Village Beads is a dream come true for our family. Cheri Harthcock was the first member of our family to fall in love with the art of beading. It was not long before her mother and her daughters were also beading. Cheri and her mother, Ann Bankston soon began teaching classes in their homes for all their friends. When Ann was faced with a career change at age 60, she decided, after much prayer, to try to make their dream of a bead store in Mississippi a reality. Village Beads opened in February 2000 in a very small location in Ridgeland. The response was wonderful. The store has grown every year and we are now in our 3rd location. We now have a large store with a wide selection of the best quality beads available. Jim Bankston joined the business full time in 2001. His fourteen years experience in the retail business and marketing degree were needed as the business grew so rapidly. He has been creating glass lampwork beads for 2 years and his beads are sought by many for their special bead creations. Allen Bankston is the newest family member to become a part of the business. Allen has 24 years retail experience and is pleased to now have a job to showcase his creative abilities. Allen is working with PMC, stones, and silversmithing. His hand crafted rings of natural stone and sterling silver are a big hit with everyone. Paul Burlingame is not a family member, but a loyal and long time family friend. His parents are Jims Godparents. Paul came to help us when we moved in January 2001 and liked it so much he stayed to work full time. Pauls organizational skills ensure that orders are filled and shipped in a timely manner. We like for our customers to feel welcome and enjoy their time shopping in our store. Our goal is to provide a clean, friendly atmosphere with all the latest trends in jewelry. We also strive to provide classes to encourage your creativity and increase your skill level.