Rolling Fork, MS

Rolling Fork is a small Mississippi Delta town with deep roots and a tight-knit community. As the seat of Sharkey County, it is best known as the birthplace of blues legend Muddy Waters and the site of Theodore Roosevelt's famous 1902 hunt that inspired the original teddy bear. Every fall, the Great Delta Bear Affair brings neighbors together to celebrate that history, adding new hand-carved wooden bears all over town. Following a devastating tornado in 2023, the town has poured its energy into rebuilding, driven by the quiet resilience and supportive spirit that define everyday life here.