Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2017

PEOPLE in the neighborhood
Dr. Thomas Payne
Beauvoir’s new director invites local residents to visit
eauvoir, the historic home of ex-Confederate President Jefferson Davis, has a new executive director who joined the staff on January 1. In this capacity, Dr. Thomas Payne hopes to take the home and presidential library to new heights.
Dr. Payne, a well-known lawyer on the Coast and associate professor at the
University of Southern Mississippi, has had a positive career
to say the least. From his time with the Harrison County Sheriff’s department to his position as federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Mississippi, Payne’s passion has always been to make the world a better place. For him, his position at Beauvoir is the next step.
“I want to continue the work done by the countless number of prior directors, volunteers, staff and board members who have made Beauvoir a continued experience on the Gulf Coast,” Payne said. “Specifically, I want more of our neighbors right here on the Gulf Coast to discover the beauty and charm of this majestic Southern belle. We get visitors from all over the United States and the world, but we see too few of our neighbors enjoying the 52 acres of green space and the heritage
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2017
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story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Beauvoir