Upon hearing persons speak in general terms about those who live and work in the Mississippi Delta, that area of fertile land east of the Mississippi River extending 200 miles north and south and 70 miles east and west, I along with my wife decided to traverse this area to come up with a personally satisfying definition and description of Deltans. Who are Deltans? Therefore, we set out to travel the major highways (north and south and east and west) to see where Deltans live and to converse informally with people we, by chance and permission, might meet along the way. To accomplish our investigation, we decided to travel, one day at a time, the highways of the Mississippi Delta (1, 8, 82, 49, 3, 51, and 61). Upon completion of each travel day we wrote an article on the excursion publishing it in "The Bolivar Commercial." We have filed these articles to be used in this book, "The Delta and Deltans." In all of our travels from here to there in the Delta, what impressed us most was the people we met. There is considerable diversity across the region, with European Americans (Italy, Greece and Spain) and African Americans. Asian Americans hail from China and the Middle East. Americans from south of our border have provided labor for our industries and food for our palates. Another outstanding characteristic of the residents of the Delta is hospitality. We never encountered anyone who was less than hospitable. Friendliness was the trademark of our excursions. Having been around the world, having been on all seven continents, and having seen the seven wonders of the world, I am still overwhelmed with the beauty of our own state and the high quality of the residents of our state.
About the Author: Professor Emeritus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Macklyn Ward Hubbell earned degrees from Baylor University (B.A.), The University of Houston (M.A.), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., Th.M.), and the University of Southern Mississippi (Ph.D.). Macklyn (also known as Mickey) was born in the small Texas town of Alvin during the depression. He grew up as a fun-loving, God-fearing and hard-working boy. A few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, when he was ten years old, his father died. At the age of sixteen, Mickey committed his life to become a Christian minister. While attending Baylor, he met Elizabeth Ann (Bet) Melton, and the two were joined in marriage in 1951. After Mickey obtained his Master of Arts Degree in History at the University of Houston, the couple spent a year of intensive study at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Ruschlikon, Switzerland. A deep respect for learning and a passion for travel continue to enrich the couple's lives, and they have traveled the world extensively, living on five continents and visiting all seven continents. In addition to loving his wife and children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and extended family, Mickey enjoys gardening, writing, and contributing to his community in Cleveland, Mississippi. He continues to minister as a pastor, counselor and civic leader. Now in his eighties, he approaches life with a youthful vigor and enthusiasm which is clearly expressed in his writing. The author has published more than twenty books and contributes a weekly column to a local newspaper.