January 2024 Press Release

Guests at Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store Savor the Season with Candlelight Service and Christmas Eve Breakfast
 

Jackson, Tennessee — (Jan. 5, 2024) — Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store celebrated the Christmas season with two culminating events — a Candlelight Service in the Village Chapel and the 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast, where more than 1,700 Guests were served. This year’s Christmas Eve crowd was one of the largest ever. 

“This is the first year we’ve held our Candlelight Service,” Brooks Shaw, third-generation owner, said. “We wanted to provide Guests a time to sing Christmas hymns and reflect on God’s love.” The Candlelight Service was held Dec. 23. 

Musicians Steve Patterson, Jeff Long and vocalist Rita McCaslin performed a dozen Christian hymns, including “Joy to the World,” “Away in a Manger,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “O Holy Night.” Guests gathered in the historic chapel and often sang along with the performers. “I enjoyed being in a small, close setting with other believers,” said Mary Mitchell, of Medina. She attended the service with her friend, Mitzi Warren, who added that the service brought back “sweet, old memories.”  

The following day, Shaw busily greeted Guests during the annual Christmas Eve breakfast, as generations of families, some first timers and others who have never missed a year, gathered for a Southern buffet of fruit, sausage, eggs, biscuits, pancakes and other fixings. 

“We’re honored to be a part of a holiday tradition for generations of families,” Shaw said. “As we reflect on 39 years of this cherished event, we’re reminded of the importance of family, spending time together and Christ’s love.” 

A line of Guests formed before 5 a.m. outside of the restaurant. Dustin Sanders, of Henderson, Tennessee, was first in line for the Christmas Eve breakfast Sunday morning. Sanders held the coveted spot while his daughter and wife waited in the car to join him closer to the 5:30 a.m. opening. 

“This has been a tradition of ours for about eight years,” he said. His favorite item on the breakfast buffet is the chocolate gravy. 

Shaw’s sister, Elizabeth, greeted Guests as they entered and formed a line through the gift shop and the Dixie Cafe portion of the restaurant. The path provided Guests with a sneak peek of the Dixie Cafe’s almost completed renovation to provide drive-through service. “I love seeing everyone come through the door,” she said. 

One of the families she greeted, the Stanphills, were all dressed in Christmas pajamas. The matriarch of the family, Yvonne Stanphill, gathered her party of seven, which consisted of her son, Matthew, his wife, Holly, and their children John, Sophia, Aleigha and Olivia. “This is our second year,” she said. “When I heard about it last year, I told everyone that I wanted to start a new tradition with the family. I didn’t go to sleep because I didn’t want to oversleep. I’m looking forward to the scrambled eggs, coffee and fruit. Then later, I’ll take a nap.”

Yvonne Stanphill stopped fellow Guests Gene and Jackie Fisher, of Milan, to take a photo with her grandchildren. The Fishers were dressed to honor the spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and they even had a bag of goodies. “We’ve been doing this for five years,” Jackie said. “We bring gifts for the kids and enjoy breakfast together.”

A party of two, Terri Fuller and Fredrick Rayford, of Jackson, made their second Christmas Eve trip before heading to work and church. They were grateful to spend the morning together. “I’m thankful to be here after my kidney transplant,” Fuller said. “I’m thankful for life and that God woke us both up this morning,” Rayford added. 

There were several Guests for whom the breakfast is a long-standing holiday tradition, including Ashley Horton, Brittney Harris and Cheryle Emison. 

Horton, of Jackson, brought one of the larger parties of the day, a group of 40 family members and friends. The group gathered in the Delta Room, filling several long tables early Sunday morning. Horton, who has been coming to breakfast since her youth, brought her husband, Alex, and their three children, ages 17, 19 and 20.

“I’ve been coming since I was 10 years old,” she said. “So about six years ago, I started gathering friends and family together.” Horton’s party included several generations, from a 15-month old to a septuagenarian. “Christmas is not about presents but being present with the people you love,” Horton said.  

Harris attended the breakfast with several of her family members, including her dad, Scott Chandler, and her grandparents, Martha and Larry Chandler, and her husband, Zach. “I’m 30, and we’ve been coming since I was young,” she said. “We do this every year.”

Martha Chandler added that only the love of family and the value of time together serves as motivation to get up so early for breakfast. “It’s a blessing and it’s nice to see a lot of the same people,” she said. 

Emison said this was her family’s 37th year attending the breakfast. “We look forward to doing this every year,” she said. 

Both events, the Candlelight Service and Christmas Eve breakfast, brought families and friends together to celebrate the joy of the holiday season. 

“The 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast at Old Country Store represents more than just a meal; it symbolizes the enduring bonds of family, community, and the joy of the holiday season,” Shaw said. “We’re blessed to be able to offer this event as our gift to the community and serve Guests who have embraced and strengthened it for generations.”

Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store, located at 56 Casey Jones Lane in Jackson, Tennessee, is a multi-faceted destination encompassing the restaurant, Miss Anne’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Miss Juanita’s Gift Shop, and the Dixie Café for takeout, dine-in and drive-through service beginning early 2024. The establishment is gearing up to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. For more information, visit instagram.com/caseyjonesvillage, facebook.com/oldcountrystore, caseyjones.com, or call 731-668-1223.

Photo captions: 

1. Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast Buffet offered a Southern buffet of fruit, sausage, eggs, biscuits, pancakes and other fixings. 

2. Santa Claus greets Guests during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast. 

3. The Sanders family, of Henderson, were first in line for the Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

4. The Stanphill family, of Jackson, wore matching pjs to Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast. 

5. A group of 40 family and friends gathered in the Delta Room during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

6. The Emison and Matthis family gathered in the Delta Room during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

7. Santa Claus greets Guests during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

8. Guests were served hot cider while waiting in line during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

9. Guests waited outside and formed a line during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

10. A Candlelight Service was held Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in The Village Chapel at Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store. 

11. (l to r) Megan Shaw, Brooks Shaw, Ashley King and Juanita Shaw share a playful moment during Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store's 39th Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast.

12. A Candlelight Service was held Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in The Village Chapel at Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store.