Hometown Clinton - Spring 2016

Volume 3, Issue 1 

Spring 2016 

Made with Love 

_______________________ 

Eye Candy Woodworks 

_______________________ 

Miracle In Mississippi 

_______________________ 

Never Far From Home

McRaven Rd. 

Clinton 

Raymond Rd. 

I-20 

Lindsey Creek 

Springridge Rd. 

College St. 

Clinton Blvd. 

Hwy. 80W 

A market leader for over four decades... 

because we know (and love) our market. 

Just ask Clinton homeowners about Century 21 David 

Stevens, Inc. They’ll tell you we know Clinton and we know 

homes. In fact, David Stevens has been helping families like 

yours find their dream home in Clinton since 1973. 

Clinton has great schools, great neighborhoods, 

great shopping and dining areas and great entertainment 

and recreation options. We know this town. 

We love this town. And we’re ready to help you 

feel right at home here! 

Give one of our Century 21 David 

Stevens, Inc. hometown real estate 

professionals a call. We’re all about 

finding homes, selling homes and 

making dreams come true. 

David W. Stevens, CRB, CRS, GRI 

Broker/Owner 

Cell: (601) 951-9100 

C21DSTEVEN@aol.com 

century21davidstevens.com 

701 Highway 80 West, Clinton, MS 39056 

(601) 924-7552 • 1-855-875-0879 

Scan to view our 

entire inventory. 

Metro smart. 

Hometown friendly. 

Laci Pittman 

Cell: (601) 573-4748 

lpittman@usa.net 

Leah Sandidge 

Cell: (601) 540-6086 

leahsandidge@gmail.com 

Tronnie Lacy 

Cell: (601) 672-2496 

tntlacy@bellsouth.net 

Jackie Barksdale 

Cell: (601) 918-2914 

jackie.barksdale@comcast.net 

Charla Conlee, GRI 

Cell: (601) 954-4565 

cconlee@comcast.net 

David Stevens II 

Cell: (601) 540-1219 

david090977@aol.com 

Steve Rives 

Cell: (601) 951-1457 

srives3@gmail.com 

Sissy Wagner 

Cell: (601) 954-2405 

sissy_wagner@bellsouth.net 

Shelly Withers 

Cell: 601-988-7070 

Shellywithers1229@gmail.com 

Old Vicksburg R 

Cindy Robertson 

Cell: (601) 331-5599 

CindyWRobertson@comcast.net 

Debbie Thomas 

Cell: (601) 941-7361 

DTHOMAS3333@aol.com 

Estelle Sherer 

Cell: (601) 940-5955 

esherer@bellsouth.net 

E Northside Dr. 

W Northside Dr. 

Pinehaven Dr. 

Doris Lepard 

Cell: 601-259-5134 

doris.lepard@century21.com 

Erin Baxter 

Cell: (601) 410-3793 

estanley084@yahoo.com 

Jared Fleming 

Cell: (601) 906-8609 

jflemingms@gmail.com 

Jackie Dalton 

Cell: (601) 594-5344 

jackied21@att.net 

Ellen Horton 

Cell: (601) 291-6922 

efhorton@bellsouth.net 

Cliff Coleman 

Cell: 601-955-1950 

jccoleman.isproperties@aol.com 

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©2015 JEA 

4 • Spring 2016 

4 • Spring 2016 Hometown Clinton • 5

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

Spring 2016 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Alicia Adams 

Rachel Lombardo 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Camille Anding 

Elizabeth Bennett 


Abigail Walker 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER 


LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas - 3dt 

Missy Donaldson - MADdesign 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

Alisha Floyd 

Brenda McCall 

• • • 

Winter appears to be winding down and 

spring is just around the corner. It’s hard to 

believe that another season has come and gone. 

As always, we enjoy the process of gathering 

stories and content for these issues in that 

it gives us a bird’s eye view of the people and 

places that make Clinton so special. We hope 

you’ll enjoy, as much as we did, the miracle 

love story of the Bennett’s. And Jacy Provis 

touched our hearts, too, with her love ministry. 

Dr. Massey’s woodworking skills should easily 

impress you and perhaps even challenge you to 

find your own creative hobby. 

So brew a fresh cup of coffee, settle into 

your favorite chair, and get to know these 

people in a way that you might not have known 

them before. You’re all blessed to have such 

spectacular neighbors. We hope you enjoy 

reading about them in this issue of Hometown 

Clinton Magazine. 

And again, thank you to all of our faithful 

readers and advertisers. We can’t say it enough. 

You continue to warm our hearts and for that 

we are grateful. Happy spring! 

Kubota Z122R 

Powerfully Engineered. Proven to Perform. 

www.facebook.com 

/Hometown-Clinton-Magazine 

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• • • 

Hometown Clinton is published by 

Hometown Magazines. 

All rights reserved. 

No portion of Hometown Clinton 

may be reproduced without written 

permission from the publisher. 

The management of Hometown Clinton 

is not responsible for opinions expressed 

by its writers or editors. 

All communications sent to our 

editorial staff are subject to publication 

and the unrestricted right to be refused, 

or to be edited and/or editorially 

commented on. 

All advertisements are subject 

to approval by the publisher. 

The production of Hometown Clinton 

is funded by advertising. 

In this issue Never Far From Home . . . . . . 8 

Made With Love . . . . . . . . 10 

Eye Candy Woodworks . . . . . 14 

I Love Us . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Miracle in Mississippi . . . . 24 

Valentine's Survey . . . . . 30 

3rd Floor Secretary . . . . . 32 

1023 Deviney 

6 • Spring 2016 Drive 2173 HWY 51 

Hometown Clinton • 7 

Raymond,MS Madison ,MS 

39154 

39110

clinton 

Annaclaire 

Wilbanks 

think of how many things I’ve taken from Clinton 

and am now incorporating into my life in Nashville. 

Looking back, I now understand that the 

opportunities presented in Clinton are not available 

in most hometowns. I learned very quickly that 

not everyone has a chance to grow up in a town 

with great athletics, even better academics, and a 

nationally recognized show choir. I’m thankful that 

each of these are available in Clinton. The people 

I met, the relationships I built, and the lessons instilled 

in me are things that I have used each 

day since leaving Clinton. 

The older I get the more I appreciate growing 

up in Mississippi. I was raised in a town where 

Southern hospitality and manners were instilled in 

me. I’ve learned that no matter where you’re from, 

everyone appreciates a warm, southern greeting. 

I’ve now been away for six years. Four years spent 

in Mobile, Alabama at The University of Mobile and 

a little over two years spent here, in Nashville, 

Tennessee. For me, Clinton will always be where I 

call “home”. 

Leaving Clinton wasn’t an easy choice. It’s a 

comfortable place with familiar faces. However, 

once I did make the decision to leave, I realized that 

the lessons I had learned and the relationships I had 

built, all prepared me for my transition into college. 

I am thankful for each and every opportunity that 

has molded me into who I am today. 

I was blessed with the opportunity to go to 

the University of Mobile where I obtained my 

bachelor’s degree in marketing. There, I toured 

with the Voices of Mobile, led and directed by 

Roger Breland, who also founded the Christian 

group TRUTH. I had the privilege of traveling across 

the United States including Hawaii and Alaska as 

well as overseas to Israel and the Cayman Islands. 

At UM I was involved in the music program, the 

business school, and a member of the Campus Activities 

Board. In Clinton I learned not to limit myself in 

the number or variety of activities I took part in. I 

was encouraged to take advantage of any opportunity 

that came my way. 

I knew I wanted to live in Nashville after my 

freshman year of high school. Attaché hosts a 

competition at the Grand Ole Opry every year and 

I can remember thinking after my first trip, “I’m 

going to live here one day.” Not many aspiring artists 

in Nashville can say they had the opportunity 

to perform on the Opry stage in high school. Since 

that day, I’ve dreamed of being a country artist. I 

am so thankful that I come from a hometown that 

encourages us to dream big. I love how supportive 

the Clinton community is. 

When I first moved to Nashville, I met with a 

contact in the music industry. One of the first things 

they told me was that record labels want an artist 

to have a “following” long before they sign a record 

deal. My first response was “Thankfully I’m from 

Clinton, Miss. They know how to support a local!” 

I have lived in Nashville for over two years 

now. A year and a half of that has been alongside 

my wonderful husband, who I met and fell in love 

with in Clinton. On several occasions I have met 

up with other Clinton natives who have also made 

Nashville their home. We are able to reflect on where 

we came from and how it helped to shape us into 

who we are now. 

Although I continue to work on fulfilling my 

ultimate dream of singing, I am now working as the 

director of marketing for The Johnny Cash Museum 

in downtown Nashville. Rob and I are members of 

Brentwood Baptist Church where I sing in the choir. 

We have also coached a U-10 little league soccer 

team for two seasons. It’s interesting, as I write, to 


MADE WITH LOVE 


Come December, most children can’t 

wait to ask for Christmas presents. But last 

year, nine-year-old Jacy Provis decided to focus on 

giving back, rather than receiving, during the holidays. 

When her mother Sandra asked what she wanted for 

Christmas, Jacy said that she didn’t want anything. Instead, 

her gift would be to help those at a local nursing home. 

“Most of them don’t get visited a lot because they live 

alone,” Jacy, the now ten-year-old, said. 

The fifth-grader at Clinton’s Eastside School saw a new 

facility being built for The Nursing Home Ministry of Brandon 

and asked her mother how she could help. So Sandra contacted 

the ministry, where Billy Thomas, founder and CEO of the 

NHM, told her about the needs of those in 

her area. After discussing several options, 

they settled on making pillows for elderly 

residents of a local nursing home. 

Jacy joyfully took up the project, ready 

to use her skills to help others. 

“I hand-sewed a pillow before, but then my 

mom showed me how to use her 

sewing machine,” she said. 

“The goal was to get them done before 

Christmas,” said Sandra. With not much 

time to work, it soon became a 

family project. Jacy cut out the pillow 

shapes before passing them on to be stuffed 

and sewed. Eight-year-old brother Max 

and father Todd took part in the assembly 

line as well. Jacy, herself, then painted a 

signature “Jacy 2014” with a heart on each 

completed pillow. 

Jacy made 51 pillows and personally 

delivered them to a hall of residents at the 

Clinton Healthcare nursing home the weekend 

before Christmas. Her favorite part of the experience 

was seeing the smiles on their faces. “Seeing other people 

happy makes me happy,” Jacy said. 

The residents were beyond grateful for the visit and the 

sweet gift. “You just don’t know what this pillow means to me,” 

one resident expressed. Sandra added how a simple pillow can 

help make a person more comfortable, while also lifting their 

spirits. “I was really proud of her,” she added. “It made such a 

difference in their lives.” 

This year they plan to finish what they started and make 

more pillows for the residents who didn’t get one last year. 

Though it has had to wait until after the holidays, they aren’t 

done yet. “It’s not really finished until 

everyone gets one,” said Sandra. “It would 

be great to get more people involved,” she 

added, such as classmates or others around 

Jacy’s age. 

Sandra and her family try to do a 

project for someone in need at least once 

a year. And despite her busy schedule with 

choir, violin class, tumbling, and dance, 

Jacy has inherited that same desire to give 

back to her community. She and her mother 

attended the fall fundraiser for the Nursing 

Home Ministry this past November and are 

excited about continuing their project with 

the elderly. 

“It was a lot of fun,” said Jacy. “When I 

get older I want to volunteer more.” 

To volunteer, contact: 

The Nursing Home Ministry at 662-207-3518 

or visit nhmhope.org. 


Hometown Clinton • 11

We believe that marketing 

& selling homes is done 

“one story at a time.” 

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“Best Fitness Center/Gym” 

by Jackson Free Press 

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601-278-4230 

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601-613-2979 

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601-415-5880 

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Kevin Upchurch 

601-750-8328 

www.godfreyandivy.com 

Brad McHann 

601-259-0269 

Serving Clients in Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren Counties & Vicksburg/Eagle Lake 



• EYE CANDY WOODWORKS • 


Dr. Joshua Massey, 29, O.D. of 

Southern Eye Care of Clinton, makes 

a living helping people with their 

vision. But now he has turned his own 

vision into a reality through a project 

he’s cleverly-dubbed “Eye Candy 

Woodworks.” 

The hobby-turned-smallbusiness 

came to be about a year 

and a half ago when Massey and his 

wife Brittany got married. “We were 

looking for furniture for our home, 

but everything we liked was way too 

expensive,” said Massey. “I told my 

wife that for that price, I could build a 

table myself, and she said, ‘Fine, why 

don’t you?’” 

So Massey went to work, building 

a dining room table with the little 

woodworking knowledge he had. “I’d 

built little things here and there, but 

that was my first major project,” he 

said. He had to borrow tools from a 

friend, but now his collection is slowly 

growing. “I use the excuse of being 

able to sell my pieces to buy more 

equipment,” he added. 

He’s made everything from 

farm tables to display cabinets, but 

his favorite projects to work on are 

cutting boards. “I don’t have a lot of 

time,” Massey said. “So small cutting 

boards are easier and make a great 

gift for someone.” 

Making a cutting board 

consists of sanding down the wood, 

sometimes gluing different kinds of 

wood together, routing the edges, and 

soaking it in mineral oil. “I love the 

sanding,” he said. “It’s when you really 

see the wood come to life.” “I can 

make a cutting board in a matter of 

one night,” he added. But it may take 

him several days depending on how 

busy his work load is. 

However, something more 

complex, such as a farm table, can 

take a while longer. Massey works 

a little bit at a time, utilizing his 

weekends at home. “If I sit down and 

focus each weekend, I could make a 

table in about 3 or 4 weeks,” he said. 

But Massey isn’t focused on 

efficiency. For him, it’s mostly a 

hobby—a creative outlet when he’s 

not working at the eye clinic. “It’s nice 

to work with my hands,” he said. “And 

I like having something that I can call 

my own. Once you see something that 

you’ve made yourself, it makes you 

feel like a man.” 

Not only does Massey make an 

array of wood creations, but he also 


uses a variety of wood types. “You 

can really experiment with different 

species of hardwoods,” he said. 

“And all the wood that you see in my 

projects is natural. I don’t use paint 

or stain.” 

He also prides himself on how 

his pieces are one-of-a-kind. “It’s 

something unique. Nobody else 

probably has that type of wood. I 

always suggest something different 

from what you can just buy and I try 

to do things that you won’t see in 

the store. I like that my pieces mean 

something.” 

He said he continues to learn 

from each project and improve 

his process. “Every time I build 

something, I find a new technique 

to use or a new tool that I need,” he 

said. “It can’t be perfect, but I’m sure 

to never sacrifice the quality.” In fact, 

that’s what his customers seem to be 

pleased about the most, the quality of 

his work for the price. And seeing the 

happy reactions from the recipients 

of his work is what brings Massey the 

most joy. 

His wife is also a fan, especially 

since he’s been able to put the new 

trade to practical use around the 

house. It’s allowed him to fix chair 

legs or antique furniture passed down 

from relatives. “As long as I keep the 

garage halfway clean, she’s happy,” he 

said. “I’ve built a work station where 

she can at least park the car.” 

His advice for anyone wanting to 

get into woodworking is to be patient; 

it’s a learning process. He hopes to 

start making chairs in the future, 

which are a little more complex, as 

well as different variations of tables. 

But while Massey enjoys making 

wood creations for people, he’s mostly 

hoping to keep his small business 

just that, small, and takes orders on a 

case-by-case basis. “Right now, I’m so 

invested in my clinic, but one day 

I would love to have a shop and a 

larger running business.” 

He may be devoted to his career 

as an eye doctor, but he proves you 

can have more than one passion 

and balance them well. In fact, 

Massey calls himself a “full-time eye 

doctor and part-time woodworking 

enthusiast.” 

“If you can have a hobby and 

learn a skill or trade that you love, 

it’s a great thing,” he added. 

Find out more about Dr. Massey’s 

woodworks via the “Eye Candy 

Woodworks” Facebook page. n 



I Love Us... 


Ah, Valentine’s Day. My earliest thoughts of the beloved 

celebration date back to the third grade and are of tiny die-cut cards 

stating such simple messages like, “Some-bunny loves you” and, 

“Will you be mine?” I can remember the importance of finding just 

the right cards to give out, too. No way did I want anything too 

mushy or anything. Picking out the card was serious business. They 

would eventually be placed in individually decorated brown paper 

sacks that were taped to the back of everyone’s little-person sized 

desk. Love was so easy. 

Years later, flowers and gigantic helium balloons were the 

must-have order of the day, often delivered to the workplace. I was 

never the recipient of such over-the-top deliveries and was even 

admittedly a bit jealous of those who were. I mean, had they 

somehow figured out a secret code to love that I hadn’t? And how 

were you supposed to get those big ol’ things home anyway? 

I eventually married in my early thirties. Prior to that time, 

while I managed a couple of fairly decent relationships, I was mostly 

single–a lot. I mean, there were easier things in life than trying to 

find a nice guy, you know. Like nailing jelly to a tree. But it was 

worth the wait. I would eventually find my perfect match and we 

will celebrate 17 years of marriage this year. Yay! 

So as I look through the thousands of cards at the store and 

contemplate the message I want to convey, I’m struck by a simple 

yet powerful thought. I love us. 

In reality, the card I’m looking for should say, “Happy Valentine’s 

Day. Who, in a million years, would have ever thought that I’d be 

standing here for the umteenth time looking through this sea of red 

and pink hearts? But, despite the fact that I get grumpy and have 

unpredictable mood swings, you keep coming home–and I thank 

you for that. And even though you’ve yet to develop the ability to 

read my mind, I continue to love you anyway. We’ve made a pretty 

darn fabulous kid that, with any luck, will think marriage is a good 

thing after watching us. So, there’s that. Happy Valentine’s Day! I 

love us.” 

There need to be cards with those types of “real” messages. 

Someone could make a fortune. 

Relationships are hard. All relationships. And they take work. 

Anything worth having, does. And while my husband and I have 

certainly made a good run so far, we’ve definitely had our moments– 

but we always manage to work through them. Eventually, we even 

laugh it off. Laughter is about connection, and laughter and love go 

hand-in-hand. 

So while I might not be one of those that gets $100 worth of 

helium delivered to the front door, I will get a funny card from my 

fella. It will likely still be in the store bag from which it was bought 

along with one of my favorite Hollywood gossip-type magazines 

and a box of little white powdered donuts. He knows they’re my 

favorite and that means the world to me. 

The truth is that love isn’t always perfect. It isn’t a fairytale or 

a storybook and it doesn’t always come easy. Love is overcoming 

obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on, 

and never letting go. 

It’s a short word that’s easy to spell, difficult to define, and 

impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all, love is 

realizing that every hour, and every minute, and every second of 

it was worth it–because you did it together. 

Maybe more marriages would survive if people knew that 

sometimes the “better” comes after the “worse.” And that’s ok. 

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, over and 

over, with the same person. I’m thankful for my person. I really do 

love us. ♥ 

18 18 •• Spring 2016 


Alicia Adams, Rachel Lombardo, Alisha Floyd 

Trace Myers, Whitney Davis 

Josh Osborn, Brandi Derrick, Patrick Conn, T. Clyatt 

Hunter, Pam, and Rusty Runnels, Vicki and Kevin Rundlett Anna and Jonathan Nutt Clay and Amanda Mansel 

Derek and Karen Adams 

CLINTON 

CHAMBER 

B A N Q U E T 

2016 

Maark Jones, Roy Edwards 

Sharon and Tony Greer 

Mike and Deb Cashion, Cheryl and Jehu Brabham 

Doug Varney, Greg Cronin 

Regina Gaddy, Kelly Brewer, Faye Butts, Doug Varney 

Bryanna Young, Anlu Zhu, Ashley Cronin, Bobby Sampson, Jr. 

Matthew and Abby Brann Kim Condon, Scott Vernon Deborah and Jerry Stribling 

Brad and Molly Parks 

George Broadstreet, Walter Howell 

Bill & Bonnie Barnett, Heidi & Jimmy Baldree 

Tronnie Lacy, Pam Meadows 

Dexter Shelby, Monique Carr Sydney Phillips & Neva Long Sam Dean, Jennifer Drake 


CLINTON CHAMBER NEWS 

CLINTON LOCATION: 1115 Monroe St. • 601.924.2159 

RICHLAND LOCATION: 710 Highway 49S • 601.932.0459 

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If you’re involved in an accident, choose 

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LIFETIME WARRANTY ON WORKMANSHIP 

Clinton Parks and Recreation Department plans to play host to over two dozen events throughout the city 

in 2016. These events range from sporting events such as the NJCAA Division 2 National Championship, 

and several FASA tournaments, as well as soccer tournaments including the CSA Spring Classic and the 

Juniors Spring Tournament. There will be baseball tournaments such as the CBA Tournaments, local NFL Punt, 

Pass, and Kick Competitions, and youth football and cheerleading camps. We will also host several family events 

such as Eggstra Special, Art in the Park, the 27 th Annual July 4 th Family Fireworks Extravaganza, the Cruisin’ Clinton 

Bike Ride, the 4 th Annual Zombie Run, the 14 th annual Halloween event, and several other new events which are in 

the works. 

The staff of CPRD has been working diligently to not only exponentially improve every event we currently 

host or coordinate, but to also add many new, exciting events for the year as well. We firmly believe in bringing 

families and neighbors together to celebrate and recreate, and our aim is to build a sense of community by 

encouraging involvement from individuals and businesses alike in order to make these events successful. 

A majority of our events are made possible by community volunteers rolling up their sleeves and jumping in 

to help in a hands-on capacity, as well as through donations and sponsorships at the private, local-business, and 

corporate levels. Opportunities are available throughout the year for both volunteer work and sponsorships, and 

we welcome them all, whether it’s only a few hours, a few dollars, or a large amount of time or monetary support. 

For more information about getting involved in any of our upcoming events, please call us at 601-924-6082 

or email tonya@clintonparksandrec.com. You may also visit our website: www.clintonparksandrec.com. EVENTS 

belong here! 

COLE SMITH, DIRECTOR 



The way I met my 

husband is nothing 

short of a miracle. 

I met him in an 

office cubicle. You 

might ask yourself, 

how miraculous is 

that? Well, very. 

Let me explain. 

Bennett 

MiracleElizabeth 

Mississippi 

in 

I first moved to Mississippi in 

September 2008 to fulfill my life-long 

dream of being a journalist and put my 

five-and-a-half year college degree to 

good use. I had had three internships 

during college at the University of South 

Alabama and was always very ambitious 

with lofty career goals. In high school, I 

had wonderful and somewhat shallow 

goals of working in a skyscraper in a 

big city, wearing J. Crew and Banana 

Republic. I really thought if I lived in 

Chicago or New York City all of my 

journalistic dreams would come true 

and life would be bliss. Getting married 

was not on my radar growing up. After all, 

my parents’ 20-year marriage ended in 

divorce when I was 14. How could I ever 

find someone I could be compatible with 

for the rest of my life? It seemed like a 

truly impossible thing. I mean, I am a 

very unique, outside-of-the-box kind 

of person. 

It all began in December 2007, after 

I had just graduated from college. I had 

moved home and was talking on the 

phone to my best friend, Emily. She said, 

“Liz, it would make all my wildest dreams 

come true if you would work with me this 

summer at camp in Washington.” Because 

I love a life of adventure and had loved 

working at a summer camp in North 

Carolina, I decided to help make her 

dreams come true. 

In summer 2008, I worked at 

SAMBICA (Lake Sammamish Bible Camp) 

in Bellevue, Washington, as the lead arts 

and crafts director and mentor to teen 

girls. As August approached, I was getting 

more and more anxious about where I 

would live and work and move next. I 

needed a full-time journalism job and 

was applying everywhere. I was hoping to 

move to Portland, Oregon, or somewhere 

big and exciting with a lot of cultural 

diversity and hippies and mountains 

and people who care about recycling. 

My mom was getting re-married as soon 

as I came home and as a 24 year old, I 

did not want to move back home after 

college, AGAIN! 

At some point in August, two 

friends that I worked with at camp knew 

the amount of worry and anxiety I was 

experiencing about the unknown plans 

in the next few weeks. They talked to me 

and prayed for me for a while. One of 

these friends was Peggy. She was from 

Kentucky. She said, “Liz, my cousin is 

a journalist in Alabama and he knows 

of five job openings at a newspaper in 

Vicksburg, Mississippi.” I applied for the 

newspaper job in Mississippi even though 

I had never heard of Vicksburg and had 

only been to Mississippi twice in my life. 

I moved to Vicksburg in September 

2008, with goals of exploring my new city 

and relishing my job. For three months 

during the summer, I was working in 

a completely positive, wholesome, 

uplifting environment at SAMBICA, a 

Christian camp. I was encouraged daily 

by other people and was constantly in a 

community of people who were loving. 

I was even the lead singer of a band that 

summer. Many friendships with people 

from all over the U.S. were formed and 

adventures were experienced. Moving 

to Vicksburg, Mississippi was a stark 

contrast to my three months in Bellevue, 

Washington. I made friends quickly in 

Vicksburg, but it was also lonely at times 

as a new single person in town and the 

newsroom I worked in was a very dark 

place—both spiritually and physically. 

So, I went from Birmingham to Seattle to 

Vicksburg. What a difference! 


Photos: Honeymoon in Yosemite (top) 

Recent photo in Clinton (bottom) 

5 year anniversary in Colorado (right) 

One Wednesday night, I went to visit 

a different church on a whim. I was so 

excited to find a young person speaking. 

When it was over, I went up and talked 

to the speaker and met his wife, Holly. 

We formed a friendship and she reached 

out to me as a new person in town. The 

last week in October, my job ended just 

about as soon as it began. On Halloween 

night, I went to Holly’s house to eat some 

soup and visit. We were sitting in the 

kitchen and Holly said to me, “Liz, who 

is your dream guy?” I replied, “He is tall, 

with blonde or red curly hair and loves 

Jesus.” Holly’s husband Sam was in the 

next room and he yelled out, “You need 

to marry Jonathan.” I said, “Well, maybe I 

should meet him first.” 

Holly worked at the Corps of 

Engineers in Vicksburg. Since I was now 

looking for a new job, she suggested I 

bring my resume to the public relations 

officer there, but I think she secretly 

wanted to introduce me to Jonathan who 

happened to work there and was a friend 

of hers. So, on November 5, 2008, I went 

to the Corps of Engineers’ office. Holly 

took me straight up to the second floor 

to a cubicle filled with a tall man sitting 

by two computer screens. He rolled 

around in his office chair and we were 

introduced. 

The next week, I went to lunch 

with Jonathan, Holly and a couple other 

people. Later Holly asked Jonathan if he 

wanted my phone number. He did, and 

when he called, we talked on the phone 

for a long time that night. Rather, I talked 

for a long time. 

We went on our first date the 

following weekend. We went to a book 

signing at the H.C. Porter art gallery and 

to dinner at Jacque’s. We laughed a lot 

that night because the waitress briskly 

took away the alcoholic beverage menu 

and said we wouldn’t be needing that. She 

thought we were both under 21 when 

we were actually 24 and 29 at the time. 

Also, there was a small band in the corner 

playing music set for the “older crowd” 

and the restaurant closed at 9 p.m. 

I remember thinking, “What kind 

of restaurant closes at 9 p.m. on a 

Saturday night?” 

We dated for two months, but I 

soon had to move back home to live 

with my mom in Birmingham. Living by 

myself on a $10 per hour job at Belk wasn’t 

cutting the mustard. We dated long 

distance for a year until New Year’s Eve 

2009, when we got engaged. Five months 

later, we were married on May 29, 2010 

in Alabama. 

Many miracles occurred in my life 

when I stepped out in faith for a full-time 

job with low pay and moved to a place 

that was very foreign to me. The miracle 

of meeting my husband in an office 

cubicle in Vicksburg, Mississippi, is one 

that I will never forget and I never get 

tired of telling the story. By the way, he 

is tall (6’-5”), with somewhat reddish 

curly hair and loves Jesus. 

The Lord’s provisions to me during 

that time were immense and I overflow 

with joy just thinking about it. As Luke 

1:37 says, “Nothing is impossible with 

God.” And a time when I lost my fulltime 

job after moving to a new city and 

state where I didn’t know anyone, I really 

saw God provide for all of my needs. 

God showed up in powerful ways. He 

provided Christian friends for me, 

financial provisions during a time of 

need, and a future husband. Praise God in 

the sun and Praise God in the rain! 


N’awlins Grill is a restaurant in Clinton that should not be passed up. 

It is filled with a warm local feeling and delicious food that will make 

you want to say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” And don’t forget to 

enjoy a glass of their magnificent sweet tea! 


The Big Easy 

Meets Clinton 

Since 1993, N’awlins Grill has been a Clinton staple. 

From the moment I walked in, my mouth was watering from 

the smell of fine Southern cuisine. It’s a wonderful treasure 

tucked away at 228 Clinton Boulevard. 

N’awlins Grill opened in 1993, and according to its 

owner Bill Causey, it is the oldest restaurant in Clinton. 

Causey is originally from Jackson and first moved to Clinton 

in 1975 to attend Mississippi College. He graduated from 

Mississippi College in 1979, where he studied counseling and 

psychology. Clinton has been his home ever since. “I love 

the community of Clinton and I 

love the people,” said Causey. 

Bill and his wife first bought 

the Baskin Robbins in 1989. 

After three years of owning the 

business, it wasn’t profitable so 

he decided to turn it into the 

N’awlins Grill. “There wasn’t 

anywhere in Clinton, at the time, 

where you could get good seafood 

and steaks. We loved going down 

to New Orleans and everybody enjoys the food there so 

with New Orleans being the inspiration, we opened N’awlins 

Grill,” said Bill. 

N’awlins Grill specializes in fresh seafood from the Gulf 

such as redfish, oysters and shrimp. They also specialize in 

quality steaks. “I am serious about steaks,” said Causey. “We 

handcut our own steaks and are serious about quality.” 

N’awlins Grill also has a good plate lunch with daily 

specials. Their po-boys and homemade gumbo are a favorite 

lunch item of many. 

Their most popular item on 

the dinner menu is the redfish 

with crawfish cream sauce. They 

also sell a lot of grouper, red 

beans and rice, bayou chicken 

alfredo, crawfish nachos and 

the New Orleans Saints Chicken. 

In addition to regular menu 

items, Causey says, “N’awlins 

Grill does hams and turkeys for 

Thanksgiving for our customers. 

We do specialty items, too. Basically, 

whatever our customers want.” 

According to Causey, the 

best thing about owning his own 

business is the people. “We have 

great customers and I love good food. 

My mother taught me to appreciate 

quality food. I love to see people 

around the table laughing and 

having fellowship and fun. I learned 

the value of that from my mother.” 

Causey’s mother’s love for cooking 

and quality food was passed down 

to him. 

Causey is a man with many 

hats and talents. He was a minister 

of music for 40 years and retired in 

2014 from First Baptist Church of 

Raymond. His other hobby is real 

estate. He has built 52 houses in 

Clinton, the Clinton Square Shopping 

Center and the N’awlins Grill. He also 

supports the Clinton Chamber of 

Commerce and the community. 

Alex Dodd has been the chef at 

N’awlins Grill for ten years and has 

loved every minute of it. “Being able 

to visit and have a relationship with 

the customer is what I love most 

about working at N’awlins Grill,” said 

Dodd. “We are a small restaurant and 

it is very personable. It just makes it 

that much more special,” said Dodd. 

“Alex is a great person and a great 

chef,” said Causey. Alex’s nickname 

is “The Big Easy” because of his laid 

back personality. He has even won 

an award for his red beans and rice 

recipe and his favorite items on the 

N’awlins Grill menu are the catfish 

and the fried green tomatoes. Bill’s 

favorite items on the menu are 

“anything that Alex makes!” 

Menu items in pictures: Salmon Benedict 

(top left), Shrimp Alfredo and Southern Fried 

Catfish (bottom left), Brownie Sundae (top 

right), Homemade Bread Pudding made with 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (bottom right) 

28 • Spring 2016



As the wife of retired 

U.S. Army Lieutenant 

Colonel Dan Collins, Sally 

has traveled to some distant 

locations and called them 

home. Today, she and her 

husband call Clinton home 

and for the past twelve years, 

Sally Collins has traveled to 

downtown Jackson, ridden 

the Mississippi State Capitol 

elevator to the third floor, 

and stationed herself behind 

the receptionist desk in the governor’s office. 

It’s a uniquely different type of part-time job, requiring 

Sally’s services only 90 to 125 days each year when the 

legislature is in session. She also fills in for other employees 

during sick leaves and vacations. 

She first began working in the position when Governor 

Haley Barbour was elected in 2004. “I was very impressed 

with Governor Barbour,” she says. 

So on his final day in office, Sally cleaned out her 

desk and walked out of her office, into retirement. Or so 

she thought. 

Monday morning, her phone rang, and it was someone 

from Governor Bryant’s office. “Where are you?” the 

person asked. “I’m drinking coffee in my den and reading 

the newspaper. I thought my job was finished with the 

governor’s office.” Well, she was mistaken. She hurriedly 

3 RD 

FLOOR 

RECEPTIONIST 

CAMILLE ANDING 

dressed and returned to the 

same desk but to a different boss, 

Governor Phil Bryant. 

Sally still finds her job 

most rewarding. She describes 

Governor Bryant as a true 

gentleman who “seems to make 

time for everyone.” Her favorite 

part of her work is showing 

the governor’s office to school 

children on field trips to 

the Capitol. 

As part of her job, Sally has met 

too many dignitaries, CEO’s and legislators to remember. 

She recalls Jeb Bush being a memorable appointment on 

Governor Bryant’s calendar. 

This Capitol receptionist works 8 to 5, five days a week 

with an occasional early departure on Fridays. She goes 

home to her husband and enjoys the company of their two 

grandchildren who also live in Clinton. “That’s the best part 

of living in Clinton,” she says with a smile. 

Sally was always a stay-at-home-mom with their son, 

Chris, who now serves as vice-president of BankPlus in 

Clinton and daughter, Debbie, who is a retired lieutenant 

colonel from the U.S. Air Force and attorney at Fort Sam 

Houston in San Antonio. It was when Sally and Dan retired 

to Clinton that Sally joined the work force. 

She’s a role model that proves some jobs can start at 

the top – even when it’s part-time. 


join us for our Spring Open House 

Sunday March 20th - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm 

CLINTON CHAMBER NEWS 

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce strives to serve businesses while improving the quality of life 

in Clinton. In 2016, we are concentrating on better, more accessible ways for residents of the city to 

shop locally. 

We all should understand the importance of spending money within Clinton borders because local 

spending benefits the community. When you shop at locally owned businesses, you help our local 

economy by recirculating your dollars. Aside from simply generating much-needed revenue, Clinton 

businesses are invested in the community. 

theobranch.com 

449 Hwy 80 E, Clinton, MS 

601.924.7684 

Available at 

RefreshmentS 

Floral demonstrations 

Store wide sales 

Hope to see you there! 

Southern Salon 

A PAUL MITCHELL SIGNATURE SALON 

SPECIALIZING IN CUSTOM COLOR 

FAMILY HAIRCARE 

NEWEST ADDITION 

PRINCESS SALON FOR 

THAT SPECIAL PRINCESS! 

An easy way to shop locally is through our newest member benefit, 

Clinton Currency. Clinton Currency is a community currency program 

that is purchased from the Chamber website and can only be used at 

participating member businesses. 

Clinton Currency will: 

l 

Bring a year-round Buy Local program to our community 

l 

Be used as holiday and thank you gifts and employee rewards 

l 

Help you acquire new customers 

l 

Provide a great marketing tool for your business 

Individuals who give gifts, and employers who budget for employee recognition and holiday gifts will 

love Clinton Currency. Our goal is to make Clinton Currency THE gift everyone will use instead of 

national brand gift cards that have no benefit to Chamber members or community. 

It’s a nice feeling when friends and neighbors greet you when you visit their stores—especially when 

they are genuinely appreciative that you are there. These owners and employers live in Clinton and are 

invested in the overall prosperity of it. 

The Chamber is committed to making our city the best place to live, work, raise a family, retire, and 

have a business. We are committed to making Clinton Currency a huge success by creating ways to 

shop locally, and benefit the City of Clinton. 

Whitney Davis 

Project Coordinator 

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce 

606 SPRINGRIDGE ROAD / CLINTON, MS / 601.924.2011 



SERVING OUR COMMUNITY 

CLINTON'S FINEST 

Jeff Blackledge 

CLINTON FIRE DEPARTMENT 

Detective Warren Sullivan 

CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Why did you decide to be a 

fireman? 

I grew up watching the show “Emergency” 

and ever since I saw the first episode, I told my 

parents I wanted to be a firefighter. I enjoy 

helping others. 

How long have you been with 

the Clinton Fire Department? 

I started at Clinton Fire Department as a 

volunteer firefighter when I got out of college. 

During my time as a volunteer, I also went 

back to school to become an emergency 

medical technician. I went full time in 1994 

and worked my way up through the ranks. I 

am presently the division chief over training 

and safety. 

Tell us about your family. 

I am happily married to Marilyn Mullins. We 

have one daughter who is married and two 

beautiful grandchildren. We also have two 

rescue dogs. 

What is the toughest thing you 

have experienced in your job? 

Dealing with death is probably the toughest 

part of the job to me, whether it is an infant or 

older adult. I don’t think you ever get adjusted 

to seeing this. 

Share some things you enjoy 

doing in your spare time. 

I enjoy watching Mississippi State football and 

baseball. I also enjoy watching NASCAR, 

woodworking, and spending time with my 

family. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

Take an Alaskan cruise with my wife, buy a 

travel trailer and tour the United States with no 

timeline, and learn to fly a helicopter. 

Who is someone you admire 

and why? 

My father. He instilled in me a good work ethic 

and to treat people like you would want to be 

treated. 

Where do you see yourself ten 

years from now? 

Hopefully retired and spending time with my 

grandchildren and traveling the U.S. with my 

wife. 

If you could give one piece of 

advice to a young person, what 

would it be? 

Set obtainable goals for yourself and do your 

best to achieve these goals. 

What is a favorite childhood 

memory? 

Spending summers on my grandparents’ farm 

in Laurel, Mississippi, and learning to ride 

horses, drive the tractors and fishing. I think 

it’s where I got my love for the outdoors. 

What is the biggest mistake 

you think young people make 

today? 

They don’t plan for the future. They are only 

worried about today and not what will happen 

tomorrow. 

What is your favorite thing 

about the City of Clinton? 

My family moved back to Mississippi in 1969 

and to Clinton in 1972. It was a small town 

then and I like the fact that Clinton still has 

that same small town feeling. 

Why did you decide to be a 

police officer? 

In July 1981, I was approached about a job as 

a police dispatcher which probably changed 

the course of my life. I took the job, studied 

police science at Hinds Junior College and 

later joined the Mississippi National Guard 

114th MP Company. In January 1985 I was 

sworn in as a patrolman. 

It’s hard to point to any single thing that 

influenced my decision to enter law enforcement. 

It was a combination of people I came 

to know through my employment at the 

police department, folks I met through 

college and the influence of my father and 

his friends who were in law enforcement. 

How long have you been with 

the Clinton Police Department? 

I worked as a police officer for about 10 

years. During that time, I graduated from 

USM with a criminal justice degree. In 1994 I 

left the police work for the lure of better 

hours and higher pay in the private sector. 

Then in 2008, I returned to Clinton and 

rejoined the department. 


I have been married to my wonderful wife, 

Wanda, for 28 years. We have 3 children and 

8 grandchildren. 

What is the toughest thing you 

have experienced in your job? 

This job provides a front row seat to the 

greatest show on earth, but it is not always 

pretty. Police officers often see people at 

their worst as well the tragedy that follows. 

The most difficult cases seem to involve the 

very young and innocent or the seniors in our 

community. 

Share some things you enjoy 

doing in your spare time. 

Spending time with our grandchildren then 

sending them home to their parents. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

Pay off a mortgage. Learn the lead guitar 

break to Hotel California. See Ireland. 

Who is someone you admire 

and why? 

Adam Brown. This young man overcame 

monumental problems—some self-initiated, 

some not—time after time and ultimately 

epitomized a man of faith, a dedicated 

husband and father, and a loyal American 

serviceman. Adam Brown proved that each 

of us is able to rise above our faults, setbacks, 

and failures with faith in God. Chief Special 

Warfare Operator (SEAL) Adam Brown gave 

his life for us on March 17, 2010, in the Hindu 

Kush Mountains, Afghanistan. 

If you could give one piece of 

advice to a young person, what 

would it be? 

Make good decisions… all actions have 

consequences. 

What is the biggest mistake 

you think young people make 

today? 

We all, as humans, make mistakes. Young 

people do not monopolize in making errors, 

but my wish for them is to learn to be 

accountable (own your mistakes), learn the 

lesson the first time (making the same 

mistake over and over is insane), make 

amends (this will make those around you feel 

better about you), and then move on (there is 

no requirement to dwell on the unpleasant 

past… so don’t). 

What is your favorite thing 

about the City of Clinton? 

Clinton is where I grew up, went to school 

and church, and made friends. I have so 

many good memories here. Clinton is home. 



The 

way 

we 

were 

Jan & Allen Nieminen 


with the City of Clinton’s 4 th of July celebration, 

promoting Clinton, attracting retirees to Clinton, 

and more. 

Jan and Allen have enjoyed being involved 

in other community organizations such as the 

Arts Council of Clinton and the Retiree Attraction 

Committee. They would take people on tours of 

the city. “We made our marriage fun. We even got 

to be in advertisements for the city during the 

time Jan worked for the Chamber of Commerce,” 

said Allen. 

The Neiminens were blessed to win some 

trips through Allen’s job at General Electric. Some 

of the places they won trips to were Los Angeles, 

California; Vale, Colorado; Mobile, Alabama; Palm 

Beach, Florida and Hawaii. 

Jan and Allen have thrived in their marriage 

by enjoying many adventures together. One 

experience that was especially unique for them 

was when they hosted Russian ballerinas who 

were performing in the Nutcracker with the 

Mississippi Ballet. “It was a fun experience,” says 

Jan, “and they were very sweet.” The Nieminens 

enjoyed learning about the cultural differences 

of the Russian ballerinas compared to their 

American lifestyle. 

The Nieminens’ successful marriage is 

attributed to many things. “The man is the head of 

the household and the woman is the heart. I think 

the husband should take the lead. I think that’s 

the way God set up the household,” said Jan. 

“Jan’s religious background helped and 

made for a better family life,” said Allen. The 

Niemenens say things that help their marriage are 

that they are not mad at the same time, they don’t 

like to argue and they are both very giving. “You 

have to trust your spouse and have a lot of faith,” 

says Jan. “Respecting each other is also 

very important in marriage. You have to respect 

and value the other person’s opinions. When 

we took our vows, we meant what we said. We 

promised to be faithful to each other. Divorce was 

never an option.” 

Today, the Nieminens enjoy hobbies 

individually and together. Jan enjoys playing 

bunko and bridge while Allen likes to play golf. 

They also enjoy traveling together. Their 

son David has traveled extensively and is always 

their tour guide when they visit him in different 

countries. When David was in college he studied 

abroad in London and Germany and they visited 

him. He also worked in Brazil and they visited him 

there, as well. 

For their 50 th wedding anniversary in 2006, 

they returned to the town where they got married 

and stayed in a bed and breakfast. Remembering 

the night they met at the drive-in, they had 

bologna sandwiches for dinner; this time with 

Champagne. “There was tomato and mayo on the 

sandwiches, too. You gotta have that,” said Allen 

as he reminisced with a smile. 

Jan and Allen are a good example of what 

it means to love your spouse with steadfast 

commitment through the winding road of life. 

Their marriage has really stood the test of time. 

If you want a marriage as successful as the 

Nieminens’, remember these four things: respect, 

trust, faith and fun! 

Jan and Allen Nieminen’s relationship was 

sparked over a bologna sandwich. One hails from 

the South while the other grew up in the North. 

Their love for each other has spanned many miles 

and decades and is just as true as it was on the day 

they met back in 1956. They have called several 

different places home, but Clinton has been their 

home for the past 43 years. 

Jan is from Arkansas and Allen is from 

Ohio. When Allen was in the Air Force, he was 

transferred to Blytheville, Arkansas to the Air 

Force Base there. It was a night in January 1956 at 

the Kreme Kastle drive-in when Jan and Allen first 

laid eyes on each other. It didn’t take long for 

sparks to fly and not much longer after that for 

the knot to be tied. 

They met when they both pulled into the 

drive in at the same time. They were both with a 

group of friends and both groups of friends knew 

each other. Jan, 17, and Allen, 19, were sitting in the 

back seat of different cars. Jan brought a bologna 

sandwich and Allen leaned out of his car and said, 

“Can I have a bite of your sandwich?” She said, 

“Sure.” Jan had seen Allen around town several 

times before this night so she felt comfortable 

sharing her sandwich with him. Then he got in the 

car with her and they talked for awhile. The next 

day, Jan told her friends that he was the man she 

was going to marry. 

While Jan and Allen dated, Allen was 

stationed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for three 

weeks. It was their time apart for three weeks 

that sealed the deal for them because they 

missed each other so much. They knew they 

couldn’t spend the rest of their lives without each 

other. The night Jan graduated from high school, 

Allen proposed. 

Jan was 18 years old and Allen was 20 years 

old when they got married on October 14, 1956. 

Back then, the man had to be 21 to get married. 

Allen’s mother wouldn’t sign the papers for him 

to get married so they eloped. They got married in 

Holly Springs, Mississippi, at the court house. 

When Allen got out of the Air Force, he went 

to the University of Arkansas to study electrical 

engineering. Then he was re-called to active duty 

and went to France for a year while Jan went home 

to be with her family. 

In 1992, the Nieminens moved to Clinton 

and the population was a whopping 11,000. 

Allen worked for General Electric with the 

medical division. He traveled around selling 

medical equipment for 34 years. They moved to 

Clinton because they were looking for a good 

school system. Their first home in Clinton was 

in Tanglewood. They lived there for eight years 

and for the past 35 years they have lived in 

Countrywood. Together, they have four children. 

Allen, Jr. is 58, Kathy is 56, Kevin is 49 and David 

is 38. Their children were born in four different 

states: Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and 

Florida. The Nieminens have ten grandchildren 

ranging in age from 33 to four years old. They also 

have three great-grandchildren, all whom are 

one-year old. 

Jan loved being a stay-at-home mom to her 

children. “When I was growing up, I dreamed of 

being a wife and mother and I think my dreams 

have abundantly come true,” said Jan. When her 

youngest child was in high school, she began 

working at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce 

as an administrative assistant. She worked there 

for 15 years and enjoyed promoting the city of 

Clinton. Her responsibilities included being in 

charge of the Christmas parade, being involved 

“Respecting each other 

is very important in 

marriage. You have to 

respect and value the 

other person’s opinions. 

When we took our vows, 

we meant what we said...” 


Cardiologists: 

John Bellan, MD 

J. Michael Bensler, MD 

Alfredo Figueroa, MD 

F. Earl Fyke, III, MD 

William K. Harper, MD 

W. Hampton Jones, III, MD 

S. Todd Lawson, MD 

Keith D. Thorne, MD 

James L. Warnock, Jr. MD 

H. Chris Waterer, III, MD 

Surgeons: 

William J. Harris, III, MD 

W. Stewart Horsley, MD 

Daniel Ramirez, MD 

Nurse Practitioners: 

Misha Craven, ACNP-BC 

Lynne C. Currie, FNP-BC 

Lyndsey Dill, ACNP-AG 

Mary Gordy, CFNP 

Rachel Hearst, FNP-C 

Adrianne Kelley, ANP-C 

Susan Patterson, NP-C 

Tonya Sweeney, MSN, ACNP-BC, CCDS 

No hospital in Mississippi has been caring for 

heart patients longer than Baptist. 

Baptist brings together experienced cardiologists, cardiovascular 

surgeons, nurse practitioners and clinicians to offer the most 

comprehensive care in the region for patients with heart disease. 

Find out more at mbhs.org/baptistheart. Trust your heart to 

Baptist Heart. 

501 Marshall Street 

Jackson, MS 39202 

844-MD-HEART 



The CHALKBOARD 

CLINTON SCHOOLS 

CLINTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

forward warrior 

CLINTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

forward warrior 

When it opened its doors in 2008, Clinton 

Christian Academy had 145 students and 14 

teachers. Today, school administrators and 

board members are celebrating record 

enrollment. With 280 students on campus this 

fall, the school, which serves K3 through twelfth 

grade, has seen a growth of five percent since 

last year and an overall growth of 94 percent 

since its inception. This year's graduating class 

has 22 seniors, also a record for the school, 

and average class size boasts a 17:1 student to 

teacher ratio. 

“I have been blessed with the opportunity 

to lead this great school. You can’t help but be 

excited about what God has in store for the 

future of CCA. The goals and objectives we have 

are significant, and it appears we are certainly 

heading in the right direction,” said Dr. Phil 

Broome, headmaster of CCA. 

The school, whose mission is to provide a 

safe Christian environment for students to grow 

spiritually, academically and physically, has 

grown from its original campus of roughly 

24,000 square feet of classroom space that 

included 19 classrooms, to a sprawling campus 

that now includes 36,000 square feet on 17 acres, 

24 classrooms, a science lab, art and music 

facilities and an athletic complex including 

baseball, football and softball fields. 

CCA has set bold plans for its future, which 

include four campus development stages. In 

eight years, three of those have been met and 

plans to move forward with the fourth have 

begun. CCA has a vital need for a large 

multipurpose building to be used as a 

gymnasium for athletic events with a stage for 

performing arts including two show choirs, 

theatrical programs and general school-wide 

events. A building committee is currently developing final plans for the new facility which will be the focal 

point of the campus and a significant step in meeting the overall growth objectives of CCA. This effort will 

represent what God can accomplish when parents and the community come together to seek Him. 

The capital campaign, FORWARD WARRIOR, will kick off soon with the objective to raise necessary 

funds to bring these bold plans to fruition. CCA is looking forward to what the future holds. 





NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY 

food drive 

SUMNER HILL 

VIP & most improved awards 

Northside Elementary recently partnered with Second Harvest Ministry in a food drive. Our second 

and third graders collected 4,668 items! 

Sumner Hill honored two VIP students for having the highest 

average during the 2nd nine weeks; Rushali Shah and Cameron 

Humphries. Rashali chose Mary Evans, Honors English teacher, 

as her STAR Teacher and Cameron chose Roxanna Arcement, 

History Teacher, as his STAR teacher. These students received 

$25.00 sponsored by Energy. Rob Logan, Entergy's 

representative, presented these students with their award. 

Sumner Hill honored two students who improved the most 

during the 2nd nine-week grading period in an academic class. 

These students were Devon Washington and Tobias Privette. 

Both of these students improved in Mrs. Ard's Foundations of 

Algebra class. They each received a $25.00 check sponsored 

by Energy. Rob Logan, Entergy's representative, presented 

these awards. 

From left to right: Mary Evans, Rushali Shah, Cameron Humphries, Roxanna Arcement 

Pictured are Jill Lay, Wayne Wilkinson with Second Harvest and Joy Tyner 

Front row: Marin Lollar, Archer Dixon, Sutton Ashley and Madison Young 




CLINTON PARK ELEMENTARY 

100th day of school 

Students and staff had fun at Clinton Park Elementary school celebrating the 100th day of the year by 

dressing up as 100-year olds. 


Hometown Clinton 

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Kim 

Griffin 

How long have you lived in Clinton? 

We have lived in Clinton for 10 years. 


I have been an employee of the Clinton Public 

School District for 14 years. I taught science at 

Clinton High School for 8 years and coached 

volleyball for several of those years. I moved over 

to Central Office as the Director of Federal 

Programs and District Test Coordinator in 2010. 

I am now in my first year as the Director of 

Technology. My husband, Kevin, is the fastpitch 

softball coach at Belhaven University. We are the 

proud parents of three handsome, yet WILD 

boys: Kannon (11), Konnor (9), and Kaden (6). 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Clinton? 

I think that it’s the relationships that are formed 

here. Clinton is a tight-knit community, and 

there is so much support here. Everything about 

Clinton is family-oriented: movie nights 

downtown, parades, and carnivals for the kids, 

brick street festivals, etc. The list could go on 

and on. 

Where are your 3 favorite places to eat in 

Clinton? 

Froghead Grill, N’awlins Grill, and Chick-Fil-A 

What are some fun things to do in Clinton 

on the weekends? 

There are several parks around the city that we 

enjoy taking our boys: Traceway Park, Brighton 

Park, and Kids Town. The Clinton Community 

Nature Center is a really neat place to visit as 

well. We also enjoy taking our kids to the various 

sporting events going on around town. Our 

community takes pride in our schools’ athletic 

teams, so we try to attend as many ballgames as 

we can. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

I’m not sure I know what spare time is….lol. All 

three of my boys play recreational baseball, and 

with my husband coaching softball, we are at the 

ballpark most of the time. I am also in school 

two nights a week at Mississippi College. So yes, 

spare time is rare, but when I do have a little 

downtime, I try to kickback and have some ‘me’ 

time....shopping and spa days. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

• Go on an Alaskan cruise 

• Attend a baseball game at every major league 

baseball park 

• Spend a week in Hawaii 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I would say that I admire my grandmother, Dot 

Wilson. She is the most Godly woman that I 

know. She had 3 children but lost her youngest 

child to cancer, and she eventually lost her 

husband to cancer as well. I can’t even fathom 

going through something like that. However, she 

will tell you that the Lord carried her through 

along with many prayers. I love sitting with her 

and listening to her share about her upbringing, 

her love for her family, and most importantly her 

love for her Savior. I know beyond a shadow of a 

doubt that she prays for me and that she prays for 

my family on a daily basis. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

Gosh, I would love to be retired and living in the 

mountains somewhere, but I’ll have kids in 

college in 10 years. I’m sure I will still be a 

working momma, but hopefully I can do a little 

more traveling by then. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

When I was growing up, my sister and I ran the 

neighborhood streets with so many of our 

childhood friends. We rode bikes all over the 

place, built forts, didn’t come home until dark 

and never worried about a thing. It is so hard to 

do that anywhere these days due to safety 

concerns, but we had some good times back then. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you 

said, people will forget what you did, but people 

will never forget how you made them feel.” 

~Maya Angelou 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Clinton Magazine? 

Hometown Clinton allows us to showcase the 

great things that are going on in our city, the great 

things that are going on in our schools, the great 

people that live here, and the reason why I call 

Clinton my home! 

Because there’s Merit 

in faster care. 

In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Merit Health, you’ll 

find faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently 

to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – 

or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a 

lot more care, if you need it. 

The 30-Minutes-Or-Less E.R. Service Pledge – at Merit Health. 

Central 

Madison 

Rankin 

River Oaks 

River Region 

*Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. 

MyMeritHealth.com 

48 • Spring 2016

Camille Anding 

The Time Coin 

Sally pulled out her sharpest red 

crayon and rolled it between her 

fingers as she contemplated her 

teacher’s instructions to make a valentine. 

The studious third grader couldn’t decide 

where or how to begin. It wasn’t that Sally 

didn’t understand the meaning of valentines, 

but they certainly meant more than pink 

construction paper and red glitter. 

Some valentines were extravagant – like the ruby ring her dad had 

given to her mother. It was the perfect color for Valentine’s Day and 

surely pleased her mother. “We can’t afford this,” her mother kept saying, 

but it was a perfect fit and dazzled in the light, like her mom’s smile. 

Sally knew it must be a treasured and costly valentine. It was a special 

lesson for Sally to learn. Love is extravagant. 

When valentines can’t be extravagant, they can be creative. Sally loved 

the story her mother told her about the time Sally’s parents were dating. 

“We were in college and didn’t have any extra money. Your dad appeared 

at my dorm with a large piece of cardboard – but he had attached all sorts 

of candy to it in the shape of a giant heart. All my friends were envious 

of his thoughtfulness and creativity.” 

The classroom had grown quiet as all the 

students were busy creating the perfect 

valentine – all except Sally. She was still 

pondering the “what kind” and “how” of her 

valentine. She would always remember the 

Valentine’s dinner her mom had served. There 

was candlelight with their fine china, chicken 

strips with valentine-red catsup, pink creamed 

potatoes and homemade pink rolls with pink 

lemonade. She even brought out strawberry cake for dessert. You could 

never put a special valentine like that in an envelope or box. Sally so 

wanted her valentine to be creative like her mom’s. 

The years passed and time translated Sally into a mother with a 

family of her own. Change hadn’t always been good. She was sorting 

through her parents’ belongings with only their memories present. 

She opened a box brimming with cards and letters. There in the midst 

of her mother’s keepsakes was the valentine Sally had made as a third 

grader. The pink heart was still edged in red glitter with Sally’s message: 

I will love you forever and for always. Love, Sally. 

Extravagant? No. Creative? Not really. A treasure? Most definitely. 

Sally had given her most precious and inestimable wealth – her 

forever love. 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest 

of these is love.” n 


Hometown Rankin • 91 


52 • Spring 2015

Hometown Clinton - Spring 2016

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