Divine Detours: Coffee, Connection, and the Power of Showing Up
- Mississippi Black Pages
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
As a Black business owner, I move through a lot of spaces, often wearing multiple hats—entrepreneur, marketing manager, community advocate, mentor. The work is nonstop, but every so often, I’m reminded that slowing down and following my spirit is not only necessary—it’s divine.
On, April 8, 2025, I had a wedding meeting in Bay St. Louis, not far from Pass Christian, Mississippi. It’s an area I rarely find myself in, so as I wrapped up and headed back to my post at the Gulfport Sportsplex, where I serve as Marketing Manager, I said to myself, “You’re already out this way—support a Black-owned business while you’re here.”
That thought led me to Cat Island Coffeehouse, a well-loved café known for its warm vibes, scenic views, and community spirit. The shop is owned by Sean Pittman, a Tougaloo College alum—just like me. I had already passed the turn for the coffeehouse, but something urged me to make a U-turn. And so I did.
While I was in line to order, I was on the phone with my friend, Silas "DJ Nasty Sho" Anderson, discussing an upcoming project, I walked into the shop and noticed a man seated on the patio wearing an Omega Psi Phi cap. Still a "Real Life Que Dawg," I felt obligated to engage—and make sure he was “supposed” to be wearing it.
Turns out, he was. His name was James Dedeaux (Nu Eta 1975), and he was having coffee with his wife, Ella. As we talked, I learned he was the line brother of a couple bruhz that I know well - Charles “CJ” Lawrence’s father (Judge Lawrence), and Essix Miskel (former Basileus of Sigma Alpha Alpha). That moment of casual conversation turned into something deeper: connection, history, legacy.
Sometimes you just have to follow your spirit.
It was only later that I realized just how perfectly timed it all was. April 8 is always a hard day for me—it marks the death anniversary of my mother, Jannie Patterson. Just three days before that, April 5, is the anniversary of my father, George Patterson Sr. And April 9,will mark one year since the passing of my friend Marcus Conner, who was also one of my youngest son’s (Jaxon) godparents.
The weight of this week is real. And yet today, in a quiet coffee shop tucked along the coast, I was reminded that I’m never walking alone.
Over the weekend, I was in Mobile for my sons’ tournaments in Daphne, Alabama. There, I met a woman named Janet (aka Jan, which is my mom's nickname) who calls herself “everybody’s mama.” As it turns out, she’s connected to one of my high school friends, Wesley Perine. Again—another divine connection. Another moment of unexpected light.
These encounters aren’t just chance—they are divine reminders that when we listen to our intuition and create space to simply be, the God and our community shows up to meet us. They remind us that community isn’t just something we build—it’s something we bump into when we least expect it. But Wee have to show up!
So to my fellow entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders—make the U-turn when you need to. Say yes to the divine detour. Stop for the coffee/tea. Speak to the stranger. You never know what healing, history, or hope is waiting for you on the other side of a simple decision to show up.
Call to Action: Support Black-owned businesses like Cat Island Coffeehouse. Listen to your spirit. Trust your timing. And always make space for the magic that lives in everyday moments.
About the Author:
George "Chuck" Patterson is the founder of MS Black Pages and the MS Black Business Expo. Chuck is also a Fall 2000 initiate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., through the Rho Epsilon Chapter at Tougaloo College. He remains an active member through the Sigma Alpha Alpha Chapter in Moss Point, MS. A business strategist, media producer, and community advocate, he is passionate about mentorship, leadership, and building a better Mississippi.
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