The Mississippi Delta
You Can Go Home Again…
contrary to Thomas Wolfe’s
“You Can’t Go Home Again!”
My long-time readers all know I was born and raised in the MS Delta until I finished high school. I continued to visit my hometown of Shelby with my kids every summer until the family home was sold in 2011. I still continue to support Teach For America in the MS Delta as they have been critical in supporting public education there.
In 2009, the local Chinese in the MS Delta decided the stories and experience of the Chinese who settled in the Delta after the Civil War should be saved and preserved. Thus was the beginning of the MS Delta Chinese Heritage Museum (MSDHM) at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Many families, including my own, contributed heirlooms to support the museum’s exhibits. Throughout the years, the museum has occasionally honored members of the MS Chinese community for their achievements. Earlier this year, I learned I had been chosen as an honoree and would be recognized on September 8th.
I realized this was a unique opportunity for a family reunion, so I invited my kids, grandkids, sisters, brother, nieces, and nephews. Thankfully, most were able to attend. This was an opportunity for all of them to revisit Shelby and visit my father’s gravesite.
The Shelby water tower
James & Mae Chow Gravesite
Shelby is virtually a shadow of what it once was. The downtown was once bustling with activity and local stores. Today, only one store remains - our family grocery store, which was sold to a Chinese immigrant family. Surprisingly, they have been successful even though the owner’s English is quite limited. The remainder of the town is in disrepair, a decay likely hastened because the new (20+ years old) interstate highway that was built to bypass the town. The wealthier population has all moved to nearby towns like Cleveland for better schools and opportunities. In addition to the lack of traffic, a lack of leadership and positive vision makes a recovery for Shelby seem nearly impossible. What was once a beautiful yard that my mother always kept well-manicured is now an overgrown mess, though the brick house still looked intact. Still, my family appreciated the opportunity to revisit where we had so much fun with mahjong parties, big barbecues and fireworks parties. Sadly, this is the situation of most of the little rural towns that populate the old high 61 from Memphis to Vicksburg.
Our Family Grocery Store
In brighter news, the weekend began Friday night with an authentic home cooked Chinese dinner for 60 at our friends, Sally and Gilroy Chow, whom we also call cousins. They and their entire family cooked an amazing 10 course Chinese dinner with all the many Chinese ingredients you can only get in good home cooking. The greens were home grown too! The big surprise was the Starner Group team surprised me by flying in for the occasion and in time to enjoy the delicious southern Chinese cooking. They even took the opportunity to visit Graceland before the dinner.
Starner Group at Graceland!
Cole, Bruce’s son and my grandson, asked if we could teach him Mahjong. He and the other kids were fast learners and true to their heritage, loved the game.
Gilroy Chow stir frying
Authentic home cooked Chinese dinner
Cloe learning Mahjong
In addition to the Starner Team surprising me by showing up for dinner, several executives and friends from Raymond James flew in for my recognition and message. Another wonderful touch.
Saturday featured a catfish dinner and then, my presentation, which was entitled “Bringing Main Street to Wall Street.” Prior to my presentation, my two daughters, Lise and Dana, surprised me with a retrospective documentary about my life, which you are welcome to view here.
After that emotional viewing, I spoke about how being raised Chinese in MS Delta influenced my success. I focused on two factors: 1) luck and 2) how helping and sharing with each other, instead of competing, was critical to the mutual success of the MS Chinese community. I saw luck as an opportunity when there weren’t so many for us, and I was fortunate to join a firm with a culture very similar to the MS Delta Chinese.
At one time, there were many Chinese grocery stories all in rural towns that made up the MS Delta. Today, there are only a handful. The immigrants did well, sent their kids away to college and most like myself didn’t return. The ones who remained are mostly professionals as doctors, lawyers, pharmacist, educators, etc.
I must admit that I feel deep sadness when I see that the MS Delta continues to struggle with the vicious circle of poverty and lack of opportunity. Still, the culture of being neighborly and all being part of a big family is compelling and exists with my friends who remain in the Delta. The weekend was a wonderful reunion for the grandkids and cousins, they may have enjoyed the trip even more than those of us who grew up in the Delta. The hospitality was unbelievable. I’m sure we will be playing Mahjong with the grandkids at Xmas time!
The Chow and Starner Family
Here are thoughts from the Starner team members regarding going to Shelby
For the better part of a decade, this team has heard story after story about what is what like for Margaret growing up in the MS Delta. Most of the time, we had the same reaction as any kid who has ever listened to a grandparent talk about things "back in my day." We believed the gist of the story, but never fathomed it to be 100% accurate. After visiting the town of Shelby last month, we can now agree that the stories were not exaggerations for effect. The tiny town with a jail no bigger than a portable storage trailer, really is that tiny. The warehouse where they lived in the back of the family grocery store, really was that dark. Experiencing Margaret's beginnings first hand has brought more clarity and understanding to the practice than we ever expected. It was a short trip to a small town, but it made a huge impact.
-Jessica, Adrian, Daniel, and Stephanie
The Starner Group in Mississippi!
Margaret and Janet Moses (Miami Branch Manager)
Sincerely,
Margaret C. Starner
Senior VP - Financial Planning
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 500
Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.starnergroup.com
2020 Investment News - Lifetime Achievement in
Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award
Nominees for the 2020 InvestmentNews Diversity & Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award must currently be working as financial planners, registered representatives or registered investment advisers, or as industry professionals in a role that supports financial advisers. Judges will consider management, team development, achievement and a minimum 15-year commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. InvestmentNews received about 130 nominations for the Diversity & Inclusions awards and selected 1 individual for the Lifetime Achievement award. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating nor is Raymond James affiliated with InvestmentNews
