“I met a man hanging from a light pole and fell in love. He worked for Twin County Electric. We waved, and I told my mom I would marry that man up there. His name is Tim, and we have been together since 1994. He is the reason I moved from Vicksburg to Rolling Fork, MS.

Tim’s family were farmers, and he left the electric company to work with them. They sold the farm, and Tim came home saying he and his brother wanted to buy Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork. I told him no because I wasn’t going to run it. I worked for the Vicksburg school district and loved my job being around kids.

Tim kept on, and I told him I would try it out for a week. That man is my everything, and I always do what makes him happy. The owner, Chuck Henderson, started the Dairy Bar in a little shack, then built a bigger building in 1977. Mr. Chuck asked for two weeks to train me.

After six days, Mr. Chuck told me I had the hang of cooking, and I had to take over the Dairy Bar. We finalized the deal in 2007, and Tim and his brother planned on running it. I would keep my school job and work part-time in the restaurant. After two months, the guys realized it wasn’t for them. They don’t talk much and don’t like to socialize. My name was on the paperwork, so I had to jump in. I left my job and became full-time.

We lived in Myersville, about 15 minutes from Rolling Fork. The only time I went to town was to pick up lunches. People would see me and think, who is that girl? I didn’t know if they would accept me running the Dairy Bar, but they welcomed me with kindness and care. I give love because that is what I receive.

We kept Chuck’s Dairy Bar with the same name, recipes, and menu. I learned a long time ago that if we serve the same good food, we will be okay,

This restaurant is much more than chicken and burgers. The town meets here, and people tell me their hurts and happies. Kids also hang out here. Before the tornado, the school bus picked up students at our corner, and the kids came in to see me every morning. They played in the pool room or got something hot to eat. I talked with them about making smart choices. Every morning, they knew they were loved before they got on the bus. I was always here if they needed me.

I love kids because I understand what they are going through. I was the meanest kid and didn’t like anyone. I was also shy and cried if anyone looked at me. I got pregnant my junior year of high school and had a beautiful baby girl who changed me. I didn’t know what I would do, but I had to do good in the world–for her. I returned to school, and my guidance counselor chose public speaking for my elective. This shy girl gave speeches during senior year, and I have been a talker ever since.

My daughter is 29, and she gave me a beautiful grandson. He works with me every Tuesday. It’s Tuesday with Thomas.

Friday, March 24, it was a busy day at the Dairy Bar. There was supposed to be bad weather later in the day, but the farmers getting their lunches said the storms would go north of us. We would get some wind, but we would be fine. I didn’t think anything of it because tornadoes happen in other places, not here.

At eight p.m. I went to my office in the back to do payroll. At 8:04, I received two texts back-to-back from my daughter and sister. Both messages said get to a safe place because Rolling Fork had a tornado on the ground. The lights flickered, and most of us crammed inside the small cooler. We had just gotten a food delivery, so the cooler was full. As Tim closed the cooler door, he saw the sky – the roof was gone. The cooler shook and then stopped. Tim tried to get us out, but the building had collapsed around us. We were stuck. I called 911, and we tried to reach families; some of my employees had babies at home. A customer in the store had a hurt arm, but he got us out. He was our hero. We stepped out of the cooler and into the outside. The building was gone.

The tornado flattened the 35 house trailers in the trailer park behind Chuck’s. People screamed the names of their loved ones and pulled out folks dead and alive.

High school kids hang out here on Friday nights and listen to the jukebox. March 24 was prom night, and they usually eat here before prom. The dance was out of town this year, so thankfully they didn’t come here. After the tornado passed, some of the 17- and 18-year old boys got permission to leave prom and help Chuck’s and the neighborhood behind us. We all saw things that night you should never see.

I haven’t had time to grieve since the tornado. I can’t. Chuck’s Dairy Bar was my baby for 16 years. Every time something happened in Rolling Fork during those years, I helped fix it. It’s almost a shameful feeling that I can’t help or put people in our motel like I used to.

The day after the tornado, I received a proposition from a stranger. We met in a parking lot, and he had a food trailer that belonged to a girl who had used it to pay her way through college. She was starting vet school and offered her trailer to feed people in Rolling Fork. He paid for the food. These two angels allow me to feed 500 people every day – the community and volunteers helping us- at no cost. People from everywhere have reached out to give, allowing me to share. I am also handing out books and toys to kids.

I am meeting wonderful people I had no clue existed, and I am learning to accept help and donations. We must give this town some normal and a place to come together.

We will build Chuck’s back, but there is no quick fix or just throwing up a building. Tim and I will incorporate some of the old into this new place.

I bought this necklace from a local girl and planned to put it in my gift closet for someone else. I am a jewelry freak, I couldn’t put on anything after the tornado, because there wasn’t time for getting pretty. I saw this necklace with the heart and wings; like God saying, ‘Go fly and do your thing.’ I haven’t taken it off.

I always tell my mom that I still don’t know how I fell in love with that man on the pole and ended up in Rolling Fork. But God put me right where I am supposed to be. Even after this, we’re still going to be okay.”

Tracy, Part One

If you want to help Tracy and Tim rebuild Chuck’s Dairy Bar, make checks payable to Bank of Anguilla-Chuck’s Dairy Bar Disaster Relief Fund.
Mail to:
Bank of Anguilla
P.O. Box 188
Anguilla, MS 38721

(Tracy was the 2,000th interview for Souls)

The aerial photo is from Cassandra Hollins Norman’s Facebook page. She is Tracy’s sister.

Tim and Tracy dancing in Chuck’s Dairy Bar on their anniversary. (Photo from Tracy Harden)

Tracy in the cooler that saved their lives. (Photo from Tracy Harden)