prentiss county mississippi history

Denise's family photos

My mother-in-law Denise is a very busy lady who spends most of her time taking care of her family and friends. Most women have a strained relationship with their mother-in-laws, but she is one of most selfless people I know. She spends most of her time taking care of her family, friends and neighborhood kids.

When she does have a free moment, she delights in the simple things -- a Sunday afternoon in her garden, a Saturday morning drive to the flea market to look for vintage treasures and a holiday spent with her children, granddaughters and soon-to-arrive grandson (!). She is an old soul, and many of her lifelong interests were formed during days and weekends spent with her beloved grandparents. Many of her family photos burned in a house fire years ago, so the photos she still has are very precious to her. Lately I have been working to digitize and create a photo book of her family photos. 

Here are a few of my favorites: 

Clovis and Arletta Geno, Denise's parents. 

Clovis and Arletta Geno, Denise's parents. 

Her adorable grandparents, James and Pearl Barnes. 

Her adorable grandparents, James and Pearl Barnes

Denise (bottom right) and most of her siblings. 

Denise (bottom right) and most of her siblings. 

Denise's grandmother, Mommie Barnes (third for left), and her sisters (Sarah Gann, Myrtle Thorton, Pearl Barnes and Mary Gann).

Denise's grandmother, Mommie Barnes (third for left), and her sisters (Sarah Gann, Myrtle Thorton, Pearl Barnes and Mary Gann).

Denise's sweet sister Glenda who was killed in a car accident a few weeks before Jonathan was born. 

Denise's sweet sister Glenda who was killed in a car accident a few weeks before Jonathan was born. 

Baby Jonathan.

Baby Jonathan.

Jonathan again. 

Jonathan again. 

Denise (top right) and her sisters. 

Denise (top right) and her sisters. 

Denise (right) with her cousin Susan and sister Sandi. 

Denise (right) with her cousin Susan and sister Sandi. 

Stylish Linda Yates in the '50s and '60s

The scanning and editing of the family photos continues!

This week we're sharing photos from the 1950s and 1960s of Jonathan's Aunt Linda Yates. A former beauty pageant queen, Linda was quite good at striking a pose.As you'll notice, she was also very fashionable regardless of whether she was standing beside the car in the hot sun or kneeling beside her nephew Greg. 

Enjoy!

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On the phone.
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1958 beauty pageant photos

These 1958 beauty pageant photographs of Jonathan's Aunt Linda were too fun not to share. Apparently she was Jumpertown High School's Most Beautiful in 1958. Beauty pageants have never been my thing, but in these photographs, they seem pretty charming.

Isn't she pretty?

Isn't she pretty?

I love the expressions on the kids' faces...

I love the expressions on the kids' faces...

Pretty dresses.

Pretty dresses.

Love this shot from the audience.

Love this shot from the audience.

Linda's pretty dress.

Linda's pretty dress.

The tiara and flowers are pretty funny. 

The tiara and flowers are pretty funny. 

School Days...

I'm in the middle of a photo book for Sadie's sister Linda, so I've been scanning and editing all sorts of fun photographs. Linda is the youngest of the Yates' sisters, and she graduated from Jumpertown High School in Jumpertown, Mississippi in 1961. Jumpertown is a small rural community located just outside of Booneville in Prentiss County. 

Aren't they cute? Linda is the third from the left on the bottom row. 

Aren't they cute? Linda is the third from the left on the bottom row. 

The Jumpertown High School Class of 1961. Linda is on the bottom row on the far right. 

The Jumpertown High School Class of 1961. Linda is on the bottom row on the far right. 

I love this yearbook photograph all of the girls in front of Jumpertown School. (The back of the photo actually has the job, page and position number on it.) 

I love this yearbook photograph all of the girls in front of Jumpertown School. (The back of the photo actually has the job, page and position number on it.) 

The senior class all dressed up for prom or their school banquet. Linda is in the center. 

The senior class all dressed up for prom or their school banquet. Linda is in the center. 

The Jumpertown High School Class of 1961. I graduated from Booneville High School in 2002, and Torrance School Photography took our class photographs as well! 

The Jumpertown High School Class of 1961. I graduated from Booneville High School in 2002, and Torrance School Photography took our class photographs as well!