Hometown Rankin - April & May 2016

volume 3 number 2 

April/May 2016 

Kid Talk 

____________________ 

Ministering 

in the Jungle 

____________________ 

More Than Just a Coach 

____________________ 

I Am Alive

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Equipping your student to meet life’s 

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Hometown Rankin • 3

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Part of Mississippi’s Only Academic Medical Center 

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Easy, close parking at two convenient locations: 

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Call 601.815.4368 

© UMMC 2016. All rights reserved. 

UMMC_ENT_Ads_8x5.indd 3 

2/24/16 10:37 AM 

4 • April/May 2016

publisher & Editor 

Tahya A. Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin W. Dobbs 

Consulting Editor 

Mary Ann Kirby 

Account Executives 

Alicia Adams 

Rachel Lombardo 

Contributing Writers 

Camille Anding 

Jerry File 

Jessi George 

Olivia Halverson 


Kerri Walker 

Tiffany Withers 

staff Photographer 

Othel Anding 

contributing 

Photographer 

Bubba Brantley 

Administrative 

Assistants 

Alisha Floyd 

Brenda McCall 

Layout Design 

Daniel Thomas - 3dt 

Missy Donaldson - MAD Designs 

When I pause from my present deadlines, schedules and appointments, I’m reminded of how 

quickly the days, even years, are passing. I find myself covering an annual event for Hometown 

Magazines and think, “didn’t we just do this?” 

That same thought carries me to the next question. Is what I’m doing making a difference in 

lives? It’s a serious and reflective question. 

Many inspiring people in this issue are absolutely making a difference–like Tiffany Withers 

and her organ transplant story. Then there’s Woody Barnett in Pearl who has invested in so many 

young people’s lives. 

For all the mothers, remind yourselves of the lives you have the opportunity to mold as you 

read the questions and answers of some of our children. And if you’re 

up for a real sacrificial challenge, consider the George missionary 

family as you read about life in a remote culture. 

It’s true that April showers bring May flowers and both months 

will be behind us before you know it. Let’s make those days count in 

the lives of others. 

Thank you readers and advertisers. Your commitment continues 

to bring me great joy and I am honored that you choose us with your 

confidence and your time. 

Happy Spring! 

• • • 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownrankinmagazine 

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 Rankin 

may be reproduced without written permission from 

the publisher. The management of Hometown Rankin 

is not responsible for opinions expressed by its 

writers or editors. Hometown Rankin maintains the 

unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted 

material. All advertisements are subject to approval by 

the publisher. The production of Hometown Rankin 

is funded by advertising. 

On page 45 of the February 2016 issue of Hometown Rankin Magazine, we incorrectly identified the Wounded Warriors 

of Mississippi as the Wounded Warrior Project. The two organizations are completely unrelated and we regret the error. 

You can find more information on the Wounded Warriors of Mississippi at www.woundedwarriorsofms.com. 

In this issue Murphy Adkins 8 

A Joyful Servant 20 

Gallant Hearts 32 

Bill Clark & Company 32 

Ministering in the Jungle 44 

More Than Just A Coach 50 

Favorite Things About Mom 54 

I Am Alive 64 

The Heart Shield 70 

The Walt Disney of Pharmacy 78 



With Gratitude 

Murphy 

& Passion in 

His Heart– 

“Get all the education 

you can and don’t be 

afraid to change paths.” 

These are the wise words of a man who knows 

what it’s like to change paths more than a few times. 

From pharmacist to teacher to alderman, superintendent 

to chancery clerk to cemetery owner, husband, 

father, and everything in between, Murphy Adkins’ 

vocations have come with great triumphs, joys and 

hardships. His is a path no one could have planned for. 

The beauty of his story comes from the evidence of 

God’s hand in every new adventure. Even in life’s most 

trying moments, Murphy remained purpose driven. 

He faithfully pursued the winding, unpredictable path 

God intended for him. 


AdkinsOlivia Halverson 

Every young person faces the daunting question, “What do you want to be when you 

grow up?” For Murphy, his answer came after a lot of life experience. Murphy decided to 

pursue a science degree at Lambuth University with intentions of becoming a pharmacist. 

After meeting and marrying his wife, Ruth Martin, during their senior year of college, 

Murphy began to second-guess his decision on pharmacy. Murphy joined his wife in the 

teaching profession for a year before he went on to finish pharmacy school at the University 

of Tennessee. Murphy fell in love with teaching saying, “The chalk dust got under my 

fingernails and inoculated me.” Despite Murphy’s newfound passion in teaching, he finished 

pharmacy school and moved with his family to Mississippi. 

Early in their marriage, Murphy and Ruth were told they would not be able to have 

children. So, they decided to adopt. First, they adopted David, their oldest son. Then, while 


in the process of adopting their oldest daughter 

Andrea, Murphy and Ruth found out they were 

pregnant with Ben, their youngest son. Not long 

after, Ruth became pregnant with Sally. All of a 

sudden, the Adkins were a family of six. Ruth would 

say, “Well Murphy, we had two selected and two 

expected.” 

In Mississippi, Murphy went into practice at 

Murphy’s Rexall during the height of integration 

in the 1960s. Leaders of the African-American 

community picked businesses of each type for 

people of color to use. Murphy’s Rexall was not 

chosen and lost a lot of business because of that. 

Soon after, the physician across from Murphy’s 

Rexall closed, and the pharmacy business got even 

tougher. Worst of all, working sixty-four hours a 

week kept Murphy from his family. Realizing that 

pharmacy was not his calling, Murphy returned to 

teaching science, this time at Brandon Middle 

School practicing pharmacy part time. 

Teaching gave Murphy an outlet to fulfill both 

his passion for teaching and desire to spend more 

time with his wife and kids. He spent 20 years in 

the school business working as a teacher, counselor, 

and principal. Murphy spent two years working 

with Louis Gene Strickland as a counselor at the 

Addie McBride Center. Additionally, Murphy 

served as Rankin County’s assistant superintendent 

to Dr. Vinson. Murphy was elected to Alderman at 

Large for Brandon in 1982. He maintained that 

position for ten years until he decided to go back 

to school at the University of Southern Mississippi 

to pursue a doctorate in education administration. 

The next few years of Murphy’s life were 

extremely pivotal for Murphy and his entire family. 

Once again seeking a change of atmosphere, the 

newly titled Dr. Adkins ran for chancery clerk, was 

elected and started to serve in 1992. Of all the jobs 

Murphy had, he said, “Chancery clerk was one of 

the best jobs I’ve had in my entire life.” He accredits 


his incredible working staff, saying he never 

had to worry about things getting done. “I 

became a cheerleader and a backslapper in 

the office,” Murphy said. He worked as 

chancery clerk for 16 years. 

Over the course of those years, the 

Adkins celebrated engagements, marriages 

and the births of some of their grandchildren. 

This family also bore incredible heartache. 

Together, the family grieved the tragic loss 

of a son and a sibling, Ben Adkins. In 1994, 

Ben and his fiancé were killed in a car 

accident. Abounding prayer and faith 

allowed the Adkins family to rise from 

their grief and carry on the path God 

made for them. In the midst of the worst 

kind of suffering, the Adkins felt God’s 

unfathomable grace that would continue 

to lead them forward. 

Years later, Murphy finally found himself 

face to face with retirement. Of course, as 

soon as Murphy stumbled upon a little extra 

free time, his phone rang with another 

opportunity. Murphy’s nephew, Tommy 

Martin, often talked to him about opening a 

cemetery. Thinking it would never happen, 

Murphy just kept putting it off. Tommy was 

persistent. He found a forty-acre piece of 

land with only one tree on it. Soon after, 

Murphy and his nephew opened Crestview 

Memorial Gardens Cemetery off of Star 

Road. According to Murphy, the cemetery 

has turned out to be a nice business and a 

wonderful service to the community. 

Once again, in August of 2014, the 

Adkins faced the fear of losing a loved one. 

Murphy was diagnosed with MRSA 

Pneumonia. He was in a coma for four 

weeks at River Oaks Hospital. Then he was 

transferred to Specialty Select Hospital. 

The odds of Murphy surviving the illness 

were slim. The doctors and staff at River 

Oaks, Specialty Select, and Methodist 

Rehab never let Murphy give up, however. 

They constantly encouraged him and 

pushed him to defy his odds. Prayers poured 

out from every corner of the community. 

Murphy says “I believe I am here today 

because of my church, my family, and the 

prayers of people all over the county. 

Rankin County prayed for me.” 

A little over a year later, Murphy is 

walking as tall and healthy as ever. Murphy 

spends his days taking care of his wife, 

spending time with his family, and thanking 

God constantly for the road he has traveled 

and the friends he made along the way. 

With gratitude and passion in his heart, 

Murphy will tell anyone “There is no place 

like the United States to live. There is no 

place like Mississippi to live. There is no 

place like Rankin County to live.” n 


We have after hours coverage 7 days a week! 

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New Patients Welcome! 

Conveniently located in Flowood off of Lakeland Dr. 

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Abby Bramm, Heather Sistrunk & Sherry Cook 

Ed Douglas, Mindy Phillips & Lisa Grantham 

Bob Morrow & Sheila Morrison 

Angela Harper, Ty Robinson, Hal Williams & Joni Grishby 

Jay & Stacy Tucker 

Winter 

Gathering 

January 26 

Mary Allen Bennett, Swayze McNiff & Jason Walker 

Bubba & Betsy Barham 

Lem Adams & Joel Ross 

Jennifer Bryant & Courtney Bolin 

Bryan Walker & Emary Walker 

Shelby Taylor & Emily Sham 

14 • April / May 2016

Ashley Biggs, April Rigsby, Jerry Hester, 

Kathy Deer, Ashlee Coley 

Rebecca Foster & Jennifer Murray Mary Ann Kirby & Rachel Lombardo Justin & Kimberly Bird 

John & Shannon Chesney 

Jeff Bracken, Kevin Goza, Tammy Goza 

& Ginger Bracken 

Karl Walker, Amy Walker, Carolyn Trigg & Ryan McInnis 

Jennifer Anderson 

Judy Fortenberry & Larry Swales 

John McCallum 

Emily Fisher, Carol Hammock 

& Jonathan Van Avery 

Destiny Tillery, Christy Harvell, Teresa Baker 

& Steven Tillery 

Mindy Phillips, Jimmy Anderson, Suzonne Leber, 

Shane Dubois & Kay Shelton 

Jason Thomas, Jonathan Wright & Dean Hemphill 

Claudia Psonak 

& Ambassador Milons 

Brad Hill & Shawn Cochran 

Cindy Sai, Randy Jones, Teresa Purifoy & Connor Storey 

Chelsa Jones, Jordan Dixon & Blake Chance 


Brandon Garden Club 

Tablescapes 

Luncheon 

March 7, 2016 





20 • April/May 2016 


A Joyful 

Servant 


“It’s been a fun ride,” Rankin Baptist Association 

Executive Director Allen Stephens says about his fruitful 

years of ministry. The good news, according to his army of 

church friends, is the ride continues. 

Last year the future of his ministry was challenged 

when he was diagnosed with cancer. However, after a year 

of treatments that included surgery, chemo, and a lighter 

work schedule, Stephens is back full steam doing what he 

loves and describes as his greatest joy: “Seeing churches 

and individuals get the joy of being involved in missions.” 

Stephens certainly feels at home in Rankin County. 

He’s lived in five of its cities. Flowood is his birthplace and 

where he lived the first twenty-four years of his life. He 

describes it as a “little bitty thing” when he grew up as a 

member of Flowood Baptist Church. His parents were 

charter members along with his uncle, Chastain Flynt, 

who was the song leader. Later, his uncle Chastain became 

Flowood’s mayor. 

From Mississippi College and onto New Orleans 

seminary, Stephens pastored Braxton Baptist Church, 

“almost in Rankin County.” Bay Vista Baptist Church in 

Biloxi came next. During those momentous eight years, 

the Vietnam War ended and Stephens was blessed to 

baptize young men from Maine to California and 

Washington to Puerto Rico. Stephens also remembers 

how he and his wife, Omega, were spared any hurricanes 

while living on the coast. 

For the next seven and a half years, FBC of Ferriday, 

Louisiana, was their home. It was in delta farmland ten 

miles from Natchez, rather remote and missing the 

greenery of Biloxi, but “the people made the difference,” 

Stephens said. 

A call from FBC of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, carried 

the Stephens family to a wonderful two and a half year 

ministry. Stephens said, “I thought I would retire there 

until a call came from FBC in Richland.” God quickly 

confirmed to Stephens and Omega that they were to 

return to Mississippi. Their two daughters, Shanda, who 

was in community college, and Ashlee, a sixteen-year-old 

tenth grader, had put down roots and the move was painful. 

Pastor Stephens still thinks back to Ashlee’s response, 

“You’re ruining my life!” They packed and headed to 

Richland, and Stephens remembers, “I brought three 

crying women with me.” 

In 1994, even though the director of mission’s position 

in Rankin County was not on Stephens’ radar, he left his 

last pastorate of six and a half years to take the new post. 

For the past twenty-one years, Director Stephens has 

encouraged, counseled, and directed 65-plus churches in 

Rankin County. With his wisdom gleaned from Biblical 

ministry and years, Stephens sees revival as America’s 

greatest need. “Our nation has lost the sense of who 

God is,” he says. 

As for the church’s greatest need, he describes it to be 

“other minded.” His goal is to get church members “beyond 

our four walls.” Stephens’ recent “cancer-free” report 

increased his hopes for longer ministry and a greater desire 

to see that goal emerge. n 


Allen Stephens 

Retirement Reception 

February 21, 2016 ~ Park Place Baptist Church 




Kick Off The Season 

Alumni House Style 

Located inside the Holiday Inn-Trustmark Park 

110 Bass Pro Drive, Pearl 

With over 27 video stations all tuned to sports, you won’t 

miss a pass, punt or touchdown. Even if you’re not the 

world’s greatest sports fan, you can still have a lot of fun, 

and score some of the finest cuisine around, as well as a 

huge assortment of craft beers. Come on over! 

Join us for Happy Hour! Monday–Friday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. 

Lunch & Dinner: Mon–Sat: 11:00 am–10:00 pm • Sun: 11:00 am–9:00 pm 

Breakfast: 6:00-10:00 am, 7 days a week 

Phone ahead: 601-939-5238 • www.alumnihousepearl.com 


Bill Clark 

& 

Company 

Spring 

Musical Extravaganza 


Branson, Missouri, is 445 miles from Brandon, Mississippi, 

which means seven hours and fifty minutes of driving or travel 

time–and Bill Clark, a Brandon resident, was a Branson visitor 

six years ago. Since his life had been musically oriented dating 

back to his first piano lesson as a 3rd grader with Mr. Clyde 

Howell, Bill was immediately drawn to the music/variety 

culture of Branson. 

That’s when and where the idea came: “Why not provide 

the same kind of musical/variety show to Mississippians?” 

That meant assemble the talent, find the stage, and put it on 

the calendar. 

So, Bill did just that in the spring of 2011 at the Mississippi 

Agriculture and Forestry Museum. He was pleased with the 

quality of the musical performance and immediately began 

planning a fall show. 

This year’s spring show is scheduled for May 12th with 

Dr. Dennis Swanberg as guest comedian. He will be the 

headliner at each of the four shows: 9:30 a.m., 12 Noon, 

2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 

Andrew Ishee, who played for the Kingsmen, will be the 

piano artist. He’s sensational. Allen Harris, the well-known 

featured tenor for The Singing Churchmen, will bless you with 

musical favorites. David Holmes, drummer for the First Baptist 

Jackson Church orchestra, along with his daughter, vocalist 

Victoria Holmes, will add significant talent to the roster. 

CandyLee Dobbs, another talented stage vocalist and aspiring 

artist, will round out the singing talents. Bob Saxton, famous 

Nashville guitarist, will accompany the musicians and vocalists. 

Bill Clark’s quick wit and keyboard-playing genius will keep 

the entertainment flowing with laughter and delight as he 

blends his talents while serving as master of ceremonies. His 

musical resume is convincing evidence of the quality of music 

he performs and the productions he brings to the stage. 

For the third time, this year’s Spring Musical Extravaganza, 

May 12th, will be in the theater-style auditorium at Christ Life 

Church at 670 Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. Make 

early plans to purchase your tickets online and notify your 

church leadership of the musical extravaganza. Spring and 

music are in the air! n 

For more information, go to: billclarklive.com 

or call 601.750.2364 for tickets. 



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Lacy LaBorde, Barry Street, Emily Fisher 

Brande Lewis, Jerry Hester, Kathy Deer 

Mayor Brad Rogers, Sheriff Bryan Bailey, 

Earl Dean Rhodes, Steve Gaines 

Tiffany Shannon, Chris Hildebrand 

Marlys Meyers, Brittney Williams 

Jared & Sheila Morrison 

Carl & Deborah Boutwell 

Josh Windham, Tom Windham, Emily Lacey, Ben Windham 

Joeie & Emily Tate, Nikki & Cedric Graham, Brenda Myers 

Tommie Hill, Rhonda Stewart, Kenny Stewart 


Mayor Brad Rogers, Lieutenant John Johnson, 

Captain Brian McGairty 

Jan Williams, Nick Anderson, Marrieo Stovall, 

Patrick Westrick

Angie Thornton, Michael Pollard 

Darlene Buckley, Calvin Breeland 

Kim Fortner, Mandi Arender 

Charles Hudson, Terry Rast 

Annual Banquet 

February 8 • Clyde Muse Center 

Charlie & Rhonda Graham 

Chris Chism, Rep. Ray Rogers 

Crystal Braun, Carolyn Boteler 

Dani & Neil Polen 

David Crawford, Phillip LeRoux 

Ed and Marty Douglass 

The Mustard Seed 

Laurie & Kyle Cutrer 

Mandy Sisson, Del Harrington 

Robert Giere, Shawn Cochran 

Rebecca & Blake Alexander 


Gallant Hearts Delivers Independence 

Jerry File 

A Mississippi Jewel: 

Gallant Hearts Guide Dog 

Training School 

Nestled in bucolic Mississippi 

countryside, rests the peaceful, 

yet always bustling, Gallant Hearts 

Guide Dog Center. Gallant 

Hearts trains professional guide 

dogs for people who are blind. 

Gallant Hearts’ premium guide 

dogs fan out all over Mississippi, 

the United States, and Canada, 

delivering independence, and a 

richer life. 

Executive Director, Becky 

Floyd, earned bachelor degrees 

in psychology and sociology from 

The University of Mississippi. 

Then, she graduated Ole Miss 

School of Law. 

In a casual moment near the 

end of law school, she and friends 

were talking about what they 

wanted to do after graduation. 

Becky said, “Someday, I am going 

to start a guide dog training 

center.” 

Decades later, after a successful 

career, capped by her retirement 

as the Executive Director of 

Mississippi Protection and 

Advocacy System, Becky fulfilled 

her dream by starting Gallant 

Hearts Guide Dog Center, in 

2009. Gallant Hearts placed its 

first dog in December, 2012. 

The Life Changing Potential Of The 

Guide Dog For The Blind 

Guide dogs for people who are blind deliver 

extraordinary value and benefits to the person, and 

society. Becky explains: “I have had my own guide 

dog, since 1964. Guide dogs are good for the 

productivity of the person, and for the economy. 

For example, along the way, my guide dogs were 

very important in my having, and progressing in, a 

career. To be honest, I don’t think I would have 

had as much self-confidence as I have had, over 

the time of my endeavors. For example, I don’t 

think I would have had the self-confidence to 

navigate the Ole Miss campus when I was there as 

an undergraduate, and in law school. I don’t think 

I would have had the self- confidence to move 

away to Jackson and get my own apartment and to 

go to work, every day. And certainly, I would not 


have had the social benefits that I’ve 

enjoyed. Because of my guide dogs, I have 

met hundreds of people I would not have 

otherwise met, and many of those people 

have greatly enriched my life.” 

Regarding safety to the blind person, 

Becky said, “Let me give you an example. 

We have a great dog we trained in service. 

He has saved the client’s life several times. 

He recently did so, again. The client told me 

she asked her dog to guide her across a 

street. He did, but he did so in an erratic 

pattern, and though she didn’t know the 

circumstances, she trusted him. When she 

got to the other side, a man in a truck, who 

had observed but could do nothing as it 

happened, informed her there was a downed 

power line in the road, and that her dog had 

guided her though the gauntlet, as it were. 

In other words, she asked her partner-dog 

and he found a way. If her partner-guide 

had been unsuccessful, she would have likely 

been electrocuted and killed.” 

How Does It Work 

Gallant Hearts places well trained, 

healthy dogs throughout the United States, 

and occasionally, Canada. The dogs are 

provided, free of charge, to qualified 

individuals who have been approved by 

the center’s admissions committee. 

The trained dog is normally delivered 

to the applicant and the trainer remains 

within the area and provides training for 

the new team for a period of 1 to 2 weeks. 

The applicant may come to Jackson, 

Mississippi for training if the applicant and 

the dog can be best served, in that manner. 

For more on placement, see the website. 

Leader in Education for the Blind 

Continues Life’s Work 

Rankin County is home to one of 

Mississippi’s most respected educators, 

Mrs. Gayera Trabont. Known to many as 

‘Mrs. T,’ she served as the principal of the 

Mississippi School for the Blind from 1970 

until her retirement in 1998. 

Over the decades of her formal career, 

Mrs. T worked tirelessly, educating 

Mississippi’s blind children and advocating 

for blind people, everywhere. In many ways, 

she continues to serve the needs of blind 

people and promote their independence and 

full participation in society and our economy. 

Her chief outlet of service to blind 

people and her commitment to their 

independence, is through volunteering 

at Gallant Hearts as one of their ‘puppy 

raisers:’ Puppy Raisers are a pillar of the 

Gallant Hearts’ model. Puppy Raisers 

raise a puppy from approximately eight 

weeks to approximately 18 months. All 

food, veterinarian care, etc., are provided 

by Gallant Hearts. 

Mrs. T has known Gallant Hearts’ 

Founder and Executive Director, Becky 

Floyd, since the mid-1960s. Becky has been 

blind, since birth. She has worked with 

guide dogs, since 1964. 

Ways You Can Participate 

Be a Puppy Raiser (like Mrs. T!) – Gallant 

Hearts is currently placing dogs into puppy 

raiser homes where an in-home atmosphere 

provides the critical, early socialization and 

obedience training needed for a dog to be a 

guide. Gallant Hearts provides veterinary 

care, food, and obedience training classes for 

the puppy. The puppy remains with the host 

family for 12 to 18 months, and then is 

transitioned into Gallant Hearts’ formal 

training program. Puppy Raisers are people 

who love dogs, and who also feel the 

importance of helping by preparing the 

puppy to provide a life of independence to 

someone, out there, who otherwise would 

not have as much independence. 

Donate – Gallant Hearts is a non-profit, 

tax-exempt organization, established in 

Mississippi. The organization fulfills its 

mission through the generous gifts of 

individuals and organizations. 

People are often interested to know that the 

total costs of ‘finishing’ and placing a 

Gallant Hearts Guide dog with a client, is 

approximately $20,000. Gallant Hearts is 

governed by a nine-member board of 

directors selected for their expertise in 

governance, fund raising, veterinary care, 

medicine, legal, finance, and media. 

In addition to direct contribution, 

Gallant Hearts makes it easy for all to have a 

hand in independence for the blind by 

donating through GoFundMe.com. The 

current Gallant Hearts GoFundMe goal is 

$12,500 dollars. This money is specifically 

for the initial raising of four (4) puppies. 

Gallant Hearts is one of a handful of 

training centers in the country, and the only 

one in Mississippi. n 

______________________________________ 

For more information about Gallant Hearts Guide Dog 

Center, including raising a puppy, training, placement, 

and much more, please visit the organization’s website 

at gallanthearts.org. 

You may reach Becky Floyd at 601-853-6996, 

or by email at rfloyd@gallanthearts.org. 




Harper Lee 

was once quoted 

as saying, 

“Many receive 

advice, but only 

the wise profit 

from it.” 

 

And while that’s likely true, we still decided 

to ask some of our readers what the best piece 

of advice they’d ever been given–and we’re 

very impressed with what they had to say... 


Michelle Bernard 

One piece of advice that has 

stuck with me over the years is 

from my mother. Her words to 

my sister and me were, “Stay in 

a child’s place and enjoy being 

a girl for as long as you can. 

If you’re blessed to continue 

living, you will be a woman a lot 

longer than you will be a girl.” 

Clay Jones 

“You can’t blame a hammer for 

being a hammer. It is what it is” 

To me, this quote sums up the 

importance of understanding 

personality types and reaching 

authenticity, and how it can be 

used in the real world. First of 

all, a hammer is a hammer, and 

it will never fundamentally be 

anything else, and such is the 

case with human personality 

to a certain extent. 

John Gough 

The best piece of advice that 

I’ve ever received was told to 

me by a senior NCO in 1985 

while serving in the Army on 

the DMZ in South Korea. “It’s 

only a thing.” I have used that 

throughout my life and feel it 

has been a guiding light for my 

success. No matter how hard 

we try or how bad conditions 

may be, we will always have 

ups and downs. Knowing that 

“it’s only a thing” means that 

life will always move forward 

and the “thing” will eventually 

be part of the past. 

Courtney McGee 

The best piece of advice I have 

ever received was given by my 

mother-in-law, a former teacher. 

She said, “Courtney, leave work 

at work. It will be there when 

you get back.” Being a first-year 

teacher, I am always concerned 

with whether I am doing enough. 

I would often bring work home 

and spend hours stressing over 

getting everything right. One day, 

I finally listened to my motherin-law 

and left work at work. I 

am now able to live a balanced 

life of work and family. 

Rachel Clay 

One of the best pieces of advice 

I have received as a first year 

teacher is to trust in yourself 

and be confident in your ability 

to teach. A veteran teacher once 

told me, “You can not let the 

fact that you are new teacher 

be a barrier to success as a 

educator. Celebrate every small 

accomplishment, no matter how 

small it may seem to others 

around you.” 

Leisa McCool 

When asked to give the best 

advice that I have ever been 

given, of course I thought of my 

parents. Without actually “giving” 

me advice, they showed me in 

the way that they lived. It would 

be very difficult to answer this 

question in one sentence, so 

I will use a Bible verse that 

portrays their lives, and I hope 

that my children can say the 

same for me one day. “Let love 

and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your 

heart. Then you will win favor 

and a good name in the sight of 

God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 

Nathan McLaurin 

I have been given a lot of good 

advice over the course of my 

life from family, teachers, and 

coaches. Two things have really 

stuck with me and have been the 

most helpful to me in my personal 

life as well as business. The first 

piece of advice is, “work hard 

and do what’s right!” I have 

always been taught that there is 

no substitute for hard work and 

to always do the right thing, 

even when it’s hard. Secondly, 

“treat others how you want to 

be treated.” This is based on a 

biblical principle that I was taught 

early in life from Luke 6:31. 

“Do to others as you would like 

them to do to you.” This is a 

philosophy that I try to live by 

daily. I feel that these principles 

have helped shape me into the 

person that I am today. I try to 

instill these values into my 

children everyday. 

Kevin Williams 

“Never Question God.” 

From my mother. 


Pelahatchie 

Mother/Son Dance 

February 5, 2016 

Pelahatchie Town Center 

Hosted by Moms of Milltown 


APRIL IS YOUTH SAVINGS MONTH! 

Help the Credit Unions of Mississippi celebrate 

THE FIRST 2,500 PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION! 

Join us at the Jackson Zoo for a day full of 

animals, crafts and giveaways! We’ll also have 

financial literacy tools available to help teach 

your children about money at an early age! 

THE JACKSON ZOO 

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

4-25-15 

2.5 x 1.75 

Attitude Ability Awareness 

BOONDOCKS FIREARMS TRAINING ACADEMY 

The Boondocks is an all-inclusive training facility designed 

for both men and women to learn safe gun handling and 

defensive firearms training for multiple skill levels. 

Monthly TWAW Chapter Meetings 

State of the Art Facility 

Skilled and Certified Instructors 

Safety is our Priority 

Education is Key 

Enjoyment is Goal 

Class Descriptions on Website 

www.BoondocksFTA.com 

Sign up online for your class 

Click on Class Title to receive class description/prices/etc. 

11771 Highway 18 769-972-2382 Raymond, MS 39154 

TWAW Shooting Chapter Clinton/Raymond MS 

www.TWAWshootingchapters.org 


Baseball 

I S B A C K ! 

We have it covered. 

Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center 

is the state’s leading full-service orthopaedic 

specialty practice. Your orthopaedic problem or 

athletic injury deserves the attention and care that 

only an experienced orthopaedic specialist 

can provide. 

Our 16 board-certified, fellowship-trained specialists are recognized leaders in treating athletic injuries, 

and guiding patients through rehabilitation to complete recovery. 

Neck and Back Specialists Shoulder and Elbow Specialists Hip Arthroscopy & Knee Specialists Hip & Knee Total Joint Specialists 

Graham C. Calvert, M.D. 

Larry D. Field, M.D. 

Walter R. Shelton, M.D. 

Brian P. Johnson, M.D. 

James W. Woodall, M.D. 

J. Randall Ramsey, M.D. 

James W. O’Mara, M.D. 

Jeff D. Almand, M.D. 

E. Rhett Hobgood, M.D. 

Jason A. Craft, M.D. 

Trevor R. Pickering, M.D. 

Austin M. Barrett, M.D. 

Robert K. Mehrle Jr., M.D. 

Foot and Ankle Specialists 

Penny J. Lawin, M.D. 

Jamey W. Burrow, M.D. 

Hand and Wrist Specialist 

Chris P. Ethridge, M.D. 

Toll Free: (800) 624.9168 or (601) 354.4488 

www.mississippisportsmedicine.com 


HONORS PROGRAM 

at the 

Rankin Campus 

• Scholarships 

• Small Class Sizes, Top Teaching Faculty 

• Specialized Advising, Priority Enrollment 

• Special Recognitions & Awards 

• Access to International Studies 

• Connections to 4-Year Universities 

ADMISSION CRITERIA 

High School Students – ACT Composite Score of 25 or 

3.5 High School GPA 

Current Hinds CC Students – 3.5 GPA and College Instructor 

Recommendation 

For more information, contact Joy Rhoads, the 

Rankin Campus Honors Program Coordinator, 

at jdrhoads@hindscc.edu 

Rankin Campus 

601.936.5552 

www.hindscc.edu 

Hinds Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to 

handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Debra Mays-Jackson, Vice President for the Utica and Vicksburg-Warren Campuses and Administrative Services, 34175 Hwy. 18, Utica, MS 39175; 601.885.7002. 


ankin 

Recipes 

Easy 

Chicken Tortilla 

Soup 

• 1 - 10 ¾ oz. can cream of chicken soup 

• 1 - 10 ¾ oz. can fiesta nacho cheese soup 

• 1 - 10 ¾ oz. can tomato soup 

• 1½ soup cans of milk 

• 1 - 28 oz. can medium green chile 

enchilada sauce 

• 1 - 2.5 oz. can chicken 

• Tortilla chips 

Whisk together soups and milk and heat. 

When hot, add sauce and chicken. Heat to desired 

temperature and serve with crushed chips on top. 

(Makes about 3 quarts) 

Pecan Pie 

• 3 eggs, slightly beaten 

• ½ cup sugar 

• 2 Tablespoons flour 

• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted 

• ¼ cup honey 

• ¾ cup Blackburn biscuit syrup 

• 1 Tablespoon vanilla 

• 1 cup chopped pecans 

• 1 regular dish pie crust 

Jalapeno Potato 

Casserole 

• 8-10 potatoes, peeled, sliced, boiled but not 

over cooked 

• 1 stick butter 

• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped 

• 1 small onion, chopped 

• 1 small jar pimento 

• Salt and pepper 

• 1 cup milk 

• 1 Tablespoon flour 

• 1 lb. Mexican Velveeta 

Sauté bell pepper, onion, pimento, salt and pepper 

while potatoes are boiling. Add milk, flour, and 

Velveeta to mixture and heat until cheese melts. 

In deep 9x13 casserole dish, layer drained potato 

slices then cheese sauce then repeat. Bake in 

preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

Blueberry Muffins 

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour 

• 2 teaspoons baking powder 

• ¾ cup sugar 

• 1 egg 

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil 

• ½ cup buttermilk 

• 1 cup blueberries 

Topping: 

• ½ cup brown sugar 

• 1/3 cup flour 

• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon 

• ¼ cup butter 

Cream sugar, oil, and egg. After sifting flour and 

baking powder, add to creamed mixture with 

buttermilk. Stir in blueberries. Spray cupcake 

papers and pour about 2/3 full of batter. 

Mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon and put 

on top of batter. Cut pieces of butter and lay 

on top of each. Bake in oven preheated to 400 

degrees for 25 minutes. Makes about 18 cupcakes. 

Cream together eggs, sugar, flour, vanilla and 

butter. Mix honey and syrup into mixture. 

Stir in pecans. Pour into unbaked pie crust. 

Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees about 

30 minutes. 

Nan Roebuck is married to the love of her life, Gary Roebuck. She has lived in Rankin County 

most of her adult life. She grew up in Neshoba and Newton counties on dairy farms. 

After graduating from East Central Community College and Delta State, she taught junior high 

and high school math for 25 years at Union, Pearl, Lake, and Richland. 

Now her time is spent enjoying activities with her six grandchildren and her church family, 

FBC Richland. She loves to bake and cook for family and friends. 



Ministering 

in the 

Jungle 

Jessi George 

From the Deep South to deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, 

our family has had one desire; to make Jesus Christ known 

among the nations. 

We are the Georges. My husband, John Michael, 

grew up in Rankin County (Florence) in a 

Christian home and knew as a teenager that he 

wanted to spend his life serving God. I had the 

same conviction at the same age growing up in 

Montgomery, Alabama. I was fortunate enough to 

meet this handsome young man seeking to serve 

the Lord with all his heart in the summer of 2001 

where we both worked at Twin Lakes Camp in 

Florence, Mississippi. We married in 2004 and 

decided that our family would go wherever the 

Lord would send us. We had no idea that “wherever” 

would turn out to be one of the most remote 

places in the world—deep in the jungles of Papua 

New Guinea, among a people group called Hewa. 

The Hewa people are spread out over 60 miles 

of rugged mountainous terrain. With no roads or 

navigable rivers, these people were completely 

isolated from the outside world and from the 

Gospel message. Living under the thick rainforest 

canopy, the Hewas had little to no access to modern 

medicine or basic necessities like clothing, bedding, 

or even soap. They frequently died of easily curable 

diseases. They lived a hopeless, helpless existence. 

Forgotten. Alone. 

But God had not forgotten His children. He 

had not forgotten these Hewa men, women, and 

children who He created in His own image. He 

sought them and He loved them. 

God sent a small number of missionary families 

to the Hewa people and our family was blessed to 

be among them. John Michael, myself, and our 

three daughters, Lucy, Mattie, and Mia moved into 

the village with the Hewa people in October 2012 

where we built a “jungle house” that runs on solar 

and battery power alone. We soon began the major 

project of carving a grass airstrip out of a thick 

tangle of jungle trees. We worked alongside with 

the Hewa people in this project that would provide 

easier access to hospitals and other town services for 

the people of the village. Previously, the only access 

in and out of the village was by helicopter, and the 

expense was simply too high for the Hewa people. 

If they needed medical attention they had to walk 

(or be carried) for days to reach the nearest airstrip 

or hospital. 

The remote rainforest lifestyle among primitive 

people and exotic animals took some getting used 

to for us. But it wasn’t long before we settled into a 

routine, our new normal, and Hewa became home. 



John Michael has recently finished learning the Hewa culture and language so 

that he can aid fellow missionaries in literacy classes, Bible lessons, discipleship of 

believers, and the translation of the Bible into the Hewa language. The goal is to 

plant a mature church among the Hewa people that can function on its own and 

reach out to neighboring villages with no missionary presence. Eventually the Hewa 

people will become missionaries themselves to the villages around them who have 

been begging for years to hear the Word of God. 

The Hewa people have believed for centuries that there are many evil spirits in 

the jungles surrounding them, and those spirits must be appeased, tricked, or killed in 

order for a person to survive. The most tragic example of this belief is “witch” killing. 

The Hewa believe that evil spirits can enter a person (mostly women and children) 

and this spirit leaves her body at night consuming the insides of otherwise healthy 

people causing them to get sick and die. They believe the only way to stop this spirit 

is to kill the innocent woman or child that is possessed. It is impossible to get an 

accurate count of all the women and children across Hewa territory that are marked as 

witches, but the number is probably in the hundreds. We, along with our co-workers, 

have worked tirelessly to evacuate as many of these marked women and children as 

possible to a safe location (other tribes in Papua New Guinea who do not share the 

beliefs of the Hewa, and do not practice witch killing). Unfortunately, many of the 

families of these women will not allow them to leave and in the last year we have seen 

two innocent ladies murdered because of this tragic belief system. We have tried to 

get police and government officials in to help with the problem, however, it is very 

difficult for them to capture and punish perpetrators when they can easily run and 

hide in the jungle and when the only way in or out of the village is by airplane…an 

airplane that they can hear a long way off before it actually lands. The best hope of 

ending this tragic practice is for the Gospel to be spread and accepted in all Hewa 

villages making our work and ministry that much more urgent. 

So we live and work alongside the Hewa and will continue to do so until the Bible 

translation is finished and the Hewa church is spiritually mature with its own pastors, 

elders, and deacons–even sending out missionaries of its own. 

As a wife and mother, my day is on the most basic level filled with what most any 

other wife and mothers is filled with. I cook, I clean, and I make sure my children 

make it through each day in (mostly) one piece. But each of those tasks are made more 

complex by living in the extreme conditions of a remote rainforest. Everything I 

cook, I cook from scratch, often with foods harvested in my garden right next to my 

house. I am at constant war with the hoards of jungle insects that can easily invade 

my house that is made of jungle lumber, plywood and mesh screens for windows. 

Imagine living your entire life on your screened-in porch in the Mississippi summer. 

That is how we live year-round. Of course there are no schools for my daughters to 

attend in the jungle, so the majority of my day is spent in home school. And when I 

want to visit with a neighbor, I go sit in a one room, smoke-filled hut made entirely 

of vines and leaves with no electricity, plumbing, or furniture to sit on. 

Above all else, we as a family spend as much time as we can with our Hewa 

neighbors working when they work, laughing when they laugh, crying when they cry, 

and becoming part of a greater community to serve God in Papua New Guinea. 

From the outside, our lives look drastically different from the ones we left almost 

5 years and over 9,000 miles ago in Rankin County. But we are really just an 

ordinary family sent by God to an extraordinary place with extraordinary people. n 


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 


Rankin County Ch 

Hometown Rankin • 49 

P O Box 428 

Brandon, MS 3904 

Rankin County Chamber of Commerce 

Purses & Pearls 

Wed, April 13, 2016 

10:30 am - 1:00 pm 

Entertainment: 

The Muse Center 

Pearl, Mississippi 

To Purchase 

Tickets Call 

(601) 825-2268 

Tickets 

$35 each 

Blend mixes music of the 50’s & 

60’s with their own twist of fun!

When the hurdle 

seemed too high and 

the last mile felt too 

long, a coach was there pushing 

his runners across the finish line. 

When self-doubt struck his team, 

he encouraged them relentlessly, 

believing in them when they didn’t 

believe in themselves. For over 36 

years of coaching, Woody Barnett 

always went the extra mile for his 

teams. With passion flowing both from 

coach and team members, the Pearl 

High School track and cross-country 

program thrived. Today, Woody is a 

legend in the Pearl community after 

coaching countless championship 

teams, two All-American runners, and 

an All-American team. The secret 

to success, according to Woody, is 

simple–just care. 

Woody’s desire to coach athletics 

became clear in his college career. 

He attended Mississippi College as 

a physical education major. There, 

he worked as an athletic trainer for the 

football, basketball and track teams. 

Woody’s mentors at Mississippi College 

were critical to his development as a 

coach. Mr. Joe Walker, the head track 

coach at Mississippi College, always 

treated people with respect and 

encouragement. In return, his athletes 

responded with the same focused 

enthusiasm. Woody said, “I would 

always tell myself, ‘I want to be just 

like that.’” 

After graduating from Mississippi 

College, Woody began his career 

in the Pearl school system. His first 

jobs included teaching science, 

coaching junior high track and high 

school football. After only his second 

year of coaching, Woody became the 

head track and cross-country coach 

in addition to assistant coaching 

football. Woody saw that his time 

with the teams was unevenly divided. 

He gave up football in order that he 

could do his best with the track and 

cross-country teams. 

Before Woody arrived, the Pearl 

High School track program was 

already good. Woody’s primary focus 

was to uphold the established 

program and take it to the next level. 

After only his first year of coaching, 

Woody and his team won the first two 

MHSAA cross-country championships. 

In his third year, Woody coached 

Pearl’s first All-American athlete, 

Jeff Evans. 

In the late 1980s, a student named 

George Kersh joined Woody’s track 

team. He set the national high school 

record for being the fastest half-miler 

More Than 

Just a Coach 


woody 

Barnett 

Olivia Halverson 


in the country. George quickly 

became the number one recruit 

in the nation. Woody traveled with 

George to many of his races across 

the country, several of which aired 

on national television. George 

became a major icon for the city of 

Pearl and the Pearl track program. 

He gave the school national attention. 

A climate for success surrounded 

the track team for years to come. 

During Woody’s career at Pearl, his 

teams won 43 state championships. 

Humbly, Woody never ceased to 

remind his athletes what exactly 

separates a team from a championship 

team. 

Woody and his team stood firm 

by their short but powerful motto– 

“And then some.” As Woody 

explained, champions give all they 

have and then they give some more. 

That consistent passion and dedication 

over the years allowed Woody 

immense success. Both the coach 

and the athlete have to care, 

otherwise competing is pointless. 

“I’ve never considered myself smarter 

than other coaches,” Woody said, 

“but my success has come from 

kids knowing that I sincerely care 

about them.” 

Maintaining Pearl’s track program 

has been a team effort, not only from 

athletes but also from the community. 

“Our kids are the most important 

thing in our community,” Woody said. 

People in the city of Pearl have 

always supported school sports 

and activities. The school board and 

administrators have played a large 

role in building up the program by 

providing funding for facilities. 

Although Woody has since 

retired, the track and cross-country 

teams at Pearl High School continue 

to succeed. Woody’s oldest son, 

Chris Barnett, now coaches the boys 

track team. George Kersh returned 

to Pearl after running with the Santa 

Monica Track Club in California, and 

now coaches the girls track team. 

Woody admits that retirement 

did not come easily, at first. It was 

hard to look at the track and see 

anyone else coaching but himself. 

However, he has had the opportunity 

to watch both his son and former 

athlete grow as coaches and make 

the facility their own. Woody said, 

“I can rest assured knowing the 

people in charge are doing a 

great job.” 

Woody knows that Pearl athletics 

will remain strong because the 

athletes care, the coaches care, 

and the community cares. After all, 

caring is the secret to success. n 


When you feel sick, 

just call or click. 

With FastPass, you can schedule 

a same-day appointment at one 

of our convenient locations. 

Just call 1-855-SEE-U-TODAY 

or download our free app at 

mbhs.org/clinicapp. 

Network 

Calling... 

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1-855 

SEE-U 

TODAY 

Siwe l Rd. 

Clinton Pkwy. 

49 

80 

Northside Dr. 

55 

Hwy. 463 

220 

State St. 

Old Canton Rd. 

25 

County Line Rd 

Greenfield Rd. 

Lakeland Dr. 

Spi lway Rd. 

Old Fannin Rd. 

East Metro Dr. 

Northshore Dr. 

SCHEDULE A VISIT 

55 

51 

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What is your 

favorite thing 

about your 

mom? 

I love my mommy because 

she takes me hunting, 

washes my clothes, 

orders me pizza, buys me 

donuts, and because 

she loves me so much. 

Quentin Alman, age 8 

I love that my mom 

takes care of me. 

Ellie Kegley, age 6 

One thing I love about 

my mom is that she is 

intelligent. If my mom 

was not intelligent, then 

I would not know how to 

do anything on my work. 

Hudson McIntyre, age 9 


My favorite thing 

about my mom is her eyes. 

And she’s a good mom. 

Josiah Patrick, age 9 

I love my mom because 

she helps me with my 

math homework and we 

make waffles together. 

Sydney Higdon, age 9 

My favorite thing 

about my mom is that 

she’s kind to me and she 

cleans up my messes. 

Brady Sharp, age 5 

My favorite thing about 

my mom is that she loves 

me, my brother, and sister 

very much. I love that 

she comes to my baseball 

games and would 

rather be there 

than anywhere else. 

Connor McHenry, age 12 

I spend a lot of time 

with my mom. Sometimes 

we go eat breakfast at 

Chick-fil-A. She likes 

those wrapped up 

chicken nuggets. 

Kayla Jones, age 10 

I love my mom’s 

strong faith. 

Whitney Schuler, age 15 


©2014 Ergon, Inc. All rights reserved. 

ergon.com 

kid’s Club 

SUMMER CAMPS 2016 

HOURS: 8AM - 4PM | WITH AFTER HOURS FROM 4 TO 6 

WEEKLY SESSIONS: $200 FOR MEMBERS, $240 FOR NON-MEMBERS 

* DISCOUNTS FOR FAMILIES WITH MORE THAN ONE CHILD 

VOLLEYBALL DODGEBALL 

christian based learning! 

Activities will take place in our state 

of the art open-air pavilion! 

See front desk for registration form 

& schedule of events! 

ANY QUESTIONS? 

CONTACT: CANDACE RONDEAU 

@ 601-209-0706 

MONDAY - FRIDAY 

WEEK 1: MAY 31 TO JUNE 4 

WEEK 2: JUNE 6 TO JUNE 10 



WEEK 5: JUNE 27 TO JULY 1 

WEEK 6: JULY 5 TO JULY 9 




PICK ANY 6 WEEKS OR MORE 

AND GET A DISCOUNTED RATE! 


A committed bank is a really great thing to have. 

• You actually know your own personal 

banker. 

• Decisions are made locally, so you get 

answers quickly. 

• Service is always courteous and attentive. 

SPILLWAY RD / 601-203-2500 

W. GOVERNMENT ST / 601-825-4323 

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COMMUNITYBANK.NET • ®2016 COMMUNITY BANK • MEMBER FDIC 

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The Sessions 

Why take your business or your skills anywhere 

else? As the leading independent staffing agency 

in the market, we consistently attract the 

finest candidates and match them with the best 

companies in the area. And because we’ve always 

been locally owned, you’ll be dealing with staffing 

experts who are invested in, and responsive to, the 

local business community. 

STAY LOCAL. SEE RESULTS. 

The perfect music choice for 

wedding receptions, parties and dances. 

Call 601.714.6234 for booking 

or email BDavidson@senate.ms.gov 

As the largest independently owned 

staffing service in Mississippi, we 

can customize a wide range of 

solutions for our clients and provide 

a plethora of opportunities for our 

employees. We’re large enough to 

provide services to big corporations 

but just the right size for smaller 

companies, too. 

Whether you’re looking 

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employees, we can 

assist you with a variety 

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- administrative 

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- accounting & finance 

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and much more... 

JACKSON 601-353-4200 | CANTON 601-859-8860 | MCCOMB 601-250-0800 


Abby & Michael Bishop, 

Bella & Martin Palomi IV 

Addison & Blake Sloan 

Sam & Malcolm Houston 

Billy & Saige Finnie 

Father-Daughter 

Dance 

February 2, 2016 

Warren & Lily Husband 

John Skelton & Lana Brooke McGinnis 

Josh & Carson Carnell 

Brynlee & Jonathan Colwell 

Darrell & Gabi Dozier 

David & Lila May 

Dr. Brad & Olivia Thompson 

Emerson, Senator Josh, 

& Carlysle Harkins 

Greg & Sadie Carlisle 

Hayden & Chloe Canter 

Jeniah, Fredreca, Jenefis Williams 


Kyle & Emerson Sandidge 

Lainey, Gage, Emmie Walker 

Lanny & Christina Glover 

Leeanna & Keith Sandidge 

Liuy & Brian Burkley 

Mark & Emma Allen 

Marley, Michael & Aubrey Dew 

Presley & Eric Heidorn 

Presley & Trampis Carr 

Victoria & Kevin Rogers 

Rich & Emma Simpson 

Bella James & Joe Brock Faulkner 

Shelby & George Haydu 

Sophie & Chris Sheffield 

Steve & Delaney Yarrow 

Tony & Abby Worch 


You are a unique breed 

and your style reflects 

that. Stand out 

from the pack – 

wear something that 

barks, “You!” 

Distinctive Brands 

RaYban • OakleY 

COSta • Maui JiM 

COaCh • WileYX 

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tOM FORd 

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601-605-2259 • Madison 

601-825-8300 • Brandon 


C=100, M=75, Y=0, K=60

Call us to schedule 

your next visit. 

(601) 825-3368 

Sarah Langston, DMD 

14 Woodgate Drive 

Brandon, Mississippi 39042 

Facebook.com/plainviewliving 


Tailored for a Lifetime 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

Students’ minds develop uniquely. At Jackson 

Academy, we consider your child’s individual 

needs. From Preschool to Upper School, JA 

provides a faculty-to-student ratio that allows 

for nurturing and mentoring…because a teacher’s 

positive influence can last a lifetime! 

Visit JA online at jacksonacademy.org. 

4908 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 | 601.362.9676 


Hometown Rankin 

Reader 

SPOTLIGHT 

Lee 

Tucker 

Why did you decide to make 

Rankin County your home? 

I have lived in Rankin County for my entire life. 

I grew up in Pelahatchie within a small town 

environment that encouraged friendships, 

participation in every community and school 

event, and lasting relationships. After graduating 

from Mississippi College, I married and moved to 

Vicksburg. After four years away, we were presented 

with job opportunities that allowed us to move to 

Brandon. I began teaching in the Rankin County 

School District where I taught business subjects, 

as well as sponsored the yearbook, for the next 

thirty-four years. I loved teaching–and meeting 

young adults who I am now fortunate enough to 

count as friends. 

Tell us about your family. 

My family is fantastic. I am married to someone 

that I have known since I was a senior in high 

school, Dan Tucker. We have two marvelous 

children: Ross Tucker, and Lee Herrin. Ross 

(Suzanne) has three children: Drew, age 13; 

Bailey, age 10; and Lock, age 4. Our daughter, 

Lee Herrin (Will), has twin boys, Nobles and 

Tucker Herrin, age 2. 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Rankin County? 

All of my favorite memories revolve around my 

teaching career. I had some fabulous administrators 

and my best friends were my peers. Sponsoring the 

yearbook put me in a unique position to have 

twenty wonderful students each year who became 

my “children.” I still treasure the relationships and 

friendships that I experienced during that special 

time of my life. 

What are some fun things to do in 

Rankin County on the weekends? 

Any activity for us on weekends usually revolves 

around family and friends. We have great friends 

that go with us to lots of the area restaurants. 

We try out new ones, and re-visit our favorites. 

Grandchildren also occupy our weekend activities. 

We love the baseball and soccer fields in Brandon 

and Flowood. Winner’s Circle Park is a great 

destination for the twins. I love shopping in 

Brandon and Flowood–there are so many 

great stores. 

Share some things you enjoy doing 

in your spare time. 

When I retired, I treated myself to a monogram 

machine–something that I had always wanted. 

I monogram and applique items for my grandchildren. 

Several years ago, a sweet, wonderful lady 

taught me and three friends how to play bridge. 

That is probably one of the greatest gifts I have 

ever received. I have loved the world that has 

opened up to me and all of the wonderful people 

that I have gotten to know. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

Years ago, when we first moved back to Brandon, 

I got to know one of the sweetest people. We 

became close friends as our sons were the same age. 

After forty years, we are still friends. I have watched 

her give to her family, her church, her community, 

and to her friends. I have never heard her say one 

derogatory thing about anyone or anything–a trait 

which cannot be claimed by many people. Bonny 

Tigrett still remains the person that I most 

admire–even after all these years. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

“It takes a village to raise a child.” While most 

people attribute this quote to Hillary Clinton, 

it is actually an old African quote; it has always 

resonated with me. I was raised by the “village” 

of Pelahatchie. My children were raised by the 

“village” of Brandon schools and teachers. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

I hope that I am doing exactly the same thing and 

enjoying my life as I am today. I’ve always believed 

that age is a state of mind–so years ago, I “froze” 

my age at 39. My older grandchildren ask each year 

near my birthday if I am going to move my age to 

“40” and I reply that I am considering getting 

older, but really like being “39.” 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

I just loved growing up in Pelahatchie and the 

small-town cohesiveness that enveloped us all. 

We never locked our doors and friends were always 

welcome. My mom (Marjorie) was a great cook, 

and my father (Tite Ross) loved people–so our 

house was always full of friends. My maiden name 

growing up was Ross–and there were four other 

Ross families in the town for a total of fifteen Ross 

children. I was part of this group that participated 

in everything in the Pelahatchie schools, because 

there weren’t many students–so I was a member 

of the band, a cheerleader, a basketball player, and a 

track runner. At half-time of the football game, all 

of the cheerleaders went and picked up instruments 

and marched in the band half-time show! 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Magazines? 

I love Hometown and never miss reading the 

Rankin or Brandon issues. Thank goodness for 

Tayha Dobbs and this wonderful gift that she has 

brought to us. I’ve learned so many things and 

“met” so many people through the articles. I’ve also 

visited many of the vendors who advertise because 

their goods and services are highlighted beautifully 

within these pages. Because I was a yearbook 

sponsor, I appreciate the quality of the photos, the 

advertisement structure, and the paper weight of 

these magazines. I understand the work that goes 

into creating something like this publication and 

making it a success. n 


By His Amazing Grace– 

I Am Alive 

Tiffany Withers 

Did you know that one person 

donating their organs can 

save up to eight lives? 

And another 50 to 75 lives 

can be improved through 

tissue donation? 


One person alone can 

help save up to 81 people.

Currently, there are more than 112,000 people in America waiting 

for organ transplants. Unfortunately, people often die waiting for them. 

Is it an epidemic? I think so. Is there something we can do about it? 

Definitely! Since we can’t take our organs and tissues with us, why not 

donate them so that others can live? 

I’m clearly very passionate about this topic because organ donation 

saved my life. Had I not received the gift of life from someone that 

chose to donate, I wouldn’t be here today. I am a liver transplant 

survivor. I owe my second chance at life to my unknown donor and 

their family. They made one of the most selfless decisions possible in 

their very darkest hour. That’s something I can never repay them for, 

but I can still help others. So I plan to be an organ donor, too. 

Let me tell you my story. My journey began Easter Sunday, April 

24th, 2011. I hadn’t felt well for a while, but I just chalked it up to 

working full time as a teacher’s assistant, taking 15 hours of online classes 

through the University of Southern Mississippi, being a mother of two 

girls who were then age 15 and 6, and being a wife to an amazing husband. 

That’s enough to wear you down, right? Well, the week following 

Easter, I went to the doctor three times and to the emergency room 

once. Every time I’d be sent home with some type of new medicine to 

try. I had started swelling really badly and my 

eyes were turning yellow. I couldn’t keep 

anything down and I was lethargic. Lots of 

things were going wrong. 

The following Monday, May 2nd, I was 

instructed to call a GI doctor I’d been referred 

to since my liver enzymes were extremely 

elevated. My doctor had sent my medical file 

to the GI folks over the weekend. So when I 

called, the GI doctor said that he had looked 

over my file and advised me to go straight to 

Baptist Hospital. 

Why? What was wrong? I thought 

something wasn’t right, but everyone kept 

dismissing it, so I did, too. What was so 

urgent? Fear started to set in. So, I checked in to the hospital that 

morning and got settled in; all the while seeking answers. Lots of tests 

and two days later, my GI doctor told us that he wanted to send me to 

Ochsner’s Hospital in New Orleans. He explained that they were used 

to handling issues like this and that they had the best liver doctors 

around. They were talking about a liver transplant. What? Me? Why? 

I wasn’t a drinker. I haven’t ever done drugs or smoked. I didn’t do 

anything to ruin my liver. This can’t be! Why in the world? Even 

though I couldn’t wrap my head around it and had everyone praying 

for no transplant, I was on my way. 

Wednesday night, May 4th, I got to take my first-ever ride in an 

ambulance and was headed to New Orleans. To say I was scared is an 

understatement. More and more tests came and went. On Friday, 

May 6th, I went in for a liver biopsy. This was getting even more serious. 

By this time, I had gained over 40 pounds from swelling. I literally 

looked like the Michelin Man–just yellow instead of white. Suspicions 

were confirmed; my liver wasn’t working. I don’t remember anything 

after getting onto the biopsy table until I woke up on Wednesday of 

the following week. I had gone into a coma. 

Looking back now, I don’t remember much at all about my stay at 

Baptist or the beginning parts of my stay at Ochsner–so I never really 

knew how dire the situation was. I truly believe that God knew I 

couldn’t handle fear so He just put me to sleep. Unfortunately, that 

meant that my husband, Richard, and my 

mom, Mickey, took the brunt of the worry 

and anxiety of what was going on. 

On Sunday, May 8th, with me still in a 

coma, my medical team came to visit my 

family. They saw how my condition was 

rapidly worsening and immediately put me 

on the transplant list for a new liver. I was put 

on the transplant list at 3:00 p.m. that day. 

Monday morning at 10:00 a.m., my family 

received a call that a liver had been found 

and it was a match. Finding a matching 

organ in 19 hours is absolutely unheard of. 

God had intervened. Ochsner sent out a 

helicopter team shortly thereafter to retrieve 

the donated liver. At 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10th, I was wheeled 

into surgery to receive my new liver. Seven and a half hours later, I had 

a new and improved, working organ. Praise God for my surgical team 


and their medical talents. Their knowledge still amazes me. 

I was put in ICU to watch for any potential problems because the 

first 48-hours are critical. Will it take? Will I have complications? Will 

my body reject it? But it was all fine. That was God, too. But He didn’t 

stop there. I remember starting to wake up off and on, but didn’t have 

a clue really where I was, what day it was, much less what in the world 

was going on. I quickly noticed that I had a tube down my throat that 

was connected to a ventilator. Having a mother that was a nurse who 

just happened to love telling us emergency room horror stories, I knew 

this wasn’t good. I also noticed that I had lots and lots of other tubes 

and machines hooked up to me. 

As I laid there trying to figure out what was happening and 

wondering when my family would come back, I had this song pop into 

my head. Anyone that knows me knows that I love praise music and 

I’ve always got a tune in my head. I remember singing this song while 

I was sleeping. It went like this; ‘I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive, hallelujah. 

I’m alive forever, amen’ and something about ‘Death where is your sting.’ 

That’s all I could remember and I’d sing it over and over and over again 

in my head. 

Finally, my mom came in the room. For some reason, she was crying. 

What was wrong? What does she know that I don’t know? What isn’t 

she telling me? She called my husband to let him know that I was 

awake. I remember looking at her and saying, “Where did you go?” 

My mother looked at me and answered, but I didn’t hear her voice. 

Instead, I heard a voice that said, “I never left you.” Again, I didn’t 

think much of it at the time. I thought I was still groggy and just didn’t 

hear her voice correctly. 

My mom then told me what had happened. I had had a liver 

transplant. I was stunned. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I didn’t 

do anything wrong. Why? How? What does that mean? What now? 

There were a lot of questions, but I was speechless. My mom tried to 

explain it all to me, but it was almost too much to hear. By that time, my 

husband was there. He tried to help me understand all of it but it was 

like they were speaking Greek to me. Apparently, tests on my old liver 

showed Auto-immune Hepatitis and my liver, itself, was over 70% dead. 

Auto-immune Disease is when your immune system becomes defective 

and decides to attack a part of the body. In my case, it was my liver. 

I’d like to share with you how awesome God was through this scary 

time. I was told that I would need to stay in ICU for three days. But I 

was doing so well, that I was transferred out of ICU to the transplant 

floor Wednesday afternoon—the next day. On the transplant floor, I 

had to learn how to live from here on out. I’ve never known anyone to 

have a transplant so I didn’t have anyone to compare it to. So, we started 

asking questions, documenting and learning. Lots of new medicines, 

routines and changes would have to be made. But I was ready for it. 

After all, it sure beat the alternative. 

By this time, the magnitude of what had happened and how close 

I came to dying was hitting me. I started realizing that someone I didn’t 

know had died and in his or her death, I gained life. That’s one of the 

hardest things I think I have ever had to face. Not the recovery per se… 

but the knowledge that someone died and therefore I got to live. I 

hadn’t done anything remotely great enough to deserve that blessing. 

I didn’t understand. So, as I was sitting alone in my hospital room 

crying about it for the first time, I asked Him. “Why, God?” He simply 

replied, “Why not?” I didn’t really expect an answer but His answer 

was clear as day in my head. But then I realized something just as 

significant; that’s the exact same voice I heard say, “I never left you.” 

That was God. He never left me and He was letting me know that. 

He had a reason for me to live whether I deserved it or not. That 

simple answer was all it took. 

I stopped crying, dried my tears up and no longer allowed myself 

to question why this happened to me. He gave me the knowledge that 

He had greater things in store for me. It became a mission right then 

and there. I have a purpose and I’ll work until I fulfill it. But He didn’t 

stop there! 

Normally transplant patients stay on the transplant floor for 2 weeks. 

I was able to transfer to a transplant apartment two blocks from the 

hospital the following Monday–just 5 days later. The apartments were 

for patients to become more independent, yet be close enough to the 

hospital in case something happened and for frequent lab work. It 

wasn’t home, but it was close enough. It was time to start learning to 

live again and time to start learning more about my limitations and 

needs. I had to learn to walk distances again, take a full shower trying 

to stand up; complete daily living skills–things that we so often take for 

granted. But it was worth it and I was alive! 

One day, while sitting in the apartment, I began humming that 

song again–you know, the one I remembered singing while I was 

asleep. But I still couldn’t remember the entire song. So I Googled it. 


All I knew was to put in the words I could remember and see what 

would pop up. It took a while but I finally found it. The song is called, 

“I’m Alive” by Travis Cottrell. I found the music on YouTube and 

played it out loud. Tears began to flow as I was finally able to hear the 

rest of the words. 

Throughout this entire ordeal, so many people jumped in and took 

over whatever needed to be done. My brother, Matt, and his family 

kept our daughters and 

made sure they were 

taken care of when both 

my husband and my 

mom needed to be with 

me. My sister, Amy, 

kept everyone updated 

on CaringBridge and 

made sure my transplant 

apartment was move-in 

ready in a moment’s 

notice. After returning 

home, so many people 

continued to shower us 

with help and support. 

doing exactly what He wants me to do. That’s a great feeling and I give 

Him all the glory! And, since my transplant, I have had the added 

blessing of counseling families and patients going through transplants 

as well. I help answer all of the same questions that I once had. I get to 

show them that this, too, shall pass. I get to be His light to those that 

are scared and sick. What an amazing reward—and all for God’s glory. 

Yes, my life took an unexpected turn, but the adventure has been 

amazing! I’ve gotten to see 

and live so many things that I 

might have missed, otherwise. 

Every time there’s a nostalgic 

moment, a holiday, or an 

event that is significant, I am 

reminded that I could’ve not 

lived to see them. With my 

second chance, I try to make 

choices that would not only 

make God proud but also my 

donor’s family. I pray their 

family, whoever they are, 

would be proud of what I’ve 

accomplished so far and will 

Friends, co-workers, 

family, my pastor, my 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, 

as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. - 1 Peter 4:10 

continue to do. It sure keeps 

things in perspective. 

church family, and neighbors showed us grace and love through 

continued prayers, meals, and acts of kindness. God’s light shined 

through each and every one of them. 

I had my 3-month checkup the first week of August 2011 and was 

able to return to work the first day of school. In addition to that, one 

year and one day after my liver transplant, I walked across the stage at 

the University of Southern Mississippi and received my special 

education teaching degree. I am now in my fourth year of teaching 

students with special needs and was even awarded Teacher of the Year 

at Brandon Middle School this year! I get to work with 

some of the most amazing students ever. They bless me 

every day. Yes, I have to take a few extra precautions 

but that it just goes to show that when He has a plan, 

no one can stop Him. 

I know that I’m exactly where God wants me to be 

God took me, someone who didn’t deserve a second chance and 

someone who took so much for granted and restored me for His work 

that is now being done. And Lord how I’m ready. Use me! 

If you’d like to know more about becoming an organ donor, please 

go to the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency website. You can learn 

more about how it works and sign up online to become a donor. Give 

the ultimate gift of life! You can’t take your organs with you… so why 

not help someone else live. 

If you are interested in hearing my testimony or know someone 

who could benefit from me talking to them about my 

transplant, please let me know. I would love the 

opportunity to answer their questions or help them 

understand the process. April is Organ Donation 

Awareness Month. There’s no better month to get 

signed up! I can help you with that, too. n 





A few years ago, my grandmother passed away and I was tasked with 

having to close her estate. I had never done it before, so every step of it was 

an educational and eye-opening experience. Despite my desire to keep 

everything I had ever known of her, it became necessary to let go of many 

of her possessions. So, we had an estate sale. There was just no way to keep 

96-years’ worth of stuff. 

The day of the sale, I drove over from Jackson and as I turned toward 

her house, there were cars lining both sides of the street. I couldn’t for the 

life of me imagine what had happened and quickly 

became concerned that anyone interested in 

attending our event, scheduled to start an hour later, 

wouldn’t have a place to park. 

But as it turns out, they were there for the sale–all 

those people. I started to cry. “Please God! Don’t let 

me fall apart now!” I prayed He’d allow me to quickly 

compose myself. 

That day, people from far and wide came to my 

grandmother’s house that had, for this occasion, 

been fully converted into one big retail space. 

Things that I had seen my whole life and completely 

taken for granted apparently not only had value– 

but now had price tags on them, as well. Dishes, 

step-stools, hammers, and clocks. Vases, rocking 

chairs, cast-iron skillets and cookbooks–all valued 

differently to different people. And for the first time in my life, I started 

to see things differently, too. I actually noticed them. 

American Pickers is a popular show on The History Channel that 

explores the fascinating world of antique picking and, since my own estate 

sale experience, has become one of my favorites. It follows two of the most 

skilled pickers in the business as they search for America’s most valuable 

antiques–along with stories of the people that owned them. They call 

themselves antique archeologists and they’re on a mission to recycle America, 

restore forgotten relics to their former glory, and learn a thing or two 

about American history along the way. 

So with my new-found interest in things of the past, I began to enjoy 

going into antique stores and thrift shops looking for items that have “value”. 

Value to me might be something that reminds me of my grandmother’s 

former possessions. Even just recognizing things can often bring me joy. 

And I don’t know what anything is worth–I just know what I like. 

One day recently, I was in one of my favorite places and spotted this 

unusual little book—no bigger than the palm of my hand. It was in a glass 

curio cabinet with a thousand other completely unrelated objects and why 

I gravitated to it, or how I ever even saw it in the 50,000-plus-square-feet 

of antiques and random estate-type items, is beyond me. It turned out to 

be a Bible. And on its gold-plated steel cover were engraved the words, 

“May this keep you safe from harm.” 


♥ 

Heart 

The 

Shield 

It was sold by the Know Your Bible Sales Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, 

and was designed to fit into the left-breast pocket of a combat uniform. 

The metal plate was securely attached to the front cover to stop a bullet 

from reaching a soldier’s heart. Commonly nicknamed the “bullet-proof 

Bible” it was officially marketed as The Heart-Shield. What I was holding 

in my hand not only served as a shield of faith, but as a shield against 

bullets, too. It literally felt sacred. 

The year was 1943. It was World War II. 

Pearl Harbor had been bombed in early 

December, 1941. In his famous “date which will 

live in infamy” message to Congress requesting 

that the United States officially declare war on 

Japan, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that, 

“With confidence in our armed forces–with the 

unbounded determination of our people–we will 

gain the inevitable triumph–so help us God.” 

His assurance in God and our military was 

further evidenced in the form of a letter from him 

that was included with every Heart-Shield Bible 

sold. It said, “As Commander-in-Chief I take 

pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible 

to all who serve in the armed forces of the United 

States. Throughout the centuries, men of many 

faiths and diverse origins have found in the Sacred 

Book words of wisdom, counsel, and inspiration. It is a foundation of 

strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of 

the human soul.” 

What changed with the bombing of Pearl Harbor was the fact that 

this war was one that the United States could not avoid. It was a war 

against a totalitarian ideology that was bent on world domination and, 

if left unstopped, would affect the course of human history. It was a war 

for the soul of the world. Sound familiar? 

President Roosevelt made no bones in reminding the nation of the 

Bible’s importance in America’s formation and continuance. He was also 

quoted as saying, “We cannot read the history of our rise and development 

as a nation without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in 

shaping the advances of the Republic.” And yet here we are, all these years 

later–removing it at every turn. My how times have changed. 

I paid a whopping $25 for my newly acquired piece of history. And in 

my quest to find its “true value”, I’ve learned more about our nation than 

I ever might have known otherwise. In some ways these current times 

seem unprecedented. In other ways, they don’t. But there should continue 

to be a profound longing to make things right with all humanity by people 

of every faith and conscience. 

We’re always at war, aren’t we? Sometimes literally–often figuratively. 

Your faith is your best armor. Don’t ever enter battle without your shield. 


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A Seamless 

Transition: 

The 

Walt of 

Pharmacy 

Passes the Torch 

One of the long-standing pillars of Brandon and the 

surrounding communities is Brandon Discount Drugs, an 

independent pharmacy founded by Waymon Tigrett and 

his wife Bonny in 1969. Waymon has been the driving force 

behind Brandon Discount Drugs for the last 47 years, and 

he found great success by working hard and treating people 

nicely and with respect. 

“We have a tremendous clientele who are great people. 

I’m humbled and very appreciative of the fact that our 

community has trusted us not only with their medicine, but 

their children’s and grandchildren’s and now great-grandchildren’s,” 

said Waymon. “We use personal service and the 

hometown atmosphere that you can’t get in the chains.” 

After 47 years of hard work, sacrifice, and service to the 

local communities, Waymon was ready to turn over the 

reins. He sold Brandon Discount Drugs, also known as his 

“oldest child,” to two of his bright and talented pharmacists 

in July 2015. Ryan Harper and Dawn Dozier now own and 

operate Brandon Discount Drugs in a dual partnership. 

Ryan began working as a pharmacist at Brandon Discount 

Drugs in 2001, and Dawn came on in 2005 while she was 

finishing up pharmacy school. Ryan’s father-in-law was 

Waymon’s roommate in pharmacy school. Ryan’s wife, Holly, 

went to pharmacy school with Waymon’s children. “Even 


though we are not blood related, we are like family,” said Waymon. 

His son Steve is working full-time as a pharmacist at Brandon 

Discount Drugs. Steve decided to stay on as a pharmacist at the 

drug store instead of being in an ownership position. 

Despite the transition of ownership, Brandon Discount Drugs 

is still Waymon’s store in the eyes of Ryan and Dawn. “He’s the 

Walt Disney of pharmacy,” said Ryan. “He put forth how a 

pharmacy should be run and has been so successful. To think 

that we would change it in any way would be crazy. People ask 

him, ‘What’s your secret? Why are you so successful?’ 

It’s because of Waymon and good service. He tells 

folks that if you treat people right and work hard, 

the success will come.” 

“The center of Waymon’s attention has been on Brandon, 

Rankin County, and his customers. He has made them first and 

foremost of everything. That’s what totally encompassed the 

store,” said Dawn. “We still want to maintain all of the same 

values and ethics that he started 47 years ago.” 

“It’s a seamless transition,” said Ryan. “What we do is not a 

job for us–it’s a vocation. That’s what Waymon taught us. It’s 

almost a ministry. We’re a part of the community and a part of 

the healing process for these folks.” 

“We’re passionate about our vocation,” said Dawn. “It was 

instilled in me from Waymon and Ryan. Seeing how they 

worked and how our customers loved them–I can’t see 

myself doing anything else.” 



Customers who come into Brandon 

Discount Drugs are called by their names 

and treated like family. “Waymon’s real secret 

is the candy box,” said Ryan. “For every child 

that comes in, he says, ‘You make sure those 

kids get some candy.’ And those kids will come 

back when they’re in their 20s and 30s and 

remember that there’s a candy box. And 

they bring their kids in. Waymon has seen 

generations of kids grow up.” 

“We’re the daily outing for a lot of our 

customers,” said Dawn. “They come by, get 

their coffee, sit and visit with us for a little 

bit, bring us cookies, cakes, and coffee.” 

“That was all started with Mr. Waymon 

and Mrs. Bonny. Those two go hand in hand. 

It’s the Waymon way. We have customers 

who say, ‘I’m driving past five pharmacies to 

get to you,’” said Ryan. “We have folks who 

drive in from Madison, Magee, Puckett, Pearl, 

and Flowood.” 

“It can be pouring down rain bad weather 

and someone will drive 40 miles, one way, to 

come to us and have us take care of their 

kids’ medicine,” said Dawn. 

“It’s an intimate relationship,” said Ryan. 

“We’re privileged and very sincere because 

we understand the gravity of that. When our 

customers come in the store, they’re like 

family. Our decisions are predicated on the 

fact that this is like my child or mom or sister 

or grandmother. I ask myself, ‘Is this medicine 

appropriate for them? What can I do to make 

their health better?’ If you’re in that frame of 

mind, you really can’t go wrong.” 

Waymon still comes into Brandon 

Discount Drugs nearly every day to help out. 

Ryan and Dawn value his wisdom and input 

on running the business. “We’ve only been 

doing the operational and management 

side of this for 7 months,” said Ryan. “At no 

time do we think we know everything about 

the store.” 

“A whole lot of stuff that he did makes so 

much more sense now that we are in that role,” 

said Dawn. “We need a whole lot of practice 

to become the perfect Waymon because he 

did it for a long time. He knows best.” 

“From time to time, we’ll have some of the 

older employees call me and Dawn ‘Little 

Waymon,’” said Ryan. “And I’m fine with 

that. It’s a compliment. When there’s an 

issue to be addressed, he’s at the top of the 

call list. He has a wealth of knowledge and 

experience. We’re lucky that he’s only a 

block and a half away from the store.” 

“47 years will teach you a lot of lessons,” 

said Waymon. “Some great, some fantastic, 

some good, some bad, and some expensive. 

I told Ryan and Dawn that if they have a 

question, please ask me if there’s anything I 

can help them with.” 

Ryan and Dawn are glad to take on 

ownership of Brandon Discount Drugs as a 

team. If one of them has to be away from the 

store, the other can be around to take care 

of business. “To be able to get out and have 

a presence in this evolution of pharmacy, 

you have to be away from the store,” said 

Ryan. “There’s been excitement for us, too. 

We’ve had a lot of positive reinforcement 

from the community. We are heavily 

invested in the town.” 

Ryan and Dawn want to follow Waymon’s 

lead with community involvement. Waymon 

has served on the Trustmark Bank board, the 

school board, the city planning board, and his 

church board. He has coached elementary 

kids in basketball and football. In 2006, he 

was appointed by the governor of Mississippi 

to serve a 5-year term on the seven-member 

pharmacy board and was later re-appointed 

for a second term. Waymon was nationally 

recognized in 2012 when he was awarded the 

Bowl of Hygiea award. One pharmacist from 

every state in America is selected each year, 

and recipients are chosen based on 

their community involvement and 

volunteerism. 

Ryan has been appointed by Governor 

Bryant to take Waymon’s place as a representative 

on the state pharmacy board for 

the next term. “He’s a young guy,” said 

Waymon. “I was 61 years old when I was 

appointed, and it’s quite an accomplishment 

for a young person to have that kind of clout.” 

With regard to his retirement, Waymon 

said, “It’s just time for me to turn over the 

reins. I had to work 11-12 hours a day. I 

worked 6-days a week for the first 9 or 10 

years I had the store. I never got to spend 

time with my two kids.” 

“They are hitting the bucket list and 

enjoying themselves, which is what they 

should do,” said Dawn. “He doesn’t have 

the burden of the store anymore. I’d say 

the majority of people are excited for him 

because he is finally getting to spend time 

with his family and do something for 

himself. Years and years would go by 

that he didn’t even leave town. He was a 

one-man show.” 

“Pharmacists are the trusted healthcare 

professionals,” said Dawn.“Waymon has a 

great relationship with all the local doctors 

that thankfully he has passed on to us. He’s 

given us so much guidance and teaching.” 

“We want to give a huge thank you, a pat 

on the back, and a hug to Mr. Waymon for 

what he’s done for us,” said Ryan. 

Waymon trusts that he has left Brandon 

Discount Drugs in very capable hands. He 

says, “Ryan and Dawn are doing a great job, 

and we’re really pleased and excited for them 

to have this opportunity. It’s not an ending 

nor a beginning. It’s a continuation of what 

we started 47 years ago.” n 



Don't miss 

our next 

issue, 

June 2016!

Serving our county 

Brad Patridge 

rankin county constable 

Why did you decide to be a constable? 

I wanted to become more involved in my 

community. I ran for constable because 

my grandfather’s service inspired me by 

serving as sheriff in Montgomery County, 

Mississippi, and other family members and 

their service in the highway patrol. I now 

know there is no way to be more involved 

in your community than by being constable. 

How long have you been a constable 

in Rankin County? 

16 years. 

Tell us about your family. 

I’m married to Tammy Johnson Patridge 

for 21 years and she has recently opened 

a prom and pageant store in Flowood. 

We have 3 children that attend Brandon 

Schools. Rae is our oldest daughter and 

she is a senior at BHS dual enrolled at 

Hinds. Our son Braden plays football and 

is a sophomore this year while Mia is a 

7th grade cheerleader at Brandon Middle. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

By far the toughest thing I have to handle 

in my job is the eviction process. At times 

it feels like I am having to take the one 

thing from them that they have left–the 

roof over their heads. Over the years I 

have been the coach of several of my kids’ 

sports teams. I had an eviction one day 

when the child came to the door and said 

“Hey Coach Brad.” At challenging times 

like that you just have to handle it with as 

much empathy and encouragement as 

possible. Difficult times can affect anyone 

at some point in their lives and all you can 

do is try to make it as easy as possible for 

those families affected. 

Share some things you enjoy doing 

in your spare time. 

I enjoy working out and fishing whenever 

I can. I am also a boxing judge so I find 

occasional weekends here and there to 

enjoy that pastime as well. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

Fishing in Hawaii. Owning a ‘67 Camaro, 

and boating from Florida to the Bahamas. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

My father Billy Patridge. Not just because 

he is my father, but because I meet people 

all the time that tell me how they know my 

dad and they all speak so highly of him. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

Hopefully in my 26th year as constable 

and driving my ‘67 Camaro to Florida to 

go fishing. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

To remind them that character is how you 

act when no one is watching. 

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

Turning the crank on my grandparents’ 

ice cream machine and fishing with my 

grandfather. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

Not realizing that the internet is forever. 

What is your favorite thing about 

Rankin County? 

The small town family experience. 


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The CHALKBOARD 

rankin county Schools 

Northwest 

Academic Achievements 

Northwest Rankin has become a leader in the state of Mississippi 

among high schools, drawing from a wealth of talented students 

and teachers to spread its influence across Rankin County, the 

metro area, and the state. One area in which Northwest has 

strived to excel is academics, and it is safe to say it has achieved its 

goals. Six students received the honor of National Merit Semifinalist 

after scoring in the top 98% of the state on the PSAT test, 

and more than thirty seniors scored better than a thirty on the 

ACT. Two seniors received an appointment to the United States 

Naval Academy in Annapolis, along with one senior getting the 

Star Student Award. 

In recent state competitions, the Beta Club brought home first 

place prizes in poetry, computer literacy, and pencil drawing as 

many students showed off their various talents and skills. At the 

Mississippi School of Math and Science Math Competition, 

Northwest Rankin placed third overall, a terrific achievement for 

the school as it has continued to improve. 

Academics are extremely important at Northwest, but we also 

strive to bring the community together. The student government 

recently hosted a community 5-K and kids’ fun run. Different 

businesses in the community sponsored the event and people from 

across the area came together for a fun-filled day. Community 

leaders were also invited in for Business in the Classroom to share 

with students on various topics ranging from colleges to running 

businesses. We are Northwest. We are Cougars. We are community. 

dance team 

The Northwest Rankin High School Cougarettes placed 13th 

in the nation at the UDA National Dance Team Championship 

held at Disney in Orlando, Florida. They competed against many 

teams from across the country and were the only team from 

Mississippi to compete in the National Dance Team Championship. 

They received the national bid after placing first at Mississippi 

State UDA Dance Camp in June 2015. 

First Row, Seniors: Jade Jackson, Sarah Hamilton Ridgway, Kelsey Burkes 

(captain), Reagan Patrick (captain) and Meagan Matthews; Second Row, Juniors: 

Jewell Hinton, Nicole Iannelli, Kayla Kirkpatrick, Lauren Mackey, Meghan 

McClaskey, Kristen Hale, Bayleigh Hall and Aliyah Bracey, Third Row, 

Freshman: Olivia Richardson, Abby Bonds, Taylor Binkley, sophomores: Shelby 

Connerly, Avery Bridgers and Carolyn White. 


Pisgah 

Pisgah High School is proud to have three of our student 

athletes sign with college teams this year. TJ McGinnis is Pisgah’s 

first football player in school history to commit to a Division I 

team straight from high school. He has signed with the University 

of Southern Mississippi. TJ is the son of Trenda and Trumell 

McGinnis. TJ was a record-breaking student athlete at Pisgah, 

where he earned the most accolades of any PHS athlete, holds 

the record for most yards and most touchdowns in a single 

season, and had offers from eight Division I schools and five 

Division II schools before choosing to attend USM. 

AG Stewart recently became Pisgah’s first graduate to sign 

with a collegiate fastpitch softball team. AG is the daughter of 

Christi and Bubba Stewart. She will play for East Mississippi 

Community College. Both of these exceptional athletes are also 

excellent students; AG has earned a 4.0 GPA and plans to 

become a dental hygienist, while TJ maintains a 3.2 GPA and 

plans to study business management. 

In addition, senior Averyon Harris has signed with 

Southwest Community College. Averyon is the son of Betty and 

Leroy Harris. 

In the academic realm, we are also proud to announce that 

Pisgah is the only school in the Rankin County School District to 

earn Mississippi PREPS Value-Added awards for the PARCC 

Algebra I and English II tests based on the 2014-2015 school 

year test results, indicating that PHS students and their teachers 

outperformed projections on both tests. 

Congratulations to all of our hard-working students. 

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




McLaurin 

When traveling to McLaurin Elementary School, it may seem a 

long way out, but MES became truly “far out” as teachers, students, 

and community came together and celebrated a love of reading. 

A few days before Read Across America week, the MES library 

hosted a Scholastic Feelin’ Groovy book fair, February 22nd to 26th, 

with themed dress-up days based on decades of the past, staff 

contests, and silly parent stunts. From 1950s day where everyone 

sported duck tails and poodle skirts and mothers were invited for 

Mom’s Sock Hop Social to the 1980s day of blue eye shadow, big 

hair, and grandparents in neon for the Gnarly Grand Event, each 

day extended special invitations to all local friends and family. MES 

collaborated with the community to make the school a special gathering 

place promoting literacy, family values, and giving back to the 

community. Over $2,300.00 worth of books were donated to 

classrooms and students during the book fair. 

MES also hosted a Scholastic workshop the week before the 

book fair for both school and public librarians around Mississippi 

to learn, from the MES library’s increasing success, ways to 

promote reading, family involvement in their home schools, and 

faculty support through book fairs. The entire MES faculty 

contributed to the effort by participating in the Decked Out 

Decades Teacher Contest. Each grade level chose a decade and 

built anticipation among students for the book fair. Attending 

librarians traveled through the decades as they toured each grade 

level’s hall to judge a winning teacher team. The reward? Over 

$600 in books for that grade level’s classrooms. 

MES has been around several decades, and the school community 

has learned the importance of alliance among staff, students, 

family, and community. Hosting groovy library events is just one 

way that the school will continue to enhance students’ lives. Down 

the road, so to speak, MES is truly a school to watch. 


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

Florence 

Great things continue to happen at Florence High School in 

2016! This semester we have continued our Eagle PRIDE program 

that focuses on the values of Preparation, Respect, Integrity, 

Determination, and Excellence in all our students so that they 

can excel in academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. 

In January, our Co-Ed Cheerleading Team won their first ever 

State Championship! Jordon Ainsworth was selected for the Legion 

of Valor Award and recognized at a Mississippi Department of 

Education Board Meeting. Wesley Evans was selected as a 

National Merit Finalist and FHS’s Star Student. Charles Williams 

was selected at FHS’s Star Teacher, and Jenny Tutor was selected 

as FHS’s Teacher of the Year. 

In February, we had a mid-year recognition program where we 

recognized over 350 students for various accomplishments to 

include honor roll, community service hours, outstanding sports 

scholar awards, and leadership awards. Over 40 student members 

of DECA attended District I competition where 38 members 

qualified for state competition. At the state competition, 35 students 

placed and 18 qualified for international competition in Nashville 

at the end of April. Also in February, the FHS faculty and 

administrators selected Rita Callahan as February’s Tireless 

Teacher. 

Currently in March, our Lady Eagles basketball team, who is 

ranked in the top ten in 4A, is competing in the third round of the 

state championship playoffs. They have had their best season 

since winning a state championship back in 1970! 

As you can see, we have been very busy showing our PRIDE. 

To see all the great things that are going on at Florence High, 

follow us on Facebook (“All Things FHS”) and on Twitter 

(@allthings_FHS). We can’t hide our Eagle PRIDE! 

Stonebridge 

What a great week to promote literacy in a fun and exciting 

way. Reading is fundamental in our students’ academic success 

for every subject. In order to create life long readers, the students 

must become engaged in books that spark their interest. Who 

better to help light the reading fire in our students than the 

creative and imaginative author, Dr. Suess? Not only did the 

imaginative world of Dr. Suess help encourage students to read, 

but our very own superintendent Dr. Sue Townsend surprised 

our students by coming to read to them that week. 

We had many Thing 1 and Thing 2s, Cat in the Hats, and 

other characters in the building as the students dressed up as 

their favorite Dr. Suess character and posed for pictures at the 

photo booth with their classmates. The students were also treated 

to fun projects and activities in their classroom to celebrate 

Dr. Suess’ birthday. 

This was a very special week that made reading especially fun. 

Our teachers have created classrooms all year long where students 

are excited about reading and on their way to being lifelong 

readers. The themed lessons that are created and intertwined 

throughout the other content areas and the small group literature 

circle where students are able to discuss with their peers the books 

they are reading enable students to engage at a deeper level. We’ll 

say to each of our StoneBridge students to keep reading, and as 

Dr. Suess states, “Kid, you’ll move mountains! Your mountain is 

waiting so get on your way!” 




Pelahatchie 

Pelahatchie High School has been in the spotlight several 

times this year both academically and athletically. 

First academically, the school has received several national 

awards such as being recognized by U.S. News and World 

Report as a Bronze Level School. The school also received the 

PREPS award for their over-achievement in English Language 

Arts 7th, 8th, & 10th grade as well as Biology I. The school has 

also had a Legion of Valor recipient, one of only three in Rankin 

County. 

Another national award the school received was a National 

Read to Succeed classroom in 7th grade. These students 

exceeded the growth expected in literacy. To say the least, the 

students and teachers have accomplished some tremendous 

things already this school year. 

Athletically, the sports teams have all made the playoffs in 

several sports: football, girls’ soccer, girls’ basketball, and boys’ 

basketball. Currently the girls’ basketball team is playing in the 

state tournament for a chance at a state championship in class 

2A. If the girls accomplish this feat they will have won back-toback 

state championships. Powerlifting has won the district and 

is looking for their 2nd state championship in as many years. We 

are looking forward to the seasons for baseball, fastpitch softball, 

track and field, archery and tennis. 

So many things have been accomplished on a national and a 

state level but some of the most significant accomplishments are 

small successes at the school level. The school has improved the 

average ACT score approximately 2 full points from the previous 

year and the school has closed the gap in reading achievement by 

almost 2 years in each grade level. Many students are now 

reading and writing on a level that exceeds readiness for a college 

or career. 

Finally the largest accomplishment 

is simply the sense of school spirit and 

pride that is evident in our students 

and staff. Pelahatchie is truly a fantastic 

place and although the town is small, 

it has a huge impact on the lives of all 

the individuals student, teacher, and 

parent alike. GO CHIEFS! 

Northshore 

The PTO at Northshore Elementary sponsored a Me and 

My Guy Dance Friday, February 5. This was the second annual 

father-daughter dance and served as a PTO Fundraiser. This 

year’s theme was “Hollywood Nights.” We had great parental 

participation with the donation of food and decorations. 

Everyone enjoyed a candy bar with cookies and cupcakes and 

danced the night away. A fantastic team of parents came in and 

transformed the rotunda and cafeteria. The music was by a DJ, 

Solid Steele Sounds. Life long memories were made for the girls 

and their “guy”. 


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




Puckett 

Spring is here at Puckett High School and our art teacher 

Chuck Rhoads, along with his students, has begun working to 

make the Gardens of Puckett something to make our town proud. 

In November of last year, the art students began planning for a 

colorful palate by planting daffodil bulbs, magnolia trees, and 

azaleas to prepare the gardens to be in full color by mid-April of 

this year. 

The creation of the Gardens of Puckett has been a labor of 

love for Mr. Rhoads and his students. In 2015, Keep Mississippi 

Beautiful awarded a 1st place Schools/Youth Award to the art 

department for the beautiful addition of the Tribute Garden at 

the Gardens of Puckett, which was created by the landscape 

students. Keep Mississippi Beautiful also awarded the Puckett Art 

Department a grant of $2,000 for the continuation of additions 

to our garden. Another community partner with our garden was 

Lowe’s. They made a donation of materials and manpower to 

help construct a pergola and irrigation system in our Tribute 

Garden. 

Mr. Rhoads not only has our students show their pride in our 

school with their work in the garden, but he also helps our 

students see the value of giving back to the community. Several of 

our students, Sean Pearce, Jonathan Cottle, Erin Ricks, Annabel 

Graham and Nick Powell, were asked by Keep the Reservoir 

Beautiful to partner with their committee to bring a fresh look to 

the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The students worked through the 

summer to draw and paint murals on the walls of the lavatories at 

North Shore Park in honor of the 50th anniversary of the reservoir. 

During this school year, Mr. Rhoads has brought Mississippi 

artists to Puckett High to share their love for the Mississippi 

outdoors with the students. Mississippi award-winning 

watercolor artist Susan Wellington visited the school and worked 

with the art department, sharing her experiences and techniques. 

The two-day workshop exposed students to the world of 

watercolor painting and how they can improve their own 

watercolor skills. Wildlife artist T.J. Bates also visited and shared 

his experience of drawing wildlife and capturing the Mississippi 

outdoors. 

In April, Puckett High will hold a special event that Mr. 

Rhoads has titled A Painter’s Garden. Several Mississippi artists 

will be displaying their work and painting in the plein air style 

with watercolors, pastels, and oil paintings that will capture the 

blossoms in the garden. Students will have the opportunity to see 

the artists at work and have an opportunity to ask questions with 

the artists during a question and answer session. 

While the Gardens of Puckett have become a focal point of 

the visual arts program, Mr. Rhoads is challenging his students to 

excel in their passion for art and has his students participating in 

many art events and school festivals. The next event where 

student artists will present their work will be at the Puckett 

Capital Art Exhibit on March 18, 2016. The student art work 

will be on display beginning at 8:00am until 11:30am, with an 

Art Award ceremony at 10:30am. Mississippi’s First Lady, 

Deborah Bryant, will present the awards to the students. 

As Vincent Van Gough said, “Great things are done by a series 

of small things brought together.” Likewise, we have seen great 

things accomplished by one man’s dedication to his students and 

passion for learning while working alongside his students for the 

betterment and beauty of our Puckett High School. Thank you 

Mr. Rhoads for being the inspiration for so many students who 

have passed through our school over the years. 



pearl public Schools 

Pearl 

Students at PPSD’s Early Childhood Education Center experienced 

a week-long series of lessons in celebration of reading. The lessons 

centered around Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss. On 

March 4, the students wore their hats in honor of the celebrated 

Cat in the Hat author. 

Northside Elementary showed off their reading super powers 

at the Second Annual PNE Super Hero Celebration held on 

March 4, 2016. This special occasion was filled with many fun, 

interactive events in which students, teachers, and staff could 

celebrate the amazing power of being a proficient reader! 

The 2016 Pearl High STAR 

Student is Parker Crane. 

Parker selected Mrs. Barbara 

Worrell, PHS science teacher, 

as the 2016 STAR teacher. 

Both were recognized at the 

annual PHS mid-year 

recognition ceremony 

held in February. 

Students at Pearl Lower 

Elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss’ 

birthday and Read Across 

America Day by reading his 

books and creating their own 

versions of his famous characters. 

Pearl Upper Elementary fifth grade students recently 

participated in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. Pictured 

are the contest winners, fifth grade science teachers, and 

community sponsors. Many thanks to the Pearl Kiwanis Club, 

Pearl Urban Forestry Board, and Keep Pearl Beautiful for 

sponsoring the contest. 

Thespian Troupe 89177 represented Pearl Junior High School 

at the International Junior Thespian Festival in Denison, Texas, 

on February 12-14, 2016. The troupe enjoyed two performances 

and participated in workshops with other junior high school 

students from the United States, Saipon, and China. 

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


Pure Air Consultants has seen growth in new 

system installations, maintenance services, 

and duct cleaning service in every market 

we advertise with Hometown Magazines. 

PAC anticipates this trend will continue, and 

we look forward to expanding our service 

family through Hometown readers. 

Tony Groover 

President, Pure Air Consultants 


City of Brandon 

2016 

PrincessBall 


SCV 


The Time Coin 

Mothers exert a powerful 

influence on their children 

– both intentional and 

unintentional. My mother was intentional 

in molding and instructing her youngsters. 

She taught my sisters and me how to 

make our beds, and we were expected to 

make them after each night’s sleep. I could 

never understand why beds were made in 

rooms never visited by anyone but family, 

but I never questioned Mother’s rules. I made my bed then and still do. 

Making our beds was considered routine like brushing our teeth. 

Folding clothes was listed with chores. We never doubted Mother’s 

experience at being a full time homemaker, so when she taught 

towel-folding, we listened and learned. Fold over twice, then left to the 

middle and fold back right. It made for neat, uniform storage just the 

same as it does in my home fifty-plus years later. 

For Mother, etiquette included thank-you notes. We were taught 

to say thank you verbally and on note cards with a stamp. She would be 

amazed that email versions are rapidly replacing “snail mail,” as it’s 

called now. Mother would never have substituted email for hand 

written notes. I’m confident of that. 

Another important instruction: Be on time, with early being 

optimum. Somehow Mother thought that staying home was better 

than arriving late to a function. She believed starting early was a simple, 

doable key for being on time. 

There were rules – mostly in concrete – concerning church 

attendance. Talking while the preacher preached was an offense 

resulting in some form of punishment, and there was no such thing as 

leaving worship to go “potty.” Restroom visits were made before the 

church service. It was amazing how easily my 

siblings and I learned that rule. 

“I’m too scared,” or “I don’t want to” 

weren’t in Mother’s list of acceptable excuses. 

When Mother recognized a God-given talent 

in one of her children, she helped us hone that 

talent and then expected us to use it every 

opportunity. I never wanted to disappoint my 

mother’s expectations. 

When there was a death in a church or 

neighboring family, Mother’s motto was “Do something!” She and 

Daddy were purposeful in expressing sympathy and assistance in those 

situations. Reunion-size servings of potato salad, fried chicken, and 

pimento cheese sandwiches were customary travelers in our back seats. 

Mother believed God gave us flowers to enjoy up close. Whatever 

was blooming in our yard would be shared on the coffee table or dining 

table. “Flowers always make a meal more special,” she would say. 

The kitchen had its rules too. Her set of heavy metal pots inevitably 

held leftovers when it was my turn to wash dishes. I suggested setting 

the pots in the frig, lids on of course. Mother smiled, handed me small 

bowls with lids and said, “Pots weren’t for storing food.” 

I remember using my new set of pots in cooking my first meal as 

a newlywed. Able to now make my own rules, I slid the pot with its 

leftover veggie into the refrigerator. But, somehow the notion of 

making my own rules and breaking Mother’s didn’t bring the joy and 

exhilaration I expected. Later that evening, I emptied the pot into a 

bowl with a lid, stored it in the frig, and washed the pot. 

I never stored another pot in the frig. It would have been breaking 

my mother’s rule, and her rules were time-tested and taught with love. 

It was only natural to follow them. n 


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