Rankin620web

Tell us how met, and how long you’ve been married.
Beth Warren and I met when we were in the 8th grade. My mom
became the librarian at Pisgah, so I transferred from Florence
Middle School to Pisgah High School. Warren and I shared a
few classes in 8th grade, and it wasn’t very long before we were
competing for the highest grades on our tests. In 9th grade,
Warren asked me to be his girlfriend on September 4, 1998, after
a football game, and we have been together ever since. We are
celebrating 18 years of marriage this May.
Do you allow time to be with your spouse for a date night?
Beth When one of the grandmothers can keep all three children,
we enjoy going out to eat and/or to a movie. Oh, and grocery
shopping alone. This is the best.
Warren Our parents are great about helping us out with the boys.
Watching all three boys can be tough, so we appreciate them.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
Beth The greatest joy has been seeing our oldest be saved and
baptized. All of our children bring us joy in their own ways.
Each day, we see their personalities develop, and we love seeing
how different they are. Each one has his own strengths, and we
hope to foster those.
Warren Also, watching your child succeed in something he has
struggled with is a great feeling.
Who is the financial manager in your home?
Beth Warren saves money. I spend money. When I’ve spent too
much, he tells me, and I try to be good until payday!
Warren We have had our share of disagreements about money
over the years. I hate to see all the online purchases she makes, but
if it was not for my wife buying all the stuff she does, we probably
would not have clothes or shoes or anything. I don’t ever think
about that kind of thing, she just takes care of it. So when I get
angry about all the money she spends, she reminds of the birthday
gifts and school necessities that she has purchased, and I calm
down but not before I remind her to have limits.
What is your discipline philosophy with your children?
Beth We use positive discipline, for the most part. Our children
have never been spanked. We use “calm down” time when the
youngest needs to learn from a mistake. The early years are intense
and rather difficult; however, perseverance pays off, and in the
long run, our children are better for the choices that we’ve made.
Warren It is so important to be proactive, to re-direct. Try to
recognize a problem before it starts and find some way to prevent it.
What do you see in your role as the greatest benefit to
your family?
Beth I’m the comforter. In addition, all three of our children were
breastfed for an extended amount of time, and I will always feel
like this was the greatest physical gift and the most sacrificial of
myself.
Warren I am the leader. I keep things running and gets things done.
What’s a quick go to meal that isn’t fast food? And who does
the cooking?
Beth Warren and I share cooking responsibilities. He likes to cook
meat, and I do not like to cook meat. Generally, he will cook meat
on the grill, and I will provide the sides. The kids love to eat burgers
from the grill. I guess that would be our quick “go-to” meal.
How long has Pisgah/Sandhill been your home?
Warren My mother’s family, the Boyds, have been in Sandhill for
many years. My grandmother, Pauline Boyd, taught at Pisgah, my
mother, Susan McKay, graduated from Pisgah and later taught at
Pisgah Elementary for over 30 years, and I attended Pisgah,
kindergarten through 12th grade and have taught there for
thirteen years. Beth and I built our house on family land in
Sandhill near our school, and we love it here. It is our home, and
we will never live anywhere else.
What are some of your favorite things about Rankin County?
Warren Since we are both teachers at Pisgah, we have seen,
first-hand, how great the Rankin County School District is. There
are amazing teachers, principals, and administration all over the
county and we are so proud to be a part of it. Our two oldest
children attend Pisgah Elementary, and we love our little school.
Pisgah High School is a great place for Beth and me to work, and
we are blessed to teach some of the best children you will ever meet.
Beth There are so many great things about Rankin County.
I agree with Warren–I love our school district, but our school
district would not be what it is without the great people of Rankin
County. I am so honored to serve my community as a teacher. The
people of Rankin County feel like a family, and Rankin County is
my home. This is my favorite thing about Rankin County; it’s the
feeling of home that I love so much. It is hard to find words to
describe the feeling of home, but I’ll try. It’s this sweet smell like
freshly cut grass, driving down the road and seeing the past before
your eyes—trees where stores now stand. Roads where once there
were trees. It’s coming to that place on Hwy 25 where you can see
the tops of the buildings in Jackson, and you know exactly what is
ahead even if your eyes are closed. It’s feeling safe and warm and
content. It’s in your bones. It’s who you are. It’s home.
98 • JUNE 2020