William Carey University hosted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony July 18 for new Tatum Court, the final tornado recovery project after an EF3 tornado ravaged the campus in January 2017.
“This ceremony marks the end of a full two and a half years of recovery. We had six buildings totally destroyed, 49 buildings damaged, $110 million in losses. In two and a half years, we have come back, better and stronger than ever and we are so thankful,” said WCU President Dr. Tommy King.
Several hundred people crowded the atrium of the new building, among them members of the Tatum family, who arrived early for a private tour before the ceremony – Dr. Virginia Angelico Tatum, Billy West Tatum, A.T. “Toddy” Tatum Jr., Diana “Dee” Tatum and Sam McDonald.
Tatum Court was named in honor of W.S.F. Tatum, a successful lumberman who acquired the property and offered it as a gift to the Mississippi Baptist Convention in 1911 to establish Mississippi Woman’s College, the school that would one day become William Carey University. The original Tatum Court, opened in 1914, was so severely damaged during the tornado it had to be demolished.
“For all of us, no building hurt more to lose than Tatum Court. It was so much more than brick and mortar. For over a century, generations of alumni came through Tatum Court. It was an iconic building in this community and certainly for the Carey family,” said WCU Provost Dr. Scott Hummel.
“But these years without Tatum Court also reminded us that the greatest strength of this university is not in its brick and mortar. It is in determined students, faculty members and administrators. Our recovery also reminds us that, as strong as our faculty and students are, we are ‘Carey Strong’ because God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in times of trouble.
“Nothing has demonstrated that more than the recovery. There were times when we faced impossible decisions. But God does the impossible.”
With the completion of Tatum Court, Dr. King said, William Carey University has never been better equipped, with better facilities, to meet the future.
New Tatum Court is WCU’s main administrative complex. Its design echoes the appearance of its predecessor. Landry Lewis Germany Architects P.A. of Hattiesburg is the architect. Hanco Corporation of Hattiesburg is the contractor. A memorial to old Tatum Court, built with bricks salvaged after its demolition, is the centerpiece of new Tatum Court’s entrance.
After the dedication ceremony, WCU offered campus tours highlighting other buildings that were part of the rebuilding efforts between Jan. 21, 2017 and July 18, 2019:
- A multi-purpose building constructed to replace lost classroom space. It now houses the band hall and provides space for music classes and offices.
- Green Biology Annex and the Gym Annex were part of a planned expansion. Both were near completion and heavily damaged by the tornado.
- Ross Anatomy Lab, part of the WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine, had to be demolished and rebuilt after the storm. The new lab is larger than its predecessor.
- Tatum Theatre Annex is the new home of the Theatre Department and the Speech & Communication Department, formerly housed at old Tatum Court.
- Johnson Hall-Ross Hall student residences opened in time for the fall 2018 semester. They replaced dorms by the same name that occupied the space where new Tatum Court now stands. Both had to be demolished after the tornado.
- Asbury Academic Building is the home of the Ralph and Naomi Noonkester School of Arts and Letters, formerly housed at old Tatum Court. The Lucile Parker Gallery is also part of Asbury Academic Building; its former home, “512 Tuscan,” was demolished.
In the photo: WCU hosted a dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting July 18 for Tatum Court. Pictured from left are: Dr. Tommy King, WCU president; Jack Simmons, chairman of the WCU Board of Trustees; Dr. Scott Hummel, WCU provost and executive vice president; Linda Montgomery of the WCU African American Cultural Society Alumni Chapter; Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker; and Dr. William K. Ray, vice chairman of the WCU Board of Trustees.
