Personal stories
I lived all of my younger years in and around Desoto county. I still call the South around those parts my home, no matter how far I move away. My entire family that is scattered to the winds are true Mississippians!
-Sharon Blackwelder
-Sharon Blackwelder
Life-long Southaven native since 1964. Grew up in Colonial Hills subdivision, bought my first house in Colonial Hill and my second one in The Gardens of Plum Point. Great place to live!!!
-Chuck Chalk
-Chuck Chalk
Born in 1962 in Memphis, family moved to Southaven in 1964. My father, Johnny Reed Sr. served as a deputy sheriff from around 1964 until 1976 when he resigned after a change in sheriff's. He was the first criminal investigator for the Desoto County Sheriff's Department. I joined the Desoto County Sheriff's Department in 1987 and resigned in 1993 to further my law enforcement career with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. I now have 24 years of service and plan to retire soon to live out the rest of my earthly life in Desoto County. Couldn't ask for a better place to live. Thank You.
-Johnny Reed
-Johnny Reed
Business Stories
Avant Insurancesince 1965
In 1965, Carl "Rusty" Avant began his journey going door to door selling insurance policies. This was after Rusty dropped out of high school
to better help his family's finances. Some years later, he opened his own agency through Nationwide insurance in southaven, ms. Rusty passed away in 1987, leaving his legacy and business behind. Two of his three sons then took over the business for themselves and moved the offices to a newer, more prosperous area of southaven. The agency is still thriving today due to the hard work of the Avant family and the loyalty shown by it's customers. The Avant Insurance agency just recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in July of 2015. In addition to this huge milestone, the agency has been named one of the 5 oldest running businesses in the Southaven, Ms area. When it comes to insurance Nationwide (and the Avant family) is on your side!
to better help his family's finances. Some years later, he opened his own agency through Nationwide insurance in southaven, ms. Rusty passed away in 1987, leaving his legacy and business behind. Two of his three sons then took over the business for themselves and moved the offices to a newer, more prosperous area of southaven. The agency is still thriving today due to the hard work of the Avant family and the loyalty shown by it's customers. The Avant Insurance agency just recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in July of 2015. In addition to this huge milestone, the agency has been named one of the 5 oldest running businesses in the Southaven, Ms area. When it comes to insurance Nationwide (and the Avant family) is on your side!
Southaven, or the community that would incorporate into the city of Southaven in 1980, has undergone a staggering amount of change in the last 50+ years. From the beginning, with no grocery stores, few red lights, no emergency services, and only one school, Southaven and all of DeSoto County has become a magnet for families and businesses from across the country and around the world. Having seen these change while doing business with the people here, Avant Insurance has received a very unique and sometimes challenging blessing over the last fifty years. Many people have done business with Avant Insurance since 1965. Their kids and grandkids still do business with the Avants. As time has moved forward and things have changed, many things are still the same as they were back in the smaller and slower days of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Families are still the center of life for this community. Even though the pace and details of life have quickened and expanded, the home and raising kids is still the primary focus of this community. It is truly amazing to see DeSoto County people leading out in the march to the future. Youth athletics, school bands and state of the art fire, police and emergency services have all been a part of our embracing of the future. There were also some hard lessons learned regarding the need for cooperation and community involvement among the cities of DeSoto County. These fast moving times have required adjustment, adaptation and even some compromise, for the greater good of the community at large.
Avant Insurance has seen all of this change occur, and even when times were tough and growing pains were the rule, the people of our communities have set their face to the contrary wind and have ridden out the storm. To this end, we have become a stronger community with a proud heritage, history and future. Avant Insurance is humbled to be a part of the rich history and functional present, helping folks maintain financial security against the daily challenges of accident, storm or fire. More importantly, we join those old and new members of our community as we prepare to face the great promise and continuing challenges tomorrow will bring. Our prayer will be that we stand as we have in the past, together and strong in community and faith. Our hope is built on the tradition that has been set by those who came before us, the men and women who could see the future and helped us all to prepare for it. We still need these men and women; they are our very own children, who are learning to embrace both technology and the family home. We do have a hope. It is the history of DeSoto County and our collective future. May we all continue to invest in one another and in our community, making sure Northwest Mississippi remains a beacon of hope to a nation in great need of it.
Mark Avant
Avant Insurance Agency
Avant Insurance has seen all of this change occur, and even when times were tough and growing pains were the rule, the people of our communities have set their face to the contrary wind and have ridden out the storm. To this end, we have become a stronger community with a proud heritage, history and future. Avant Insurance is humbled to be a part of the rich history and functional present, helping folks maintain financial security against the daily challenges of accident, storm or fire. More importantly, we join those old and new members of our community as we prepare to face the great promise and continuing challenges tomorrow will bring. Our prayer will be that we stand as we have in the past, together and strong in community and faith. Our hope is built on the tradition that has been set by those who came before us, the men and women who could see the future and helped us all to prepare for it. We still need these men and women; they are our very own children, who are learning to embrace both technology and the family home. We do have a hope. It is the history of DeSoto County and our collective future. May we all continue to invest in one another and in our community, making sure Northwest Mississippi remains a beacon of hope to a nation in great need of it.
Mark Avant
Avant Insurance Agency
Dale's in Southaven, Ms. southern style cooking!
Dales Restaurant 27AUG15
A lot has changed in Southaven and DeSoto County since the 1960s. Many of the roads that are now filled with vehicles every day, with lots of red lights and stop signs, used to be gravel. Barely two lanes wide, one could travel most of these roads without seeing more than a few other cars. Goodman Road to Olive Branch looked more like an arbor covered lane than the mass of concrete and buildings it is today.
Back in the day, there were few places to buy groceries, get a hamburger, go to the doctor, dentist or hospital, or even by gas or a snack. Then a little place opened up on Stateline Rd., now Main Street, just up the hill from US 51 and around the corner from Southaven’s first and only fire station at the time, on Whitworth. The little white building with a couple of tin awnings and picnic tables was Dales. Baseball teams and football teams used to head there after the game for a burger or an ice cream cone or shake. To those who remember, it was the greatest place on earth. That little place has grown up and if you have been there recently, you know, if you are looking for a great meal, including home-cooked vegetables and to-die-for rolls, it still is the greatest place on earth.
It is nice to know that even with all the change that has occurred in this area, because of the people who remember and still value the things that matter most, there is still a place that makes Southaven and DeSoto County proud of our past, our present, and our future. That place is Dales Restaurant.
There are other traditional and historic businesses still operating in DeSoto County. Stay tuned for more memories of the past and hope for out bright future.
A lot has changed in Southaven and DeSoto County since the 1960s. Many of the roads that are now filled with vehicles every day, with lots of red lights and stop signs, used to be gravel. Barely two lanes wide, one could travel most of these roads without seeing more than a few other cars. Goodman Road to Olive Branch looked more like an arbor covered lane than the mass of concrete and buildings it is today.
Back in the day, there were few places to buy groceries, get a hamburger, go to the doctor, dentist or hospital, or even by gas or a snack. Then a little place opened up on Stateline Rd., now Main Street, just up the hill from US 51 and around the corner from Southaven’s first and only fire station at the time, on Whitworth. The little white building with a couple of tin awnings and picnic tables was Dales. Baseball teams and football teams used to head there after the game for a burger or an ice cream cone or shake. To those who remember, it was the greatest place on earth. That little place has grown up and if you have been there recently, you know, if you are looking for a great meal, including home-cooked vegetables and to-die-for rolls, it still is the greatest place on earth.
It is nice to know that even with all the change that has occurred in this area, because of the people who remember and still value the things that matter most, there is still a place that makes Southaven and DeSoto County proud of our past, our present, and our future. That place is Dales Restaurant.
There are other traditional and historic businesses still operating in DeSoto County. Stay tuned for more memories of the past and hope for out bright future.
Bookmark us, much more inspiration to come! You can also check us out on Facebook.
