The Sunshine Smile
“A lot of us were expecting it to be like Hurricane Camille… but oh boy, did I have it rough,” Coevie described the wrath of Hurricane Katrina from her wheelchair. She spent the next two weeks in the hospital after the hurricane and she shakes her head as she recalls how people wanted to show her tapes of the storm. She simply told them, “No thank you – I was in it – I don’t want to relive it.”
Brenda Plonis |
A Close Community
East Biloxi is a relatively small community with nearly 13,000 people according to the 2000 US Census. Exact figures of those left in the area post-hurricane are hard to come by, but driving down the street, it's clear to see that the city is still close. Greetings abound from door to door.
It is easy to see therefore why Bettye and Frenchy Duhon decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina in the two story house across the street - Frenchy grew up with the people there and worked with them all of his life.
Brenda Plonis |
The Miracle Makeover
Olivia Kemp is a celebrity in East Biloxi.
Perhaps it's because everyone simply knows her as 'Mom'. With 14 children and 25 grandchildren, her kitchen was a hub of activity throughout the years.
Or maybe it's because her house became the miracle makeover in three weeks.
East Biloxi Councilman Bill Stallworth, founder of the East Biloxi Coordination Center, sent Craig Snow to Olivia's house to talk with her – hoping that Craig and his team could rebuild the house, damaged during Hurricane Katrina.
Brenda Plonis |
A Debt of Gratitude
When Dorothy Harness returned to her home in East Biloxi after the eight-hour Hurricane had pummeled her community, her deep freeze was bottom side up.
"I opened the door to the house and couldn't believe it. I was totally speechless. I wanted to cry, but couldn't," Dorothy recalls.
"I wasn't here during Hurricane Camille, but this was the worst in history. Camille couldn't touch this one…Nobody could believe it."
Brenda Plonis |
Feeding the Volunteers
Doris Gibson wanted to thank the construction crew of volunteers for working so hard to preserve her house – so she did what many Mississippi Mamas do: she fed them.
Brenda Plonis |
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