In case you missed it, the bust of Jonas Kisber at the roundabout – East and West Deaderick Streets on North Highland Avenue – has gone missing, but according to Alex Reed, chief of staff for the City of Jackson, the bust is at the City of Jackson’s maintenance shop for cleaning.
It will be presented at the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce for display – indoors – in a couple of weeks or so.
Reed said something that can “withstand the test of time – and the elements” will be placed at the roundabout.
WNWS.COM – Kisber bust dedication April 4, 2019
It wasn’t by design, but a simple U-Turn at on North Highland Avenue at East and West Deaderick Streets led to the dedication of the roundabout to the late Jonas Kisber, Thursday.
For those traveling south on North Highland Avenue, a bust of Mr. Kisber is on the right hand side of the roundabout.
“Jonas Kisber was a friend to everyone, and Jonas used this roundabout before anyone ever thought about using it,” said Jerry Gist, mayor of Jackson, “He was also a foundational pillar.”
Locals will remember Mr. Kisber and his family owned Kisber’s Department Store.
Mr. Kisber, who passed away Nov. 2, 2016, was a permanent member of ‘Uncle Billy’s Breakfast Club,’ a group that meets everyday through the week at 7 a.m., at the Bakers Rack.
He was known to recite poetry, and one morning before leaving the restaurant – he forgot the next line of the poetry he was reciting – and caught some good-natured grief from those who were still in attendance.
Driving north on North Highland Avenue, Mr. Kisber suddenly recalled the line he forgot, and a few minutes returned to the restaurant to complete what he started.
Before doing so, he made a U-Turn in the middle of North Highland Avenue at East and West Deaderick Streets, the site of where the roundabout stands today.
The dedication came four days shy of Mr. Kisber’s birthday.
His children Matt, who lives in Nashville, and daughters Rachel (Nashville) and Joan (Chicago), were in attendance with their families for the dedication.
“I can’t remember when I first started going downtown to work in the store, but my dad would tell me stories when he would drive to work,” Matt Kisber said, “Making downtown the best it could be was first and foremost in his mind, and what he taught me was, the front door to any community, is its downtown.
“This roundabout is the entrance to downtown Jackson … it’s meaningful to our family, and it’s meaningful to me.”
