2017 Issue 2 Mar/Apr - Focus Mid-South Magazine

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Serving the Mid-South LGBT Community and its Allies | MAR+APR 2017 

THE HOMEGROWN ISSUE 

SOUTHERN 

AVENUE 

FIRST NEW MEMPHIS BAND 

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We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby! 

April 15, 2017 | 7-10 pm 

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Pre-sale: pay your age (max $50) 

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Condomonium is fun, provocative, a bit campy, and delivers messages 

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Tickets: memphischoices.org/condomonium 

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Page 4 / focusmidsouth.com / MAR+APR 2017 / Homegrown

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contents 

LIFE 

REDUCING 

THE STRESS 

OF ACTIVISM 

PAGE 

8 

FAITH+SPIRITUALITY 

RABBI BESS 

WOHLNER 

FOSTERING INCLUSION 

FOR LGBT JEWS 

PAGE 

18 

TRAVEL 

ORIGINAL MEMPHIS 

PEABODY HOTEL DUCKS 

PAGE 

36 

LGBT ALLY 

MAURICIO CALVO 

THE FIGHT’S NOT THE SAME FOR 

LATINOS AND LGBT, BUT THE 

OPPONENT USUALLY IS 

PAGE 

25 

FEATURES 

ON THE COVER: 

Stax Records has just 

signed its first Memphis 

band since 1974. 

Meet ‘Southern Avenue.’ 

20 

SOUTHERN 

AVENUE 

7 

THEME 

HOME GROWN 

10 

BRODERICK GREER 

Episcopal priest, gay man, 

makes a path for others not 

yet out 

14 

STEVE COHEN 

U.S. Representative 

(9th District) and native 

Memphian Steve Cohen, 

fighting to save the Republic 

22 

MARK JONES 

Behind the camera or 

in front, this Memphis 

film maker is possibly 

Memphis’ best kept 

marketing secret 

26 

LIFE 

Pavo Salon and Spa is 

based locally, but acts 

globally for clean water 

BE PART OF OUR NEXT ISSUE 

CELEBRATE 

MAY+JUN 2017 

Submit story ideas: editor@focusmidsouth.com 

Editorial submission deadline: March 27, 2017 

30 

PHILLIP ASHLEY 

Chocolate with goat cheese? 

Yes, say locals AND music’s 

glitziest awards ceremony. 

34 

PET FOCUS 

Senior pup left abandoned, 

sick, and virtually blind, gets 

the happiest of endings and 

two Massachusetts moms. 

38 

Calendar 

Advertising inquiries: sales@focusmidsouth.com 

Ad space reservation due: March 24, 2017 


theme 

Homegrown / MAR+APR 2017 / focusmidsouth.com / Page 7

life 

DEAR 

R.I.S.E. 

RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE, BUT CAN BE 

EXHAUSTING! 

by Sarah Rutledge Fischer 

Dear Allie, 

Like a lot of people, I’ve gotten more 

involved in activism over the past few 

months. I marched with the women of 

Memphis in January. I’ve been making 

calls to my political officials. I try 

to follow the news. When there is a 

public action, I try to show up and be 

counted. And I’m exhausted. I take a 

day off here or there, but nearly every 

time, something terrible happens, and 

I feel guilty for not paying attention. 

I worry that if I keep going at this 

pace, I will end up severely depressed 

and burnt out, but I’m just as afraid of 

growing complacent and not standing 

up. Help. 

Yours, 

Resistance Is Seriously Exhausting 

Dear R.I.S.E, 

You are right to be worried, and 

you are not alone. As issues in 

the American social and political 

landscape have begun to reach a 

boiling point, more and more people 

are turning to activism. Many are 

struggling to balance the intensity 

of their concerns with the need to 

maintain equilibrium in their daily 

lives. This needn’t be the case. With a 

little time and planning, your activism 

can cease to be a strain on your daily 

balance, and instead become a source 

of fulfillment and even fun. 

First, a little perspective. Try not to compare yourself to seasoned activists. 

An unexperienced runner would never expect to be able to jump right into an 

Olympic marathon without proper training and experience. Anyone who did 

so would likely end up hurt and unable to even walk, much less run. Activism, 

like running, is an activity that is accessible to nearly everyone, but it requires 

training and experience or you risk burn out. 

Also, remember that it is not necessary or practical for everyone to try to do 

everything. In the Olympics, it would be absurd for all athletes to complete in 

every sport. Instead, each focuses on the activity for which they have the most 

talent, interest, and natural ability. Activism is the same. You can make the 

most difference by spending your time on those efforts for which you have the 

most talent, interest, and natural ability. 

So, let’s make a plan. First, write a list of issues that are important to 

you. Don’t worry about putting them in order. Don’t worry if you miss 

something. Just get what you can down on paper. Now, pick the two most 

closely connected to your life and experience. They don’t need to be the most 

objectively important issues on the list, just issues towards which you have a 

connection or passion. 

Now, considering only those two issues, write down the ways you 

are already advancing those causes. Consider your work, your social 

interactions, your religious institution and other organizations. Where do you 

speak out? Where do you participate? Where do you donate or volunteer? 

Be expansive. Don’t leave anything out. 

Now consider that list, and take stock. Of which contributions are you 

most proud? Are there places you could increase these efforts? Are there 

efforts you feel are wasted? Take pride in the ways you already contribute to 

these causes. Recognize that new work should not jeopardize the work you 

already do. Make a commitment to continue what is valuable and increase 

that work where feasible. 

Next, go back to the original list of issues and pick one to add to your 

activism efforts. Think about the talents and experience you can bring to 

this cause. Consider your work experience, your hobbies, your resources. 

Write these down. Identify an organization affiliated with the issue with 

which you can get involved. If you know someone who already works on 

the issue, reach out for guidance or mentorship. 

Finally, go back to the original list. Add any issues that are missing. 

Then for each one, identify one friend, acquaintance, or public figure 

whose work in this area you can support. It might be by giving 

encouragement and appreciation, sharing public statements and social 

media posts, or even, if you are able, making donations. 

And that’s it. From time to time, stop and take stock. You might add 

something here or drop something there. I hope that, eventually, you will 

look back and find that you have built a life around public involvement in 

a way that feels natural and fulfilling. 

That should get you started. 

Your friend, 

Allie 

To submit your own question, email Allie at editor@focusmidsouth.com. 


BALANCING LIFE AND 

ACTIVISM 

CREATE YOUR PERSONAL PLAN 

a change could 

do you good 

Step 1: Identify issues 

_____________ ____________ _____________ 

_____________ ____________ _____________ 

_____________ ____________ _____________ 

_____________ ____________ _____________ 

_____________ ____________ _____________ 

Step 2: Pick two issues that are closely connected 

to your life and experience 

Issue 1:___________________________________ 

Issue 2:__________________________________ 

Step 3: List ways you are currently advancing 

these causes 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

Step 4: Describe changes you want to make to 

these current efforts 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

_Step 5: Pick a new issue; list talents to contribute; 

identify an organization and mentor 

Issue:____________________________________ 

Talents:__________________________________ 

________________________________________ 

Organization:_____________________________ 

Mentor:__________________________________ 

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Step 6: For each remaining issue, list one friend or 

activist whose efforts you can support: 

Issue:______________ Name:________________ 




Homegrown incityrealty.com 

/ MAR+APR 2017 / focusmidsouth.com / Page 9

faith+spirituality 

BRODERICK 

GREER 

story by Melinda Lejman | photo by Justin Fox Burks 


Reverend Broderick Greer knew he was gay when he was five 

years old. “I really enjoy helping people imagine what it looks 

like” Greer says, “ for God to take an active role in creating 

LGBT people the way that God created straight people.” 

Reverend Broderick Greer 

knew he was gay when he was five 

years old. Now 26, he is Curate 

of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal 

Church and a thought leader on 

the intersection of history, queer 

theory, black theology and racial 

justice. Having grown up in a 

black Missionary Baptist Church 

in Fort Worth, Texas, he made 

his way to the Episcopalian faith 

after a short stint in the Church of 

Christ. Graduating from seminary 

at Virginia Theological in 2015 and 

being matched with his parish in 

Memphis, Reverend Greer appears 

to have taken what he calls a “quick 

succession of changes” in stride. 

We met for his interview 

on an unseasonably warm day 

in February. Settling into his 

quaint and cozy office which 

was previously occupied by 

another openly gay priest, I 

asked him about his work with 

LGBTQ congregants and helping 

individuals reconcile their faith 

with their sexual orientation. 

In the past, this would have 

frustrated Greer as a question that 

has been asked and answered. 

Today, he concedes that it’s still an 

important conversation, especially 

in an area that he sees as permeated 

with conservative Christian 

ideology and homophobia. 

“I really enjoy helping people 

imagine what it looks like for 

God to take an active role in 

creating LGBT people the way 

that God created straight people.” 

In a time when perhaps LGBT 

people are tolerated more than 

embraced, Greer advocates for 

more visibility. “Moving beyond 

that space of toleration into a space 

of affirmation and celebration is an 

important part of my work here.” 

In Greer’s childhood church he 

met a gay man who, along with 

his partner, became special friends 

of the family, often celebrating 

holidays together. “For me, it was 

normal that this gay couple was a 

part of our family, and that this 

was how we should treat people, 

with an eye toward justice and an 

eye toward inclusion.” 

Did this inform how he felt 

about his own sexual identity? 

Greer didn’t make that connection 

until after he came out in his 

twenties. Greer sees counseling 

individuals who are struggling with 

their own reconciliation as part 

of the honor that comes with the 

work he does as a minister. 

When Greer came out, he was 

convinced he had nothing to lose, 

having no money, no partner, and 

surrounded by a supportive family. 

“There are people who have these 

realizations when they are in the 

middle of a marriage, a career, and 

they have children, and they would 

lose everything if they did it.” 

Recognizing that for some it 

will never be safe to come out, 

he is more than prepared to offer 

support. “There are just so many 

different ways that people deal with 

this. My role is to be someone who 

is a companion for them on that 

journey.” 

Throughout Reverend Greer’s 

writing and sermons runs an 

intentional elevation of the 

normalization of LGBTQ people. 

He offers a reimagining of what 

it means to be human, giving 

examples that represent the full 

spectrum of humanity in addition 

to straight and cisgender identities. 

Greer eloquently expands this 

idea into sermon-like questions. 

“What stories are not being told, 

what narratives are outliers in our 

collective imagination, and how 

do we amend an imagination that 

erases people at the margins?” 

For some, these questions are 

creating the kind of activism that is 

becoming forefront in our nation’s 

collective conscience as a response 

to the results of the 2016 election. 

Reverend Greer attended the 

Women’s March in Washington 

in January. He also marched here 

more recently, standing with 

immigrants and refugees who 

walked in downtown Memphis 

from Clayborn Temple to the Civil 

Rights Museum. Greer tells me 

how proud he was of Memphis in 

that moment, when our Muslim 

brothers prayed openly in front of 

the Lorraine Motel surrounded 

by other marchers who made a 

protective wall around them. 

For Greer, it’s this kind of 

showing up and making space that 

represents our shared humanity at 

its best. 


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community 

HOMEGROWN 

REPRESENTATION 

STEVE 

COHEN 

photo courtesy Office of Steve Cohen 

U.S. Representative Steve Cohen is a fourth generation 

Memphian. He was Shelby County Commissioner from 

1978-80. He served in the TN General Assembly as a State 

Senator from 1982 to 2006. He’s been the Congressperson 

for the 9th District since 2007. He’s our towering oak in the 

midst of so many Capitol Hill saplings. 

Congressman Steve Cohen, U.S. 

Representative for Tennessee’s 9th 

Congressional District since 2007, 

has long been an ally of the Memphis 

LGBT community. 

Here in Memphis, Representative 

Cohen has stood among us in times 

of joy and times of heartbreak. He 

joined us in January at the Women’s 

March as more than 3,000 people 

marched from the D’Army Bailey 

Court House to the National Civil 

Rights Museum. He joined us last 

summer in Cooper Young as we 

gathered together to mourn the 

horrific mass shooting at Pulse 

Nightclub in Orlando. He has 

joined us year after year to celebrate 

progress, community, and, of course, 

pride at our annual Mid-South Pride 

Festival and Parade. 

At a national level, Representative 

Cohen has proudly championed 

LGBT rights in Congress and 

the media. He has sponsored and 

supported legislation against hate 

crimes and spoken before Congress 

about the discrimination and sexual 

violence faced by transgender 

students. His voting record on 

LGBT and other human rights 

issues received a perfect rating 

on the Human Rights Campaign 

Scorecard for both the 113 th and 

114 th Congress. 

Last month, in the wake of 

the recent presidential election, 

we reached out to Representative 

Cohen for his thoughts on this 

administration’s potential impact on 

the LGBT community. 

Congressman Cohen, as we 

settle into the early months of 

this new administration, what 

are your concerns for the LGBT 

community? 

“Well there are several. I think 

anybody that’s not a white, male 

heterosexual has so much to worry 

about with this administration. 

Much of that is because (White 

House Chief Strategist) Steve 

Bannon, who is calling the shots, is 

your traditional, Ozzy and Harriet, 

1950s American, with a perspective 

of wanting to return to those days of 

yesteryear. 

“I know the president has been in 

New York and the world. He’s had 

gay associates and friends, I’m sure. 

But apparently, they haven’t moved 

him enough in his political instincts 

to go beyond Steve Bannon’s basic 

call for this kind of white, traditional 

family that I think they are going to 

move. While (President Trump) said 

something the other day about not 

doing anything that is going to hurt 

gay and lesbians, when he nominated 

his latest nominee for the Supreme 

Court, he’s not good on the type of 

issues that would be important to 

lesbian and gays, bis, transgenders, 

etc. Also, with his (new) secretary of 

education, DeVos—she’s made clear 

that the Bible is what she wants to 

put back in the school. People that 

very much have the Bible on their 

shoulder are usually thinking that 

Adam is supposed to stay with Eve 

and not be with Steve. So, that’s not 

a good thing. 

“The Hobby Lobby/RFRA 

[(Religious Freedom Restoration 

Act)] announcement (President 

Trump) made at the prayer 

breakfast—that he’s going to propose 

this new RFRA proposal—that’s 

basically the Hobby Lobby case 

(Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 

Inc., a controversial 2014 Supreme 

Court decision granting certain 

types of corporations a right to 

religious exemption from some 

federal regulations), which (Trump’s) 

Supreme Court nominee made his 

name supporting. The president 

seems to be . . . putting religion 

ahead of other people’s rights, saying 

that the right they see in the religion, 

whether it is a corporation wanting 

to put their religious seal over the 

insurance policies of their employees 

or any other thing, will come first. If 

a gay couple wants to get married... 

that gay couple is going to have to 

look a couple different places before 

they can find their wedding cake or 

their pizza.” 

There is a great need to get 

LGBT people more involved in 

politics at a local and regional 

level, but many people don’t know 

where to start. What would you 

suggest? 

“Well, you start by getting 

registered to vote, and you vote in 

every single election. When elections 

come up, even for city council and 

county commission, where they 

make decisions—and the county 

commission right now is doing 

things that are hurting Planned 

Parenthood—you call every single 

one of your friends and get them 

out to vote and vote for the right 

candidate. 

“It’s been distressing to me to 

see, over the years, people not vote. 

At elections, we have a twenty 

percent turnout. People, if they get 

out and vote, if the gay and lesbian 

community votes, they can have a big 

impact, if everybody votes and votes 

for the right people. I know there 

are gay republicans, as perverted 

as that may seem, but people need 

get out and vote and vote for the 

candidate that’s going to be for 

inclusion, for tolerance, for diversity, 

for the twenty-first century America, 

and not the Eisenhower era 1950s 

America. 

“The fact that Donald Trump 

is president—there’s a whole lot 

of factors. The Russians are part 

of it. Jim Comey, [Director of the 

FBI,] is part of it. But if the people 

who didn’t vote, who realize how 

disaffected they are and how this is 

going to affect their lives would have 

gotten out and voted, Clinton would 

have been president. If the people 

who were all upset because Hillary 

Clinton wasn’t the perfect person, 

and they voted for Jill Stein, they’d 

have voted for Hillary Clinton, we 

wouldn’t have been in the position it 

is today. Politics is about choices. 

“So, the first thing they’ve got to 

do is they’ve got to go get registered; 

the second thing is they’ve got to 

vote every election; and the third 

thing is they’ve got to call all of their 

friends and get them out to vote for 

the right candidates. 

“They can participate and should 

participate in marches and write 

letters to the editor and get involved 

in social media. Those things 

are important. There was a great 


turnout on Cooper, after the 

Orlando shooting. People 

got out. It was a great crowd, 

and it was, more or less, 

spontaneous. People showed 

their support for the gay and 

lesbian community and for 

protections, and I guess they 

also showed support for some 

more logical gun laws. But 

you’ve got to stay current. It 

can’t just be because there 

was a tragedy in Orlando and 

people came together once. 

They’ve got to stay engaged, 

and they’ve got to march with 

other people who have similar 

interests or like interests. 

When Planned Parenthood 

marches, when immigrants 

march, when gays and lesbians 

march, everybody’s got to 

march together. 

“You know there was 

someone who said, “People 

who hate, hate everybody.” 

People who hate Jews hate 

Blacks. People who hate lesbians 

and gays, they hate Hispanics, 

and they hate foreigners. All the 

people who are the objects of hate— 

and gays and lesbians have been, Jews 

have been, Blacks have been—we’ve 

all got to stick together.” 

What else can we do as 

individuals, as a community, 

and as a city to protect the LGBT 

community? 

“Well, I think police review 

boards are important. I think 

that inclusion of gays and lesbians 

in appointments to board and 

photo courtesy Office of Steve Cohen 

Congressman Cohen (standing) at his Memphis office speaking to constituents at the 

January 2017 ‘District Issues’ meeting. Cohen is actively engaged with citizens of the U.S. 

9th Congressional district. In February, Cohen was selected to serve on the House Ethics 

Committee. As a state senator, Cohen twice received the Common Cause Bird Dog Award 

for ‘dedication to honesty and integrity in government.’ 

commissions at a local level is 

important. I think that supporting 

groups like the [Mid-South] Peace 

and Justice Center, and Planned 

Parenthood, and the ACLU are very 

important. I think that those are very 

important things. 

“There are all kinds of statements 

that people can make. You’ve got 

to get involved and be active on a 

regular basis. Writing letters to the 

editor is important. You see more 

right-wing letters to the editor from 

people that are contra to the gays 

and lesbians than you see supportive 

letters. There are a few folks I know 

in the gay and lesbian community 

that are good at writing letters to the 

editor and being on social media, but 

there are a whole lot of people that 

you never hear from. And there are 

a whole lot of people that just don’t 

get involved. And the people have 

got to get involved. “This is a serious 

time in American history. We could 

lose our republic, potentially. I see no 

limit to Bannon and what he 

gets Trump to do. He doesn’t 

believe in diversity, and he’s 

never been for civil rights and 

voting rights. This is awful. 

We have gone backwards, and 

when you go backwards, gays 

and lesbians lose. 

“I’ve been supporting issues 

of diversity and tolerance and 

civil rights all my life. I think 

I was the first person to ever 

advertise politically, back in 

the 80s, in a gay and lesbian 

newspaper. It was considered a 

bold move. Then I influenced a 

couple of other candidates to do 

it. I’ve been the first politician 

ever to be in the [Memphis] 

Gay Pride Parade, and then 

later other politicians came 

along. People have got to get 

involved and find politicians 

that are willing to stand up 

publicly. It’s not difficult today 

to stand publicly with gays and 

lesbians like it was in the 80s, 

but it’s still difficult for some 

people. People need to make 

people responsive and understanding 

and tolerant. 

“I was the only person in the state 

senate, at one point, not to vote 

for the constitutional amendment 

to ban gay marriage. . . . People 

have got to understand that Loving 

v. Virginia [(the landmark 1967 

Supreme Court case that overturned 

laws prohibiting interracial 

marriage)] wasn’t that long ago and 

that it’s a whole lot of recent history 

that they are trying to turn over.” 

GETTING OUT THE 

LOCAL VOTE 

Shelbyvote.com 

If you live in Shelby County and have questions about voting, 

your first stop should be the website of the Shelby County Election 

Commission. (shelbyvote.com) The website provides guidance on 

issues as simple as finding your polling place and as complex as 

the restoration of voting rights. The site is also a great resource for 

finding out about upcoming elections in the Shelby County area. 

Researching Candidates 

Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to researching candidates. For 

state and national level candidates, there are a good number of online 

resources that provide perspective on a candidate’s history and voting 

record. The Human Rights Campaign, for instance, keeps an online 

Congressional Scorecard that tracks how elected officials have voted on 

key issues of equality. (hrc.org/resources/congressional-scorecard) 

With local candidates, it can be helpful to research their appearances 

in the local publications. Both The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis 

Flyer maintain year-round sections focused on Memphis politics that can be 

easily searched online. While you are online, you can always go to candidates’ 

websites to read their platforms, but if you can, try to attend local fundraisers 

and events in person. Not only will this give you a chance to meet and hear from 

the candidate in person, but it will make sure that the candidate sees that you and the 

communities you represent demand to be counted. 


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939 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, 38120, USA

faith+spirituality 

Temple Israel is opening 

space in Crosstown 

Concourse, embracing 

LGBTQ Jews, 

and is now 

Keshet certified 

as a safe space for 

LGBTQ persons. 

RABBI BESS 

WOHLNER 

THRILLED TO HELP LEAD THE REFORM 

story by Melinda Lejman | photo courtesy Bess Wohlner 

Rabbi Bess Wohlner isn’t a 

native Memphian, though you’d 

be hard pressed to make a 

case against her. I was certain 

her friendly, frank demeanor 

and endearing concern for 

my comfort when we first met 

were tell-tale signs that I was in 

good Southern company. 

“It takes a rare bird to get 

my humor,” she laughed. Born 

and raised in Kansas, Rabbi 

Bess didn’t move to Memphis 

until 2015, when she accepted 

an assistant rabbinical position 

with Temple Israel, the only 

Reform synagogue in the city. 

With just over a year and 

a half under her belt, Rabbi 

Bess has helped facilitate 

a progressive movement 

towards LGBTQ inclusion 

among Temple’s congregation. 

Beginning with a mitzvah 

project spearheaded by 

a gay conversion student, 

synagogue leadership have 

embraced LGBTQ inclusion and 

equality. The mitzvah project 

culminated in Temple’s recent 

certification as a safe space for 

LGBTQ individuals by Keshet, 

a national Jewish organization 

that advocates for full inclusion 

in all aspects of Jewish 

communities. 

To become Keshet approved, 

an organization must meet 

certain requirements such 

as providing unisex or nongendered 

bathrooms, using 

non-gendered language on 

membership application 

forms, performing same-sex 

ceremonies and weddings at 

the synagogue, and the ability 

for an LGBTQ congregant to 

wholly participate in religious 

services. 

In addition, a Keshet 

organization must be willing 

to participate in LGBTQ 

advocacy work. “It’s something 

I appreciate about the Reform 

movement, because it comes 

from prophetic Judaism which 

calls for speaking out against 

things that are wrong,” explains 

Rabbi Bess. For her, anything 

that singles out an individual 

based on sexual orientation 

does not align with Jewish 

values, plain and simple. 

“Anytime someone’s rights 

are threatened, it’s not a 

political issue, it’s a moral 

issue, and we have a religious 

obligation to speak out in 

favor of supporting people’s 

rights.” In addition to her 

daily rabbinical duties, Rabbi 

Bess also oversees Temple 

Israel’s religious school 

program. “When I took over 

the religious school, I really 

wanted our faculty to reflect 

our congregation.” In that 

spirit, she’s hired “Jews by 

choice”, gay staff, and a non- 

Jew to reflect the full spectrum 

of individuals who make up 

Temple Israel’s community. 

Not only is Temple Israel 

expanding LGBTQ inclusivity in 

their east Memphis synagogue, 

they have recently made a 

move to create a touchpoint 

for Jews living in midtown and 

downtown through securing 

space inside Crosstown 

Concourse. This will enable 

Temple Israel to serve more 

of the Memphis Jewish 

population, as well as facilitate 

further opportunities to work 

with Mid-South organizations 

on social justice initiatives. 

“For me, it’s really exciting 

as a new rabbi,” Wohlner said, 

“to be a part of a congregation 

that takes social justice 

so seriously that they put 

themselves in the center of 

doing good in the city with 

others who want to do good, 

too.” 

Learn more about Temple 

Israel at timemphis.org. 

PASSOVER 

begins Monday, April 10. 

If you’re interested in 

QUEERING 

YOUR SEDER 

check out Keshet’s 

LGBTQ Haggadot at 

keshetonline.org. 


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music 

SOUTHERN AVENUE 

by Tim Sampson | photos by David McClister ©STAX 

John Burk, with the new Stax label at Concord, was in Memphis recording 

Melissa Etheridge with Boo Mitchell at Royal Studios last year. After 

recording that day, he went to DKDC bar in Cooper-Young where for the 

first time, he saw Memphis band Southern Avenue performing. He’d been 

looking for years for a Memphis band to sign to Stax. He found it. 


A funny thing happened to 

musician Ori Naftaly when he 

arrived in the United States 

from his native Israel. He found 

Memphis, Tenn. Or, you could 

say, Memphis found him. 

Naftaly, who’d grown up 

with a deep-rooted passion 

for American blues and funk, 

came to Memphis in 2013 to 

compete in the prestigious 

International Blues Challenge. 

That experience led to Naftaly 

moving permanently to 

Memphis and successfully 

touring the United States 

and beyond with his own 

eponymous band. 

Although American 

audiences embraced 

his talents, Naftaly felt 

constrained in his own band, 

feeling the need to include a 

more expansive, collaborative 

musical vision. That 

opportunity arrived when he 

met Memphis native Tierinii 

Jackson, who’d gotten her 

start singing in church, before 

performing in a series of cover 

bands and theatrical projects. 

According to Naftaly, 

“When I saw Tierinii perform, 

I thought, ‘This is why I came 

to America.’ I met her and we 

clicked. At our first rehearsal, 

she told me that her sister was 

a drummer, and she thought it 

would be great to have her in 

the band. We had such a good 

vibe, and suddenly I didn’t 

care so much about my solo 

thing.” 

As one thing lead to another, 

with Naftaly and Jackson 

writing all new original music, 

the mega-popular band 

Southern Avenue was born, 

named after the Memphis 

street that stretches all the 

way from Colonial Road in 

East Memphis to the front 

doors of the Stax Museum, 

where it’s named McLemore 

Avenue, and where Stax 

Records got its start. 

Southern Avenue features 

five young but seasoned 

musicians who came from 

diverse musical and personal 

backgrounds to create music 

that spans their wide-ranging 

musical interests, while 

showcasing the powerful 

chemistry that the group 

has honed through stage 

and studio experience. In 

addition to Naftaly and 

Jackson, Southern Avenue 

includes Jackson’s sister 

Tikyra Jackson; versatile, 

jazz-inspired bassist Daniel 

McKee; and the band’s newest 

addition, keyboardist Jeremy 

“Mr. 88” Powell, an early 

alumnus of the Stax Music 

Academy. 

Eventually, in June 2016, 

the band became the first 

Memphis band to get signed 

to the newly recharged Stax 

Records label, operated by 

the Concord Music Group in 

Beverly Hills, California, which, 

since reviving the label, has 

signed such acts as Angie 

Stone, Ben Harper, Melissa 

Etheridge, and others. 

Focus recently caught up 

with Naftaly to discuss the 

band’s newfound success as 

ambassadors of the Memphis 

sound. 

Focus: What does it mean 

to Southern Avenue to be the 

first Memphis band signed 

to Stax Records and how did 

that happen? 

It means so much that we 

find ourselves overwhelmed 

sometimes. We were shopping 

our EP with several labels, 

when Luther Dickinson (of the 

Mississippi All Stars) reached 

out to Concord and told them 

about us, but nothing really 

happened. About a month 

later, John Burk, with the new 

Stax label at Concord, was in 

Memphis recording Melissa 

Etheridge with Boo Mitchell at 

Royal Studios. They went out 

to have a drink at the end of a 

recording day. They ended up 

at DKDC and that’s where he 

saw us play for the first time. 

We connected and he loved 

the band. He was looking for 

a Memphis band to sign to 

Stax for years, he said. Our 

story is somehow a cliché, 

when you think about it. We 

got discovered at a bar at 1:30 

a.m.! 

You have a new album 

coming out this month, which 

will have been released by the 

time this article appears in 

Focus. Can you tell us a little 

about that? 

Our debut album is a 

timeline of our journey in 

several ways. We recorded 

the first half at Inside Sounds 

in East Memphis with Kevin 

Houston in December 2015 

with a very small budget. 

We recorded the songs that 

Tierinii and I wrote together 

in our first month of knowing 

each other. When we signed 

with Stax, we went to record 

the rest of the album at the 

Zebra Ranch in Mississippi. 

Luther Dickinson played slide 

on two songs and gave us 

some words of advice early 

on. We owe a lot to Luther 

Dickinson. 

You have the first Stax 

Music Academy graduate in 

your band and he is now the 

first graduate to be signed to 

Stax Records. How did that 

happen? 

Jeremy Powell. I saw Jeremy 

play a Hammond on Beale 

St. four years ago and was 

amazed by his talent. We 

became friends quickly and 

played together many times. 

When we signed with Stax, the 

girls and I knew that the band 

needed Jeremy to kind of glue 

everything together. We are 

blessed to have him with us. 

The band is touring 

constantly? Are you and 

the other band members 

enjoying that and what kind 

of reception are you getting 

in other cities? 

We love touring this 

country and the world. We 

love meeting new people 

and exploring new cities and 

towns. We always have fun 

when we tour, even when it’s 

challenging. We’ve driven over 

40,000 miles since June. That 

can take a toll on you, but we 

love it. 

What does the band have 

planned for the future or 

where would you like to be in 

the next few years? 

We just want to keep 

JEREMY 

POWELL 

Southern Avenue’s 

keyboardist, Jeremy “Mr. 88” 

Powell, is now the first former 

Stax Music Academy student 

signed to Stax Records. 

Powell grew up in the 

heart of South Memphis. 

His mother still lives two 

blocks from Stax today. He 

was raised on gospel music 

in the church, where he was 

inspired at a very young 

age to love music. His first 

musical love has always been 

the Hammond B3, which is a 

staple of the church he grew 

up in. He also played drums 

in church. He had his first 

keyboard when he was just 

10 years old, and it sat in the 

back room waiting for him 

to come home from school 

every day to play it. 

Powell started playing 

trumpet in middle school, 

eventually attending the 

Stax Music Academy from 

2002-2004. He has always 

put his heart into everything 

he does, earning the Most 

Improved award in the 2003- 

2004 Class. 

“Stax taught me discipline,” 

building our legacy – brick 

by brick, song after song. We 

want to remain good friends 

just as we are right now. We 

want to be better people and 

better musicians as a group 

and individually. We love what 

we do and just want to be 

consistent; the music business 

can eat you alive if you don’t 

have enough support from 

those around you. 

How did you and the band 

come up with the name 

Southern Avenue? 

I lived off Southern in 

Cooper-Young for a while. 

At that time the girls and I 

realized we wanted to start a 

band together and we looked 

for band names. We hated that 

process, until one night we all 

sat on the porch. We looked 

at the street sign at the end of 

the street and said - Southern 

Avenue! Because it really 

represents our sound and our 

image. The trains, the belt 

line, Soulsville, Stax. It’s all on 

Southern Avenue. 

Powell says. “I started 

playing trumpet just one 

year before joining the Stax 

Music Academy. That after 

school program helped 

me to develop my passion 

and ear for music. While 

learning theory and different 

compositions on the trumpet 

at Stax, I taught myself to do 

the same on the keyboard 

at home.” He has never had 

a formal piano lesson, but is 

considered one of the best 

keyboardists playing today. 

Powell began playing 

professionally at the age of 

17, eventually making it down 

to Beale Street. He was soon 

playing so much that he quit 

his “normal” job to play the 

keyboard full time. He played 

with all of the Beale Street 

greats and opened for many 

more, earning the nickname 

“Mr. 88.” He joined Southern 

Avenue in 2016, officially 

becoming a member of the 

Stax Records family. 


lgbt advocate 

MEMPHIS’ 

MOST HUMBLE 

IDEA MAN 

Mark 

JONES 

by Joy Doss | photos courtesy of Mark Jones 

I sat down with filmmaker 

Mark Jones at Java 

Cabana, our interview set 

to a wonderfully expansive 

soundtrack that zigged from 

Amy Winehouse and Ray 

Charles then zagged to classic 

rock. It was quiet, save for 

the amazing music, as we sat 

nestled amongst all things 

vintage (how did I not know 

about the awesome vintage 

selection?!!). 

Mark will try to tell you 

he’s a boring study, but don’t 

pay him no nevermind. He is 

anything but. 

First of all, Mark, you were 

a closeted gay man in the 80s 

at a Presbyterian college as a 

religion major who did a brief 

work stint in rural Virginia. The 

town was called Meadows of 

Dan, which was near nothing. 

All of that is a story in and of 

itself. 

As a filmmaker, Mark has 

experienced some success. 

Yet, he is also careful to remain 

grounded, connected and 

engaged with the community. 

He is actually a well-adjusted 

entertainment pro! That 

deserves a mention for sure. 

Rewinding a bit: 

His fascination with film 

was initiated when his family 

bought a camcorder in 1980. 

He and his brothers made 

films but Mark maintained his 

interest level, even making a 

film about the book of Amos 

in lieu of a paper in college. 

(Yes, he got a good grade.) 

With a little due diligence, I 

uncovered the digital nugget 

of fun that is The Edge of 

Happiness, his online soap 

opera. Clearly, it was a byproduct 

of his love for daytime 

soaps as a Days fan and now a 

General Hospital fan. He says, 

“It’s the only genre where you 

might have romance, comedy, 

drama and suspense in one 

episode.” Truth! Though a 

few years old now, it is still 

available online. Perhaps one 

of these digital platform gurus 

can help monetize it! There 

should be more episodes 

of this! Do note that there 

are some familiar faces that 

float across the screen like 

WREG’s Cori Ventura and 

musician Billy Worley. In fact, 

Mark is intentional about 

using homegrown talent in his 

projects both in front of and 

behind the camera. 

“We have an abundance of 

local talent—incredible actors 

and crew members. I thought 

about bringing people in but 

what we have here works!” 

Having lived in New York 

City for 3 years as well as 

some other smaller towns, 

Mark clearly has love for 

Memphis, which is evidenced 

by his involvement. He is 

active at Idlewild Presbyterian 

Church and served as a 

deacon for three years. 

He is involved in the 

committee to save the 

Coliseum; he’s on the board 

of Indie Memphis and heavily 

involved in Outflix. However, 

Mark is also a very passionate 

about the LGBT community. 

He would love to see the 

city be more progressive 

and honor some of its LGBT 

pioneers like Bill Kendall, who 

ran the Gill Theatre. Even 


Jones’ film Tennessee Queer enjoyed critical 

praise and a run at theaters. It’s available for 

purchase on Amazon or to rent on Amazon Prime. 

You can also buy it at 5-in-1 Social Club on Broad 

Avenue. 

An unabashed soap opera fan, 

Jones is pictured here with 

Josh and Reva, stars of the soap 

opera Guiding Light. This photo 

was taken in 2005 at a fan 

luncheon in New York city. 

raising the flag at city hall in 

his honor or for Pride, which 

would surprisingly be a first, 

would be a great step forward. 

He has several ideas in 

mind, some that he is actively 

working toward like naming a 

street or park after Bill Kendall 

or declaring Bill Kendall 

Day. “Wouldn’t it be great to 

rename the Hernando DeSoto 

bridge? It would show the 

world that Memphis is secure 

in its masculinity.” Indeed! 

As we talked, I learned that 

his passion is not limited. He 

participated in the recent 

Women’s March and the march 

against the immigration ban. 

He also has other ideas for 

the city like free bus service, 

noting that no-fare bus service 

would be faster and the 

number of riders may increase. 

This would make Memphis a 

model city. More importantly, 

it would put $3 a day back in 

the pockets of working class 

people, who rely most on 

public transportation. 

“We have an imagination 

problem in Memphis. The 

government class continues 

to look back when they should 

be looking forward.” I said, 

hmmm, I feel politics in your 

spirit! He laughs at this and 

says it would be fun to run 

for City Council or Mayor but 

he isn’t sure he has what it 

takes. The BS may put him in 

a bad space. Nonetheless, he 

has faith in Mayor Strickland 

and hopes to see him move 

Memphis forward, eventually 

catching up to peer cities like 

Cincinnati. 

However, since he came 

out in 1994 Memphis has 

moved closer to acceptance 

and safe space. Mark counts 

himself among the fortunate 

ones as many times these 

experiences are fraught or met 

with anger and rejection. His 

family initially had questions 

and concerns but they were 

ultimately very supportive. 

His parents joined PFLAG and 

his dad marched with in the 

Pride parade in 1997. He is also 

fortunate to be with longtime 

partner, Ben. They met at a 

wedding in 2001 and haven’t 

looked back since. 

Mark continues to make 

movies, primarily centered 

around LGBT characters, 

stories and issues. His first film 

was a coming out story and 

his latest, Tennessee Queer 

enjoyed critical praise and a 

run at theaters. It’s available 

for purchase on Amazon or to 

rent on Amazon Prime. You 

can also buy it at 5-in-1 on 

Broad Avenue. He released 

a short film last year called 

Death$ in a $mall Town and 

is now set to shoot another 

short at the end of February, 

Winding Brook. 

We may catch Mark at the 

movies, on the film circuit, in 

one of his favorites places in 

Cooper Young, or at his most 

favorite eatin’’ spot, Payne’s 

BBQ! But maaaaybe, just 

maybe, at City Hall as our 

city’s next LGBT pioneer. If 

he’s not in chambers, he’ll at 

least push some buttons! 

We’ll keep our eyes peeled 

Mark. Keep going! 

Jones also enjoys being in front of the camera. Here he is 

playing an extra in Sun Records that was shot last year in 

Memphis. The show premieres this year. 


See what I'm talking about here: 

w e’ r e local ! 

National Pride March in D.C. 

June 11th 

Who wants to go? 

Follow us on Facebook for more details... 

901.272.7600 

1382 Poplar Avenue | thepumpingstationmemphis.com

lgbt ally 

MAURICIO 

CALVO 

by Robin Beaudoin | photo courtesy of Latino Memphis 

I think people in the LGBT 

community are so openminded 

and progressive, and 

very supportive (because 

they are also under attack) 

It is said that when you 

reach the bottom, there’s 

nowhere to go but up. 

Christian Brothers University 

business school alum Mauricio 

Calvo professionally spent 

10 years of trying different 

things, and not giving up. “You 

have to prove yourself,” says 

Calvo. 

Ownership in a tortilleria, 

and a stint in real estate 

were two in a series of 

setbacks where nothing 

seemed to work. “Everything 

that I touched went wrong, 

and I stumbled into this 

opportunity. My failures made 

me more human and more 

empathetic.” 

In 2009, Calvo joined Latino 

Memphis, and found his 

passion. “I am an immigrant 

myself, and I’ve had a lot of 

opportunities, and now felt 

this call to do something for 

my own community.” 

Calvo plunged into his 

position as director of Latino 

Memphis during a difficult 

time for the group, but has 

successfully engaged other 

communities interested in 

human rights and relationships 

to expand the group’s 

prospects for growth. 

Probing Memphis for 

an alliance with the Latino 

community didn’t take 

long, Calvo reveals. “We are 

surrounded by a diverse team, 

and I love to see groups of 

people intersect. Yesterday 

I was talking with Will Batts 

(director, OUTMemphis), and 

I told him I find it fascinating 

that different groups of people 

are both gay and Latino, or 

black, or Muslim- more than 

one group that is struggling. 

That has expanded our work. 

Jonathan Cole (Tennessee 

Equality Project) once told 

me, ‘We’re fighting a different 

fight, but we’re fighting the 

same people.’” 

In 2016, in collaboration with 

OUTMemphis, Focus Mid- 

South, and Friends for Life, 

interest and desire to outreach 

and communicate with the 

LGBT community took shape 

in the inaugural PRISMA!, a 

kickoff celebration for their 

spring celebration, Fiesta de 

Brasil. Calvo expects a repeat 

performance on a new date, 

and more participation with 

the LGBT community, “We 

have just started to scratch 

the surface. I think people in 

the LGBT community are so 

open-minded and progressive, 

and very supportive (because 

they are also under attack), 

and there are many Latinos 

who are LGBTQ who don’t 

come out because of cultural 

fears. These three reasons why 

it’s important to do way more 

than what we’re doing. I love 

what the magazine does, I’m 

a big fan of (Focus Mid-South 

publisher) Ray Rico.” 

Latino Memphis found that 

holding PRISMA! on the eve 

of the festival spread their 

resources too thin, though 

the crowd was incredible. A 

change in date for the event, 

as well as the addition of a 

Memphis Pride month event, 

or parade presence are in 

talks. 

Calvo and artist wife Yancy 

Villa participated with family 

and friends in the Immigration 

March on February 1, a nod 

to their full-time dedication 

to equal rights at work and 

at home. He notes, “It’s more 

than a 9-to-5 job. It’s a family 

affair, and we are all involved 

in different ways. This election 

has activated a lot of things 

in the community and in our 

home. Now Yancy is more into 

politics, and we talk about it 

with the kids over dinner: what 

it means for the children of 

immigrants, and our friends 

and the families of the people 

we serve.” He stresses that 

because it isn’t how he grew 

up, the difference is what 

makes this an awesome time 

and place to be. “It’s normal 

for them to see my (male) 

friends bring their boyfriend 

to dinner, and whether they 

decide to date a boy or a girl, 

it’s normal!” 


health+wellness 

Local salon fundraising supports 

International clean water causes 

by Robin Beaudoin 

Pavo Salon & Spa owners 

Shawn McGhee (top) and 

Scot Robinson’s corporate 

interest in clean water 

initiatives began after the 

Deepwater Horizon (Gulf 

of Mexico) oil rig spill of 

2010, the largest marine 

oil spill in history. Eleven 

workers were killed and 

more than 100 were injured 

at the time of the explosion 

that caused the spill. The 

rig was located about 40 

miles off the Louisiana 

coast; approximately 1100 

miles of coastal shoreline, 

from Florida to Texas, were 

contaminated with the oil 

and thousands of marine 

animals died as a result. 

Two days after the initial 

explosion, on Earth Day, 

ironically, the rig sank. 

A popular, upscale Memphis 

salon offers a life-changing cut 

and color, but the good they 

do reaches well beyond their 

salon and spa clients. With two 

locations in midtown and East 

Memphis, Pavo Salon & Spa 

is an Aveda Lifestyle salon, 

sharing a philanthropic focus 

on clean water efforts and 

the protection of indigenous 

tribes. “We raise money for 

clean water for your hair, skin, 

and health, in partnership 

with Tennessee Clean Water 

Network, which protects all of 

Tennessee’s major waterways. 

They make huge efforts right 

here in our own backyard 

in the Mississippi [River], 

“states Scot Robinson, part 

owner with Shawn McGhee 

since 1997. “It’s alarmingpeople 

assume they have 

clean water because we live 

in the United States, but 

that’s not necessarily true.” 

A tremendous drop over the 

last ten years of enforcement 

of EPA water policies in 

Tennessee makes clean water 

initiatives not only helpful but 

necessary. 

Robinson reveals the outset 

of the salon’s protective 

efforts, “Aveda aims 

globally to protect water for 

indigenous tribes, and salons 

will donate money on a local 

level. When we originally 

started, we worked with gulf 

coast restoration, after the oil 

spill. All our contribution was 

going to that effort. 

Tennessee Clean Water 

came along four or five years 

ago, and it seemed like a 

perfect fit.” The brand’s 

products and processes 

are more environmentally 

responsible than most, 

using plant power instead of 

petrochemicals. 

Aveda Lifestyle Director 

for Pavo’s salons, Meagan 

Kitterlin, gushes over the 

global initiative by Aveda. 

“Part of being in the Aveda 

Network of salons includes 

participation in the Global 

Earth Month Campaign for 

Clean Water.” Since the 

inception of Aveda’s 

clean water campaign 

in 1999, the Aveda 

Network has raised over 

fifty million dollars for 

clean water. Pavo, as 

Memphis’ largest Aveda 

salon, is serious about 

this commitment, and 

has raised $40,000 

in the last three years 

to benefit the Gulf 

Restoration Network, 

Tennessee Clean 

Water Network (the 

current project), and 

the Global Greengrants 

Fund. Kitterlin echoes 

Robinson’s gratitude for 

the program, “We are 

lucky to serve the Memphis 

community, where we draw 

a diverse and passionate 

clientele who receive high 

quality service in a relaxing 

environment. Thanks to them, 

and our dedicated staff, our 

efforts covered the cost 

of Tennessee Clean Water 

Network’s entire operating 

budget in 2014.” Pavo’s 

contributions also earned the 

Memphis area an additional 

water bottle refill fountain, 

accessible at the Greenline 

entrance at Shelby Farms Park. 

Additional info: 

aveda.com/living-aveda 

TCWN.org 

pavosalon.com 

Deep Water Horizon/Gulf of Mexico 

oil spill is shown on a beach on June 

12, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 

Photo by Danny E Hooks (Shutterstock 

image) 


HOW TO PROTECT WATER 

AND MAKE HAPPINESS FLOW 

The Aveda network has raised over $38 million to protect clean water. 

You, too, can help. Follow these tips! 

Tips courtesy of Aveda.com 

SAVE TIME. SAVE WATER. 

Cut just 3 minutes from your usual 

shower time, and you’ll save an average 

of 6 gallons (22.7 liters) of water.· If 

you shower daily, you could save 2,190 

gallons (8,290 liters) of water a year! 

FILL UP TO CUT DOWN. 

Make sure your washing machine and 

dishwasher are filled to capacity before 

running them to cut energy and water 

use. You can save even more by airdrying 

your clothes on a clothesline. 

PLANT ICE. 

Place Ice cubes under the moss or dirt 

of your potted plants and hanging 

baskets. You give your plants a cool 

drink that won’t overflow or waste 

water. Use leftover ice for your drinks 

instead of wasting it. 

MAKE MEALS MEATLESS. 

Skip meat one day a week and save 

thousands of gallons/liters of water! 

It takes up to 5,000 gallons (18,927 

liters) of water to produce one pound 

of meat.** 

SAVE ELECTRIClTY— 

AND WATER. 

lt takes about 2 gallons (7.6 liters) of 

fresh water to generate each kilowatthour 

of traditional electricity. So turn 

electricity off if you’re not using it! 

BRUSH BETTER. 

Turn the water off when brushing your 

teeth. Save 4-10 gallons (15-38 liters) a 

day! 

(See home-water-works.org/indoor-use/showers 

**eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/green_sustainable/6_reasons_to_eat_less_meat 


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Office 901.278.4380 • Cell 901.237.7729 

bdickerson@sowellandco.com 

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food+drink 

Phillip Ashley 

Cooper-Young’s Sweetest Neighbor 

by Robin Beaudoin 


As a premium chocolatier, 

Phillip Ashley Rix has 

embraced the opportunity to 

lift up and endorse fellow local 

businesses with partnerships 

in philanthropy and flavor. “If 

I have to pick one thing that 

successful businesses have, 

it’s the relationships and the 

network that they develop. 

That is the greatest currency 

that I have.” He feels similarly 

about his growing relationship 

with the LGBT community. 

He returned from Baltimore 

to Memphis after college and 

a corporate sales career with 

Apple, Inc. and FedEx, with 

expert-level marketing skills 

and a drive to start fresh. 

Airbrush gun and paper plates 

(for practice) in hand, Ashley 

read obsessively, piecing 

together tutorials to advance 

to Willy Wonka status as a 

chocolatier in his hometown. 

“I was getting to the point 

I wanted to do something 

different, and I’d been bitten 

by the whole chef bug,” 

recalls Ashley. He loved food, 

but preferred to be in the 

consumer space rather than 

the back of a kitchen. “When 

you’re open and receptive, 

something tends to come.” 

With no mentor, and no 

open access to the industry, 

he forged his own path, letting 

his own imagination and drive 

take over. 

His first public foot in the 

door came after providing 

turndown chocolates for the 

Italian destination wedding 

of a Memphis-area LGBT 

couple, theatre director Dennis 

Whitehead and neonatologist 

husband Bryan Darling. Their 

wedding was featured in a 

Martha Stewart wedding 

magazine. The spread included 

mention of his chocolates, 

which were shipped via FedEx 

to Italy in boxes of two for the 

occasion. 

The publicity clinched his 

new career, and he needed a 

storefront. “I was looking for a 

cool place to put a chocolate 

shop, not your everyday 

type thing. Cooper-Young 

stood out.” A landlord friend 

showed him the spot at 798 

South Cooper Street, and it 

was home. “We were moving 

in the week of Cooper-Young 

Fest 2013. We were right down 

the street from OUTMemphis 

(MGLCC, at the time), and we 

all introduced ourselves.” 

Cooper-Young Festival 

fulfilled traffic expectations, 

and his crew passed out 2,000 

postcards to plug the store’s 

opening. “It’s a great thing 

to have, knowing how many 

people will be there in front of 

our store. It’s one of the bestrun 

festivals in Memphis.” 

The store’s grand opening 

fell just before the Christmas 

holiday. 

Phillip Ashley chocolates 

have since evolved into jewels, 

known for their unusual—yet 

cohesive—flavor combinations, 

such as Gorgonzola and fig, 

jerk spices and plantain, or 

sage, caramel, and fennel. 

Many of his creations celebrate 

local Mid-South ingredients, 

such as Wiseacre and Ghost 

River beers, Central BBQ 

or BBQ Shop rubs, Wynne, 

Arkansas sweet potatoes, and 

feature local cream. Since his 

inaugural season, the man 

Forbes dubbed a “Real Life 

Willy Wonka,” Phillip Ashley 

Rix has been bestowed the 

honor of Official Chocolatier of 

the GRAMMYs®. His creations 

have been featured in a 

James Beard Foundation’s 

“Taste of the Delta” dinner; 

he was named one of the 

Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite 

Professionals; and he has 

teamed up with Horchow 

and Neiman Marcus’ gourmet 

food gifts to amplify internet 

chocolate sales, while he 

pitches his strongest product— 

himself. 

The storefront remains 

active for special sales and 

tastings, while the chef 

takes his business savvy 

to the masses, teaching 

entrepreneurship master 

classes, hosting charity galas, 

and raising money for local 

children’s hospitals St. Jude 

and LeBonheur. This fall he will 

host his 5th annual Memphis 

Masquerade in a Casino Royale 

theme, celebrating James 

Bond, and hopes to see his 

LGBT neighbors join in on the 

fun and support the Heart 

Institute at LeBonheur. And, 

yes, there will be chocolate. 

“We tell stories that taste 

like chocolate, and using local 

flavor only helps to be more 

authentic. Our overarching 

slogan is “Crafted in Memphis, 

coveted around the world,” to 

say we are in Memphis and we 

are doing really big things. 

Phillip Ashley Chocolate creations has imagined flavors 

including Nice and Neat Double Barreled Bourbon, and 

Fresca TM Rasberry Goatcheesecake. 


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• Focused on helping the LGBTQ community. 

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susanmackenzielaw.com | 2157 Madison Avenue | 901-272-2729

pet focus 

LOVE WINS AGAIN 

When you are an abandoned senior, diabetic, vision-impaired Chihuahua, 

how could anything possibly go right? 

by Robin Freeman Beaudoin 

photos courtesy of Ava’s new mommies, Jenny and Beth 


It isn’t every day that a dog 

like Ava gets a “happily ever 

after.” Organizations such as 

Guardian Angel Pet Rescue 

work tirelessly to connect 

animals with loving homes 

and families every day of the 

What do two rainy days, an 

abandoned pup, and a couple from 

Massachusetts have in common? They 

are all part of a very happy ending 

thanks to a network of dedicated 

people and a sweet Chihuahua’s will to 

live. 

The story began last March when a 

blind and extremely sick doggie was 

found wandering along Germantown 

Parkway. A concerned citizen scooped 

her up, immediately taking her to a 

veterinarian and posting her info on 

NextDoor, a networking website for 

neighbors and the community. No 

one claimed the adorable girl who 

had gone into diabetic shock. After 

ten days in the clinic, and mounting 

medical bills, the newly named 

Beth was in need of fostering until a 

permanent home could be arranged. 

The woman who found Beth on that 

rainy day, along with dozens of other 

animal lovers, rallied to raise funds 

for Beth’s treatment by creating a 

“Friends of Beth” Facebook page to 

help connect Beth’s fans and support 

her recovery. Meanwhile, the hunt was 

on to find an organization that had the 

capacity to take on an older rescue 

with serious medical issues. Guardian 

Angel Pet Rescue (GAPR) quite literally 

came to the rescue as the only group 

willing to take on the responsibility of 

caring for Beth. 

As the days went on, Beth grew 

stronger. Her profile was posted on 

RescueMe.org and a couple from 

Massachusetts quickly became 

interested. Maria and Jenny submitted 

a request to adopt Beth, excitedly 

filling out an online application while 

discussing Beth’s many medical needs 

with GAPR Executive Director Debra 

Homas over the phone. 

“The sadness in her eyes drew us in. 

Maria took one look at Beth’s post and 

turned to me, simply saying ‘let’s get 

her’” explained Jenny. 

“We were instantly moved and knew 

we needed to bring this little girl into 

our lives.” 

The couple wasn’t fazed by Beth’s 

condition or her medical needs. And 

because both Jenny and Maria work 

from home much of the time, they 

felt perfectly suited to adopt a dog 

requiring twenty-four-hour care. 

Fast forward to another rainy day 

in August when Beth was driven to 

Nashville to meet one of her new moms 

who had flown in just to bring Beth 

home — it was love at first sight! Not 

only has Ava (new life, new name!) 

settled into her new home that she 

shares with two cats and her canine 

brother Owen, her new mommies also 

gave her cataract surgery which has 

restored her eyesight. 

Between being pampered by her 

moms and playing with her siblings, 

Ava is enjoying her fortunate new 

beginning. “She immediately fit into 

our existing ‘fur family.’ We found a 

food that she loves (yes, we cook for 

her!), her diabetes is controlled, and 

she’s reached her goal weight of 12 

pounds!” reports Jenny. “She sleeps 

on Maria’s pillow at night and can be 

found on one of our laps at any given 

time. Ava couldn’t be more loved.” 

year. If you are interested in 

adopting a rescue, fostering 

a cat or dog, or simply want 

to support the crucial work of 

GAPR, visit their website at 

guardianangelpetrescue. 

com where you will find ways 

to help, as well as a list of 

adoptable dogs and cats. 


travel 

Original 

Memphis 

THE PEABODY HOTEL 

DUCKS AND DUCKMASTER 

story by Jimmy Ogle, Duckmaster 

Photos by Trey Clark 

used with permission ©2017 Peabody Hotel 

149 UNION AVENUE | MEMPHIS, TN 38103 

PEABODYMEMPHIS.COM 


Shortly after the Civil 

War ended, the story of 

The Peabody Hotel begins. 

Opening in 1869, the original 

name given was to be 

Brinkley House in honor of the 

founder, Col. Robert Brinkley. 

However, Col. Brinkley 

changed the name to The 

Peabody Hotel in honor of 

his good friend, “the father 

of American philanthropy”, 

George Peabody. The original 

Peabody Hotel closed in 1923 

and after two years of grand 

construction, today’s Peabody 

Hotel of Italian Renaissance 

Revival design, opened in 

1925. 

In 1935, newspaper man 

David Cohn wrote a quote 

in his book Where I Was 

Born And Raised, that “the 

Mississippi Delta begins in the 

Lobby of the Peabody Hotel 

and ends at Catfish Row in 

Vicksburg”. He added “. . . if 

you stand near the fountain 

in the middle of the lobby . . . 

you will see everybody who is 

anybody in the Delta . . .” 

Over 80 years later, that 

quote stands true today. The 

restoration and re-opening of 

The Peabody Hotel in 1981 was 

the catalyst project for the 

rebirth of Downtown Memphis 

which began in the early 

1980s. The Peabody Hotel, 

the only hotel in Memphis 

listed on the National Register 

of Historic Places, again has 

been the heart and soul of 

modern Downtown Memphis 

ever since. The Lobby, with its 

beautifully sculpted fountain 

of happy cherubs and a wall 

of Italian travertine marble, 

continues to be the iconic 

Memphis destination for 

people from all over the world 

to find and enjoy. 

And, of course, the 

“residents” of the fountain 

continue a tradition like none 

other, which was begun in 

1933 – as a practical joke! 

That year, the hotel’s general 

manager and a friend went on 

a duck hunting excursion into 

neighboring Arkansas. The 

hotel’s chef packed them a 

sumptuous lunch, and a bottle 

of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee 

sippin’ whiskey. On the way, 

the driver stopped off at a 

duck farm to pick up some live 

decoy ducks, a practice that 

was within the law in those 

days. 

Apparently, no duck hunting 

was done that day and the 

two men returned to the hotel. 

Back at the hotel as they were 

unloading the car, they noticed 

the basket containing the 

live decoy ducks - they had 

forgotten to return them to 

the duck farm. They decided 

to place the ducks in the lobby 

fountain, just for the night. 

Next morning, when the 

general manager came 

through the lobby, he saw to 

his horror, crowds of people 

around the fountain, gawking 

at the ducks. He approached, 

apologized profusely and 

told his guests he would 

have the ducks removed 

immediately. Much to his 

surprise, the guests loved the 

idea of having live ducks in the 

lobby fountain, and the ducks 

became permanent residents 

thereafter. 

In 1940, Edward Pembroke 

(a former animal trainer with 

the circus) and the Peabody 

Ducks met for the first time, 

thus beginning a 50-year 

daily stage show known as 

the World Famous March 

of The Peabody Ducks - all 

to the tune of John Philip 

Sousa’s King Cotton March. Mr. 

By management decree, duck is not on any menu at the Peabody. 

Pembroke became the world’s 

first Duckmaster, a title that he 

held for 50 years! 

The Peabody Ducks and 

Pembroke quickly became 

legendary celebrities, and 

famous the world over, 

appearing in many magazines 

such as People and Sports 

Illustrated, and on many 

national TV shows, including 

The Tonight With Johnny 

Carson, Oprah Winfrey and 

even made a special guest 

appearance on Sesame Street 

for National Rubber Ducky 

Day! By management decree, 

no duck is served on any menu 

at The Peabody Hotel. 

Over half a century, several 

Peabody Duckmasters have 

come and gone, but the name 

of Edward Pembroke will be 

remembered and revered 

forever. Today, a large picture 

of Duckmaster Pembroke has 

pride of place in the lobby 

of The Peabody, the South’s 

Grand Hotel. Some think 

that The Peabody Hotel has 

13 stories. Actually, it has 

thousands. 

Witnessed by hundreds of 

guests and visitors on a daily 

basis, the World Famous 

March of The Peabody Ducks 

occurs at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

year round. 

Now, that’s an American 

hotel industry original! 

The World Famous March of The Peabody Ducks occurs 

at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. year round. 

During their stay at the Peabody, the ducks have their own 

rooftop quarters, attended to by Duckmaster Ogle. 

Hotel History Tours with the Peabody Duckmaster 

Take a trip back in time with this 1-hour tour of the 

“South’s Grand Hotel” with the Peabody Duckmaster. 

Daily, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

$5 for hotel guests, $10 for other guests 

Reservations required: 901-529-4108 


calendar 

POPPING OUT 

ACTIVITIES 

MARCH & APRIL 

BY ROBIN BEAUDOIN 

MARCH 8 

STEVIE NICKS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS 

PRETENDERS: 24 KARAT GOLD TOUR 

FEDEX FORUM, 7PM. 

For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com. 

MARCH 18 

MEMPHIS POP ART FESTIVAL AND 

DESIGNER TOY SUMMIT 

AGRICENTER INTERNATIONAL 11AM-7PM. 

7777 WALNUT GROVE RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38120 

Toys, anime, vinyl, and more join with pop artists 

from around the country. Tickets are $10. 

memphispopartfest.com 

MARCH 25 

MUSLIMEMFEST 

AGRICENTER INTERNATIONAL, 10AM-7PM, 

7777 WALNUT GROVE RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38120 

Free admission. Family friendly fun. 

For information: 901-277-7223 or visit 

muslimsinmemphis.org. 

MARCH 31 

BROOKS UNCORKED: DISCO BALL 

MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART, 7PM. 

1934 POPLAR AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38104 

The opening event for the 25th anniversary year 

of the wine series, with giveaways to the first 

100 guests. Tickets $100 until March 20, $125 

thereafter atbrooksmuseum.org. 

APRIL 1 

MEMPHIS FARMERS MARKET 

OPENING DAY, 7AM-1PM 

G.E. PATTERSON AND SOUTH FRONT STREET 

Memphis, TN 38103 Greens, squash, herbs, and 

collards are in season and available, along with 

handmade specialty items. 

APRIL 15 

CONDOMMONIUM, BENEFITING 

CHOICES MEMPHIS 

PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, 7-10PM. 

66 COOPER STREET, MEMPHIS, TN 38104 

Enjoy condom fashions, rowdy comedy, and 

plenty of food and drink while raising awareness 

for safer sex and reproductive health. 

Purchase “Pay your age” tickets at 

memphischoices.org. 

APRIL 21 & 22 

SPRING PLANT SALE 

MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, 9AM-5PM. 

750 CHERRY ROAD, MEMPHIS, TN 38117 

Let experts help you decide what plants will work 

best in your space, browse accents and art for 

your garden and home. Admission is free. 

memphisbotanicgarden.com 

Have an event to list? Do it online at focusmidsouth.com/submit 


Baby, 

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DON’T YA WANNA DINE 

BREAKFAST 

Monday - Friday 

7:30am - 10:30am 

BRUNCH 

Saturday & Sunday 

7:30am - 3:00pm 

LUNCH 

Monday - Friday 

11:00am - 2:00pm 

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Sunday - Thursday 

4:00pm - 9:00pm 

BBQ BUFFET 

Friday 

4:00pm - 11:00pm 

SEAFOOD BUFFET 

Saturday 

4:00pm - 11:00pm 

$ 

10 FOOD CREDIT 

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outlet excluding room service. Gratuity not included. 

Certificate has no cash value and no change will be given. 

Valid only at Sam’s Town Tunica. 

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Must be 21 or older. Must present to B Connected Club to redeem coupon. 

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POPLAR AVE @ GROVE PARK ROAD SOUTH 

Charming. Unique. 

Distinct. 

Babcock Gifts 

Now open! 

Baer’s Den 

Blu D´or Interiors 

Chico’s 

Cotton Tails 

Dinstuhl’s Candies 

Fleet Feet Sports 

Frost Bake Shop 

The Grove Grill 

Hot Yoga Plus 

IBERIABANK 

J. Jill 

J. McLaughlin 

Opening Spring 2017! 

James Davis 

Joseph 

King Furs and 

Fine Jewelry 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: 

/laurelwoodmemphis 

@shoplaurelwood 

Kirkland’s 

Mona Esthetics 

Orvis 

Panera Bread 

Pavo Salon.spa 

Q4Fitness 

Rafferty’s 

Restaurant & Bar 

Sachi 

Sissy’s Log Cabin 

Soma Intimates 

The Stovall 

Collection 

Talbots 

Talbots Petites 

Turkoyz 

Turkoyz @ Home 

@ShopLaurelwood 

LAURELWOODMEMPHIS.COM 

OO

2017 Issue 2 Mar/Apr - Focus Mid-South Magazine

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