Events
Julia Norman , Rebecca Wilson , Stephe Jimmie Rodgers mural completed in record time
JIMMIE RODGERS MURAL COMPLETED IN RECORD TIME
Photos by Bill Graham
Page Sikes , Mia Pollman and Susan Coffin Jimmie Rodgers mural completed in record time
In a few short weeks , the blank back side of the Vise Building in downtown Meridian was transformed into a giant mural honoring Meridian native Jimmie Rodgers , known around the world as “ The Father of Country Music .” The magical masterpiece was completed by Meridian Museum Art Collective members Cary Haycox , Kris Gianakos , Leslie Carruth , Marsha Iverson and Daniel Ethridge .
A crowd of residents gathered at the site for the official unveiling of the mural , one of a series of paintings created by the collective including a mural recognizing singer David Ruffin near Dumont Plaza ; one at Naval Air Station Meridian honoring Ensign Jesse L . Brown , the U . S . Navy ’ s first Black naval aviator ; and a painting featuring The Beatles ’ Abbey Road album cover on the side of Freddie ’ s Fine Spirits on Highway 39 .
48 • MERIDIAN LIFE