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Hometown Clinton • 3

Wherever

you’re going...

You Can

Get THERE From

HERE!

Delvin’s Career Destination:

Music Education

SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY! | hindscc.edu |

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable Federal and State Acts, Hinds Community College

offers equal education and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its educational programs and activities. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these policies:

EEOC Compliance: Sherry Franklin, Vice President of Instruction/Career & Technical Education, Box 1003, Utica, MS 39175; Phone: 601.885.7002 or Email: EEOC@hindscc.edu. Title IX: DeAndre House, Associate Vice President Student Services, Title IX Coordinator, Box 1100 Raymond MS

39154; Phone: 601.857.3353 or Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu.

4 • MAY 2021

Tahya Dobbs

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Kevin Dobbs

CFO

Mary Ann Kirby

CONSULTING EDITOR

Brenda McCall

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Caroline Hodges

SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSISTANT

Alisha Floyd

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Daniel Thomas

LAYOUT DESIGN

Othel Anding

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jodi Jackson

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

IN THIS ISSUE

Reader Spotlight 7

Hometown Goodness 8

Hometown Family 14

The Yearbook 19

Summer Activities 33

The Medgar Project 36

The Business of Puppy Love 44

Salute to First Resoponders 48

Time Coin 54

www.facebook.com/hometownclintonmagazine. 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 Clinton be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Clinton is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors.

Hometown Clinton maintains the unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to approval by the publisher. The production of Hometown Clinton is funded by advertising.

Hometown CLINTON • 5

6 • MAY 2021

CALL NOW: 601-401-3299

READER

SPOTLIGHT

Brett

__________

SUTHERLAND

Why did you decide to make Clinton

your home?

My family and I moved to Clinton to serve

at First Baptist Church Clinton as the minister

of music.

How long have you lived in Clinton?

We’ve been in Clinton almost two years now.

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to Hilary for eight years. We

have one son, Jaxon, who will turn four in May

and one daughter, Lanie, who is one and a half.

What is your favorite memory of living

in Clinton?

Well, we’ve only lived here a short time but

I remember right after we moved, in July 2019,

we went down to Traceway Park and enjoyed

the July 4th fun and fireworks. My favorite

memory is from May 2020. Covid had

everything shut down and we couldn’t have

Jaxon’s third birthday party. We decided to

have a neighborhood parade. The city sent

five police cars, a firetruck, and tons of friends

joined in line! It made his day!

Where are your three favorite places to

eat in Clinton?

Chick-fil-A, Atlas, and Picantes

What are some fun things to do in Clinton

on the weekends?

We like to take the kids to Lion’s Club Park.

We also like to visit with friends in the

neighborhood. There is always something

going on down on the brick streets, so we tend

to keep an eye on those special events and go

when we find something for our family.

Share some things you enjoy doing in your

spare time.

Now that is a luxury – to have spare time! I like

to travel back to Petal and other places to see

family. I also like to dabble in songwriting.

What are three things on your bucket list?

Hmmm… this is a difficult one. Take my wife

to Milan, Italy, and show her where I purchased

her engagement ring. Become a Disney

Cruise Platinum Castaway Club Member, and

visit all four retired space shuttle locations .

Who is someone you admire and why?

I have a mentor that I have admired for years.

Her name is Kathy and she has roots in Clinton.

She has poured encouragement into me for

many years. She has always been there to listen.

Recently, she has been diagnosed with breast

cancer but her outlook is very positive and her

faith is strong. She knows it is all in God’s

hands and even ministers need that reminder

occasionally.

Where do you see yourself ten years

from now?

In 10 years, I’ll have a 14-year old and an

11-year old so I’m sure I’ll be chasing them

around! Prayerfully, I’ll still be doing what

I love, serving the Lord and His church.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I don’t think I can identify a favorite childhood

memory but I can say I remember all of the

vacations I took as a child. We didn’t go often

but when we did it was fun! I specifically

remember my first trip to Disney World

and the mountains.

If you could give us one encouraging quote,

what would it be?

“Commitment is doing the thing you said you

were going to do long after the mood you said

it in has left you.” - Unknown

What is your favorite thing about

Hometown Magazines?

My favorite thing about the magazine is that it

helps new residents to Clinton learn things,

past and specifically present. You can learn

about the city, who the people are, and all the

things there are to do. What a great resource

to give out to new residents and to keep the

current population informed and connected!


GOODNESS

_____________________________________________________

Strawberry

Cinnamon Rolls

DOUGH

• 2 ¼ tsp. active dry yeast

(1 standard packet)

• 1 cup warm milk

• ⅔ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

• 4½ - 4¾ cups all purpose flour

In the bowl of your stand mixer

fitted with the dough hook, add

yeast, warm milk, and 1 Tbsp. of

measured out sugar. Stir lightly and

allow to sit for 10 minutes or until

foamy on top. Stir in remaining sugar,

melted butter, and beaten eggs until

combined. Add 3 cups of flour first

and then add one tablespoon at a

time until you have workable

dough. Place dough into a lightly

greased bowl and set into a

warm place to rise until

doubled, about one hour.

FILLING

• 1 ½ cups strawberries, chopped

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch

• 1 Tbsp. water

• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon

• 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar

While the dough is rising, gather

your ingredients for the strawberry

filling. In a medium sizes saucepan,

add the strawberries and sugar. Stir

constantly for five minutes until they

start to release their juices. Mix corn

starch and water together and stir it

into the strawberry mixture. Allow

to thicken, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and allow the

strawberry filling to cool to room

temperature. Stir together the

cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl

and set aside for later.

Once the dough has risen, don’t

punch it down just yet. Flip the bowl

over and dump it out onto a lightly

floured surface. Pat it down lightly

to release the air inside and roll it

with a rolling pin into a very large

rectangle, about 1/4” thick. Spread

the strawberry filling on into an even

layer and sprinkle the cinnamon

sugar on top.

Roll the dough up very tightly

into a long log. Cut the log into 12

or 16 cinnamon rolls. 12 for a large

9x13 pan or 16 for two round 8”

baking pans (8 rolls in each). Grease

your pan of choice extremely well

and place cut cinnamon rolls into

prepared pan.

At this point, BEFORE the

second rise you can choose to finish

the process the next morning. Just

place the pan of cinnamon rolls in

the refrigerator with a damp cloth

on top. In the morning, remove the

rolls from the refrigerator and place

them in a warm environment to do

their second rise. Once they are

puffy, they’re ready to bake!

Continue the recipe as normal.

Once rolls have done their second

rise, preheat the oven to 350 degrees

and arrange the rack into the center

of the oven. Bake cinnamon rolls for

20-25 minutes or until lightly

golden on top.

FROSTING

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened

• ¼ cup unsalted butter,

room temperature

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 pinch of salt

Beat cream cheese and butter

together until smooth with no

lumps. Add in sugar, vanilla and

optional pinch of salt and mix until

smooth and creamy. Spread a thin

layer of the frosting onto the warm

rolls just as they come out of the

oven so it seeps into all of the

crevices and then a heftier layer once

they have cooled down a bit.

8 • MAY 2021

_____________________________________________________

Cream Cheese

Strawberry Cookies

_______________________________________________________

Strawberry Avocado

Pico de Gallo

_______________________________________________________

Strawberry

Chocolate Chip Scones

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 Tbsp. sugar

• ½ tsp. baking soda

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• ½ tsp. salt

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 egg

• ½ cup butter (unsalted, cold,

and cubed)

• 1 cup strawberries (washed and

quartered)

• ½ cup chocolate chips

• ¼ cup flour (for dusting over your

work surface)

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Line

a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour,

sugar, baking soda, baking powder

and salt. In the measuring cup used to

measure the buttermilk, whisk the

egg with the buttermilk.

Add cubed butter to flour mixture

and using two knives or a pastry

blender cut in the butter, until dough

is crumbly and resembles peas.

Add the buttermilk mixture to the

flour mixture and mix well using a

fork or wooden spoon.

Add strawberries and chocolate

chips to the dough and roughly mix

until well incorporated. Turn dough

over onto a floured surface, and form

into a round disk. Cut the into eight

triangles.

Place the scones onto your baking

sheet. Brush with buttermilk and

sprinkle with a bit of sugar if

preferred. Bake for about 25 to 30

minutes or until golden brown.

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp. baking powder

• ⅛ tsp. salt

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened

• ¾ cup sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• ¾ cup fresh strawberries, chopped

• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

• 1-2 Tbsp. flour

• 5 oz. white chocolate, chopped

• Sanding sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 F and line

pans with parchment paper. Pour

fresh lemon juice over chopped

strawberries; drain after a few

minutes. Whisk together flour, salt

and baking powder and set aside.

Beat butter with sugar and cream

cheese until it’s light and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla and mix well.

Gradually add flour mixture and mix

until well combined. Stir in chopped

white chocolate.

Sprinkle strawberries with 1-2

tablespoon flour, toss them until all

strawberries are coated with thin layer

of flour and then stir them really

gently in the batter.

Drop heaping tablespoon of batter

onto pan leaving an inch space

between.

Set the cookies in the refrigerator

for 5-10 minutes before baking.

Sprinkle with sanding sugar if you

want, but do not overdo it because

they are sweet enough.

Bake for 13-15 minutes (until the

edges become golden brown).

Let them cool a few minutes in the

pan than transfer them to a wire racks

to cool completely.

_______________________________________________________

five-Minute Healthy

Strawberry

Frozen Yogurt

• 4 cups frozen strawberries

• 3 Tbsp. honey or agave nectar

• ½ cup plain yogurt

(non-fat or full fat)

• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Add ingredients to the bowl of a food

processor. Process until creamy, about

five minutes. Serve immediately or

transfer to an airtight container and

freeze for up to a month.

_______________________________________________________

Strawberry Crumb Bars

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• ¼ tsp. salt

• 3 cups flour

• 1 cup cold butter, cut into pieces

• 1 egg, beaten

• 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled

and chopped

• ½ cup sugar

• 4 tsp. corn starch

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease, or line

with foil, a 9x13 pan. In a medium

bowl, whisk together sugar, baking

powder, salt, and flour. Cut in the

butter using two knives or a pastry

blender, until pieces are no bigger

than pea sized. Stir in the egg to form

crumbly dough. Pat half of the dough

in an even layer in the prepared pan.

In a medium bowl, toss strawberries

with the sugar and corn starch, then

spread the mixture on top of the

dough in the pan. Crumble the

remaining dough evenly over the

strawberry layer. Bake 45-50

minutes, or until lightly browned.

Let cool before slicing and serving.

• 1 California avocado, halved,

seeded, peeled, and diced

• 1 cup diced strawberries

• 1/3 cup diced mango

• ½ jalapeno, seeded and minced

• 1/4 cup diced red onion

• 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

• 1 tsp. honey, or more to taste

• Juice of 1 lime

• Kosher salt, to taste

In a large bowl, combine avocado,

strawberries, mango, jalapeno, onion,

cilantro, honey, lime juice, and salt, to

taste. Serve immediately.

_______________________________________________________

Southern Style

Strawberry Sweet Tea

STRAWBERRY SIMPLE SYRUP

• 4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries

• 1½ cups water

• 1 ½ cups pure cane or coconut sugar

Add the strawberries, sugar, and water

to a saucepan and bring to a boil,

Lower the heat and simmer or 10-15

minutes. Let cool slightly then pour

the syrup through a fine mesh sieve

into a gallon pitcher. Discard the

cooked fruit.

TEA

• 3 Luzianne family size tea bags

• 3 cups water

• Strawberry simple syrup

Bring water to a boil, remove from

heat, drop in tea bags, and steep for

10-15 minutes. Pour tea into the

pitcher with the syrup and stir. Fill the

rest of the pitcher with cold water.

Chill completely then serve over ice

and/or freshly frozen strawberries.


Add Scheduling an

Eye Exam to Your Routine.

It Is

A BIG DEAL!

Scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with Jackson Eye Associates

should be as routine as brushing your teeth daily. It Is A Big Deal!

Call to schedule your exam at one of our three convenient locations

or visit JEA Optical today!

JACKSON

601.353.2020

MADISON

601.853.2020

JACKSONEYE.COM |

CLINTON

601.924.9750

©2021 JEA

10 • MAY 2021

EXPLORE

THE CITY WITH

& GET A FREE TEE,

WITH THE NEW

METRO

JACKSON

PASSPORT

Collect six stamps from

participating attractions,

restaurants, and hotels

to redeem your prize.

For more information,

go to visitjackson.com/

safertravel

Hometown RANKIN • 11

IS THERE A

GRADUATE IN YOUR

FAMILY THIS YEAR?

Cultivating

Memories

CELEBRATE WITH US!

BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY!

(601) 398-0151 • theironhorsegrill.com

schedule appointment today

msagmuseum@mdac.ms.gov

msagmuseum.org 601 432 4500

Summer Camps

Birthday Parties

Doc McStufns: The Exhibit

Check mschildrensmuseum.org our website for • our 601.981.5469 full event • Jackson, calendar! MS

mschildrensmuseum.org • 601.981.5469 • Jackson, MS

This project is partially funded through a grant by Visit Jackson.

12 • MAY 2021

MS SPORTS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM

MS AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY MUSEUM

LOCATED AT I-55 &

LAKELAND DRIVE IN

JACKSON, MS

lefleurmuseumdistrict.com

@LeFleurMuseumDistrict

@LeFleurMuseumDistrict

MS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

MDWFP’S MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

SAVE

Museum District Pass

25 %

off a normal

priced ticket

INCLUDES ADMISSION TO

ALL FOUR MUSEUMS.

Family fun for all ages!

June 12th

10 am - 3 pm


14 • MAY 2021

PHOTOS Followell Fotography


We are Brad, 35, Brittany, 33, Maddox, 6, and Kennedy, 3, and we’re happy to share we are expecting

a baby girl in September. Our hobbies include real estate investing and we genuinely enjoy helping people

buy and sell their homes, but we thoroughly enjoy the investing side of real estate the most. We flip houses

and we also own rentals here in Clinton. We believe it is a sound investment strategy and it is something

we can do as a family all while reinvesting in our community. The kids love going to check on projects and

doing work on the properties.

We also enjoy CrossFit; we are both Level-1 CrossFit certificate holders and coach, part-time, at

CrossFit Chi-Rho here in Clinton. God has given us one body, and it is our responsibility to take care of it.

We enjoy sharing that passion and helping others along in their fitness journey. Movement is medicine.


We enjoy traveling and seeing new places. Prior to kids we traveled

internationally and have been all over the world, including, Italy,

Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Australia,

St. Lucia, Anguilla, Greece, Turkey, France, and the U.K.

Most of these trips were with Mississippi College through their

spring break trip program. We would love to start this back when

the kids get a little older. Most of all though, we enjoy hanging out

with friends and family, and hosting gatherings at our home.

How did you meet, and how long have you

been married.

We met back in 2003 during the Clinton High School Attache’

Showchoir summer musical, Newsies. Brad was in the stage crew

and I was a singer/dancer. We started crossing paths more when

school started through the same friend groups, and we started

dating later that school year. We dated for six years and have been

married for eleven years this June.

Do you allow time to be with your spouse

for a date night?

We try and do a date night almost once a week. We believe date

nights are an important part of marriage. It allows valuable time

together and gives us an opportunity to reconnect without

distractions. We enjoy trying out new restaurants, or we will

go to one of our local Clinton favorites.

What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?

Watching our kids do something kind or helping someone else

without being told. We teach our kids to love other people well,

just as Christ loves us. This is done through action because love

does. Also, watching our kids’ strengths and gifts emerge as they

grow, and determining how we can help them utilize their talents

God has given them to further His kingdom.

Who is the financial manager in your home?

Brad is the financial manager in our family. He majored in

accounting and loves numbers, so this came as an easy pick. We

both fully understand that what we have doesn’t belong to us, it

belongs to God and we both want to be good stewards with what

he has given us.

What is your discipline philosophy?

We are currently implementing biblical discipline. God is the

ultimate authority, and He has placed us in authority over the kids.

When they disobey us, they are more importantly disobeying

God. We teach them to be kind to everyone and to love others

over themselves.

What do you see in your role as the greatest

benefit to your family?

Being able to serve alongside those without. Our family serves

alongside our local homeless community in Jackson with an

organization called Shower Power. Every Friday the homeless

have the opportunity to attend Shower Power which provides

a shower, a hot meal, and any other necessities they might need.

Our kids started coming with us at the beginning and have

learned to love these people who are in need. Now every time

we get in the car, they ask if we have a “snack/care” bag to hand

out in case we see someone in need. Serving others in this

capacity has taught our kids to love these people who may

sometimes be overlooked and forgotten.

What’s a quick go-to meal that isn’t fast food?

And who does the cooking?

We enjoy food from 303 Jefferson, pizza from The Bank by

Pizza Shack, Mexican from Margaritas or Picantes, a salad

and a sandwich from Newks, or Japanese from Takara.

Brittany does all the cooking and typically makes plenty

of extra in case we have any guests stop by.

How long has Clinton been your home?

We both grew up in Clinton, attended Clinton schools, and we

both graduated from Mississippi College. After getting married

we chose to stay here in Clinton. We love it here! Our real estate

office is here, our church is here, and our family and friends are

here. Clinton is definitely our place to call HOME!

What are some of your favorite things about Clinton?

We love attending all the Main Street and Chamber events—

Spring Market, Fall Markets, Fresh at Five produce market,

Caterpillar Parade, Christmas Parade, Dinner and a Movie,

Red Brick Roads Music and Art Festival, and now we are enjoying

all the live music and entertainment offered downtown.

How do you spend your summer breaks?

We go each year to Point Clear, Alabama, and stay at the Grand

Hotel. Between the splash pad, pools, beach/bay, outdoor games,

immaculate grounds, bikes, tennis, golf, fishing, kayaking, paddle

boats, and amazing food, it’s hard to beat a resort like this so close

to our hometown.

16 • MAY 2021

What accomplishments make you proud

during your time living in Clinton?

Clinton has a phenomenal public school system, which

drives a majority of what we do in real estate. Academics,

sports, and performing arts are always superb, and earn

local, state, and nationwide recognition, year in and year

out. The quality of life here continues to improve as we

have some of the best police and fire protection making

Clinton one of the safest cities in Mississippi. The

hometown feel is brought to life with all that Main Street

and the local chamber do to bring family friendly events

here to town. We have a hard time imagining anywhere

else we would want to raise our family.

What drives you to have the job that you

have?

Being called to real estate allows us to serve others and

build relationships. It is not so much about the house

itself but more about assisting the client through the

entire transaction. We want to make sure they have the

most pleasant experience from start to finish. Acquiring

a home can be an important aspect of someone’s life.

A home should be a place to build memories and find rest.

We also enjoy renovating properties. We like to take one

of the worst houses on the street and turn it into the best

home on the block. It helps bring up property values,

makes the city look better, and encourages neighbors

to take a little more pride in their neighborhood.

Plus someone gets a practically brand new home

once its completed.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN

What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?

MADDOX Go to the Home Depot or Ace Hardware

store and to go check on our flip houses to see if the

workers left any screws, bolts, or wire nuts behind for

me to collect.

KENNEDY Go to the park.

What your favorite restaurant?

MADDOX The Bank by Pizza Shack

KENNEDY Mexican and Lillies

What’s your favorite park in Clinton and why?

MADDOX Kids Towne, because it has big slides.

KENNEDY Lions Club, because I get to see the train go by.


18 • MAY 2021

The Yearbook

Also known as an annual (because of the frequency in which it is published), the yearbook

has been as an important part of the school year as recess and sitting with your friends during lunch!

The yearbook reflects important school events and documents the lives of the people that participated.

It’s a memory book. A history book.

A record book, and a reference book.

As a celebration of the

impending graduations,

we decided to take a peek

into the yearbooks of

our Clinton seniors.

These pages were

designed by each

individual yearbook

staff and submitted

for inclusion in this

special issue.

Best wishes to all

the graduating high

school seniors–

the distinguished

Class of 2021.


Abel, Justice - Abraham, Callie - Arora, Esha - Brown, Devin - Collins, Sloan

A year to

remember!

King, Thomas - Murray, Grace - Oberhausen, Thomas - Phillips, Noah - Price, Presley -

- Craft, Grey - Daniel, Landon - Ford, Sydney - Galey, Sarah-Grace - Gillespie, John

Facing the future one day at a time.

97

Razinobakht, Chelsea - Razinobakht, Lindsea - Saxton, Walker - Shaw, Sydney

Sheriff, Madison - Weeks, Madelyn - Wilson, Kaitlyn - Zeitz, Hanna - Brown, Justyn --

The Lord is greater than the

giants you face.

1 John 4:4

Hood, Shelby - Kimes, Wynter - Mashburn, Mallory - Murray, Grace - Patrick Pettis-

Collins, Devin - Collins, Sloan - Farve, Iris Ann - Giles, Kelan - Gooden, Asjia - Gray, Monroe

HISTORY

IN THE

MAKING.

- Porter, Jelani - Roberts, Omar - Rodgers, Keiwon - Sheriff, Kennedi - Wilder, Sarah Margaret

C l i n t o n H i g h S c h o o l

ARROWS

Omarion Luss and Evan Bass, Senior basketball

players, show off the State Championship trophy

CHS Homecoming Court Seniors Winners

Grace Goolsby, Madison Cardenas, Kaitlyn James

Christina Wright, Senior

Varsity Cheer

Senior Natalie Derrick

CHS vs. Brandon High

School

Senior Michael Hughes,

CHS vs Starkville

Matthew Brown, Senior

CHS Bowling Team

CHS Star Students and their chosen Star Teachers

Students:Logan Salassi ,Taylor May, Caleb Miller

Teachers: Justin Odom, Allen Marett, Alix Williams

National Merit Finalists: Taylor May, Caleb Miller,

and Kylie Price

Seniors Madison Cloud, Justina Zheng and Kaitlyn

Hamilton look on during an on-site physics lab

12th grade English Teacher, Nancy Dent recieved

CHS Teacher of the Year and Clinton Public School

District Teacher of the Year

C l a s s o f

Senior Katie Pace

CHS Tennis

Senior Lee Kane

CHS Archery

SENIORS

Congratulations Seniors! We are praying for you as you leave here and head out to

make a difference in the world for God’s glory.

- Jessica Gregory

Jada,

I have loved watching you grow and mature during the last few years. Your sweet smile always brightened my day!

I pray that God will guide you and lead you in the direction He has planned for you. Keep that same loving heart

and you will never be without a friend!

In Christian love,

Mrs. Roth

Matthew 5:16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify

your Father in heaven.

Jacee,

Your enthusiasm and happy personality have been such a joy to watch over the last few years. I hope you never

lose that sparkle! With God on your side, you will never fail no matter what trials and tribulations come your way. I

will be praying for you as you begin this next step in your life.

In Christian love,

Mrs. Roth

Deuteronomy 31:8. The Lord himself goes before you and will with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do

not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Dear Jacee and Jada,

Congratulations on all your accomplishments! May God continue to bless and

guide you as you get ready to embark on your next adventure.

Mrs. Carter

Congratulations and God bless you on this wonderful achievement! May God be

with you every step of the way as you continue your life’s journey. - Kim Yelverton

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”—Malcolm X

Congratulations, girls! Miss Moseley

Congratulations on this milestone! Hold fast to the truths of God's Word and seek

Him first. I pray the Lord's blessing upon you in this next season of life.

"Whatever you do work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that

from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the

Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

-Mrs. Whittle

Do not give into the feeling of needing to change yourself or your values in order

to fit in. You are an adult now who has her security and self-worth in Christ and

not in the seemingly important opinions of others.

Mrs. Ellison

Dear Seniors,

Congratulations! You've made it through one of the craziest years of history. We are excited to see

where God takes you after Mt. Salus. Two quick pieces of advice to keep in the back of your mind: 1)

Don't be afraid to make the wrong decision- Just do something and God will lead you; 2) Be yourself,

but don't be afraid to improve. :)

Love, Coach Reese

Summer Camp!

Outdoor play inflatable water slide

arts & crafts

games petting zoo movies

and more!

Creativity

Fun

Camps run Monday - Friday

from 8:00am to 3:00pm

June 7th-July 2nd and

July 12th-30th

For more information, or to register, visit us online at

hopehollowms.org or call 601-859-5290

$50 due upon registration

$250/week (includes registration fee)

Play

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @hopehollowlive

school of the arts

NOW accepting registration for

JACKSON & MADISON

locations!

Mississippi’s Premiere Christian Ballet School

balletmagnificat.com (601) 977-1001

32 • MAY 2021

Summer ACTIVITIES

Central Mississippi

Regional Library System

ONLINE OR IN-PERSON

Visit your CMRLS library in Rankin,

Scott, Simpson, or Smith Counties for

personal assistance, computer use, or

browse to find books, movies, audiobooks,

reference materials, magazines, and

newspapers.

Visit online for downloadable eBooks

and audiobooks, magazines, and music;

as well as World Book Online and the

Virtual Reference Library with databases

and handpicked websites for homework

research, foreign languages, and genealogy

databases, all available for you, 24-7-365.

RANKIN COUNTY LIBRARIES

Brandon Public Library - 601.825.2672

Florence Public Library - 601.845.6032

G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library

Flowood - 601.919.1911

Northwest Point Reservoir Library

Brandon - 601.992.2539

Pearl Public Library - 601.932.2562

Pelahatchie Public Library - 601.854.8764

Puckett Public Library - 601.824.2157

Richland Public Library - 601.932.1846

Sandhill Pisgah Library - 601.829.1653

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

100 Tamberline, Brandon, MS

www.cmrls.lib.ms.us

custsvc@cmrls.lib.ms.us

601.825.0100

Young Crusaders

Sports Camp

Park Place Christian Academy

201 Park Place Drive / Pearl, MS

May 24 - 27 / 8:00am – 11:00am

Incoming 1st -6th graders

$150 per person

(includes camp t-shirt and drinks)

601-616-6143

zmiller@goppca.com

Vacation Bible School

CONCRETE & CRANES

Flowood Baptist Church

1649 Old Fannin Road / Flowood, MS

May 30 - June 4 / 6:00pm-8:30pm

Ages 3-6th grade

601-992-6464

flowoodbaptistchurch.org

Soccer Shots

Jackson Prep Camp

K3-K5 Students

June 7 - 10 / 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Open to the public

Register at jacksonprep.net/camps

Soccer Shots

Jackson Academy Camp

Entering K4 - 2nd Grade Students

June 14 - 17 / 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Open to the public

Register at jacksonacademy.org

Soccer Shots

St. Andrews Lower School

Camp

K4-2nd Grade Students

June 21 - 24 (tentative date)

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Open to the public

Register at gosaints.org

Vacation Bible School

DESTINATION DIG

Grace Church

2610 Napleon Avenue / Pearl, MS

June 21 - 25 / 6:00-9:00pm

(meal and snacks provided)

Ages 3-12

601-228-1288

gracechurchpearl@gmail.com

www.gracechurchpearl.org/vbs-2021

Soccer Shots Nature Camp

Lakeshore Park

July 6 - 7 / 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Open to the public

Register at jackson.soccershots.com

Twin Lakes Summer Camp

155 Milner Road / Florence, MS

601-845-6858

info@twinlakescamp.org

For the past 50 years, Twin Lakes

Summer Camp has shown the love of

Christ to campers from a variety of

backgrounds in a safe and fun environment.

During their session, each camper participates

in each of our exciting activities –

horseback riding, nature, games, challenge

course, riflery/archery, rock climbing,

waterfront, crafts, and swimming pool.

The caring staff are carefully selected

and genuinely enjoy helping each child

make the most of his/her week.


-BRACE THE FUN!

DAY CAMP DAY

JULY 7 • 12:05 PM

SPECIAL TICKETS FOR DAY CAMPS,

YOUTH CENTERS, DAYCARE CENTERS,

CHURCH GROUPS, AND MORE!

RESERVE YOUR SPACE

601-932-8788

Help us help

MISSISSIPPI KIDS.

© Copyright 2019 BankPlus.

Member FDIC.

Friends of Children’s Hospital

supports Batson Children’s Hospital,

part of University of Mississippi

Health Care, Mississippi’s

ONLY hospital designed for the care

and treatment of sick or injured children.

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to change on an annual basis.

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BankPlus makes a donation to Friends each

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34 • MAY 2021


THE MEDGAR PROJECT

36 • MAY 2021

MARY ANN KIRBY

Shower Power Operations Manager

“Medgar? How long has it been

since you’ve had a proper place

of your own to call home?”

He furrows his eyebrows as he calculates.

“I don’t know. I guess eleven or twelve years....

maybe longer. Hmmmm, yeah–longer.”

We met Medgar back in December of

2019 while we were just getting our feet wet

(pardon the pun). We are Shower Power,

a ministry that provides showers for, and

serves, many members of downtown

Jackson’s homeless or marginally sheltered.

Medgar was one of our original adopters,

has come regularly ever since, and remains

one of our very favorite friends.

So during the course of one of our

conversations around mid-2020, and

months after we’d known him, Medgar

mentioned having a house. We knew him

to spend most of his time on a bench

around one of the downtown landmarks–

so this news of a house was very surprising.

He said, “Y’all wanna come see it?” And

that’s all it took.

We followed Medgar to a structure

that was completely dysfunctional and

dilapidated. It explains why the majority

of his time was spent on that bench. Both

his mother and brother had spent their

lives living in it prior to their deaths and

were unable to manage any type of upkeep.

And since their passing, it just continued

to deteriorate.

It had no power and no operable

plumbing. It had become a hoarding site

with rooms of rubble and remnants of

former lives piled from floor to ceiling–

the result of years-long neglect. We thought,

at the very least, we could help clean it out

so that on days when it rained–or in the

extreme cold–Medgar could have shelter

from the elements.

So on Labor Day weekend the Shower

Power team, along with additional recruited

friends and family members, descended

upon Medgar’s house with shovels and

gloves, buckets and respirator masks, and

a commercial-sized dumpster. We shoveled

our way in and created a path from room

to room.

It took days of nothing but clearing out

in order to get the house completely emptied.

Nothing was salvageable. And what we

were left with, structurally, was devastating.

There were broken floor joists and rotten

subflooring. At one point, what used to be

the kitchen was now only dirt below.

An entire exterior wall gave way, rotten

from the absence of any type of vapor barrier

and moisture from a roof that didn’t seem to

deflect a single drop of water. In all honesty,

any reasonable human being would have

simply written the house off and slated it

for a complete tear-down.

We started a social media campaign

including a GoFundMe to raise money to


at least stabilize the house enough to use as a reasonably fortified

shelter. And that’s when the miracles started happening.

By that very evening, through the power of Facebook, we had

secured a new roof–that was being donated! And everything from

there fell into place in a way that we could have never imagined.

Some longtime supporter friends of Shower Power called and

offered to provide us with the support of a general contractor to help

get us started. Sheetrock and all the supplies needed to hang it was

donated. A 2.5 ton HVAC and the installation of it was donated.

The calls kept coming–and so did the cash.

We started referring to our supporters as our “Village” and we

updated everyone routinely through Facebook. Plumbing fixtures

were donated along with windows and doors. An electrical company

agreed to donate all of the wiring and its installation–and the

owner of that company acted as a general contractor that got us

across the finish line.

Drywall installation was donated. Custom cabinets were built,

donated, and installed. A college group came and painted the entire

interior. A local business owner purchased flooring for us and the

company she purchased it from donated the installation! It was

amazing—and it had God’s fingerprints all over it.

38 • MAY 2021


Despite the total destruction that we’d left Medgar with, he

never once became discouraged or lost hope. He said, repeatedly,

that anything was better than what he had. And he was right—

despite my own occasional doubts.

Framing was repaired or replaced. New plumbing and wiring

went in. New subflooring went down. Insulation was put in.

Ductwork was installed. Windows were replaced.

If nothing else happened—this was ten thousand times better

than what we started with. It was an empty shell with a rock-solid

roof overhead. We had a tree removed that was looming above

threatening the entire structure—the removal of which was donated.

Sheetrock went up. Doors were hung. Trim work began. Plumbing

fixtures, cabinets, lighting, new flooring and moldings, appliances

and granite countertops were all donated and installed. An alarm

system was installed and insurance was purchased. New mattresses

were donated—and for the first time in a very long time, Medgar

had a bed.

As of this writing, we’re actually still putting the finishing touches

on his home. The pandemic created some supply-side and staffing

availability challenges. But it’s been such a labor of love for all of us,

and it’s fun to still be tinkering with it. It keeps us connected to our

friend in a super meaningful way.

40 • MAY 2021

Medgar worked harder than anyone there. He never left the job

site and has an appreciation for his new home that few can fathom.

We built a home he loves so that he can build a life he loves–and

we’ve been immeasurably blessed in doing so. All in all, the house

that should have been torn to the ground was rebuilt with the love

and generosity of complete strangers–and about $15,000 cash, all

donated. And since then, the folks at Shower Power have embarked

on several new projects—all with the purpose of restoring dignity

and providing opportunity to people that may just need a little help.

Thank you to the following friends and

businesses that donated products, services,

and labor. These are local businesses that

we can all support in a mighty way:

Strength Roofing & Siding - Brooks Strength

LiveWire Electrical Services - Marcus Buffington

Godfrey-McHann Realty - Brittany and Brad McHann

Adam Wilson Home Improvement - Adam Wilson

L&W Supply - Chris White

Pure Air Consultants - Tony Groover

Gotta Go - Lauren McGraw

Terry Murray Carpentry - Terry Murray

MidSouth Crawl Space - Josh Quick

The Stone Source - Troy Burnette and Bob Foreman

Treehouse Boutique - Jude Muse

Renfrow Decorative Center - Ross Renfrow

Mattress Firm of Jackson/D. Noblin Furniture

- Danny, Grant and Mason Gray

Ferguson Enterprises - Dallas Spence and Alice Querin

Energy Insulation Services - Wes Teten

Will Norris Drywall Services

Deviney Construction - Jason Cochran

Pennington & Trim - Ed Trim

Sunbelt Lighting

MGC Landscapes - Trey Deloach

Paint Plus Construction - Rob Deloach

Hopper Properties - Casey Bridges

Hopper Properties - Shane Saxton

Buffalo Peak Outfitters - Bob McCain

Hinds Community College Phi Theta Kappa

- Jane Foreman

Home Depot - Jodi Youngblood

Sherwin Williams Fondren - Andrew Lee

Cypress Depot

RiverBend Tires - Don Duncan

Tahya and Kevin Dobbs

Camille Richards

Tony Huffman

For more information about Shower Power visit

www.showerpower.ms


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Y0040_GHHHXDDEN21_C

CHAD

BIBB, DPT

SPENCER

BOOTHE, DPT

(601) 708-1834 | capitalortho.com | 119 Highway 80 East • Clinton, MS

42 • MAY 2021

601-373-8408

110 Kimball Drive • Madison, MS 39110 • 601.373.8408


44 • MAY 2021

The Business of

PUPPY LOVE

Jodi Jackson

Hazel and Henry Taylor are the proud creators of H&H Puppy Care,

and this entrepreneurial sibling pair is on a mission.

They have set out to serve the people of Clinton

and their K9’s - and grant their own wish to meet

lots and lots of furry friends!

The story begins last summer when Hazel (7)

was teaching a few tricks to Mayzie, one of two of

the Taylor family dogs. She and Mayzie were having

such a fun time, and she thought, “Wouldn’t it be

great if I could invite other dogs to our house to

take care of them and teach them tricks, too?”

Hazel shared the idea with her brother Henry

(9), who also loves dogs. He was immediately on

board but says, “It took a little convincing,” when

asked how his parents felt about their new venture.

If you have ever had the joy of meeting these

two, you know they used their enterprising personalities

to win over their mom and dad. However,

there was one condition, all H&H Puppy Care

clients must be house-trained. Henry and Hazel

understood why this was a rule and decided to

make things even easier for themselves and their

future visitors. The first trick they teach new H&H

pups at is how to use a doggie door!

Don’t let the ages of this dynamic duo fool you

- they are great multitaskers! They have had three

visiting dogs, in addition to Mayzie and their other

dog Luna, for a total of five dogs to care for at once.

Mayzie and Luna each feel a little differently about

sharing their home with other pups. “Luna likes

when other dogs come over because she’s very

energetic, but Mayzie just leaves the room,”

Henry chuckles.

While Mayzie may be a little unsure of her guests,

Henry and Hazel are always excited to accommodate

dogs who need extended stays. The two

fondly recall Aspen, a pup who stayed with them

for three weeks. “She was the sweetest dog, so


it was actually really easy to take care of her,”

Hazel says. “Her family was finishing up building a

house and moving, and she needed somewhere

comfortable.”

The Taylor siblings especially love having repeat

customers, like Millie, who they care for almost

every Sunday. Henry explains, “Millie’s mom is a

nurse, so she works long hours. She doesn’t want

Millie to spend all that time in her cage not being

able to do anything, so she lets us watch her.”

Hazel and Henry manage and execute the

feeding, playing, and walking schedules of all the

dogs and work on the business side of H&H.

How do these kids do it? H&H Puppy Care is a family

affair, of course! Hazel and Henry have great

support from their mother Amanda, who oversees

the day-to-day operations, and their father Scott

manages the H&H Puppy Care Instagram account

and coordinates with the puppy/parent clients. The

pride Amanda and Scott have in the creativity and

ingenuity of their children shows through their

encouragement and dedication to the business -

including an official logo, marketing videos, and

t-shirts - not mention the willingness to open the

doors, floors, and furniture of their home to

multiple pet guests as a means of helping their kids

chase a dream.

When asked if H&H serves other animals in the

pet community, Hazel responds, “We’ve been

trying to get mom to let us watch birds, cats, and

of their previous K9 clients, Balto, came to their

house for care, his cat-brother, Tony, had to stay

home–and Hazel and Henry came to him. Henry

slyly adds,“...for now.” Currently the Taylor house is

dogs-only, but Henry and Hazel seem confident

their services will extend to in-home pet sitting in

the future. These two are definitely getting ready to

pitch new ideas to Mom and Dad!

The brainstorming doesn’t stop there. Henry

and Hazel have big plans for H&H Puppy Care.

Hazel is eager to create a few systems to streamline

business and is hoping for an office “. . . so we can

organize all our schedules. Then, we could make

time for more puppies!” Henry is considering

franchising and has been strategizing how to grow

H&H so they can serve more pets, families, and

communities: “I think we could tell our friends and

families about it, and get them in the business, so

that way we can have multiple locations.”

Above all, Hazel and Henry are most passionate

about making the pets who visit their home feel

comfortable and welcome. Dogs who stay overnight

even get to sleep in their beds! The H&H team

wants every new guest to feel like part of the family–

and building relationships with the pups who visit

is very important to both kids. Their mission is to

provide a safe, fun place for puppy parents to leave

their dogs over and over, and they have succeeded.

Henry says, “When dogs come back again, they act

like they’ve been with us forever.”

rodents...maybe.” Amanda explains that when one

46 • MAY 2021


SALUTE

to First Responders

Why did you decide to be a police officer?

I was drawn to the professionalism and strict lifestyle the job

demands from those that go the distance in this career.

How long have you been with the Clinton Police Department?

Seven years.


I am married and have a three-year-old toddler that keeps me busy,

along with two teenage step-children and a teenage daughter in Texas.

What is the toughest thing you have experienced in your job?

The toughest part of this job is definitely the incidents that have

to do with children in a negative-type scenario.

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time.

I enjoy making my house a home. I love upgrading and decorating it.

What are three things on your bucket list?

Three things on my bucket list: run a full marathon (I’v already

run a half), bungee jump in Italy, and learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!

Who is someone you admire and why?

I admire all my brothers and sisters in blue who do this job,

day in and out, selflessly.

Sergeant

Maria

Conner

If you could give one piece of advice to a young person,

what would it be?

Find a career you enjoy. You will never work a day in your life

if you enjoy your job.

What is your favorite thing about the city of Clinton?

My favorite thing about Clinton is the diversity among us all.

After all, “We belong here.”

What is your favorite thing about Hometown Clinton?

What I like about the magazine is that you guys feature our locals!

Real business, real people in our own little Clinton, Mississippi.

CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Taylor Carter of Brookhaven is

headed to the University of Southern

Mississippi for a degree in biology

and an eventual career as a

dermatologist.

Rodric McClain got out of the car to take a photo

of his best friend, Tia Denise Cook of Jackson.

48 • MAY 2021


50 • MAY 2021


The CHALKBOARD Clinton Schools

Clinton Public Schools

The Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Andy

Schoggin to serve as the sixth superintendent of

the Clinton Public School District, replacing Dr. Tim

Martin who, in December, announced his retirement

at the conclusion of the school year.

Dr. Schoggin comes to Clinton from Petal where

he currently serves as Petal School District’s assistant

superintendent and chief operations officer. In his

role he is responsible for day-to-day leadership and

oversight of several key areas for the Petal School

District.

“Our family is excited about this opportunity in

Clinton,” Dr. Schoggin said. “When you look at

successful communities and successful schools,

Clinton is a shining star in the state. It’s evident that

the schools are important to the community and the

quality of life.”

Dr. Schoggin said he and his family are excited

about joining the school district and meeting new

people in the community. “We also are looking

forward to continuing to meet and exceed the

expectations of the community and the school

district.”

A graduate of Bruce High School, Dr. Schoggin

earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education from the

University of Mississippi. He completed a Master

of Educational Leadership from Delta State

University and a Doctor of Education from William

Carey University.

Dr. Felicia Gavin, president of the Clinton Public

School District’s Board of Trustees, said the board is

confident in Dr. Schoggin’s ability to lead the district

forward.

“What will never change about the Clinton

Public School District is its resilience, adaptability

and demand for excellence,” Dr. Gavin said.

“We offer our congratulations and warm

welcome to our new superintendent Dr. J. Andy

Schoggin,” Dr. Gavin added. “His background and

skill set are exactly what is needed in the Clinton

Public School District as we navigate through

unprecedented changes in education.”

“Dr. Schoggin’s ability to work with the many

different constituencies that superintendents have–

the school board, parents, students, teachers, other

staff members and the public as a whole–

will be invaluable to our district,” she said.

Dr. Schoggin was a classroom teacher in the

Marshall County School District and DeSoto County

School District before becoming an assistant

principal in DeSoto County in 2005.

In 2011 he joined the Senatobia Municipal School

District as middle school and high school principal.

In 2017, Dr. Schoggin served the Tupelo Public

School District as director of athletics along with

other administrative duties.

Clinton Public School District’s Board of Trustees

member Derek Holmes pointed out Dr. Schoggin’s

track record of leadership during his time in public

education.

“Dr. Schoggin has held leadership roles in

several of Mississippi’s top school districts,” Holmes

said. “He is poised to come into the Clinton Public

School District and progress the vision that has

helped this district flourish over the past 50 years.

He’s got the desire and capability to show true

leadership, accepting the challenge of making this

school district even better than it already is.”

Dr. Matthew Dillon, Petal School District’s

superintendent said he is proud of the opportunity

that has presented itself to Dr. Schoggin. “I’ve had

the pleasure of working with Dr. Schoggin in two

districts,” Dr. Dillon said, “Bringing him to Petal was

important to me. He’s been very instrumental in

carrying out initiatives in the district and seeing

them through at a high level.”

Dr. Dillon pointed out Dr. Schoggin’s ability to

be an effective leader is one of his best qualities.

“He’s a great asset wherever he goes with great

educational knowledge. He cares about education

and cares about people. He and his family will be

missed in Petal, but we’re certainly proud for him.

He’ll only get better as he moves forward in this

leadership position.”

Dr. Schoggin’s wife, Monica, currently teaches

in the special education department at Petal High

School where she serves as department chair and

PLC leader. They have a 10-year-old son, Anderson,

who is actively involved in the robotics and archery

teams for the Petal School District.

“One critical role of a leader is the ability to

transform vision into reality,” Dr. Gavin added.

“We are excited to work with Dr. Schoggin as he

executes the vision of CPSD into reality.”

Dr. Andy Schoggin will assume the role of

Clinton Public School District’s superintendent

of schools beginning July 1, 2021.

52 • MAY 2021

Clinton Public School District’s 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year

Clinton High English teacher Nancy Dent, is no stranger to going above

and beyond the traditional call of duty. In her 38 years of teaching–the last

16 of those serving at Clinton High School–she’s traveled the breadth of the

English curriculum, covering everything from advanced placement classes to

speech and debate, essentials of college literacy, world literature and

mythology.

She’s proudly been the sponsor of Clinton High School’s academic team

for a decade, even seeing her students finish second in the nation at the

National Academic Challenge. She’s given of her time to Model U.N. and

facilitated CHS’s First Priority Club all in the name of encouraging students

at Clinton High School to achieve their greatest potential.

“I try to start the students’ day off by letting them know how happy I am

to see them,” Dent said. “I love seeing their faces light up when I get to tell

them good morning, by name, and give them the ‘elbow of love’ at the end

of the teaching period.”

Referencing the changes put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic,

Dent said this is just another chapter in the ever-changing world of

secondary education. “Teaching virtually seemed a daunting task back in

March 2020,” she said, “but today it doesn’t feel that way. I miss not being

able to see the faces of my kids on Zoom, or as I call them, my Zoomies.

I would much rather be able to see their faces and know if they are ‘with me’

during class discussions, but we’re doing the best we can do.”

She said the world certainly has changed from her first days in the

classroom back in 1982, but students over the past four decades have

always had the need to be loved. “Sometimes I think I may be the only one

who tells a child that he or she is loved and that I love them all regardless

of the circumstances,” she said. “Students need hope for a better tomorrow,

and that’s been at the heart of my calling.”

Dent, who started out as a band instructor, said she has a true love for

music but realized her passion for English and literature would allow her to

educate students while creating lasting bonds. “When I see that light go off

in a student’s eyes when they make a connection in class, it makes me truly

excited,” she said. “And of course, since I teach seniors, every graduation

ceremony is special. It allows me to beam with pride as my seniors cross

that stage.”

Dent says she’s determined to reach as many students as she can and

has no intention of retiring any time soon. “I love teaching and, specifically,

teaching in the community where I live,” she said. “It brings me great joy

to see my former students around town and find out what is happening in

their lives.”

Her husband, Terry Dent, teaches science at Clinton Junior High School,

and her son Sam, who graduated as valedictorian from Clinton High School

in 2012, is a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at Florida State University.

As CPSD’s Teacher of the Year, Dent will represent the Clinton Public

School District in the Mississippi Teacher of the Year program this spring

hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education.


TheTime COIN

Camille Anding

How did time manage to carry life

through such fleeting days and years?

It seems much too quick to see the end of life on this

earth and be left holding only memories and a few tokens

of our loved ones lives. Yet our God has a miraculous way

of bonding wonderful memories in our minds that are

associated with our parents, but in such a way that we

don’t live in the past or remain paralyzed in grief.

However, it is ironic that there are still moments when

I feel like a wide-mouth Lucy from Charlie Brown shouting,

“I MISS MY MAMA!” And even though I realize my memory

is losing some of its needed cells, I rejoice that there are

moments and images in my mind that time hasn’t erased.

I remember Mother converting the dining room into

her sewing room where she would cut out a new fall

dress on that mahogany surface and make her Singer

machine sing. Ther’s one specific two-piece ensemble I still

recall–a blue-green plaid with a gazillion pleats in the skirt.

It required way more time than I required for my taste, but

it was the latest style, so Mother kept making pleats.

It never dawned on me as a child that

Mother’s closet had a lot

more space than my sister’s

and mine. In years to come

I would realize more of her

sacrifices for her four children.

When I hear about plans for

VBS, I think of Mother. It was so

special to me that she was the

principal, the main person to

organize and make it work.

I thought she was an outstanding storyteller. Her

missionary stories came alive as we cleared jungle paths

to remote villages and glided down the Amazon in a

canoe to join the missionaries sharing the Gospel.

I sang the Psalms to present day tunes and learned

pledges to the Christian flag and Bible—all under

the tutelage of my mother.

I loved the way Mother loved my daddy, how she

trained us to appreciate and look for dessert after every

lunch and dinner, how she hung a line of clothes like the

military might have ordered, how she let us have a real

but small fire to cook our mud pies, how she saved all

her empty spice tins and oatmeal containers for our

playhouse, how she made our being sick almost better

than being well, due to her constant attention and

special treats, how she loved musical performances by her

offspring and how we knew she loved us unconditionally.

Life lessons, intentional and unintentional, were forged

into my years by my mother and

daddy. I know they weren’t perfect,

but time has a way of dissolving

the flaws and polishing the jewels.

I’m grateful that memories like

mine allow me to celebrate

Mother›s Day on a daily basis

because my mother’s influence

is branded in my heart and

mind. And I count that as

a really good thing!

54 • MAY 2021


Wealth.

What does it mean to you?

It’s not a one-size-fits-all word. One person’s

vision of prosperity is different from the next.

Mascagni Wealth Management isn’t a

one-size-fits-all firm. We are full-service

financial planners who value that each of our

clients come from different backgrounds, have

different family needs and life goals. Some of

our clients have been with us since we opened

our doors in 1988. That’s because we take the

time to get to know each person individually.

We will work with you to navigate life’s major

changes – from new careers to retirement,

marriage or divorce, to planning for your family

or caring for aging parents. Whether you are

just embarking on your journey or starting to

see the benefits of a road well-traveled, contact

us today to map a course for your financial and

investment needs.

205 E. Main Street • Clinton, MS

For a free initial consultation,

please call 601-925-8099 or visit

mascagniwealth.com

MASCAGNI WEALTH MANAGEMENT, INC. IS A REGISTERED

INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Clinton521web

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