02/18/2026
A Community Thank You.
Before you read this list, please know one thing: it is incomplete. There is simply no way to document every single act of kindness, every shared generator, and every hot meal provided during Winter Storm Fern.
When disaster struck, this community didn't hesitate. You showed up for each other in ways that were profoundly inspiring to witness. You proved that while the ice can break our branches, it can never break our spirit. Oxford will rebuild stronger than ever, together.
We want the comments below to be a space for giving thanks. If you recognize a business on this list, tag them. If we missed a crew or a neighbor who helped you out, shout them out. To everyone who offered their hands, their resources, and their time: thank you. We will never forget it.
Winter Storm Fern threw everything it had at Oxford. We saw widespread power outages, impassable roads, and unimaginable tree damage. But in the darkest, coldest hours, the true spirit of our region shined through.
We want to take a massive moment to recognize and honor the businesses, utility crews, contractors, agencies, and individuals who stepped into the freezing cold to feed us, restore our power, clear our roads, and offer shelter when we needed it most.
Please join us in sending the biggest "THANK YOU" to this incredible crew:
POWER & UTILITIES • City of Athens Electric (Athens, AL) • C Spire (Ridgeland, MS) • Decatur Utilities (Decatur, AL) • Opelika Power Services (Opelika, AL) • Riviera Utilities (Foley, AL) • Tennessee Valley Authority (Knoxville, TN) • Tupelo Water and Light (Tupelo, MS)
CONTRACTORS, CREWS & LOGISTICS • ABC Tree (Webster, TX) • Desoto County Electric Co. (Horn Lake, MS) • H. D. Gibbs & Sons (Learned, MS) • Jan-Pro of Mississippi (Jackson, MS) • JW McCurdy – MR Construction (Oxford, MS) • Looks Great Services (Columbia, MS) • Sansom Equipment Company (Mobile, AL) • Service Electric Co. (Chattanooga, TN) • TAG Truck Center (Tupelo, MS) • Tri-State Truck Center Inc. (Tupelo, MS)
FOOD, BEVERAGE & DINING • Ben E. Keith Company (Memphis, TN) • Bim Bam Burgers (Oxford, MS) • Casa Mexicana (Oxford, MS) • Chick-fil-A (Oxford, MS) • Chi Omega (Oxford, MS) • Circle and Square Brewing (Oxford, MS) • Funky's (Oxford, MS) • La Perla Tapatia (Oxford, MS) • Las Parillios (Oxford, MS) • My Michelle’s (Oxford, MS) • Oby’s (Oxford, MS) • Fox Pizza (Oxford, MS) • Rascals on Belk (Oxford, MS) • Romies (Tupelo, MS) • Shadracks Coffee (Oxford, MS) • South Lamar Nutrition (Oxford, MS) • Taylor Grocery & Catering (Taylor, MS) • Velvet Ditch (Oxford, MS) • Falkner Farms (Oxford, MS) • Elizabeth Heiskell Catering (Oxford, MS)
LODGING, HEALTH & MEDICAL • Baptist Medical Group (Oxford, MS) • Communicare (Oxford, MS) • Hampton Inn Ed Perry (Oxford, MS) • Hampton Inn West (Oxford, MS) • Home 2 Suites (Oxford, MS) • Myers Apothecary (Oxford, MS) • NPs and Staff from Oxford Urgent Care (Oxford, MS) • Pregnancy Center of Oxford (Oxford, MS) • Stephanie Barrett, NP (Oxford, MS) • Tracy Smiley, NP (Oxford, MS)
AGENCIES & FIRST RESPONDERS • American Red Cross (Regional) • Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (Jackson, MS) • ALL City and Lafayette County Departments • Mississippi National Guard • MEMA
OTHER SUPPORTING BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS • All of our area Churches (Oxford, MS) • Citizens Bank (Oxford, MS) • Cotton’s / Cotton Group (Oxford, MS) • Farm Bureau Insurance - Jonathan Powers (Oxford, MS) • Home City Ice (Memphis, TN) • Rhino USA (Murrieta, CA) • Stronger Together (Oxford, MS) • Wal-Mart (Oxford, MS) • Ole Miss Athletics • Animal Friends Humane Society (Hamilton, OH) • Compliance Envirosystems (Shreveport, LA) • University Sporting Goods • Larson’s Cashsaver • Belk Ford
COMMUNITY & INDIVIDUALS • Crystalin Lewis (Oxford, MS) • David Blackburn (Oxford, MS) • Kyle Killens (Oxford, MS) • Steve Fielder (Oxford, MS) • Tyler Siskey (Oxford, MS) • Paige Davis (Oxford, MS) • Hundreds of volunteers and organizations throughout the LOU Community. We love you all!
To everyone in our area: When you are deciding where to eat, who to hire, or where to shop, please remember who showed up for us. Tag these folks in the comments, share this post, and let them know we haven’t forgotten!
