Rosemary Maxey

Maggie Burks

by Chris Mims
September 17, 2008

Rosemary Maxey is a veritable human Rolodex. Her friends often joke that she knows you, has heard of you or wants to get to know you. The 62-year-old grandmother of two—Hunter, 6, and John Robert, 4— is always on the go. As the office manager and sole employee of the Capital City Convention Center Commission, Maxey spends a great deal of her time poring over contracts, talking to vendors and making sure anyone and everyone knows that the convention center is about to transform Jackson in a positive way.

“We’re on the way up. Everything we’ve worked for all these years is finally happening,” she says looking at the ongoing construction of the convention center as she walks from her office in the TelCom Center to Miller’s Grill on Lamar Street.

Maxey, a New Albany native, attended the University of Mississippi, then moved to Jackson in 1983. She has worked in many public-sector jobs, including a stint with former Mississippi first lady Melody Musgrove and later for former Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.

Maxey packs a wallop of infectious enthusiasm in her 5-foot-4-inch frame. To see it come out, just ask her to talk about her love for Jackson, especially as it relates to the ongoing development downtown. Maxey also speaks lovingly of the rich musical heritage of Jackson, its artists, world-class writers and tourist attractions. And peppered into the conversation, she talks about the excitement of young people in Jackson, how they’re getting involved in the community in droves.

Mostly, though, she marvels over the people of our city.

“I believe what visitors remember most, what our true blessing is, is the people of Jackson,” she says. “We have remarkable people, kind people—people who are hospitable, charitable and generally optimistic.”

Maxey says her biggest motivation is creating a positive legacy to leave to her daughter, Elizabeth, and her grandchildren. She takes her role as a citizen of Jackson seriously, citing her attendance of the many cultural events as not only a treat, but one of the ways she supports the community.

The progress of the convention center continues to inspire Maxey as does her anticipation of the city’s robust use of the facility. Although a management company will handle the day-to-day operations of the center, Maxey’s role with the commission will continue after completion.

“It’s a joy to work with volunteers who have given so much of their time and energy to make sure the convention center is a tremendous success for our city,” Maxey says.

 
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posted by Izzy aka Laurel Isbister on 09/18/08 at 10:14 AM