Hometown Madison - May & June 2015

May/June 2015 

Farmers Market 

______________________ 

Too Cool for Pool 

______________________ 

Madison Spells Summer Fun 

______________________ 

meeting at the crossroads

www.msvein.com 

Visit msvein.com to watch all of Lori’s story. 

msvein.com 601-707-7026 

111 Fountains Blvd Madison, MS 39110 

before 

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Hometown madison • 3

MISKELLY FURNITURE, MADISON 233 GRANDVIEW BLVD. 601.853.6233 (NEXT TO MALCO THEATER) 

MISKELLYS.COM 

4 • March/April May/June 2015

Publisher & Editor 

Tahya Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin Dobbs 

associate Editor 

Erin Williams 

CONSULTANT 

Mary Ann Kirby 

Account Executives 

Alicia Adams 

Camea Dobbs 

Rachel Lombardo 

Reese Suruvka 

Misty Taylor 

Photography 

Othel Anding Photography 

Layout Design & Production 

Christian McElveen 

Daniel Thomas • 3dt 

Contributing Writers 

Camille Anding 

Mark Byrd 

Camea Dobbs 

Murray Harber 


Abbie Walker 

Erin Williams 

• • • 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownMadisonmagazine 

The Little League fields are turning green and a part of me wants to park my car and take a 

nostalgia break on their tender spring grass. I recall innocent childhood times swinging my Little 

League bat at the gentle throws that my coach/dad pitched to me. My dad sponsored our team and 

was an assistant coach. I was confident I would be a star. 

There was just one small glitch. My brother, younger by four years and shorter by six inches, could 

hit the ball closer to the outfield fence and could field a ground ball like a miniature pro. He knew 

I could outrun him—but this was baseball, not track. 

My daddy knew how badly I wanted to out-perform my kid-brother, so he practiced with me in 

our backyard. And while that should have given me just the extra training I needed to compete with 

my brother’s natural athleticism, he, unfortunately, showed up at every practice, too. He caught the 

grounders that I missed and relished throwing me out when he fielded for Daddy and me. I was the 

one needing the practice but little brother was the one that benefitted 

the most. But, despite our sibling rivalry, those times make for some 

of my fondest memories. 

Perhaps this will be the spring that you, too, can make memories 

around the baseball park or with other special family outings. Don’t 

waste a moment. Time flies, for sure. Invest some quality time in a 

young person. Great memories are practically guaranteed. 

Thank you for picking up this month’s issue of 

Hometown Rankin Magazine. We appreciate your support 

more than you’ll ever know. Happy Spring! 

www.HTMags.com 

Contact us at 

info@htmags.com 

601.706.4059 

• • • 

Hometown Madison is published by 

Hometown Magazines. 

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. 

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 Madison 

is funded by advertising. 

In this issue Dont Blink ............................. 9 

Madison Farmers Market............. 12 

Madison Spells 

Summer Fun.............................18 

Erskine Wells ...................... 33 

Meeting at the Crossroads .............34 

Too Cool for Pool. ................... 42 

Canton's Starring Role in Film. ....... 60 


Get your skin ready for 

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Enjoy a 60 - minute Hydrafacial and a 60-minute pure relaxation massage 

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6 • May/June 2015

Special Olympics Mississippi 

and Tops Soccer Program recently 

joined forces in Madison to offer a 

soccer match-up for athletes with 

intellectual disabilities. With the goal 

of getting younger athletes to play and 

enjoy team sports, Special Olympics 

Unified Sports promotes social inclusion 

through shared sports experiences. 

Based on the success of this inaugural 

program, they hope to make this 

an annual event. 


WE ARE IN MADISON! 

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For an appointment please call 601-982-7850. 

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Don’t Blink-It GoesByFast 


Spring is here. Triple-digit temperatures 

are just around the corner and while I dread the 

heat,I very much look forward to some relaxed 

time with my family; particularly my evergrowing 

12-year-old. It’s going so fast. 

As adults, we’ve always known that “time 

flies” – but just a couple of weeks ago, my own 

child commented on how fast the weekends 

seem to go by. I didn’t know kids had much 

concept of time beyond, “how much longer is it” 

and “are we there yet?” Call me crazy, but I’m 

pretty sure that time is going by faster than it 

used to. And I doubt that the warp-speed 

hyper-scheduling we all endure helps much. 

The morning that I wrote this, the Kenny 

Chesney song Don’t Blink came on the radio 

and made me teary. (Note: it doesn’t take much 

to get me all blubbery and choked up. They say 

having kids does that to a person. I believe it.) 

The song refers to a man turning 102 years old. 

He’s being interviewed and is asked what he 

considers to be the secret of life. He answered, 

“Don’t blink. 100 years goes by faster than 

you think.” 

It got me to thinking (and writing)–am I so 

busy running, trying to keep up, that I’m missing 

the most important part of it all? Kenny’s 

fictitious centenarian says to, “Best start putting 

first things first . . . ‘cause when your hourglass 

runs out of sand, you can’t flip it over and start 

again. Take every breath God gives you for what 

it’s worth.” 

With that in mind, I’ve made a mid-year 

(and mid-life) resolution. I want to do things 

differently. I want to notice more–and to 

appreciate more. I not only want to step out 

of my box and go places I’ve never been, see 

things I’ve never seen, eat places I’ve never 

eaten and do things I’ve never done–but I 

want to see the things around me, differently. 

Erma Bombeck is one of my all-time 

favorite columnists. Back in 1979, she wrote a 

column called, “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” It 

reiterates that the time we have should be 

appreciated and used wisely. She was 52 

when she wrote it–basically, my age. We 

should all take it as excellent advice in today’s 

high-velocity environment. She says: 

“Someone asked me the other day if I had 

my life to live over, would I change anything. 

My answer was no, but then I thought about it, 

and changed my mind. 

n If I had my life to live over, I would have 

talked less and listened more. 

n Instead of wishing away nine months of 

pregnancy, and complaining about the shadow 

over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of 

it and realized that the wonderment growing 

inside me was my only chance in life to assist 

God in a miracle. 

n I would have never insisted the car windows 

be rolled up on a summer day because my hair 

had just been teased and sprayed. 

n I would have invited friends over to dinner 

even if the carpet was stained and the sofa 

faded. 

n I would have eaten popcorn in the ‘good’ 

living room and worried less about the dirt 

when you lit a fire in the fireplace. 

n I would have taken the time to listen to my 

grandfather ramble about his youth. 

n I would have burned the pink candle 

sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. 

n I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn 

with my children and never worried about 

grass stains. 

n I would have cried and laughed less while 

watching TV–and more while watching life. 

n I would have shared more of the 

responsibility carried by my husband, which 

I took for granted. 

n I would have 

eaten less cottage 

cheese and more 

ice cream. 

n I would have gone 

to bed when I was sick 

instead of pretending the 

Earth would go into a holding 

pattern if I weren’t there for a day. 

I would never have bought ANYTHING 

just because it was practical/wouldn’t 

show soil/guaranteed to last a lifetime. 

n When my kids kissed me impetuously, 

I would never have said, ‘Later. Now go get washed 

up for dinner.’ 

n There would have been more ‘I love yous’ ... more 

‘I’m sorrys’ ... more “I’m listenings’ ... but mostly, given 

another shot at life, I would seize every minute ... 

look at it and really see it ... try it on ... live it ... 

exhaust it ... and never give that minute back 

until there was nothing left of it.” 

Is there any way to say it better? 

It’s a great lesson for me about 

life–and time–and the 

passage of time, 

particularly as we 

embark on a new 

season. I plan 

to begin living 

life more 

deliberately– 

and I’m 

starting 

today. 

Don’t blink. 


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Susan Marquez 

If Old McDonald had a farm, he’d 

almost certainly sell his bounty at a 

farmer’s market. The markets have been 

around for decades, but there’s been a 

major trend towards farm-to-table dining, 

making farmers markets more popular 

than ever. People want to know where 

their food comes from, how it’s grown 

and who grows it. 

The Madison Farmers Market 

launched last year and was a huge success 

from the start. Open each Tuesday from 

May through late August, it was a place 

for area farmers and producers to sell their 

products to a welcoming community. 

Robin McCrory oversees the Madison 

Farmers Market. At a meeting of potential 

vendors on March 17 at the Madison Square 

Center for the Arts, McCrory said that 

farmers markets can be seen all across the 

country. “Farming, baking, making things 

with our hands–it’s getting back to the 

basics and good, clean, healthy living. 

Farmers markets have also become a place 

for people to gather and visit. We saw a 

lot of that in Madison last year.” 

The Farmers Market in Madison is 

limited to food items only. “Those can be 

cottage food items, made at home,” 

explained McCrory. “All cottage foods 

much have all the permits and follow 

the cottage food rules and regulations 

concerning packaging and labeling. We 

are a certified market, which means it’s 

very important that we meet all the 

regulations.” 

Last year’s market was held on the 

grounds of the Arts Center, from 4:00pm 

to 8:00pm each Tuesday. This year, vendors 


agreed to shorten the hours of the market 

from 4:30pm until 7:00pm. “We learned 

from the first year when the customers 

started coming and when they stopped 

coming,” said McCrory. The market will 

have a “soft” opening on May 12, with the 

grand opening to be held May 19. 

The market is truly farm-to-table, or 

even “farm-to-dog bowl,” jokes McCrory. 

Some of the treats that will be found at the 

market this year include baked goods, 

dog treats, farm eggs, hydroponic lettuce, 

tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, strawberries 

and more. Remington-Lott Farms will be 

new to the market this year, with grass-fed 

Angus beef. All the cattle is born on the 

farm in Canton. The company has been 

selling to area restaurants and will now 

offer the beef to the public at the Madison 

market. “Variety is the spice of life,” said 

McCrory. “We are providing that variety. 

We are listening to our shoppers and 

trying to give them what they want.” 

Jim Klein is returning to the market 

this year with organic pecans, the “world’s 

hottest peppers,” and a new variety of 

blueberries in addition to pesticide and 

herbicide-free heirloom tomatoes. “It’s 

important as a grower to be at the farmers 

market. I enjoy the market in Madison– 

the clientele is fun and there’s a great family 

atmosphere.” In his second year of 

operation inside the city limits of Madison, 

Chuck Wood is also looking forward to 

being at the Madison market this year. “It 

gives us the ability to stay local and provide 

a quality product to my neighbors and the 

community. The Madison market is a 

great place to meet new people. It’s a very 


laid-back, social atmosphere.” Wood and 

his wife sell tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, 

zucchini, fresh cut flowers, and they’re 

hoping to have goji berries. 

Back for his second year, Mike Rodriguez 

will be selling his popular Wamego Valley 

Farm pasture-raised eggs, along with summer 

vegetables and grapes. “The populace of 

this area understands the concept of smallscale, 

chemical-free farming and production. 

Having a place like the Madison market 

allows me to explore new things. I’m hoping 

to have apples and figs, down the road.” 

Future plans are to have a more 

permanent farmers market in Madison. 

“We want to have a place where the 

farmers can back their trucks up to their 

booth,” McCrory said. “It will be cooler 

for them and shoppers will be able to 

come rain or shine. Of course, we have 

to establish ourselves a bit more.” 

Pam Waldrop, director of the Madison 

Square Center for the Arts, says she’s 

looking forward to having the farmers 

market in her “front yard” again this year. 

“We want all the farmers and vendors to 

be successful so they’ll come back year 

after year. The neat thing about having 

the market here is that we also have classes 

inside at the same time. Ballet Mississippi 

and Encore Dance Company both meet on 

Tuesday afternoons, and the parents love 

to shop while their children are in class.” 

Madison received a grant to pay for a 

new market manager. Jennifer Millsaps, a 

farmer’s wife, will attend training for market 

managers presented by the Mississippi 

Department of Agriculture. A promotional 

grant was also awarded, which will help 

advertise the market. Promotional items 

have been ordered that will be given away 

each week at the market, including ball 

caps, fans, tote bags, aprons and more. 

14 • March/April 2015

To make your 

farmers market 

experience a better 

one for both you 

and the vendors, 

please consider 

abiding by the 

following “rules.” 

Farmers 

Market 

Etiquette 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Bring cash, preferably small bills. Not all farmers accept debit or credit cards, 

and if they get a bad check, they’re stuck with paying the bank fees. 

Don’t come while setting up. Vendors need time to unload and set up, and it takes 

a certain amount of concentration. If you come early, it can put them behind, and 

they won’t be ready when the market is set to begin. 

Don’t come after closing. Most farmers are in the fields early each morning, 

and after working the market, they’re ready to pack up and go home. 

Don’t bargain! The farmers have a significant investment of time and money 

in their products. What they don’t sell today can be sold in another market 

tomorrow or used at home. 

Leave your pets at home. You don’t take your 

dog in the supermarket, and not everyone 

appreciates having a dog around food. 

Be sure to take advantage of the farmer’s 

market booth as well, and feel free to share 

your recipes with the farmers. Get to know 

them, and tell them how you used the 

items you bought from them last week! 


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“service is very important to me and 

that’s why i like to bank with priorityone. they have the 

best service around, they always go above and beyond to 

help me every time i need something.” 

-tiffany jimenez, jose’s mexican restaurant 


Madison 

Spells 

Summer 

FUN 


Mississippi Hot Air Balloon 

Festival in Canton 

The City of Canton Parks and Recreation, in collaboration 

with the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau and the 

Mid-Mississippi Balloon Association, present the 

29th Annual Mississippi Championship 

Hot Air Balloon Race and Festival July 3-5. 

V i s i t c a n t o n p a r k s a n d r e c r e a t i o n . c o m f o r m o r e d e t a i l s . 


A Low Country Affair 

Cooking Class at Farmer’s Table 

Cooking School 

Wednesday, May 13 from 9:30 - noon. Located in the historic 

Town of Livingston, the Farmer’s Table Cooking School offers a unique 

farm to table culinary experience. View and reserve space 

for yourself, or a group. 

V i s i t f a r m e r s t a b l e i n l i v i n g s t o n . c o m f o r m o r e d e t a i l s o n u p c o m i n g d a t e s a n d c l a s s e s . 


Dragon Boat Regatta 

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce presents 

the Seventh Annual Dragon Boat Regatta May 11-16. 

The week-long festivities culminate on race day, May 16th, 

when teams race head to head while a free festival is held 

on-shore featuring music, a children’s village, 

food and more. Very family friendly. 

V i s i t t h e i r w e b s i t e a t m a d i s o n c o u n t y c h a m b e r . c o m f o r m o r e d e t a i l s . 


In Concert 

Miranda Lambert Live 

The C Spire Concert Series is bringing Miranda Lambert 

to Ridgeland. Presented by Alcatel-Lucent, this event 

is Saturday, May 23rd at Renaissance at Colony Park. 

Doors open at 6pm and show starts at 7pm. 

G o t o t i c k e t m a s t e r . c o m f o r d e t a i l s . 


SON Valley Rally 5K 

The SON Valley Rally 5K is hosted by the 

SON Valley Community Center located in Ridgeland. 

It is a Christian assisted living community for disabled adults. 

The race is a fundraiser for the patrons who attend the center 

and takes place May 16, 2015. 

V i s i t s o n v a l l e y r a l l y . w e e b l y . c o m f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d s p o n s o r s h i p 

d e t a i l s . 


Outdoor Symphony 

Pepsi Pops at the Rez 

The 34th annual Pepsi Pops is a concert of star-spangled 

favorites followed by a sky full of fireworks – all to benefit the 

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Gates open at 4:30 

and MSO concert starts at 7:30. Fireworks will follow. 

At Old Trace Park in Ridgeland. 

G o t o m s o t i c k e t s . c o m f o r m o r e d e t a i l s . 


Natchez Trace Century Ride 

Jumpstart the cycling season with the Natchez Trace 

Century Ride. Starting and ending in Ridgeland, the race 

provides an experience for riders of all ages and abilities. 

The race offers distances of 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles. 

The race is presented by The Bike Crossing, The Ridgeland 

Tourism Commission and the City of Ridgeland. 

G o t o n a t c h e z c e n t u r y r i d e . r a c e s o n l i n e . c o m f o r m o r e d e t a i l s . 


Urology Associates 

of Mississippi 

Our physicians are highly skilled and experienced 

in treating a wide array of urology conditions 

Utilizing state of the art equipment and advanced treatment techniques, 

each of our board certified urologists have specific areas of urological 

expertise in addition to providing general urologic care to patients 

all over the state of Mississippi. 

Avinash C. Gulanikar, M.D. • Mark A. Condon, M.D. • Sujith K. Reddy, M.D. 

Please visit us at our new location: 

294 East Layfair Drive • Flowood, MS 

601.936.4645 

• Fabulous Activities 

• New Found Friendships 

• Beautiful Surroundings 

• Fine Dining 

Sunnybrook Estates is a non-profit, Christian retirement 

community dedicated exclusively to senior housing. 

Sunnybrook Estates is known for its outstanding service and a 

long list of amenities in a warm, caring environment where the 

motto is always "Resident First." 

248 Locust Lane, Madison, MS 39110 

www.sunnybrookestates.net 

Phone: 601-856-4050 



Ear, Nose & Throat Q&A 

I suffer from chronic sinus infections 

and require several rounds of antibiotics 

a year for treatment. What can I do? 

Persistent or chronic sinusitis may be caused by 

multiple problems including undiagnosed allergies, 

a weak immune system or, more commonly, 

obstruction of the sinuses preventing normal 

drainage. Obstruction may be due to a combination 

of swelling of the lining of the sinuses along with 

anatomic factors such as a deviated septum, enlarged 

turbinates or nasal polyps. Indeed no two people’s 

sinuses are identical and some have tight drainage 

tracts that predispose to inadequate drainage and 

subsequent chronic infections. Sufferers of chronic 

sinusitis usually require prolonged courses of 

antibiotics along with mucous thinning agents and 

decongestants. Nasal steroid sprays also can be of 

benefit. Evaluation by an ENT surgeon by endoscopy 

(looking into the sinuses with a lighted scope) and 

by CT examination will help determine if the sinuses 

are blocked. Sometimes surgical opening of the 

sinuses is needed. 

Can sinus infections be related 

to allergies? 

Yes. If you suffer from allergies, such common 

particles as pollen, animal dander, or dust mites 

can result in nasal inflammation and edema. The 

paranasal sinuses normally drain into the nose 

through tiny openings called ostia. Nasal inflammation 

and edema can obstruct the normal flow of mucus 

from the sinus ostia resulting in poor sinus drainage 

and bacterial sinus infection. 

What are nasal polyps? 

Nasal polyps are abnormal masses that arise from 

the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses. These 

masses are benign (non-cancerous), and they 

usually arise as a result of chronic inflammation. 

Nasal polyps can cause symptoms of congestion, 

nasal obstruction, decreased sense of smell and 

drainage. Polyps can also contribute to chronic 

sinusitis. Surgical resection of the polyps is sometimes 

needed to relieve nasal obstruction and to treat 

resistant sinusitis. Some polyps may shrink with the 

use of nasal steroid sprays. 

Can ear infections cause hearing loss? 

There is no doubt that ear infections cause a 

temporary loss in hearing; but hearing changes in 

children are usually short, lasting only weeks to 

months. In most cases, the hearing loss caused by 

ear infections is modest and not bad enough to 

interfere with normal communication. While it is 

best to have your child’s ear infections treated, 

the chance of long-term, severe hearing loss due 

to ear infections is not a big worry. 

What is the difference between a 

prescription steroid nasal spray 

and over-the-counter decongestant 

nasal sprays? 

Inflammation and hyper-reactivity are responsible 

for the chronic nature of runny nose and nasal 

congestion. Over-the-counter decongestant nasal 

sprays are frequently purchased because they 

provide rapid reduction of swelling in the nasal 

passages. However, if used more than 3-5 days 

in a row, the nasal passages respond less to the 

medication and nasal symptoms worsen. Over time, 

prescription steroid nasal sprays are more effective 

in controlling chronic nasal allergic symptoms. 

Steroid nasal sprays act directly at the site of 

inflammation without the side effects of oral 

steroids or rebound congestion of retail 

decongestant sprays.” 

My child failed a hearing test at school! 

Screening hearing exams are a great idea. However, 

not all children that fail a screening test have a 

hearing loss. Kids are easily distracted and the 

school can be a tough place to run a test. If your 

child fails a screening hearing exam and you are 

worried that they may have a hearing problem, 

schedule an appointment so a formal hearing test 

in a sound proof booth can be performed. If they 

have a hearing problem it can be treated, if not 

then it will put the parent’s mind at ease. 

Does my child have an ear infection? 

Sometimes it can be very tough to tell if a child has 

an ear infection. It sounds straightforward, but it is 

not. The signs and symptoms of ear infections are 

similar to other common childhood illness and 

simply looking in the ear can also be difficult. 

The child’s history, physical exam, and frequently 

diagnostic tests performed by your doctor are the 

only way to tell for sure if a child has an ear infection. 

What causes ear infections in kids? 

There are several factors that cause ear infections 

in children. Controllable factors that cause infections 

include day-care attendance and second hand 

smoke. Smaller day-care centers are better than 

larger ones. Other factors such as cold weather 

months, family history, and illness at an early age 

(

serving our community 

Chief Derrick Layton 

madison Fire Department 

Why did you decide to become a fireman? 

Being in the emergency field has been a goal of mine 

since I was in the 4th or 5th grade. Immediately 

following high school, I joined the Air Force and 

became a paramedic. While in the Air Force, I started 

volunteering as a firemen and immediately fell in love 

with the fire service. 

How long have you been with your current 

fire department? 

I became a volunteer firefighter with the Madison Fire 

Department in July of 1992. In 1998, I had the opportunity 

to join the department as a full time employee and I 

have never looked back. 

What do you enjoy most about your typical 

day as a fireman? 

I would say that meeting and getting to know the people 

that live in Madison is the best part of my job. I want to 

impress upon our community the realization that when 

they see anyone from our department, it is someone 

that can be trusted and relied on. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced as a fireman? 

The toughest part of the job is to go on emergency 

calls where families have lost a loved one. Those are the 

calls we dread and it never gets any easier to tell the 

families that their loved ones have gone. 

Tell us about your family. 

I have a godly wife of 16 years, Jenny. She is the one 

that helps keep our family on the right track. Tyler (24) is 

my oldest son and getting married in August. Tori (20) is 

my only daughter and she is having our first grandchild, 

a granddaughter, in May. Parker (12), our youngest, is a 

sixth grader at Madison Middle School. 

Share some things that you enjoy in your 

spare time. 

I love spending time with my family. My wife and I both 

work full time so when we have a little spare time, we 

love to camp, vacation together and are very involved in 

our youngest son’s soccer team. 

What do you consider your greatest 

achievement/accomplishment and why? 

Getting to the place where I am now. I followed 

through on a dream I had as a child and becoming a 

firefighter and a paramedic is a dream come true. I love 

the fact that I get to help people on a daily basis. My 

mom and dad were such an inspiration to me growing 

up. They never met a stranger and were both always 

reaching out to help someone in need. I guess they 

rubbed off on me. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I don’t really have a bucket list but I would have to say 

being raised a Mississippi boy, I would love to visit places 

in the U.S. and internationally that I have never been 

before. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

It is really hard to narrow that down to one person. 

I admire anyone who gives back to their community. 

I see people every day in need right here in our own 

community and it really makes me proud to see our 

hard working community selflessly giving back or 

paying it forward. 

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Christmas is my favorite. I love the season because it is 

the birth of Jesus Christ and Christmas represents 

family. I love spending the season with family. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

Going on vacation with my family. Mom and Dad would 

always take us somewhere every summer and I have 

the best memories from those vacations. I hope I have 

made and continue making those same memories with 

my own children. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

Not making wise choices. Social media, peer pressure 

and all the bullying is taking a toll on the society of our 

youth. We need to get back to the fundamentals of 

what is important in life and keep them grounded in 

their faith. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

Be smart and remember God made you who you are 

for a reason. Live for that and not for others trying to 

make you be someone else. 

What is most rewarding about your job? 

Every time someone calls 911, they are in need. Our job 

as firefighters is to help that person with whatever that 

might be. Just knowing we were able to assist anyone 

during their time of need is the greatest feeling. 

Where do you see yourself ten years from now? 

I love my job and plan to continue my daily duties here 

at the Madison Fire Department. I am, however, looking 

forward to retirement and traveling with family. 


canton's finest 

Chief Randy Tyler 

ridgeland police Department 

Why did you decide to become a 

policeman? 

I really think that genuine policemen don’t make 

that decision. A higher authority makes that 

decision before they are born. 

How long have you been with 

your current police department? 

I have been with the Ridgeland Police 

Department for 28 years. 

What do you enjoy most about your 

typical day as a police officer? 

That most days are not “typical”. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced as a policeman? 

Getting promoted up through the ranks 

and having less opportunity to do the actual 

police work. 

Tell us about your family. 

They are mine to enjoy. 

Share some things that you enjoy 

in your spare time. 

My family, wood work, the great outdoors. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

Be a cop (done). Be a father (done). Be a chief 

(done). 

What do you consider your greatest 

achievement/accomplishment and 

why? 

Being a law enforcement officer for 32 years. 

Why? You earn your badge every day, it is a lot 

harder to stay a cop than it is to become a cop. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

James Tyler, my father. He taught me my work 

ethic and how to be a father. 

What is your favorite holiday and why? 

The 4th of July. It celebrates America and is not 

as commercialized as other holidays seem to 

have become. Mine is usually a quiet time with 

my family. 

What is your favorite childhood 

memory? 

Growing up on a ranch, working for my dad 

and being a real cowboy. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

They don’t cash in on the advice of their elders 

who have already learned from their own many 

mistakes. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

Develop a self-discipline that demands that they 

stay focused on their goals. Attention to detail is 

the key to success. 

What is most rewarding about your job? 

Being in a position to fight for what is right. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

Sitting on the back porch with my beautiful wife 

developing a new bucket list. 



Erskine 

Wells 

Hero, Lawyer, Family Man, Leader 

Susan Marquez 

It’s a rare thing for a company to be in 

existence for a century, let alone nearly a 

century and a half. Yet, a law firm in Jackson 

has been going strong for 144 years now. 

Wells Marble & Hurst was founded in 1871 

by William Calvin Wells, and as one of 

the oldest law firms in Mississippi, it has 

established itself as a premier provider of 

legal services to businesses and individuals 

in Mississippi and throughout the nation. 

The firm was first called Wells, Thomas, 

Wells. William Calvin Wells was the great 

grandfather of Erskine Wells Jr of Jackson. 

The law firm then evolved into Wells, 

Wells, Marble & Hurst, representing Wells’ 

grandfather, uncle, cousin and father, Erskine 

Watkins Wells, the first Erskine in a line of 

Erskines, including Erskine Wells III, son 

of Erskine Wells Jr, and Erskine Wells IV, 

the son of Erskine Wells III and grandson 

of Erskine Wells Jr. 

Confused? It’s an interesting family 

lineage and a story worth telling, so try to 

keep up! Erskine Wells (the original, and 

father of Erskine Wells Jr) was born in 1917 

in Jackson. He attended Ole Miss, and during 

his last semester of law school, he was called 

up to the military. Already in ROTC, he 

proceeded to basic training. 

During his four-year stint in the Marines, 

Wells saw action in the earliest battles of 

WWII in the Pacific Theatre, specifically at 

Guadalcanal in the 

Solomon Islands. In the 

fierce fighting that took 

place there in November 

1942, young Wells found 

himself and the men he was 

leading caught between two strong 

pockets of enemy forces. Captain Erskine 

Wells shouted to his men, “Cheer up, boys! 

We have the Japanese right where they 

want us!” He then led his men on the only 

bayonet charge of that campaign. For his 

actions, Captain Wells was awarded the 

highest decoration of the Navy and Marines, 

the Navy Cross. He was also awarded many 

other military commendations before 

coming back to Ole Miss to finish that last 

semester of law school prior to joining the 

family law firm. 

While he had a long and successful 

career at the law firm, Wells is perhaps best 

remembered for being a godly, humble man 

with big aspirations for his church and his 

community. He was a Ruling Elder at First 

Presbyterian Church in Jackson for more 

than fifty years, a position that required a 

tremendous amount of energy, time and 

prayer. He was a fierce defender of the Bible 

and one of the founding members of the 

Board of the First Presbyterian Day School, 

which began in 1964. Wells was also one 

of the founding fathers of the Reformed 

Theological Seminary, 

a seminary that is 

committed to the 

belief that the Bible 

is truly the word of God 

in all of its parts. 

Erskine Wells Jr has fond 

memories of his father. “He was very serious 

about the legal profession, but his life also 

revolved around the church. I remember 

he would carry my brothers and me to 

visit shut-ins after church each Sunday. 

He showed us, through his actions, that we 

should live our lives in service to others.” 

Wells Jr. said that his father also helped 

many African-Americans in the Jackson area 

during the turbulent 1960s. “Looking back, 

I see that was a brave and selfless action.” 

Erskine Wells enjoyed playing tennis 

and spending time with his family. “He was 

a great man,” said Wells Jr. “He was very 

humble and very caring.” Erskine Wells 

died in 2003, but his legacy lives on with his 

namesakes, and with the law firm that still 

bears his name. Wells, Marble & Hurst is now 

one of the oldest law firms in Mississippi. 

The firm’s client base includes insurance 

companies, major manufacturers and 

distributors, employers, contractors, banks 

and financial institutions, large corporations, 

real estate companies and more. n 


Meeting at the 

Crossroads 

Erin Williams 


We’ve all been there before–standing between two distinct paths, 

both very opposite from each other. In that moment decisions, teetering 

somewhere along the line of to do or not to do, must often be made quickly. 

And, most of the time, those are the moments where you remember most 

someone reaching out their hand to help guide you. 

Every day, longtime Madison county resident Vicki DeMoney reaches 

out her hand to do just that. As the executive director of Crossroads Outreach 

Ministries, a faith-based charity dedicated to providing a re-entry home, 

educational classes, and tangible work skills to women in transition, Vicki 

and her staff have touched the lives of over 120 women. 

Although Crossroads didn’t officially open it’s doors until 2008, the 

idea for the ministry came about after Vicki and her friends, Margaret Taylor 

and Linda Edwards, got involved in a prison ministry and helped provide 

mentorship to residing women. During this time, they began to see an 

immediate need for a place for women exiting incarceration to prepare 

themselves both financially and mentally as they productively transition into 

a new way of life. 

Once the women have made it into the 120-day program, following an 

application and interview process, they will live in the facility as well as gain 

access to the organization’s services completely free of charge. Some of 

those services include being able to attend 16 classes aimed at teaching 

educational and real-life skills such as financial management, parenting, 

addiction recovery, cognitive therapy, etc. 

“Our ladies conduct themselves according to our home guidelines 

and have regular duties around the home.” Vicki said. “In addition to our 

classes, they volunteer a portion of their time at Vintage Treasures, our 

retail, re-sale shop.” 

Located on the historic square in Canton, Vintage Treasures opened in 

November 2013. All the funds sold from donated items such as household 

goods, furniture, appliances, etc. go directly back to support the ministry at 

Crossroads. Although Vintage Treasures is only open Thursday-Saturday 

from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the work experience gained by the women at 

Crossroads, who help operate the store, is invaluable. 


“Vintage Treasures has been great because it not only 

gives our women great work experience, it also exposes them 

to others and helps propel them socially.” Vicki said. “On top 

of enjoying that they get their pick of what they need from the 

clothing area, our women really enjoy the community interaction 

the store brings.” 

After the women complete the program, the skills learned at 

Crossroads provide the women a firmer foundation to succeed 

in their next endeavor. For those in need of more time, there is 

a Phase 2, where graduating women can have more freedom 

and their own independent living space. However, a nominal 

rent is charged for the ladies utilizing Phase 2 living facilities. 

“On occasion we do have women who need to stay longer,” 

Vicki said. “Our Phase 2 space is great because we never want 

to put a woman in a position of failure by forcing them to leave.” 

While Crossroads specializes in ministering to women 

leaving the penal system, they do, on occasion, take in women 

who have come from abusive homes or debilitating addictions. 

But, with over 1700 women in Mississippi prisons, 75% of women 

seeking help at Crossroads must be turned away due to lack 

of funding. 

“The need is truly off the charts and it breaks our hearts when 

we have to turn ¾ of our applicants away because we don’t have 

the funding to support all of them. So many women are eligible 

for parole but literally have no place to go.” Vicki said. 

“We really invest in our ladies while they’re here and even 

when they leave. I still get calls from ‘my girls’ on a routine 

basis and I love it. They become a part of our families.” 

Now it’s our turn. Will you stand at the crossroads of life 

and reach out your hand to Mississippi women by supporting 

such a worthwhile ministry? For more information, please visit 

their website at www.crossroadsms.org. 



Autumn King, Christina Grant, Michele McGee 

Kelsey Carroll, Amy Thames, Mallory Robbins 

Grace Girling, Dana Watkins, Angela Reeder 

april 2 

old capitol inn 

benefit for mississippi Burn foundation 

BJ Rademacher, Rachel Allen, Jordan Bryan 

Kyle Keeton, Lauren Tanner, George Tanner, 

Leslie Page 

Jama Killingsworth, Pat Ladnier, Ouida Watson 

Liz Hogue, Alana Miles, Michelle McGee 

Amanda & Pat Fontaine 

Annette Wade, Lanet McCrary 

Ed Douglas, Amanda Carraway 

Dan Robinson, John Sullivan 

Jordyn Lofton, Kayeden Thompson 


Waylon Garrett, Amy House Davis, Melissa Naylor, 

PJ Walker Henry, Christian McGee 

Vanessa Barry, Tracy Bianchi, Beth King, 

Cindy Grantham 

Tom Elkins, Jamie Woods, Christine Carmichael 

Robert & Alana Miles 

Prentiss Grant, Susan Roberts 

Molly Hunter, Lindsey Reimann, Mia Tymes, 

Kaitlyn Tullos, Ashley Sanders 

Mike Naylor, Cliff Osbon 

Megan Dallas, Madison Hardy, Kaleigh McQuagge 

Martin Cobb, Kyle Gonseth, Marty Cooke, 

Triston Cunningham 

Martha Hill, Michelle Hill 

Derryl Jefferson, Alan Creel 

Ed & Marty Douglas, Stephanie Bowering 

Bonnie White 

Keith Clair, Leigh Jones 

Kari Horn, Jennifer Gray, Kayli Cobb 

Hometown madison • 39• 39

Because there’s Merit 

in, “Location. Location...” 

No matter where you are, chances are one of our hospitals or clinics is just down 

the road or around the corner. We’re Merit Health. Six hospitals. 

36 affiliated clinics. And a combined medical staff of more than 

1,800 physicians. All working toward one goal: your health. 

You’ve known us for years, but now we invite you to get to know our 

new names and the Merit our new network can offer you and your family. 

Find out more at MyMeritHealth.com. 

Central Mississippi Medical Center is now Merit Health Central 

Madison River Oaks Medical Center is now Merit Health Madison 

Crossgates River Oaks Hospital is now Merit Health Rankin 

River Oaks Hospital is now Merit Health River Oaks 

River Region Health System is now Merit Health River Region 

Woman’s Hospital is now Merit Health Woman’s Hospital 

1,800 Physicians. 

36 Clinics. 

Six Hospitals. 

One Goal. 

Your Health. 

MyMeritHealth.com 




Too Cool for Pool 

In 2011, Billy and Rhonda Roberts of Sundial in Madison embarked on a backyard redo 

of epic proportions. They solicited the help of Bill Heimer, a local landscape architect, 

to create a plan that would give new life to their somewhat outdated area. 


The original pool 

and landscape was 

installed when the 

home was constructed 

in the early 90’s. 

Heimer and the 

Roberts got busy 

planning for the 

project and 

construction lasted 

about 4 months. 


CPS Pools and Spas 

took the original pool 

down to raw concrete 

and rebuilt from there. 

Another 3000 square 

feet of concrete was 

removed from around 

the pool deck and 

replaced with concrete 

pavers. New stone walls, 

steps and a fireplace 

were added along with 

a cypress arbor. 

An exterior lighting system was added and the stainless 

steel fish in the picture was converted into a fountain. 

And with Rhonda’s loves for gardening, perennial beds 

were added to expand her green space. 



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Lessons in Living 

There’s one particular wall in Vickie McMullen’s apartment 

in Sunnybrook Estates that gives added value to her retirement 

residence. It’s a beautifully framed collection of her husband’s 

military ribbons and medals. Staff Sergeant Milton “Mike” 

McMullen was the last surviving POW of the Pacific Fleet 

from Mississippi. He passed away on December 1 of last year, 

but his story as a WWII POW for three and a half years lives 

on in the best seller, Unbroken. 

Mike McMullen was in the prison camp with Louis Zamperini, 

the lead character in the #1 New York Times bestseller. Vickie 

told how they knew the author, Laura Hillenbrand, by her first 

name due to the frequent phone calls she made to Mike for 

information concerning the POW experience. 

Vickie retrieved their autographed copy of Unbroken that 

the author mailed to them. Mike had marked all the pages that 

made reference to information he had given to Hillenbrand. 

A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Vickie was eighteen when 

she met Mike in a restaurant there. After being released from 

the prison camp, he had been sent to a military hospital in San 

Francisco where staffers worked to rebuild his eighty- pound 

body and treat his frostbitten toes after his being tied to a tree 

all night in frigid conditions. From there he was sent for 

additional rehab to a hospital in Tuscaloosa. 

“When he walked in that restaurant, it was love at first 

sight,” Vickie said, pointing to Mike’s picture in his uniform. 

“I was just taken with him!” she added as she admired his 

picture like it was the first time. After dating just two months, 

they were married. 

When describing their marriage relationship of sixty-eight 

years, Vickie said, “We were like two peas in a pod. We worked 

hard and built and lived in eight different homes during our 

marriage and traveled extensively in our motor home.” 

They moved from their last home in Meridian to the 

Madison area to be near their two sons and extended family. 

Sunnybrook continues to be home for Vickie and she says that 

the loving staff and friends have been great comfort in the loss 

of her husband. Vickie loves working with flowers around 

Sunnybrook and helps to keep the bird population fed. 

When asked if she saw her three grandchildren and five 

great grandchildren very often, she said, “Almost every day on 

Facebook!” Between that and her iPhone, the eighty-eightyear-old 

bundle of energy and enthusiasm is able to maintain 

her zest for life and defy the aging process. With a youthful 

twinkle in her eye, she said, “I don’t like to feel like I’m 

eighty-eight.” 

No one says you have to, Ms. Vickie. Please teach us more of 

your generation’s stamina. We need it. n 


The CHALKBOARD 

Madison avenue elementary 

Dr. Seuss 

Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2–Dr. Seuss’s birthday. 

Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books. 

This year, both Madison Avenue Elementary and Madison Avenue Upper Elementary participated by dressing up as a Dr. Seuss 

character. 



Madison avenue upper elementary 



Madison station elementary 



Madison station elementary 

Event 

lots of pix in the folder??????? 



St. Joseph Catholic School 

Joy at the Joe 

Joy at the Joe is abounding this month. The St. Joe 

students needed a transport truck to bring back the 61 

awards won at the 2015 Mississippi Scholastic Press 

Association Convention. Jack Hall, a junior who is 

serving as a senate page in Washington D.C. this 

semester, won the coveted Orley Hood Sports Writer 

Award for the second year in a row. Junior JoJo Katool 

was chosen broadcast staffer of the year for his work 

calling varsity football games live on Bruin Sports Radio 

network. And Mr. Terry Cassreino, the journalism 

teacher, was named top yearbook advisor for the year 

and The Bear Facts newspaper took the top spot for 

high school newspapers. To view other awards, 

go to www.stjoebruins.com/ourpages/auto/2015/3/ 

26/62141592/NEWS%20RELEASE.pdf 

Jack Hall 

JoJo Katool 

Terry Cassreino 



St. Joseph Catholic School 

Our athletes have also enjoyed much success. Our baseball 

team, under the direction of new coach Gerard McCall, beat 6A 

Warren Central 4-2. Not to be outdone by the diamond boys, the 

tennis team also defeated Warren Central 4-3. The deciding court 

was won by Caleigh Hankins in a 3rd set tiebreak. Other winning 

courts were in doubles with Genin Harkey and Mary Scott Wolfe, 

and Larissa Armour and Marion Welsh. Stedman Strickland won 

boys singles. 

The Fine Arts Center was bustling with excitement as our 

students performed the musical Little Shop of Horrors to a 

packed house. Not only did the actors shine, but they sang too. 

They were accompanied by an orchestra of St. Joe musicians. 

Academic laurels went to our Latin scholars who attended 

the Junior Classical League convention at Millsaps. Junior 

Jack Collins was elected consul and will preside over next year’s 

convention. He and several other students placed in the academic 

and projects contests. To see the list of winners, go to www. 

stjoebruins.com/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC 

ID=453335&id=0. 

Congratulations to Sophia Cosmich, St. Joe’s Star Student, and 

Mrs. Linda King, whom Sophia named as her Star Teacher. 

Father Kevin Slattery celebrated Mass March 27 for our high 

school students and their grandparents. Over 400 people attended 

the Mass and reception hosted by our parent association. 

We are all now looking forward to graduation and the end to 

another school year. It’s been a great year to be a Bruin at St. Joe. 

Senior Joanna Bellan and sophomore Alex Bellan visit with their 

grandmother Joan Boone Bellan, who graduated from St. Joe in 1947. 

Mrs. Bellan was at St. Joe for the annual Grandparents Mass. 

Louis Pelllegrine poses with his two St. Joe grandchildren, Alexandria 

Smith and Caleb Pellegrine after Grandparents Mass. 

Harrison McKee and his 

grandmother, Gwen McKee 

visit at the reception 

for grandparents. 


Q&A 

Dr. Ronnie Falvey, Pastor, FBC Madison 

Tell us a little about your family and 

personal life. 

I grew up in Natchez, Mississippi. I’m 

married to Martha Bryant of Grenada for 

30 years, and have two children Catherine 

(21 years old) and Will (18 years old). 

I have been in the ministry for 30 years. 

I graduated from Mississippi College, 

Southwestern Baptist Theological 

Seminary, and New Orleans Baptist 

Theological Seminary. 

How long have you been the pastor at 

FBC Madison? 

I have been the pastor here for seven years. 

How many different churches have you 

pastored? 

This is my first time to pastor a church. 

I have served on church staff for the past 

23 years. 

What are your goals for FBC? 

Goals for FBC Madison are to position the 

church for the next generation of believers 

while making an impact for the gospel in 

the city of Madison. 

When you aren’t preparing sermons, what 

are some of your favorite things to do? 

I enjoy watching SEC sports, playing 

basketball, reading, hunting and fishing, and 

spending time with family. 

What advice would you give to young 

parents raising children in today’s society? 

What you do matters more than what you 

say. More is caught than taught. Live life in 

front of your children so your life backs up 

your words. 

What’s your favorite Bible verse? 

Philippians 4:13 (my life verse) 

–I can do all things through 

Christ who strengthens me.– 

Do you have any pet peeves? 

People being late and not returning phone 

calls or emails. 

What’s a favorite childhood memory? 

Being involved in sports, football, 

basketball, and track. Those were good 

times. 

What is the legacy you want to leave? 

I want people to say that I loved and served 

God faithfully, and that I loved and served 

my family faithfully. 

Quote from a member regarding Easter 

Sunday/150th celebration: 

“Our church has waited almost 28 years to 

be able to ALL regularly worship together 

under one roof. That’s because we’ve had to 

have multiple Sunday morning services to 

be able to seat everyone. The wait ended 

Easter Sunday 2015. For me, the experience 

was indescribable. First was the awesome 

sense of God’s presence in our new 

sanctuary; second was an overwhelming 

desire to worship and praise our living 

Savior. When Cindy Coon, soloist sang 

“Arise My Love”, and the church responded 

by standing in unity, you could sense the joy 

and love that the disciples must have felt as 

they realized that Jesus was indeed alive! 

Then and now, I rejoice over the anticipation 

of the hundreds who will come and receive 

God’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life. 

It was an Easter morning I will never forget.” 

–Patsy Tolleson 


History of 

FBC Madison 

The congregation of First Baptist Church 

began with just 19 charter members when it 

organized on November 3, 1889. The founding 

members named the church Madison Station 

Baptist Church and called J. R. Casten to 

serve as the first pastor at an annual salary 

of $150. 

For several years the group held services 

in the Presbyterian Church. A memorial gift 

enabled the church to take the first step 

toward having its own facilities in 1891. At 

that time Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Lee donated a 

piece of property, which was located west 

of the Methodist church in memory of Mrs. 

Lee’s father, Isaac Bass. On March 6, 1892, 

the church voted to meet with the New 

Hope Baptist Church, which was located 

west of Madison Station. Two years later, in 

1894, the New Hope Church dissolved and 

gave their building, organ, Bible, songbooks, 

and stove to the Madison Station Church. 

On January 23, 1894, men from both 

churches took down the New Hope building 

and moved it to Madison Station where it 

was reconstructed on the church’s property. 

The members from New Hope united with 

the Madison Station Church, and the 

combined membership was boosted to 77. 

Subsequently the name was changed to New 

Hope Madison Station Baptist Church. 

Until 1926, the pastors were part-time, and 

most of them served only a year or two. During 

these early years, the church experienced little 

growth. In 1926, the church building was 

remodeled into a spacious, attractive two-story 

building. But tragedy struck on February 13, 

1944 and the church building burned. For 

the next five years the membership met with 

the Methodists. 

In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Ben L. McMillon, Sr., 

donated a lot for the church building. And 

in 1949, construction was completed on the 

new building. The church was used as the 

sanctuary until it was outgrown and the 

fellowship hall was added to serve the larger 

congregation. The church called a new pastor, 

Rev. Harold Jordan. He served for 17 years 

and became the first full-time pastor in 195 

Under his leadership, the members changed 

the name to Madison Baptist Church and 

added a new annex in 1952. 

Rev. Billy McKay became the next pastor 

in 1967. He was the first to occupy the new 

pastorium. He led the church to build an 

activities building in 1972. In 1975, the church 

voted to construct a building that would serve 

as a fellowship hall and interim sanctuary. 

In November of 1978, Dr. Roy McHenry 

became pastor. During his tenure, the church 

experienced dramatic growth in membership 

and added the positions of full-time minister 

of education and full-time minister of music. 

Dr. James Richardson came to the church 

as pastor in December of 1981. He led the 

church to realize its potential and to fulfill its 

mission to the rapidly growing community of 

Madison. Under Dr. Richardson’s leadership, 

the church changed its name to the First 

Baptist Church of Madison. An aggressive 

building plan was completed in December 

1986, which included a sanctuary seating 

950 people. Adult education spaces, choir 

suites, and a media center were located on 

the bottom floor of the sanctuary building. 

A new preschool/children’s education center 

building was completed in 1987. By the end 

of that project, the church membership had 

grown to 1,500 with Sunday school 

enrollment up to 1,261. It became necessary 

to have two Sunday morning worship 

services to accommodate the increased 

numbers attending. 

Also in 1987, the original chapel was 

renovated in memory of Ben and Doris 

McMillon, Sr., who had donated the land 

for the building back in 1947. The shutters 

were added along with new carpet, foyer floor 

and fresh paint. Furniture was purchased 

from an antique dealer Chattanooga, Tenn. 

and consisted of a table and two high-back 

wicker chairs for the platform, plus a table 

for the foyer. Once again, it looked like the 

church it was built to be. 

On November 3, 1989, First Baptist 

Church of Madison turned 100 years old and 

a special celebration was held to commemorate 

this milestone in the church’s history. At that 

time, it had a church membership of 1,860 

and a Sunday school enrollment of 1,591. 

Dr. Richardson retired in October 1992. 

Dr. John A. Temple became pastor May 1, 

1993. Under his leadership, the church 

continued to grow and increase in every area: 

attendance, membership, facilities and land. 

Groundbreaking ceremonies for new 

education facilities were held on May 26, 

1996. The new building was completed in 

July, 1998 and it includes additional Sunday 

school classrooms, and a library with an 

attractive reading area. In addition, the preschool 

day care center is also located in this 

building. It has an attractive nursery for babies, 

and rooms for all ages of children. There are 

also large well-equipped playgrounds. 

In 2001, a Christian activities center was 

built primarily for the youth program. The 

building has 27,000 sq. ft. and also provides 

space for Sunday school classes, ceramics, 

Wednesday night suppers, a walking track, 

basketball court, an exercise area, kitchen, 

and a private reception area for weddings, 

showers, church activities, etc. 

The church converted the old fellowship 

hall building into Sunday school rooms in 

2002 and the old activities building was 

converted to a maintenance building. 

In 2003, through contributions of the 

church, the original chapel building was 

completely renovated to its near original 

condition. The only piece of furniture saved 

from the fire that destroyed the church in 

1944 was the lectern – and it is now in the 

present chapel. The chapel is now a truly 

beautiful place for small weddings and 

funerals. It also serves as a prayer chapel for 

other services. 

The church continues to have a spirit 

of enthusiasm. By its 115th anniversary 

celebration, the church membership was at 

approximately 2,700 and the Sunday school 

enrollment was at 2,400. 

Rev. Ronnie Falvey came as Pastor on 

May 4, 2008. Under Dr. Falvey’s leadership, 

the church has experienced a new surge in 

growth — spiritually, numerically, and in the 

size of the campus. Members have been 

encouraged to participate in short-term 

mission trips and projects in Madison, 

North America, and around the world. 

A new worship center was completed in 

March of 2015. 

The future is bright as we are 

Putting God First - in the Heart of Madison. 


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Canton’s 

Starring Role 

in Film 

Susan Marquez 

Canton has become the epicenter for film makers 

across the country and gets better with every role it takes. 

Photos to come 


Twenty-five years ago, the biggest thing happening in Canton was 

the twice-annual Canton Flea Market. While that is still a major event 

each May and October, drawing tourists from several states, the thing 

that’s really put Canton on the map is the exploding film industry. 

Canton has become the epicenter for film makers from Mississippi and 

those coming from other areas of the country. 

“My first foray into the film industry was in 1987, when I was 

working with the Canton Redevelopment Authority,” said Jo Ann 

Gordon, now executive director of the Canton Convention and 

Visitors Bureau and the Canton Film Office. “It was a small film, and 

we handled anything that came along.” 

Two years later Mississippi Burning, starring Gene Hackman, came 

to town. “What the film companies learned is that they didn’t have to 

build elaborate small town sets,” said Gordon. “We had it here. Canton 

was a ‘back lot’ unto itself.” 

The next call came from MGM. “The television show In the Heat 

of the Night was leaving Hammond, Louisiana, and they were looking 

for another small town in which to do production. They loved the 

neighborhoods, houses, and the potential Canton possessed. But they 

needed a sound stage, so we went to the Mississippi Economic 

Development Authority to look at that with them. Plans were drawn 

and it was looking good, but unfortunately, the technology of today 

didn’t exist. The producers had to fly their ‘dailies’ to Los Angeles and 

the nearest airport was too far away. Of course, today that can all be 

done via the Internet. The show ended up going to Covington, 

Georgia so they could take advantage of the crew flying in and out of 

Atlanta.” 

Gordon didn’t see it as a total loss that the show didn’t locate in 

Canton. “I went through the process of location scouting, stages, how a 

crew works, how they live in a town and what their needs are while 

here. I learned a tremendous amount and we started positioning 

ourselves at that time as the place to do smaller productions. We were 

getting commercial shoots and music videos, which is a whole other 

segment of the industry.” 

But in the back of their minds, the leaders in Canton wanted to be 

bigger. “We wanted the entertainment industry in Canton.” In 1995, a 

production designer for “A Time to Kill” came to town. They were 

scouting in other areas as well, but Gordon said she took him upstairs 

in one of the historic buildings on the Square and had him look out the 

window over the courthouse. “He was sold!” They needed a sound 

stage, so Gordon pulled out the plans that had already been drawn and 

had them tweaked to meet the needs of the producers. “We built a 

36,000 square foot sound stage, and afterwards, they left us the 

building that now houses our movie museum!” 

The film industry impact on Canton has been great. “After A Time 

to Kill,” explains Gordon, “our CVB decided that the film industry 

would be our signature industry. It’s what we were going to build and 

concentrate on. You have to remember, this was before the days of 

Nissan.” 

Gordon knew that the industry would enhance the community, and 

began goal-setting with her board to get Canton to be the best place in 

the state, or even the country, to shoot movies.” 

As more and more films have been shot in Canton, educational 

opportunities have presented themselves. “We’ve had to educate the 

community and state as to the economic impact of the film industry, 

from the smallest film to the largest. They are all an economic engine, 

creating jobs and with crews staying in our hotels, eating in our 

restaurants, buying our gas and shopping in our stores.” Gordon said 

that the film business doesn’t require extensive infrastructure like other 

industries. “It doesn’t require additional electricity, water, etc. We have 

already built a solid film infrastructure.” Canton has also provided 

educational opportunities to emerging film makers through their 

Young Film Makers Program, now in its 15th year. “That’s been a huge 

success story for us,” Gordon asserts. “We’ve had students come from 

different states, and now one works for Disney, and we’ve had several 

to pursue film as a career. At a certain age, they become part of the local 

crews and get on-the-job training.” 

The growth of the film industry in Canton has been intentional 

and focused. “We have created a global effect. People call us from Los 

Angeles and other places and we’ve been told the word is out that Canton 

is a great place to make a film. The film industry is a relatively small 

community of people, and word of mouth travels far. We would never 

have been able to pay for that kind of publicity.” 

The future looks bright for the film industry in Canton. “We have 

another small independent film coming down the pike,” smiled 

Gordon. “We’re ready for them.” 


Canton’s 

Starring Role 

in Film 

Susan Marquez 




Canton’s 

Starring Role 

in Film 

Susan Marquez 





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Camille Anding 

The Time Coin 

Time spent in classrooms pursuing 

education has gleaned a large 

percentage of my allotted hourglass 

minutes. Many of those minutes and hours 

were wasted due to my inferior means of 

studying. I crammed in late night stands 

and memorized notes solely for good grades. 

There was success with the good grades, but 

so many of the facts I memorized have drifted from my brain to 

somewhere beyond the ozone layers. 

Over the years I have realized that some of my key professors and 

most learned instructors weren’t official educators. They have been 

family members and friends. 

My daddy demonstrated the meaning of character so I never had 

to search for definitions or examples in a text book. I simply watched 

his life. His word was his bond, his dealings were honest, and kindness 

was the rule over all of his actions. He molded my childhood and 

garnered a respect that feared only disappointing him. I miss him every 

day, but his instructions remain. He carved them into me with his life. 

Mothers have to rank as the #1 educators–either as good or bad. 

Mine was good. She taught me basic domestic skills that I would use 

much more often than any logarithm equations; 

sewing on a button, rolling pie crust to a 

delicately thin layer, demanding discipline in 

practicing the piano, teaching me how to iron 

a shirt, training me to be patient as I waited 

while she rolled my hair in sponge rollers, and 

demonstrating condolences toward mourning 

neighbors with my presence and a casserole. 

Harriet taught me as a college student. She wasn’t a professor but a 

sorority sister. I caller her the human extinguisher. Anytime a group of 

us freshmen girls shared a late night pizza, a gossip conversation could 

easily emerge. When Harriet was in the group, she would immediately 

douse the conversation with a compliment toward our “victim.” Like 

sunshine dispelling shadows, the conversation would turn positive. 

I can’t remember the name of my college calculus teacher, but I’ll never 

forget Harriet’s name. 

My list of non-academic educators would run much longer than the 

printed page would allow, but God knows and I’m thankful for every 

moment they invested in my life. I wear the marks of each of their 

impressions, and I’ve remembered. Mother would be pleased that just 

as she instructed, I always iron the shirt sleeves first. n 


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