Comments by mikell
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Posted on August 19 at 12:15 a.m.
My memories of Leslie Whitt. They go back before the days of the uber-zoo master..back, back in the way back machine. There was a group of us who grew up together, who played music and laughed and fought like teenagers and had the discoveries that are destined to happen to young men growing up in a small town. Although there were different incarnations of the band, three or four of us generally wound up migrating together and as a result got pretty good.
I remember going over to Leslie's house when he was young and he would say "Hey, man. Check this out!" He would reach under his bed or open a closet and slide out a box with some possums or raccoons in infancy and proudly announce that he had caught them or found them abandoned or whatever. Then we would go play music and travel. Sometime later, I went to visit and he said "Look at what I've got!" Then he took me to a bathroom and there in an inch or two of water was a 1-2 foot long alligator! Of course I am thinking two things. One is "Well, our friend Leslie is a bit different from our other friends" and "He obviously has a very supportive Mama."
Somewhere along the way, I left town for a year and when I returned, one of the old band buddies said to me that Leslie was still around and we should start the band back up. "OK, let's go visit him", says I. We pull up to his house and as we are walking up the drive I noticed what looked like jail cells or something in the front yard. I looked at my friend Carl and said " THAT"S A BEAR!" Leslie had procured a small black bear and in another cage to the best of my memory was some sort of wildcat. And then we played some more music.
During this time, Leslie met a young girl from Meadville, Mississippi that he just couldn't quit talking about and many, many times he made the somewhat long trip from Natchez to be with her. He married that young girl and to my knowledge they have never been apart. They have never wavered in their love and made an amazing life together.
We had many great adventures and made great music and memories but he had done something that none of the rest of us ever accomplished. I think at that age we are trying to decide what we love and what we want out of life. Surely, everyone goes through that. Here is a man who as a teenager, found three great loves, conquered and nurtured them, never drew from them and made a great success of himself. In the process, he earned the respect of an entire community; a true giver and sharer. I know I will never have that feather in my cap and I doubt many will. But as an old friend, I wish to say how in awe I am of him. I wish for Lee Ann and his family that peace and comfort will come quickly. I know your pride will help to soothe you in the days ahead. I truly grieve for you and all who loved him.
An old music mate and sorrowful friend wishes to pay his respect and hopes that Leslie will save him a spot in the band, If only for a couple of songs.
Peace my friend,
Lynn Hornsby
Posted on August 18 at 9:12 p.m.
My memories of Leslie Whitt. They go back before the days of the uber-zoo master..back, back in the way back machine. There was a group of us who grew up together, who played music and laughed and fought like teenagers and had the discoveries that are destined to happen to young men growing up in a small town. Although there were different incarnations of the band, three or four of us generally wound up migrating together and as a result got pretty good.
I remember going over to Leslie's house when he was young and he would say "Hey, man. Check this out!" He would reach under his bed or open a closet and slide out a box with some possums or raccoons in infancy and proudly announce that he had caught them or found them abandoned or whatever. Then we would go play music and travel. Sometime later, I went to visit and he said "look at what I've got!" Then he took me to a bathroom and there in an inch or two of water was a 1-2 foot long alligator! Of course I am thinking two things. One is "well, our friend Leslie is a bit different from our other friends" and "He obviously has a very supportive Mama."
Somewhere along the way, I left town for a year and when I returned, one of the old band buddies said to me that Leslie was still around and we should start the band back up. "OK, let's go visit him", says I. We pull up to his house and as we are walking up the drive I noticed what looked like jail cells or something in the front yard. I looked at my friend Carl and said " THAT"S A BEAR!" Leslie had procured a small black bear and in another cage to the best of my memory was some sort of wildcat. And then we played some more music.
During this time, Leslie met a young girl from Meadville, Mississippi that he just couldn't quit talking about and many, many times he made the somewhat long trip from Natchez to be with her. He married that young girl and to my knowledge they have never been apart. They have never wavered in their love and made an amazing life together.
We had many great adventures and made great music and memories but he had done something that none of the rest of us ever accomplished. I think at that age we are trying to decide what we love and what we want out of life. Surely, everyone goes through that. Here is a man who as a teenager, found three great loves, conquered and nurtured them, never drew from them and made a great success for himself. In the process, he earned true respect of an entire community. A true giver and sharer. I know I will never have that feather in my cap and I doubt many will. But as an old friend, I wish to say how in awe I am of him. I wish for Lee Anne and his family that peace and comfort will come quickly. I know your pride will help to soothe you in the days ahead. I truly grieve for you and all who loved him.
An old music mate and sorrowful friend wishes to pay his respect and hopes that Leslie will save him a spot in the band, If only for a couple of songs.
Peace my friend,
Lynn Hornsby
Posted on August 13 at 11:48 a.m.
I feel like I have witnesses a drive-by post a comment war. Does that mean they went Post - al?
Posted on August 13 at 11:33 a.m.
Such a sad thing. We have all known loss and some of us know parents who have lost a child. To lose a child in this way has got to be one of the most horrible events that could happen to a family. Let's not forget the families of the other two. Even the shooter's parents have lost a child! My heart goes out to all of them.
Posted on August 12 at 10 a.m.
These are all nice stories but............that's what they are..or maybe she was devil possessed and really was taking the knife to a birthday party where she was to cut the cake for an elderly family member and just at that moment she was ghost whispered into performing this mayhem!
Posted on May 29 at 11:30 a.m.
book paper ignites at 451 degrees. While I don't know the ignition temp of a brown paper bag, I'm sure that this coupled with the short time span are the reasons.
Posted on May 29 at 11:14 a.m.
Man, this more like a commercial for ACSO!
On Sheriff’s office issues 81 tickets over Memorial Day weekend
Posted on May 14 at 8:58 a.m.
Glen was a very good friend in the old days. I was always jealous of him in P.E. I would get yelled at for only being able to manage about 15 sit ups while Glen would be made to stop at 300. He and Doc Hicks, Dickie Laird and myself all had our first (really ugly, still hurts) learning experience with the demon rum (actually Southern Comfort) the night before an Ole Miss/ LSU football game in Jackson back in about 64 or 65. We should all go visit our old friends. I'll miss you, Glen
Lynn Hornsby
Posted on March 31 at 9:10 p.m.
Janiver said it for us all. Thank you all for remembering and for your kind words. Rusty would be red-faced on top of his already red and freckled skin. He was truly the hub of the siblings and will be missed so dearly. We are sorry we could not hold a service for him here but considering the life and happiness he nurtured in Florida, it seemed most appropriate to hold it there. As for all of us, our home and our hearts have always been in the town of our birth. Since I returned to Natchez three years ago, more people have asked about him than any other Hornsby and it is a testament to the man he was. Thank you from all of us,
Lynn Hornsby
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Posted on August 20 at 2:18 p.m.
None of us lived there, it was just the practice pad. The original My Generation rented it and kept it for years through all the different incarnations of the group. Go to thetowntalk.com for pictures of Leslie and the zoo.
Also KALB.com has some nice stuff, including a video of the news broadcast.
On Natchez native, Alexandria zoo director dies