A treasured Mississippi television reporter wed a handsome photojournalist in a dreamy, elegant hometown ceremony. “First Baptist Church of Corinth is my home church,” smiles Courtney Ann Jackson.  “It’s where I always dreamed of walking down the aisle to my husband.”  Jackson did just that.  In a beautifully classic dress fashioned of Dupioni silk and covered buttons, Jackson married Drew Hall in an intimate ceremony.
 
As the newlyweds strolled into their reception, they were stunned by the breathtaking details.  Bouquets of roses, peonies and hydrangeas in soft shades of white and pink were woven throughout, creating a cascading look of movement.  “There is something so special about going home to celebrate your wedding,” reflects Jackson.  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Venue:  First Baptist Church of Corinth
Photography:  Stephanie Rhea Photography
Florals:  Oxford Floral
Event Planner:  Kendall Poole Event Planning
Reception Venue:  The Franklin Courtyard
Lighting:  Davaine Lighting
Rentals:  Pretty Presentations Event Rentals
Cakes:  Carla Beard
Catering & Bar:  Pretty Presentations Catering
Band:  Bamboo Forest Band-RAM Entertainment
Dress:  A Southern Affair
Accessories:  The Bridal Path
Bridesmaid Dresses:  Bella Bridesmaids
Tuxes:  Tuxes Too Formal Wear
Videography:  The Film Poets
Hair & Makeup:  Lynsee Pannell
Transportation:  Crossroads Limousine

“Although this is not always the case, my client and I almost immediately connected and were able to hit the ground running as far as design direction,” reflects SummerHouse interior designer Elish Phares Moon.  “My client loves to make the most of every spot in her home and had decided to turn her attention to her outdoor area.”
 
Lined with potted citrus trees and a cozy dining area, Moon’s client desired a comfortable space to visit with family and relax during football games.  “My client is at once warm, engaging, hilarious and straightforward.  All attributes that translated to the design of her outdoor area!”  Moon chose a crisp white sofa and chairs, upholstered in an outdoor fabric; a firepit doubles as a modern coffee table.  Moon smiles, “My client’s personality shines in the accent pillows made of gorgeous outdoor caramel velvet and a subtle, reversal coral and white animal print.”  The previously dark patio is now bright, warm and comforting, beautifully matching the owners of the home!

“Grandma’s here!” Candace shouted, looking out at the driveway.  My six siblings and I scrambled to find hiding places.  Having been a proud and boisterous elementary teacher with a zero tolerance for nonsense for 42 years, Grandma meant business 24/7.  Instead of hugs and sweets, she brought workbooks, extra pencils and sharpeners, and an armful of fruit for her seven grandchildren.  After calling us out of our hiding places, she sat us at the kitchen table, slammed workbooks down and assigned us pages to finish before dinner.  You see, at the time, Grandma knew something we didn’t.  As African-American inhabitants of the Mississippi Delta, most people had written us off a long time ago to inevitable failure.  With educational disparity apparent in our schools through low national and state rankings, Grandma knew that the curriculum was insufficient for our success.  She had not only instilled in me the importance of education, but a perfectionist attitude, in which anything less than my best was not an option.”
Excerpt from Ericka Wheeler’s Personal Statement as a Rhodes Scholar Finalist
 
Nestled on the outskirts of a sleepy Delta town, a charming home surrounded by wildlife housed a family destined for greatness.  “Our neighbors were white-tailed deer and teeming kudzu,” reflects Ericka Wheeler, Rhodes Scholar from Millsaps College.  “I spent a lot of my time catching frogs, grasshoppers, and riding on dirt roads on the back of a four-wheeler.”  
 
Wheeler’s childhood memories revolve around the outdoors, spending time at her parents’ clinic in Greenwood, bedtime stories with her Grandma, and days in the Greenwood Public School System.   For Wheeler and her six siblings, getting a solid education was vital.  “Even as a little girl, Ericka was always surrounded by books,” reflects her grandmother, Maye D. Martin.  “She always asked me to read to her and she loved to play school.  She had an innate curiosity for learning.”

After spending forty-two years teaching in the public school system, Martin continued educating.  Her new focus was family. Martin watched her grandchildren every Friday, always armed with pencils, paper and a writing starter kit.  “I wanted to teach Ericka and her siblings about phonics, how to read and write.  I taught them to use adjectives, adverbs, similes and metaphors in their sentences, because it made their writing come alive!”
 
Wheeler attended first grade at Davis Elementary School in Greenwood, and her reading skills stunned the faculty.  Martin laughs, “She was reading to her class and her teacher was astonished and thought, ‘How is she reading?’ The teacher left the room in a hurry, grabbed another teacher and they both returned to listen to Ericka read.”
 
Wheeler continued to impress. With a hint of perfectionism and a drive to succeed, she soared through school with high marks.  “When I was applying to colleges, I had two sisters who were attending Millsaps College and they told me how much they loved it.  I knew I wanted to attend a smaller college and I spent the summer after high school graduation studying Chemistry there and the people were always so friendly.”  Wheeler smiles, “So, I decided to stay.”
 
Millsaps only fueled her love of learning.  With a goal of attending Medical School, Wheeler initially intended to major in Chemistry, but she had a change of heart.  “During my freshman year while taking required core classes, my history and literature books were speaking to me in ways that challenged me to re-think my own identity and the world around me. I decided it would be more beneficial and fun to explore this more during my undergraduate years and enjoy deeper science lessons later in medical school.”  Martin was surely beaming with pride.
 
During her junior year, Millsaps history professor Dr. Robert McElvaine approached Wheeler about applying for the Rhodes Scholarship.  Wheeler admits, “The toughest part was writing my personal statement.”  Her writing struck a chord, and was inspired by her greatest mentor, her Grandma. 
 
Wheeler became a Rhodes Scholar Finalist.  Joined by her mother and Martin, Wheeler traveled to Alabama for her final interviews.  After three hours of debating, the scholarship recipients were announced.  “My name was called and I remember my eyes tearing up in shock.  It would take weeks for it to sink in,” she smiles.  Wheeler became the first African-American woman to be awarded the coveted Rhodes Scholarship in Mississippi.
 
Even Martin was recognized.  “One of the judges came out and said, ‘Ericka, I want to meet your grandmother.’ He introduced himself and said he had read her personal statement about me.  I was so proud.  When Ericka learned how to read, I taught her how to write,” she says.
 
Wheeler is currently studying in Oxford, England, and will attend the distinguished Mayo Medical School upon her return.  “I am honored to serve as a role model for Mississippi girls and I hope to inspire them to push beyond the scope of what they’re used to thinking is possible,” she says. 

For 10 years, The Mississippi Story has been a part of the Mississippi Museum of Art. Beginning on August 21, 2017, 8,500 square feet of gallery space – currently containing the ongoing, free exhibition titled The Mississippi Story – will be transformed to make room for Picturing Mississippi, 1817-2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise, the largest art exhibition about Mississippi identity ever conceived, which in its totality will cover more than 16,000 square feet of gallery space. Picturing Mississippi will be an unprecedented bicentennial exhibition exploring two centuries of Mississippi statehood.

The Mississippi Story was curated by art historian Patti Carr Black and installed in 2007 in conjunction with the opening of the Museum’s modern building. A quote by Eudora Welty contextualized this thematic exploration of Mississippi art: “It seems to me that the art that speaks most clearly, explicitly, directly and passionately from its place of origin will remain the longest understood,” Welty wrote.

“The Mississippi Story was created to evoke a sense of place and to explore what it means to be immersed in Mississippi. It has served visitors spectacularly, a tribute to the vision of curator and Mississippi treasure Patti Carr Black.” said Betsy Bradley, Director of the Mississippi Museum of Art. “In the decade since we opened that exhibition, the Museum and the community have continued to evolve and grow. When we de-install the galleries of The Mississippi Story this summer and fall, it will not be a conclusion, but a continuation. We will immediately begin installing Picturing Mississippi, an unprecedented exploration of Mississippi identity through visual art, opening December 9, 2017. Meanwhile, we will be inviting public dialogue on multiple fronts about what stories, technologies, and experiences will compose the reimagined and expanded Mississippi Story exhibition of the future.”

Leading up to, and during, the de-installation process, the Museum will offer engagement activities and programming. Visitors can participate in self-guided tour of The Mississippi Story through Sunday, August 20. On August 11 and 18, visitors can enjoy “Off-Record Gallery Talks,” behind the scenes talks with longtime Museum staff. During the August 17 Museum After Hours, the public is invited to a farewell evening tour. From August 22-25, stop in for The Mississippi Story Unframed, a first-hand glimpse into the process of de-installation. After the de-installation is complete, visitors can view One Wall: Feature from the Permanent Collection, from August 22–September 4, where one artwork from the permanent collection is displayed, rotating every two weeks.

The majority of the approximately two hundred objects currently on view in The Mississippi Story will return to the Museum’s vault during the run of Picturing Mississippi. In the Fall of 2018, following the bicentennial exhibition, the Museum will install a reimagining of The Mississippi Story complete with new stories and voices, new acquisitions, new technologies, and fresh perspective – driven by public dialogue, visitor input, and emerging contemporary narratives.

To learn more about the Mississippi Museum of Art, participate in farewell programs, follow the progress behind-the-scenes, and share feedback as part of “The Story Continues…” campaign, click here.
 

When she couldn’t find the lounge furniture she had in mind for her wedding day, Mary Fran Mason knew she had to do something about that.  “Planning the wedding, we couldn’t find the lounge furniture we had envisioned in our minds. That’s when, PARLOURS was created!  Why not purchase the furniture we wanted and start an online company to provide the ‘perfect solution for every type of rental need,’” says Mary Fran.  Her dilemma has blossomed into a booming business and PARLOURS is ready to provide customers with the perfect solution for every type of rental need from weddings, corporate events, parties, and even stage a home for sale.

Mary Fran Mason, the daughter that is part of the dynamic mother/daughter team, shares more with us about PARLOURS!

What is PARLOURS and when did you open?
“Whether you’re a bride with a wedding in need of beautiful décor, a business looking to jazz up an event space, or a realtor in search of the perfect staging to sell a home, PARLOURS Rentals is the go-to source for furniture and decor rental and staging.  Our online presence began in January of 2017.”

Tell us about your background and your mom’s background.  Have you always been interested in retail/owning your own business?
“We are a mother/daughter duo…Christi, has specialized in commercial real estate sales, leasing, and property management since 1990.  I graduated from Mississippi State University with degrees in fashion merchandising, business & marketing and ended up becoming a Sales Rep and became engaged!  We both have always worked in the fashion side of retail but we always have envisioned owning our own store one day just have never gotten around to it until my wedding in October.  It came to life when we realized the need for rental furniture for weddings, events, as well as home staging.”

What does PARLOURS offer to their clients/customers?
“PARLOURS is a marketing tool that helps turn your event planning and or listing into a ‘product’ that completes & outshines the other comparable ‘products’ on the market.  It appeals to the greatest number of event planners and or listing agents. PARLOURS has a competitive edge for our market, it’s a win-win for you and your client.”

Describe your style in one sentence or less.
“Our style is classic and elegant; yet timely and refreshing.”

What sets PARLOURS apart from other stores that do similar business?
“Again; PARLOURS has a competitive edge, we focus on small details as well as go over and beyond to make sure our clients are satisfied…when staging a home, we add fresh flowers, candles, lemon water in our beautiful antiqued gold dispenser, we look at the over picture!  AS for weddings, we stay competitive with other rental companies…we want to ensure we can give our brides the best experience!  We are grateful for the event planners and realtors that support us so that PARLOURS will continue to raise the bar on our wedding events and staging!”

Are there any memorable experiences you have had since you opened you might want to share with our readers?
“We have definitely had a couple of memorable experiences with a wedding as well as staging a home.  A wedding at Providence Hill Farm was magical!  Anyone could vision the months of preparation in planning a special day for the bride.  It was nice to sit back and watch as the guests arrived and as they were gazing around they were making comments in amazement of how PARLOURS turned the barn into such an elegant fairytale.  Home staging…WOW so many funny experiences!  My brother (and Christi’s son), Forest, helps us pack up when homes have sold, move furniture, etc.  We had asked him to carry a HUGE Parisian rug into a Reunion home we had staged upstairs.  He had gotten all the way up the stairs and after lots of laughter and Forest not being too happy with us, we had changed our minds and it needed to come back downstairs.  He was not happy with us, but it was a hilarious sight to see. I don’t think he will be carrying anymore rugs for us anytime soon.”

Any advice you would like to offer to our readers about staging or renting furniture?
“Some good advice for a Seller or Realtor…Investment in staging is always less than the first price reduction.  We hope to storefront retail soon so our clients will be able to view our inventory and introduce a couple of lines we have picked up over the last few months.”

For more information on PARLOURS, click here.  You can also view their work on their Facebook page here and Instagram account here.