City recognizes Frances Khoury and swears in Kimberly Nailor

Two Vicksburg families were recognized during the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Tuesday.

Frances Koury, who had a great influence on the city of Vicksburg, passed away on Feb. 28.

“She was just devoted,” said Mayor George Flaggs Jr.

To commemorate her life, the board passed a resolution to change the name of Four Seasons for the Arts to the Frances Koury Four Seasons for the Arts. The group, which she originated, coordinates the Vicksburg Chamber Music Festival and introduces many Vicksburg children to the symphony each year.

”My mother was a visionary,” said Connie Hoseman, Koury’s daughter. “She had a legacy set for all of us and for the future generations here.”

Hoseman said her mom always had Vicksburg’s best interest at the forefront of her mind.

“I read in a card someone sent to us that said, ‘Your mom was bigger than the river that runs by the city,’ she said, “and I believe that.”

The mayor added his appreciation.

“We will be naming her favorite organization after her so that she will forever be remembered in this city,” Flaggs said.

“I hope that when we celebrate Vicksburg’s birthday we celebrate in a way that everything she stood for will be a part of that,” he added, “because she truly loved people, and when I say ‘people’ I mean every single last one of them.”

The board also honored another family on Tuesday when it swore in Kimberly Walker Nailor as associate city attorney. Nailor’s family took up over half the seats in the board room, and she was sworn in with her two sons, Cameron and Brandon Nailor, by her side.

“Kim you come highly, highly, highly recommended for this job,” Flaggs said, speaking to Nailor.

Nailor is a cousin of former Mayor Robert Walker, the namesake of the building where she was sworn in.

“This family is another family that has made their mark in this city of Vicksburg,” Flaggs said, noting that the family includes judges and writers among them.