A great day’s work for Keland Busby Vaughan is more than just perfecting the right ingredients for the best taste. It’s about the way she meticulously presents her food and desserts as edible art. Vaughan opened Deep South Confection & Designs on Main Street in downtown Ackerman earlier this year. The business occupies the building affectionately remembered as Moore’s Drug Company. “Custom work is essential to my unique designs, and I really needed a good size location where I could perform intricate work. We’ve put in a small commercial kitchen with an oven for tall cakes, and we are exploring our exact focus in this vintage place,” Vaughan said. Vaughan returned to Choctaw County two years ago after living in other parts of the state. She previously owned a business just outside of Meridian and was part of a venture in Tupelo. For Vaughan, the path to success has never been sugarcoated. It’s been filled with a lot of hard work and dedication to perfecting her craft in the captivating way she interprets people’s sweetest desires. Although Vaughan has no formal training as a baker, chef or artist, she readily admits it was the right path for her to just steadily pursue work rather than higher education. “My mom, Regina Wells Busby, was an artist of oil paints, and she professionally painted. I think I take after her with that creativity, just with a passion for food,” Vaughan said. A Webster County native who became a Choctaw County transplant as she transitioned into junior high school, Vaughan grew up on a cattle farm. And the more she learned about food, the more she discovered the special flair she had for preparation and presentation. Early on, Vaughan recalls being given a book on how to market food, and after a read, she formed a plan. She started making her own fudge and later canning her own jams and jellies, selling all of it to area co-ops. And she continued the homegrown, homemade approach and direct selling for years. Vaughan puts a lot of love and energy into each item she creates, and clients are seeking her featured foods and her event space on Main Street in Ackerman for celebrations, from birthdays, bridal showers, and baby showers to retirement salutes. Additionally, Vaughan’s resume has included service with the Miss Mississippi Pageant and the Miss Mississippi Volunteer Pageant. This association has helped her gain visibility for her edible art. In the future, Vaughn wants to engage more locally and mentor young people. She’s already taught classes at the Choctaw County Career and Technology Center and conducted a one-night cookie-decorating workshop at the Choctaw County Library sponsored by Friends of the Library. “Everyone has been encouraging. Beyond the storefront, Deep South Confection & Designs is gaining a presence with orders for custom cakes, cookies, and many other sweets,” she said. “And we hope we’ll have a website for online orders soon.” Assistance with designs comes from Vaughan’s husband Rocky. In August, the pair will mark one year of marriage. She is a mother of two; older son Ben works for the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, and younger son Bentley attends junior high school. Rocky’s two sons, Ryder and Brody, complete the family. The Vaughans are an incredibly creative couple in their pursuits. He is a graphic artist for the Oktibbeha County Co-op known for the newest design of the state of Mississippi flag. While not at work, he assists his wife, having custom created the Deep South Confection & Design logo. And he and the couple’s children are on board with taste tests. “We are not definitely not tired of cookies and cakes at my house,” Vaughan laughingly admitted. Her personal favorite is Italian Cream, but she admits she also loves an old fashioned Caramel cake. She’s available to make those and many, many more desserts by order. Vaughan readily admits she’s in good company in Choctaw County, being among a number of women in professional roles in education, government, and business. “I’m very excited by the women I know here that stay relevant in what they do, and they are doing it while being true to themselves and their families,” she said. “I hope to have a presence here for years to come.”
