Leaving a Legacy
Mississippi Heritage Trust Launches Endowment
by Erin Pittman
Since early childhood, historic sites and buildings have fascinated Al Hollingsworth. That fascination turned into a life defined by preservation efforts. After his service in the military and graduation from Mississippi State University, Al accepted a job in Natchez. “Natchez is the place you want to be if you love old houses,” he says. Nine months after his move to Natchez, Al married Elizabeth “Libby” Shaifer on December 22, 1956. Al and Libby were married for 60 years and lived a life full of joy and shared interests - including historic preservation.
Now, Al is thrilled to launch the Mississippi Heritage Trust Endowment in remembrance of his beloved late wife Libby. When Libby’s mother, whose family had deep roots in Claiborne County, turned 90 in 1999, Libby established the Dorothy D. Shaifer Preservation Fund in her honor. These funds will be used to help start the endowed fund for the Mississippi Heritage Trust at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.
“There is nothing more precious than seeing a community that is well maintained with good people, neighborhoods, and businesses,” says Al. “I have always loved old houses and my wife shared the same love. Preservation was always a natural part of our lives.” Soon after they got married, Al and Libby took a trip down River Road in Louisiana to see all of the antebellum homes found there. This early trip was part of a lifetime of exploring historic places and the stories they have to tell. This love of place has been inherited by Al and Libby’s children and now their grandchildren. “As our first grandson got older, a lot of his questions concerned history and past events,” remembers Al. “He wanted to know where he came from, what his history was, and where he was going.” Their grandson’s inquisitive spirit reflects Al and Libby’s lifelong passion for preservation.
Al and Libby were both involved in preservation in many capacities. When Al’s career with Armstrong Rubber Company took him to Guilford, Connecticut, he connected with people from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“When we were there, we saw a need to have an organized preservation effort, so we led the push to establish a historic district in Guilford,” says Al. They were successful in establishing a historic district, which covers the center of Guilford. “One-third of the district is commercial, which we took as a vote of confidence because it indicated merchants had an interest in preserving the character of the town.” Al has kept his connection to Guilford, where he owns a Federal-style home built in 1796.
After 20 years in Guilford, Mississippi called Al and Libby home. Around the time Al retired, the leaders in Port Gibson became interested in the Main Street program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “They were looking for a manager and my name surfaced since I was newly retired,” recalls Al. “So, I became the manager of the Port Gibson Main Street Association and held that job for 14 years.”
During his tenure at the Port Gibson Main Street Association, Al and his colleagues decided they needed a preservation commission to establish formal protections for the town. Around the same time, Al and Libby were part of discussions about the need for a statewide advocate for preservation that led to the formation of the Mississippi Heritage Trust. They both attended the first meeting of the newly formed non-profit in 1992. “We have come a long way at MHT and I am really proud of the work we have done,” he says. “Mississippi is a state full of storytellers and MHT helps tell those stories.”
“This endowment helps ensure protections for Mississippi Heritage Trust in the long term,” explains Al. “We have a good organization with good membership and leadership. This will provide a safety net that can be used for significant preservation efforts. This endowment will provide a foundation for the Mississippi Heritage Trust to grow and another opportunity for people to invest in Mississippi.”
“My hope for Mississippi is that we will always contribute to understanding where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go.”
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Thanks to Al and Libby Hollingsworth’s gift and a generous challenge grant of $8,000 from the Community Foundation for Mississippi, the Mississippi Heritage Trust is close to reaching its initial goal of $35,000 for the Endowment Fund. Please join these supporters and send in your donation today to leave a legacy of preservation in Mississippi.
Recent Gifts to the Mississippi Heritage Trust Endowment Fund:
Alon Bee
Trish and Michael Berk
Carter Burns
David McCoy
Page Ogden
Lolly Rash
Brother Rogers
Erica Speed
Donate:
To make a donation to the Mississippi Heritage Trust Endowment Fund, please mail your check to:
Community Foundation for Mississippi
119 South President Street, 1st Floor
Jackson, MS 39201
Donations of $1,000 or more may be eligible for the Endow Mississippi 25% Tax Credit Program. Please contact the Community Foundation for Mississippi at (601) 974-6044 or info@formississippi.org to check on availability.