LIKEUS!daniel thomasgraphic design / illustration601.941.774752 • JULY 2020
READERSPOTLIGHTGladysDORIANWhy did you decide to make Madisonyour home?My beautiful twin boys were born in January 1996 inAtlanta, Georgia. My husband’s company thenmoved us to Madison in February 1996.How long have you lived in Madison?When we moved here in 1996, I quickly fell in lovewith Madison’s charm and sense of community.I remember telling my family ... “I love how Madisonreminds me of a Norman Rockwell town – this issuch a wonderful place to raise a family!” We’ve beenhere ever since.What are your favorite memories of livingin Madison?In this little storybook town, we raised our two youngboys. Full of adventure and fun, there was alwayssomething to enjoy! The Strawberry Patch Park wasalways a favorite for birthday parties, a playground, apicnic and just good clean fun to be enjoyed. LibertyPark was the summer baseball spot. We had so manyfun nights at this ballpark while they were learning thegame of baseball. The Jackson Zoo was a wonderfuladventure – we LOVED visiting there every seasonof the year. The Mississippi Science Museum was alsoa wonderful place to learn and grow, and we enjoyedgoing to watch the Mississippi Braves baseball teamevery spring!Christ Covenant School was our first schoolexperience for the boys. Pear Orchard PresbyterianPreschool, as it was called back then, was where theyfelt so loved and encouraged every day by an amazinggroup of teachers. I enjoyed teaching preschool therewhile my boys later attended St. Richard CatholicElementary School and St. Joseph Catholic HighSchool.In 2015, I opened Madison Marketplace, anupscale gift and clothing boutique with my partner,Traci Allen. We have enjoyed five wonderful yearshere with an amazing assortment of items byMississippi artists throughout the shop. We are sothankful to all the locals here for shopping with usand keeping us busy!Where are your three favorite places toeat in Madison?Kristos, Mama Hamil’s and The Strawberry Café!Who is someone you admire and why?My mother is the person that I admire the most inmy life. She was an only child who raised sevenamazing children. She had the most wonderful abilityto make each one of us feel like we were the mostspecial and that we could do anything we put ourminds to. She was a perfect example of how to treatothers with kindness, love and grace – a shining,bright, positive light in this world!If you could give us one encouragingquote, what would it be?We are in this world but a short time, and it is upto us to show kindness, love, grace and forgivenessto those around us. I am so thankful and gratefulfor this wonderful place we call home – Madison,Mississippi!Tell us more about MadisonMarketplace.Madison Marketplace is home to over 40of the most talented local and regional artists inMississippi! We are also happy to have an amazingselection of original art, jewelry, pottery, candles,home decor, handbags, latest fashions, and babygifts! We are here to help you find the perfect giftor something special for yourself. And we also offerbeautiful complimentary gift wrapping for all ourcustomers!In our gourmet kitchen, you will find everythingfrom fresh baked breads (delivered twice a week)Mama Hamil’s BBQ Sauce, Delta Blues Rice,Cheese Straws, Captain Rodney’s, Sherin Sauce,B3 Marinade, Vito’s Marinade, Savvy Gourmandmixes and much more. You can also find deliciousSugaree Cakes here in our freezer.Madison Marketplace hosts special events forour customers throughout the year: ChristmasOpen House, Valentine Open House, Easter OpenHouse, Our June Anniversary, Fall Tailgate OpenHouse, and we offer giveaways, door prizes, specialdiscounts throughout the shop during these events!This is our way of showing our customers how muchwe appreciate them shopping local with us.We are so blessed to have an amazing team hereat Madison Marketplace, and we want everyone tofeel happiness and joy as soon as you walk in ourshop! Come visit and enjoy shopping with usMondays and Saturdays 10am-4pm andTuesday-Friday 10am-6pm.Hometown MADISON • 53