David Hammett named ArtsNatchez Artist of the Month for May

Reception Set for Saturday, May 9, in Downtown Natchez

by Mississippi Monitor | May 4, 2026 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Artist David Hammett displays a handcrafted jewelry box for his May 9 exhibit at ArtsNatchez Gallery. (Click on image to enlarge.) Photo courtesy of ArtsNatchez Gallery

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- When it comes to the arts, David Hammett has long felt compelled to find creative ways to express himself, a passion that began in childhood.
 
Growing up in Louisiana, he would grab a pencil and lie on the pale blue linoleum floor of his family’s kitchen and draw pictures of anything that came to mind.
 
“I would have railroad tracks and trains running all across the floor,” he recalls. “My parents let me do it. They would mop it up and I’d start over again. It was something I felt like doing, and it’s been that way all my life.”
 
Hammett, who lives near Vidalia, is ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for May, and the public is invited to view his latest work.
 
Hammett’s artwork will be on display at the gallery on Saturday, May 9, at 425 Main St. He will greet visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. at the reception, which is free. Refreshments will be served.
 
Hammett is a color field painter and abstract expressionist. His work includes paintings, jewelry boxes, custom cutting boards with decorative elements, and carved wooden spoons. Hammett said he looks forward to meeting visitors and discussing his work.
 
Hammett has practiced some form of art for most of his life.
 
“I started woodwork by doing decorative boxes,” he says. “That expanded into cutting boards and charcuterie boards with decorative elements. Then I started carving wooden spoons. I found something in that, which I really enjoyed doing. My woodwork mostly consists of that now.”
 
Hammett is a 1976 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts after completing active duty in the U.S. Army.
 
“After serving in the Army, I was married and felt pressed to get a job,” he says, noting he worked in the painting industry for 35 years.
 
“After I retired in 2011, I moved back to my original home in Louisiana, where I took up my artwork again.”
 
When asked about the inspiration for his work, Hammett said it comes in bursts: “It’s here today or it’s not here the next day. At any rate, I seize the moment when I get an idea.”
 
During the reception, Hammett will display several abstract paintings, carved spoons, jewelry boxes, and his popular cutting boards.
 
“I’m the kind of artist who works from the imagination,” Hammett says. “It’s whatever comes out. As a painter, I’m old-fashioned in terms of technique. I use canvas and brush.”
 
When Hammett returned home after retirement, he needed something to occupy his time. He became busy with his art. “I find a sense of identity in that. That’s what I am and what I’m compelled to do,” he says.
 
ArtsNatchez Gallery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the arts in the greater Natchez area and is managed by a board of directors. It features local artists whose work spans a wide range of media, including photography, painting, ceramics, woodwork, fabric arts, and jewelry. Artwork is presented in oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink.

 
The gallery is open daily at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.
 
See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/david-hammett-named-artsnatchez-artist-of-the-month-for-may/
 

David Hammett named Artist of the Month by ArtsNatchez Gallery

His art exhibition is set for Saturday, May 9, in downtown Natchez 

David Hammett displays his carved wooden spoons and one of his abstract paintings. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- David Hammett of Vidalia is ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for May, and the public is invited to view his latest work.
 
Hammett’s artwork will be on display at the gallery on Saturday, May 9, at 425 Main St. He will greet visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
 
This event is held on the second Saturday of each month and is free and open to the public.
 
Hammett is a color field painter and abstract expressionist. His work includes paintings, jewelry boxes made from imported wood, custom cutting boards with decorative elements, and carved wooden spoons. Hammett said he looks forward to meeting visitors and discussing his work.
 
ArtsNatchez Gallery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the arts in the greater Natchez area and is managed by a board of directors. It features local artists whose work spans a wide range of media, including photography, painting, ceramics, woodwork, fabric arts, and jewelry. Artwork is presented in oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink.
 
The gallery is open daily beginning at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.
 

Mental health focus highlights Rhythm Night Club Fire commemoration

by Mississippi Monitor | Apr 28, 2026 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Addison Kimberly Johnson (center), the 2026 recipient of the $1,000 scholarship from the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum, holds her certificate following the presentation on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Pictured with her are her parents, Kim Johnson (left) and Amy Johnson (second from left), and museum co-owners Betty Sago and Monroe Sago. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III) Click on image to enlarge.

Natchez residents and visitors gathered Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum for a ceremony focused on remembrance and mental health.

The event marked the museum’s 19th annual commemoration to honor the victims and survivors of the tragic fire that occurred at the 5 St. Catherine St. site on April 23, 1940. A total of 209 people died in the blaze, including bandleader Walter Barnes and many members of his orchestra.

This year’s theme was “Mental Health: Where the Rubber Meets the Road.” About 50 people turned out for the event.

“There are many things within our community that need to be addressed,” said Betty Sago, who co-owns the museum with her husband, Monroe Sago. “We are here not only to reflect on the Rhythm Club fire of 1940, but to bring a message so we can move forward in life. One reason I chose the theme is because the entire Natchez community was affected by this catastrophe.”

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the annual scholarship to a high school student who wrote a winning essay about the museum and the historic fire. This year’s recipient was Addison Kimberly Johnson, a senior at Cathedral High School, who was awarded $1,000. Johnson is the daughter of Kim and Amy Johnson, both of whom were present for the award presentation.

Diana Addison Hunter was the guest speaker at the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum’s 19th annual commemoration held Saturday at 5 St. Catherine St. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III) Click on image to enlarge.

Diana Addison Hunter, human resources supervisor at the Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield, served as the guest speaker. She discussed how issues like depression, chronic fatigue, and insomnia can sometimes be linked to mental illness.

“Good mental health is important for daily functioning, and it allows for better productivity and emotional resilience in healthy relationships,” she said. “There is no shame in seeking mental healthcare, such as therapy, or even having a conversation with a loved one about how you’re feeling. That shows a sign of strength, and it’s essential for treating conditions early.”

Hunter encouraged people not to worry about the stigma sometimes attached to mental illness, but instead to seek help early if they are struggling.

Mayor Dan Gibson delivered the invocation and later shared special remarks, expressing concern for young people and calling for better stewardship of mental health resources.

“In moving forward, we need to be better stewards of our gifts to reach out and be a help to others,” he said. “We also need to be better stewards of the young people who have been entrusted to our care.”

Gibson said that while there has been an increase in mental illness, there has also been a decrease in public funding for mental healthcare.

“That doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. “Are we really better off spending millions of dollars in this country every year incarcerating individuals and yet we lead the world in the money we spend on incarceration? Would it not be better to spend that money on mental health? So many of our problems stem from mental illness.”

Gibson concluded by urging action. “It’s time to get real, Mississippi. It’s time to get real all across this country, and it’s time to do that which is right,” he said.

Other participants in Saturday’s program included Stephanie Sago Vivians, who served as mistress of ceremonies, and LaKeria Kaho, the first recipient of the annual scholarship, who presented the welcome.

Dr. Roscoe Barnes III shared remarks about his work as the cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez. Lawrence Winston and Barbara Evans performed special selections. Wilbert Whitley and Muriel S. Vivians presented the door prizes, and refreshments were provided by Linda Birdsong, Martha Gooden, Linda Williams, and Kathy Hayes.

See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/mental-health-focus-highlights-rhythm-night-club-fire-commemoration/

Still excited to share our new free Prince Ibrahima self-guided tour brochure!

Photo by Ben Hillyer (Click on image to enlarge.)

Follow the incredible journey of the African prince who spent 40 years enslaved near Natchez before gaining his freedom! This pocket-sized publication features his story and a handy map of the key sites tied to his history in Natchez and Adams County.

Perfect for locals and visitors who want to experience this important piece of Natchez history firsthand.

Free printed copies are now available at the Visit Natchez at The Depot Visitor Center, 200 N. Broadway St. and other locations (see article).

You can also download it directly from our website and take the tour at your own pace! Pick up your copy today!

See full article here:

https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/visit-natchez-releases-new-self-guided-tour-brochure-on-prince-ibrahima-8b093bc2

 

News Report: Ser Boxley featured in the Mississippi Encyclopedia

by Mississippi Monitor | Apr 24, 2026 | Capital/River
By: Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C.M. Boxley
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Bond
(Click on image to enlarge.)

The Mississippi Encyclopedia now features a biographical entry on Ser Seshsh Ab Heter‑C. M. Boxley. The entry is a chronological and thematic overview of his life, highlighting his significant contributions to Natchez and Mississippi history as an activist, author, preservationist, and public historian.

The Mississippi Encyclopedia is published by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi and has been funded by the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Dr. Stuart Rockoff, executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, said he was pleased to see Boxley featured in the publication.

“It is fitting for Ser Boxley to become part of the Mississippi Encyclopedia,” he said. “His commitment to preserving the story of the enslaved in Natchez and at Forks of the Road has blazed a trail in how we can tell a more honest and accurate story of our past.”

James G. Thomas, Jr., associate director for publications at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, said he and his team were all happy to feature Ser Boxley in the Mississippi Encyclopedia.

The biographical entry focuses on Ser Boxley’s early life and family background, as well as his education and civil rights activism, which includes his role with the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. It also covers his trips to Africa and the adoption of his African name.

Additionally, the entry features his major achievements as a historian and cultural preservationist. Those achievements include his decades-long work on the Forks of the Road slave market, which is now part of the National Park Service, and his creation of living history programs.

It also underscores his contributions as an author and the donation of his life’s work to the Mississippi Department of Archives and history.

The idea for the entry originated with Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. It can be viewed at: https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/boxley-ser-seshsh-ab-heter-c-m/

Ser Boxley featured in the Mississippi Encyclopedia

(Click on image to enlarge.)

New publication! 

I’m happy to announce my latest entry for the Mississippi Encyclopedia: a profile of the remarkable Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley.

Many thanks to him and to Michael Morris for their invaluable assistance.

Here's an excerpt:

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley (b. 1939) 

Historian, cultural preservationist, and civil rights activist

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley, widely known as Ser Boxley, has spent decades fighting for justice, human rights, and the equitable representation of African American history in Natchez. Since 1963, he has successfully advocated for institutional change, often by challenging one-sided historical narratives, particularly within Natchez tourism. His impact is reflected in the historical markers, interpretive programs, National Park Service recognition, and publications that document and interpret African American history in Natchez.

Read more here: https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/boxley-ser-seshsh-ab-heter-c-m/

Mental health theme set for 86th commemoration of Rhythm Night Club Fire

Diana Hunter to serve as guest speaker for the April 25 event

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Apr 14, 2026 | 3:25 PM

Monroe Sago, co-owner with his wife Betty of the Rhythm Night Club (On Site) Memorial Museum, stands at the historical marker in front of the museum. Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Diana Addison Hunter, longtime employee of the Mississippi State Hospital, will serve as guest speaker at the 86th commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club Fire, which occurred on April 23, 1940. The annual ceremony will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Rhythm Night Club (On Site) Memorial Museum at 5 St. Catherine Street.

The event is free and open to the public. This year’s theme is “Mental Health: Where the Rubber Meets the Road.”

Betty Sago, co-owner of the museum with her husband, Monroe, said mental health is a topic she has wanted to address for many years, in part, because of conversations with the survivors.
 
“So many of the people we’ve talked to over the years, especially the survivors, said they can’t get the fire out of their mind,” she said. “They’ve struggled with the loss of their friends and family members. So many people were affected by this tragedy. We thought it was time to finally talk about these issues in mental health.”
 
Betty Sago said Hunter is the ideal speaker for the occasion because of her professional experience in the mental health field.
 
Hunter, a resident of Jackson, is a human resources supervisor at the Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield. She is a graduate of West Point High School and Jackson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
 
In addition to completing coursework for human resources certification, she is a Certified Public Manager. She has been employed at the hospital since 1993.
 
“This is an opportunity to share and educate people and let them know they have options and a lot of different avenues through which they can maintain mental health. A lot of us focus on our physical health, but mental health is just as important.”
 
Hunter said the theme is fitting. “If our mental health is not in tune or intact, we’re not able to hit the ground running,” she said.
 
Hunter also expressed appreciation for the Sagos and their work. She said the Sagos “are amazing people,” and for her, it has been “a grand opportunity to know them and see the work they’re doing with the museum.”
 
The Sagos have hosted the commemoration each year since 2010 to honor the more than 200 victims who died in the club’s 1940 fire. They also recognize the survivors and their families. Additionally, they award scholarships ranging from $500 to $1000 to local high school students who write a winning essay about the museum and the story of the fire.
 
The 2025 recipient was Octavius Saul Jr, who was a senior at Natchez High School. He was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Betty Sago said he planned to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge.
 
Participants in this year’s ceremony will include Stephanie S. Vivian of Terry, who will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies. Soloists Lawrence Winston of McComb and Barbara Evans of Natchez will perform special selections. Dr. Roscoe Barnes III will share remarks about his work as the cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez.
 
As a community event, the ceremony is supported by the Natchez Fire Department, which will open the event with a siren blast of a fire engine. Near the conclusion of the program, organizers will distribute door prizes, and refreshments will be served afterward.
 
The Sagos also invite attendees to tour the museum and view recently acquired items in its collection.
 
For more information, call 601-597-0557 or send email to bettysago@rnconsitemm.org.

See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2026/04/14/mental-health-theme-set-for-86th-commemoration-of-rhythm-night-club-fire/