Thank you, Mike

Alderman Michael Mayfield passed away Monday night, just before midnight, nine weeks after he found out he had pancreatic cancer.

He has been the North Ward/Ward 1 alderman for a long time after many years as a county supervisor. Vicksburg and Warren County fundamentally changed during that time, and Mike was in leadership during that era. Many words will be said about his accomplishments in public life, but I want to discuss the man.

We first met when he came into our restaurant. His booming voice attracted every eye in the packed house. It took him 10 minutes to order because everyone wanted to say hello or share a story. I asked him who he was, and he explained it to the new guy in town in a soft voice. He made sure to tell me how good the food was and backed that up by coming in to eat with us regularly. Whenever I saw him, the conversation began with something he ate at the Klondyke, always a compliment or kind word.

He was fun. He was a great conversationalist, sharp as he could be, but he didn’t often reveal that side of himself. He loved to fish, and that became a regular topic of conversation. After he got to know me pretty well, he might have had a beer or two at the Klondyke, always in a Styrofoam cup that I would sneak pour under the counter. He really liked me then.

The first encounter we had in an official capacity was when Mayor Winfield wanted to allow beer sales to extend until early in the morning. South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman was opposed, and Mayor Winfield was for it, so the vote came down to Micheal. I was one of the people who gave a fact-based talk against expanding sales and called Mike out directly, saying that Sid was against it and Winfield was for it, so this comes down to Mike deciding if we should extend those hours. After weighing the information, Mike decided on the risk to the city and individuals and added the probable additional police work didn’t make sense for the small tax revenue that beer sales would bring.

One day at the Klondyke, I asked Mike what it was like growing up in Vicksburg in the 60s. He talked bluntly about walking home from school and not taking certain roads because of the people who lived there. He was taught to be polite to everyone, but especially those with hate in their hearts. My observation is that it became a lifelong method for Mike because he, from my point of view, always approached people with kindness.

When Mike laughed, you couldn’t help but laugh with him. He was infectious and able to lift you up if you were down. He would pray for you, help you, or do what he could. Sometimes, at city meetings, Mike would get a bit long-winded. Before one of those meetings, I asked him if he was going to speak today, and if he was to take it easy on us because I only have 94% battery left. He laughed hard at himself and recalled that line whenever we encountered each other. Mike laughed a lot.

When an ancient water line broke near United Cleaners and threatened to shut off the city’s water supply, Mike was there late at night, cold and windy, to ensure his crews had everything they needed. Mike did his job.

The last time I saw Mike was at the parade held for him on the Saturday after he found out he was sick. Over the prior three months or so, he had lost 45 pounds. But it wasn’t until he wasn’t feeling well that he went to the doctor. The news was devastating: pancreatic cancer that has spread to his lymph nodes. Mike chose to fight, knowing there was little hope.

The parade of cars was led by an emotional Mayor George Flaggs. The mayor had canceled his State of the City Address planned for Thursday night because he didn’t think he could get through it without breaking down. Mike’s parade was a seemingly endless line of cars with people loving him, thanking him, giving small gifts, and wishing him the best outcome. It was the longest parade for an individual that we had ever covered. Mike was loved.

This morning, when the news broke of Mike’s passing, it was a couple of hours after a spaceship lit up the early morning sky directly over Vicksburg. I can’t beat the feeling that divine providence was somehow involved and the powers that be lit up the sky for Mike. A visible reminder that Mike was one of Vicksburg’s shining stars.