A black limo pulls up next to a tent full of expectant visitors awaiting a community lunch.
As the side door opens, Minnie Fox steps out to cheers and applause from the crowd full of public officials and community members.
Though they are here for the 20th Minnie Fox Community Day at her home in the Blackjack Community in Oktibbeha County, Fox doesn’t want the focus to be just on herself. She would rather everyone focus on being gathered together.
“I love people, and when you love people, things you do are enjoyable. … You don’t do it for yourself,” Fox told The Dispatch. “It’s not for you, but it’s for God. Only what you do for God lasts. … That’s why it’s lasted 20 years.”
That first community day was actually a birthday celebration for Fox, who was working as a cook for the Oktibbeha County Jail at the time.
Having come a long way from serving only inmates and sheriff’s deputies, Fox expanded the tradition into a meal prepared annually for more than 100 public officials, city employees, first responders and other community members – all in an effort to bring people together.
“The reason I changed it from my birthday to a community thing, (is) because so many people started coming, and they started enjoying (themselves) in fellowship,” Fox said. “… I enjoyed that because I feel like this is what God wanted me to do. If you can feed 100 and some people every year and don’t get broke, that’s something God wants you to do.”
Since retiring in 2012, Fox has moved the celebration from the sheriff’s office to her house in Starkville, where she has enlisted organizers to help prepare and serve the food. This year’s event took months of planning and coordinating among the team, organizer Regina Evans told The Dispatch.
“It’s a lot of work,” Evans said. “We got a lot of hands involved in it, and we all try to contribute. This is what she wants to do, and we always try to do what she asks us to do.”
The community event each year brings with it familiar faces, like former Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan who always makes a point to come see Fox and get a plate of her food.
“Me and my wife attend it every year,” Bryan said. “… Of course, we come to see Minnie. … I’ve known her for years. She’s a really good person.”
After Fox’s grand entrance, Oktibbeha County Sheriff Shank Phelps gave a speech in honor of Fox, and then Board of Supervisors President Marvell Howard presented her with a proclamation from the board recognizing her service and significance to the county.
“I’ve known Ms. Minnie a long time, well over 30 years and again,” Howard told The Dispatch. “Like I said, just a few years ago, my mother passed away, and she just sort of stepped into that motherly role and just made me love (her) even more.”
After the speeches, Fox’s crew of servers sprang to action, bringing round plates of food to each visitor and taking to-go plates to those who had to make an early exit.
Sixteenth Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens, who has attended the event since its start, said that he appreciates the family atmosphere of the event and getting to see both retired and current colleagues. He praised Fox’s efforts and commitment to continuing the tradition.
“She’s got a servant’s heart, and she doesn’t want to be served,” Kitchens told The Dispatch. “She wants to serve her community, and so that’s why she cooks most of this food. … She’s back there preparing it instead of being the guest of honor, oftentimes she’s the one that’s out, leading the charge to get everybody fed.”
Fox, who turned 78 years old this year, plans to continue hosting the event as long as she can. But she hopes someone will eventually take the helm and continue the event as a space where the local community can gather, she said.
“I think a lot of people are getting a lot out of this in seeing me (show) what to do, and I’m trying to teach these younger girls, ‘When I go on, continue this. Don’t let it stop,’” Fox said. “… They know enough about it now because I have the same group of ladies help me every year.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
