She won control of infamous Confederate shop in court. Then, she died.
The controversial Confederate store in the heart of downtown Kennesaw could have yet another new owner following the death of the longtime proprietor’s sister this month.
Janice Bagwell, the sister of Dent “Wildman” Myers, was given control of the Civil War shop in February following a lengthy legal battle with the store’s manager over Myers’ estate.
But Bagwell died March 3, her attorney, Ted Silverbach, said in a court filing this week. On Thursday, the Cobb County judge who handled the case decided Myers’ estate would go to Tabitha Popphan, Bagwell’s daughter and sole beneficiary.
Popphan, who works at Truett McConnell University, declined to comment Wednesday morning.
In an affidavit signed Tuesday, Popphan said she is the executrix of her late mother’s estate and that she is prepared to take over the living trust set up by her late uncle.
What that means for the fate of the Civil War shop that was a fixture of downtown Kennesaw for more than five decades is still unclear, City Manager Jeff Drobney said.
“We’re still waiting to see what happens,” he said. “It’s in flux, obviously … and I assume any legal steps will take some time.”
City leaders have spent years trying to improve Kennesaw’s downtown district and attract new businesses. The area is now full of restaurants, apartments and mixed-use developments, a major transformation from what it looked like 20 years ago.
Drobney said the city is gearing up for its spring concert series at its amphitheater across the street, and Reformation Brewery is looking to open a new location next door to the shop that could draw large crowds on nights and weekends.
Meanwhile, the city’s development authority is seeking to sell an adjacent three-story property that long housed a local hardware store next to Myers’ shop.
Myers’ Civil War surplus store had been a source of controversy and protests for decades in the growing suburban city.
The rebel flags that hung for years off the red brick building are no longer there, but Myers’ shuttered shop is still chock full of hats, buttons, Confederate belt buckles and other Civil War memorabilia. A local gun shop next door is now the building’s only active tenant.
On Wednesday afternoon, the area was full of people enjoying the spring weather. Some locals dined on restaurant patios while others took midday strolls in the warm sunshine.
Several people who just moved to the area said they were unaware of Myers’ shop or any of the controversy surrounding it. But others said they believe it’s time for the city to move on.
“It’s been here way too long,” said Jess Urbanski, who grew up in the area and attended Harrison High School. “It’s kept Kennesaw in the past and I think it needs to go.”
The 32-year-old lives in Dallas now and was visiting town. She said Wildman’s shop “kept racism in the South,” and that she’s surprised it stayed open as long as it did.
Kennesaw resident Renfort Broadway, who was out for a lunchtime walk with his wife and the couple’s Labrador, said the city is far more diverse now than it was decades ago.
“I feel like there shouldn’t be a place for it, just because there’s a lot of different cultures out here,” said Broadway, who is Black. “ I feel like that’s something that really needs to be let go.”
Broadway, who works as a sales representative, said he’s driven past the shop for years and seen the Confederate flags hanging off the second-story balcony.
“I was like, ‘why do they have that up?’” said Broadway, who grew up in Paulding County. “I feel like there’s no need because everywhere else is very welcoming.”
The shop shuttered abruptly late last year when a Cobb County judge ordered a forensic audit of Myers’ estate amid Bagwell’s legal challenge against longtime store manager Marjorie Lyon.
Lyon was removed as a trustee after a judge found she took sole control of Myers’ property following his death four years ago at age 90, breaching the terms of a trust he had set up for both women.
Lyon, the judge found, changed the locks and denied Bagwell access to everything, including the store, Myers’ Kennesaw-area home, cash, collectibles and other belongings.
As part of the resolution, Lyon was allowed to keep the proceeds from the sale of more than more than $800,000 worth of Lockheed Martin Corp. stock gifted to her by her late boss.
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