Hometown Madison - November & December 2016

Volume 3 Number 1 

nov/dec 2016 

LANDSCAPER’S OASIS 

____________________ 

A Print-Worthy Pursuit 

____________________ 

NEVER A WORRY

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Rachel Lombardo 

Kati Gaines 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Camille Anding 


Susan Marquez 

Shari Veazey 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

CONTRIBUTING 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Chris Todd 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS 

Alisha Floyd 

Brenda McCall 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas / 3dt 

Missy Donaldson / MAD Designs 

 

I was well aware that the phone call would come along with the questions of solutions from our 

newlyweds who are planted in Dallas. “What if we only get one day of vacation for Thanksgiving? 

How do we juggle time between two sets of parents at opposite ends of the states?” 

Those are some of the questions my daughter Camea has been dealing with as she and her new 

husband are suddenly faced with making traditions separate from their parents. It’s not an earthshaking 

problem when compared to the big picture of life, but it is another reminder that life is 

on a continual path of change. Some changes are wonderful–like finding the perfect mate. Other 

changes, like having to spend holidays away from family, are not so wonderful. 

I’m grateful that Hometown Madison Magazine helps to give us insight 

into change and how to make the best of it–thanks to our neighbors and 

friends that are highlighted within these pages. In every issue we feature 

people challenged with change in various areas of their lives as well as 

how they cope. 

We are all in the circle of life together. It’s important that we support 

each other throughout our journeys. We hope your holidays are filled 

with happiness and joy–even if in the midst of change. 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownmadisonmagazine 

For subscription information 

visit www.htmags.com 

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. 

In this issue Landscaper's Oasis ........................6 

Where Dreams Come True.................16 

Shopping Local ......................... 21 

Authentic Chamber Music. .............. 22 

A Print-Worthy Pursuit........26 

A Distinguished Career .....................36 

Holiday Gift Guide...........................44 

Never a Worry.......................... 48 

Hometown madison3

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Landscaper’s 

Oasis 


Palm trees loom over the dark-stained Jefcoat fence 

that encloses Michael and Ashley’s backyard oasis and 

tempt one to know its secret. 

For the family of Michael and Ashley Campbell and 

their three daughters, the secret is out. The major project 

undertaken by Michael Campbell, owner of Pro-Lawn 

Landscape, and John Hertel of ProVision Design is 

completed and in full entertainment mode. 

When Michael was hired for a landscaping job at a 

former customer of John Hertel’s and saw a cabana that 

John had designed and built, Michael knew what he 

wanted for his own backyard project. He called John, 

and the project began. 



The massive beamed cabana sits as the focal point and 

is anchored by a stone fireplace that offers a roaring fire 

or “backdoor” fire pit. The cabana is an entertainment 

center in itself with overhead TV, bar, and outdoor kitchen, 

complete with a Primo Grill. An inviting half-moon 

wicker couch seats family and guests on aqua upholstery. 

John’s wife, Allison, selects the appropriate colors and 

seating for their designs. 

Distressed, custom made Adirondacks by Larry Glass 

of Heartwood, provide leisure comfort around the fire pit. 

The atypical pool shape adds interest to the oasis and 

unique composition for the cabana, diving stone and water 

falls. The diving stone is from Morgan Stone as well as the 

other stone used throughout the design. Morgan Stone is 

located on Hwy. 471 in Brandon. 

A wonderful mixture of stamped stone and scored, 

stained concrete add to the overall surface of the renovated 

yard. 

From the landscaping by Michael to John’s architectural 

genius, a once typical backyard has been transformed. 

Michael calls it, “My happy place.” n 



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Where Dreams 

Come True 


Some simply “wish upon a star” for a life of vacations 

and celebratory holidays. Carolyn Laird doesn’t wish it. 

She, along with her family, experience it. 

Carolyn has been a Disney fan since she was a child. After marrying Hank, she inoculated him with that same 

fascination for Mickey and Minnie. Their son, Brian, became the next Laird to gravitate to Orlando for vacations. When 

Brian honeymooned with his new bride, Renee, their destination was Disney World. Now their son, Joshua, a sixth 

grader, makes the fifth family member to relish vacations with the Disney characters in their favorite theme park. 


Here’s the mind-boggling statistic: 

Carolyn and Hank have vacationed in 

Disney World 138 times since 1978 plus 

a “few” times in Disneyland. Carolyn, 

the art teacher at First Presbyterian Day 

School, laughs and says, “Disney World 

is our home away from home.” In fact, 

when Carolyn decides to retire, she and 

her husband plan to head straight to 

Orlando so they can live closer to their 

favorite destination. 

Records speak for themselves. The Laird’s 

name is inscribed on a brick in the Magic 

Kingdom, and their picture is displayed at 

the entrance of Epcot. The family usually 

travels to Disney World an average of four 

times a year. Their choice of travel is by car, 

and they always stay on the grounds of 

Disney World. Thanksgiving is Carolyn’s 

favorite time to visit because the Christmas 

lights are up and the crowds aren’t as large. 

Speaking of Christmas, Carolyn and 

Hank also love Christmas trees and begin 

decorating their own nineteen Christmas 

trees in September. They are displayed 

throughout their house, and no two trees 

are alike. Each full-size tree features its own 

theme. Along with the lighted trees are 

numerous Disney-themed decorations and 

impressive collectibles from Disney World. 

The reason is simple. If the Lairds can’t 

live in Disney World, they bring Disney to 

their home. They are also firm believers in 

making dreams come true! 

“Disney World is our home away from home.” 

182016


Holiday 

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Keepsake Advent Calendars 


Shopping LOCAL 

Shari Veazey, Executive Director, Mississippi Municipal League 

As we approach this year’s holiday season, 

our thoughts will naturally turn to shopping and 

the quest to find the perfect gifts for family and 

friends. Many people now do all or most of their 

shopping on the internet, while other shoppers 

will choose to shop at “big box” retailers. 

But this year, I would urge you to make it a 

point to shop at home and support your local 

retailers and businesses. Brick and mortar 

businesses are extremely important to cities, 

towns and our state as a whole. When you shop 

locally, you are supporting “mom and pop” 

businesses that, in turn, support the cities and 

towns where they are located. 

In Mississippi, 18.5% of sales tax paid by local 

businesses is diverted back to the municipalities 

where they are located. This revenue supports 

critical municipal services such as police and fire 

protection; water and sewer; parks and recreation; 

libraries; and street infrastructure. For many 

municipalities in the state, sales tax revenue is a 

significant contributor to their overall budget. 

A recent survey of the Mississippi Municipal 

League revealed that sales tax is often the largest 

source of revenue for many of the 299 municipalities 

located in the state. 

There are many other reasons to shop locally, 

though. Local retailers and other small businesses 

are more invested in the overall success of their 

communities and are more likely to play active 

roles in the betterment of their city or town. 

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 

in 2015, Mississippi housed more than 

242,000 small businesses making significant 

contributions to the state’s economy. These 

locally-owned companies support community 

events, local schools and sports teams, and often 

create partnerships with other small businesses, 

neighbors and residents. 

Small locally-owned businesses are the largest 

creator of jobs nationally, according to the Small 

Business Administration. As a general rule, local 

retailers can offer better customer service and add 

a more “personal” touch to the buying experience. 

Big-box retailers may have a larger physical 

footprint, but small retailers often have access 

to the same vendors and are more vested in 

satisfying your needs as a customer. They can 

order products that are not currently in stock, 

and because they are locally owned, they can be 

more flexible to extend a sale price, or offer a 

rebate to attract your business. 

Now, no one can dispute the convenience 

factor of ordering products online from the 

comfort of your home or office, but online 

retailers have an unfair advantage over our 

“Main Street” businesses that are working hard 

to grow, or sometimes just sustain, their clientele. 

These same businesses are contributing to the 

fiscal health of cities and towns, which ultimately 

benefits local citizens. Internet based businesses 

do nothing to contribute to these communities 

or to the state of Mississippi. 

The Mississippi Municipal League has been 

and will continue to be a strong advocate for the 

implementation of internet sales tax as a 

mechanism to simply level the playing field. A 

local retailer in one of our member cities has 

told me of many instances of “showrooming” 

where customers come into his store to try on a 

coat or pair of shoes, and when questioned by 

a salesperson about making a purchase, they 

indicate that they are just trying on the item so 

they could make the purchase online. 

Determining the mechanism for collecting 

internet sales tax is not easy, but with all of the 

technology and software currently available, it 

can be done. The MML would support a method 

of taxing the product based on the destination. 

For example, if someone in a Mississippi city 

buys online from a company and the product is 

delivered to their home, then the state of 

Mississippi would collect the 7% sales tax on the 

purchase and then divert 18.5% back to the city 

where the online purchase was delivered–the 

same method used when purchases are made 

in a brick and mortar retailer. 

Closing the online sales tax loophole will give 

cities and towns in Mississippi more resources to 

invest in improving the business environment 

and the quality of life for our citizens. In the 

meantime, when you choose to shop locally, 

you are doing much more than helping one 

small business–you are supporting your entire 

community. n 


Authentic 

Chamber 

Music 



hen Mississippi Supreme Court Justice 

Jess Dickinson steps from his chamber 

and into life away from the courtroom, 

he’s the true “music man.” The gifted musician, who 

plays thirty musical instruments (yes, thirty), credits his 

grandfather for introducing him to string music. 

Jess was a fourteen-year-old when his grandfather taught 

him how to play the guitar–the guitar he purchased by trading 

ten bushels of personally-picked peaches. In the years that 

followed, Delta musicians influenced his Charleston, 

Mississippi, upbringing and before graduating high school, 

Jess had formed his first band. College life at Mississippi 

State University included another band and a love for a 

musical career that led him to drop out of college and move 

to California. 

After a few years of rubbing shoulders with top musical 

talents, Jess’s love for music didn’t die, but his dream as a 

career musician faded. He moved back to Mississippi and 

completed college and law school. 

In the summer of 1989, Jess and his wife, Janet, vacationed 

through the Ozarks and stopped in Mountain View, Arkansas. 

Jess was immediately captivated by the Ozark musicians that 

gathered on the town square to play their guitars, fiddles, 

mandolins, bass fiddles, harmonicas, banjos, and dulcimers. 

From there the Dickinsons traveled to the Ozark Folk 

Center where Jess encountered his first hammered 

dulcimer. He immediately told Janet that he had to 

have one . 

For the next ten hours, Janet took the wheel of their van 

while Jess, with his new dulcimer, tuner, and twelve-page 

instruction booklet, rode in the back. When they pulled 

in to their Gulfport home, Jess had learned his first song, 

Send the Light, which he played the following Sunday in 

church. In November of 1990, Jess walked onto the stage 

at that same Ozark Folk Center and played three numbers 

on his hammered dulcimer. The packed audience gave him 

a standing ovation. 

Since 2002, Jess has served on the Mississippi Supreme 

Court but hasn’t forsaken his love of music. The Bluegrass 

Appeal is his third band, a talented group that’s performed 

on public radio’s syndicated show, Thacker Mountain Radio 

Hour, and twice on the University of Southern Mississippi’s 

Roots Reunion Concert. Jess also teaches dulcimer lessons 

and performs solo for festivals, weddings, and other events. 

With his judicial duties and nine grandchildren, Jess and 

Janet have busy days ahead and nine more opportunities to 

pass on their musical talents and of course his love for the 

beloved hammered dulcimer. 


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FIRST ANNUAL 

BBQ FUNDRAISER 

OCTOBER 7, 2016 

Benefitting the 

Alzheimer’s Association 



Volume 3, Issue 2 

may/june/july 2016 

The Rock House 

_______________________ 

Dancing Through Life 

_______________________ 

The Lew Crew 

_______________________ 

Teddy "We Care" Bears 

A Print-Worthy Pursuit 


A better name for this story may be “The Power of Serendipity” 

the definition of which means to find amazing things that you 

weren’t necessarily looking for. That’s what I found in Tahya Dobbs 

when God brought us together to form what has been an amazing 

working relationship, and better yet, an even better friendship. 


282016 

Hometown Magazines Staff: Alicia Floyd, Brenda McCall, Daniel Thomas, Rachael Lombardo, Mary Ann Kirby, Tahya Dobbs, Kevin Dobbs

The story of how she and I met is, indeed, 

serendipitous. In the fall of 2013, I had left 

my very corporate management position 

with a popular local magazine and had gone home to 

be a full-time mom. It was a bittersweet move in that 

I absolutely adored the magazine business along with 

the creative process, but corporate media had become 

extremely challenging and sometimes their vision and 

mine didn’t always align. I wanted to expand and they 

wanted to downsize. Bottom lines and budget cuts 

always won out. 

I could have ended my professional life then and 

there and felt as though I had accomplished pretty 

much everything I’d wanted. I’d had a successful career 

in broadcast and print media sales and management 

and felt like I was going out on a high note. The 

holidays were approaching and I proceeded to spend 

my first stress-free break at home with my husband and 

then-ten-year-old son. I was relaxed and present in 

a way that I hadn’t been in years’ past when precious 

allotted vacations days were being rationed out until 

the very end of the calendar year. 

The holidays came and went and my son had 

started back to school. I was beginning to settle into 

my “new” routine and operating at a completely 

different pace–and I liked it. One day I was out 

running some errands and got a call from one of my 

favorite former long-time clients. Noel Daniels called 

to tell me, “There’s a gal out here with this new 

magazine and I think you two need to meet. She’s 

a real go-getter and really has a good thing here. 

You could probably help her. It’s called Hometown 

Brandon. Can I give her your number?” 

The irony was that just a couple of days earlier I’d 

noticed a new Facebook page that had been launched 

called Hometown Brandon Magazine. It had grown to 

over 2,500 likes within the first several hours of being 

created and how I happened to stumble upon it, out of 

all the things posted on Facebook, only God knows– 

but I did. And to be honest, it made me ache for the 

business I so loved. I told Noel to absolutely share 

my number. 

A couple of hours later my phone rang. “Mary 

Ann, this is Tahya Dobbs. Noel Daniels gave me your 

number so I hope you don’t mind that I called. Is this 

a good time?” That was in the spring of 2014. 

She was incredibly easy to talk to and we hit it off 

immediately in that very first call. It turns out that 

Tahya had recently had a career change, too. For years, 

she had been a homemaker and raised children–not 

just her own three, but four more from the foster 

system, as well. Her husband had a life in ministry and 

together they had hearts for the Lord and made lives 

of service to the church. She carpooled and catered 

and taught Sunday school. She was busy raising 

children and having a house full was fulfilling to her– 

but God had more to come. 

Once her kids were all in school, Tahya decided to 

explore her options outside of the home. She eventually 

took a job with the City of Brandon mayor’s office and 

fell in love immediately with all they did to promote 

Brandon. She said, “I couldn’t believe I was getting 

paid to actually promote the city! It was such a joy and 

I made countless friends and connections while doing 

it. We created events and partnered closely with our 

local merchants. It was truly a dream job.” 

That’s where the seed for the magazine got planted. 

Tahya recalls, “I’ll never forget one day when one 

of the ladies from the Brandon Garden Club came into 

our office with a stack of Desoto County publications 

and wanted to know what it would take for the City of 

Brandon to have its own magazine.” That’s when the 

bug bit. She went home that day and told her husband 

that she was going to do a magazine. 

“I literally felt convicted,” she went on to say. “I 

left my job at the mayor’s office and set up camp on 

my kitchen table as publisher of a yet-to-be-named 

publication. And while I knew nothing about the 

magazine business, I definitely knew what I wanted to 

do with it. I wanted to promote good things. I wanted 

to tell people’s stories–stories about our businesses 

and neighbors and give them a real presence. 

I went to Hederman Brothers, the locally owned 

and operated printer that now prints all our magazines, 

and they gave me the name of a freelance graphic 

designer that might be able to help me. Daniel Thomas 

and I met at McAlister’s in Brandon where I assured 

him I knew absolutely nothing about publishing but 

had already sold some ads and knew what stories 

would be in the first issue. I needed someone to lay it 

out and he quickly assured me he could do it. 

The magazine would be beautifully designed and 

made with high quality paper and would spotlight the 

people in our community that make it the wonderful 

place that it is. I confided with Jamie Wier, a local 

architect-friend, about my idea and he suggested I 

name it something that could work in the event we 

ever decided to expand. Expand? Crazy, huh? That’s 

how we came up with the name Hometown.” 

In July of 2013, Tahya’s parents retired and moved 

from North Mississippi where they had lived and raised 

their children. They wanted remain close to kids and 

grand-kids and decided to make Brandon their home. 

It was a mere three months later that Tahya would 

need both a writer and a photographer to help launch 

her new business. Tahya’s mom, Camille, had written 

for newspapers for over twenty years and her dad, 

Othel, was a professional photographer. Once again 

God was orchestrating His plan and revealing each 

piece of His extraordinary puzzle. 

The community welcomed Tahya and her new 

venture with open arms. All those contacts she’d made 

while working for the City were vital as she started 

knocking on doors and asking for support. People 

were blown away just a few weeks later when she came 

back to deliver her very first issue of Hometown Brandon 

Magazine. The quality surpassed all expectations and 

she’d managed to capture the very essence of their 

beautiful community and the people that make it 

special. 

Since then, Hometown has expanded. She and 

her husband Kevin have added Hometown Brookhaven, 

Hometown Clinton, Hometown Rankin and Hometown 

Madison. They publish 24 magazines a year with a 

circulation nearing 250,000 and have recently 

partnered with several area chambers of commerce 

to publish their chamber guides. They’ve moved off 

of the kitchen table and into an office space and it 

now takes a staff of ten to meet the demands of 

their ever-growing business. It’s been a remarkable 

homegrown success story that I’ve been blessed to 

witness, firsthand. And not only does she allow me 

to tinker with the magazines, once again doing what 

I love, but she’s become one of my dearest friends. 

But make no mistake, Tahya doesn’t take a bit of 

their success for granted. She and Kevin continue to 

honor God at every turn and believe deeply that “to 

whom much is given, much is required.” Much of the 

content that they publish is boldly faith-based and 

serves as a reflection of their core values–both in their 

lives at home and in their business. 

She goes on to say, “It never occurred to me that I 

could possibly fail. Thankfully, I didn’t know enough 

to know what all could go wrong. But I felt strongly 

that God was showing me favor and I owed it to 

Him to give it everything I had. I had to have faith. 

So, that’s what I did. 

It’s been really incredible. I can’t believe how far 

we’ve come–and how much I’ve grown, personally. 

And nothing gives me greater satisfaction than having 

a business owner that has supported me and entrusted 

me with their advertising dollars call and say, ‘Tahya, 

it worked.’” n 


DON’T BE 

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©2016 JEA 



If you could have 

any job for one day, 

what would it be 

and why? 

AnnA Kennedy 

A chef in New York. 

I’ve always loved to cook 

and have always wanted 

to visit New York. 

Michele BrooKs 

Surgeon. This has been 

a dream of mine as a 

child because I love 

helping people. 

FrAnK Burnett, iii 

Exotic racecar driver. 

I like cars and the 

places they go. 

hunter VAughn 

Sports coach. 

I enjoy coaching kids 

and leading them in 

the right direction. 

nicole Mcelroy 

Pharmacist so that 

I can help people 

who are sick. 


cArol hArtMAn 

Ballet dancer with the 

New York City Ballet and 

dance in The Nutcracker. 

It has been a dream 

of mine since 

I was a child. 

Josh WAshington 

CEO of a bank so that 

I could make executive 

decisions and help people 

with their investments. 

BAylee gAughF 

Singer. Growing up 

watching American Idol, 

I always imagined myself 

on stage singing in front 

of Simon Cowell and 

hearing Ryan Seacrest 

say “The winner of 

American Idol is... 

Baylee Gaughf.” 

christy lArson 

Travel agent. Traveling 

is one of the best 

educational and relaxing 

things you can do. 

FrAnK Burnett 

Sports analyst so I could 

travel to all of the marquee 

collegiate venues, provide 

play-by-plays, interviews 

and insight. Then after 

the games, eat the fine 

cuisines and celebrate 

with the winning team. 

roBert hArrell 

Professional hunter 

because I would be 

working outside doing 

something I love. 


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A Distinguished Career 

Susan Marquez 

Growing up in West Jackson in the 1950s, 

Kenny Windham probably never dreamed 

that he would spend over 50 years of his life in 

the broadcasting industry. Yet in October, he 

retired with 53 years of service under his belt. 

He began at WJDX radio when it was housed 

in the same building with WLBT-TV. His 

oldest brother Albert “Butch“ Windham is 

responsible for Kenny’s being in broadcasting. 

“My father died when I was six years old,” 

Kenny recalled. “He was a public information 

officer with the Mississippi Highway Patrol 

and he died suddenly of a heart attack, 

leaving my mother to raise four children on 

her own.” Butch started working at WLBT 

at night, answering the phone. He moved up 

to film editor and ran camera in the studio. 

When I was in the 11th grade, Butch called 

me at school and told me to come over to 

the TV station. Maurice Thompson hired me 

to answer the phone.” 

Kenny explained how in those days, the 

TV and radio station were the source of all 

information. “People called in to ask about all 

kinds of things,” he remembered. “We had an 

atomic clock and people called just to ask 

what time it was.” Butch taught Kenny how 

to edit film, which opened even more doors 

for him. “He was a hard, hard worker, but he 

wanted to be an agent too. He retired from 

the secret service in Escondido, California.” 

After graduating from Provine High 

School, Kenny went to school at Hinds and 

Mississippi College. “I never really got very far 

from home,” he laughed. He began his studies 

in pre-dental, but ended up earning a degree in 

sociology, all along working 46-hours a week 

at the station. “I came up learning all about 

broadcasting from the best – Alon Bee, Forest 

Cox, Joe Root, Woody Assaf and others. There 

were a lot of married couples working there 

at the time. It was like a big family.” 

He stayed on at the station after 

graduation, moving into radio sales. In 1974, 

WJDX moved to its current location on 

Beasley Road in Jackson. The station has 

been through a multitude of changes, with 

the station being bought and sold several 

times. Currently it’s part of the iHeart Radio 

group, which includes WJDX 620 AM, 105.1 

The River, Z106, MISS103, and Hallelujah 95.5, 

along with many other offerings available on 

the iHeart Radio app. 

Maggie Clark, owner of Maggie Clark 

Media Services, recalled meeting Kenny in 

1971. “I had just moved back to Jackson from 

Montgomery following the death of my first 

husband. I was hired to work as the traffic 

director for WJDX and WZZQ. Kenny had just 

gone from running camera at WLBT to sales 

at WJDX. His wife, Trish, and I were pregnant 

at the same time and Kenny was so kind to 

me. What impressed me about Kenny was 



that he would go after accounts that no one 

else would–boutiques and the like. He was the 

number one sales person right out of the gate 

for WZZQ. He managed to hang in through 

five ownership changes, surviving them all. 

I can’t think of anyone who has more honor 

and integrity than Kenny Windham.” 

Over the years, Kenny worked with many 

young sales executives, bringing them up in 

the business. One of those was Beth Ballard, 

sales director at SuperTalk. “I met Kenny 

Windham in 1993. He took a chance on a 

wide-eyed girl who was selling lipstick and 

perfume. I knew nothing about radio other 

than how to turn one on! He was a firm and 

fair boss and working for him was 

a pleasure. He influenced my love for radio. 

I appreciate that Kenny gave me the chance 

of a lifetime, and a career like no other!” 

Since January 1986, Kenny has served 

as president and market manager for the 

stations, all while sitting on several boards 

of directors for organizations like Mississippi 

Blood Services, Community Foundation of 

Greater Jackson, The Barnett Reservoir 

Foundation, Jackson State University Advisory 

Board and the Mississippi Association of 

Broadcasters. 

For 40 years, Kenny served in the U.S. 

Army Reserve, retiring as a full colonel. In 

January 2003, he was the deputy commander 

with the 3rd Personnel Command, and was 

sent to Camp Doha in Kuwait, just south of 

the Iraqi border. “I had four days’ notice to 

pack my bags and say my goodbyes,” he said. 

He ran the casualty-reporting branch with the 

G1 section of the coalition forces command 

headquarters from many countries. “We had 

a few attacks while I was there. But for the 

most part, I felt safe. It was a heck of an 

experience.” He spent eight months there 

and learned that war is a young man’s game. 

“It was hard.” 

“Kenny and I have been friends for over 

30 years,” said Dolphus Blackmon, a former 

sales executive for Z106 FM. “I have always 

admired him for his service to our country and 

his sincere dedication to so many non-profits, 

promoting their causes through our radio 

stations. If he committed to do something 

for any cause or anyone, you could consider 

it done. He was a friend to many.” 

Kenny was honored at a grand celebration 

at the Country Club of Jackson recently, and a 

host of broadcast veterans and community 

leaders attended, along with present and past 

station employees, advertisers, fellow soldiers, 

friends and family, including granddaughter 

Rainey, whom Kenny describes as “the love 

of my life.” 

What does someone who has been so 

involved in the community for so long do 

when he retires? “I certainly plan on taking 

some time off,” he laughed. Kenny will spend 

some quality time with his wife, Trish. The 

couple met at Hinds Community College and 

married in 1968. Kenny said he also looks 

forward to spending more time with Rainey. 

But he’ll still be involved with the organizations 

he has worked so tirelessly for. “This is my 

second time to chair the Mississippi Blood 

Services board of directors, and I’ll continue 

working with Dr. Elaine Anthony on JSU’s 

advisory board. I hope I’ve helped make her 

department into a college, which is something 

I have been proud to see happen.” Kenny will 

also continue to help with Mississippi 

Association of Broadcasters. “I just got trapped 

into my second tour of duty as the board chair 

there,” he laughed, but said he feels strongly 

about the organization and wants to see it 

continue to do well after the passing of the 

Broadcaster’s executive director, Jackie Lett. 

So even though I’m retired, I will keep busy!” 

Sadly, the week Kenny retired, his brother 

Butch passed away in California. Kenny is 

forever grateful to Butch for introducing him to 

the world of broadcasting so many years ago. 

Looking back on his long career in radio, 

Kenny said he feels so blessed to have been 

there with the people he was with. “There 

have been some really great folks working 

with us, and I’m excited about the future of 

those who are there now. iHeart Radio is 

doing so many neat things and with 

technology changing all the time, it’s only 

going to get better. Statistically, radio is as 

strong as ever, and I know I’ll want to stay 

involved in it somehow.” n 




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MADISON'S FINEST 

Officer Pat Mack 

FLORA POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Why did you decide to be a policeman? 

I knew I wanted to be a police officer since I 

was 11 years old. I was watching female cop 

movies like Foxy Brown and Get Christy Love 

while my siblings were watching The Brady 

Bunch and Little House on the Prairie. 

How long have you been with the 

Flora Police Department? 

I was hired as a patrol officer for the Flora 

Police Department on October 2, 2006; 

so I’ve been with them for ten years. 

Tell us about your family. 

I have four children: two girls and two boys: 

My oldest daughter, Tyieashia Bell, is a crossing 

guard for the town of Flora and a process 

server for Mack’s Process Services, LLC. She 

has two daughters. My youngest, Erica is 

pursuing a career in fashion design. She has 

a 16-year-old son. My oldest son, Jimmy is 

a Callaway graduate and will be graduating 

from Jackson State in December. He also 

wants to pursue a career as a police officer. 

My other son, Joe, is a Callaway graduate 

and has worked at the Animal Emergency 

Referral Center while pursuing a career as 

a veterinarian. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

On my first week, fresh out of the academy, 

I responded to a medical call. The elderly 

female was not breathing, and I had to 

preform CPR until rescue services arrived. 

Once CPR has started you cannot stop until 

someone else takes over. It was only a few 

minutes, but seemed like forever. 

Share some things you enjoy doing 

in your spare time. 

I love taking care of my developmentally 

delayed little sister on my off days. I also love 

designing wine glasses and watching my 

favorite television shows. 

What are three things on your bucket 

list? 

I would love to vacation in Australia and Las 

Vegas. I would also love to get married again! 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I admire my god-sister Freddie Singleton with 

the Hinds County D.A.’s office. She’s very kind, 

funny, and smart. She has taught me a lot 

throughout her law enforcement career. 

When I have questions about a police 

situation, she always has great advice because 

of her 30-year career. 

Where do you see yourself 10 years 

from now? 

If it is the Lord’s will, I will be alive and retired, 

mentoring children who are in need. I want to 

be someone they can talk to when they think 

there is no way out of any bad situation. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

Go to school, finish school, go to college; 

get a degree! Get a career job so you can 

take care of yourself, and avoid a life of crime. 

What is your favorite childhood 

memory? 

My sisters and I used to walk through the 

country fields and pick blackberries. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

They try to fit in where they don’t belong just 

to gain friends and attention. 

What is your favorite thing about the 

City of Flora? 

I love protecting and serving all the Flora 

citizens. I love that they love me! 

What is your favorite thing about 

Madison County? 

It's a quiet, peaceful place to live. 


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Hometown Madison 

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Faith Stuart 

Why did you decide to make Madison 

your home? 

I had just gotten my real estate license and 

this great “fixer upper” came on the market, 

on the water in Natchez Trace Village. My 

husband and I had already redone three 

homes in Jackson so we jumped on it. We 

loved the big, waterfront lot and eventually 

made the house our own. 

How long have you lived in Madison? 

Since 1999. 

Tell us about your family. 

My husband of 32 years is Jim. We have 

one son, Matthew, who is a freshman at 

Mississippi State. My mother-in-law, 

Caroline, also lives with us. The family is 

completed by two adorable mini dachshunds 

and one large rescue dog that we adore. 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Madison? 

There are two: We helped start a new church, 

Madison Heights in 2005. The early years 

were a challenge but now it is thriving. Also, 

youth rec. sports at Liberty Park. My son 

played baseball and soccer for many years. 

We LOVED every minute of it. We made 

lasting friendships from those days. 

Where are your three favorite places to 

eat in Madison? 

Georgia Blue, Bonefish, and Kristo’s. 

What are some fun things to do in 

Madison on the weekends? 

We are really homebodies and do not get 

out much except to meet friends for dinner. 

I do enjoy shopping at some of the great new 

stores! 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

I love to read. I also volunteer at church and 

other places. Until this year, we were always 

going to ballgames where my son was playing 

baseball. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Wow, this is hard. I never thought about it 

before. I guess maybe travel to the coast of 

Maine, watch Dak Prescott play in the NFL 

and hold a grandchild one day. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

With my husband, in a small patio home 

somewhere close to our son’s family. I will 

be selling real estate ’till I’m 70. I absolutely 

love my job. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I will have to say my aunt Hazel Dunnam. 

She has been a community leader in Madison 

for decades. Everyone that knows her says the 

same thing, “she is an amazing woman with 

a big heart.” Having her as family, the thing 

I have always admired the most about her is 

that she is the consummate southern lady 

and also is so strong. She has beautiful 

manners, she is an incredible hostess, and 

always looks beautiful. She never tires of 

helping others and does it with a smile. 

Personally, the biggest lesson I have learned 

from her though is strength. Strength of 

character, strong faith to get her and her 

family through hard times–all the while 

marked by an unmistakable ladylike dignity. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

Everything you expect from growing up in a 

small town. The white clapboard house, 

riding bikes all over town with friends, the 

local Dairy Freeze, never locking the doors. 

My hometown, Mt. Olive, was like Mayberry 

in the 1960s when I was a child. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

“God can and God cares” - Chuck Frost, 

Associate Pastor, Madison Heights Church 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Magazines? 

My favorite part of Hometown Magazines 

are the stories about local people. Madison 

has some amazing people with great stories 

to tell. n 


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NEVER A WORRY 

Susan Marquez

Gayle Kramer is the kind of person people want to be around. An infectious smile 

and jubilant personality makes all who are around her feel joy. “I want to make 

other people happy. I want them to be OK, and I want them to know that I’m OK.” 

Even though she’s just finished six-anda-half 

weeks of daily radiation following a 

lumpectomy procedure for breast cancer, 

Kramer continued living her life each day 

like nothing in the world was wrong. “I didn’t 

have time for cancer,” she exclaimed. “I needed 

to keep working!” 

Kramer’s journey with cancer began with 

a regular checkup and routine mammogram 

earlier this year. “I hadn’t heard anything 

about the results after two or three days, so 

I called the doctor’s office and said I knew 

everything was fine, but I thought I should just 

check in.” After reviewing the results, Kramer 

was told by her doctor that no, something 

didn’t look right, and she needed to go for a 

biopsy. “Even then, I wasn’t concerned. I just 

thought it was something they had to do, and 

that they’d realize after the biopsy that I was 

just fine.” 

But she wasn’t fine. Kramer had breast 

cancer and she had to go home and tell her 

husband, Larry. I sat my daughter and him 

down and told them and I also told them 

they’d better not worry about me, because 

I was going to be fine. I told them that the 

Lord and I had this!” 

Kramer likes information, and before she 

made any decisions on treatments available 

to her, she did her research. “I Googled all I 

could, and talked with friends who had had 

cancer, and their friends who had had cancer. 

I made appointments to talk with a plastic 

surgeon, a radiologist and an oncologist. They 

were all within the Baptist Medical system, 

so they all talk with each other. It took a lot of 

time, but I’d recommend that anyone having 

to make decisions about their own healthcare 

or that of a loved one to be informed. I like 

information.” 

She met with her surgeon, Dr. Scott Berry 

at Baptist, and he explained all the options 

available to her. “He talked about a full 

mastectomy and a lumpectomy. In the end, 

I chose the lumpectomy and radiation, along 

with oral hormone-blockers.” 

Her faith, her friends and her family all 

kept Kramer going when she wasn’t the one 

to keep their spirits up. “I’ve been through a 

lot in life. I had to go through a divorce and a 

move to the Jackson area about 15 years ago. 

Lots of folks in my family have had any number 

of heart problems, but no one had ever had 

cancer, so this was a total shock. But for some 

reason, it never really bothered me.” 

With an attitude like Kramer’s, one has to 

wonder if anything bothers her. “I know that 

each day you can wake up and make choices in 

life about anything from finances to relationships. 

But the fact of the matter is that I didn’t 

make a choice to have cancer. I’ve always had 

such a dark and burdensome feeling come 

over me when someone I love is diagnosed 

with cancer, but when it was on my end of the 

equation, I didn’t feel that way, so I made it 

my mission to make sure others didn’t feel 

bad about my situation either.” 

Kramer is a native of Memphis and her 

husband is from Yazoo City. The couple lives 

in Yazoo County and attends the Blackjack 

Baptist Church. “It’s 203 years old!” She 

commutes to work at The Blake in Ridgeland 

each day where she is the activities director. 

“My job can be stressful, but it’s more rewarding 

than anything.” When she first moved to the 

Jackson area, Kramer had to go back into the 

work force. She rented apartments for Kane 

Ditto, then sold residential real estate. From 

there she went to work at Embassy Suites in 

Ridgeland. One day she walked over to The 

Blake, thinking they were apartments. “They 

hired me right away as the concierge, but I had 

a hard time sitting still!” She said the Lord 

spoke to her heart and told her to just be still 

for a while, and although it was hard, she did, 

and after a year her boss offered her the 

activities director position. “I love it! It’s the 

perfect job for me.” But because she sees the 

residents daily and she’s so involved with their 

lives, she sat down with them and explained 

her situation. She didn’t want them to get 

wind of it or worry about her. “I figured if they 

knew what was going on and they saw me 

here every day, they would know all was OK.” 

At this point, Kramer said she is healed 

from cancer. “I have to go back every so often 

to get checked, but I am not going to worry 

about it.” Her doctor put her name in to be a 

model in a fashion show with other cancer 

survivors at Mistletoe Marketplace. “Joan 

Lunden will be the special guest, so I guess 

I’ll be up there modeling for her!” 

Kramer said she’s seen a diagnosis like 

cancer or other life events really make people 

stop in their tracks. “You have to keep moving 

forward. To me, the best medicine ever is to 

bring joy to other people. When you know 

you’ve made someone happy, you can’t help but 

be happy, too.” The one thing she suggested 

anyone do for those going through cancer is 

to send a card. “I used to feel so helpless, but 

when I was going through treatment, I got 

so many cards. That really lifted my spirits. 

Now I know to send lots of cards to anyone 

who is going through cancer!” n 


BREAST CANCER 

AWARENESS 

PARTY 

In honor of Gayle Kramer 

October 18, 2016 / The Blake Ridgeland 



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The CHALKBOARD 

MADI SON COU NTY SCHOOLS 

Germantown 

Germantown High School crowned Amber Young as their 

2016 Homecoming Queen. Amber is the daughter of Keith 

and Camille Young. 

12th grade: Hailey Gray, Amber Young, Emma Simpson, Khaki Peets, 

Jesseca Bass, Molly Crocker 

11th grade: Candace Barlow, Kylie Cockrell, Mary Morgan Agostinelli, 

Allie Wilcox 

10th grade: Hailey Soper, Madison Smith, Emme Walker, Grayson Amis 

9th grade: Destiny Ewing, Nicole Easley, Mary Blair Carmody, Iris Ball 


Submissions provided by local officials from each individual district and not to be considered editorial opinion.

Germantown 

Germantown High School held a Community Pep Rally 

Thursday, September 22, as part of their homecoming festivities. 

The homecoming court was recognized on the field during 

this event. 

9th grade: Justas Bowers, Destiny Ewing, Holden Grimes, Mary Blair Carmody, 

Nicole Easley, Easton Wynn, Iris Ball, Isaiah Wilson 

11th grade: Kyle Holmes, Mary Morgan Agostinelli, Tondra Green, 

Candace Barlow, Kylie Cockrell, Ben Bell, Allie Wilcox, Noah Greenwood 

10th grade: Eli Thurman, Madison Smith, Carson Fisher, Hailey Soper, 

Grayson Amis, Reid Lott, Emme Walker, Will Fairly 

12th grade: Jay Michael Cooper, Molly Crocker, Owen Ivan, Hailey Gray, 

Trey Buckley, Amber Young, Emma Simpson, Dean Damon, Jesseca Bass, 

Keairee Ealey, Khaki Peets, Cody Dinkelacker 




Mannsdale 

Mannsdale Elementary second graders just held their annual “Fairy 

Tale Ball.” Students read fairy tales (even fractured ones), fables 

and folktales during this unit. In music, students learned songs and 

dances to correspond with the literature. They put what they 

learned together and performed for their parents. 



Madison Station 

Elementary 

Madison Station Elementary is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. 

On September 23rd, it was Madison Station night at the Madison 

Central football game against Clinton. The MSE honor choir sang 

before the game and each MSE student was given a balloon to 

release as they ran across the field at the beginning of the game in 

honor of the 25th birthday! Happy Birthday MSE! 

MRA 

The American Cancer Society hosted their 22nd Brunson 

Memorial Golf Tournament at Annandale Country Club. This 

year’s tournament honored one of our very own, Missy Hollis, 

1st grade teacher and patron of MRA, who is a five-year colorectal 

cancer survivor. Missy is an inspiration and shares her passion for 

getting the message out about colorectal cancer. 

On September 29th, MRA partnered with the American 

Cancer Society to have “Missy Hollis Spirit Day” and raise funds 

through this meaningful event. Each student could make a 

minimum donation of $5 and dress in their school “spirit day” 

attire. With every dollar raised, we were able to help support 

those affected by every cancer in every community, including 

those who are currently dealing with a cancer diagnosis, those 

who may face a diagnoses in the future, and those who may avoid 

a diagnosis altogether because of education and risk reduction. 

MRA is happy to announce that we collected a total of 

$11,0003.75 for this amazing cause! 




Ann Smith 

The second grade Pathways students recently visited the Nissan 

Training Center in Canton in preparation for the construction of 

their VEX IQ robots. In addition to their visit, they are working 

on coding and learning to think sequentially which will be a must 

in programming the robots successfully! Upon completion, they will 

compete with other Madison County Schools as they maneuver 

their robots through a series of challenges. Their teacher is Mrs. 

Lynda Flynn. 

Camden 

Elementary 

Students in Mrs. Lindsay’s 2nd grade class wore surgical caps and 

masks to perform “Text Feature Surgery” from articles read in 

Scholastic News. 

Students in Mrs. Bynum’s and Ms. Griffin’s 3rd grade classes visit 

Judge Will Longwitz to learn about the government. 

Canton Academy 

Mrs. Dawn Lampkin’s Canton Academy K-3 class finished a unit 

on the letter “D” by celebrating Doughnuts with Dad. Each 

student invited their dad to class for breakfast. A fun time was had 

by everyone! Pictured are Kenner and Bo Purvis, David and Eli 

Brock, Bobby and Autumn Martin, Chris and Beau Bitner, 

Jonathon and Aiden Broome, Morgan and Jolene Belote. 

Walk to school day 



St. Anthony 

Father Albeen joined us for our Annual Pet Blessing! It was a 

beautiful morning for our four legged fur-babies, a fish, some crabs, 

a few reptiles, a frog, and a turtle who were received with prayers 

and sprinkled with holy water. We all had fun getting to know our 

animal friends, and it turned out to be a purr-ific morning. 

Another happy tail in the books! 




Christ Covenant 

Christ Covenant School celebrated our Fall Into Fun Festival on the 

school campus on October 6th. This annual festival is the largest 

school fundraiser with fun events for the entire family and includes 

games, sweet treats, inflatables, laser tag, rock climbing, creative 

competitions, and a silent auction. 



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The Time Coin 

Martha absolutely loved Christmas. 

It was a package of so many joys! 

There were two entire weeks 

of vacation from school and those dreaded 

timed multiplication sheets. There were 

presents to wrap and hide, cookies to make 

and share, boiled custard to drink and weeks 

of smelling fresh pine and cedar in the house. 

Only one thing hung a veil over Martha’s Christmas joy. It was the 

Christmas play that her mother always planned for the Christmas Eve 

program at their church. 

Since the cast was usually small in their rural fellowship, Martha 

knew her mother wanted every child to have a speaking part. “That will 

please their parents,” she would tell Martha, but Martha found no 

pleasure in saying anything in front of crowds. 

She pleaded with her mother to let her skip the play or hold a spot 

light, but Martha’s mom was insistent that her daughter do her part. 

“I’ll give you your lines early so you’ll have plenty of time to learn 

them. It’ll be verses from the Christmas story. It won’t be hard, Martha,” 

she would say in consoling tones. 

The 24th came, on time, and Martha, the shepherd girl, stood in 

bath robe and sandals with a sweaty staff clenched in her nervous hands. 

Her heart pounded as she tried to keep her eyes on the baby doll Jesus 

and blend in with the other shepherds. 

She knew that she knew her verses but 

would they come out on cue? Suddenly she 

heard her voice, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord 

came upon them, and the glory of the Lord 

shone round about them, and they were sore 

afraid.” 

Martha halted! Her mind went blank and 

white like her face as she experienced the “sore 

afraid.” Her body and speech were paralyzed. She tried swallowing, 

but her mouth felt starchy and dry. She heard her mother whisper a 

prompt, “And the angel said,” but she needed more. 

She took a shepherd’s step toward the stage wing and tripped the 

cord that lit Baby Jesus. The manger went dark. Hysteria was ready 

to pounce! Martha wished for all the lights to go out so she could hide 

under the church. 

Suddenly a heavenly voice spoke. It was the rest of her lines and in 

her brother’s calm and clear words. Martha beamed through tear-filled 

eyes as her older brother shepherd, her good shepherd that night, 

continued, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 

heavenly host praising God, and saying. . .” 

Martha’s heart suddenly flooded with the Christmas spirit. She 

stepped closer to her brother that she loved with renewed brotherly 

love and joined in, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 

good will toward men.” And Martha meant it with all of her heart. n 


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Hometown Madison - November & December 2016

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