176 pages , 338 color illustrations,
Sept 2025 Ship Date
Publisher:
University Press of Mississippi
ISBN 9781496859990
Hometown Mississippi
Hometown Mississippi offers an intimate glimpse into thirty Mississippi towns through the lens of author, photographer, and artist Melody Golding. In this stunning collection, Golding captures the essence of her state in the summer of 2024, blending photography and personal exploration to create a colorful and contemporary portrait of Mississippi. From the hills in the north to the sandy shores of the south, from the Piney Woods to the Mississippi River towns and the storied Mississippi Delta, Golding's journey takes readers off the beaten path, away from interstates, and along the winding back roads and highways that once served as the main thoroughfares for these unique small-town destinations.
Each town Golding visits has its own special attractions, including historical landmarks, cultural offerings, recreational spaces, colleges and universities, scenic natural beauty, tourist attractions, and ties to some of the many celebrities Mississippi calls its own. All are distinct, yet all share a common pride in their local identity.
Within the pages of this book, more than fifty Mississippians reflect on their connection to the Magnolia State, offering heartfelt insights into the experiences, traditions, and character of their communities. With warmth and generosity, Mississippians ranging from Morgan Freeman to Marty Stuart to Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, from university presidents to local business owners, share what it means to call Mississippi home.
100% of the royalties from the sale of this book go to Jacob’s Ladder, a non-profit organization that provides education to adults and children with disabilities.
“When a Mississippi treasure like Melody Golding aims her lens toward our hallowed Mississippi, there’s no surprise that she would capture the romance and authenticity of what small town Mississippi is all about.”
—Steve Azar, Music & Culture Ambassador of Mississippi
“I grew up in a small Mississippi town. That upbringing echoes in my soul. It has never left me. As the world expands, divides, homogenizes, Melody Golding’s photographs are a vivid reminder that quality life still exists on the quieter roads of the Magnolia State. That life where neighbors are truly neighbors, handshakes are more binding than any contract, and the better parts of ourselves are to be found in the company of those we truly love. The pictures in this book remind me to slow down, get in the hometown groove, and breathe…”
—Marty Stuart, Congress of Country Music, Philadelphia, Mississippi
“I was raised in a small town in Mississippi. I went to school there. I graduated from there. My values, my morals, my ethics all come from there. It’s who I am."
—Morgan Freeman
Reviews
“Hometown Mississippi” is a love letter to the state
By Julia McCall - Lemuria Bookstore
As I sat down to read Melody Golding’s “Hometown Mississippi,” I immediately thought of all the small towns I have loved and known that are in this book and not in this book. When I got to the introduction, I realized how much of a fun journey of a book this would be. In the introduction, Golding explains her motivations with this book and explains how she found the landmarks and pieces for the book. Melody Golding has chosen 30 hometowns to try and get as holistic a view of Mississippi hometown life as possible. She includes quotes for each hometown, some by famous people such as country music star Marty Stuart, actor Morgan Freeman, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, President of Mississippi University for Women Nora Roberts Miller, and many more to showcase what the hometowns have meant to people. The idea originally came from her son, who pointed out all the college students and young people who left their small towns for college or jobs and are moving back to start families. Golding states, “The idea struck a chord with me, and the next thing I knew, I was packing my cameras and equipment in my car. I got out a map of the state of Mississippi.” Golding’s passion and love for this project is evident. I couldn’t wait to get to the pictures and quotes within the book. She talks about memorable pieces of her journey through the multiple towns in Mississippi, bringing love and care to every memory. She describes hometowns in a way I had felt about them but never took the time to put into words, saying, “One thing I found was that the small towns were only small by population but enormous in spirit. Small towns are some of the most inviting places you will ever visit, and if you don’t make eye contact and you don’t speak, you are considered either rude or just plain snooty.”
As I got to the picture portion I was immediately enthralled with all of the colors. That is the biggest part of this book. The pictures and towns are all so colorful. I went straight for the Biloxi section since I have family near there. Once there, you see the Hard Rock Café sign, you see the beach, you see the art on the various restaurants throughout, and you see the Sharksheads souvenir shop. The book is full of so many beautiful, full-of-life images of places I wish I could visit, like the Morgan Freeman Arts and Culture District in Clarksdale, the Crystal Grill in Greenwood (which closed last summer), and the Petrified Forest in Flora. In the Hattiesburg section, I loved seeing the Lucky Duck, the smiling faces of the University of Southern Mississippi, murals in various places of Hattiesburg, and the Saenger. The Jackson section features the Capitol, Lemuria Bookstore (my favorite bookstore ever), and the Two Mississippi Museums. I was surprised by the Laurel section, which, as someone who has had to be there at various times whether on purpose or not, wasn’t sure what beauty there was to find. Through Golding’s pictures, I found not only beauty, but an understanding of where beauty is hidden. I wish I could talk about every single picture in detail. They all show not only the color of the hometowns of Mississippi but the history and love of each town.
Melody Golding creates a true delight with “Hometown Mississippi,” which would be the perfect Christmas present for any of your Mississippi loved ones. It also supports a great cause: all the royalties will be donated to Jacob’s Ladder in Vicksburg, which is a nonprofit that helps provide a quality education to adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
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| It was an honor for me to be a panelist at The Mississippi Book Festival. Warm and sunny weather was enjoyed by about 8 thousand attendees. It is a privilege to be a part of Mississippi's literary history at this uniquely southern event. Thank you Germaine for being the greatest moderator! |
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