New Albany Faulkner month to study southern death customs

New Albany – Get your best black dress ready because we are going into mourning in New Albany, Mississippi.

Don’t cry yet, because it’s not a death but a study of death customs in the south, as well as that all time famous William Faulkner novel, As I Lay Dying.

September has been officially named Faulkner Month in New Albany, and a series of programs will feature the many interesting things about William Faulkner and about dying and death in the south. Just like everything else, death has changed through the years. Front rooms that were once “death rooms” became “living rooms” and so on.

Cemetaries repel us and draw us in at the same time. Join the Tallahatchie River Players as they bring back to life some of the area’s “famous souls” via dialogues and scenes on September 19th.

The work of Faulkner looks at death in this book as well as others. And his work in general is mythical in its portrayal of the customs of the South. So mythical, in fact, some of the Faulknernian myths have been debunked.

Terri Hutchins Cournoyer from Louisville, MS, talking about Victorian Mourning Jewelry – the gutta-percha brooch , jet, vulcanite, onyx, bog oak, and horn, and memorializing a loved ones. She will speak of the color black in jewelry, which symbolizes the cult of mourning.

On September 17th, Terri Hutchins Cournoyer from Louisville, MS, will be talking about Victorian Mourning Jewelry – the gutta-percha brooch , jet, vulcanite, onyx, bog oak, and horn, and memorializing a loved ones. She will speak of the color black in jewelry, which symbolizes the cult of mourning.

The first program will feature Faulkner historian as well as archaeologist and author, Jack Elliott, who will dispute some of the widely held beliefs about Faulkner and his work.

August 20, Thursday, 12 noon – Museum Moments at the Union County Heritage Museum will feature Elliott This event is free. Lunch will be served at 11:30. Limited seating. Historian, writer, archaeologist and researcher Jack Elliott will dispel some of the myths about William Faulkner the man and his work. Renasant Bank will provide lunch 11:30. Seating is limited.

September 25, Friday, 2 – 4:30 p.m: Unveiling: William Faulkner Scenic Byway signage on Highway 30 West. Literary Tour guided by noted Faulkner historian Jack Elliott. Tour participants will be ferried through the Yoknapatawpha, while Jack Elliott offers interesting and little known facts about the writer’s time at Greenfield Farm (a stop on the tour), as well as his association with Philadelphia Community, Rocky Ford and points west. The tour will culminate with a reception at Rowan Oak.

Mark your calendars for the events of this Literary Festival and celebration of New Albany’s native son and his work and make plans to attend.

August 25, Children’s Poetry Picnic at the Library. Poet Patricia Neely-Dorsey will speak and the NAES gifted students will write a poem and have lunch.

September 8, Poetry Workshop –Writer Will Day, will talk to and work with Gifted Students at the Union County Heritage Museum & Literary Garden and Gallery. Facilitated by former elementary gifted teacher Linda Everett, Sponsored by New Albany Rotary Club.

September 13, Faulkner and Folk Art Sunday 1:30- 3:30, Exhibit at the Union County Heritage Museum. The theme for the 2015 Exhibit is As I Lay Dying. Artists are invited to participate. Juried show.

September 15, Tuesday, 12 noon: Cemeteries and Symbolisms. Program at the Jenny Stephens Smith Union County Library featuring Frank Madden presenting Customs of the South – Death and Dying.

September 17, Thursday, 12 noon: The Color Black and the Cult of Mourning –Museum Moments at the Union County Heritage Museum will feature Terri Hutchins Cournoyer from Louisville, MS, talking about Victorian Mourning Jewelry – the gutta-percha brooch , jet, vulcanite, onyx, bog oak, and horn, and memorializing a loved ones. She will speak of the color black in jewelry, which symbolizes the cult of mourning.

September 19, Saturday, – Legends and Lore Cemetery Walking Tour—4 p.m.—dusk. Tickets will be available at the office of UCDA on Bankhead and the Museum on Cleveland St. Characters are featured from the historic past, as well as famous souls of the area. Starring members of the Tallahatchie River Players, whose poses, dialogs and scenes will bring death back to life in an interesting and entertaining way. Admission $10.

September 25, Friday, 12 Noon: (William Faulkner’s 118^th birthday) William Faulkner Literary Luncheon will be at First United Methodist Church. Guest speaker will be Preston Lauderbach, author of The Chitlin Circuit, Road to Rock and Roll and The Beale Street Dynasty. Literary Awards will be presented. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Please call the Museum at 662-538-0014.

September 25, Friday, 2 – 4:30 p.m. Unveiling of the William Faulkner Scenic Byway signage – Hwy 30 Wast and a Literary Tour headed by noted Faulkner historian Jack Elliott, who will have a running commentary while tour goers are being ferried through the Yoknapatawpha portion of the scenic byway and offering interesting and little known facts about the writer’s time at Greenfield Farm ( a stop in the tour) as well as his association with Philadelphia Community, Rocky Ford and points west, culminating in a reception at Rowan Oak.

September 26, 2 p.m. , Magnolia Civic Center, Tallahatchie River Players present the RiverFest Showing of the winners of last year’s William Faulkner Literary Competition , Rhubarb by Deanna Graves of Seminary, MS, and a stage reading of the second place winner Cybereyes by Amy Coumo of Villa Rica, GA.