Photo by Trip Burns.
After 20 years, the only thing that's lasted longer than Jim Wilkirson's marriage to his wife, Audrey, is his commitment to making things move and shake in the Jackson community.
A Jackson native, 49-year-old Wilkirson attended St. Andrews through the sixth grade and then Jackson Prep. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor's in fine arts in 1985, he returned to Jackson and, for over two decades, owned or managed several companies in the clothing and interior design fields. Then in 2010, he joined the Fondren Renaissance Foundation as a consultant.
After assisting with the redesign of the organization, Wilkirson became executive director of the foundation.
FRF's mission is positive change and economic impact in the Fondren area. "We want to be a catalyst for the whole neighborhood," Wilkirson says. These days, all other local organizations and neighborhood associations fall under the foundation's umbrella.
"Our biggest thrust has been, in the last two years, arts and education in the neighborhood," Wilkirson says. The foundation sends professional artists into schools to give the students art experience, and hosts the Symphony at Sunset concert in the fall and a concert series in the summer to expose young people to different types of music. Wilkirson focuses on the arts and education initiatives of FRF, but the foundation also assists with housing grants for people in need through a partnership with St. Dominic Hospital and Habitat for Humanity.
Then, once a year, Wilkirson must turn his focus to helping throw a neighborhood-wide bash known as Zippity Doo Dah.
"It really has taken a shape of its own," Wilkirson says. Initially, the weekend started as an outlet for the Sweet Potato Queens to fundraise for the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital, but it has grown into one of the most talked-about weekends in the community.
Besides being coordinator of the weekend, Wilkirson has gotten personally involved in ZDD. All his children participate in the parade. His oldest daughter, 14-year-old Clarke, had her own float in the first Zippity Doo Dah parade. The following year, Wilkirson's son, Hunter, now 13, led the jungle-themed parade with an albino snake wrapped around his neck. This year, Wilkirson's youngest daughter, 9-year-old Fran, will march in the parade as "Queen Tiny."
Wilkirson takes pride in his role as coordinator of the weekend. He realizes the impact that it makes on the children the hospital benefits and the message it sends to the community. "It is very important for us as a neighborhood to support those that are in our neighborhood, and Blair E. Batson is here," he says.
For more information about the Fondren Renaissance Foundation or Zippity Doo Dah Weekend, visit fondren.org or call 601- 981-9606.
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