We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Dr. Tamekia Jones and Cedric Jones on the loss of their mother, Allene Maureen Jones, who passed away on Aug. 24 at the age of 82. Mrs. Jones served as First Lady of Oakland during the historic tenure of her husband, Franklin D. Jones, Oakland’s first African American mayor elected in 1981.
Together, they were part of an important chapter in our town’s history. Mrs. Jones will be remembered with appreciation for the dignity and support she brought to that role and for her place in the life and history of our community. In her later years, she often joined her daughter at various events in Oakland.
Congratulations to Joy Mullen on her latest great- grandbaby! Rowan James Knowles was born on Aug. 26 at 8:26 a.m. His grandparents are Greg and Karol Knowles of Oakland. His parents are Nick and Carrie Knowles. There is just nothing like a new baby in the family!
Cossar State Park has been cleaning up again! President of Friends of Cossar Terry Jones said the recent storms took out about 25 more trees in the park. Jones said the park staff deserves big thanks because everyone from housekeeping to the park manager have been giving it their all this past week. He also offered a special thanks to Alex Smith for volunteering his time and equipment to help in getting the park back to its original beauty. Friends of Cossar and the Cossar Disc Golf group held a workday last Saturday.
Oakland Community Connections will hold its first Faith & Community Leadership Gathering on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Hope Church of God in Oakland. Pastors and two lay leaders from churches throughout Oakland and the surrounding area are invited to enjoy lunch, meet other church and community leaders, and talk about ways our churches can become even more involved in helping our communities grow and thrive.
We’ll hear from some of the civic and community organizations already doing good work in our area and, most importantly, ask our church leaders to share their ideas about needs they see and projects we might work on and fund together.
Oakland Community Connections is an initiative of the Oakland Area Chamber Foundation and Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce and is funded by Communities Unlimited and Trust for Civic Life.
Please help us spread the word! Make sure your pastor and other church leaders know about the Sept. 26 gathering and encourage your church to be represented. We mailed letters out to all the churches for which we found addresses but want to be sure your church received it! We want churches from throughout our area at the table as we talk about how we can communicate better, share volunteers and resources, and see just how much we can accomplish when we work together.
David Herron said he thinks “The Big Store” with 10,000 square feet that I mentioned last week is not the store we are reclaiming. Mother has old invoices from a store and printed on them is the fact that it had 10,000 square feet and was called “The Big Store” by locals at the time. David said he believes that store was up nearer Hickory Street. It looks like we need more research! David definitely has memories of the store we are working on, including putting tar on the building’s roof when his dad owned it!
I visited with our county Supervisor Eddie Harris this past week and he asked me if the space would be ready by Christmas. I consider that a challenge and think it will be.
I also had a great visit with Oakland’s most prolific entrepreneur, Michael Gray. I am always fascinated by all that he has going on! Michael owns Grays Power Supply headquartered in Oakland, among other businesses. He is currently renovating and adding space near I-55 to what is presently the liquor store. The liquor store will be expanded and moved into one of the new buildings. The second new building will house a laundromat. The center part of the complex is calling out for a restaurant! If you know someone interested in quality food service, let us know. It’s a great location!
One of the roles I enjoy is serving as a volunteer lobbyist for the Town of Oakland. This past week, I had the opportunity to meet with state Sen. Ben Suber and talk with him about Oakland’s needs. Sen. Suber is always receptive and willing to help. I enjoy working with him. His mother Linda and I attended The W at the same time.
The W (Mississippi University for Women) was recently named Mississippi’s highest-ranked university on TIME’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list for 2026–27. The W ranked 308th nationally among the 500 colleges selected based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students. Ole Miss ranked 419th, followed by Mississippi State University at 422nd.
Interim President Scott Tollison said the recognition marks the third time in just over a year that a major national publication has ranked The W first among Mississippi universities. The W also has the next-to-lowest tuition and fees among the state’s public universities. Good things really do come in small packages! If you know someone looking for an excellent education at a reasonable price, I can help you get connected. Applications are also now open for next summer’s Mississippi Governor’s School.
Hummingbirds are beginning their fall migration. Migration increases throughout September.
Hummingbirds visiting Oakland area feeders this fall may travel between 900 and 1,850 miles to reach their winter homes in Mexico or Central America. Many will make a breathtaking 500-mile nonstop 18- to 20-hour flight across the Gulf — a remarkable feat for a bird weighing about as much as a penny.
Help these tiny travelers by keeping feeders clean and filled with fresh nectar. The recommended recipe is four parts water to one part plain white sugar. Heat the mixture briefly to dissolve the sugar, then cool completely before filling the feeder. Do not add red food coloring, honey or artificial sweeteners.
Text or leave a message with your news at 601-853-3942. Email me at oaklandareachamber@gmail.com. The text/message machine has a stern warning to scammers, but don’t let that stop you from leaving a message!
