This year the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant, now called the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant, will celebrate its 67th anniversary. Many of us remember attending the pageant four nights a year at Rothrock Stadium in downtown Jackson.
Read MoreFor nine years I have observed and written about the evolving of downtown Jackson in VIP Jackson Magazine’s Downtown Destination special section in May. What fun it is to observe the development of our center city and to see people of all ages and from all walks of life live, work and play in the heart of our city!
Read MoreBob Hayes hails from Parsons, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm where his family raised cattle, hogs, corn, cotton and peanuts. He developed an interest in agriculture and science early thanks to involvement with 4H and FFA.
He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1968. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany. After completing military service, Hayes moved to Champaign, Illinois to complete his Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Illinois.
Read MoreThe Peabody Memphis, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2019 with a series of special offers and events.
The Peabody opened its doors to great fanfare in downtown Memphis in 1869, and it has since become world famous for its charm, elegance, gracious Southern hospitality, and five resident mallard ducks that march daily through the lobby at 11am and 5pm.
Read MorePam Nash is a graduate of Chester County High School. She received an Associate Degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Memphis.
Read MoreFor many years a friend and I have traveled to Aberdeen, Mississippi (pop: 5,600), an easy two-hour drive from Jackson, Tennessee. Over the years we have grown to love the town of Aberdeen and appreciate its rich history and fine homes. And the Pilgrimage organizers and homeowners who open their homes to the public are friendly and gracious.
Read MoreCherie Parker, a native of Brownsville, Tennessee, has served as the Public Relations and Fundraising Coordinator for Lifeline Blood Services since 1995.
Ms. Parker received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1984.
She has been a member of the Jackson Old Hickory Rotary Club since 1995 and is a graduate of the WestStar Leadership Class of 1993.
Read MoreOn a beautiful cold late December day I traveled from Asheville, North Carolina to Christopher Place Resort in Newport, Tennessee. In the distance the Smoky Mountains were capped with snow.
Immediately when you exit from a busy highway onto a quiet, winding road leading to the inn, you know that you have entered another world. While I thoroughly enjoyed the amenities and fine restaurants of Asheville, the quietude and tranquil setting of Christopher Place Resort was welcome.
Read MoreEntertaining is what people love to do. Whether you are hosting a large wedding announcement, a few girlfriends for lunch, a formal dinner party, or a tailgate picnic, entertaining is an enjoyable part of life where memories are made. Patty Roper, entertaining expert and author of “Easy Hospitality, “Easy Does It Entertaining, “At the Table with Patty Roper,” “Easy Parties and Wedding Celebrations,” and “Easy Does it Winners and Favorites,” shares creative and practical ideas, tablescapes, menus, and recipes for planning, organizing, and presenting memorable times with family and friends.
Read MoreSherry P. Freeman, a native of Bradford, Tennessee, holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Union University; a Masters of Education in Administration/Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University; an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Union University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Union University.
Read MoreCurt and Erica King, Jackson natives, wanted to renovate a home in a French country style, while keeping a neutral palette with pops of colors and patterns. Many walls were knocked out in order to make a free-flowing space for their family to move around in and entertain their many friends. Curt works for King Tire Company on Old Hickory Boulevard where he is a third-generation operator and manager. Erica is the owner and operator of Erica King Interiors and prior owner of The Highland House Home Décor and Interior Design in Jackson. The home, which is exceptionally decorated at all times, is even more special during the holidays when Erica transforms the home into a wonderland for the eye.
Read MoreIn 1972 just six years after “Southern Living” was founded, the magazine published its “Party Cookbook” with a simple subtitle: “Complete Menus and Entertaining Guide.” The book was written by a witty Chattanooga food columnist named Celia Marks, who clearly understood the art of the soiree. By today’s standards, the cover is not attractive—a dark photo of a crown roast surrounded by spiced crabapples and parsley—but it sold more copies than any other cookbook in “Southern Living” history. Some of that success can no doubt be attributed to the menus and recipes, which cover every kind of party you can imagine (from a He-Man Brunch to a Holiday Reception), but the secret sauce is Mark’s advice that still holds up 46 years later. “Hospitality, a synonym for the South, comes from the heart,” she writes in the first chapter. “Even the most discerning disciple of etiquette may fall short as a hostess if she fails to bestow this gift upon her guests.”
Read MoreBrandy Stutsman joined the Chamber staff in 2007 as Administrative Assistant for Business Services. In 2013, she was Program Coordinator and in 2016, Brandy took over as Manager of Leadership Development. As Director of Leadership Development, Stutsman’s responsibilities include overseeing Leadership Jackson, Leadership Jackson Alumni Association, and the Leadership University programs.
Read MorePerched high atop Lookout Mountain (pop: 5000 year round) sits the Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast, which combines the ambiance of yesteryear with the comfort and amenities of today. It is the ultimate in mountain southern hospitality, just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Located at 1800 feet above sea level, The Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast, which has been a proud member of the Select Registry since 2003, sits with distinction high atop Lookout Mountain on a beautiful plateau that borders Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Built in 1927 and operated as a B&B since 1930, the inn underwent extensive renovations in 2002 and in subsequent years. Its hospitable new owners, Michael and Teresa Turner, purchased the inn in January of this year. The Turners moved to Lookout Mountain from Atlanta. “We looked at 10 or 12 properties of various styles,” said Michael. “In the end we decided on Chanticleer because it is two hours from Atlanta, a good location, great surroundings and activities. We thought it was a perfect fit for us!”
Cole and Leigh Dodds have been married 13 years, and they have 2 boys named Will
and Walker. Cole is the General Manager of Southern Concrete and the current Tennessee Concrete Association President. Leigh is an RN and is a Patient Care Advocate for Intrepid Home Health.
The Dodds are also cattle farmers with Cole’s parents at South Oaks Ranch. They love spending time outdoors with their two sons. Cole enjoys hunting and farming with the boys, and they love to fish together as a family. Cole and Leigh also enjoy watching their boys play sports. With the help of Leigh’s father, they decided to build a southern home in the community of North Jackson that would not only fit their family’s needs, but display the memories of their families past and future.
Eddie Smith is a native of the Jackson, Tennessee area and Martina Smith was born in Flint, Michigan. Martina’s family moved to Jackson in 1983 when her father, John Elford, purchased Dixie Distributing Company in Jackson. Eddie and Martina have been married for 31 years, and they owned and worked hands-on Smith Remodeling Company for 21 years serving the Jackson and surrounding area. Eddie is an avid hunter and travels throughout the United States and Canada. He has met and made many cherished friends in his travels. Martina likes to travel with Eddie, but her passion now is her two grandsons, Parker Smith and Wyatt Muir. She loves spending weekends with their daughter, Erica Muir, and her grandchildren. They live in Murfreesboro and drive home every weekend so they can spend time together.
Read MoreOn a recent beautiful sunny day a friend and I drove from Jackson to the lovely city of Lexington, Kentucky (pop: 321,000). I had not visited Lexington in several years. What a vibrant city! (Our drive of 340 miles took about 5 1/2 hours or so via I-40 E and I-65 N.)
Horse lovers agree: this is the place. Whether you are an experienced equestrian, a racing fan or just appreciate the beauty of horses, prepare to be thrilled at the stunning landscape they inhabit in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. If your schedule permits, be sure to take a country drive and explore the Horse Country back roads. Head out in any direction from the center of town, and soon you’ll be surrounded by the rolling bluegrass pastureland that you’ve heard so much about. Neatly mowed fields trimmed with black or white fences stretch to the horizon. Pick up a “Bluegrass Country Driving Tour” at the Visitors Center downtown.
Read More“The All-New Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook,” by the Editors of “Southern Living,” is the ultimate guide to game day with 150+ crave-worthy tailgating recipes, including those specifically developed for each of the 14 NCAA Southeastern Conference football teams.
From Alabama to Vanderbilt, each SEC team is profiled with information on school traditions, iconic football moments, legendary coaches and players, and photos. In the “Tent Talk” sidebars, you’ll find fascinating football trivia to quiz your fellow tailgaters.
Read MorePhotography by Lindsay Allison & Chelsea-Catherine Croom
Read MoreDana Crotts lived in Haywood County where she graduated from Haywood High School. In 1989 she moved to Hardin County.
Dana is president of the Medical Marketing Network and the founder of Partners in Care—West TN. In addition, she is a member of the Interagency Council and Health Council for Hardin and McNairy Counties. She is a graduate of Leadership McNairy County.
Read MoreVIP Jackson Magazine
Socializing Throughout West Tennessee!
