Oxford, Mississippi, has produced many leaders, icons and famous citizens. But some were…infamous!
Motee Daniels led a colorful life to say the least. A Lafayette county native, Motee owned several businesses, including a general store and a road house juke joint. But perhaps he is best known for being William Faulkner’s bootlegger and town character.
Daniels once ran for county coroner with the campaign slogan that he was the same, coming or going. Motee delighted in telling his stories to students and “Faulknerians”, visitors to Oxford he referred to as “foreigners.”
A great number of William Faulkner’s characters in his fictional Yoknapatawpha Country resemble Motee Daniels.
“In Mississippi, how do you get rid of crabgrass? You pour whiskey on it and the Baptist’ll eat it.” –Motee Daniels
