MADISON • GLUCKSTADT • RIDGELAND • FLORA • CANTON
V 6#3 5.20
2 • MAY 2020
Hometown MADISON • 3
4 • MAY 2020
FROM OUR PUBLISHER
My roots were first planted in a rural
section in Union County between Oxford
and New Albany. My brother and I grew
up there watching my parents build a
photography business that even family
said would never make it that far from
“town.” But my parents stayed with their
vision of “The Studio in the Woods” and
worked extremely hard to see it grow and
prosper. It was a testimony for our family
of God’s faithfulness to His children.
It was in 1994 that my parents realized
the studio was no longer adequate to
meet the workload. Daddy drew up
plans for a major addition that would
give ample room for more innovative
lighting and backgrounds. He had a
work crew begin in late January when
business was slowest. The studio was in
remodeling chaos when a greater chaos
came- the ice storm of 1994.
Not only did work crews abandon
the project, my parents were without
power for 21 days! I know Daddy felt like
the business might not survive, but he
continued to lean on his faith and pray
for light at the end of his tunnel.
God WAS faithful, and the business
rebounded and jumped to an even
larger area of clients. It wasn’t a pleasant
experience during the “storm,” but what
lessons were learned!
This COVID-19 storm has staggered
the world. Businesses have and are
suffering. Our hometown will probably
never return to the “old days.” However,
with renewed trust in a faithful God,
hard work, and everyone rallying around
our local businesses, our hometown
could very well rise above her former
self. I say we adopt a new motto for
these challenging days: “With man this
is impossible, but with God all things
are possible.” Matthew 19:26 l
ON THE COVER: Emily and Jeff Speed–this year’s Go Red For Women Open Heart recipients.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya A. Dobbs
HOMETOWN STAFF
CFO
Kevin W. Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
IN THIS ISSUE
A Second Chance 6
The Power of a Shower 16
Hometown Q&A 20
An Open Heart 26
Circle of Red 29
Hometown Goodness 32
The Chalkboard 40
The Time Coin 50
SPECIAL PROJECTS
MANAGER
Brenda McCall
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Lindsey Dees
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Jenna Nottingham
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas - 3dt
SPECIAL PROJECTS
ASSISTANT
Caroline Hodges
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
Mississippi Governor’s Mansion lights up red for heart health awareness.
www.facebook.com/hometownmadisonmagazine. For subscription information visit www.htmags.com or contact us at info@HTMags.com / 601.706.4059 / 26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F / Brandon, MS 39042
All rights reserved. No portion of Hometown Madison may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Madison is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors.
Hometown Madison maintains the unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to approval by the publisher. The production of Hometown Madison is funded by advertising.
Hometown MADISON • 5
6 • MAY 2020
A Second Chance
Lauren von Foregger
In 2012, Katherine Byrd was a normal,
healthy, 24-year-old. She was a recent
college graduate, newlywed, and was
starting her first job out of college. She had
never struggled with illness in her lifetime,
so that October, it was a shock to find herself
telling a doctor, “I feel like I’m dying.”
Katherine and her husband, Adam, had
recently travelled to Starkville to attend a
football game.
“I started feeling off, and I knew immediately
something was very wrong,” she said.
“I thought I was getting the flu, but then
quickly realized it was much more serious
than that.”
Katherine began to experience symptoms
like fever, chills and the gastrointestinal signs
of food poisoning.
“I assumed I had eaten something bad
and had food poisoning, and I thought it
would pass,” she said. “But it got worse.
The abdominal pain was like nothing I had
felt before.”
She went to a walk-in clinic where she
was told she likely had a virus or food
poisoning, and that it should go away on its
own. After several more days of symptoms,
Katherine was admitted to the hospital where
they gave her fluids. She began feeling better
and was released, planning to return to work
the next day. But that night, the symptoms
returned full force. Katherine then made an
appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist,
who also told her she was likely experiencing
food poisoning and that the symptoms
should subside on their own.
But after four more days, Katherine
noticed that she was extremely dehydrated
and began to worry her kidneys might be
in danger.
Her father took her to Baptist Medical
Center where she saw an internal medicine
specialist.
“He sat with me for three hours,” she
recalled. “He ran all kinds of tests and lab
work and made a list of every single
symptom I was experiencing. No other
physician had taken that amount of time
to really listen to me.”
Katherine was told her kidneys were failing
and that her internal organs were shutting
down. She needed to be admitted into the
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) immediately.
In the ICU, Katherine received blood
transfusions and dialysis. She would remain
in the hospital for an entire month. Because
of kidney damage, her blood pressure
skyrocketed, causing seizures.
During her time in the hospital, Katherine
received more than 25 plasma transfusions,
made possible by the Mississippi Blood
Services and a personal call for donors on
social media.
Katherine was diagnosed with Hemolytic
Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare blood
disorder that can be caused by e-coli.
“I had eaten something with e-coli and my
body was reacting to it,” she said. “My blood
cells were being destroyed faster than I could
produce them.”
As Katherine’s kidney function returned
to normal, her doctors recommended she
be treated with a new and experimental
chemotherapy drug that was seeing some
success in Europe with infants suffering from
HUS. The drug worked, and within a few
treatments, Katherine was released and able
to return home.
Her scare with her health has given her a
new perspective on life, she says.
“Looking back, it makes me more aware
of my overall health and I’m probably overly
cautious now,” she said. “You never know
when it’s going to happen to you – no one
is invincible.”
Katherine is currently the Go Red For
Women director for the Metro Jackson
American Heart Association. Locally
sponsored by central premier sponsor
University of Mississippi Medical Center,
Go Red For Women is a movement created
to spread awareness of the dangers of heart
disease and stroke among women, and
serves as a catalyst for change to improve
the lives of women, globally. Katherine says
she brings her perspective on health with her
to work each day, making what she does for
a living more meaningful.
“Prevention is important,” she said. “If I
had not been a healthy individual, it’s possible
I wouldn’t have made it through my health
ordeal. It’s the same with heart disease and
stroke – you can’t totally predict what will
happen to you, but you can do everything
in your power to prevent it.”
Katherine says she also sees life as fleeting
and doesn’t take things for granted because
of it.
“That’s another part of our mission at the
AHA – to give people longer, healthier lives,”
she said. “Not just more years, but more
healthy years. That hits home for me,
because I feel like I was given that gift.”
“I love getting to work with volunteers
and companies, and connecting with
people,” she said. “I believe the work we do
is good for our community and our state,
and I truly believe what we do helps people
and saves lives.”
For more information about
Go Red For Women,
or how you can get involved with
Metro Jackson American Heart Association,
visit heart.org/en/affiliates/mississippi/Jackson.
Hometown MADISON • 7
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Hometown MADISON • 9
Messages
Heaven
FROM
Mary Ann Kirby
10 • MAY 2020
Anyone that has ever lost a loved one
knows of the longing that comes with
wanting to somehow reconnect. In our
minds, we know they’re gone but we
still need to feel them to know that
they’re ok--- and neither time nor
distance can change that desire.
There’s an old saying that goes,
“When cardinals appear, angels are near.”
I’ve always been enchanted by that idea
as the red cardinal has played many
prominent roles throughout our history.
The notion that cardinals are messengers
of spirits exists across numerous
cultures and beliefs--- just ask anyone
that’s seen one when they
needed it most.
But truth be known, redbirds
are pretty common in this area.
They thrive in this habitat and while
I’d love to think that every time
I see one it’s a spirit-come-to-visit,
it’s just as easy for me to
imagine that it’s not.
In 2012, my grandmother died at the
age of 96. When it was time to clean
out her house, her youngest son from
California (and the sibling-declared
family-favorite among the four of her
children and two grandchildren) came
to Mississippi for a week to help with
the overwhelming task ahead. She had
lived in the same house in Yazoo City
for over 80 years.
There was stuff everywhere–in the
attic, in the garage, in drawers, and in
closets stacked from floor-to-ceiling.
Much of it I had meticulously sorted
over the course of several weeks and
months but when it came time to do
the final clearing, a lot of it was taken
to the curb. We worked for days to
ultimately prepare the house to be sold.
I called the waste management
company to arrange for a special pick-up
since it was just too much to leave until
the regular trash day. They needed a
heads up–it was a lot. Besides, I needed
to get back to Jackson and wanted to
know that it would be taken care of.
Early the next morning, as promised,
the garbage truck ran and around
mid-day I called my uncle to verify that
it had, in-fact, all been cleared away. He
walked outside and was just astounded
at what had previously been an absolute
massive amount of rubbish. The
mountain had been reduced to a single
random Christmas ball. Every bit of it
was gone.
As he leaned over to scoop up the
old faded ornament, he noticed
something shining in the grass. He
reached down to find a little gold heart
charm. The irony was not lost on him
that it was all that was left–and that he
had found it. He stuck it in his pocket
and went back inside.
His wife was in the kitchen at the
stove fixing a late breakfast. They were
still on California time and were slow
to get going, not to mention worn out
from the several days of hard labor,
prior. He reached in his pocket and
showed her the heart-shaped trinket
and when she flipped it over, she
noticed right away that it was engraved
with the name John. That was his name
–my grandmother’s youngest son–the
declared family favorite, which now
seemed somehow divinely confirmed.
Coincidence? Maybe.
Hometown MADISON • 11
Several years before her death, my grandmother gave me an
enamel-coated steel colander. It had belonged to her, seen decades of
usage, and was the only “strainer” I had. I used it regularly and often.
It had long-since begun to rust where some of the enamel had
chipped away, but I continued to use it anyway. I eventually purchased
a new one–coincidently, after she passed. The one she gave me was
just too rusty. So one day I decided to throw it away.
I put it in the garbage. I took it out of the garbage. I put it back in the
garbage and before I even closed the lid I reached back in to rescue it.
It was not just a rusted colander but a piece of my past–and a piece of
someone important to me. I thought to myself, “This is ridiculous!”
And after wrangling with it for almost an hour, I proceeded to shove
it down into the trash bag and tie it shut, once and for all.
The weather on the morning of “trash-day” was bleak. It was
already drizzling and the forecast called for the possibility of severe
conditions later that afternoon. By the time I got home from work,
dark had fallen. It was storming with 30-mile-per-hour winds, and
my garbage can had blown clear to the end of the cul-de-sac. I had
no choice but to battle it out and go get it.
The rain was blowing sideways and I was soaking wet and dragging
the garbage can behind me. I noticed what appeared to be some type
of helmet in the grass next to the curb–dome shaped and glistening
under the streetlight in the pouring down rain. Maybe it was my son’s.
I’d grab it as I dashed up the driveway.
But it was no helmet. It was that colander, turned upside down and
sitting there all by itself. How did it get out of the bag that I had so
painstakingly and reluctantly tied together? I was stunned–and still
am to this day.
Coincidence? Maybe.
12 • MAY 2020
So a few weeks ago, I was in our backyard building a fire in our fire
pit. I had decided to dispose of some sensitive paperwork that really
should have been shredded, but burning was simply more convenient
and certainly more fun. In the closing of my grandmother’s estate, I
had stored countless banking statements and papers that needed to
be discarded but were too sensitive to just put in the trash–and still
held value in my heart. So I poured a glass of wine and my husband
and son helped load up the fire pit. I recalled funny stories about my
beloved grandmother as they continued to crumple up papers and
put them below the logs. Then we lit them.
The fire struggled to catch. My wood was wet. I decided to add
some kindling from a pot we keep nearby. That’s when I saw the
blooms. For 30 or 40 years, my grandmother had a pot of succulents
on her back porch that stood year-round on a little dime-store plant
stand in the rain, sun, sleet and occasional snow. She was a master
gardener and yet these succulents were the only plant-life I brought
home with me after her death. I’d had them now for several years and
they live on my back patio next to a big fat pot of kindling. I looked
down and they were in full bloom–and they hadn’t been the day before.
I’ve never seen them bloom. Ever. I didn’t even know they would.
So, I’ve decided they were blooming just for me. As if to say, it’s ok to
let go–just never forget.
Coincidence? Maybe. But it serves as a wonderful reminder that we’re
never far apart. The truth is that the bond we share with those we
love is a bond never lost or broken–not even by death. Death just
changes the dimensions–like water, evaporating into steam.
Or like a redbird sitting on a window ledge singing, “My spirit will
live on forever there within your heart.” n
Hometown MADISON • 13
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14 • MAY 2020
Dr. Shawn Sanders
Susan Marquez
When Shawn Sanders was in high school at
Jackson Prep, he knew that he wanted to major
in engineering, and he knew he wanted to go to
Mississippi State. What he didn’t know is that one
day he would be not only saving people’s lives
but giving people a better quality of life in his role
as an interventional cardiologist at Baptist Heart
in Jackson. Sanders has been at Baptist Heart for
four years, where a wide range of services, technology,
and expertise is offered to keep hearts
and blood vessels healthy.
Sanders was an excellent student at Jackson
Prep, which led to him being a Presidential
Endowed Scholar at MSU. “I was undecided in
what type of engineering I wanted to do,” says
Sanders. “I liked science and math, so I wasn’t
sure which direction to go. While I was still at Prep,
I got a call from MSU saying I needed to choose
which field of engineering I wanted to study.
The guy told me that not many people were in
biological engineering, so it would be easier to
get into classes. I decided to choose that.”
While at MSU, Sanders discovered that he
really liked biological engineering. “Mississippi
State had a good track record for students in
biological engineering being accepted into medical
school. So I took the MCAT (medical college
admission test) and passed. One thing led to
another and I was accepted into the University of
Mississippi Medical Center.”
Early on, Sanders shadowed family friend
Dr. Mike McMullan, a cardiologist who was working
at UMMC. “Mike went to church with our family
and was a friend of my parents. While shadowing
him, I learned that a lot of cardiology is physiology,
and there is a lot of engineering involved; after
all, the heart is the body’s pump. That was my
first experience in medicine, and I was fascinated.”
As he went through medical school, Sanders
couldn’t help comparing every experience with
the ones he had in cardiology. “Nothing ever
compared to that. In my third and fourth years in
med school, I chose internal medicine residency
with the goal of doing a cardiac fellowship.” That’s
exactly what he did, and during his cardiology
fellowship, he served as chief fellow. He was
named UMMC’s Cardiology Fellow of the Year in
2013. Currently, Sanders is finishing a fellowship
in interventional cardiology with particular interests
in the endovascular treatment of peripheral
arterial disease as well as transcatheter aortic
valve replacement.
As a cardiologist at Baptist Heart in Jackson,
Sanders has the opportunity to see people at
their lowest point and later seeing them thrive.
“The most rewarding part of my job is watching
patients get better,” says Sanders. “With interventional
cardiology, I get immediate gratification.
People come into the hospital very sick, but we
can do things that can make a patient get better
very quickly. That’s a great feeling.”
Sanders met his wife, Sara, while they were
both students at UMMC where she currently
practices internal medicine and geriatrics. The
couple lives in Ridgeland with their two children,
Charlotte (7) and Wilson (5). The family enjoys
travel and going to the beach. “We also love
going to restaurants. We have friends in New
Orleans and love visiting with them and trying
new restaurants.” Sanders says he also loves
music and art.
One thing that Sanders is particularly proud
of is that Dr. Mike McMullan texted him a few
years ago to ask if his son, Matthew, could
shadow Sanders. “He did, and now Matthew’s
in medical school. I feel like we have come full
circle, and I’m real happy about that.” l
Hometown MADISON • 15
16 • MAY 2020
THE
POWER
OF A
Shower
Teresa Renkenberger
of Flowood started
Shower Power with
a dream and an old
box delivery truck after
realizing the needs of
Jackson’s homeless population.
“I had made friends with a man who told me he got clean in
a gas station bathroom,” says Renkenberger. “I asked him when
the last time was he’d had a shower, and he told me it had been
about a year.”
That one comment set her wheels in motion. Renkenberger
began formulating a plan to help her friend get clean. She found
an old delivery truck on Craigslist and bought it the next day.
Kevin Poe, a local body shop owner who sold her the truck,
was so intrigued by Renkenberger’s idea that he offered to
help renovate the truck into a mobile shower and let her park
it at his downtown business.
Abbie Walker
Fast-forward. Now, every
Friday and just a little over a
year after purchasing the truck,
Renkenberger, along with her
faithful volunteers, offers a free
shower to anyone who needs it.
The Shower Power truck is currently
located at 836 South Commerce Street in Jackson.
When the shower truck opened its doors in December of
2019, Renkenberger says they had about three people show up.
“It felt like nobody was coming to my birthday party,” she said.
“We had to go find people.”
Since then, Shower Power has given well over 500
showers to people in need.
But showers aren’t the only thing offered. They feed their
visitors and provide basic necessities and toiletry items as they
are able. And as word has gotten out, more and more people
have wanted to get involved with what Shower Power is doing.
Hometown MADISON • 17
18 • MAY 2020
Local restaurants like Sugar Magnolia Takery, Burgers and
Blues, and Smokehouse BBQ have provided meals on Fridays.
Others have brought meals, come to cut hair, or brought clothes.
No matter what each person needs, Renkenberger says she
tries to help any way she can.
“We pray together and share our life stories,” she says.
“They are our friends.”
And a shower does more than just make someone feel
physically clean. It also changes their attitude. “We’ve seen
people open up,” says Renkenberger. “When they leave at the
end of the day, they feel refreshed in more ways than one.”
Mary Ann Kirby serves on the board of directors for
Shower Power and volunteers weekly. “This has been a game
changer for me. I see these people through a completely
different lens now. I used to judge and assume that the guy
on the corner was just a panhandler or hustler. But it’s what
he does, not necessarily who he is. There’s a difference.
It’s a means of survival.”
“Just because someone doesn’t have a home doesn’t mean
they don’t deserve to be respected,” says Renkenberger.
“We listen to them and care for them because we want them
to feel valued and to remind them they’re not alone.”
In fact, she believes access to a toilet and a shower should
be an absolute human right. She will continue to champion that
cause to effect change.
At the beginning of March, Renkenberger (a realtor by
trade) bought a building where she can park the mobile shower
out front. She’s not sure just yet how Shower Power will use
the space, but she’s already got some ideas about how to
further help and employ Jackson’s homeless. “Everything
that’s happened, God has had His hand on it,” she says.
Even though they give clean clothes for people to put on
after taking a shower, Renkenberger says their next project
is getting a washer and dryer so people can wash their own
clothes as well. And Shower Power welcomes anyone wanting
to volunteer their time, resources, or their services.
She went on to say, “I’ve genuinely made friends with a
lot of these guys. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking
about something they may need or something they said. I look
forward to Fridays more than any other day of the week.”
During the COVID-19 crisis, as many businesses were
closing, Shower Power increased the number of times they
opened the truck for use. Deemed essential by the City of
Jackson, the volunteer staff added Tuesdays to their weekly
schedule. And on Easter morning, they gathered their friends,
while still being very mindful of social distancing, and fed them.
During a normal week, Teresa says many of the people
that come to Shower Power hang out at the Eudora Welty
Library. One day, before closing their own doors due to
COVID restrictions, one of the library staff members called
Teresa to say, “I don’t know what’s in your water, but
these guys are different. You are making such a difference
in their lives.”
“There are needs all around us,” says Renkenberger.
“If we ignore the call, we miss the blessing.”
To learn more about Shower Power and to find ways to
get involved, visit showerpower.ms or find them on Facebook.
Shower Power is in constant
need of men’s jeans, t-shirts,
duffel bags, sleeping bags, men’s
and women’s sneakers, work boots,
clean socks, and undergarments.
Email info@showerpower.ms
for more information.
Hometown MADISON • 19
20 • MAY 2020
What have
you learned as
a result of the
shelter-in-place
order we’ve all
been under?
Today and always,
MECU is by your side
With a positive
– supporting
mindset you can
your
create your own
happiness.
financial
I also learned,
needs
that it
and
is essential to
keep a sufficient supply of toilet paper in stock
helping you succeed.
in case something like this ever happens again.
But I’m sure everyone else learned that too.
Contact us today.
We’re here to help.
Angela Mitchell
VP Marketing, Members Exchange
“The overwhelming generosity of people was
astonishing. Everyone banded together to help out
everyone else; vendors and customers alike.
Our suppliers rallied together and got us everything
we needed to continue in the new Covid world.
Our customers, who are like family, bought gift cards,
they got curbside and they genuinely cared about the
people that work for us. It really was beautiful.
I was touched.
Julie Koestler
Owner, Koestler Prime
MECUanywhere.com
We (601) are 922-3350 beyond grateful | (800) to all 748-9459
our wonderful
customers. They have sustained us through this
pandemic. We have found lots of great ways to adapt
and survive as the situation unfolds. We have been
offering virtual shopping, curbside pickups, free local
deliveries and of course our Social Shopping is
always available on Facebook and Instagram.
We can ship or deliver.We have to take it one day
at a time, and we are confident that local businesses
will come back stronger than ever.
Gladys Dorian
Owner, Madison Marketplace
The culture at our dealership of a relaxed buying
experience and respecting their time and personal
situation is exactly what today’s consumer expects
and enjoys. Because of our location, we weren’t reliant
on drive-by traffic, so thankfully working the phones,
email and the internet really fit what we already do.
DATE
Darren Furman
General Manager, Mac Haik Madison
601.957.3753 • KOESTLERPRIME.COM • 1000 HIGHLAND C
REHE
I learned that there is joy in simplicity, we all handle adversity differently and that
is okay, to extend grace to others, and that our community is so supportive and
amazing. Waking up with a grateful heart truly helps in these times.
Jordan Dottley
Owner, West of 55
Hometown MADISON • 21
attitude
the
of gratitude
Mary Ann Kirby
Staying positive in a negative world will not only better your life
but will change it in more ways than you can ever imagine.
I’m not sure I remember a time in my
life that I’ve truly felt the “weight” of the
world like I have recently. I’ve literally
gotten to the point that I cannot bear to
watch the news for the constant barrage
of negative behavior, terrible stories and
discouraging reports. Sometimes I think
it would be best to just squeeze both my
eyes shut and stick my fingers in my ears.
La-la-la-la-la-la . . . .
It’s easy to see all that’s wrong in the
world. It’s everywhere–sickness, death,
unemployment, a collapsed economy, and
dirty politics. And it’s certainly easy to get
overwhelmed and consumed with worry
and dread, not to mention that all of us have
our own struggles. We all have mountains.
So how do we stay positive in such a
negative world?
It has become my mission, particularly
during these unprecedented times, to
focus on the things I’m thankful for. I’m
deliberately turning a blind eye and
limiting my exposure to all the things in
this universe that can zap me of my joy.
And at the risk of sounding cliché, it’s an
attitude of gratitude that can move those
pesky mountains that often seem to get in
our way.
I started thinking about my son and
how important it is to ensure that he
understands the concept of being thankful
in what I consider to be a largely thankless
world. I don’t know about you, but I am
keenly aware of the sense of entitlement
that young people seem to have today–and
I believe it’s purely generational. It’s not
even their fault. They’ve just never known
what it is to do without. And we’re the
ones that worked ourselves to death to
give them everything! Think about it. Oh,
the irony.
Teaching a child to look beyond their
one-person universe can be a challenge. But
kids who aren’t taught to be grateful end up
with those feelings of self-entitlement and,
even worse, are constantly disappointed.
And if that’s not reason enough, grateful
people report lower levels of depression
and stress, stronger immune systems and
lower blood pressure, feel less lonely and
isolated and have more joy, optimism and
happiness. Who couldn’t use a good dose
of optimism and happiness these days?
So since they’re not born with it, how
do you teach a child to be appreciative?
The most obvious answer I can think of is
to lead by example. We must live lives of
gratitude if we want our children to really
22 • MAY 2020
We are called to be a thankful people.
learn to be grateful. We need to point out
the positives in people and in situations.
We need to criticize and complain less.
I know I need to be more mindful of my
grumbles and let my child hear me being
more overtly thankful for things–often
easier said than done when we’re so
inundated with outside noise.
We should also reward thankfulness.
It may sound crazy, but thanking our kids
for thanking us may go a long way toward
teaching them that we appreciate them, too.
If we consistently delight in their gratitude,
it will reinforce that behavior and they will
express it more often.
By using everyday moments to make
gratitude and thankfulness part of your
family’s daily life, you’ll foster a confidence
and gratefulness in your child that will lead
them to become kinder and more appreciative
people in general–which leads us back
to where we started. In a world with
countless negative forces, what if we all
made it our mission to overcome them
with loving, positive affirmations of
gratefulness?
The incredible thing about gratitude is
that once we realize all the things we have
in our lives and all the things we can do,
we create feelings of contentment within
ourselves. And it’s with these feelings of
contentment that we live happier lives–
because when we’re content, our thoughts
are positive. And based on the law of
attraction, when we think “thankful”
thoughts, we bring more into our lives
to be thankful for.
No matter what the current circumstances,
there’s always good to be found.
Even when things aren’t at their best, count
your blessings anyway and let them buoy
your sagging spirits. Whatever you send out
into the universe will come back to you.
So, find the good–and teach your children
to find the good as well. Surround yourself
with encouraging, optimistic and grateful
people and see what happens.
And be happy about finding the positive
and consciously cultivate more gratitude—
so much so that your heart explodes with
delight and contagiously stretches out to
those around you. The people that you love
in life deserve your gratitude the very most
and they will respond in ways that are both
encouraging and fulfilling.
We are called to be a thankful people.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life–
and turns what we have into enough.
If you want to feel happy, try on an attitude
of gratitude for a change in your mood,
your outlook and your life. n
Hometown MADISON • 23
8x5
Though We
Stay Apart,
We Stand
Today and always,
MECU is by your side
– supporting your
financial needs and
helping you succeed.
Contact us today.
We’re here to help.
Together.
MECUanywhere.com
(601) 922-3350 | (800) 748-9459
24 • MAY 2020
Hometown MADISON • 25
26 • MAY 2020
An Open Heart
Lauren von Foregger
Jeff and Emily Speed were brought together through loss and tragedy.
Unbeknownst to them, each of their respective spouses would pass away suddenly from cardiovascular
issues within a two-month timespan, and they would eventually find their way to each other.
Emily and Blayne were married for nine years
and had two young boys. In March of 2016,
Blayne, a lawyer, had gone away to Georgia on
routine business. Emily received a phone call
from her assistant.
“They said the group had broken for lunch,
and Blayne had laid his head down on the desk.
My assistant told me, ‘Blayne isn’t breathing,’”
Emily recalled. “I didn’t know what was going on.”
She received another call a little while later
and was told Blayne was gone. He had died from
a massive heart attack at the age of 42. Emily’s
family was shattered.
“The worst part is that my husband was an
only child,” she said. “His mom is like Mother
Theresa. Blayne was her only child. At the time
he died, she was on a cruise with her best friend.
The captain of the cruise ship had to ask her to
call home after an excursion only to find out from
her husband that their only son had gone to
heaven, and she had to get an emergency flight
home the next day.”
The family laid Blayne to rest the next weekend.
Looking back, Emily remembers signs that
may have been related to heart disease.
“He never went to the doctor,” she said. “He
didn’t make checkups a priority. He could have had
high blood pressure or something similar and we
would’ve never known. And he never drank water.
It drove me crazy. He would always say, ‘I am like
a camel, I don’t require water.’ ”
Jeff agrees this is the common denominator
between the couple’s deceased spouses: Not
making check-ups and general wellness a priority.
Only two months later, Jeff was experiencing
a similar trauma with his wife of 22 years, Joan,
in Perdido, Florida.
“We spent a beautiful morning at the beach,”
he recalled. “We had our two sons there, along
with their girlfriends. Joan’s parents were there,
too. We came up for lunch. Joan got up and went
to the bathroom, and while she was in there, she
collapsed.”
Jeff found his wife unconscious on the bathroom
floor and called for help. His son administered
CPR on his mother until paramedics arrived.
“No son should have to do that to his own
mother,” said Jeff.
The family had Joan airlifted to the nearest
hospital, but she died shortly after. She had suffered
from a massive aortic embolism.
“It’s possible that she had heart or blood pressure
issues before this happened, but she was very
private. None of us would have had a clue.”
Fast forward to the next year. Jeff and Emily
had no idea of the other’s existence, or their
shared experiences. A mutual friend suggested
they meet.
“After a chat by text and a phone call, we
decided to meet up downtown with a group
of friends,” said Jeff.
They hit it off immediately. The next week
they had lunch, and the a few days after that, they
had dinner.
“He picked me up in a limo!” said Emily,
laughing. “That night, we knew. We knew we
were going to end up together. A few months
later we got married.”
“We were grieving together,” said Emily. “We
had a lot of crying together moments.”
“You don’t move on,” said Jeff. “You just move
forward with what you have.”
The couple will be featured as the Open
Your Heart honorees at the Metro Jackson
American Heart Association’s Go Red For
Women Luncheon to be held June 17, 2020,
at the Jackson Convention Complex. University
of Mississippi Medical Center is the Central
Premier Sponsor for the event.
Go Red For Women encourages awareness
of the issue of women and heart disease, and
also action to save more lives. The movement
challenges women to know their risk for heart
disease and take action to reduce their personal
risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead
a heart-healthy life. Jeff and Emily’s story will be
shared through a video at the luncheon.
The couple says their overarching message,
what they’ve learned through both of their tragic
experiences, is simply to take your health seriously,
and be proactive about prevention.
“Don’t think that something like this can’t
happen to you,” said Jeff. “Don’t wait. Don’t put
off that doctor’s appointment. Everybody is busy,
but it doesn’t have to take another tragedy to
inspire people to put their health at the forefront.”
For more information on Go Red, or to get involved,
visit heart.org.
Hometown MADISON • 27
28 • MAY 2020
The Metro Jackson American
Heart Association’s “Circle of Red”
is a passionate group of women
and men who have the influence
and resources to significantly impact
the health of Mississippians. A social
circle grounded in advocacy for
women’s health issues and fueled
by a passion to empower, educate,
and save lives, the Circle of Red is a
network that teaches women and
men to love their hearts and take
active steps to protect them. These
members are active ambassadors
and supporters of the American
Heart Association’s mission to be a
relentless force for a world of longer,
healthier lives.
Circle
of RED
To become part of this dynamic
group, contact Katherine Byrd at
Katherine.byrd@heart.org
or 601-906-8596.
Janet Harris
Go Red for Women Chair
Tina Lakey
Circle of Red Chair
Central Mississippi
Go Red for Women Premier Sponsor
Hometown MADISON • 29
Alissa Wallace
Amber Arnold
UMMC
Anita Wray
Circuit Clerk of Madison County
Ann Barnes
Prime Care Nursing
Robert Lesley
Atmos Energy
Rosalyn Howard
MS Nurses Foundation
Betsy Latham
Brett Thompson-May
MS State Board of Nursing
Brian Fenelon
The Fenelon Group
Carolyn Boteler
TempStaff
Samantha Lofton
Barnett's Body Shop
Sandra Culpepper
MS State Board of Nursing
Cathy Allen
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Cindee Herlocker
Edward Jones
Cindy Carraway
Carraway Construction
Connie Watson
UMMC
Sandy Stonecypher
Shan Montgomery
MS State Board of Nursing
Deborah Minor
UMMC
Denise Stewart
MS State Board of Nursing
Donna Bruce
BKD
Dr. Alejandro Chade
UMMC
Sherry Pitts
Shirley Jackson
MS State Board of Nursing
Dr. Erica Bass
MS Premier Plastic Surgery
Dr. Jim Galbraith
UMMC
Dr. Kellan Ashley
UMMC
Dr. Michael Hall
UMMC
Stephanie Hoverman
Tammy Phillips
Community Bank
Dr. Michael Maples
MS Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Mike McMullan
UMMC
Dr. Myrna Alexander Nickens
UMMC
Dr. Rishi Roy
MS Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Tamika Bradley
Jackson State University
Dr. Teri Dyess
St. Dominic Hospital
30 • MAY 2020
Dr. Trey Clark
UMMC
Emily Speed
Aflac
Floyd Wiley
MS State Board of Nursing
Frances Ware
First Commercial Bank
Jacqueline Phillips
UMMC
Jan Collins - Madison County
Business League & Foundation
Warren Herring
TrustCare Health
Janie Jarvis
The Bridal Path
Jeanhee Kang - Berkshire
Hathaway Ann Prewitt Realty
Jennifer Boydston Johnson
The Law Offices of Roberts Bridges Boydston
Jennifer Robinson
UMMC
Jequetta Ilion Davis
MS State Board of Nursing
Jessica Lakey
Renasant Bank
Johnny Maloney
Cowboy Maloney's
Kelley Gatlin
Gatlin Interiors
Kim Stonecypher
Stonecypher Consulting, LLC
Laura Moore
MS State Board of Nursing
LeAnne Brewer
Millsaps College
Leigh Ann Ross
UMMC
Leslie Musshafen
UMMC
LoRose Hunter-Moore
Regions
Mary Wolverton
Dig Creative Solutions
Melissa Jones
MS Dept of Human Services
Melissa Robinson
UMMC
Meshelle Rawls
Foundation for the MidSouth
Michael Parnell
UnitedHealthcare
Michelle Dunn
Merit Health
Mike Barkett
MCEF
Pam Ware
First Commercial Bank
Patti Daly
BankPlus
Patty Clark Peder Johnson Phylis Johnson
MS State Board of Nursing
Rebecca Martin
Prudential Advisors
Renee Rice
Bank First
Vera Rucker
MS State Board of Nursing
NOT PICTURED: Charla Blackwell, MS Board of Nursing - Stephanie Martin, MS Board of Nursing - Trina McNair, Methodist Children’s Home - Dr. Rebekah Moulder, St. Dominic’s Family Practice
Hometown MADISON • 31
Hometown
GOODNESS
Heart-healthy recipes
from the American
Heart Association
_____________________________________________________
Beef Sliders
with Avocado, Roasted Poblano
Pepper, & Cotija Cheese
These mini burgers offer a taste of
southwestern cuisine.
• 2 large poblano peppers
• ¾ pound extra-lean ground beef
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 8 whole-wheat slider buns
(lowest sodium available)
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. crumbled
cotija cheese
• 1 large Italian plum (Roma)
tomato (about 3 inches),
cut crosswise into 8 slices
• 1 medium avocado (mashed
with a fork)
Preheat the oven to 500°F. Line a
baking sheet with parchment paper.
Put peppers on baking sheet. Place
on the middle rack of the oven. Roast
for 10 minutes. Flip and roast for
10 minutes, or until the skins are
charred and blistered. Remove from
the oven and place in a bowl. Cover
with plastic wrap. Set aside for 10
minutes.
Using your hands or a spoon, shape
beef into eight thin patties, about
three inches in diameter. (uncooked
patties will be larger than the buns
and will shrink as they cook.)
Sprinkle patties with the salt.
Preheat a large nonstick skillet or
griddle pan over medium-high heat.
Cook patties for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip
and cook for two minutes, or until
the beef is no longer pink.
Peel the skin off the peppers by
gently rubbing them with a dry
towel. Remove the seeds and ribs.
Cut each pepper into four long
strips.
Place each patty on a bottom bun.
Sprinkle with the cotija cheese.
Top with 1 pepper slice folded
in half and 1 tomato slice.
Spread the avocado over the
tomato. Put the tops of the buns
on the sliders. Using four short
skewers, pierce two sliders with
each skewer. Serve immediately.
(serves 8 mini-burgers)
_____________________________________________________
Frozen Yogurt Bark
This frozen yogurt bark studded
with fruit is a fun treat for kids and
adults alike. But be sure to eat it as
soon as pieces are removed from
the freezer as it melts in about
15 minutes.
• 1 ½ cups 2% low-fat plain Greek
yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons chopped,
unsalted almonds
• ½ cup chopped mango
• ¼ cup blackberries or
raspberries, chopped if large
• ½ cup blueberries
In a medium bowl, add yogurt and
honey. Mix together to combine.
Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish
with parchment paper. Use a spatula
or knife to spread the yogurt as thin
as possible over the entire bottom
of the dish.
Add the chopped nuts over the top
of the yogurt. Use your fingers to
slightly press them into the yogurt.
Peel the mango, cutting the slices
around the pit. Finely chop the
mango, along with the berries, if
they are larger than bite-sized and
need chopping. Top the yogurt
with the fruit–add as much fruit as
will fit over the top. Again, slightly
press fruit into the yogurt.
Cover with plastic wrap or foil and
place in the freezer overnight. When
ready to serve, lift the parchment
paper from the baking dish onto a
cutting board. Break bark apart into
pieces and serve. Keep remaining
pieces wrapped in parchment paper
and sealed in a Ziploc bag in the
freezer for up to 1 month.
(serves 8)
_____________________________________________________
Overnight No-Cook
Banana Oatmeal
• 2 ½ cups skim milk
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups rolled oats (not instant
or quick-cooking)
• 2 bananas, halved lengthwise
and sliced
• ¼ cup chopped, unsalted pecans
or walnuts
In a large, re-sealable container or
bowl, add milk, honey, and extract.
Stir to combine, adding oats and
stirring to combine. Seal or cover;
place in the refrigerator and let sit
overnight.
The next day, peel each banana.
Halve each one lengthwise and slice.
Divide sliced bananas and nuts over
each oatmeal portion. Serve.
(serves 4)
32 • MAY 2020
_____________________________________________________
Guacamole Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs always bring a crowdpleasing
touch to start a meal or small
party. Using guacamole as the base is
a heart-healthy way to indulge in
deviled eggs, as avocado subs for the
majority of egg yolk in this recipe.
• 9 large eggs
• 1 medium avocado (halved, pitted)
• 2 tablespoon fat-free sour cream
• 1 ½ teaspoons lime juice
• ⅓ cup seeded and finely chopped
Roma tomato (1 to 2 tomatoes)
• ¼ cup finely chopped scallions
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped
jalapeño
• Dried or fresh cilantro, to garnish
(optional)
HARD-BOILED EGGS
Fill a large pot with water, add the
eggs, and bring to a boil over high
heat. As soon as water begins to boil,
cover with a lid, remove pot from the
heat, and let eggs sit for 10 minutes.
Drain water and transfer eggs to a
bowl of cold water to cool. When
eggs are cool enough to handle,
remove the shells. Slice in half
lengthwise. Remove the yolks. Put
two whole egg yolks into a medium
bowl and discarding the remaining
egg yolks. Place the egg white halves
onto a platter.
Slice the avocado in half and remove
the pit. Use a spoon to scoop the
avocado’s flesh into a bowl. Use a fork
to mash the egg yolks and the
avocado together. Stir in the sour
cream and lime juice.
Remove the seeds from the tomatoes
with a spoon and discard; finely chop
the tomato, along with finely chopping
the scallions. Add both to the mashed
avocado, along with salt, pepper, and
optional jalapeno. Stir together to
combine.
Spoon the guacamole into each egg
white half, dividing the mixture
between all 18. Garnish with a
sprinkle of dried or fresh chopped
cilantro, if desired. Serve.
(serves 18 deviled eggs)
_____________________________________________________
Berry Nuts Granola Bars
Granola bars aren’t just easy to make,
they can also be sculpted based on
your tastes. Add anything from
sunflower seeds to flaked unsweetened
coconut to a variety of nuts and
nut butters. Even a tablespoon or two
of chocolate chips can be thrown into
the mix to entice kids.
• 1 cup dried, unsweetened
cranberries
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats, divided
• ½ cup sliced, unsalted almonds
• ¼ cup flax seeds
• pinch salt
• 2 tablespoon canola oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ⅓ cup reduced-fat peanut butter
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8x8
baking dish with parchment paper.
In a food processor, add cranberries;
process until chopped a bit, about
30 seconds to 1 minute. Add 1 cup
of oats; continue to puree until oats
are a flour-like consistency. Transfer
to a large bowl. Add remaining 1 cup
oats, almonds, flax seeds, and salt. Stir
together to combine.
In a heatproof container, add oil,
maple syrup, and nut butter. Warm
in microwave until soft and pliable,
around 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir
mixture until smooth. Pour nut butter
mixture over oat mixture. Use a spatula
to thoroughly combine. Transfer to
the prepared baking dish. Wet your
hands and press down on the mixture
to help it stick together.
Cook in the oven for 30 minutes.
Remove and let cool slightly. Press
down on mixture again to stick
together. Cover the top with plastic
wrap and place in the refrigerator at
least a few hours (or preferably
overnight) to harden. Lift parchment
paper from baking dish. Use a serrated
knife and cut the granola bars into
12 pieces. Serve or transfer to an
airtight container for 1 week.
(serves 12)
_____________________________________________________
Turkey & Bean Tostadas
with Avocado-Tomato Salsa
Baked tortillas hold the same appeal
as their fried counterparts in this
tostada recipe – they’re crunchy
and delicious!
SALSA
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
(about 2 medium tomatoes)
• 1 medium avocado (halved,
pitted, diced)
• 1 large ear of corn, husks and silk
discarded, and kernels removed
from the cob OR 1 cup frozen
whole kernel corn (thawed, drained)
• 1-2 medium fresh jalapeño peppers
(seeds and ribs discarded, finely
chopped)
• 2 tablespoons red onion,
finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
In a small bowl, stir together all
ingredients. Set aside.
TOSTADAS
• Cooking spray
• 5 6-inch corn tortillas
• 8 ounces skinless turkey breast,
ground
• 1 can no-salt-added black beans
(rinsed, drained)
• 2 tablespoons water
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking
sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly
spray foil with cooking spray. Place
tortillas on the baking sheet. Lightly
spray tortillas with cooking spray.
Using a fork, pierce tortillas a few
times to prevent them from filling
with air. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes on
each side, or until golden brown.
In a medium nonstick saucepan, cook
the turkey, chili powder, cumin, and
coriander over medium-high heat for
5 to 6 minutes, or until the turkey is
no longer pink, stirring occasionally
to turn and break up the turkey.
Add the beans and water to turkey.
Cook five minutes, or until the beans
are heated through. Using a potato
masher, coarsely mash the beans and
turkey together. Remove from heat.
To assemble the tostadas, spread the
bean and turkey mixture over each
tortilla. Spoon the salsa overall.
(serves 5 tostadas)
_____________________________________________________
Bluey Smoothie
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 cups frozen peach slices
• 2 cups packed, fresh spinach
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 1 teaspoon honey
Into a blender, add all ingredients and
blend until smooth, about 1 to 2
minutes, stopping to scrape down
mixture if needed. Pour into two
glasses and serve.
Hometown MADISON • 33
Snapshots
of Summer
34 • MAY 2020
A short story from one southerner to another.
ERIN WILLIAMS
Because of our warm spring, these beauties
have started to bloom early. Each year when
they bloom, I feel a combination of joy and
nostalgia. We have four raised beds at our home
that I plant every year. And my husband – who
is always the practical one – continues to remain
perplexed as to why I dedicate an entire bed to
zinnias and sunflowers instead of adding to
our tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, or peas year
after year. I guess if you didn’t know better,
something that wasn’t edible in a summer
garden could seem like wasted space. However,
they’re my favorite thing in our small garden,
and the one bed that tends to get more TLC
than anything else.
When my grandparents taught me to garden
years ago, I can remember that first year sitting
down with my Mawmaw and writing out what
we’d plant. I had never grown zinnias before
(which is a shame, really), but she included them
both years that we grew a large garden together.
Each day during those summers when we’d
go work in the garden, she’d check the zinnias
and clip a few. It didn’t take me long to learn
that the red ones were her favorite. While most
old-timers like my grandparents would say to
plant zinnias around your gardens to help bring
in the pollinators and make the rest of your
plants grow and thrive, I think that was only
a small part of the reason Mawmaw enjoyed
planting them. In all honesty, I think she just
liked them and enjoyed Mason jar vases filled
with zinnias on her kitchen table. Mawmaw
had a way for appreciating practicality and
usefulness; however, I think she loved the zinnias
not for their usefulness, but instead for their
beauty.
Mawmaw made her entrance into heaven
three years ago, and there’s not a summer that
has gone by since where I haven’t planted
zinnias in our summer garden. I think when
you miss someone who had such a profound
impact on your life, you still look for ways to
incorporate them into your daily life even after
they’re gone. For some, that could be going to
their favorite places, drinking out of their favorite
coffee cup, saying old sayings they used to say,
or maybe even planting your own zinnias.
Every day when I cut them and fill Mason
jars around our house, it’s like I’m talking to
Mawmaw; the person who taught me how to
cook, snap beans, ice cakes, and cook extra for
dinner so that there’s always room for someone
else at the table. Mawmaw’s strong arms that,
all too soon, didn’t work like they used to after
her stroke, still managed to have a hold on my
heart that remains today.
While I know that she spends her days now
leaning on the Everlasting Arms, her fingerprints
are still here – in so many aspects of my life.
And the zinnias are just one of them. They are
a reminder of the person who seemed to know
a little bit about everything and had the biggest
heart I’ve ever known. She was someone who
always gave off more and more beauty, time
and time again, just like the zinnias
In a way, those zinnia blooms are almost
like photographs of her and me–memories and
moments of two past summers that now seem
so, so far away.
And with each cut there you are, Mawmaw.
I sure have missed you.
Hometown MADISON • 35
36 • MAY 2020
CATH LAB
Leadership at Merit Health River Oaks in
Flowood recently announced the hospital
has opened an interventional cardiac catheterization
laboratory, a needed service in the
community. Merit Health River Oaks is the first
Mississippi hospital to gain approval to offer
24-hour interventional cardiac catheterization
care without on-site cardiac surgical services.
Prior to the opening of the lab, the hospital
provided only diagnostic heart catheterizations.
The addition allows the hospital to offer more
clinically complex care to heart patients when
time is of the essence. A few minutes can add
up to make a great difference – in saving a life,
and saving a heart.
During a ST-elevation myocardial infarction
(STEMI), a type of heart attack, time is incredibly
important. A STEMI occurs when a clot interrupts
blood flow to the heart. Merit Health River Oaks
works with local emergency medical service
providers to get patients to the ER and cath lab
to facilitate timely opening of the artery.
About Merit Health
Merit Health serves the healthcare
needs of residents of Mississippi
through its 9 affiliated hospitals.
The healthcare system offers a wide
array of services including orthopedics,
cardiology, women’s health, emergency
departments and broad diagnostic
medical and surgical services. The
network has more than 1,800 licensed
beds, more than 2,500 physicians on
the combined active medical staffs,
more than 3,000 employees, and
more than 40,000 admissions and
more than 250,000 emergency
department visits each year.
Members of the Cath Lab team at Merit Health River Oaks
Front L-R: Ashley McKee RT(R); Mary Kay Holliday, RN; Neil Knight, RN; Brooke Lawrence, RT(R),
Dr. Almois Mohamad, cath lab medical director and interventional cardiologist.
Back L-R: Trey Hall, RN; Chelee Davis, RN; M.M. Baumann, BSN, RN, director, Cardiac Cath Lab;
Jayson Potter, RT(R) and lead, and Lindsay Hof, RT(R).
The hospital’s interventional cardiologists
are experienced in both radial (wrist) and femoral
(groin) artery access for cardiac catheterization.
Services available in the cardiac cath lab include
interventional procedures for coronary artery
disease, as well as interventional procedures for
peripheral vascular disease.
“With the opening of the enhanced cath
lab, our cardiologists can provide potentially
life-saving care within the recognized critical
window of time,” said hospital chief executive
officer Dwayne Blaylock. “This new service in
Rankin County may allow a patient to receive
cardiac care quicker.”
The new area is staffed by an experienced
cardiac catheterization team, including
Dr. Almois Mohamad, interventional cardiologist;
Dr. Nathan McIntosh, emergency medicine
director and cath lab director M. M. Baumann,
a registered nurse with 20 years of experience
in cardiovascular patient care.
“Immediate access to the highest standard
of cardiac care facilitates life-saving diagnosis
and treatment for patients,” Dr. Mohamad noted.
“Having the ability to diagnose and treat a
blocked artery or other cardiac emergency
on-site without having to transport the patient to
another facility reduces the potential for damage
and in many cases, can mean the difference
between life and death.”
Merit River Oaks has begun using an alert
system that allows emergency medical
services to notify hospital staff of incoming
cardiac emergency patients, said Dr. McIntosh.
“This new system increases the gateways for
across-the-board communications to insure
patients receive immediate care in the event
of a cardiac emergency,” he said. “Having this
advance notice reduces the amount of time
before an interventional procedure can be
performed and the patient can be returned
to optimal health.”
Timely medical attention is critical in the
event of heart attack. Knowing the symptoms
can help you or someone you love get to the
emergency room sooner. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the five major symptoms of a heart attack are:
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or
shoulders
• Shortness of breath
Other symptoms of a heart attack could
include unusual or unexplained tiredness and
nausea or vomiting. Call 9-1-1 if you notice
symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or
someone you are with.
Hometown MADISON • 37
Hometown
GOODNESS
_____________________________________________________
Steak Seasoning
• Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Sea Salt
• Pepper
• Country Pleasin Grillin Chillin
Sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Zesty Italian salad dressing
Apply dry ingredients to steaks first
– Tony’s, garlic powder, onion
powder, sea salt and pepper. Using
a fork, poke each slab of meat several
times, then apply the wet ingredients
– Country Pleasin, Worcestershire,
and Zesty Italian. This allows the wet
ingredients to permeate the inside of
the meat. Once all ingredients have
been applied, place meat in a ziplock
bag and make sure all the air is out.
Allow the meat to marinate overnight
in the refrigerator. After cooking to
your liking, sprinkle with sea salt and
allow to rest for a few minutes, then
slice and enjoy!
_____________________________________________________
Shrimp n’ Grits
ROUX
• 2 T butter
• ⅓ cup all purpose flour
• 1 carton of chicken broth
• Garlic powder and cajun
seasoning, to taste
• 8 oz. cream cheese
Melt butter completely. Add flour
and mix to a dough-like consistency.
Stirring constantly, add small amounts
of chicken broth until a thick fluid
consistency is reached. Season with
garlic powder and cajun seasoning to
desired taste. Add cream cheese and
stir until completely melted. Simmer
on low, stirring occasionally.
GRITS
• 6 servings of quick grits
• 5 lbs. fresh gulf shrimp
• Sea salt, pepper, and cajun
seasoning to taste
• 8 oz. fiesta shredded cheese blend
Cook grits according to package
instructions. Cook shrimp in a large
sauce pan with butter, salt, pepper,
and cajun seasoning until shrimp is
pink in color. Add shredded cheese.
Now you should have a pot of grits,
pan of shrimp, and a skillet of roux.
Combine all fixings to your taste!
_____________________________________________________
Coconut Delight
FIRST LAYER
• 1 cup flour
• 1 stick oleo, melted
Mix well and press evenly into a
9x13 pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350.
SECOND LAYER
• 1 8-oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup cool whip (large container)
Blend cream cheese and sugar
together; add Cool Whip. Spread
over crust.
THIRD LAYER
• 2 3-oz. boxes of instant
vanilla pudding
• 3 cups milk
Combine the two pudding mixes
with milk – mix well. Pour over
second layer.
FOURTH LAYER
• Remaining cool whip from
large container
• ½ cup pecans
• ½ cup coconut
Spread remaining Cool Whip over
the top, and cover with pecans and
coconut. Refrigerate.
Serves 3-5
38 • MAY 2020
______________________________________________________
Chicken Roll-Ups
______________________________________________________
Veg-All Casserole
______________________________________________________
Instant Banana Pudding
______________________________________________________
Chicken Pot Pie
• 2 T butter
• 1 package sliced mushrooms
• 1 bundle green onions
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 rotisserie chicken, deboned
and shredded
• 2 8-ct. jumbo crescent rolls
• Seasonings: garlic powder, onion
powder, salt and pepper to taste
Cook mushrooms and green onions
down using butter. Melt cream cheese,
add the mushrooms and green onions.
Stirring constantly, add chicken to the
mixture, along with seasonings to taste.
Roll out the crescent rolls and spoon
the mixture into each roll, being sure to
add just enough to where the cresent
can be rolled up and not spill the
ingredients. Bake at 350 for 12-15
minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes 16 rolls
______________________________________________________
Hamburger Casserole
• 1 lb. ground beef
• ¼ cup canned milk
• Salt and pepper
• 4-6 large potatoes, sliced
• 2 large onions, sliced
• ¼ lb. sharp cheese (cubed)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
Press ground beef into a 3-quart
casserole dish. Pour milk over ground
beef, adding salt and pepper. Layer
sliced potatoes over meat. Add sliced
onions and cheese. Add soup and
bake, covered, for 1 ½ hours at 350.
• 1 roll of Ritz crackers
• 2 29-oz. cans of Veg-All, drained
• 1 cup of chopped onions
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• Butter
Crush one roll of Ritz crackers, set
aside. Mix all the other ingredients into
a casserole dish. Pour crackers over the
top until evenly covered. Add slivers of
butter 2-3 inches apart on top of the
Ritz. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
_____________________________________________________
Nanny’s Brownies
• ½ stick of butter, softened
• 2 T of cocoa
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• ⅔ cup flour
• ½ tsp salt
Mix all ingredients and pour into a
greased pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
______________________________________________________
Crock Pot Mac & Cheese
• 3 cups of shredded cheese
• 2 ½ cups of milk
• 12 oz. of evaporated milk
• 8 oz. of cream cheese
• 1 box of elbow macaroni
Throw all ingredients into the crock
pot. Cook on low for up to 2 ½ hours.
Add more milk if it is too thick.
• 2 small packages of instant vanilla
pudding mix
• 1 14-oz. can of condensed milk
• ½ cup of Coffee-Mate creamer
• 1 16-oz. carton Cool Whip
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 box vanilla wafers
Mix pudding according to the box.
Add condensed milk and set aside.
Mix Coffee-Mate and Cool Whip.
Layer a large bowl with wafers,
bananas, pudding and Cool Whip
until full. The top layer should be Cool
Whip and wafers. Best served chilled.
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 4 T butter
• ⅓ cup all purpose flour
• 1-2 cups chicken broth
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 rotisserie chicken, deboned
and shredded
• Garlic powder and onion powder,
to taste
• Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning,
to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 24 oz. bag of frozen mixed vegetables
• 6 eggs, boiled and diced
• 2 ready-to-bake pie crusts
Sauté onion in 2 tablespoons of butter.
Leave the onion in the same sauce pan
that you will now make the roux.
Make a roux using 2T of butter and
flour, chicken broth and cream cheese.
Add chicken to the mixture, and
season with garlic powder, onion
powder, Tony’s, salt and pepper.
Add mixed vegetables, along with
diced boiled eggs. Line a large black
cast iron skillet with one pie crust,
pour in mixture, and cover with the
second pie crust. Bake at 450 for 10-15
minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Serves 4-6
Hometown MADISON • 39
The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
St. Andrew’s
On May 8, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Senior Arness Georgetown announced that he plans to play basketball at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to keep playing at the next level,” Georgetown said. “I’m really excited to come in with the guys and get to work. I look forward to
competing every day and helping to make Rhodes a championship contender.” During the 2019-20 season, Georgetown averaged 9.7 points per game, 1.5 assists per
game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 1.0 steals per game, and 0.2 blocks per game. Additionally, he is a member of the Saints’ 2018 State Championship team as well as the
2020 State Championship team.
On May 6, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Senior Aaron
Cooper announced that he plans to play football
at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
“I am incredibly grateful to have received an opportunity
to continue playing football at Rhodes College next fall,”
Cooper said. “I am eager to continue pushing myself to
improve athletically to compete at a collegiate level.”
“I would like to thank all of my athletic coaches, trainers,
and teammates for putting me in the best position to
mature as a young man and athlete which has prepared
me for this opportunity,” he continued. “I would like to
thank St. Andrew’s community for being gracious and
supportive of not only me but also the rest of the
student-athletes. I am forever proud to be a Saint.”
Across the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons, Cooper
picked up 745 receiving yards, 50 catches, and
8 touchdowns. Additionally, Cooper played for the Saints
varsity boys’ basketball team and varsity baseball team.
40 • MAY 2020
On April 22, 2020, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Senior Ebun Opata
announced that she plans to join the track and field team at
Washington University in St. Louis.
“I feel so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to do my
favorite sport at the collegiate level,” said Opata. “I am so appreciative of
my family, friends, and coaches that have supported me and cheered me
on at track meets since I’ve been in 7th grade. I’m looking forward to
seeing what God has in store for me during the next few years!”
Opata is a member of the Saints varsity track and field team and varsity
girls’ basketball team. She won two individual State Championship titles to
her credit. In 2019, she placed first in the 100-meter hurdles and the triple
jump. She ranked 6th overall in the state in 2019.
On April 20, 2020, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Senior Reeves Fisackerly announced
that he plans to join the Rollins College swim team this fall. Rollins College is a
Division II school located in Orlando, Fla., and is a member of the Sunshine
State Conference.
“There’s something really special about Rollins that’s difficult to put into words, and part
of that is due to the physical and social environments,” said Fisackerly. “I’m excited that
I will be able to explore several of my academic interests at a very strong liberal arts
school. I can’t wait to begin the elite, collegiate level training I’ve looked forward to for
many years.”
Fisackerly is a member of the Saints’ varsity boys swim team, which took home the
MHSAA Class I State Championship title in 2019, and placed second in the 2018 State
Championships. He was named a finalist twice in the 2017 MHSAA State Championship
and twice in the 2018 MHSAA State Championship. Additionally, Fisackerly swims for the
Mississippi Makos swim team, placing as a finalist seven times in the 2019 Mississippi
Swimming State Championships. He is ranked 11th among male high school swimmers in
Mississippi.
Hometown MADISON • 41
The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
Madison Central
The Pawprint Yearbook Financial Staff hosted its annual Beauty and Beau pageant February 3-7.
Senior Beauties
Left to right: Mary Swayze Thornton, Meghan Thrash, Jalyn Kelly, Sydney Stokes, Libba Ewing, Most Beautiful Keely Young,
Ashley McGhee, Olivia Smith, Lauren Cooper, Anna Johnston and Allie Grace Bell.
Senior Beaus
Left to right: Ian Garrett, Brandon Strain, Clayton Fairchild, Wade McDougal, Most Handsome Randy Harris,
Justin Lairy, Caleb Martin, Connor McMullan, RJ Mack
42 • MAY 2020
Junior Beauties Left to right: Ellie Hetzel, Adeline Walters, Payton Abner, Kellen Fairburn,
Ann Cabot Stockett, Marley Stover, MaryDale Mitchell and Taylor Boyt.
Junior Beaus Left to right: Joe Gallaspy, Rob Embry, Walker Rogillio, Chandler Welgos,
Justice Rose, Harrison Bruce, Robert Tickner and Christian Contreras.
Most Beautiful Keely Young
and Most Handsome Randy Harris
Sophomore Beaus
Left to right: Simon Tipton, Mack Gorton, Jackson Tyner
Sophomore Beauties Left to right: Annalise Ferrell, Ann Travis Hutchinson,
Leighton Barrett, Kendall Starkey, Sarah Kate Killens, Reid Hewitt
Hometown MADISON • 43
The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
Madison Central
Madison Central High School is proud to announce its 16 National Merit finalists.
MRA
L-R: Emma Grace Trammell, Allie Grace Bell, Lane Taylor, Jessica Shoemaker, Sreya Maddali, Cameron Fowler, Jackson Joyner, Chandler Miller,
Kaylee Hood, Aswin Arunachalam, Sam Gaines, Eric Chen, Julie Luke, Drew Dunn and Amy Lin. Not pictured is Annie Thomas.
Students had fun collaborating with classmates in their American history class
to create a presentation about the conflicts during the Jackson era.
L-R: Alecya Berry, Abby Sheffield, Elisabeth Morton, Mary Cameron McArthur
For the third year in a row the MRA robotics team qualified for the overall state
tournament with FIRST robotics. The competition was held on the campus of
the University of Mississippi. Twenty-four teams from all over the state
competed. The MRA team was awarded the second place Connect Award.
This judged award is given to the team that most connects with their local
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) community.
Back L-R: Chesley Price, Conner Ivey, Carter Watchel,
George Dew, Animesh Kumar
Front L-R: Ian Wright, Will Thompson, Jack Laws,
John David Phillips, Josh Khanna, Alden Bailey
Price Farrar
Vanndel Chinchen
Cole Farrior
Price Farrar, Vanndel Chinchen, and Cole Farrior, all showed exemplary talent
and skill landing them a position with the All-MAIS Division 1 soccer team.
44 • MAY 2020
Shirley D. Simmons
Shirley D. Simmons Middle School celebrates student success! Students recently took the Case 21 test which prepares them for end of the year state tests. Awards were given for
most growth and overall highest proficiency. The 6th grade class won both awards for highest overall proficiency in math and English! We are so proud of all of our students and the
hard work they put in every day to achieve their learning goals! Keep up the good work!
Individual award recipients include: Xander Bell - Most Growth in 8th Grade English, Shelton Hayden - Most Growth in 8th Grade English, Kendrick Jobe - Most Growth in 8th Grade
English, Deja Weaver - Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade English, Patricia Evans - Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade English, Christian Dawson - Highest Proficiency in 7th Grade English,
Jakayla Page - Most Growth in 7th Grade English, Samecia Brinson - Most Growth in 6th Grade English, London Lott - Highest Proficiency in 6th Grade English, Jakeliah Crowley -
Most Growth and Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade Math and 8th Grade Science, Terry Thompson - Highest Proficiency in 7th Grade Math, Jakelcey White - Most Growth in Algebra 1
and 8th Grade Math and Highest Proficiency in 8th Grade Science, Salaria Chesser - Highest Proficiency in Algebra 1, Elijah Jones - Highest Proficiency in 6th Grade Math
MRA
Every third Sunday of the month,
MRA faculty and students visit
the Ronald McDonald House in
Jackson to cook and serve breakfast
to families who are away from home
while receiving care in the Jackson
area. The Ronald McDonald House
serves as a “home away from home”
for families of seriously ill children
who must travel to Jackson for
medical care.
Hometown MADISON • 45
The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
Germantown
Germantown High School
recently held its annual
Night in the Spotlight
(Beauty and Beau).
12th grade
Front: Abby Vance, Claire Price,
Teana Neal, Olivia Irby, Cara Metz,
Amber Horton, Hannah Rae Britt,
Isabella Bissell, Mamie Ainsworth
Back: Tony Esquijarosa, Slade Rushing,
Graham Stephens, Austin Lee, Grice Fortenberry,
Reed Carpenter, Thad Stephens
11th grade
Front: Shelby Rainey and Chloe Carter
Back: Carson Buckner, Kaleb Joiner, Kendall Austin,
Colton Gardner, Houston Hailey
10th grade
Front: Kate Umphlett, Olivia Rabalais,
Kate Guillory, Peyton Davis,
Cassidy Watkins
Back Row: Ryan Augustine,
Carson Yoder, Brayden Cline,
Cannon Curtis, Colt Yoder,
Cole Burton, Hayden Simmons
9th grade
Laurel Mitchell, Isabella Nolen, Parker Gardner
46 • MAY 2020
LIKE
US!
daniel thomas
graphic design / illustration
601.941.7747
Hometown MADISON • 47
TheTime COIN
Camille Anding
In times like these, strange things
abound! I would never have
imagined toilet paper as a prized gift.
It’s somehow due to a strange phenomenon
relating to the coronavirus that’s added toilet paper to
the “endangered” list. It’s disappeared from the grocery
shelves, and truckers who are delivering it to stores
could possibly need armed guard protection.
This week our doorbell rang and an angel in human
form, standing some distance from the door, had left a
twelve-pack roll of toilet paper and a bouquet of tulips.
The flowers were lovely, but we scooped up the toilet
paper first as Othel shouted, “Hallelujah!” Only in times
like these!
I’ve been a kind of harper on the electronic age
kidnapping our young with their screen entrapments
and the way multiple-on-top-of-multiple TV channels can
manipulate an entire day. But worship via electronics is a
blessing when the church doors are closed. We plan to
be back in our pew when the doors open again, but
Easter Sunday was a blessing – getting to watch three
powerful messages online. Only in times like these!
God is definitely giving us time to recall
blessings that I was so accustomed to
that I failed to see them as blessings –
running to the grocery store to pick up
and pulling them close, speaking with neighbors within
touching distance, inviting friends for a meal, enjoying
a dinner in a restaurant with menus and waiters,
shopping in REAL stores for birthday presents, keeping
a dental appointment, strolling through the rows of
flowering plants at the nursery, visiting with friends in
assisted living facilities, and ordering a bucket of
popcorn in a movie theatre.
Times like these have given me much time to think.
Will large crowds ever sit packed in stadiums watching
football pile-ons again? Will the COVID-19 resurface in
another replication? Will basketball players go back to
competing among sweaty bodies and close contact?
Will emergency rooms become last resorts for people?
Will home offices become the new norm? Will a
supply of masks become a necessary safety item?
Times like these have brought on a myriad of
questions and changes, but one thing will never change:
“In times like these you need a Savior.
In times like these you need an Anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.”...
for all times. ●
a single item, eating with extended family
50 • MAY 2020
Hometown MADISON • 51
memories are made at
drive thru safari park
safari rides - birthday parties - weddings
class field trips - hundreds of animals
special events - catering - observation deck
steakhouse - tavern - buffet
retail shopping - mississippi artisans
meat market - bakery
-and so much more-
Visit our website today!
WWW.MCCLAIN.MS
open
every day!
874 HOLLY BUSH ROAD | BRANDON, MS
WWW.MCCLAIN.MS | 601-829-1101
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