John Cofield's Oxford & Ole Miss: Heading Home To Oxford

BY Jack Lawton

Photo courtesy of Crooked Letter Photography

From the closing pages of the book. In this last part, the Smitty’s coffee clubbers leave the Square and head for a new home. I appreciate Matt Taylor’s contribution of this photograph for the page. Once the coffee clubbers arrive, I have a good set of photos of them, and the Mize family, to publish. –John
“So, leaving the Square heading north toward the Little Tallahatchie, with a quick look down Jackson for a farewell glimpse of my old granddaddy, on out past Leonard Levy and Paul James, giving a nod to J. B. Kelly and Shorty, waving to Jeff and Bette Butler, saluting Civil War survivors Dr. and Mrs. Isom, with hellos shouted to Hassell, Jane, Hugh and Clyde in Cedar Oaks’ yard, and then on out past Ammadelle, this special slice of Oxford’s spirit made its new home in a tried, true and treasured landmark.
“My trips back to the town where my childhood Christmas mornings were spent have never come often enough. For Oxonians, for the ones who know exactly what the “Little Easy” means, there is no other journey our cars can roll through that means as much, or feels as fine, as pointing the auto toward Oxford. Halfway between I-55 and home, you top a small hill and the Lafayette County signs comes into view. And the last 15 or so miles just float on by. Then time and the need for speed slow to an easy roll up South Lamar to the Square. Circling our Courthouse and the town’s beating heart, I head north toward home, and the Beacon.”
Photo by Matt Taylor (c) Crooked Letter Photography

JohnCofield
John Cofield is a HottyToddy.com writer and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer, Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss yearbook photographer. Cofield attended Ole Miss as well.
Stay tuned for more information on Cofield’s forthcoming book: Oxford, Mississippi ~ The Cofield Collection — a pictorial history book with John’s writing on the history to go along with the photos.
Contact John at Johnbcofield@gmail.com.

Jack Lawton
Jack Lawton

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