Monday, April 14, 2008

Mary Shepard's Retirement Party Program

Tribute to Mary Shepard                          

April 6, 2008

 

 

Master of CeremoniesC.Sade Turnipseed

Director, Education & Community Outreach of B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

PhotographerLandry Prichard

 

 

Coronation

            Presentation of Flowers:  Allan Hammons, Director of Marketing, B.B. King Museum

            Robing: Carver A. Randle, Sr., Personal friend and lawyer for new owner-BB King, LLC

            Septor:  Edna Robinson, long-time Club Ebony employee   

            Crowning:  Brianna King, 9-yr old Granddaughter of Mrs. Shepard 

 

B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center will feature Mary Frances Shepard as

“The Queen of the Jooks” announcement made by C. Sade Turnipseed…………

 

 

Dorothy Moore Personal Letter:

Laconna Shay King, Daughter of Mary Shepard

 

Book gifts     *(Personal friends and persons whose careers are based and respected

                            around our blues history…)

 

   *Scott Barretta:  Images of the Blues by Lee Tanner & Lee Hildebrand:

(Black & White photos of bluesmen from the 1940’s-1990’s w/ a younger BBKing on cover)

Wanda Clark, Associate Project Administrator of the Mississippi Blues Trail

 

   *Dick Waterman – Personalized his latest book – B.B. King’s Treasures

Jackie Winter, Vice President, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola

         

 

Living Blues Magazine:  Appreciation Award for the three decades of operating the Mississippi

Delta Blues Club, Club Ebony, and for welcoming B.B. King Home every

time he returns to Indianola. 

Rodger Simpson, Indianola Police Department

 

 

Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola – Member Emeritus & Life Member Award: 

Carol Marble, Indianola Blues Society Founder & Past President

 

 

Proclamation from the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors

Shelia Waldrup, Incoming Indianola Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

 

 

Proclamation from Congressman Bennie Thompson

Carol Smith, Supporter of Bennie Thompson & Friend of Mrs. Shepard

 

 

Proclamation from Governor Haley Barbour – Listing Mary Shepard’s accomplishments in promoting and

preserving the blues heritage of this state as well as the Mississippi DeltaThe Governor proclaimed April 6, 2008

as Mary Frances Shepard Day:  Janet Webb, President, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola

 

 

Lady Terminators Appreciation Award and Trophy

Auga Singleton, Representative for the Ladies & the Men’s Pool Teams

that play & compete at the Club

 

 

Thanks to Sunflower Food Store for the sheet cake.

Thanks to the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola

and all those who helped make this day happen!

 

 

 

Queen Mary

By Amy Evans

 

 

So yesterday was Mary Shepard's last day as owner of Club Ebony. They were calling it a retirement party, but it was really a tribute to the place and, most of all, the woman. Mary Shepard was crowned "Queen of the Jook" and sat in a throne at the foot of the bandstand to receive flowers and gifts and words from friends. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour even issued a proclamation, naming April 6, 2008 Mary Shepard Day. There was music. There was cake. And yes, a few tears.

 

Even though Ms. Shepard is no longer at the helm of this legendary blues club, she'll still be a fixture. She's been given the title of honorary griot for the soon-to-open B. B. King Museum down the street, and you can be sure she'll be popping into her old club from time to time to hear some of those down home blues. And, as she joked to the crowd yesterday, she's got a little something else up her sleeve.

 

Mary Shepard may have retired, but she's sure not going to quit.

 

 

 

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www.amycevans.com

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Blog: Made in Mississippi
Post: QUEEN MARY
Link: http://madeinmississippi.blogspot.com/2008/04/queen-mary.html

 

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