Greenwood Soul Mates – Dr. Erin Jacobs Stagner
For us, “soul” represents that unique essence each person contributes to their community, weaving a colorful tapestry of stories, talents, cultural experiences, and more. In Greenwood, this tapestry is formed by numerous unique individuals whose captivating stories and deep connections to the region’s food, music and history define our identity as a town and make Greenwood such an extraordinary place to visit. These remarkable individuals are our “Soul Mates.”
Dr. Erin Jacobs Stagner’s life mirrors many Mississippians in countless ways. But in other ways, it mirrors few. She grew up on a farm in Tippo, Mississippi, just north of Greenwood, her childhood home nestled in the middle of her grandfather’s acres of land.
“We had a cotton field in my front yard,” Dr. Jacobs recalled. “My family has been in business in Greenwood since 1975, so I grew up in Greenwood, but I didn’t grow up in Greenwood all at the same time.”
The Youngest Doctor in the Room
She attended Strider Academy in Charleston, Mississippi, and thanks to a high ACT score, she enrolled at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus at age 16. After spending a summer and a year there, she completed her prerequisites at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead before heading to Logan University in St. Louis. In 2006, she graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic – the youngest in her class.
It doesn’t take long into a conversation to discover where Dr. Jacobs, or “Dr. J.” as she’s called, found her love for chiropractic care.
Following Her Mother’s Footsteps and Heart
“I originally wanted to get into forensic pathology when I was at the W, but I had issues holding a scalpel steady, so I knew I had to do something else,” she said. “My uncle and mother were chiropractors, and I literally grew up working in my mom’s office. So, it was a natural transition.”
Dr. Jacobs explained that her mother passed away in September 2020, a loss that still feels fresh in many ways. From the values she instilled to the quiet strength she modeled, her mother’s memory continues to shape how Dr. Jacobs lives her life.
“All of this reflects what living in Greenwood is like,” she said. “Over the years, I met and got to know many of my mother’s patients, and now a lot of them are also my patients. It’s such a cool connection to have with them. I admit, it’s hard without her, though. Sometimes, I want to pick up the phone and call her to share my day or to hear her thoughts, but I can’t.”
Now, she navigates life in Greenwood with her husband and three daughters. She’s on a mission to flip the narrative for good, determined to ensure that anyone who dares to say, “there’s nothing to do in Greenwood,” walks away with a completely new perspective and maybe even a few favorite spots of their own.
Dr. Jacobs describes the town as a network where people’s lives intertwine in unexpected yet meaningful ways. “You see the same people throughout the day, but it’s not always in the same context,” she explains. “The parents I see at competitive dance are the same ones I run into at Turnrow Café, the nail salon or a basketball game. So, seeing them in different places is comforting to me.”
Spaghetti Noodles and Soul Ties
That connection, she says, isn’t accidental. It’s cultivated through shared experiences. For Dr. Jacobs, that means rolling up her sleeves and staying actively involved. She serves on the Chamber of Commerce board, sings in the Greenwood Chorale and the First Presbyterian Church choir, and is Vice President of the Greenwood Little Theater.
“Each of these groups contains a distinct set of individuals, and while some may overlap, most do not,” she said. “When you step back and observe the network we’ve created, it’s a huge web of connections. I compare it to spaghetti noodles – when you pull one out, you don’t just get one person, you get everyone they’re connected to.”
Dr. Jacobs’ passion for growth is evident not only in the depth of her community involvement but also in her impressive academic credentials. “I have more certifications than most people would consider necessary,” she admits with a laugh.
“But I love learning.”
She’s an avid reader, juggling multiple books. “There’s always a book in my car and at least three different audiobooks on my phone – it’s how I decompress,” she said.
Showing Up for Greenwood
Balancing personal and professional life isn’t a matter of switching hats, it’s a constant, natural overlap. “It’s all interwoven,” she says. “I can’t just clock in at eight and out at five. I’ll see a patient at the grocery store, and they’ll ask me about their balance or tell me something about their kid. That’s just life here.”
That’s part of what makes her work so meaningful: it’s not confined to a schedule or a setting. This connection is what makes Greenwood special.
“There’s no anonymity here, but that’s not a bad thing,” she said. “After my mom passed, people would come up to me and share memories of her. There’s comfort in that.”
Dr. Jacobs attributes her leadership philosophy to her mother, who instilled in her the belief that service is the rent we pay for our place on this planet. “You help enough people get what they want, and you’ll get what you want,” she said, quoting Zig Ziglar, another Mississippian known for his wisdom on leadership and motivation.
Remembering MVSU and a Legacy in Motion
One other memory she still cherishes to this day is the eight years she and her mom spent with Mississippi Valley State University as unofficial “sports trainers.” Initially asked to help with the basketball team, they eventually worked with nearly all sports teams. With Dr. Jacobs also having a degree in sports science and human anatomy, it was a great fit.
“It was an awesome experience for us,” she said. “Even though they are in a smaller conference, they played the bigger schools in the beginning of the year. So, we could travel with the team to larger cities and visit, including New Orleans. Reflecting on that experience with my mother is something special.”
When asked to describe Greenwood in one word, Dr. Jacobs chose “amalgamation.”
“It’s a bunch of different parts and pieces coming together to form one united whole,” she explains. “Like when you are building something. You have concrete – you mix powder, water, and rebar, and it all works together. Greenwood is like that. We have many different types of people, but when it matters, we come together to get things done.”
From the Viking Half Marathon to the Bikes, Blues & Bayous cycling event, Greenwood thrives on community efforts. “We see the potential of what Greenwood could be on those days,” she says. “And that’s what makes this place special.”
To Dr. Jacobs, the town’s strength lies in its people. “My husband always says, ‘If you didn’t have a practice here, we could move.’ But I don’t know where I’d want to go,” she admits. “Everyone I know, and love is here.”
What ‘Soul’ Means to Dr. Jacobs
“It’s your uniqueness, your spark, and the energy you bring to a group,” she said. “It’s like the quote, ‘be you, everyone else is taken.’ So, it goes back to amalgamation – everyone brings their own energy and uniqueness to create a beautiful mosaic and that’s what Greenwood really is.”
As for the Heart and Soul of Greenwood, Dr. Jacobs says it all comes back to the community.
“The people of Greenwood are like the family you never knew you needed,” she said. “It’s the connectedness, and there is comfort in the connectedness.”
Dr. Jacobs’ story reflects dedication to learning, service, and the town she calls home. In a world that often rushes past the significance of community, she is a testament to the power of staying connected and uplifting others. Greenwood is stronger for having her in it.
See Greenwood through Dr. Jacobs’ eyes – use her itinerary to plan your trip!
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