The Life and Legacy of Etta Mae Davis Hemp (1918–1998) Family histories are filled with beautiful milestones, hard work, and occasionally, deeply dramatic twists. The story of Etta Mae Davis Hemp, a lifelong resident of Mason, Tipton County, Tennessee, is no exception. A devoted churchwoman, mother, and grandmother, Etta Mae’s lineage connects her to early…
Tag: Mason
South Whets Palates
Southern Food at Home, on the Road and in History SOUTH WHETS PALATES | You can almost taste the biscuits and smell the chicken frying when you read John Egerton’s now book, “Southern Food At Home, on the Road and in History,” published by Knopf ($22.95). You don’t just taste the beignets served in New…
Palmer Funeral Home
Neighbor to Neighbor: Celebrating the Heritage and Care of Palmer Funeral Home in Mason, TN There is something profoundly special about small-town life. Here in Mason, Tennessee, we know our neighbors. We wave when we pass each other on the road, we look out for one another’s families, and we celebrate the shared history that…
Williams, Lawrence Jerry
Roots in the Fayette County Soil: Remembering Uncle Jerry When we tell the story of West Tennessee, it’s easy to focus on the names that appear in history books, courthouse records, or faded newspaper headlines. Those records matter, of course—but the true story of our communities has always been written by the people who worked…
Taylor, Harold Rudolph
The Quiet Strength of Mason: Remembering Harold Rudolph Taylor (1923–2009) There are some men who form the very bedrock of a small town—not because they shout from the rooftops or chase the spotlight, but because their hands are always steady, their word is iron, and their commitment to the dirt beneath their feet never wavers….
Taylor, Mamie Joyce Stafford
The Heart of the Kitchen: Remembering Mamie Joyce Stafford Taylor MAMIE JOYCE STAFFORD TAYLOR | When we look back at the history of West Tennessee, we often trace it through old maps, land deeds, and official records. But the true soul of a community is found in the people who kept it moving, who fed…
Williams, John Barton
Remembering Dr. John Barton Williams If you’ve followed my blog for very long, you probably know I stepped away from writing for a while. Although I wasn’t publishing, I never really stopped researching. During that break I spent countless hours digging through records, newspapers, and family history, but I also found myself wanting to write…
Williams, John Tom
Remembering John Tom Williams: One of the Stories He Left Behind Some people become woven so tightly into your happiest childhood memories that it’s impossible to think about one without remembering the other. For me, that’s John Tom Williams. Whenever we headed down the country roads toward Mawmaw’s house outside of Mason, there was one…
Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church
140 Years on Pig Alley: The Living Legacy of Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church If you take a drive down Washington Avenue in Mason, Tennessee—a stretch of road affectionately known to generations of locals as “Pig Alley“—you’ll find more than just a street. You’ll find the cornerstone of a community. Standing proudly at 281 Washington…
Bozo’s Hot Pit Bar-B-Q
Since 1923 A story of Bozo and the Williams Family Bozo’s Bar-B-Q Original Site Bozo’s Bar-B-Q was founded in January of 1923, by Thomas Jefferson “Bozo” Williams. The first building was very small. In fact, there wasn’t enough room for tables so everyone was served at the counter with a “pig” sandwich costing only 15…