From magnoliatribune.com:

The smell hits you first—warm butter, sugar, yeast. By Mardi Gras, king cakes with a beloved label fill homes across Mississippi: Paul’s Pastry Shop.

The story starts in 1970: a dream between two parents, and an 800-square-foot bakery downtown. One mixer. Two tables. All built on faith and hard work.

“My family transferred here with my dad’s job in 1964—he worked for Stennis Space Center,” shared Sherri Thigpen, owner of Paul’s Pastry. “My mom and dad wanted to open a small, local bakery. They borrowed $3,500 from my grandpa and started their American dream.”

Like most success stories, it didn’t happen overnight. Over the following years, Paul’s Pastry grew steadily, built on long hours, loyal customers, and perfected recipes. The bakery expanded twice before Sherri purchased the business from her parents in 1988. The next year, in 1989, they opened a second 5,500-square-foot location that served the community until 2005, when the family purchased a 10,000-square-foot shopping center.

Read full story at https://magnoliatribune.com/2026/01/29/sweet-tradition-inside-the-mississippi-legacy-of-pauls-pastry/.