20 JULY | AUGUST 2019
Remarkable, resilient and positive are three words Mississippi singer/
songwriter Derek Norsworthy used to describe his No. 1 fan Hannah
Brewer. Twenty-one-year-old Brewer has a passion for Norsworthy’s
music and is also dedicated to her dream of photography.
The young lady with Down syndrome from Vancleave photographs
Escatawpa-native Norsworthy’s band, while also running social media
accounts to promote his music. Brewer and Norsworthy met in 2013
at one of Norsworthy’s concerts. Since then, they have formed a close
relationship, and Brewer attends all of his local concerts. In 2015, Nor-
sworthy performed at the South Mississippi Special Needs Organiza-
tion’s first fundraiser because of Brewer.For more information visit facebook.com/musicphotographerpage and facebook.com/dereknorsworthymusicpage.“Knowing Hannah re-
minds me that every day
we all have purpose,” Nor-
sworthy says. “Hannah’s purpose is evident as she radiates that purpose
in all that she does with great passion. Hannah will inspire you to get up
every day and outwork your best self to become your best self.”
Brewer’s favorite types of music, other than the Derek Norsworthy
band, are country and rock. She is continuously looking for bands and
concerts to photograph, although she says Norsworthy’s band will re-
main her favorite. — E.K.more
than
music
summertime tradition
In the middle of Mississippi’s summer heat, biting into a crisp piece of water-
melon is so refreshing. The Watermelon Carnival, sponsored by the Water Valley
Area Chamber of Commerce, celebrates Mississippi watermelon and will take
place August 2-3.
This event was started in 1931, amid the Great Depression and following
World War I. The community of Water Valley began the carnival as a way to boost
people’s morale using the one thing they had in abundance—watermelons. The
two-day event is full of arts and crafts vendors, music performances, an antique
car show, a barbecue cooking contest, and flavorful food. The carnival would not
be complete without its watermelon games including the biggest watermelon
contest, watermelon-seed spitting, watermelon tossing, and more.
Linda White, publicity chairman for the event, says people come from all
over Mississippi to the town of about 5,000 that sees more than 20,000 at the
event. She shares that people of all ages can enjoy the event. “It doesn’t matter
what age you are; you can find something to do,” White says. — E.K.For more information, email [email protected] or call 662.473.1122.