Mackey Hargett's Tribute: Vernon's Birthplace Historical Marker
When kin, Mackey Hargett, first told me about his plans to commemorate Vernon Presley's birthplace, I prayed that all would go through for him just as he had hoped, for he was so excited about this labor of love tribute to a man who became a second father to him.
When Mackey first visited with Vernon Presley at Graceland®, he confided that he was overcome with awe as he sat in the kitchen chatting with Vernon and, suddenly, in walked Elvis! "Elvis," said Vernon, "this is a cousin of yours on the Wallace side of the family..." And so began the story that Mackey has since told, the truth about the Rosella Presley and her family.
Mackey had become quite close with Vernon. They visited often, continuing to get together even after Elvis' passing. Mackey had never known his own father, Tearsie Hargett, who was killed in action in WWII, and he looked up to Vernon as a surrogate dad. Mackey's admiration for Vernon became so strong that he felt he wanted to do something special in remembrance of Vernon, and that chance arose when a parcel of land in Fulton, Mississippi, came up for sale, the very piece of property on which once stood the very house where Vernon Presley was born on April 10, 1916, to Jessie D. Presley and Minnie Mae Hood Presley.
Mackey offered to buy the section of parcel where the home once stood and eventually succeeded. He then went a step further and sought to preserve the parcel of land as a tribute to Vernon Presley, putting in an order for a Mississippi State Historical Marker. The order was accepted and the rest is history! Thanks to Mackey's efforts, Vernon Presley will no longer be lost in the shadows, but remembered as the father of Elvis Presley.
Mackey is to be commended for this commemoration to Elvis' daddy for not much is actually spoken about Vernon and the extent of the struggles he endured in younger days, a sad story in and of itself. The historical marker recognizing Vernon Presley's birthplace is now a quaint little park, a peaceful spot in a shady nook, carefully maintained by Mackey, and fast becoming a wonderful addition to the Presley story.
Below, Vernon contemplates diving in the pool
Vernon Presley was a devout father to his famous son. However, days were not always rosy for Vernon, nor Gladys, and Vernon struggled to make ends meet and keep the family fed. He ended up overnight in a jail cell simply because he needed money and got it through unlawful means. They were hard times. Vernon built the house on Saltillo Road, Tupelo, with his own hands. Later, at Graceland, he became a fierce protector of his son's financial situation and kept those around his son honest. He pronounced Elvis as "Evis," and was a good daddy to his boy. When Dee Stanley came into the picture, both Vernon and Elvis had a difficult time with her and her boys. Vernon married Dee, then divorced her, perhaps because he loved his son more.