Meet Our Team
KIM CARON
Owner of Caron Gallery
Kim is a Tupelo native and has spent the better part of 30 years collecting and enjoying art. In 2010, Kim started the Caron Gallery, and now she represents over 40 artists of all genres. In 2018, the Mississippi Business Journal named her one of the 50 Leading Women in Business. She is currently Chairman of the Board for the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo. Daily, she endeavors to break down the barriers between visual art and the community around her. In the coming years, she hopes to share more of the talent of our Mississippi artists with the world. Kim is constantly growing her faith in God, nurturing her family, and cultivating friendships. She loves to play golf with friends and finds that being outside feeds her soul. She’s learning to embrace her empty nest with more time spent with her husband in the mountains and away from the Mississippi heat. Kim is in the gallery often, but you can also find her on Instagram @carongallery.
LILY TREST
Co-Owner, Manager at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Lily grew up just outside of Laurel, MS, and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Science. She married her husband, artist Adam Trest, which began her love and appreciation for art and artists. She has spent over ten years helping grow her husbands art business and looks forward to helping other artists for our great state grow theirs, too. She is passionate about helping others achieve success in what they are passionate about in a way that represents their unique style. As co-owner and manager at Caron Gallery South, Lily enjoys selling art for Mississippi artists and connecting with customers.
ROSEMARY JONES
Marketing Manager for Caron Gallery | Starkville, MS
Rosemary Jones, originally from Laurel, Mississippi, now resides in Starkville, MS. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, concentrating in Integrated Digital Marketing. Rosemary began her journey with us as the Manager for Frame House in Starkville, and now serves as the Marketing Manager for both Caron Gallery & Frame House. Rosemary loves experiencing the world of art and artists daily. She finds joy in learning about artistic processes and seeing the behind-the-scenes of an artist’s world, which has strengthened her appreciation for the role of art in the community. For her, art is a powerful outlet for emotion, expression, and connection—it evokes feelings and inspires creativity in ways words sometimes cannot.
CARON GALLERY | TUPELO
AMY BLACKMON
Framing Manager at Caron gallery | Tupelo, MS
Amy is the Frame Designer for Caron Gallery. As a child, she designed her 8th-grade yearbook cover and won a 4-H photography contest entitled The Last Wisteria. Before joining the gallery, Amy taught aerobics and trained new teachers to lead. She is keen to bring in new lines of frames for our customers and hopes to get more custom frames in the hands of more people. She has framed just about anything you can think of! Amy believes in integrity and honesty. She loves Bible study, being a wife, mom, and grandmother. She also does triathlons in her free time. Amy’s skills are essential to the Caron Gallery, and you can find her in the gallery creating works of art with frames. Her Instagram is @carongalleryframe.
CINDY MARTIN
Gallery Manager at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Cindy Martin is a Kentucky native and has called Tupelo home since 2008. Since joining the Caron Gallery in 2012, Cindy has become a huge part of our team! She oversees the shipping and packaging of our online orders. Cindy says, "It is exciting to see our Mississippi art being shipped all across the US and Canada." Cindy has an eye for details and is especially talented at pairing and arranging artwork for presentation in the gallery. When she's not at the gallery, Cindy is most likely traveling, volunteering or spending time with family, especially her three granddaughters.
KIM BURLESON
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Kim, also known as ‘Kim B.,’ grew up in Tupelo. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a communications and public relations degree. Kim B. joined the gallery team in 2021 and is a huge help on the sales floor. Kim B. is energized by learning and accomplishing new tasks. She enjoys working with people and has learned that helping customers find art that brings joy into their lives and homes brings her fulfillment. Kim B. says, “People connect with art for different reasons, and it is fun to help make the connection a reality.” She and her husband of 33 years have three daughters, and a grandson. She loves the outdoors, and gardening is her favorite thing to do on a pretty day. Find her in the gallery on weekdays and on Instagram @emcburl.
GINGER MONTGOMERY
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Ginger is a gallery assistant for Caron Gallery in Tupelo. She’s a Mississippi native and a Mississippi State University alumnus. Ginger is constantly learning more about art and the different styles our Mississippi artists approach. She values faith and family above all else, and her greatest achievement in life is her three beloved children. Ginger loves to travel the globe and enjoys antiques and history. One of her greatest passions is the history and art of the Mississippi Delta and its landscapes.
REAGAN GILREATH
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Tupelo, MS
Reagan is from Amory, MS. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a BFA and concentration in graphic design. Reagan enjoys connecting with clients, discussing art, answering questions, and sharing her knowledge of each artist's process and any mediums represented in their work. She helps Kim bring her digital vision of Caron Gallery to life—through branding, packaging, and web design. Reagan works full-time at Calvary Baptist Church in Visual Communications & Design and serves as a ministry assistant. Outside of the church and the art gallery, you can find her enjoying the fresh air and spending time with her husband and their family. You can connect with her on social media at @reagan.gilreath.
CARON GALLERY | LAUREL
AMEY WATSON
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Amey Watson has spent her life in Laurel, MS, working as an educator in various roles. She is a dedicated wife and mother who has raised three wonderful children. Amey is known for her kindness, sense of humor, and consideration for others. She works as a gallery assistant at Caron Gallery Laurel, where she welcomes guests with patience and cheerfulness. You can often find her at the gallery during the week.
RACHEL ACTON
Framer at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Rachel Acton is originally from the Upcountry of South Carolina and now resides in Heidelberg, Mississippi. A bookish mama at heart, Rachel values quiet spaces, meaningful conversation, and a really good cup of coffee. She trained as a nurse before dedicating the past 25 years to homeschooling her children, a season that shaped her patience, care, and love for learning. At the gallery, Rachel enjoys supporting the community’s creative individuals and helping patrons preserve the beautiful things they love. Rachel is continually inspired by the beauty she sees in the work of local artists and is grateful for the gifts God has given her neighbors to create such art. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. Her faith, church community, and close relationships are central to her life, and she is especially thankful for a loving husband, children, and friends who keep her laughing.
CHERILON STEVENS
Gallery Assistant at Caron Gallery | Laurel, MS
Cherilon Stevens is from Louisiana but has spent much of her adult life in Laurel, MS. She is a professional calligrapher and does many things in that scope, including watercolor, gilding, and hand engraving. She is a gallery assistant in Laurel and loves making everyone who walks through the door feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. Cherilon’s pillars are her faith and her family. She believes in treating people with kindness and respect and the power of laughter. She’s been married to Rusty for 33 years, and they have two children, a daughter-in-law, and a precious granddaughter named Anne Townsend. She loves being active in her church, spending time with family, going to the beach, watching movies, cooking, and walking. She can be found working on her next art project when she's not at the gallery. Find her on Instagram @cherilonstevenscalligraphy.
Frame House | Starkville
LAURA BUTLER
MANAGER AT FRAME HOUSE | STARKVILLE
Originally from the Laurel area, Laura brings a unique blend of creativity, history, and diverse experience to Frame House. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Archaeology from Mississippi State University, with a special focus on curation and preservation, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in the same field. Laura’s career path has been anything but ordinary, with roles in concert piano and industrial welding, showcasing her versatility and passion for learning. A proud mother of two adult children, Laura has a deep love for art, various forms of needlework, and reading. She also enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, Molly. With a rich background in both the arts and the sciences, Laura is excited to contribute her expertise and enthusiasm to the growth of Mississippi’s artistic community at Frame House!
RACHEL BREAKFIELD
FRAMER | STARKVILLE
Rachel Breakfield is originally from Columbia, MS and now resides in Starkville, MS. She studied Graphic Design at Mississippi State University and has lived and worked in Starkville for the past 20 years. Rachel brings both creativity and experience to her work, with a strong appreciation for thoughtful design. Outside of the office, she enjoys painting and gardening, and values spending quality time with her partner and their dog.