Buzz Harper, Bon Vivant of Natchez, Miss.

Lunch at The Castle Restaurant in Natchez, Miss., and you may spy a distinguished gentleman gliding in gracefully with a cane. His three-piece suit will be buttoned, fingers weighted by bejeweled rings, and white hair pulled tight into a ponytail. Meet Buzz Harper (1937-2011), a world-traveling bon vivant. He says things like “I’m receptive to ghosts” offhandedly, the way one divulges a shellfish allergy. He is equally charismatic and sensitive, charming and insightful.

From "The Characters of Natchez" by Tanner Latham for Southern Living, 2007; Photo by Robbie Caponetto; Illustration by TL  

#underthehill #natchez #mississippi #design #character #characters #story #stories #thestorybar