Malcolm Dykes: An Old Timey General Store with a Legend

I recently spoke with the present owner of a much-loved old-time general store, Mr. Sid Williams of William's Bros. General Store. 

Sid, age 67, along with his cousin Jane Crosswhite carry on a long-time tradition of mercantile that goes all the way back to the turn of the last century. Since 1907, Williams Brothers has been a family owned and operated general store found in the heart and center of Philadelphia, Mississippi.  It began with two brothers, Amzie and Brown Willaims and then the second generation who carried the business on was Amzie's kids, Cooper Williams and Peggy Dees. 

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' is what I told Sid while we spoke, and he assured me the tradition will carry on with most likely his son in law Bo Eakes and cousin Chad Crosswhite, both in their 30s. 

Also called Williamsville by the locals, it has been a longtime fixture there in Neshoba County for over a century and back in 1981 when moving to the county to pastor a church, it became a fixture in my life as well. I can never recall walking into a more amazing establishment as this one. And like the World's Fair, it gets bigger and better every year!

Back then it was basically just a general store where old horse/mule collars hung on the wall and could be bought for plowing. It was also where slices off the large round hoop cheese could be bought, wrapped in white paper and thick cured bacon with the rind on sliced while you watched. They also stocked various farming type clothing and attire like cowboy boots and cowboy hats, blue jeans and a lot of horse-riding equipment like saddles, bridles and various farm implements and tools. It was always a thrill to go to Williams Bros. to shop. They seemed to have everything I needed. 

I well remember buying a pair of cowboy boots for me and my young son Jonathan and gear for our horses. Someone placed an old photo of Peyton Manning slicing bacon for a customer sometime back on Facebook. The famous Manning family are direct kin to the owners of the old establishment. The wife of Archie Manning, Olivia, is mother also to Peyton and Eli, and is a daughter of the 2nd. generation owner, Mr. Cooper Williams. Archie of Drew MS met Olivia while they both attended Ole Miss where Archie became a legend and went on to stardom in the NFL and the New Orleans Saints. The two are in their 50th year of marriage. 

I was a faithful customer from 1981 until 1984 to the old store up until when I moved my family away to pastor in Greene County.  In current times, a large nursery has been added along with garden supplies, hardware supplies, etc. I'm sure there's much more as I have not been back in several years but can see from the pics placed on social media it has been enlarged. The establishment is still the hub of Neshoba County. Not far away sits a thriving large Walmart business like any other town the size of Philadelphia sports, approximately 7,000 in population. But all other franchise stores and businesses pale in the rich legacy of this old timey general store. 

In all my visits while a resident there, I never got to meet Archie or his sons, but I am told they come in often to say hello and chit chat with everyone including the many clients shopping. Lately placed with the list of 100 places to see in Mississippi, I can agree with the registry on this one. If in the area, you owe it to yourself to stop in and pay a visit. You very well may get to shake the hand of Archie or a member of his famous family and merit an autograph from these former NFL stars. The chances are remote, slim to none to do so as they stay busy elsewhere. But for sure, you will be standing inside a long-standing Mississippi historical establishment like no other. 

An old timey general store with a legend. 

God bless you and God bless America.