From making sugar cane syrup and boiling peanuts to serving as county supervisor to singing in a gospel group and opening a community center in the town, Charles Case has done a lot in McCall Creek.

Case moved to the town about 32 years ago from Lincoln County and has felt at home there ever since.

&uot;Franklin County’s been good to us,&uot; Case said &045; and many of the people Case knows said he has been good to the county as well.

&uot;I can’t say anything but good about Charles,&uot; said Pauline Jackson, his neighbor about two miles down the road.

Case served as a supervisor for the county for 17 years, being elected the first time he ran. The only reason he got out of the political realm was because of his health; he had a stroke, and his doctors told him he needed to quit.

Case said he was partially paralyzed on his left side for months. At first, doctors did not think he was going to make it, but he recovered 95 percent.

Throughout his time in McCall Creek, he and wife, Jewell, have owned a couple of businesses &045; Case’s Grocery, Case’s Fruit Stand and now, Buck Branch One Stop, which daughters Sandy Case and Linda Cupit run. All the while, Case used to have four or five acres of sugar cane, which he used to make his sugar cane syrup.

Now he gets his cane from other places, mainly south Louisiana, but the syrup is still a mainstay on a table at Buck Branch.

Case said he loves the novelty of the syrup making, which takes a good bit of work to get it just right and make the 400 gallons he puts out each year.

&uot;We don’t go anywhere to sell it, people come here to buy it,&uot; Case said.

And daughter Linda Cupit said they sell it fast and people love it.

&uot;We have people buy it and mail it to people that live off,&uot; Cupit said. Of course, other people are not the only ones who love it.

&uot;My dad loves it&uot; &045; making it and eating it, she said.

&uot; ‘Course he’s a diabetic, and he’s not supposed to eat it, but he does lick his finger (sometimes).&uot;

Case even used to make apple cider, although he hopes to start again, and he also boils peanuts, which he also sells at the store.

But for their latest endeavor, the Cases built the McCall Creek Community Center about seven years ago and now have 65 RV hookups for travelers to stay.

The big reason for the center is so the Cases can promote gospel singing, Charles said, a love he has had for years, singing since he was 14.

Case and his singing group, The Singing Mississippians, perform at the center regularly.

Case sings bass, Calvin Hollard sings lead, Jerry Wilkinson sings baritone and his daughter, Kelly Brooks, sings alto. Keith Tanner of Brandon rounds out the touring group on the piano.

Not only does this group perform there, but others come in because Case hosts about four events a year there.

And not only do people from nearby Natchez and Brookhaven come in for the shows, Case boasts guests from Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.

It has really put McCall Creek on the map.

They have 250 people on their mailing list for events.

&uot;It was a just a wide spot in the road. Then all of a sudden all these people come,&uot; Wilkinson said.

&uot;It’s a unique experience.&uot;

Last Labor Day, one of the largest events, Case said there were 62 RVs loaded into McCall Creek.

&uot;In fact, we couldn’t put any more,&uot; Case said.

Not only do the people come from all over, but they come to help.

Visitors helped put the sides on the once open building and even come and help ready for the events &045; the pig roast and gospel sing March 27, a bluegrass festival in June, a Larry Wallace homecoming in July, gospel singing for Labor Day and then another one in November.

Wilkinson said people will come in an cut the grass and help cook and &uot;just do whatever needs to be done.&uot;

&uot;It’s amazing.&uot;

And locals show up too. Edgar and Pauline Jackson from just up the road come to many of the events as do Kenneth and Martha Smith from Brookhaven.

&uot;It’s great &045; good fellowship, good camping and good programs,&uot; Martha Smith said.

Cupit said the center has been a real asset to not just them and for the gospel singing but for the community.

&uot;People know it’s there if there is a need,&uot; for uses like weddings and birthday parties, which it has been rented out for, she said.

&uot;They are so involved with helping the community,&uot; Wilkinson said of the Cases.

&uot;Anything they can do they just get out and do it.&uot;

And for some people, the Cases have made McCall Creek more than just a sign on U.S. 84 but &uot;a good place to come and have clean fun,&uot; as Case himself said.