What began as a family-owned piece of land more than a century ago has evolved into a small business rooted in craftsmanship and community.
Coral Depot, owned by husband-and-wife team Deb and Gary Hazel, opened to the public in 2019 and sits on land first purchased in 1912 by the Carruth family, where a lumber mill once operated along a railroad line. The business name pays tribute to that history, the surrounding community, and generations of family stewardship. Today, three generations still live on the original homestead.
Creative talent runs deep in Deb’s family, where a passion for art is shared among her three sisters and two brothers — a skill passed down from their parents, John and Rosamond Carruth. Her sisters, Sherree Bond, Johnnie Rose Easton, and Pam Sanders, are artists in their own right and have each displayed handcrafted wooden pieces at Coral Depot over the years.
The veteran-owned shop centers on handmade pottery crafted by Deb, with her husband playing a key role behind the scenes through slab preparation, store operations, and class setup. Many of the pieces incorporate dragonflies and cardinals, symbols rooted in family traditions.
“We have a special family tradition of involving dragonflies and cardinals, which hold sentimental meaning for us. I love incorporating them into our pottery,” Deb said. “When someone chooses a piece adorned with one of these symbols, it’s meaningful to know our family tradition will live on in their home.”
Hazel says the creative process is largely organic, allowing the clay to guide each piece. In addition to selling pottery, Coral Depot offers hand-building and glaze classes that bring locals together to foster creativity.
“We offer hand-building pottery classes every other Saturday, with glaze classes typically held the following Saturday. We do not currently accept custom or special-request work,” Deb explained.
Despite never using traditional advertising, the business has grown through word-of-mouth and social media and recently joined Genuine MS, a statewide program through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce that highlights and supports locally owned businesses that make or grow their products in Mississippi, helping connect them to customers who want to shop local.
Deb added that their goal isn’t expansion, but maintaining a welcoming space that reflects Sumrall’s small sense of community while offering affordable, handmade art.
“Watching younger students beam with pride when they create something for a family member—from a simple handful of wet clay to a finished piece—is unforgettable. Seeing that transformation and sense of accomplishment makes it all worth it,” Deb said.
Coral Depot is located at 106 Coral Place in Sumrall and welcomes visitors year-round on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During November and December, the store also opens on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m.