John Carter Cash, having been involved in music all of his life, is an accomplished and award-winning record producer. However, his activities in the creative world reach far beyond music production. He is also a singer-songwriter and author. The grandson of Maybelle Carter and the only son of John R. Cash and June Carter Cash, he preserves the family legacy and is a caretaker to the heritage of his musical ancestors.
Read MoreThe Jackson Rotary Club celebrated its 100th year on August 3rd at Union University Carl Grant Center. The guest speaker for the event was President of the Rotary International, John Germ. He spent some time recognizing the 100-year history of the Jackson Rotary Club. The future of the organization and its goals were also discussed. Many Jackson Rotarians as well as members from other Rotary Clubs attended the celebration.
Read MoreThe 2016 “Toast of Jackson,” held at Jackson Fairgrounds Park, was a resounding success with a steady stream of people attending. The wine vendors were overwhelmed with the attendance. Numerous merchants provided additional venues for the visitors.
Read MoreR.L. (Buddy) Patey grew up in Tupelo, MS, but he has lived most of his 90 years in Jackson after service in the U.S. Air Force in World War II. Officiating football was Buddy’s passion. He worked more than 800 junior varsity, junior high and high school games, and more than 300 college games. He was chief umpire in both the Southeastern Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference.
Read MoreThe 2016 United Way “Unitas” event featuring Peyton Manning was held at the Civic Center on July 29th. Manning was welcomed with a packed house and an eager audience. He spoke to the audience about hard work, dedication and never giving anything less than your best to any endeavor you decide to accomplish.
Read MoreHeaven’s Cradle, formed by Abby Lackey after the loss of her baby at 20 weeks, is designed to assist families who lose premature babies. There is the grief and emptiness the family experiences, but for some families they are blindsided by no insurance coverage for stillborn babies.
Read MoreDorothea Benton Frank is a “New York Times” bestselling author, public speaker and a nonprofit fundraiser. Frank and her four siblings were born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina.
Her first novel, “Sullivans Island,” debuted on the “New York Times” list at number nine and went back to press over twenty-five times, has well over one million copies in print and may be found in ten foreign languages.
Read MoreThe 29th Mid-South Charity Horse Show for “Eden of Youth Town” was held at the Pugh Bourne Park for the 5th year. This event is a preliminary competition for the annual Tennessee Walking Horse competition held in Shelbyville. Member Ed Cotter said “The Mid-South Horse Association is about 60 years old and one of, if not the oldest association in the country.” Through their charity events, funds are raised that go to benefit children assistance organizations like Eden of Youth Town.
Read MoreAlthough other states have their own River Roads, perhaps none is more evocative or famous than Louisiana’s. Here, the very name inspires a vision of white pillared houses standing amid lush gardens and trees dripping with Spanish moss. Louisiana’s fabled Great Mississippi River Road consists of a corridor approximately 70 miles in length located on each side of the river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The area includes the river, levees, and adjacent lands and cultural resources. Among the latter is the state’s most famous and recognizable group of monumental plantation houses, most built by wealthy sugar planters in the Greek Revival style.
Read MoreCrowds gathered at the West Tennessee Farmers’ Market for the 2016 “Taste of Jackson.” There was a great variety of traditional, spicy and ethnic foods. The new Farmers’ Market manager is Tammy Buchanan, who came from City Hall. She is a tireless worker striving to make every event a great success.
Read MoreDr. Lisa Piercey is a West Tennessee native who serves as the Executive Vice President, System Services, at West Tennessee Healthcare. She has a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Lipscomb University, a Doctorate of Medicine from East Tennessee State University, Pediatrics Residency and Chief Residency also at East Tennessee State University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Bethel University. She is board-certified in Pediatrics, Child Abuse Pediatrics, and Healthcare Management.
Read MoreThe 2016 Leadership Jackson scholarship presentation was held at the JEA Training Center. High school student award winners and their families came to receive the $1,000 scholarship award for the college of their choice. These students were chosen from a group of 40 applications that had been received.
Read MoreOn July 17, RIFA announced that the featured entertainment for CANstruction 2016 would be Michael W. Smith. CANstruction Jackson will be built by 14 teams, the largest group to compete since it started 12 years ago. Two years ago it was moved from the Jackson Mall to the Carl Perkins Civic Center as interest had grown for the competition.
Read MoreThe West Tennessee Area Council-Boy Scouts of America conducted its annual Friends of Scouting Dinner at Hope Hall on the campus of Northside United Methodist Church. The featured speaker was Mr. Bobby Bell, All-American Outland Trophy winner from the University of Minnesota who played in Super Bowl I and IV. He was the first Kansas City Chief elected into the NFL’s Hall of Fame. The Boy Scouts appreciate the leadership of Dr. Keith Nord, who serves as Chairman of the Friends of Scouting campaign, and was responsible for Mr. Bell’s appearance and to Dr. Bob Carney, Council Advancement Chairman responsible for Eagle Scout recognitions.
Read MoreThe Hermitage Hotel, an American landmark since 1910 and the epitome of Southern elegance and five-star luxury, has been one of my favorite hotels for many years. My late mother adored this hotel and often while I was traveling across the state for a Tennessee governor she was a guest there.
Read MoreBilled as “The Largest Tailgate Party in Madison County,” Relay for Life took over the Farmers’ Market to celebrate the kickoff of the official Relay for Life 2016 season. Chairman A. J. Massey commenced proceedings with heartfelt thanks to his Event Leadership Team followed by a Ribbon Cutting. The survivor tent was full, each person having an emotional story about their battle with cancer. The survivor walk was greeted with deafening applause as they strode triumphantly through the Farmers’ Market, continuing laps for 30 minutes.
Read MoreAt least once a year, typically in October when VIP Jackson Magazine profiles Crockett County, I visit the Tennessee Safari Park. I enjoy driving down the country road that leads to Hillcrest, a Century Farm owned by the Conley family since 1858. Pretty peacocks preen and have full reign of the road. My car moves slowly as I try to avoid a run-in with a peacock.
Read MoreSixteen highly respected local artists from in and around Jackson graciously presented their impressive artwork at the 4th Annual Speaking of Art fundraiser to benefit the West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center. Chandelier inside the Neely House, was a perfect venue for displaying various styles of art.
Read MoreThe 2nd Annual Bark For Life took place on Sunday, April 24th at Antonia's Paw Spa & Retreat. Antonia Haney, Chairperson of Bark For Life, along with her husband and co-chair Ron Haney and co-chair, Bonnie Chary (and spokes-pup "Juicy"), along with committee members - Gayle Gilbert, Troy Huffman, Chris Lay, Gina Long, Jackie Morgan, Dawn Perkins-Bannister, Melissa Roberts, Kaleigh Strickland, Kaley Humphrey and April Sweo, dedicated endless hours planning and executing this event.
Read MoreIt is where I am from, it has provided a great life, and it’s my family’s history and its future!
I strive and work every day to make Jackson and rural West Tennessee a better place to live.
I remember PoFolks Restaurant and want to start a petition to bring it back! And if that’s not Jackson enough, then it’s because I’m proud to build homes in a community that values hard work, relationships, and doing things the right way.
Jackson is engrained in me. One can seek out a place to live where they are comfortable, but it is special when you live in a place that fulfills you. Yes, family heritage, family friends, business success, and one’s faith can be fulfilling, but the Jackson community is special. Jackson provides all the elements for me that make life good.
I want Jackson to be visionary and strategic. I have always, and will be, FOR Jackson in all ways possible to make Jackson better. It is going to take a team effort to accomplish all of the opportunities before us, and no doubt it will take vision and change. Our community is ready to take Jackson to the next level, and I look forward to seeing it happen!
I believe in building better — homes, businesses, and relationships — right here in the community that built me.
Because I don’t just live here, I have a passion for seeing Jackson become the very best it can be.
Since I moved to Jackson 47 years ago this town has offered our family life-long friendships, career opportunities, and the desire to continue to grow with our community as a wonderful place to call HOME.
I believe in where we’re headed. Whether it’s helping our airport grow, supporting small businesses, or just being a good neighbor, I’m proud to be part of Jackson’s story. This city is taking off, and I’m glad to be on board. (Couldn’t resist the airport puns.)
I absolutely love this community. My family, my friends, my education, and my career are all rooted in this great community, and I only foresee it just getting better and better with time. We have so much to be grateful for to be able to call this place our home!
This is where I can make the greatest difference, where collaboration thrives, and where a brighter future for our children is not just a hope, but a shared reality we are actively building together. #winning
...this city has shaped me, inspired me, and given me the opportunity to serve and grow alongside an amazing community.
I am Jackson because I have aimed to improve both myself and the West Tennessee community.
Jackson is my home and always has been. I was born here. My parents and all of my grandparents are buried here. I spent my formative years here, my professional career here, and now my retirement years here. Jackson has changed so much and it has changed for the better. Many people choose to relocate to Jackson because of everything it has to offer. I consider myself fortunate to have been born here, and I firmly believe that Jackson’s best days are still ahead.
After living for the last 21 years and being in business for the last 20 years I’m proud to run Jackson’s version of “Cheers,” where everyone knows your name and genuinely cares. I firmly believe in the trajectory of our town, and the opportunity that Jackson offers is rare -- to be on the cusp of extraordinary growth and opportunity. I’m proud to be a Jacksonian and rabid Rams fan.
Jackson is a representation of who I want to be. It is a city that opens its doors to people from other places and embraces them as one of their own. I hope that is how I have lived my life. No matter where I am, the people and the experience make or break the deal. I am a product of my family, and I hope to maintain the small-town feel that I experienced all those years ago when I stepped onto the campus of Lambuth University.
I am a product of the genuinely kind people who live here. Jackson has given me the opportunity to practice medicine that I never imagined possible. Hopefully I am making a positive impact on a community that I love.
In this one unique location, mountains meet music…art meets adventure...culture meets cuisine…and no one meets a stranger. The walkability of downtown allows people to explore and discover vibrant murals, local music, historic sites, art museums, parks, greenways and more. With its sophisticated mix of culture and cuisine, experience a destination served up with genuine hospitality.
On Sunday night, May 19 The Jackson Symphony continued the popular Symphony on the Move concerts in the lovely Vann Gardens neighborhood. Many gathered on the lawn to listen to the beautiful music by members of the Jackson Symphony.
Other Jacksonians in my generation and I are a bridge: remembering what we loved about growing up in this town and helping transform it into a place our kids and grandkids will be proud of. I am part of the Jackson that was, the Jackson that is now, and the Jackson we will create together.
On June 6 hundreds of participants gathered at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Jackson for the Heaven’s Cradle Twilight Run and Downtown Rendezvous. The Twilight Run is a special occasion to honor and remember the children of bereaved families and is Heaven’s Cradle’s largest fundraiser.
I AM JACKSON because… I believe in Jackson and the surrounding area, and I am excited to see continued growth in our community. I am blessed to be in a professional role that allows me to not only enjoy living in this community, but also to serve in ways to help improve it. To see Jackson and the surrounding areas thrive throughout the years, and to help make sure this growth and development continues is a beautiful thing!
The First Ladies Luncheon was held Thursday, April 18, at the Jackson Fairgrounds. The event, presented by United Way of West Tennessee, has become a favorite tradition in Jackson and West Tennessee. Table sponsors had the opportunity to create unique tablescapes.
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Socializing Throughout West Tennessee!
I AM JACKSON because…
No matter where life or my career has taken me, this has always been home. My family’s roots here run deep, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and give back to the community that has meant so much to us.