Janis Jordan, customer | Southern Foodways Alliance arrow left envelope headphones search facebook instagram twitter flickr menu rss play circle itunes calendar
June 6–July 29, 2022
SFA Film Residency ⟶
October 21–22, 2022 (tentative)
2022 Fall Symposium: Barbecue

Support
the SFA
Support
the SFA
June 6–July 29, 2022
SFA Film Residency ⟶
October 21–22, 2022 (tentative)
2022 Fall Symposium: Barbecue

Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to annemarie@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Bully’s Restaurant

ORAL HISTORY

Janis Jordan, customer

Bully's Restaurant

Janis Jordan is a longtime customer at Bully’s Restaurant. She was introduced to the place by a friend in the early 1990s, and made it a habit to visit at least 2 or 3 times a month. Janice has lived places other than Jackson, but she returned to the city to help care for her parents. For a living, she makes soap that she sells at local markets and also does some web design. Janis is also a musician and performs in the small front room at Bully’s every Friday afternoon. Whether customers want to hear Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, or Patsy Cline, Janis obliges. She’s a one-woman act, playing guitar or using background tracks from her iPhone to support her vocals. She’s been doing this for 6 months and, despite what she terms a “tough crowd,” she returns each week to volunteer her talents for the benefit of Bully’s regulars. And, of course, for her own benefit: a delicious soul food lunch.

Date of interview:
2014-04-11

Interviewer:
Mary Beth Lasseter

Photographer:
Mary Beth Lasseter

Download Transcript

“

"If you grew up eating soul food, it actually is a big challenge to your grandmother’s or your mother’s cooking. It’s just amazing. I find myself having to just almost put a chain and lock around my mouth to keep from eating everything." ~Janis Jordan

Other Project Interviews

Interview

Rev. Barry Taylor, customer

Reverend Barry Taylor is one of 18 children. His parents worked on a plantation in Belzoni, Mississippi, before moving…

Interview

Remi Oladipo, employee

Remi Oladipo found her way to Bully’s Restaurant after emigrating from Nigeria. She met Greta Bully, wife of owner…

Interview

Jacqueline Tard, employee

Jacqueline Tard has worked for the Bully family for over 30 years. She started out with the senior Mr. Bully when he…

Interview

J. B. Mance, customer

J. B. Mance has known Tyrone Bully since he was a small boy. He was friends with Tyrone’s parents, and when he wasn’t…

Interview

Greta Brown Bully

Greta Brown met her future husband when her job required her to pay a visit to Bully’s Restaurant. The year was 1992, a…

Interview

Ballery Tyrone Bully

Ballery Tyrone Bully opened Bully’s Restaurant in 1982, with the help of his father. Now, over 30 years later, he…

WORKING TOGETHER

WE CAN CULTIVATE PROGRESS.

The Southern Foodways Alliance drives a more progressive future by leading conversations that challenge existing constructs, shape perspectives, and foster meaningful discussions. We reconsider the past with research, scrutiny, and documentation.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Alex Raij Txikito

Let’s Stay in Touch

Sign up for the SFA newsletter to have the latest content
delivered directly to your inbox.