Like the wind, passion can be soothing and persuasive - or relentless and destructive.

- Story by James Inabinet
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Wind-prodded bushes vibrated. Marsh grass swayed in gentle waves, prompting each to caress the other. A haze had formed out over the water. A storm brewed. Soon the breeze turned into a gale, no longer from the east but south. I wanted to see it, feel it, and know firsthand the Gift of the Wind.

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On the beach, I faced the wind. It seemed to search for me. Leaning into it, I let it find me, feeling its power on my chest. I fancied that the wind desired that I bend to its will, more seduction than force. I fancied that it was luring me, leading me to believe that I was safe even as it sought weakness.
 
Moving behind a waving rattlebox to partially get out of the wind, I again sought its origin above the frothing waves. The wind embraced me, leaving no part untouched. I listened as the waves tore at my ears. I felt the spray of surf and light rain tingling on bare skin.
 
I turned away from the wind to watch the torment of the marsh grasses. Toyed by the wind, they surrendered fully, swaying rhythmically in waves of power like a field of wheat. I noted the wind’s wave nature as round upon round of pulsing wind raked across the grasses, now gently, now violently. I became mesmerized by the dance of the grass.
 
Awakening as if from a dream, I found myself sitting obliviously in the face of power and beauty in its most elemental form. I remembered having read that it is the predilection of all beings to surrender to power and beauty, to lose themselves in it.

 
I stood to re-gather my wits. I moved around a bit and sat back down. Later, awakening again, I found myself swaying, rocked backed and forth by the wind, not unlike the marsh grass.
 
I moved further back and lay down near an adjacent hammock of trees to watch, listen to, and feel the storm while sheltered a bit from the raw wind. I watched the wind move through the pine tops, its roar of a different quality than on the beach. Unlike grasses, it is not the predilection of trees to surrender completely to the wind. They may move with it, but remain upright. Watching the wind move through the trees I could see it, like fingers searching all possible paths and taking them all. I could see gusts tearing at tree tops as needles and tufts fell all around.
 
I returned to the beach with difficulty. A gale drove a steady, light rain. The waves of wind declared its unique voice, one unlike any other. This is its medicine, its gift, one that can only be known through experience at the height of its power when it cannot be ignored. I witnessed the voice of this wind. With closed eyes, I began to shiver; the raindrops stung. Now I felt the wind waves. Its voice of passion had became corporeal.
 
Even a small breeze exudes an unnoticed passion. Ever around us, the breeze, the wind, is always caressing us, probing us, embracing us. The wind’s passion is the sun’s passion, a product of heat and moving air, a heat that destroys even as it creates. All passion destroys and creates at the same time.
 
The sun’s passion is in the wind, a voice that speaks this passion. The wind probes, the invisible made visible by what it does, not what it is. The wind is a terrible power or a benign influence. As a terrible power, passion drives dictators, violent husbands, and schoolyard bullies. Like the Greek god of death, Thanatos, it can become a source of un-doing.
 
But passion is also a benign influence, an Eros that drives creation, a fire that burns in the heart of artist and innovator, pushing them to create. Like the wind, it pursues them, forcing them out into the world to create. It wells-up; they cannot hide. No innovation or great art has come into being without passion’s drive behind it. There is no rest. Artists who cannot cope are destroyed.
 
Like the wind, a “seeker” uses passion to search for her path, searching everywhere. Upon finally finding it, she walks that path to the end, fully experiencing its brunt, because those are paths that lead to meaning, that lead to a life that is as much a work of art as any painting. A path that requires passion, these are paths that have heart.
 
In the human body the heart is the seat of this passion. Carl Jung declared that such a path must be taken if one wants to live at all:
 
All passion is a challenge to fate ... it is incalculable, immeasurable, full of unknown dangers. The perpetual hesitation ... to launch out into life is readily explained by [a] desire to stand aside so as not to get involved in the dangerous struggle for existence. But anyone who refuses to experience life must stifle his desire to live.

Whether advising her customers on Medicare solutions or caring for at-risk children, Kristine Gurley and her staff are in the business of helping people.

- by Dena Temple

 
She continues, “We’re there for the whole Medicare process. Our goal is to educate and share our knowledge with our clients.”
 
In fact, Gurley penned an article for the Shoofly Magazine last October that included an easy-to-understand introduction to Medicare basics. It covers the different components of Medicare coverage, when to enroll, and how. Click here for a great read.

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Originally from Alton, Illinois (near St. Louis), Ms. Gurley attended Lewis & Clark Community College before moving to Diamondhead in 1997. Her decision to get into the insurance field was a matter of practicality. “In 2004 I was newly single with children, and I needed a career that allowed me time to be a mom. Insurance allowed me that freedom.”
 
As important to Gurley as her work with seniors is her work with children. “As a former teacher and foster parent, children’s welfare is very important to me.” Gurley & Associates sponsors CASA, also Hope Haven Children’s Advocacy Center. “We sponsored the first annual Hope Haven poker run this past summer, which was a lot of fun,” she says. “We also sponsor monthly potlucks at the Senior Center of South Pearl River County, and we provide food and decorations for dances there as well.”
 

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In 2019 Gurley served as an ambassador with both the Picayune and the Hancock Chambers of Commerce – reinforcing her commitment to our business community.
 

 
Kristine Gurley and her husband of 14 years, Steve, still love the Coastal lifestyle. “Now that my children are grown I don’t get to spend much time with them anymore, but Steve and I enjoy getting out and taking advantage of everything life on the Gulf Coast has to offer.”
 
Gurley & Associates
10381 Hwy 603, Suite C
Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520
228- 344-3126

This month, our D-I-Y diva helps a friend brighten up a bathroom with the addition of a super-simple hanging rack.

- Story and photos by Holly Lemoine-Raymond

• Drill with proper bits
• Screws to secure the wall hanger to the wall and hooks to the wood
• Hooks of your choice
• Wood pencil
• Tape measure
  (Remember, measure twice, cut once!)
• Screwdriver
• Sanding block

Step 1: Find the wood

Find the piece of wood you want to use. I started with two fence boards and chose the better of the two. The old fence board will give it the rustic look I really like and it’s FREE. Make sure you wipe the wood down with a damp rag. The piece(s) of wood I used were really dirty! If you are going to hang your towels or bathrobe on the hook, you’ll want to be sure to clean that wood really well! I mean, who wants dirty wood on their clean white, terrycloth robe?

Step 2: Cut the wood
 
Measure and cut your wood to size, remembering my DIY mantra:  Measure twice, cut once. The one I made is 1” x 6” and 24 inches long. When you cut your fence or deck board, make sure to cut the ends off flush – no dog ears allowed!
 

 
Step 3: Sanding and (optional) staining the wood
 
I did sand but did not stain my wood. If I were to stain the wood, I would use an Espresso stain. That’s my go-to stain color. I love the rich color it gives the wood. It’s usually a good complement to earth tones or soft gray. If staining, give it a few hours to dry. Drying time depends on the air temperature and humidity. A good test to see if it is dry is to touch the wood. If it feels tacky, let it sit a little longer, otherwise, you are ready for Step 4!

Step 4: Mount the hooks
 
To mount your hooks, you will want to measure to ensure they are evenly spaced. No one likes an unevenly spaced hook! I started one inch from the edge, spaced 5 inches apart, and had room for four (4) hooks.
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Step 5: Mount the wood to the wall
 
Once you’ve mounted your hooks, decide on your wall hanger’s location and fasten it to the wall.  Use a stud finder first to make sure you’ll be fastening it into solid wood to support the weight of the hanger.

 
Now that your wall hanger is mounted, it’s ready to use. Hang up a towel, your coat, or even a mug depending on the location. Super easy and inexpensive!
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A sure sign of spring in Bay St. Louis is the annual Arts Alive festival, getting bigger and better every year. Here's a preview.

- Story by Steve Barney, photos by Ellis Anderson

In 2019, Arts Alive expanded to two days and was a huge success for local merchants and exhibiting artists, attracting thousands of visitors from across the Southeast. The festival received extensive national media coverage in USA Today, Yahoo! News and other news sources, citing Arts Alive and Bay St. Louis as “the best hidden gem destination in Mississippi.”
 

 
Janice Guido, owner of Bay Life Gifts and Hancock Chamber Board tourism liaison, stated, “Arts Alive has become one of the most important and profitable events of the year for retail shops and restaurants in Old Town Bay St. Louis – even better than Cruisin’ the Coast.“ Guido adds, “Many visitors are so captivated by Bay St. Louis that they choose to relocate here.”
 
Festival-goers aren’t the only ones to take notice. Arts Alive is gaining a national reputation among exhibitors, and artists from as far away as Maryland, Florida and Texas are signing up to make Bay St. Louis a stop on their spring tours of the best art shows in the Southeast.
 

 
New artists’ applications are coming in daily, with many local artists returning from last year exhibiting and demonstrating work in every medium and genre imaginable, filling the streets of Old Town BSL. (Click here to register for an artist booth.)

The 2020 festival continues to grow and evolve, with a slate of new activities and events:

• Through a partnership with the Main Street United Methodist Church, many new activities will be hosted on the church’s property.
• Join Captain Longbeard and Lady Claiborne from BSL’s own Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse for some mini-golf and pirate-themed crafts.
• Look for live demonstrations of popular dishes by local celebrity chefs.
• Instagram phenoms The Traveler Broads will be back with their whimsical artist awards. 

• Make sure to bring your lawn chair to the Shoofly Magazine Community Stage and sing along with local favorites Kelsey Moran, Hadley Hill, the Electric Sheep, Hattiesburg based artist and singer-songwriter Thomas Jackson and others. On Sunday, you never know who might show up for the Open Mic session; last year, Delta Blues icon Lucious Spiller captivated the crowd.

• An expanded Makerspace is geared toward the next generation of artists, with activities designed to integrate Art into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), creating STEAM. Youths are invited to try their hands at throwing a pot on the wheel, programming a 3D printer, making a drum, learning about organic gardening and participating in hands-on art activities hosted by local organizations.
• Bring a blank T-shirt or other fabric to screen print your own Arts Alive t-shirt or banner on our four-screen press. 

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• At Ruth’s Roots community garden, help paint more public trash receptacles for the beachfront and throw some tags on the graffiti wall, try a yoga/meditation workshop and help paint rocks for the pathway.
• Join in a live painting throw-down with the Coast’s best: Lucinda L’Enfant, Micky Arnold, Andrew Switzer, Greg Noll and Scheronne Herrington.

 

 
Look for more detailed information and festival schedule in the Shoofly Magazine in March. For more information on sponsorship, volunteering and general festival information visit www.hancockarts.org.

Sycamore Street, formerly home to several popular juke joints, used to hum with music and good times.  Take a spin around the dance floor in this look back in time. ​

- Story by Rachel Dangermond

The juke joints began opening in the late 1930s and early ’40s against a backdrop of segregation and Jim Crow laws. For African-Americans, there were no public spaces other than church to socialize and celebrate, except the ones they created. ​

Here in Bay Saint Louis there were dozens of these bars, but at the top of everyone’s list was the Krack Bar & Lounge, owned and operated by Floyd Moseley, Sr. and his family for an extended period of time. 

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​Claudette Henley remembers that her grandmother owned the property and her dad turned it into a bar a few years after marrying her mother (1935). Her younger brother, Floyd “Martin” Moseley, Jr., worked alongside his father. 
 
“My dad couldn’t read or write, but he could count money,” said Martin. 
 
The building was one large room, and it had a small crack where you could see inside, hence the name. Over time, the Krack grew to have a restaurant on one side and a pool hall on the other. 

In the black community, the Krack was the place where you started and where you ended.

​“The Krack never closed,” said Golden Fairconnetue, whose mother ran a restaurant on Sycamore Street . “No matter where you went, you always wound up back at the Krack.” 
 
According to Calvin Smith, whose grandfather Oswald Gilbert took over after Floyd retired, the Krack was known far and wide and frequented by many people from New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. 
 
“It had an aura that attracted many customers who liked the atmosphere. Good music, good food and beer by the barrel flowed from behind the bar there,” said Smith. 

​Blanche Godfrey operated the restaurant and served memorable hamburgers and fries to adults and kids. Oswald Gilbert ran the bar until his death in 1957, and then his son, Anthony, better known as “Gil,” took over. Although Hurricane Camille ravaged the area in 1969, the Krack withstood, and after being patched together with tin, it reopened to a welcoming crowd. The Krack was an ongoing institution until Hurricane Katrina devastated it in 2005. 

The Big 5 Club, at 437 Sycamore Street, opened in the ’50s and was owned for a decade by Nathan “Sweetie” Little with Thomas Lahland. The bartender was James Smith.
 
“James worked for Mr. Mark, a white guy, servicing pool tables, juke music boxes, and vending machines. This gentlemen helped James purchase the building in the 1960s,” said James’s wife, Pinky Lee. 
 
The Big 5 was open seven days a week, and on most weekends didn’t close until way after the sunrise. According to Pinky, James would get a couple hours of sleep and open right back up. The bar sold pig's feet, pig lips and hot links with crackers. The choice of beer was Schlitz, Falstaff and Miller High Life ponies, and Miller Lite. You could always bring in your own half-pint of hard liquor and purchase a setup, which was two Cokes or 7Ups with a bowl of ice.

​Two years after James’s death in 1996, Pinky Lee sold the property to Jordan Bush, who eventually made it a church. 

​Also in the ’50s, Mama Harriet’s Snack and Bar opened at 435 Sycamore Street. Mama Harriet mainly ran a rooming house for men who worked on the railroad. Business was good, so she soon added a bar, restaurant, and sweet shop. Children were not allowed inside but instead went to a window to buy candy, chips, drinks and homemade freeze pops. 
 
After Mama Harriet lost her eyesight, her daughter-in-law, Olivia, ran the window. When her son, Clarence, and Olivia both passed away, Clarence’s daughter, Ann Evans, came home from New York and renamed it Tavern on the Green, which was short lived due to her health. The place sat abandoned until Hurricane Katrina destroyed it. 

​Social life flourished along Sycamore Street and the surrounding neighborhood for African-Americans, and many more juke joints opened. The Onion was soon another hotspot in the area. It was owned by Frank Lewis, who operated three clubs: Lewis’s Bar on St. Frances Street in the ’50s, the Big Four in Waveland, and the Onion, which opened in the ’60s. 
 
“My dad really loved his businesses because he wanted to socialize and be among his friends,” say Lewis's daughter, Ollie Mae Lewis. In the ’70s, the Onion changed its name to the Red Machine Lounge, and Ollie and her sister, Rose, took over the management. 
 
These bars provided places for the African-American community to gather, socialize, and enjoy themselves. The businesses also served the black community's need to engage in activities that were otherwise closed off to black people. According to Calvin, the Krack sponsored an adult football team called the Bay Wildcats that played against other black teams from along the coast, New Orleans, and Mobile. 
 
“Patrons flocked to the bars before and after the basketball and football games. Football was played on the St. Stanislaus athletic field and basketball at the St. Rose de Lima gymnasium (aka the 'Cracker Box').” The Big 5 sponsored a baseball team and the Onion sponsored the Red Machine, a softball team. 

​On the corner of St. Francis and Sycamore Streets sat the Connection, a home turned into a bar by Willie C. Acker (aka "the Poor Slave"). Willie was a schoolteacher, and his wife, Eartha, ran the club. Willie wanted a place where people could meet and connect by having a cold beer, listening to good music, and enjoying friendship. On any given Saturday at the Connection, you could throw a game of horse shoes and have a plate of good, fresh fish straight off the grill. 

​Nearby on Sycamore, Daisy Bell bought the former Sam Compretto’s grocery store with the dream of opening a restaurant and bar, which she intended to call Bell’s Restaurant and Lounge. Her children were going to run the business, but her son, Sullivan, took a job with MAPP Head Start and soon became the regional director in Picayune. Her other son, Sterling, pursued his own dream to be an electrician at Ingalls Shipyard, where he became electrical supervisor, so her daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Bobby McGown, took over, and the name became Bobby’s Lounge instead. 
 
Bobby’s favorite line was, “Juke right now only if you are ready,” which earned him the nickname “Juke.” Bobby’s Lounge became the club of the ’80s, where young people felt right at home. The beers of choice were Miller Ponies, Miller lite, Bud and Bud Lite, Heineken and Corona. A host of birthday parties were held there, as was a big New Year’s Eve party every year. The club was later renamed M.C.M. (Making Cash Money). 

In the early ’60s, Harry Leroy Lyons (aka "the Greedy Man") turned the old Ice House, at 308 Blaize Avenue, into a bar by the same name. His idea was to have a good time with drinking, dancing and some gambling in the back.

​His customers favored Jax, Dixie, Schlitz and Falstaff beers, along with some homemade moonshine. There was a jukebox where for 25 cents you could play three songs. They would listen to music by Al Green, Otis Redding, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Ray Charles, Diana Ross and so many other legends of the era. 
 
“If only the walls could talk, they would have a lot to say,” his daughter, Dianne Lyons, said. The adult bar was upstairs and there was a teen center on the bottom floor where teenagers could hang out in an ice cream shop under adult supervision. 
 
In 1969, Hurricane Camille devastated the area and destroyed the Ice House. In 1990, The Greedy Man wanted to get back to his passion of music and dancing, so he asked his daughter, Janet Lyons Coe, to help him finance a new business. Janet enlisted her sisters Dianne, Sandra and Connie, and the Lyons Den was created as a family affair. 
 
Each month the Lyons Den hosted fashion shows, car shows, talent shows, horseshoe tournaments, pool tournaments, shrimp and crawfish boils, swing out dance contests, battles of the DJs, and even costume parties and birthday parties. 
 
“We weren’t on Sycamore Street like the other clubs, so we had to be creative,” Dianne said. “Every weekend we had a DJ to keep the music fresh. We had William (Joe Willie) Washington, Damien Maurice, Alton Benoit Jr., Dennis Favre and me (DJ Melo-D).” 
 
The Lyons Den was a roaring success, according to Sandra and Dianne, but after awhile the business took its toll on everybody because all of the sisters had day jobs, too. 

The juke joints no longer exist on Sycamore Street and the surrounding area. They provided a sense of belonging for the Black community - places where there was freedom to listen to music created by Black musicians, to dance without judgment, and to engage in social activities that strengthened the ties to the community. These places provided a welcoming atmosphere not tainted by racism. 
 
The word juke traces its roots to an African word “jook,” which means disorderly or wicked conduct. In the Bay Saint Louis juke joints, there was a freedom to do as one pleased which provided a tremendous release from the Jim Crow blues. 

An incomplete list of Bay St. Louis juke joints:
The Krack – (1940s) Sycamore Street, first lot on right after railroad track
The Big 5 – (’40s) 437 Sycamore Street
The Breeze Inn – (’50s) 309 Keller Street
Lewis’ Bar – (’50s) St. Francis Street
Mama Harriett’s Snack & Bar – (’50s) 435 Sycamore Street
The Onion – (’60s) Sycamore Street
Sister & Verna’s Place (’60s) – The Bottom
The Hideaway – (’60s) 524 Main Street
Ice House Bar – (’60s) 308 Blaize Avenue
The Connection – (’70s) Corner of St. Francis & Sycamore Street
Bobby’s Lounge – (’80s) Sycamore Street
The Lyon’s Den – (’90s) 211 Central Avenue

​In this series of photo essays, the Shoofly Magazine showcases the work of professional photographers.  Their only instructions?  Show us the coast through your lens.    

Armand Douroux:  I spend as much time outdoors as possible, which is much more frequently now I've retired to Bay St Louis. My love of nature comes from  my childhood memories of exploring the bayous and waterways surrounding my New Orleans home. Revisiting the boyhood bayous and life in ‘da bay’ inspired me to pick up a camera and capture day to day life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

You can see more of my work at Gallery 220 (220 Main Street, Bay St. Louis), please stop in!  Contact me at douroux.armand@gmail.com.

What wonderful memories of my childhood flash back as I watch my granddaughter and her girlfriends play in the tidal pools on low tide.

The ruins on the bay - even now, you can still see the splendor that once was and the power of Hurricane Katina as the sun sets.

The Beauty and the Beast of the sea - as you can see by the fallen tree deposited 150 inshore from the sallow waters edge, where it will lie until another stormy night takes it away.

 Sunset on A BayouByMe, I see them as portals of light.

Blue Heron in the surf, lookin' for dinner in the Pass.

Sunset, Washington Street pier beach, capturing a moment as my canvas changes at the speed of light.

Feeling the memories of what once was.

Sunrise Waveland

Mouth of Jourdan River, where reflections of light close out the day.

Coming home after a day of fishing with a smile on my face.

Our Lady of The Gulf Church - protecting  the shoreline and those at sea.

One of my ByouByMe series - Fire on Da Bayou.

Coastal Bonsai:  this mighty oak shows the signs of time as it has endured centuries of the forces of nature.

Sunrise at the St. Stanaslus pier -  part of the fabric of Bay St. Louis.

Gallery 220 with David Holt, Joe Cushionberry and Lawrence Cotton. Mr. Cushionberry plays every Sunday morning at Mr. B's Bistro in the French Quarter. Mr. Cotton was just given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Preservation Hall Foundation, and is the oldest piano player still performing at Preservation Hall.  Their performance at the gallery made the December Second Saturday Artwalk a memorable one.  

Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier in Bay St. Louis,  looking at the rebirth of downtown.

Natalie Guess is one busy lady, and her dedicated service to making Hancock County a great place to live - and work - makes her a Shoofly Magazine Good Neighbor.

- by Lisa Monti

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Natalie is a Southeastern Louisiana University graduate with a background in business and marketing, which fits perfectly with the organization she leads. The Magnolia Business Alliance is a 501(C)6 not-for-profit corporation that supports the advancement of small and medium businesses in the southeastern U.S.
 
MBA provides mentorship, training, logistics, and other support to facilitate the development of new companies and a better environment for existing companies. MBA also fosters community and national awareness of issues that affect small businesses.

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In October 2018, Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Natalie to the Commission on Marine Resources, representing Hancock County as well as environmental interests and nonprofit organizations. As a commissioner she works with scientists to make educated decisions affecting the state’s marine environment.
 
“The governor asked me to take all the science and make decisions without an outside interest,” she says.
 
With the recent salt water intrusion from the Mississippi River and oil spills in recent years, Natalie says, “It feels like there are so many negative impacts on the Gulf now. If there is anything I can do to keep the Gulf healthy for the future and for my son, I will support those efforts. We want future generations to appreciate the Gulf and be able to enjoy it.”
 
Natalie has been deeply involved with CASA almost from the time she moved here.
 

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“When we moved to Mississippi, I would see in the news about the number of foster care cases in Hancock County but I didn’t see how I could get involved,” she said.
 
CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a national association that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children and eventually gets the children into safe, permanent homes.
 
At the first meeting of the 2014 Class of Leadership Hancock County, Natalie met Cynthia Chauvin, CASA’s local executive director. The two spoke at a break in the meeting, and Cynthia invited Natalie to become a volunteer. Not long afterward she joined the CASA board, and from 2016 to 2018 she was board president.
 ​

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“The people who work for CASA work so hard, day and night, and the advocates are such amazing volunteers, she said. “I would love to be an advocate someday – but for now, this is my way of serving and making sure the employees and advocates get what they need to keep going, to make a positive impact in the community.”
 
Natalie uses her marketing experience to highlight the work CASA does and the sponsors who support it. She recently posted sponsor information on the CASA website, thanking them for their contributions to the annual Krewe of CASA Mardi Gras Gala and arranged publicity for the fundraiser.
 

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Natalie also served on the steering committee of Leadership Hancock County from 2015 to 2017 and was a board member of the Hancock County Tourism Bureau from 2017 to 2019.
 
She’s a member of the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, the Arbor Day Foundation and this year joined the Coast Young Republican Women. She is among the volunteers with the PROP program, which gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience aviation and aircraft at Stennis International Airport.
 
Aside from her job responsibilities and volunteer activities, Natalie is passionate about food. “I’m a big foodie and I love good food,” she says. But once she and her family started backing off eating chicken and red meat, she began researching plant-based eating as a healthy alternative.
 

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“My husband and I enjoy cooking and finding new ways to make plant-based foods,” she says. “I love researching recipes and ideas for cooking with beans, chickpeas and tofu.”
 
Natalie sings the praises of her air fryer to prepare French fries and other foods in a healthier way. “We absolutely love it,” she says. “We use it daily.” The “fried fish” tofu, though, goes into hot peanut oil. Natalie swears you can’t tell the difference from the real thing.
 
Wanting to dig deeper into plant-based options, Natalie completed a yearlong online nutrition program and became a certified health and wellness coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She says she was able to help her first student turn her health “completely around” with a plant-based diet.
 
In everything that she does, Natalie puts her passion to work. As CASA’s Cynthia Chauvin says, “Natalie is an incredible leader, friend and parent. She works tirelessly for the things she cares about, and Hancock County is a better place with her in it.”

In honor of Black History Month, the author looks back at three BSL residents whose character and service helped shape our community.

- Story by ​ Jerry Beaugez
​

Valena Cecilia MacArthur Jones

​Valena Cecilia MacArthur Jones was born in 1872 and began teaching African-American children here in rural south Mississippi in 1890 at the age of 18. She was the principal of the Bay St. Louis Negro School from 1892 to 1897 and was a public school teacher in New Orleans from 1897 to 1901.
 
In 1901, she met and married Reverend Robert E. Jones, who was the resident Bishop for the Methodist Episcopal Church in the New Orleans area. After her marriage Mrs. Jones no longer taught school, but she remained actively involved with the education of African-American youth. In 1917, the year of her death, a public school in New Orleans was named and dedicated to Jones.
​

​ 
Here in Bay St. Louis, the Valena C. Jones United Methodist Church can be found on Sycamore Street. The Valena C. Jones School was established in the early 1900s honoring her work and dedication. The original school was destroyed during the Hurricane of 1947 but was rebuilt and became a hub for the black community. The school, located at 310 Old Spanish Trail, remained in operation until 1972 after the desegregation of schools in 1969 began to bring students of all races together.
 

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From 1972 until 2005, the City of Bay St. Louis used the facility for senior citizen activities, as well as the home of City’s fire, police and public works departments. After receiving damage in 2005 from Hurricane Katrina, city departments were moved, and the Valena C. Jones School gained new life with children filling its halls once again. The multi-million dollar restoration project funded by the Mississippi Development Authority and Community Block Grant funds gave birth to the Boys & Girls Club, which is now housed at this location.
 

Louis J. Piernas

​Louis J. Piernas, a “free man of color,” served Bay St. Louis and Hancock County for many decades. Born in 1856 here in Bay St. Louis, Piernas was educated both locally and in New Orleans before attending Straight University.
 
A forward-thinking and innovative man, Piernas established the first colored Benevolent Association which would provide assistance to its members to pay for doctors and medicine, a small pension when in distress, and to bury the dead. Held in high esteem by whites and people of color alike, Mr. Piernas held several offices during his lifetime. He served on the Bay St. Louis School Board, was secretary and auditor of Bay St. Louis, and was elected as Hancock County Supervisor of Beat 5 - defeating some prominent white candidates of the time. 

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Piernas was appointed Bay St. Louis postmaster, becoming the first black postmaster in the state. He served under the administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. His longest position was that of chairman of the Republican Party of Hancock County which he held for over 60 years.
 
At the time of his death in 1954 at the age of 98, Piernas was the oldest living Bay St. Louis resident. He and his wife, Marie Louise Barabino, did not have children of their own but had many nieces and nephews from the four original Bayou families, the Labat, Prudeaux, Barabino and Piernas families.
 
A street just off of the Old Spanish Trail is named in honor of Piernas and his home, which was built in 1880, is located at the corner of St. John and South Toulme Streets. Mr. Piernas is buried at the Cedar Rest Cemetery.
 

Douglas J. Williams

Douglas J. Williams, an honest and fair man to all, reluctantly accepted a part-time police officer position in 1965 at the urging of then-Bay St. Louis-Mayor John Scafidi. For several years Williams worked the night shift keeping the city protected. That’s where he had an encounter with the new head of the city, Mayor Warren Carver.
 
Mayor Carver would later recount the story of being stopped by Williams for running a stop sign late one night while on his way home. He said he did a “rolling stop,” and Williams pulled him over. After the two spoke, Williams told the mayor he would have to write him a ticket, to which Carver told him to go ahead because he was in the wrong.
 
Carver paid the fine for the ticket and stated, “If Williams was not afraid to give the mayor a ticket, I know he’ll enforce the laws to the best of his ability and won’t give any special favors.”
 

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Williams rose through the ranks and was appointed as assistant chief of police in 1972, and he was named chief of police in 1976 by Mayor Carver and unanimously approved by the City Council. In early 1977 he would be reappointed by Mayor Larry Bennett and hold that position until his retirement due to health issues in 1984.
 
Chief Williams is believed to be one of the earliest African-Americans in Mississippi to rise to the top law enforcement position in a predominantly white community and the first here in Bay St. Louis. He had the respect of young and old, black and white because of his integrity and how he treated others. He said he remembered his mother, Rosine, telling him, “Don’t let nobody be nicer to you than you are to them. Treat people the way you want to be treated.”
 
Although Chief Williams passed away in 1985, his name and legacy live on. In 2009 the city named and dedicated the police department to him and just a few years ago, Sycamore Street where Williams lived and raised his family was given a memorial status.
 
The history of Bay St. Louis is long and deep, with many more people who have made impacts here. As a community, it is our duty to learn from them and preserve their memory. You never know what you’ll find when looking “back in the day” here in the Bay.

More campsites, improved trails and an amphitheater are a few of the improvements slated for this hidden gem.
 
– Story and photos by Dena Temple

 
McLeod Park has long been known as a great campground, and a recent expansion only reinforces that standing. There are 120 cozy RV campsites with sewer, water and electric hookups, with many sites overlooking the serene Jourdan River. Prices are affordable, and reservations can be made through the park’s website. But the park is much more than a campground, with lots of amenities for both campers and day-trippers to enjoy.

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The park is accessed through its entrance of Texas Plank Road. After paying a small access fee at the gate ($4 per carload), you are free to explore. Near the entrance is a large children’s play area and splash pad, where the little ones will be entertained for hours. Older kids will enjoy the 10-hole (par 3) disc golf course, said to be a great course for beginners. Two picnic pavilions are available to rent for family functions or any large group event.

 
With the river as the park’s curvaceous centerpiece, it’s no surprise that boating is among its most popular activities. Two well-maintained boat ramps are free for boaters to use, and trailer parking is provided.
 

 
You don’t own a boat, you say? Canoes are available to rent for either a half-day (4 hours, $15) or all day (8 hours, $25) so you can explore the Jourdan River Blueway Trail, which winds along the river from Bayou Bacon to the west to the Bayou Talla boat launch to the east. It’s one of two Blueway Trails in Hancock County and ten on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 

 
To learn more about Mississippi Gulf Coast Blueways, visit the website for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Natural Heritage Area. This website offers dozens of locations where outdoor enthusiasts can find adventure, culture and fun.
 
Even if you’re not in the mood for a placid paddle, there is plenty of nature to discover on land. First, a well-maintained 1.25-mile nature trail offers a peaceful woodland setting where hikers may encounter wildlife, including a wide array of birds. Spring migration is prime season for birdwatching, but with food available year-round, a surprising number of bird species can be found here all year.
 

 
In fact, McLeod Park is part of the Mississippi Coastal Birding Trail, a collection of historically prime birding locations in the six southernmost counties of Mississippi. Learning the seasons of the park and its inhabitants can add to the overall appreciation and enjoyment of your time in the park.
 
Wildlife is not confined to the nature trail, however, and birds and other critters can be found around any turn, or under any rock. On a cool January morning turtles can be spotted sunning themselves on a log, and Bald Eagles soar overhead, checking the river for an unwary fish.
 
Big changes coming

 
The big news at McLeod Park is the recent announcement of a bevy of changes and additions to make the park better than ever.
 
Kevin Ladner, Hancock County Recreation Director, sat down with us recently to review all the coming improvements and additions. He is clearly proud of the park as it is now, and he’s very excited at what’s to come.
 
“We couldn’t be more excited,” said Ladner. “These changes will breathe new life into the park and attract people who never knew we were here.”
 

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Planned changes include

• A second bathhouse;
• 30-35 additional campsites;
• A spectacular pedestrian bridge that will cross the Jourdan River to allow access to a section of the park formerly restricted to boaters only;
• A second nature trail and picnic area;
• Enhancements to the existing nature trail, including a handicap-accessible scenic overlook at an oxbow lake; and
• A new amphitheater, which will enable new programs and even musical performances in the park.

 
Architect Allison Anderson of unabridged Architecture has been charged with the design of the amphitheater and the dramatic bridge over the River Jourdan.
 
“Campers have been coming here for years, and we’re hoping that these improvements will bring lots of new people and out-of-towners to McLeod Park for the first time as well,” notes Ladner. “What’s most exciting is that all these improvements come at no cost to Hancock County taxpayers.”
 
The $1.7 million project is funded through GOMESA revenue sharing (the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act shares oil and gas leasing revenues with Gulf producing states and the Land & Water Conservation Fund for coastal restoration projects) and the Tidelands Trust Fund (funds derived from the lease of tidelands and submerged lands, dedicated to the conservation, reclamation and preservation of Mississippi’s tidelands, and enhancing its current public access areas).
 
Because of design restrictions within the buffer zone, all facilities had to meet stringent design requirements. It may come as a surprise, however, that of all the new structures, the bath house was the most challenging, says Ladner.

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“Because we are within the acoustical buffer zone for Stennis [Space Center], there are severe restrictions to what we can build – and we’re basically not allowed to construct anything with a roof and four walls. No structure can be built that can technically serve as living quarters. It took a special variance to get approval for the new bath house. It was touch and go for a while there.” This is the reason, too, that there are no cabins within the park.
 
Ladner is looking forward to the project’s completion some time this year. “We can’t wait to welcome new visitors and campers to the park after the improvements,” he said.
 
“We’re especially anxious for locals to see the changes. This will really be something for them to be proud of. ”