Celebrate goodwill & great food

Visit Amory, Mississippi, as it comes together for a worthy cause and a chance to brag on the South.

Down-to-earth stars shine bright in this tiny Mississippi town, thanks to native son and Hollywood agent Sam Haskell. He established the Mary Kirkpatrick Haskell Scholarship Foundation in 1991 in honor of his mother, the town's first school nurse-practitioner. Designed to provide financial assistance for deserving college-bound seniors at Amory and Monroe County High Schools, the foundation's primary fund-raiser is the biennial Stars Over Mississippi concert.

Showcasing the South, One Plate at a Time

Amory's 7,000 residents roll out the red carpet for their special guests. Before it's over, the stars from film, television, and music will attend everything from a catfish fry to an elegant dinner for more than 800. What's more, everything is prepared by local volunteers. Coordinating all this is caterer Steve Stockton, food-service administrator for Amory Schools.

Steve uses his own recipes, along with a few from friends and family, to create a delicious menu for the Gala dinner. He and a staff of 140-plus volunteers also provide food for the stars backstage during the concert (we've picked a few of Steve's favorite dishes for this story). As for the Catfish Fry, that's the bailiwick of Stephina and Doug Fowlkes, owners of The Friendship House restaurant in nearby Aberdeen. Stephina, Doug, and their staff have dazzled the stars with their famous catfish-both fried and baked. Their recipe for Cajun-- Baked Catfish received our stamp of approval, too, and we're happy to share it with you.

Friends for Life

One of the most unique aspects of the weekend is that many of the stars stay with local families. Some even become close friends. Such is the case with Amory resident Wanda Wright and Emmy- and Golden Globe-- winning performer Debbie Allen, who first met eight years ago. Over a heaping plate of Wanda's light-as-- air Old Southern Biscuits, the two women formed a lasting bond. "I could not believe that tiny little lady ate biscuits like she did," Wanda says with a giggle.

Community Comes Together

"The volunteerism is what's so incredible about this event," Sam says as he reflects upon the 10-year history of the Stars Over Mississippi concerts. "Everybody in Amory opens up their hearts, their homes, and their pocketbooks to do something nice for someone else. I learned at my mother's knee that a blessing is not a blessing until it's shared."

We hope, through these wonderful recipes, you and your family are also blessed by a little bit of Amory's small-town charm.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2002
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