it in drive. He wasn’t communicator,” said Ricks. going anywhere unit the motor “He would talk to anybody heated up.” about anything and people Turk and Murphy would liked that about him.” eventually end up rooming Turk on the other hand knew together and Ricks said they fairly early on that college were an odd couple when it would be his ticket out of the came to hygiene and personal family business. presentation as college “M.K. told me he was going students. into education and coaching “I’m not going to say Ed and that he had no plans of
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going back home and working on his family’s tobacco farm,” said Ricks. “He said his days of looking for worms on the back of tobacco leaves was over.” Turk would be hired as head coach at Co-Lin in 1968 after previously working as first a high school coach and then an assistant at Livingston University. In 1974 Turk led Co-Lin to a second straight state title and the Wolves finished 27-4 and 11th in the national tournament played in Hutchinson, Kansas. Co-Lin has been a cradle of coaches in its long history. Current Mississippi College head coach and athletic director Mike Jones played for Turk at Co-Lin and then later had a very successful stint coaching the Wolves while also assisting Turk during his career. Jones replaced Richard Williams who left Co-Lin to become an assistant coach at Mississippi State. Williams would later take MSU to the Final Four. Longtime Co-Lin women’s head coach Gwyn Young himself suited up for the Wolves as a student-athlete for Turk. Turk always kept a close connection with his alma mater, even after leaving in 1974 to become an assistant coach at Memphis. Hired by Southern Miss in 1976, Turk
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would lead the Golden Eagles for 20 years and produce a period of basketball success that’s never been matched there. USM won the 1987 NIT Championship and went to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments from 1990-1991. Reed Green Coliseum was packed as Turk and the Eagles played fast and above the rim. “I’d drive over to Hattiesburg and watch them play when they were really good during that time,” said Ricks. “I’d go to M.K.’s house and ride to the game with his wife Katrina because you couldn’t get a ticket. They would pack it out.” While M.K. was building something special in Hattiesburg Murphy had come back south after starting his coaching career at New Mexico State. Murphy was head coach and athletic director at the University of West Alabama before coming back to Mississippi. He was the head coach at Delta State from 1983-1986 where he beat Mississippi State while leading the Statesmen. Ole Miss hired him away and from 1986-1992 Murphy was the head man in Oxford. His later career saw Murphy have great success at the University of West
Georgia. He coached the Wolves for 14 years, took them to the Division II Elite Eight and then served another 15 years as athletic director at the school. Turk and Murphy stayed close throughout their careers. Turk passed away December 6, 2013 in Hattiesburg. What are the odds that on the way to winning the 1987 NIT Championship Turk’s team would match up in the first round against an Ole Miss team coached by Murphy? The Eagles won the game 93-75 as USM began their run to Madison Square Garden with a big win in Hattiesburg. “A few years ago, we were working on a reunion of those of us that played for Coach Ricks,” said Britt. “Katrina Turk was a big part of organizing that and she and I started talking about M.K. and Ed playing each other in 87. She said after the game they went out together and had dinner.” Murphy was known as an interviewer dream for his quick quips and selfdeprecating humor. Despite losing to his old buddy that night, the chances are pretty high Murphy looked at his former roommate Turk and thought — what are the odds? /////
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daytrip MAY/JUNE 20
All in a days trip
Internet exploring while under quarantine Story and Photo By Hunter Cloud
All in a days trip as an Internet explorer A mouse, the radio and a cartoon airplane are all you need for a day trip during quarantine. Children can explore the State of Mississippi and its many cultural and historical landmarks during the stay at home order issued by Tate Reeves while also learning. When schools started closing the Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional library began developing programs to 20 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
help children learn and stay engaged during the COVID-19 Quarantine Children’s Cordinator Pam Whitaker said. There are several interactive programs that can be found on the LLF Blog which was started on March 23. “We started about a month and a half ago, trying to get it up and running,” Whitaker said. “This thing came at us pretty fast so not everything is perfect yet. Everyone has been really committed to doing the best we can.’ Some of the blog posts are centered around the idea of going Stir Crazy and focus on getting kids active, Oh the
places we can go highlight places that people can view online exhibits. The facebook page has also been sharing videos for people to watch as well as other important information about the COVID-19 outbreak. The Library is also taking children to different worlds each weekday at 10:30 am on the radio by reading children’s books on 92.1 FM and 104.3 FM.Whitaker said she can’t wait to get back to work and to get her summer reading program started, but until then her voice will help children discover a place outside of quarantine.
“Books take you to another world, they make it great,” Whitaker said. “These books are fun and are great and they really relate.” Online exhibits and collection databases in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History are ways kids and parents can both explore the history of Mississippi. Every week the MDAH has put out Lunch is History videos on different history projects in the state on their YouTube Channel. Director of MDAH Public Relations Michael Morris said the History is lunch has had to postpone future programs but they will continue to upload programs from the past. “We are still uploading past department programs, including videos of the Medgar Wiley Evers Lecture,” Morris said. “We encourage all to subscribe to the MDAH YouTube channel to see the latest additions.” MDAH Digital Archives have photos and videos documenting the lives of Mississippians from its time as a territory to present day, and the Mississippi Archaeology Trails website has interactive features for those interested in the history of Native Americans who called Mississippi home. At the moment MDAH is working on a new education trunk for the Old Capitol Musuem and new distance learning videos for students. The videos were made possible due to a 2017 National endowment for the Humanities grant. “The videos allow students in the classroom to experience artifacts and exhibits on display in MDAH sites, including the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.” Morris said. Other websites, archives and exhibits provided by MDAH can be found in a press release the department sent out on April 8. Morris encourages anyone looking for a fun way to learn about the history of Mississippi to follow the departments social media. One artist in the State of Mississippi decided to take children on a tour of Mississippi through his drawings which appear in the Mississippi Today and can be printed from their website for kids to color in. So far the cartoons have featured various cities and regions across the State of Mississippi and the various things that make each place special. Marshall Ramsey, an editor-at-large for the Mississippi Today, said that his inspiration for what he draws comes from his travels across Mississippi in the 20-plus years Ramsey has lived in it. “I started out in guy Jackson because that is where I live,” Ramsey said. “Usually what happens is I’m thinking I need to do one today where I have been recently. A lot of them are just places that I have been.” Ramsey has drawn the Elvis Statue, the sign with guitars on it in Clarksdale, the lighthouse in Biloxi and the battlefield in Vicksburg. He said in the past 20 years he has been to nearly every town in Mississippi but he is hoping to spark that same urge to discover, travel and explore Mississippi in kids during the quarantine. “I hope they are like ‘Hey Mom and Dad, let’s go visit one of those places,” Ramsey said. “I want to remind kids that they live in a pretty cool State. There is a lot of cool stuff that they can go see and do here.” In a time in which Mississippi has seen over 2,000 cases of COVID-19 Ramsey said he believes that drawing and coloring can help calm the anxiety that is also going up because of the pandemic. “I hope that these coloring sheets can help bring people a moment of peace and enjoyment during this scary time,” Ramsey said. “I just hope I can give people a bit of calm.” ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 21
book review MAY/JUNE 20
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Paw problems and ox addictions
Two pre-teen books focus on overcoming challenges Reviews By Brett Campbell Art submitted
“An Alaskan grizzly bear survives a tragic accident, leaving him with one limp paw,” reads the summary of “Three Paws,” a large-format children’s book by first-time author Karen Struck. “But despite his physical challenge, his dream of becoming a great salmon catcher spurs him to take personal risks as he befriends an injured billy goat.” Another children’s book released in 2019 focuses on an ox. “In ‘If You Give an Ox an Oxy,’ adolescents follow an ox who goes from taking a few opioids to overusing them, and finally taking
too many.” The book, described as “A Parad(ox)y,” is by Dr. Laura E. Happe, PharmD. The books are both quick, easy reads and colorfully illustrated. “Three Paws” aims to help children think about how to treat others with physical handicaps, and how to act if they are physically handicapped themselves. “If You Give an Ox an Oxy” aims to help pre-teens understand addiction and recovery. Struck is a nurse who wanted her children to understand disabilities and challenges. “After injuring his paw, Boots (the bear) never strays from his desire, his dream, to be a great salmon catcher in Ketchikan,” writes Struck. “He quickly realizes that with his three usable paws, he’ll need to learn new skills to aid him toward his goal, and sets out to do so. And thanks to the help of a new friend, an injured billy goat, Boots soon finds it’s important to rely on others for support — we’re all in this together.” The annual mortality rate for children and teens due to opioids rose 268 percent in the past 20 years, according to XXX study. The same study shows only 16 percent of parents have talked with their children about pain medication abuse. Happy wants to use her simple book to help parents and their children talk about Reviews By Britain Campbell Art submitted
“The Cobbler’s Tale: A Novel” is a story of a Jewish immigrant to the United States in 1910, based somewhat on the life of the author’s grandfather. It’s the freshman offering of Neil Perry Gordon. When I picked up “A Cobbler’s Tale,” I did not read the synopsis before starting so I only knew that this was historical fiction. I’m an 18-year-old girl, and I usually don’t read this genre, but the book was suggested to me, which is why I thought I’d give it a shot. This book makes me want to start giving historical fictions a try again. I do find this time period to be very interesting in general so that’s probably a tiny bit of why I enjoyed it, but the storytelling was very intriguing as well. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated to and would definitely recommend it, even if historical fictions aren’t typically your thing. “The Enchanted Sonata” centers on the character of Clara Stahlbaum — a girl who has her future
the issue and — hopefully — prevent abuse. “As a parent of a tween and teen, my husband and I have purchased several books as support in discussing complex topics with them, from bullying and puberty to internet safety,” Happe writes. “As a pharmacist who was taught in school that opioids are not addictive, I wanted to be part of the solution, and I hope to do so with Ox.” Whereas “Three Paws” aims to start a discussion between parent and child, “Oxy” guides the parent and child through a discussion. In both cases, it may benefit the parent to read the book alone, or with another adult, prior to reading it with their child. Having a good idea of what’s coming in the stories can help prevent frustration in the adult attempting to answer questions. Neither book is intended to be a panacea for the problems faced, however. You won’t find everything you need to know in either, and few parents will be able to answer every question raised by a child while reading them. But a quick online search can help parents find additional resources to aid in discussion and understanding. Each book retails for around $13, and both are available for purchase at major book retailers. /////
perfectly planned: marry the handsome pianist and settle down to a life full of music. But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when she receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker. Author Heather Dixon Wallwork has been a writer for HarperCollins and a story artist for Disney. Although a lot of 18-year-old females enjoy fantasy books, I do not. I wanted to give the book a fair shot though. I really enjoy “The Nutcracker Ballet,” so it wasn’t much of a surprise that the synopsis piqued my interest. I enjoyed the first third of the book, and it got me excited for what the rest had in store, but after that the book slowed down a lot and took me a while to get through. The last five to 10 chapters picked up speed, though, and started to grasp my interest again. In my opinion, this would’ve been better as a short story, and the way it is written makes it seem that it’s for a child, although that child would not be able to read it alone. At the end of it all, I think that if you typically really enjoy fantasies, then you will enjoy this. If not, this is probably not the book for you. /////
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book review MAY/JUNE 20
United States Sen. John F. Kennedy speaks to a crowd in Dallas in 1960 while campaigning for president.
Another look at JFK's assassination
‘Dallas 1963’ delves into how fear took root in city Review By Brett Campbell Art submitted
This year marks 57 years since he was killed, but millions are still interested — some obsessed — with the life, death, facts and mythology surrounding John F. Kennedy. A quick search for his name online provides more than 2.47 million results. But a search for “Who killed John F. Kennedy?” brings more than 16.1 million hits. No matter what answer you personally believe, the authors of the non-fiction work “Dallas 1963” consider
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the impact of a player not typically discussed — not Oswald, not the CIA, not LBJ, not an unknown sniper — but the Texas city itself in which Kennedy was slain. More specifically, the persons and atmosphere in a city unlike any other in the United States or the world at that time. Authors Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis explain: “Dallas 1963 is not meant to address the many conspiracy theories surrounding the murder of President Kennedy. Our aim is to introduce and then connect the outsize characters and the singular climate in a city that many blamed for killing a president.”
Each of the book’s chapters is a month in history, beginning with January 1960 it continues through April, skips to July, then September through November. The following year of 1961 omits only the months of May and August; 1962 skips only August; and the fateful year of 1963 covers each month up until the final chapter — “November 22.” Built on years of research informed by access to thousands of documents, oral histories, police records, eyewitness accounts, dissertations, government files, unreleased photographs and film footage, the book was also submitted to review by several independent readers who worked to “detect and erase unintended suggestions of political bias.” “In the end, Dallas 1963 is an exploration of how fear and unease can take root, how suspicions can emerge in a seemingly orderly universe,” the authors wrote. “How no one — including a doomed president — could have understood the full measure of the swirling forces at work in a place called Dallas.” The prelude begins to set the stage for the book’s narrative with the incredulity of the Soviet Union’s Nikita Khrushchev over the fact that he won’t be allowed to visit Disneyland on his trip to the U.S. — security cannot guarantee his safety. The story then moves to Dallas businessmen and the influential newspaper The Dallas Morning News shaping men’s thoughts over the presidential campaigns of Kennedy and Richard Nixon, as nearly simultaneously a young ex-Marine by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald is welcomed into Russia
Photo by Dennis Darling
From left, co-authors Steven L. Davis and Bill Minutaglio built their book on years of research to create a narrative of the atmosphere of a city they believe contributed to the death of JFK.
as a citizen. Several states and cities in the South, including Dallas, are “still brazenly defying the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board decision, refusing federal orders to integrate schools.’” The world in Dallas is at unrest and tensions are brewing to a certain boiling point. Central characters display in their own actions and words, and those of others, their extreme biases, racism, agendas against Catholicism or Protestantism, regarding Communism and capitalism, fear of the unknown and misunderstood, and an outright refusal to change anything about their own lives and circumstances. The book is not a novelization, but reads as well as any novel. it’s a page turner, full of seemingly unconnected events revealed as linked in the minds of Americans in the early 1960s. Minutaglio and Davis do an excellent job in helping the reader understand what it may have been like to be in the room with key characters at key moments, connecting the dots as one more than half a century into the future can attempt to do. With the aid of several black and
white photos and several pages of source material lists, the reader can link an image to a player in history and have opportunity to follow up with their own research into virtually any of the material presented. The post credits provide brief summaries of what happened next in the lives of several of the “main players” in this historical account. No one who is bored with history or mystery should bother with this book that clocks in at 336 pages in hardcover, prior to appendices. But for those who are intrigued, even enough to pick up the book or to read this far into a review of it, they will not be disappointed. In addition to their other non-fiction books and multiple publishing credits in periodicals and journals, the authors are a Texas State University curator (Davis) and a University of Texas at Austin professor (Minutaglio). Minutaglio is also a former employee of The Dallas Morning News. The book is available at dallas1963book.com and other major book retailers. ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 25
wellness MAY/JUNE 20
Restoring your health Betsy Belk finds peace practicing, teaching yoga Story and Art by Gracie Byrne
We all wear an array of hats, and Betsy Belk is no different. She is many things, but when yoga is concerned, she is a teacher. She didn’t always teach yoga. Belk had always been someone who was physically active, taking kickboxing and spin classes as part of her routine. But her body had changed and needed something different. After the birth of her third child in 2011, she began suffering from back pain 26 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
that prevented her from participating in her normal routine. Belk expressed concern to her mom, and she found herself in a yoga class with her mom in a woman’s home that taught yoga. This changed Belk’s body for the better. Her back pain began to subside and she felt inspired. “It felt like fitness and it helped with my back pain, so I knew it was good,” Belk said.
Belk didn’t know it yet, but yoga was what her mind and body needed. She began practicing yoga and her back pain began to subside. It was a year and a half later when she decided she wanted to do more than simply practice yoga, but teach it too. “I felt like I wasn’t just getting fit, but that I was restoring my health,” Belk said. “I was passionate and I knew I wanted to offer this to the community.”
In order to become a yoga instructor, Belk had to go through a program and be certified. She completed the Holy Yoga program, which focuses on how yoga can bring someone closer to God. “Prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God,” Belk said. Four months after earning her certification, Belk opened her studio. Belk didn’t want to teach in a gym or at a civic center. She wanted yoga to be the focus of wherever she taught. “You don’t ‘do’ or ‘attend’ yoga, you practice it,” Belk said.
Nestled in downtown Brookhaven, Stillwater Yoga Studio exudes a calming atmosphere with its cream-colored walls, rich hardwood floors and natural light pouring in through well-placed skylights. Belk and two others instructors currently teach classes each week. Belk chose the name for her studio based on how yoga makes her feel. She described how yoga brought her to a feeling of stillness, and how it reminds her of Psalm 23:2-3. “Every time I practiced, I felt that I was being led to stillness,” Belk said. “Yoga
just gives you the opportunity to slow down. You intentionally connect with your body.”
“He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” She’s owned her studio for six years now, and has had more than 20 instructors in that time, not to mention the variety of classes that have been taught at Stillwater. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 27
Betsy Belk’s studio exudes feelings of peacefulness for herself and her students. It’s a place to learn and grow for both the beginner and the veteran yogi.
Belk prefers to keep her classes at a dozen or less. For a class, she generally has eight. There are different levels of classes offered at Belk’s studio. For example, one class is “Hot Yoga,” which involves the heat being turned on while the class is going on. “It’s all about growing,” Belk said. “The heat just adds another element.” She has seen students with conditions such as knee pain, back pain and high blood pressure reduce their symptoms to either avoid surgery or no longer require medication. 28 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
“It really is completely different than other fitness options,” Belk said. “It’s very peaceful, very calming.” As of now, Belk teaches two to three classes a week and works full-time in advertisement sales. And with the outbreak of COVID-19, she can’t teach in a normal classroom setting, so she found an alternative. “My students are devastated because of this,” Belk said about not being in the studio due to COVID-19.“It’s completely different.” While other yoga instructors she knows are charging for videos, Belk doesn’t
feel the need to. Belk has begun making free videos for her students to watch on YouTube. It not only gives her students something to look forward to, but to her as well. When asked about the videos, Belk said she wanted to give back. “I just wanted to provide something for people to have during this time,” Belk said. “Incomes are changing right now, and so I just wanted to do something for my students,” Belk said. While she doesn’t necessarily feel comfortable in front of the camera, she
knows it will benefit those at home in quarantine. “I just have to visualize my students,” Belk said. With yoga, she often runs into different stigmas and explained how neither are true. “People always say ‘It’s either for the flexible or that it’s not a challenge,’” Belk said. “Those two are probably the biggest misconceptions.” Belk said she constantly tells people that flexibility isn’t the main focus of yoga. It’s more about seeking to connect the mind with the body and spirit. “A lot can be missed from not listening,” Belk said. “Yoga is more than a physical practice, it can change your life.” Yoga is important to Belk for a number of reasons. She enjoys both the physical and psychological benefits, but she believes that yoga changes people. “It’s not about your background or body type,” Belk said. “Yoga makes people better people,” Belk said. ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 29
home MAY/JUNE 20
Finders Keepers Modern updates highlight a mid-century home’s staying power Story By Kim Henderson Photos By Hannah Henderson
When Michael and Melinda Said moved back to Brookhaven in 1994, they found few available houses on the market. The brick rancher they toured on McNair Avenue wasn’t exactly their dream place, but the nine-foot ceilings sold Melinda. “My furniture would fit,” she recalls. Over the years the Saids’ appreciation for the home’s good 30 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
bones and choice neighborhood grew, even as its metal blinds and pink tile came down. In time, they decided to settle in for the long haul and make it their own. Sort of. “If you grew up here and you’re over 50, it’s the Reel Home,” Michael laughs, referring to the original owners, local dentist Anton Reel and his wife.
They built the structure in 1948, and it still features some of their construction choices – handmade parquet floors, Tennessee fieldstone, and extensive swamp cypress paneling from a Louisiana mill operated by Reel’s family members. The Saids have worked hard to preserve the home’s natural charm even as their every-so-often updates brought it into a new era. A decision early on to use Sherwin Williams’ Accessible Beige paint color has helped maintain a cohesive look throughout the house, while live plants keep it homey and family heirlooms keep it real. As the design eye behind Melinda’s Fabrics/Interiors, Melinda stays up on what’s popular with buyers. When she and Michael install custom window treatments, they often visit homes that are staged to perfection. But by her own admission, Melinda isn’t overly concerned about what’s trending as far as her own furnishings are concerned. “We like what we like,” she says, pointing to the family’s eclectic mixture of mahogany antiques, contemporary lamps, and Oriental rugs. For her, it’s about authenticity. “Too far one way or the other, and the scales are going to tip.” Their dining room reflects that independent streak, with a traditional 8-seat table at its center, topped by an expanse of signed ceiling art. The framed gold-and-red checkerboard design is the work of Madison artist Sarah McTaggart. An unexpected light fixture with bold lines contemporizes the scene. At the heart of the floorplan is a living room with a wide bank of windows and a stone wall surrounding an original fireplace. This is the only area where the dark paneling from 1948 remains. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 31
A pool, fireplace and many other features make the Reel Home feel like a real home for Michael and Melinda Said.
“We didn’t debate changing it in there because we felt like it needed to stay,” Michael explains. “Dr. Reel went to the effort. I’m going to leave him a room. Part of me feels like it’s still his house.” In 2008, the home’s footprint enlarged to nearly 4,000 square feet with the addition of a new west wing master en suite for Melinda’s mother. Michael and Melinda now enjoy the space, with its jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower. Their bedroom features a bay window outlined with elegant geometric print drapes. A tufted headboard, the work of their own hands, provides a backdrop for the Saids’ bed and its layers of fine linens from Melinda’s shop. They include a set of monogrammed shams and a custom duvet. Just off the master bedroom, there’s a 32 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
sitting area complete with a fireplace and cowhide rug where the couple’s son, Austin, likes to hangout. In 2017, the family opted to install a pool in the backyard and enlarge the patio area. Melinda calls it “Mike’s mid-life crisis,” but they couldn’t be happier with the outdoor improvement. “It’s just right for floating,” Michael says. “I love taking care of it.” The Saids describe themselves as yard people. She’s a master gardener, and he delights in watching his sprinkler system in action. Married 35 years, they say one of their biggest disagreements is over hedges. He’s for shaping them, she’s not. “It’s a Northern thing,” she smiles, casting a glance at her transplanted husband.
More recently, the Saids have kept Brookhaven builder Kevin Hux busy with upgrades. His custom bookcases have made the family den Melinda’s favorite room. The shelves offer a view of their lives – gardening books, LSU memorabilia, photos of Austin – while wide windows at the rear of the room offer a view of the pool. Mike says the breezy space has everything they need: “Technology, entertainment, and each other. Plus, we’re allowed to eat in there and make a mess.” Last fall, Hux oversaw a major renovation for the Saids. For 25 years, Melinda had prepared meals in a galley style kitchen. She was ready to bump out some walls and beef up the area.
The couple’s friend, veterinarian Greg Howell, helped them with the new kitchen layout, which is characterized by clean lines and lots of natural light. Michael says the best part is everything has its own place, thanks to lots of pull-out, accessible shelving. “I’m not on my hands and knees getting a pot,” he laughs. Neutral cabinetry and tiling in the kitchen invited Melinda to inject color in other ways. She chose a navy island like she’d seen in a client’s home, and she topped it with white quartz. The four-seat addition is the real star of the renovation and has become command central for the whole family – a gathering place where they can cook together and watch the news while they eat. The room’s unique window architecture also stands out. Melinda decided to showcase the street-side views but maintain privacy by hanging café curtains. She selected a bold floral fabric in navy and cream, accompanied by custom rods. During the demolition work, Michael and Austin made some discoveries inside a wall. Apparently, a construction worker in 1948 left behind a half-smoked cigar and a page from the local phone directory. A few of the hand-written entries on the paper underscore the home’s rich history and how the Saids are now intertwined with it. “That’s back when phone numbers were just four digits,” Melinda explains. “We actually know some of the residents listed.” /////
C A T E R I N G
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photo essay MAY/JUNE 20
Church architecture Brookhaven’s unique houses of worship Photos By Gracie Byrne
No matter your religious affiliation, Brookhaven has an array of churches and places of worship to attend. Those featured are the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, First United Methodist Church, St. Francis of Assisi Church and First Baptist Church.
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Above: xxxxxxxxxxxx
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food MAY/JUNE 20
Mama Ruby's Restaurant Family-owned restaurant has food for the soul Story By Aaron Paden Photos By Gracie Bryne and Donna Campbell
To co-owner Jeff Newton, Mama Ruby’s is a place to bring the people of Brookhaven food for the soul. The idea of his family building their own restaurant specializing in soul food has been stewing in the back of his mind for years. But, with more than 33 years of experience working in the food industry — he was the general manager of Piggly Wiggly on Hwy. 51 for 15 years before its closing and managed a Delchamps store before that — the time was never right. The Pig’s closing has given the Newton family an opportunity to realize that dream. “I came from a cooking family,” Newton said. “I married into a cooking family. I’ve worked around food all these years, so I know good cooks and I know good eating.” Newton runs the restaurant with his wife Valetta Newton and his son Jeffrey. Mama Ruby’s is named after Valetta’s 38 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
Mama’s Ruby is a culmination of everything Jeff Newton has learned about cooking from his family.
late grandmother Ruby Lee Wilcher. Wilcher passed away a few years ago, but Newton said she and his own grandparents imparted a tradition of good southern cooking onto their families. “Cooking is definitely a specialty,” Newton said. “She really loved to cook. My mother and grandmother was the same way. You just can’t beat it. Being down in the south, you just can’t beat home cooking. Nothing compares in my opinion.” The motto of Mama Ruby’s is “Made with love. Food for the soul.” Newton wants to bring people good, home cooking, but he also wants Mama Ruby’s to be convenient.
After Piggly Wiggly closed, Newton brought some of the staff along with him to build his family’s restaurant, and Newton said they have experienced cooks on staff to make southern home cooking available for everybody. “Mama Ruby’s is a restaurant for all,” he said. The most unique thing about us — and I don’t think anybody in the state of Mississippi does this — you can get a hot plate through the drive through also.” According to Newton it’s that convenience — along with a dedication real home cooking made with love — that has been essential for bringing people to the restaurant. And he said Mama Ruby’s so far has been a success. BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 39
Jeff Newton hopes customers find comfort in the Southern cuisine his restaurant serves.
“We’ve got good restaurants here,” Newton said. “But (people) were excited to have something that offers home cooking on a daily basis.” While Newton said there was a fast food menu available every day, most of Mama Ruby’s menu changes from day to day. Some days are specialized for red beans and rice and fried or baked chicken. Some days will have smothered pork chops or smothered chicken. The weekend is set aside for fish and shrimp. “Every day it changes,” Newton said. “We have a lot of good, home-cooked flavors.” The Newton Family began planning Mama Ruby’s opening in earnest late last year. They purchased the building in late December, and it’s taken a lot of long hours and hard work making Mama Ruby’s ready for the public. “We brought this place a mighty long ways,” Newton said. Since opening March 11, Newton said the family has learned that it takes a lot of work to run a restaurant. But to them, it’s all worth it. “It can be very challenging at times,” Newton said. “It can be some long hours. It can be hectic. But when you’ve got a labor of love, you never work a day in your life.” ///// 40 BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE
garden MAY/JUNE 20
Try containers for fresh-grown produce By Gary R. Bachman MSU Extension Service
Containers aren’t just for flowers; they can be used to grow fresh vegetables for aspiring gardeners who don’t have a traditional garden. Container gardening isn’t just for flowers. Many vegetables can be grown in containers, such as these tomatoes in 3-gallon nursery containers. A container is a great way to grow fresh produce in a small space. These mini bok choy are thriving in window boxes. Container gardening is ideal for those with limited yard space or those living in apartments with only a balcony. Many locations in Mississippi, especially along the coast, have soil that is less than ideal for vegetables. Growing them in containers is a great alternative to amending the soil. Growing vegetables in containers also can elevate the garden so those with accessibility challenges can enjoy gardening, too. The ideal container for growing vegetables is limited only by your imagination. Many people use the black containers that other plants come in from the nursery. These vary in size from smaller than a quart to larger than 15 gallons.
Different vegetables need differentsized containers. For example, tomatoes and eggplant perform well in 3- and 5-gallon containers, peppers grow well in 3-gallon pots, and zucchini and squash succeed in 5-gallon containers. Terra cotta pots are great for herbs and are attractive wherever they are placed. Window boxes are a little deeper and are good for growing small head lettuce, mini bok choy, spinach and radishes. Plastic tubs ranging in size from 12 to 25 gallons are good selections for root vegetables, such as potatoes, beets, onions and carrots. Remember that these tubs will last only a couple of seasons because sunlight breaks down the plastic. You can paint the exposed surfaces to extend their lifespan, but be sure to use paint designed to stick to plastic. Self-watering containers are available at local garden centers or from online gardening supply websites. These are especially good for patios and balconies, as they produce less water overflow than traditional containers do. Be sure to check weight limits; this type of container can weigh more than 60 pounds when full of water. Moisture is the most crucial consideration when growing vegetables in containers. Without their roots in the ground, the plants are completely dependent on you for water. You can’t
rely on rainfall. Most container-grown vegetable must be watered daily or even several times a day in the summer. Container growing lends itself to drip irrigation. Off-the-shelf starter kits are available along with additional components to expand the irrigation system. Never use native soil when growing vegetables in containers. Instead, use commercially available potting media or mixes composed of peat moss, bark and forest byproducts. You must maintain an adequate level of fertilization to yield an optimum harvest. Both organic and inorganic options are available, and the horticulture industry offers more fertilizer choices every season. Controlled-release fertilizers release their nutrients over a period of time, typically from three to nine months or more. Water-soluble fertilizer should be applied weekly with a watering can or a hose-end applicator. You get superior results when you use both a controlledrelease fertilizer in the soil and weekly doses of water-soluble fertilizer. If you want your own farm-fresh vegetables but don’t have the space for your own farm, try growing them in containers this year. ///// BROOKHAVEN MAGAZINE 41
voices MAY/JUNE 20
Why I love Brookhaven I think one of the biggest reasons why I love Brookhaven is the hometown reason. I was not born here, but I have always felt as if I was. Growing up knowing everyone around me has always been something that makes Brookhaven home to me. Another huge reason why I love Brookhaven is my church family. Having people that are around the same age as you is just like having more siblings. It is something special when you are surrounded with everyone you know supporting and watching you grow into an adult. The churches around here have such a close community that I love. And all those churches’ youth groups are just a huge family that loves to fellowship together. I have loved watching all of the local churches grow and change as the newer generation has grown up. I have gotten to experience and witness our children’s church at Mt. Zion go from 10 kids to 30 in the past couple of years, which has been unbelievable. Our youth group also is something that has grown so much since I have been in it. There is not a whole lot in this world that can beat an amazing church family or community. The love and support of all the churches is something that you can tell is God’s work in our town.
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Something that you get in a small town like Brookhaven is people who you do not know will walk up to you in WalMart and tell you how good you did in a ball game three years ago. It is really awesome to have those conversations and love from your community. The sports community here is something awesome. When everybody knows everybody, you get to watch so many athletes grow and develop the skills of their sports. I have watched role models that I have known since I was little grow up and become the adults they are today. I love going to the Disciple Now events that we have annually here in Brookhaven. Nothing beats getting to worship and fellowship with my hometown. Brookhaven is a place where you can walk around just about anywhere and see somebody that you saw last week and talk like you have not seen each other in years. Also, I love seeing all the small businesses everywhere around Brookhaven. It is so awesome to watch people achieving their dreams even in such a small place. Brookhaven has such a special place in my heart and a lot of other people’s hearts. But if I could sum up the main reason why I love Brookhaven, it would have to be community. Carson Hughey is a freshman at Loyd Star Attendance Center, where she plays softball and basketball. She is the daughter of Michael and Tonya Hughey. /////
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PARTY And so do our readers.
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