Faces of Elkin: Kay Childress

Some people arrive in Elkin and blend in right away. Others arrive and feel like they have always belonged. Kay Childress is both.

Rooted in Small-Town Life

Kay’s story begins in Yazoo City, Mississippi, a place where Main Street has always mattered. Her family’s jewelry store has served that community for three generations, and she grew up watching her father and brother greet customers by name, fix heirloom pieces, and celebrate milestones with families they had known for years.

Those experiences shaped her more than she realized at the time. She learned how to listen, how to make someone feel comfortable, and how a storefront can become a gathering place. Small towns were her foundation, and that foundation followed her everywhere she went. Her upbringing gave her a natural love for small towns, strong relationships, and the kind of customer care that feels genuine.

Finding Home in the Foothills

Life took Kay and her husband Scott to Dallas for two decades, but when they started feeling the pull back east, the search for a new home brought them to Elkin. Scott grew up in Wilkes County, so the foothills already carried meaning, but it surprised both of them just how quickly Elkin felt right.

They arrived with three children in different stages of life. Their oldest built her life in Statesville, their son stayed in Texas for school, and their youngest jumped straight into the Elkin rhythm. Dance at PMW Academy of Dance Arts and Performance, art classes at Wildflower Art Studio, and daily routines that helped her fall in love with the town just as quickly as her parents did. Kay remembers walking Main Street before her boutique opened and feeling something familiar. Neighbors introduced themselves. Shop owners checked on her progress. People welcomed her with genuine warmth. It reminded her of home in the best way.

The Heart Behind Magnolia & Muscadine

Kay had dreamed of owning a boutique since her college days at Delta State, where she worked at a women’s Southern boutique and fell in love with the fashion world. She loved the confidence women found in a good-fitting outfit and the joy that came from helping someone feel like themselves.

Opening Magnolia & Muscadine in Elkin felt like the dream finally meeting the right moment. Kay wanted to create a boutique that offered more than clothing. She envisioned a place where people would linger, talk, laugh, and feel at home. A place where personal style and personal connection could live side by side.

Her inventory reflects that vision. Bright pieces. Classic silhouettes. Southern styles that feel bold but timeless. Clothing that brings confidence and comfort without sacrificing personality.

The name carries meaning too. Magnolias honor her Mississippi roots, their strength and beauty woven into her childhood memories. Muscadines tie her to North Carolina’s foothills and to Scott’s history here. Together they form a name that feels like two stories becoming one.

Everyday Favorites & Community Spirit

Kay’s love for Elkin extends beyond the boutique. She has her go-to spots for food, coffee, and conversation. Milk & Honey for a morning latte. Royalls or Donna Kaye’s for lunch. Embers for a cozy dinner. Fruition for a cocktail with friends or visiting family.

She loves showing off Elkin to out-of-towners. Every time she brings guests downtown, they comment on how alive Main Street feels and how genuinely friendly everyone is. They notice what she noticed on her first day here: Elkin has a way of welcoming people in.

Kay also believes in giving back. She is joining the board at The Ark and looking forward to supporting the continued growth of downtown. She hopes Magnolia & Muscadine becomes a small but meaningful part of what makes Elkin special: a town that supports local business, encourages new ideas, and values community at every turn.

A Place that Feels Like Belonging

“Elkin made me feel like I was part of something,” Kay said. “I’m really thankful for that.”

And Elkin is thankful for her too.