Beth Ann Fennelly’s appointment this week as Mississippi Poet Laureate by Gov. Phil Bryant is a point of celebration for Oxford.

We are known as a writer’s haven, home to some of the South’s most talented scribes. But among them, Fennelly is a standout.

She and her husband, Tom Franklin, are known for their writing skills and their devotion to this community. They chose more than 15 years ago to make Oxford a permanent home, and Fennelly’s four-year appointment as the state’s poet laureate makes her a permanent fixture in our state’s history.

Fennelly’s skill as a poet and writer is notable. She’s one of the best in the world, in fact. But she also has a gift of verbal communication skills, humor and a passion for connecting with people and helping them that makes her a perfect choice for this important position.

Oxford is proud of all its writers and their accomplishments, but the appointment of Beth Ann Fennelly as Mississippi Poet Laureate is one of our proudest moments.

We celebrate with her. And, we celebrate the good fortune of Oxford for having someone so talented call our city home.