If you were born 119 years ago you would have witnessed the first mass produced car, the first antibiotic, two world wars, the assassination of JFK, the first man on the moon, the invention of the internet and two world-wide pandemics to name a few historic events. No one currently alive is able to have witnessed all of these events, but The Bank, which originated as Moscow Savings Bank, has been here through all of this and more. In 1905 seven local businessmen started the first of what have now grown to be 13 branches in John Steger’s General Store in Moscow, TN. In case you’re not from here; you’re to read that town with a long o sound because, as I’ve been educated by the locals, “There is no cow in Moscow.”

Moscow sits in the south-central part of Fayette County. The first public road in Fayette County originated there. It was home to the 1980 Moscow Olympics that started as a way to support our US Olympians and carried on for 10 years. It has also been a part of great tragedy when the Great Moscow fire swept through in 1937 followed by a devastating tornado in 1952. Moscow has shown tremendous resilience in the face of adversity.

A bank is so much more than money and The Bank is set on proving that. For one reason or another many other banks have sold out to corporate banks of different varieties. Not The Bank. They keep their banks local. Local employees, local branches, local involvement. Their main branch is in Piperton and their newest branch is in Henderson.  You can also find branches in Oakland, Somerville, Bolivar, Arlington, Collierville, Grand Junction, Hickory Withe, Mason, Selmer, and Whiteville. The current president is Mr. H. McCall Wilson. He’s been in this role for 23 years. I had the pleasure of visiting with Tonya Lessel, Branch Manager and Beverly Curland, Assistant Branch Manager at the Somerville Branch. When asked about the bank’s dreams for Fayette County, the response was, “To stay community minded.” Biggest success? “Growth but maintaining the small community bank.” I asked what their favorite story was about their bank. I expected an answer like “how we serve the community” and perhaps in a self-promoting way. I couldn’t have been more wrong. These ladies told me stories that make you proud to be from this rural area of Tennessee. There have been times when an elderly patron has come in and something was amiss, but since this is a local bank where everyone knows your name (Cheers was certainly on to something!) the bank staff noticed and were able to alert family members. Or when a customer has the same question, over and over; they take the time to help them understand. No customer at The Bank is just a number. Each one is a valuable person and treated as such. It should be no surprise then, when I asked what makes The Bank different the response was, “Great customer service.” In a world where people are passed over or counted as a metric, The Bank is doing their part to change that. Their motto is “We live here, we work here, we worship here, we serve here.”

If you’re looking to buy a home, a car, land or to invest in a CD or savings account; you can call The Bank’s main branch at 901-854-2265 or visit them online at www.thebank1905.com You’ll find a friendly voice welcoming you from the other end of the line.

This year is the bicentennial of Fayette County. It is the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce’s desire to highlight some of the longest running businesses in Fayette County. In the course of 200 years, being a business of 119 years is something worth celebrating. We hope that you will call or visit The Bank and see how they can help you. Remember to shop local and shop Fayette first!

Editor’s Note* I had the great pleasure of visiting with Mr. McCall Wilson after this article was originally published. Five minutes into our conversation I understood why The Bank is as successful as it is. It’s the leadership. McCall is leading an incredible group of folks with an attitude of humility, generosity and loyalty. He is as passionate about taking care of the young couple buying their first home as he is about helping businesses obtain funding. He recognizes that small town America will only succeed if there is support available that understands what small town America needs. McCall said they don’t do a lot of advertising because their loyalty to their customers and their customers’ loyalty to them spreads by word of mouth better than any advertisement ever will. Each bank branch is involved in their community and that is of the utmost importance. Knowing their customers and their needs is what keeps the bank thriving and in turn, the community. McCall said, “I have the best job in the world. I get to make dreams come true.” What an incredible attitude to have. The Bank is a great example for us all.

Written By Karri Buck

“That’s not normal.” Said the uncouth woman from north of the Mason-Dixon line. As brusque as the words were, they became the catalyst for a new life for Emily Giles and her family. Several years down the road that new life became “A New Life Herbs” which opened on Cotton Festival weekend in 2019.

Emily was in the thick of raising her two daughters, one of whom was perpetually sick. It had become “normal” to them, when a kindhearted, though blunt, woman helped her to see that didn’t have to be normal. She put the beginning tools in Emily’s hands to help her daughter which sparked in Emily a desire to help others in a way she hadn’t before. Herbal medicine is better thought of as Herbal Remedies. No one is trying to compare it to modern medicine. Instead, they seek to remedy the source of the problem at hand rather than cover the symptoms. Emily has studied and researched for many years to have the wealth of knowledge she has. She’ll also be the first to say she’s always learning.

In centuries past herbal remedies were common. With the advent of penicillin many were led to believe herbal remedies were no longer effective. Though penicillin was and is a great invention; there’s no way to overlook the thousands of lives it has saved; it would be equally hard to overlook the difference herbal remedies make. A tincture (a mixture of herbs and either alcohol or glycerin steeped over a period of time) can aid in healing internal and external ailments. Nutrients like turmeric can lessen joint pain. Teas can soothe the throat or strengthen a body after birth. Salves can draw infection out or heal a burn. All the herbs used to make tinctures, teas, salves and syrups are sourced from her garden, wild harvested, or purchased from top-quality herb wholesalers. Emily is glad to answer any questions you might have. When delving into the world of herbal remedies, it can feel like you’re falling fast down a hole. There is much to learn and it’s a blessing to have a guide like her to walk alongside you. She teaches classes regularly on making items such as Fire Cider and Kombucha. She also does an herb walk the 2^nd Saturday of each month where she teaches about the value of what most of us would think are weeds. Her wealth of knowledge is a bright and welcome light.  God made the plants for a reason and Emily is using them for those reasons.

Speaking of God, Emily is set on others knowing Him too. A New Life Herbs is named as such for a couple of reasons. First, in Christ we have new life. Secondly, health through herbal remedies can give you a new life. Third, Emily is driven to give others a new life after poor choices. Though A New Life Herbs began in 2010, mostly at Farmer’s Markets, as a way to help others have their best life through the use of herbs, Emily still felt God calling her to do something more. Through a series of events that can only be explained by Divine intervention; the store was able to open in its current location in 2019. Emily’s desire was for it to be a safe place for people to come to turn their lives around. She wanted it to be a place of community. She says building a relationship with people is important. One of her biggest concerns is the lack of love people often show each other. By another definition, it’s hate. As strong of a word as that is, Emily feels loving our neighbor through community is the way we will overcome that darkness. This isn’t a task she takes lightly. Whether it is helping a new parolee find honest work, assisting a youth with community service hours or just listening to a soul who needs a moment to be loved; she is reaching out to help her community. She hosts two Bible studies each week and currently Calvary Hope Fellowship is having their weekly Bible study (Thursday @6pm) and Church service (Sunday @ 10:30am) inside A New Life Herbs.

The store is a quaint, peaceful, and earthy scented place to relax. You can get a sandwich, a cup of coffee, an herbal latte, a glass of house-made kombucha, a muffin or parfait from the shop. While you wait, you will want to check out the herbal tinctures, salves, teas and remedies that are available. There are books to read with cozy seating and wi-fi available for whatever task is at hand. A New Life Herbs is also growing in the Farm to Table space. All of their eggs, chicken and pork are raised on their farm. Their bread and deli meat are sourced locally from Backerman’s in Whiteville. They also make their coffee syrups and kombucha in-house. There is something to satisfy whatever you’re craving. A New Life Herbs is sure to nourish both the body and the soul.

To learn more about A New Life Herbs, check out the website www.anewlifeherbs.com or stop into the store. Remember to shop local and shop Fayette first!

Written By: Karri Buck