Tupelo business and civic leader’s legacy lives on with new homeless shelter

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – The new and expanded homeless shelter at the Tupelo Salvation Army was named after a longtime business and civic leader who was instrumental in helping get the ministry to the All America City.

Before the ribbon was cut at the Grand opening ceremony, Jim Ingram talked about his father’s life-changing experience as a National Guardsman, witnessing the Salvation Army in action on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille.

“He saw humanity at its best, people helping people, people-loving people,” said Ingram.

Jim Ingram returned to Tupelo, with a desire to bring the Salvation Army to town. The banker and civic leader followed through on his vision, with some help.

“He was emotionally moved, when he came back he got with city leaders, volunteers, business people, not only from Tupelo but from community, five-county community throughout Northeast Mississippi, he got some people to buy in and they all brought the Salvation Army to the Tupelo area,” Ingram said of his Dad.

Ingram’s determination paid off.  Tupelo’s Salvation Army opened its doors nearly 40 years ago providing hope and shelter to the homeless.

Over time, the demand outpaced the ministry’s facilities.

A capital campaign was started to build a larger shelter, named after the man who brought the Salvation Army to Tupelo.

Ingram’s family and longtime friends say he was a humble man, who was never too busy to help those in need.

“Jim was just a great guy, he was my little league baseball coach when I was ten, I’ve known him, knew him all my life, he , his life was an example of the Tupelo spirit, he gave back, he was chairman of school board, community federal , made loans so people could own their first house,” said Jack Reed Jr.

“He would be proud of Tupelo, and community and people who worked so hard to keep it going, keep the ball rolling to get this done,” said his daughter Holly Ingram Rogers.

“I remember going on Christmas Day to houses, people that did not have much he would take my sister and I to people’s houses who didn’t have much and we would give them gifts on Christmas Day,” said Ingram.

The Jim Ingram Red Shield Lodge will help meet the needs of the homeless for decades to come. Tours of the new shelter were given after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.