Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store will host a Black History Month Lunch & Learn program featuring Jackson Police Deputy Chief of Police Derick Tisdale and Jackson-Madison County African American Chamber President Clarissa Halton-Williams from 12 to 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, 2024, in the Delta Room of Old Country Store, located at 56 Casey Jones Lane.

Tisdale and Williams will discuss entrepreneurship and police relations within the African American community. Tickets are priced at $18 per guest and include an all-you-can-eat buffet, a drink and gratuity. Tickets must be purchased in advance at tinyurl.com/3f29yb8x. For inquiries about the event, please contact Jenni Clausing, Activities & Events Coordinator, at (731) 668-1223.

In 2022, the restaurant hosted a Black History Lunch & Learn with Lane President Logan Hampton, who discussed the Freshman Four and Woolworth sit-ins during the civil rights movement in Jackson. Old Country Store maintains a display in the restaurant, called “Faith - Courage - Sacrifice - Freedom,” that is a testament to the local civil rights movement and narrates the story of Lane College students Shirlene Mercer, Ernest Brooks Sr., Henry Moses, Kimmie Davis and others, who protested at the “whites only” lunch counter at the F.W. Woolworth’s store (formerly located where Jackson City Hall now stands) on October 27, 1960. The exhibit includes three original chairs from the 1960s Woolworth’s store.

“Hosting our annual Black History Month Lunch & Learn reflects our commitment to fostering unity and understanding in our community,” OCS President Brooks Shaw said. “We believe in the power of shared stories to inspire, educate and unite us, and events like these embody our commitment to being a place where all voices are heard and celebrated.”

Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store is a multi-faceted destination located at 56 Casey Jones Lane in Jackson, Tennessee. It includes the restaurant, Miss Anne’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Miss Juanita’s Gift Shop and the Dixie Café for takeout or dine-in. The establishment is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. For more information, visit instagram.com/caseyjonesvillage, facebook.com/oldcountrystore or caseyjones.com.