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MADISON • RIDGELAND • FLORA • CANTON • GLUCKSTADT
V74 / 721

2 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 3

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4 • JULY 2021

FROM OUR PUBLISHER
My parents have
a photo album of my
Uncle Irwin holding me.
I was just a toddler so
I don’t remember him
well, but I’ve heard lots
of stories about him.
He and my Aunt Candy had only been married a year and
a half when he got orders for Vietnam. He was a flight pilot and
flew missions in his F-4 Phantom jet. Irwin was nicknamed “Ace”
because he was tops in his crew of pilots.
His was a young life, a “new” husband and had just been ordained
a deacon where he and Candy were members in Virginia Beach, VA.
Then the tragic news came. His plane exploded during a maneuver
of his final mission. He was given a memorial burial at sea.
We owe more than we can imagine to the military who have
given all to preserve our freedoms. I will forever be grateful for their
ultimate sacrifices.
It would be most fitting to take time to remember the price of
our freedom this 4th of July. So many still carry the scars of the cost.
HOMETOWN STAFF
IN THIS ISSUE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya Dobbs
CFO
Kevin Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
Reader Spotlight 7
Circle of Red 8
On Military Service & Family 14
SPECIAL PROJECTS
MANAGER
Brenda McCall
SPECIAL PROJECTS
ASSISTANT
Caroline Hodges
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
Hometown Family 24
Sandra Strain 34
Mississippi Flower Growers 36
Southern Outdoors Unlimited 40
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
ADVERTISING
ASSISTANT
Jodi Jackson
Time Coin 50 ...see you around town.
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 • JULY 2021

READER
SPOTLIGHT
Stephanie
BLUE
Why did you decide to make Madison
your home?
We wanted to be closer to our jobs and my daughter’s
school (MRA). Madison also has such a small-town
feel with huge community involvement.
How long have you lived in Madison?
A little over five years.
Tell us about your family.
Ryan and I met at Ole Miss and have been married
18 years (June 21). We have one daughter, McKenzie,
who will be 15 this October. We have two cats, Rebel
and Lucky. Rebel because we are Ole Miss fans and
Lucky because we rescued him and he’s “lucky” we
found him. McKenzie will be starting 9th grade and
plays softball for MRA. I will be starting my 19th
year of teaching this fall. We attend Pinelake Madison.
What is your favorite memory of living
in Madison?
We bought a golf cart not long after moving to
Madison. We have spent countless hours riding it,
especially during Covid, but the recent ice storm
was super fun! It has been so fun riding around
with our neighbors.
Where are your three favorite places
to eat in Madison?
El Ranchito, Athenos, and Soulshine. We love El Ran!
You can find us there at least once (usually twice a
week) during softball season. The owners at both
El Ran and Athenos are so great and welcoming.
What are some fun things to do in
Madison on the weekends?
You can usually find us in the back yard by the pool!
We also enjoy the Thursday night Livingston farmers
market.
Share some things you enjoy doing in
your spare time.
We love to travel. I am always planning the next trip,
even when we are on one. I also love Burn Boot
Camp and laying by the pool.
What are three things on your bucket list?
All things TRAVEL! Bora Bora, see all 50 states, and
hopefully get back to Greece one day.
Who is someone you admire and why?
My mom for sure. My father passed when I was
nine and she sacrificed so much for me. I will never
be able to repay her for all she has done and continues
to do for me and my family. She coached my soccer
team, was the Girl Scout troop leader, never missed
a pep rally, football game, basketball game, or dance
competition! She has always been my biggest
cheerleader and critic. I am so grateful for her
guidance, support, and love.
Where do you see yourself ten years
from now?
I hope to be in my “second act.” Not sure what that
will be, maybe teaching at a private school or change
gears and get involved with vacation planning.
What is your favorite childhood
memory?
I always knew I wanted to teach, just not what.
Then when I was in 11th grade, my high school
math teacher, Kristin Cooley, was going to be out
for a few days. She taught me the material early and
I was able to teach the class. Mrs. Cooley was always
so encouraging, patient, compassionate, and caring.
You definitely could see Jesus in her. From that day
on, I knew I would be a math teacher and just
hoped I could be half of what she was and still is.
If you could give us one encouraging
quote, what would it be?
Be like a postage stamp - stick to one thing till
you get there. Josh Billings
What is your favorite thing about
Hometown Magazines?
I love reading the articles on local families!
I often see a family I know and will always
learn something new about them.
Hometown MADISON • 7

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.
8 • JULY 2021

Amanda Fontaine of Brandon serves as executive director for the
Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. Fontaine previously held the position of
director of the Mississippi Burn Foundation. She has volunteered with numerous
organizations in the Jackson area, including the Junior League of Jackson,
Rankin County Junior Auxiliary, the Association of Fundraising
Professionals, Rankin County YMCA, and the Rankin
County Chamber. She and her husband, Patrick,
have three children.
This year, Fontaine is serving as the 2021
Go Red For Women Circle of Red chair
for the Metro Jackson American Heart
Association (AHA). The Circle of Red,
a group of men and women who
use their influence to further the
mission of the AHA, meets yearround
and focuses primarily on the
Go Red For Women initiative, a
comprehensive platform designed
to increase women’s heart health
awareness and serve as a catalyst for
change to improve the lives of women,
globally. While nearly 80 percent of
cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular
disease is the leading cause of death
in women, claiming the lives of one in three
women. The American Heart Association believes
losing even one woman is too many.
“Women do a lot on a daily basis,” said Fontaine. “From working outside the
home, to managing all the things that go on inside the home, to often serving as
primary caretakers, we have a lot on our plates at all times. We have to stop and
remember that we must be our own health advocates. We must listen to our
bodies and make our overall health a priority. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
This year, the Metro Jackson Go Red For Women Luncheon was hosted as
a digital experience. It was an opportunity to come together and take action
against heart disease in women while empowering guests to take charge of their
physical, mental and maternal health. Guests learned about the efforts of the
American Heart Association during the last year as the work of the organization
moves forward to ensure longer, healthier lives for everyone in our communities.
Hometown MADISON • 9

Alissa Hebert Wallace
US Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Allison Muirhead
Allison Muirhead Photography, LLC
Ann Barnes
Prime Care Nursing
Betsy Latham Brenda Hayes-Williams Brett Thompson-May
MS Board of Nursing
Brian Fenelon
The Fenelon Group
Bridget Galatas
Molina Healthcare
Cindy Carraway
Carraway Construction
Denise Stewart
MS Board of Nursing
Dr. Deborah Minor
UMMC
Dr. Doty Jackson
MS Premier Plastic Surgery
Dr. Erica Bass
MS Premier Plastic Surgery
Dr. Joyce Wade-Hamme
Tri County Pulmonary & Sleep
Dr. Kellan Ashley
UMMC
Dr. Kelly Wingerter
UMMC
Dr. Loleta Kellum
Molina Healthcare
Dr. Michael Maples
MS Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Myrna Alexander Nickens
UMMC
Dr. Natasha Hardeman
Lakeland Premier Women's Clinic
Dr. Rishi Roy
MS Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Tamika Bradley
Emily Speed
Aflac
Floyd Wiley
MS Board of Nursing
Frances Ware
First Commercial Bank
Jan Collins
Madison County Business League & Foundation
Janet Harris
Janie Jarvis
The Bridal Path
Jaquita Davis
MS Board of Nursing
Jeanhee Kang
Berkshire Hathaway Ann Prewitt Realty
Jeff Speed
Speed Commercial Real Estate
Jennifer Boydston Johnson
The Law Offices of Roberts Bridges Boydston
Kim Stonecypher
Stonecypher Consulting, LLC
10 • JULY 2021

LaKeysha Greer Isaac
United States Magistrate Judge
Laurie Cutrer
SignMark
LeAnne Brewer
Millsaps College
Leigh Ann Ross
UMMC
Mary Lee
Frontier Strategies
Melissa Goodson
MS Dept. of Human Services
Meshelle Rawls
Foundation for the MidSouth
Michael Parnell
UnitedHealthcare
Michelle Dunn
Merit Health
Mike Barkett
MCEF
Missy McMullan
Pam Ware
First Commercial Bank
Patti Daly
BankPlus
Patty Clark
Peder Johnson
Phyllis Johnson
MS Board of Nursing
Rachel Lott
Rebecca Martin
Prudential Advisors
Samantha Lofton
Barnett's Body Shop
Sandra Culpepper
MS Board of Nursing
Sandy Stonecypher
Shan Montgomery
MS Board of Nursing
Shirley Jackson
MS Board of Nursing
Tammy Phillips
Community Bank
Tina Highfill
MS Board of Nursing
Tina Lakey
Vera Rucker
MS Board of Nursing
Dr. Rebecca Moulder
St. Dominic Family Practice Associates, Madison
Robin Coleman
Stephanie Glass
MS Board of Nursing
Vanessa Gray
MS Board of Nursing
Westley Mutziger
MS Board of Nursing
Hometown MADISON • 11

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information and to to RSVP. RSVP.
scan the QRcode or visit
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IT’S TIME
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Buy or refinance today.
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AAA Travel is here for you when you’re ready for
your next vacation. Our travel advisors in the AAA
Ridgeland office can help you safely navigate the
changing travel industry. We’re also hosting virtual
travel shows about the experiences
waiting for you, including tropical
escapes to Hawaii and the Caribbean
and U.S. destinations like Alaska. For
more details, scan the QR code or
click on AAA.com/travelshowqr.
CALL 601-957-8484
VISIT 900 E. County Line Road
Ridgeland, MS 39157
You do not have to be a AAA member to use AAA Travel. AAA Missouri members must make advance reservations through
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of business at 12901 N. Forty Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. Copyright ©2021 Automobile Club of Missouri. All Rights Reserved.
12 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 13

ON MILITARY
SERVICE &
FAMILY LIFE
14 • JULY 2021

Marcus
& Jessica
Patterson
SERGEANT MAJOR
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
POPPY WILLIAMS
Marcus and Jessica Patterson of Gluckstadt both serve in a variety of roles daily.
Husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, neighbor, and friend are just a few.
In addition to the roles above, one of the daily roles that they are passionate about
involves their service in the military.
Marcus serves as a sergeant major in the Mississippi Army National Guard, and he is proud to have 27 years of service
under his name. In addition to this, he works as a military funeral honors NCOIC located at joint force headquarters
in Jackson. Marcus also runs the Mississippi Army National Guard Honor Guard program for the state, where he
sends out teams to conduct graveside services for fallen veterans. Recently, he was able to participate in the retiring of
the previous state flag, and he was proud to be able to hand the retired flag to Phillip Gunn.
Hometown MADISON • 15

Jessica serves as a sergeant first class in the Mississippi Army
National Guard and has 18 years of service under her name. Today
she works as the assistant NCOIC of the personnel service branch
located at joint force headquarters in Jackson. She is also a warrant
officer candidate.
Both Marcus and Jessica are respected, kind, hard-working
and forces to be reckoned with.
“Marcus and I met in the military back in 2007, and we have
been married for 12 years,” said Jessica. “We have a blended family
with a total of seven children: Paige (24); Centryanna (23);
Cameron (21); Jordyn (18); Jakobi (16); Anias (14); and Miles (10).
I am originally from North Mississippi and Marcus is originally
from Chicago, but I’ve lived in Madison since 2004 and Marcus
since 2008.”
Both Marcus and Jessica were first interested in the military
out of respect and admiration of family members who had previously
served. For Marcus, that was his grandfather Howard
Harris who was a WWII veteran and someone for whom he had
tremendous respect. For Jessica, it was one of her aunts who first
served in the Army before finishing her career with the Mississippi
National Guard.
“I had a lot of respect for my grandad and his service, and I
know Jessica felt the same about her aunt who served. Not only did
they both do great things for our country, they balanced family
priorities as well.”
Though they are passionate about their military service and
careers, both Marcus and Jessica admit that juggling military
service for a dual military family and family duties can be a challenge.
“It is definitely difficult juggling family time with military
life, especially having two children who are very active in sports.
It’s hard to be at all their games and still take care of our military
obligations,” said Marcus and Jessica. “We have to divide and
conquer sometimes, with one of us attending an event and recording
it for the other. Then there are those times when we’re both away
and our family has to help with our kids. We are thankful for our
support system. Without them, we both couldn’t do the things we
do in our uniforms.”
While the challenge of juggling a growing military career and
a growing family can seem challenging at times, both Marcus and
Jessica are passionate about their military careers and the benefits
that it brings.
16 • JULY 2021

“The joys of being in the military is that it gives you a second
family and you form bonds and lifetime brotherhoods with your
soldiers,” said Marcus. “We all have a common goal that never
changes and that’s defending our country from foreign and
domestic threats. You even get to mentor other soldiers and see the
lasting effects it has on their lives. It’s rewarding to see how you are
capable of helping people.”
Jessica echoed her husband’s sentiments by saying, “This lifestyle
brings with it lifelong friendships that are made along the
way, various achievements both big and small, personal growth,
and a sense of pride you carry about yourself. I thought this would
be something I’d do for six years, and here I am 18 years later. It is
rewarding.”
Though they both admit that Madison is a great community
to live in and be a part of, they do agree that there are ways our
community could help serve and support their fellow military
community members.
One way that Jessica feels would be widely appreciated is for
community members to think outside of the box on ways to
include military members in everyday events, especially with
their children. An example of this would be to broadcast school
events like awards day, graduations, etc., so that parents and children
could continue to be connected from afar during service times
when they are separated.
Marcus agrees and would also love to one day see a soldier
memorial erected within our Madison community when he said,
“I don’t think there is one now, but if there is, I would like to know
where it is so that I can pay tribute. There’s a great one in Madison,
Alabama.”
When they aren’t busy serving in the military or juggling the
normal duties that come with raising children, managing a household,
and continuing to grow in their personal and professional
lives, you can find the Patterson family enjoying being active.
“We love going to the gym and working out together,” said
Marcus and Jessica. “We are also a very sports-driven family.
In fact, maybe even sports fanatics! Our pastime always includes
something sports-related.”
What an asset it is to have people like Marcus and Jessica
Patterson choose to call Madison home. We are so thankful for
their service and contributions to our community!
Hometown MADISON • 17

ON MILITARY
SERVICE &
FAMILY LIFE:
18 • JULY 2021

Chris
& Kristi
COLONEL
Thomas
POPPY WILLIAMS
Madison residents Chris and Kristi Thomas do much of the same things any
“typical” family would do. With three children, they spend a large portion of
their time attending school and sporting events, traveling on family trips, and
staying active in their local church, St. Joseph Catholic Church.
However, because Chris is also a colonel in the Mississippi Army National Guard, oftentimes the normal everyday tasks
can get quite a bit busier for the family and for Kristi if he must be gone for service duty. According to Kristi, that is just a
daily part of what life for her family – and all military families – looks like.
Hometown MADISON • 19

“There are some challenges for sure being a military spouse. When
Chris was deployed in 2005, he missed the birth of our first child and
didn’t return until Christopher was almost one, so that was really
tough,” said Kristi. “Having our firstborn here without Chris and me
constantly worrying about his safety and safe return was something
I’ll never forget. Even now, there’ve been times that Chris has had to
miss birthdays, sporting events, or family events because he has military
duty, but we just accept it and adapt.”
For Chris, there was always a part of him that knew he wanted to
be in the military at some level. His father was in the Air Force when
he was a child, and Chris remembers being exposed to the military at
an early age and living in various places like Germany, Montana, and
Texas.
“I’ve always felt that service to our nation was a patriotic duty and
serving the military in the Mississippi Natural Guard was a natural fit
and great way for me to do that,” said Chris. “Being able to serve with
so many dedicated and talented individuals while serving our country
and defending our way of life is such a wonderful opportunity. The
men and women I serve with have dedicated themselves to answering
the call from our state and nation, and that’s such rewarding job.”
Though he absolutely loves what he does, Chris understands that
military families often do more with less, which means that their
spouse and additional family members have to take up extra duties
while the other is away serving. It isn’t just the service member who
serves their country, it’s the entire family.
“It’s such a big thing to look out for military families who have a
spouse away for training or deployments. Every unit has a family support
group that does a great job taking care of families back home—
20 • JULY 2021

but there are always challenges,” said Kristi. “What happens when the
washing machine breaks, or the house gets damaged in a storm?
There are times when a child may need help with homework, or a
child is playing sports and they don’t have that extra parent there in
the stands. It’s great to ask if these family members need help.”
Though military life can present challenges as families work to
balance their family demands and the demands of service simultaneously,
military families are resilient, and they continue to step up to
meet the demands head on.
“Before Chris, I didn’t really have anyone in my close family that
had served in the military so becoming a part of the military family
was an eye-opening experience for me,” said Kristi. “I have been so
moved by the patriotism and dedication that our servicemembers
have. Being part of something and seeing the friendships, community
and bonding that goes on is really impressive. I am so proud of what
are servicemembers do on a daily basis.”
For Chris, he’s thankful he’s chosen a career of serving in the
Mississippi National Guard, and he is proud of the memories and
friendships he’s made. Though he agrees that military members don’t
expect anything from their fellow community members, Chris says to
never underestimate the power of a good “thank you” to those you see
in uniform.
“It’s cliché to say but saying things like ‘thank you for your service’
is an easy thing to do if you want to make a soldier feel good,” said
Chris. “It helps them feel good about their service and sacrifices and
it can remind them why they’re doing what they’re doing.”
What an asset it is to have people like Chris and Kristi Thomas
choose to call Madison home. We are so thankful for their sacrifice
and service to our community!
Hometown MADISON • 21

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22 • JULY 2021

Mississippi Book Festival
The Mississippi Book Festival started when a group of like-minded
literary friends got together over the course of a year, studied
other book festivals and decided it was time to make a concerted
effort to start a festival. The spark was lit when Malcolm White
connected Holly Lange to Jere Nash and they met with John
Evans of Lemuria Bookstore and Steve Yates of University Press
of Mississippi. Soon thereafter, a board was formed and a date
was set for first ever Mississippi Book Festival. August 22, 2015
was a bright, sunny day when John Grisham welcomed large
crowds, lines of festival-goers wrapped around corners in the
Capitol and our literary lawn party was born.
The festival represents the best of Mississippi and, while some
of our legendary authors may be long gone, their work endures
for all time. There always seems to be a new book on Welty,
Alexander, Faulkner, Wright, Morris, Wells, et al. and panels
are structured to continue to delve into those literary giants.
But the festival also honors our current host of authors whose
notable talents are recognized not just within our state, but well
beyond; Jesmyn Ward, John Grisham, Richard Ford, Angie
Thomas–the list goes on and on. We want to celebrate those
authors, and so many others, here and now! When we do that,
we hope to inspire a new generation of writers.
The book festival celebrates our readers. We typically host over
170 authors and connect them with more than 9,000 readers
through a series of panels, interviews, and book signings on
the day of the festival. Our booksellers sell thousands of books.
That’s what we call a celebration! Meeting a favorite author
can be life-changing and if we inspire even one young child to
continue reading, or write a book, the festival honors our state
in the best way we know how.
In 2019, the festival celebrated its 5th anniversary with a record
crowd of over 10,000 at the State Capitol Complex. In five years,
we’ve hosted poet laureates, a Librarian of Congress, a Supreme
Court Justice, several Pulitzer Prize winners, and while we paused
in 2020, the 7th Annual Mississippi Book Festival will be held
on August 21, 2021, live and in-person.
This year’s line-up features some of today’s brightest and
best authors, such as Walter Isaacson, Kiese Laymon, Aimee
Nezhukumatathil, Jerry Mitchell, Richard Grant, Angie
Thomas, and Nic Stone, just to name a few. You won’t want
to miss Curious George’s 80th Birthday Celebration in the
State Capitol.
To learn more about the festival and to view past panels from
the festival, please visit msbookfestival.com and signup for our
regular email newsletter. As always, the Mississippi Book Festival
is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing everyone
on August 21st for Mississippi’s own Literary Lawn Party!
Hometown MADISON • 23

24 • JULY 2021

The
Baileys
Tell us about your family.
We are the Baileys: Cody (37), Jenna (36), Virginia
(7), Genevieve (5), Carroll (3), and Fitz (1). We have an
11-year-old English Springer Spaniel named Amicus,
and a cat named Sam Jack.
We are members of First Baptist Church in Jackson.
Cody leads a Sunday school class for young professionals,
and I lead a class for new believers in connection with
the Embrace Grace ministry, which is a partnership
between our church and the Center for Pregnancy
Choices. I’m passionately involved with helping young,
expectant mothers learn about our Lord Jesus and
develop a relationship with Him as they prepare to
bring a child into this world.
Our kids attend school at St. Augustine. Although
Cody and I both graduated from public high schools,
we have grown to love the homeschooling community.
It was a new thing for us, but it was clearly God’s plan
for our family, and it has blessed us in so many ways.
Next year, Virginia will be in third grade, Genevieve will
be in kindergarten, and Carroll will be in pre-K-4.
Cody is a member of the Brunini Law Firm in Jackson,
and he enjoys hunting, fishing, reading, cross-fit, golf,
traveling, and playing tag with his children at the park.
I enjoy homeschooling, playing with the kids outside,
painting, talking with neighbors, audiobooks and a good
cup of coffee. Virginia is caring and creative and loves
Hometown MADISON • 25

dancing, singing, and playing outside. Genevieve is full of
joy and fun and loves to be outside, cook, and swim. Carroll
is sincere and adventurous and loves to climb trees, build,
and learn about dinosaurs. Fitz is funny and lovable and
enjoys swinging his golf clubs, playing catch, and chasing his
siblings. Our family loves to be together and we love to
spend time on the front porch with popsicles or going for
walks around our neighborhood.
How did you meet, and how long have
you been married?
Cody and I met in August 2007 at the bookstore in Oxford,
Mississippi, as we were both buying books for our first year
of law school. Cody was at the end of the line to pay for his
books. He saw me checking out and offered to carry my
books to my car. I declined, and immediately regretted it.
But we ended up being in the same section in law school
classes, got to know each other in class, and then began
dating in September 2007. We got in engaged in 2009 on a ski
trip with friends in Breckenridge, Colorado. Cody totally
surprised me. We were married over Christmas break during
our third year of law school, on January 2, 2010, in Oxford.
We have been married for 11 beautiful years.
Do you allow time to be with your spouse
for a date night?
Yes, as often as possible, but not as much as we probably
should. We love this season that we are in with our young
children and we spend a lot of time together as a family.
Cody and I do our best to have regular, meaningful time
together after the kids’ bedtime, and we also make it a priority
to have date nights when we can. We enjoy drinking coffee
together in the mornings while reading our Bibles. Communication
is very important in our marriage and we try to
take advantage of the opportunities we have to spend time
together at home too.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
Watching each child blossom uniquely and beautifully as
God created them to be and watching God work in their
heart. Also, receiving those spontaneous hugs and loving
words from your child makes your heart burst! Being able to
share an immense and deep love with your child, trying to
follow the example that the Father gives in how He shares His
love with us, is a truly awesome experience. Parenting is not
easy, but is joyful, even in the down times.
Who is the financial manager in your home?
Cody is the leader in our home and is our financial manager.
I handle some of the daily financial responsibilities, while
Cody oversees all financial decisions and leads the family
on how best to steward the resources God has given us. It is
important to our family to use these financial resources in a
way that honors the Lord and brings Him glory.
What is your discipline philosophy?
Children are such a blessing from the Lord. In the younger
years, we pray earnestly for God to guide us and give us wisdom
as parents on how to best teach each child God’s values and to
love God with all their heart and love others the way that He
loves us. It is certainly not easy, because we are all sinners. We
want to make sure our discipline is rooted in love not anger.
That is also a challenge, but God continues to gently lead and
guide us and show us how our failures can still be used for
good. As one of my bible study leaders once shared – we want
to teach them to love Jesus not behave perfectly all the time.
In discipline, we try and point our children to Jesus and the
gospel of God’s grace and forgiveness. In our own mistakes,
we try to model confession and repentance and mending
relationships. We want our kids to see that we are not perfect;
mom and dad make mistakes all the time. We confess, repent,
and move on down the road in God’s grace and mercy.
What do you see in your role as the greatest
benefit to your family?
JENNA I see that my role as a wife and a mother is to care
for and love my family and to be an example of Jesus. I’m
thankful for the privilege to stay at home and homeschool our
children. My prayer is that our home is a place full of love,
comfort and creativity centered around Christ.
CODY I know I am called to work hard and provide for my
family, to discipline my children, to lead them by example, to
help them understand God’s love for them, and in all ways
to point them to Christ. I think one of the most important
parts of my role is to model servant leadership for my children.
26 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 27

How do you spend your summer breaks?
For our family, summer is a time to recharge, be refreshed,
and have a lot of fun. We enjoy taking trips to the beach, to
the lake, and visiting family. We also love to go swimming
and enjoy walking to the pool in our neighborhood.
What’s a quick go to meal that isn’t fast food?
And who does the cooking?
I do the cooking, Cody does the grilling. A quick meal for
us would be oven roasted salmon or pork tenderloin with
roasted asparagus and parmesan couscous. We are also big
fans of the little big meal deals at Fresh Market that you
cook at home.
How long has Madison County been
your home?
We moved to Ridgeland in July 2018. God knows what you
need before you do. Shortly after moving to Ridgeland we
began homeschooling, and our son, Fitz, was born. We’re
thankful for where we live and the way God provided a house
with extra room for homeschooling.
What are some of your favorite things
about Madison County?
We love the people! We have been so blessed by our neighbors
and friends that we have met here. Our family also loves the
outdoors, the wildlife we see in our neighborhood and
surrounding areas, and the convenience for school, shopping,
and activities. We also enjoy the beautiful sunsets from our
front porch.
What accomplishments make you proud
during your time living in Madison?
After we moved to Ridgeland, God called us to begin homeschooling.
We didn’t know anything about homeschooling
or where to start. But God showed us the way and we couldn’t
be more grateful for the changes He has made in the direction
of our family. Our children attend St. Augustine now, so we
are able to continue our love of homeschooling part of the
week and they attend St. Augustine the other two days.
Homeschooling is a big part of our family’s testimony and
how God called us out of our comfort zone but used that
decision to bless our family in ways we never could imagine.
We also make a constant effort to get outside, walk the
streets of our neighborhood, and get to know our neighbors.
We enjoy our community.
QUESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN
What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?
What your favorite restaurant and your
favorite TV show?
VIRGINIA
loves for us to play games like
tag, board games, charades,
and spontaneous dance parties.
Her favorite restaurant is
Krilakis and her favorite
movie is Inside Out.
GENEVIEVE
loves when we go to the
park together. Her favorite
restaurant is Newk’s, and
her favorite movie is
Chronicles of Narnia.
CARROLL
loves our Friday Night
Family Movie Nights and
his favorite movie is The Sword
in the Stone. Carroll’s favorite
restaurant is Five Guys.
FITZ
loves to go on family walks.
His favorite place to eat
is Soulshine. He’s not quite
interested in sitting still
for very long.
28 • JULY 2021

CARROLL
GENEVIEVE
VIRGINIA
FITZ
Hometown MADISON • 29

Hometown
GOODNESS
Creamy Pineapple Pie
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened
condensed milk
• 1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple,
not drained
• ¼ c. lemon juice
• 1 carton (8 oz.) frozen whipped
topping, thawed
• 1 graham cracker crust (9 in.)
Optional: Chopped toasted
macadamia nuts and additional
crushed pineapple
Combine milk, pineapple, and
lemon juice; fold in whipped
topping. Pour into prepared crust.
Refrigerate until serving. If desired,
serve with toasted macadamia nuts
and additional crushed pineapple.
Yields: 8 servings
Strawberry Lemonade
Ice Cream Float
• 1 pt. strawberries, about 12
• 1 Tbsp. granulated or powdered
sugar
• 3 c. vanilla bean ice cream
• 1½ c. light lemonade
• Lemon or strawberry slices
for garnish
Slice 6-8 of the strawberries and
place in a small pan over low heat.
Sprinkle strawberries with sugar and
stir occasionally until mixture comes
to a boil. Remove from heat and
transfer to a small glass bowl. Set
aside to cool. Place 2-3 scoops of
vanilla bean ice cream into a tall
glass, and pour half of the cooled
strawberry syrup over the ice cream.
Slice the remaining strawberries and
top the ice cream with the slices.
Fill the glass with lemonade and
enjoy! Yields 2 drinks
Rainbow Waffle
Sandwiches
• 2 c. all-purpose flour,
spooned and leveled
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• 1½ c. buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
• 2 pt. vanilla ice cream, softened
• multicolored sprinkles
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking
powder, baking soda, and salt in a
bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk
together buttermilk, eggs, and
butter. Add buttermilk mixture to
flour mixture, and stir just until
incorporated. Heat a round waffle
iron and spoon a heaping half cup
of batter onto waffle iron and cook
until light golden brown, 5 to 6
minutes. Cool on wire rack. Spread
ice cream onto half of the waffles.
Sandwich with remaining waffles,
gently pushing ice cream out to the
edges. Coat edges in sprinkles.
Freeze until firm, 4 hours and up
to 2 days. Cut each waffle into
four triangles just before serving.
Yields 10 servings
30 • JULY 2021

Rainbow Jell-O Popsicles
• 3 oz. Jell-O packets in the colors
of your choice
• 2 c. cool water for each Jell-O
packet
Mix the first packet of Jell-O into two
cups of water. Pour a small amount of
Jell-O water into each Popsicle mold
– the amount will depend on how
many colors you decide to use. Place
the Popsicle mold in the freezer until
the Jell-O water is frozen. Repeats
steps 1-3, until your popsicle molds
are full!
S’mores Bars
• 3 Tbsp. butter, plus more for pan
• 1 (12 oz.) package mini
marshmallows
• 7 c. Golden Grahams cereal
• 3 Hershey’s milk chocolate bars,
broken into pieces
Grease a 9”x13” pan with butter. Melt
butter in a large pot over medium heat.
Add all but 1 cup of marshmallows
and stir until melted and smooth.
Remove from heat and quickly stir in
Golden Grahams until evenly coated.
Press into pan and top with chocolate
pieces and remaining marshmallows.
Heat broiler, and cook until
marshmallows are toasted (about 2
minutes). Let set at least 30 minutes
before slicing. Yields 20 servings
Frosty Watermelon Ice
• 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 4 c. cubed, seedless watermelon
(divided)
In a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle
gelatin over water; let stand for 1
minute. Microwave on high for 40
seconds. Stir and let stand until
gelatin is completely dissolved, 1-2
minutes. Place lime juice, honey, and
gelatin mixture in a blender. Add
1-cup watermelon, cover, and process
until blended. Add remaining
watermelon, one cup at a time,
processing until smooth after each
addition. Transfer to a shallow dish;
freeze until almost firm. In a chilled
bowl, beat with an electric mixer is
bright pink. Divide among 4 serving
dishes; freeze, covered, until firm.
Remove from freezer 15-20 minutes
before serving. Yields 4 servings
Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars
• 10 c. popcorn, popped
• ½ c. sugar
• ½ c. light corn sugar
• ½ c. creamy peanut butter
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Place popcorn in a large bowl; set
aside. In a saucepan over medium
heat, bring sugar and corn syrup to a
boil, stirring constantly. Boil for one
minute. Remove from heat. Stir in
peanut butter and vanilla; mix well.
Pour over popcorn and stir until well
coated. Press into a buttered 9”x13”
pan. Cool slightly before cutting.
Peach Cobbler Ice Cream
• 3 c. whole milk
• 2 c. heavy cream
• ½ c. sugar
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• 1 vanilla bean
• 5 large egg yolks
• 1 refrigerated piecrust
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 c. fresh peaches, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. bourbon
Whisk together whole milk, heavy
cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla bean.
Cook over medium heat, stirring
often, 4 minutes, or until sugar
dissolves and mixture is hot.
Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot
milk mixture into yolks. Whisk yolk
mixture into remaining milk mixture.
Cook over medium heat, whisking
constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until
mixture thickens and coats a spoon.
Pour through a fine wire-mesh
strainer into a bowl, discarding solids.
Cool completely. Chill 8 to 24 hours
or until very cold. Unroll refrigerated
piecrust on a baking sheet and sprinkle
with cinnamon sugar. Bake at 425
for 10 minutes. Cool and break into
½ inch pieces.
Mash together peaches, brown sugar,
and bourbon with a fork until smooth.
Fold piecrust and peach mixture into
prepared ice cream. Pour mixture into
bowl of an electric ice cream maker,
and process according to manufacturer’s
instructions. Freeze 1 hour before
serving. Store up to 1 week.
Snack Mix Squares
• 2½ c. halved pretzels sticks
• 2 c. Corn Chex
• 1½ c. M&M’s
• ½ c. butter
• ⅓ c. creamy peanut butter
• 5 c. mini marshmallows
In a large bowl, combine pretzels,
cereal, and M&M’s. In a large saucepan
over low heat, melt butter and peanut
butter. Add marshmallows; cook and
stir until marshmallows are melted
and mixture is smooth. Pour over
pretzels mixture; stir to coat. Press
into a greased 9”x13” pan. Cool until
firm, then cut into squares.
Hometown MADISON • 31

32 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 33

Sandra
Strain
–––––––––––
AT THE
ORCHARD
Susan Marquez
here’s an adage that says when you love
what you do, you will never work a day
in your life. No one can say that Sandra
Strain doesn’t work – she gives everything
she does her all. But it is true that Sandra
loves her new job, and she looks forward to
doing what she does every day.
As the new director of community relations
for The Orchard in Ridgeland, Sandra
says she feels she must pinch herself each
day. “My three passions in life are animals,
people with disabilities, and senior adults.
I’m truly working with all three in one way
or another in my new position!”
The Orchard is a retirement community
that serves the needs of senior adults at
every stage, providing continuing care in a
home-like setting from independent living
to assisted living, as well as licensed and
skilled nursing services, memory care and
physical and rehabilitation therapy. Started
in the mid-1980s, The Orchard is situated
on a seventeen-acre campus.
In spring 2020, the world changed as
the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the
health of citizens everywhere. “We shut
down on March 11, 2020,” says Sharon
Sullivan, the director of The Orchard.
“We went over a year under a near-total
lockdown. We opened back up on April 1
and we needed representation in the community
so that people would know we are
here, and what services we offer.”
Sandra had just finished a campaign to
fill her late husband’s seat on the Board of
Alderman for the City of Madison. Warren
Strain passed away on October 27, 2020,
ten months after suffering a debilitating
stroke. “The day after I won the election,
I got a call from the mother of one of my
son’s best friends. She is a nurse at The
Orchard, and she told me about the job
opening there.”
Sandra had planned to go back to work
after caring for her husband for so long.
“I actually woke up to four job opportunities,”
Sandra recalls, “but when I went to
apply at The Orchard, I felt I belonged
there. It is surely a God thing, because I am
doing one of my favorite things in the world.
To me, it’s a service of love, not a job.”
Tasked with stewarding positive relationships
both inside and outside the facility,
Sandra works collaboratively with Sharon
and other team members at The Orchard.
“My focus is internal and external communications.
I make sure each resident is
happy and cared for.” In addition to the
residents, Sandra focuses on the staff as
well. “We do something fun each month
and I provide happies to let the employees
know they are appreciated.” Sandra also goes
out into the community to educate and create
awareness of what The Orchard provides.
“We knew that Sandra would be the
perfect person to represent The Orchard,”
says Sharon. “She always sees the good. We
are so very pleased with what she has
brought to The Orchard so far, and we look
forward to a great future together.”
34 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 35

Flower Growers
of Mississippi
SUSAN MARQUEZ
When purchasing flowers
from the grocery store or
big box retailer, most people
don’t stop to consider where
the flowers were grown,
or the journey they made
to reach their respective
buckets of water.
“More and more people
have become concerned
about where their food
comes from, and that’s
a good thing,”
says Donna Yowell
of Madison.
“ What they don’t think
about is where their
cut flowers come from.”
Donna is the founder of the Flower Growers of
Mississippi, a wide and diverse community of
flower growers throughout Mississippi and the
Southern region. “We are striving to increase
farm products, support workforce training and
advance the cut flower industry by offering
training for a viable Mississippi product.”
To that end, Donna has two demonstration
farms where she teaches classes to those
who want to set up their own flower growing
operations. “One is an urban flower farm,
located in the side yard of my home,” she says.
“The other is a rural flower farm, located just
outside of Flora.” Donna conducts a free flower
farm school, thanks to federal support provided
by the Natural Resources Conservation Services.
36 • JULY 2021

“We hold workshops both virtually, and on-site
at the farms, for potential growers from across
the state and from other states to learn how to
grow flowers for profit.
Donna explains that buying locally grown flowers
is better for several reasons. “First of all, its better
for the local economy. It’s also a smarter way to
spend your money because the flowers are
fresher. When flowers are grown overseas,
they must make the journey to the United
States, then to their final destination, and that
can take several days or longer. Flowers grown
locally get to their final destination a day or two
after they are cut, if not the same day, and they
will last much longer.”
The trend for flower farming is on the rise.
Donna reports that there are 457 participants
on the 2020/2021 class registration list. It is
estimated that 129 new farms or flower businesses
have opened or new flower farmers who have
added flowers to their existing product line.
“There were only four existing flower farms
when we started the program.” Interest continues
to rise. “We have a newsletter recipient data
base of 5,600 and a Facebook participation
list of 3,500.”
Services offered in the program include online
training, hands-on workshops on the demonstration
farms, cooperative marketing opportunities,
free bulbs, seed and other plants when available,
flower growers certification group interaction
via social networking, video series, and an
informative website.
Donna says that flower farming can take place
in an existing yard. “People who enjoy gardening
can monetize their efforts. Cut flowers can provide
a sustainable income source.” Members of the
Flower Growers of Mississippi get practice
selling and building customers with other
farmers at the Mississippi Farmers Market in
Jackson each Saturday. “We also teach how
to design arrangements, and market to event
planners for weddings and other functions.
Right now, I can easily do thirty arrangements
and two weddings from my home garden. We’re
also working with local florists to educate them
about what we have to offer. They love fresh
cut flowers because they last much longer.”
Visit flowergrowersofmississippi.com
for more information.
Donna Yowell is the executive director
of the Mississippi Urban Forest Council.
FLOWER GROWERS OF MISSISSIPPI IS A PROGRAM
UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI URBAN FOREST COUNCIL,
AND IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION SERVICES.
Hometown MADISON • 37

38 • JULY 2021

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Hometown MADISON • 39

SOUTHERN OUTDOORS UNLIMITED
40 • JULY 2021

POPPY WILLIAMS
A passion for introducing
disabled youth to the outdoors
Odds are, if you’re an outdoor
enthusiast in Mississippi, you’ve
likely heard about Super Hunt,
an annual weekend-long event put on by Southern Outdoors
Unlimited that pairs groups of 2-4 disabled children with
landowners for a weekend of fun, outdoors events, and lots
of hunting.
All weekend long, these children and
their families are able to spend their days in
“outdoor heaven,” where they are housed,
fed, and treated like royalty by landowners,
community members, and volunteers from
all walks of life. For participants, it’s the experience
of a lifetime. For volunteers, it’s a
joy to be a part of. For everyone who plays a
vital role in ensuring that Super Hunt is
possible each year, it’s more rewarding than
words can simply say.
Though Super Hunt started out as the
Wheeling Sportsman in 2006 with The
National Wild Turkey Federation, it progressively
grew, which led to the Mississippi
Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Foundation
taking it over. For years, they funded this
event and volunteers gave their time and
efforts to ensure it was happening.
“In order to continue growth and provide
more events for those who had aged out, the
volunteers of Super Hunt came together
to form Southern Outdoors Unlimited in
2018, a nonprofit 501(c)(3),” said Holly
Mooney, outreach coordinator for Southern
Outdoors Unlimited. “Now, we are funded
all through donations, and we are able to do
so many events for children with disabilities.
Super Hunt is only one of those events.”
Another event that Southern Outdoors
Unlimited is excited about was birthed out
of a desire to provide outdoors socialization
opportunities after the Covid disruptions of
last year. This event is called The Outdoor
Adventure Day, and it’s a non-hunting
introductory event that allows families to
learn more about Southern Outdoors
Unlimited and get introduced to the outdoors.
It’s a short, half-day event filled with
outdoor activities and fun for children with
disabilities to try.
“The Outdoor Adventure Day allows
families to see who we are and what we do,”
said Alan Mumbower, board president for
Southern Outdoors Unlimited. “It allows
first-time participants and families to get to
be a part of outdoor events without spending
the night. While Super Hunt is great, it’s
a long weekend and it can be intimidating
for someone not used to the outdoors,
whereas The Outdoor Adventure Day is
much shorter and not as intimidating.”
Holly agreed with Alan and spoke about
how they all saw a need arise last summer for
kids to have a way to get outside after being
cooped up during the Covid pandemic. For
these kids, The Outdoors Adventure Day
was a way to have a safe event where kids
could just be kids and enjoy being outside.
With fishing, cornhole games, arts and
crafts, and a BB gun tent, the first Outdoors
Adventure Day was a huge success.
Regardless of what event they are planning
or working on, the joy and the passion
behind what the team and volunteers at
Southern Outdoors Unlimited are doing
remains the same, which is getting children
with disabilities and their families into the
outdoors.
“It’s hard to really describe the amount
of joy that fills your soul seeing these kids do
the things they didn’t think they would be
Hometown MADISON • 41

able to do,” said Holly. “Some of us help because
we have children with disabilities, others do
it because they want to help; however, all of
us do it for the joy. Seeing a child overcome
obstacles, growing as an individual, and
achieving their goals in their own special
ways makes it all worthwhile. It’s joy –
unfiltered, unwavering joy.”
Want a piece of that joy? There’s always
room at the table for more people to help and
get involved as well. They are especially looking
for landowners who are willing to donate their
properties to help enable outdoor experiences
for these children.
“We rely on volunteers to make these events
happen,” said Alan. “We rely on landowners to
offer properties and help allow families to have
a great experience. We rely on our committees
and board members, guides, sponsors, and
event county first responders to make this all
possible. It takes a village – a village of great
businesses, landowners, and people who come
together add joy to the lives of children who
face difficulties every day. You can’t beat that.”
Southern Outdoors Unlimited is entirely
volunteer-based, and it is all made up of people
who have helped with hunts in different capacities.
At the end of the day, and at the end of
each event and hunt, the team doesn’t care if
the kids hunt or fish, or if they harvest or get
dirty. All they want is for these children to get
to be a kid and enjoy getting outside, especially
in ways that they may not be normally able to
do due to their disabilities.
After all, the outdoors welcomes everyone.
Visit www.southernoutdoorsunlimited.org
for more information on Southern Outdoors
Unlimited, their upcoming events,
and how you can get involved.
42 • JULY 2021

Hometown MADISON • 43

SALUTE
to First Responders
What made you decide to work
in law enforcement?
I had friends and family that were in law enforcement that loved
what they did for a living and they encouraged me to get into the
field.
How long have you been with the
Madison County Sheriff’s Department?
I’ve been with the sheriff’s department since January of 2000
and in law enforcement since April of 1994.
Tell us about your family.
I’m married to my wife, Tonya. We have four boys (Stephen,
Tyler, Kyle and Tanner). I have one daughter-in-law (Mary)
and one grandson (Lane) with a granddaughter on the way.
What is the toughest thing you have experienced
in your job?
Probably the toughest thing I’ve experienced is watching one of
my co-workers be injured or killed. I’ve seen them being shot and
watched them die of injuries and that is something that stays in
your mind and heart forever.
Share some things you enjoy doing
in your spare time.
I love the outdoors. Fishing and hunting are my thing.
My wife and I enjoy doing both of those together and
we love going to athletic events.
Sheriff
Randy
TUCKER
MADISON COUNTY
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
44 • JULY 2021

What are three things on your bucket list?
I really want to go to the Grand Canyon one day, I’d love to
hunt in the Alaskan Yukon and I would really enjoy taking
my boys on their hunts of a lifetime before I get too old!
Who is someone you admire and why?
I admire every man and woman that wakes up every day
and puts on a badge and gun and goes to a job to defend the
lives and property of the citizens of his or her communities.
They do this knowing that their very own lives are at risk and
that the targets on their backs are ever growing. Yet they still
wake up and do the job. They leave their families to protect
ours, and they run toward the danger to help those in need.
Those are the people I admire.
If you could give one piece of advice
to a young person, what would it be?
Surround yourself with quality people. The company
you keep will make you successful or define your demise.
What is your favorite thing about the
City of Madison?
Over my career in law enforcement I have witnessed what
a caring and compassionate community Madison County is.
In times of adversity, we have come together time and time
again and it is truly something to behold. It is breathtaking
and heartwarming and has brought me to tears on more than
one occasion and I proud to be a part of that.
Hometown MADISON • 45

Flora Depot
Susan Marquez
Beautification
46 • JULY 2021

There’s something about
flowers that makes any place
look a little more special.
Recently, the Mississippi Urban Forest Council was involved
in the beautification of Flora’s historic train station through a
partnership with America in Bloom and the Canadian National
Railway. At a gathering at the Flora Depot, Nathan Thomas,
who serves as president of the Friends of Flora group, says that
Flora has a history of agriculture. “It has only recently turned
into more of an urban area,” he says. The group took over the
Flora Historical Society, which is housed in the depot.
The historic depot is on the former Chicago-Ohio railroad
line. The site was donated to the town by W.P. Jones, and the
town was named after his wife, Flora Jones. The town was
incorporated in 1886, and the railroad helped the area to
thrive through the 1950s, when the automobile took its place.
“The railroad is still important for the transport of goods and
services,” says Thomas. “Flora is a growing place, and we are
doing well. Most of the businesses here are essential and
revenues are trending up.”
Marvin Miller and Laura Kunkle, representatives of America
in Bloom, traveled to Mississippi to oversee nine projects the
organization has spearheaded through a grant by Canadian
National Railroad. “We are excited to have this opportunity
to help transform communities through the use of flowers,
plants and trees,” Kunkle says. “Our relationship with Canadian
National began in 2014. They realized that railroads can be
disruptive to communities, and they paid attention. They follow
what goes on in the communities where their tracks are located,
and they trusted us to administer a program to add beauty to
those communities.”
Miller serves as former president of America in Bloom, and
he currently serves on the organization’s board of directors.
“We are happy that Flora is part of our tour. It is one of nine in
the state to receive a grant. America in Bloom was started with
the horticultural industry and has been in existence for twenty
years. We exist to promote the benefits of plants ‘beyond the
pretty.’ That includes the environmental impact to help with
pollution and erosion control, as well as producing oxygen; the
economic impact of improving an area and generating tourism
dollars; and the human health and well-being aspect, which
was especially important during the pandemic to help with
psychological and sociological well-being.” Miller also said the
passive perspective of plants brings people together and helps
make them more cheerful. “Plants are a powerful tool.”
The depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Donna Yowell, Mississippi Urban Forest Council executive
director, says that when working on the landscaping for the
project, plants that work well with the scale of the building
were chosen, including Little Gem magnolias. “These types of
activities are significant improvements to any community.
The social impact of green space, trees and gardens can be
particularly pronounced when public spaces are transformed
into places of beauty,” says Yowell. “This partnership is a good
example of how collaboration between private, municipal and
nonprofit can accomplish improvements for all Mississippi
communities.
The project also included adding additional species of trees
to the Flora city park so it can be designated an arboretum and
listed on the Mississippi Arboretum Trail.
Hometown MADISON • 47

The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
Madison Central
Congratulations to 2021 Salutatorian Carson Jones
and 2021 Valedictorian Matthew Yin
Lisa Clark (center), director of SATB and SSA Madrigals and the SSA choir at Madison Central
and choral director at Rosa Scott High School, has been awarded the Ernestine Ferrell Award
for excellence in choral music in Mississippi. Pictured with Clark are Angie Rawls, choral director
at Pearl High School and Bobby Sims, retired choral director. Both are former recipients of the
Earnestine Ferrell Award. This is a prestigious award established to honor the memory of
Mississippi’s longtime state supervisor of music. To be selected, one must have been active in
choral music in Mississippi for at least 20 years, should have made significant contributions
to the choral art, and should have the respect and admiration of colleagues and students alike.
The nominee must hold active membership in the American Choral Directors Association.
Shirley D. Simmons
Art students recently participated and won three places in the
Madison County Farm Bureau Art Contest.
L-R: Ahmirica J., 2nd place / Jamarion M., 3rd place / Javion F., 1st place
48 • JULY 2021

Canton High
Andrea Tall is Canton High Valedictorian
Andrea plans to attend Millsaps College or Mississippi
State University and major in Neuroscience. She wants to
become a clinical neuropsychologist – a physiologist who
specializes in understanding the relationship between the
physical brain and behavior. Professionals in this branch of
psychology often focus on how injuries or illnesses of the
brain affect cognitive functions and behaviors.
Solano-Ortega
Tall
Karen Solano-Ortega is Canton High Salutatorian
and STAR Student
Karen plans to attend Jackson State University and major
in social work. She wants to become a social worker to
help as many people as she can with her abilities.
CALL NOW: 601-401-3299
Hometown MADISON • 49

TheTime COIN
Camille Anding
While Othel and our youngest grands
were screaming and squealing on the
Hulk roller coaster, news of the possible,
deadly pandemic began to headline the
news in March of 2020.
We had barely gotten home with our Mickey ears when
we heard that the pandemic had closed Disney World.
Our son, Eli, called us from Tennessee a few days later
and said his good friend, much younger than Othel and
me, had almost died from COVID. He described it as
trying to breathe through a wet sock lodged in his throat.
Our son’s demand: Stay Home!
And we did for about three weeks. We ordered
groceries to be delivered, rationed our toilet paper,
and went to church via live stream.
Then we realized that life was going on, regardless
of COVID, and we were in the “winter” of our years.
Othel said, “Enough – if we perish, we perish, but I don’t
want to die in my recliner.”
So we hooked our truck to our camper and for the
remainder of 2020, we used our home as a restocking
station for breaks between our travels.
At first we tried local campsites. Roosevelt is about
twenty minutes away, but the campfires and peace in
the woods seemed a remote distance from COVID.
Why not try a little further camp? We visited Meaher
Park in Mobile in May, followed by a visit
to Tishomingo Park. On one of our
hiking shortcuts there, the trail just
disappeared. The only reassurance
I felt while we wandered through the undergrowth was
the confidence that COVID couldn’t find us there!
The beach at Destin called us next, along with other
family members. The waves rolled rhythmically, undisturbed
by the growing numbers of COVID cases.
June held a camping trip to Townsend, Tennessee,
in the mountains. The four grands said the water was too
cold for COVID, so they tubed the river while Othel and
I absorbed the beauty and peace of God’s creation.
We made our longest trek of the year out West and
saw sights of vast lands, skies, rivers, mountains, and rocks
that my vocabulary could never describe. In fact, their
presence removed all thoughts of COVID, but back home
and in the large and small cities the virus was raging.
Travel and camping continued in our fall – brilliant colors
at Roosevelt and in the Smokies. For Christmas we
celebrated at home with our entire family. COVID had
attacked a few family members but with slight discomforts.
However, the list grew of friends and acquaintances
that COVID killed. The virus was like a sinister game
of Russian roulette – there was no way to predict the
next victim.
We were spared, only by God’s grace, but are well
aware that God numbers all our days.
We can only thank and praise Him
for each breath He gives and each
mile He allows us to travel.
50 • JULY 2021

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