When people hear the word “aging,” they often think of retirement homes, health concerns, or the inevitable passage of time. Before becoming a Journalists in Aging Fellow with the Gerontological Society of America, I might have thought of some of those things, too.
It has been three years since Taylor Goode has spoken to his mother — three years since she’s heard the sound of his voice. And sometimes she cannot bear to look at photos of her children when they were young and thriving.
“I usually get upset, so I don’t get them out a lot,” she said. “I miss it and want it back for them so bad.”
But Jennifer Potts is thankful that both of her boys are still alive and with her. “I know things can get worse,” she said. “These two kids have every right to be whiny, complaining and ill, but they are never down. So I try to stay positive and in a good mood, because they are.
There’s something magical about a holiday craft fair — the twinkling lights, the scent of cinnamon in the air, and the creative buzz of people showcasing their handmade treasures.
I recently visited one in Oxford, Mississippi, held at the gorgeous event space The Jefferson, where artisans from across the state gathered to show off their wares. Picture tables filled with everything from whimsical paintings to glimmering ornaments and hand-crafted jewelry — it was a festive wonderland of creativity.
University of Mississippi students are being challenged to delve deeper into complex issues about the university and state, thanks to a special honors class designed to explore important topics 60 years after James Meredith’s enrollment as UM’s first Black student.
“I would describe this class as an open dialogue about the past, present and future of both the university and the state as a whole,” said McKenzie Cox, a journalism and political science double-major from Concord, North Carolina, who is planning to pursue a career in broadcast news reporting and policy analysis.
The recent passing of Mississippi treasure Lee McCarty stirred up memories of one unforgettable day I spent in Merigold several years ago — a day that felt like stepping into a living piece of art history.
Five years ago, I found myself on a Delta road trip that led me to the doorstep of McCartys Pottery, the legendary studio Lee and his late wife, Pup, built from the ground up in the tiny town of Merigold. If you’ve never been, let me offer this heartfelt advice: add it to your bucket list. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
One of the many reasons I love the South — especially Mississippi — is that good old-fashioned values like common sense, hard work, and honesty still hold strong. It’s not just talk down here. You see it in action, in small but powerful ways.
Take, for instance, this little vegetable stand just down the road from where I live.
There’s something deeply comforting about dining in a place that feels like it belongs to another time — where the walls tell stories and the food tastes like it came straight out of Grandma’s kitchen. I’ve always been drawn to restaurants with a little character, charm, and history, and two of my favorites are Taylor Grocery and Gibbes Old Country Store in Learned, Mississippi.
If you’ve never been to Gibbes, it’s the kind of place that reminds you why people fall in love with the South. Think old hardwood floors, mismatched tables and chairs, antique signs on the walls, and the kind of genuine Southern hospitality that makes you feel like family the moment you walk in.
The hunter spent his spare time chasing deer in Mississippi when he wasn’t chasing fires. Starkville firefighter Rob Robinson, 44, had been stalking bucks in his home state for years, but when he learned that Kansas, the state where his sister resided, was one of the best places to turkey hunt, Robinson made several trips there throughout the years until he scored a record-breaking kill in 2007 that ranked seventh in the world.
Motivated by success, Robinson decided to go for the “Grand Slam of Turkeys” in 2008, and wandered upon 1,600 acres of farmland owned by Gillan Alexander in Nicodemus, Kansas. He had no idea that when he knocked on Alexander’s door, he would eventually save his life. The chance meeting later led Robinson to donate a kidney to Alexander.
When Tom Rice was in the fourth grade, he stood in front of his class and boldly announced what he wanted to be when he grew up: a film director.
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Rice always leaned toward the creative. But in a school culture focused heavily on sports, that wasn’t always easy.
There were two reasons I couldn’t wait to see “The Bling Ring” this weekend. First, it stars Mississippi native Israel Broussard, who plays one of the infamous teen burglars who broke into celebrity homes and stole high-end designer clothes, jewelry and accessories.
I had the chance to interview Israel by phone last week, and he struck me as a polite, thoughtful young man with a bright future. After all, landing your first major role in a Sofia Coppola film? That’s no small feat.
With the “Mad Men season finale airing tonight, I was surprised to discover a Mississippi connection: Kit Williamson, a Jackson native and former St. Andrew’s student, landed a role this season as ad exec Ed Gifford.
I caught up with Williamson by phone last week. While our story ran in Saturday’s paper, much of it had to be trimmed — so here’s the full scoop.
If you’re headed to the movies this weekend, check out “The Bling Ring” — not just for the buzz, but for Mississippi’s own Israel Broussard, who stars as Marc in his first major film role.
Directed by Sofia Coppola and inspired by a “Vanity Fair” article, “The Bling Ring” tells the true story of a group of L.A. teens who stole millions in designer goods from celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Broussard plays a shy, insecure teen lured into the group’s glamorized crimes.
Well, today is the third of June — cue the cicadas, pour some sweet tea, and brace yourself for a wave of Southern melancholy. Because down here in Mississippi, we all know what happened on this date.
It’s the day poor Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge.
Last week, I stumbled upon a one-of-a-kind Mississippi dining experience, and it inspired me to start something new: a video blog series called “Mississippi Style On the Road.” Whenever I’m out exploring the state and come across something special — whether it’s food, culture, or just good old-fashioned charm — I’ll try to capture it and share it with you. (Check out the first video above!)
Now, let me confess something. At least once a week, I find myself at Cracker Barrel. Like most Southerners, I’ve grown fond of the familiar old-country-store aesthetic, complete with rocking chairs, checkerboards, and shelves of candy sticks and vintage signs.
‘Early in his life, William Faulkner experienced a moment of clarity that would shape his legacy as one of America’s greatest writers. “I discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about,” he said, “and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it.”
This quote, shared on the website Open Culture, beautifully captures Faulkner’s lifelong devotion to his Mississippi roots — a devotion that fueled the creation of Yoknapatawpha County and a literary universe unlike any other.
As I was browsing the aisles, something caught my eye — a hand-stitched piece of art in the shape of Mississippi. Since I collect all things Mississippi-shaped, I knew I had to rescue it from thrift store obscurity. Even better? It was only $1.
As I was browsing the aisles, something caught my eye — a hand-stitched piece of art in the shape of Mississippi. Since I collect all things Mississippi-shaped, I knew I had to rescue it from thrift store obscurity. Even better? It was only $1.
Before she was a crime-solving DNA expert on “CSI: NY” or winning Emmys for “Sisters,” Sela Ward was just a barefoot kid growing up in a quiet Meridian, Mississippi neighborhood — riding bikes, swimming in lakes, and sneaking into caves with friends for pretend séances.
These days, she still returns home — not just for family, but for a cause close to her heart: Hope Village for Children, the residential care facility she founded in 2002 for Mississippi kids in the foster system who need a safe place to land.
If you’re scrolling through Netflix and stumble across a gritty horror movie called “Rites of Spring,” don’t skip it just yet — especially if you’re from Mississippi. Behind the eerie farmhouse, creepy kidnap plot, and the tagline “Fear Has a Season,” is a film with deep Magnolia State roots.
That’s right — “Rites of Spring” was filmed entirely in the Jackson metro area back in 2010. You’ll catch glimpses of Canton and Jackson locations (some hauntingly beautiful Mississippi farmland), and even a few familiar names if you stick around for the credits.
So, what happens when one of the world’s most polarizing reality stars drops into Mississippi for a perfume signing? Answer: You get flashing lights, flashing phones, and a whole lot of sparkly outfits.
Northpark Mall in Ridgeland rolled out the red carpet — plus an ambulance, fire truck, and multiple police cruisers — for Kim Kardashian’s appearance at Belk to promote her perfume, True Reflection. Fans who shelled out $95 for the fragrance got the chance to meet the star between 6 and 8 p.m., and let’s just say the turnout didn’t disappoint.
Kevin Saul was just 7 when government agents showed up at his Lamar County home and evacuated his family three miles away. Why? To protect them from an underground nuclear test — a blast so strong, it buckled the ground beneath their feet.
“It felt like an earthquake,” Saul recalled. “It knocked you off balance.”
In his latest album “Blackberry Light,” Mississippi native Charlie Mars captures the feeling of being torn between adventure and home. In the title track, he sings about wanting to move on one minute — and move back the next.
For Mars, “home” is Oxford, where he’s lived (aside from a few years in NYC) since 2000. “I’ve got my go-to coffee shop, the Square, and it just feels like where I belong,” he said while on tour. “Oxford’s been a kind of sanctuary — a good place to land after being on the road.”
Hazlehurst resident Charles Jenkins, 63, began “mud painting” after a tour of plantations in St. Francisville, Louisiana.
He found shades of green in Columbia’s Red Bluff and reds in Copiah County creeks.
It’s not easy being green — but it’s very easy being a Kermit the Frog fan, especially this week as the new “Muppets” movie hits theaters. With that in mind, I thought it was the perfect time to celebrate the world’s most lovable amphibian by showing off a few of my favorite Kermit finds — and sharing why this little green guy holds such a special place in my heart.
Like many of you, I grew up in the golden age of “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street” — the 1970s and ’80s, when television was a little quirkier, a little fuzzier, and a whole lot more musical. Kermit wasn’t just a puppet. He was a philosopher. A dreamer. The gentle soul trying to hold everything together while Gonzo launched himself from cannons and Miss Piggy karate-chopped her way through love and drama.
On cold mornings, Mr. Henry would come to work early and crank all the vehicles so they would be warm inside when the other bus drivers arrived.
He kept a list of all the children on his bus route, recording their names, addresses and birthdays so he and his wife could send them birthday cards and small surprises throughout the years.
In Mississippi, the weather has more mood swings than a soap opera villain. One day, it’s warm and sunny with birds chirping and neighbors mowing their lawns in shorts and flip-flops. The next? You’re wrapped in an electric blanket, sipping hot cocoa while watching snow flurries dance outside your window — in February. Or April. Or literally whenever the state decides to throw a seasonal tantrum.
This climate confusion has had me pondering one particular flower for a couple of years now: the pansy. Yes, that sweet little bloom with a face. A face that, if you look closely, kind of seems to judge you as you walk by.
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