OurTown39042web

Our
Town
39042
2020

2 • Our Town 39042

39042
Our
Town
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya A. Dobbs
CFO
Kevin W. Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
Brenda McCall
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Lindsey Dees
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSISTANT
Caroline Hodges
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas - 3dt
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
Whether you’re brand new to our community or have
been here for years, Our Town–39042 will help you find
answers to questions about how the city works and how
to get things done. This is a reference book–and you’ll find
plenty of information about our local businesses as well as
opportunities to engage with the city and other residents.
We’re so glad you call Brandon home.
INSIDE
• Letter from the Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
• Neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
• Childcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
• Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
• Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
• New Resident Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
• Grants Ferry Parkway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
• Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
• Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
• Parks & Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
• Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
• Amphitheater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
• Friends for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
• Make-A-Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Copyright HTMags.com / 601.706.4059
26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F / Brandon, MS 39042
All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be
reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
The management of Hometown Publications is not responsible
for opinions expressed by its writers or editors.
39042 Our Town • 3

4 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 5

Letter from the MAYOR
The City of Brandon is experiencing tremendous
population growth (9% annually), which is
exceptional given that many other similarly sized
cities are seeing a decline in population. Six years
ago, we were the 21st largest city in Mississippi (of
approximately 298). By 2018 we had grown to
the 16th largest and the 2020 Census will show
another significant growth in population.
It is the size and quality of our population
which brings private investment into our
community. Without a solid population base and
adequate traffic counts on our streets and
highways to warrant investment, private funding
to build businesses, restaurants, and hotels would
not come to our city. Furthermore, your local
government has taken great care of finances. To
attract private investment, it is incumbent upon
us to demonstrate fiscal discipline and responsibility,
which we do well.
This is achieved through professional external audits
which are, in turn, evaluated by bond rating
agencies such as Moody’s and S&P. A notable
municipal barometer of evaluating whether a
city is “taking care of business” is their bond rating.
Brandon’s bond rating was upgraded in 2016 by
Moody’s to Aa3, (S&P AA-) ratings which have
been sustained in ’17, ’18 and ’19. The first and
most important need of local government is to
keep the financial house in order–and a AA bond
rating speaks to the work being done while
keeping first things first.
Brandon touts the largest median income
($72,529) in Mississippi for any city under
25,000 in population and is second only in median
income to the City of Madison, statewide. This
speaks to the quality of residents who choose to
call Brandon home. So how does a growing,
200 year old city, with aged infrastructure (water,
sewer, streets, ditches, etc.), wonderful people,
great churches and good schools, in need of
investment for restaurants, businesses, hotels, etc.,
attract private capital investment? Simple, we
invest in ourselves.
Realizing the value and daily importance of
municipal services, Brandon began taking the
long view of using progressive steps to improve
every aspect of the service provided to our
residents. It isn’t difficult to comprehend that
sustaining a higher quality community requires a
higher quality delivery system of services. The
City of Brandon began a 20-year march toward
improving services in the last decade.
We ended the decade with a new 1000 gpm
water well and replaced every water meter
(10,500 water customers) with a high-quality
meter system with a 20-year warranty against
defects that can be read online. The older system
had dated, blue-tooth technology which required
a drive-by with a laptop to read the meter. That
upgrade two decades ago eliminated the need for
a manual meter read where a person had to
physically read the meter once a month. But still,
riding the city streets to have electronic readings
fall into a laptop still took as much as three days
before invoices could be generated. Today, in a
matter of minutes, not days, data is sent to our
billing company. This has standardized the
number of days in a billing cycle and provided
more consistency to the day of the month utility
bills are issued.
6 • Our Town 39042

Our utility bill (not simply a “water” bill as it
includes garbage pickup, local sewer, sewer
treatment, and admin.) also includes adjustments
for the new West Rankin Utility Authority
waste-water treatment plant in Richland. At the
end of 2020, Brandon will no longer send sewer to
the Savannah Street plant in Jackson for treatment.
This $90M facility will stabilize our treatment
costs, long term, and put us in charge of our own
rates and economic future for the first time since
the 1980s.
While the last decade saw many accomplishments
in Brandon (such as the creation of first
municipal EMS district in the state to improve
our ambulance service, the GIS location of
infrastructure assets, increasing employee
compensation, mapping and condition grading
of all city streets, building three new fire stations,
resurrecting city parks and playgrounds,
resurfacing 27 miles of our 93 miles of city streets,
the I-20 Exit 56 on-ramp improvements, the
addition of four lanes to Hwy 471, 824 new
homes built at an average construction cost of
$253,667, and many other improvements),
perhaps one of the most important accomplishments
was the planning for the next decade.
In 2020, we will complete a citywide street
inspection to include storm drain conditions. We
will release a street specific, multiyear plan to
begin street resurfacing in 2021 budgeting
$1,000,000 annually for improvements and will
finalize a citywide sewer line improvement plan
that will initiate a sewer line rehabilitation project
to address unseen decay in our aged sewer lines.
Two new 500,000 gallon water tanks will come
online this fall, while locations for four new water
wells have been identified. A modern police
station will be constructed beside City Hall to
include a new courtroom, an expanded dispatch
communication center and a stormproof
information technology vault. The existing
police department will be modernized to be a
free standing senior center with safe and covered
parking, renovated fire stations will lower our
fire rating to a Class 3 for further fire insurance
savings, and many more community needs will
be met throughout the year. These initiatives can
be accomplished because in the 2010 decade we
used responsible, fiscal discipline to reduce our
long-term debt.
But more than anything else, I’d like to offer
my heartfelt thanks to you for choosing to make
Brandon, Mississippi, your home. If there is
ever anything that I can do for you, please don’t
hesitate to reach out to me. And if you are
considering moving to Brandon, within this
edition you will find a lot of contact information
concerning our schools, city and county
government, as well as where you can get
assistance, if needed. We’d love to call you
neighbor and look forward to the many years
to come of calling Brandon home.
Mayor Butch Lee
39042 Our Town • 7

Protect More.
Save More.
Aaron Jussely
311 E. Government St.
Brandon, MS 39042
(601) 825-9995
tjussely@alfains.com
8 • Our Town 39042

ALDERMEN &
DEPARTMENT HEADS
The Brandon Board of Aldermen meets twice
a month, on the first and third Monday of each
month, starting at 6:00 PM. If a holiday falls on
that Monday, the board meets the following day.
All board meeting agendas and minutes can be
found at www.brandonms.org
James Morris
Alderman at Large
jmorris@brandonms.org
601-540-2000
Monica Corley
Ward 1
mcorley@brandonms.org
769-257-3140
Cris Vinson
Ward 2
cvinson@brandonms.org
601-824-8884
Harry Williams
Ward 3
hwilliams@brandonms.org
601-825-8970
Lu Coker
Ward 4
lcoker@brandonms.org
601-573-0281
Dwight Middleton
Ward 5
dmiddleton@brandonms.org
601-278-9637
Tahya Dobbs
Ward 6
tdobbs@brandonms.org
601-750-7972
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Angela Bean
City Clerk
abean@brandonms.org
Brian Roberts
Fire Chief
broberts@brandonms.org
William Thompson
Police Chief
wthompson@brandonms.org
Ramie Ford
Parks & Recreation Director
rford@brandonms.org
Matt Dodd
Community Development Director
mdodd@brandonms.org
Charles Smith
Public Works Director
csmith@brandonms.org
39042 Our Town • 9

TERRAPIN DRIVE
DUN
I
DRIVE
39042 NEIGHBORHOODS
1 Acadian Court
2 Ambiance
3 Arbor Hill
4 Asbury Lane Village
5 Belhaven
6 Bella Vista
7 Belle Oak
8 Bellewood Estates
9 Boyce Acres
10 Brookwood
11 Cannon Ridge
12 Cedar Crest Park
13 Centre Pointe
14 College South
15 College South Cove
16 Copperfield
17 Cornerstone
18 Crossgates
19 Crossview
20 Dickson Estates
21 East Towne
22 Eastgate of Crossgates
23 Easthaven
24 Edgewood
25 Fairfax Place
26 Fox Meadow
27 Glen Arbor
28 Glen Wycke
of Cannon Ridge
29 Golden Estates
30 Grandeur
31 Green Acres
32 Harrell Heights
33 Harvey Hill Estates
34 Hastings
35 Hearts Ease
36 Howard Johnson
37 Keystone of Crossgates
38 Legacy
39 Lennox
40 Long Leaf
41 Maxey Place
CIRC
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WOODGATE DRIV E
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W O
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QUARRY WAY
MARQUETTE ROAD
FERNVALLEY ROAD
SUNLINE
DRIVE
LUCKNEY ROAD
FAWNWOOD DRIVE
CHERRY DRIVE
THO R NGATE DRIVE
CAINE CIRCLE
TREELINE
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VALUE ROAD
EAST MARK DRI V E
DAVES CIRCLE
TOLLE SON DRIVE
Terrapin Skin Creek
DEPOT DRIVE
OLD HIGHWAY 80
SHELBY
W JASPER STREET
BRENMAR STREET
WINDSOR BLVD
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10 • Our Town 39042

DRIVE
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DAVES CIRCLE
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HIGHWAY 80
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PROS P ERITY PL A CE
CORNERSTONE
NORTH STREET
PLEASANT STREET
LIN
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PROVONCEPARK
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SEY LANE
DRIVE
EASTHAVEN DRIVE
RE M
RICHM O ND DRIVE
LANCE DRIVE
MARTIN ROAD
E
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LEGACY DRIVE
EDGEWOOD CRO S SING
LOUIS WILSON ROAD
TOWNE ST
KENNEDY FARM PARK W AY
LANOAH LANE
EVERGREEN DRIVE
TRICK HAMBRIDGE ROA D
E GOVERNMENT ST
BELLE OAK
DRIVE
RED OAK LANE
STRATFORD
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PILGRIM REST DRIVE
DRIVE
SHILOH ROAD
ROBBINS ROAD
MCDONALD LANE
PAIGE MCDILL ROAD
Richland Creek
DEER RIDGE RD
TIFFANY DRIVE
42 Meadow Grove
43 Mineral Springs
44 North Lake
45 Oak Grove Place
46 Old Town Brandon
47 Orchard View
48 Pecan Grove
49 Pecan Ridge
50 Prescott Place
51 Provonce
52 Raintree Place
53 Ridge Pointe
54 Roberts Estates
55 Rosemont
56 South Haven
57 Speers Crossing
58 Springtree of Crossgates
59 Stonebridge
60 Stonehendge
61 Stoneybrook
62 Sunchase
63 Sylvias Place
64 The Commons
65 The Estates of Longwood
66 The Gardens of Crossgates
67 The Meadows
68 The Pavillions of Crossgates
69 The Terraces of Crossgates
70 Timbers I
71 Timbers II
72 Towne Station
73 Trickhambridge Estates
74 Victoria Place
75 Wellington
76 Westland Heights
77 Windchase
78 Windsong
79 Windsor Ridge
80 Wisteria Hall
81 Wisteria Heights
82 Wisteria Park
83 Woodland Acres
!(
READ ROAD
39042 Our Town • 11

Touching lives.
Powering the future.
At Entergy Mississippi, the communities we serve are the communities
we call home. That’s why we stay active and involved – because we
know our responsibility reaches beyond the power grid. So, we invest
in education and industry, while developing new solutions to power
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A message from Entergy Mississippi, LLC ©2020 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
14742 Entergy Brand Ad 7.125x4.75.indd 1 12/12/19 10:28 AM
12 • Our Town 39042

CHILDCARE
For many years, childcare services have been an
important and essential part of today’s working
parents’ needs.
Infants to kindergarten-age children are given
care, training, and environments for learning social
interactions. Our community offers these exceptional
“second homes” for our children.
Brandon Methodist
Kindergarten
Ages 3-5
www.brandonfumc.org/kindergarten
205 Mary Ann Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5958
Circle of Friends Learning
Center II
Ages 6wks - 4
2006 Creek Cove
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2387
Crossgates Baptist
Kindergarten
Ages 3-4
crossgates.org/weekday
8 Crosswoods Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2734
Crossgates Methodist
Children’s Center
Ages 3-4
thechildrenscenterbrandon.com
21 Crossgates Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.0555
First Baptist Brandon
Children’s Center
Ages 6wks - 4
www.fbcbrandon.com/
childrens-center
309 S. College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.8686
Kids Are Kids
Learning Center
Ages 6wks - 5
462 Luckney Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.0402
Little Cam Cam’s
Learning Center
Ages 6wks - 5
305 W. Jasper Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.7951
Miss Mandy’s
Christian Daycare
Ages 6wks - 4
783 Marquette Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.6224
Silver Spoon
Ages 6wks - 5
213 Woodgate Drive South
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.6093
Tikes 2 Tots
Family Childcare
Ages 6wks - 4
213 Commerce Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.3101
39042 Our Town • 13

14 • Our Town 39042

CHURCHES
Living in our hometown of Brandon with churches
“on every corner” is a blessing and freedom we
often overlook. Read our list of local churches in
a spirit of thanksgiving!
“And let us not neglect our meeting together,
as some people do, but encourage one another,
especially now that the day of his return is
drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:25
Brandon Assembly of God
995 South College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.8188
ag.org
Brandon Baptist Church
100 Brandon Baptist Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.1781
brandonbc.org
Brandon First United Methodist
205 Mary Ann Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5958
www.brandonfumc.org
Brandon Presbyterian Church
209 South College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5259
www.brandonpres.com
Crossgates Baptist Church
8 Crosswoods Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2562
crossgates.org
Crossgates United
Methodist Church
23 Crossgates Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.8677
www.crossgatesumc.org
Crossview Baptist Church
687 Burnham Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.0412
crossviewbc@att.net
First Baptist Church
of Brandon
Office: 309 College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
Sunday Worship:
175 Boyce Thompson Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.6766
601.825.3141
www.fbcbrandon.com
First United Pentecostal
Church of Brandon
1368 West Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.7569
brandonupc.com
Grace Baptist Church
1013 MS-471
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.7334
www.gracebaptistonline.net
Hope Fellowship
500 North College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.9088
www.hfcbrandon.org
Journey Church
1000 Municipal Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.874.9595
journeypeople.cc
Meadow Grove Baptist Church
3221 Louis Wilson Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5704
www.meadowgrove.org
Nativity Lutheran Church
495 Crossgates Boulevard
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5125
www.nativitylc.org
New Life Assembly of God
300 Shiloh Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.3030
ag.org
New Vision Fellowship
652 Luckney Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.591.1267
nvfms.org
North Brandon
Church of Christ
1029 MS-471
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.6497
northbrandoncc.com
Rock Star Baptist Church
303 Tamberline Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2560
www.facebook.com/
RockStarMBChurch
St Luke’s Episcopal Church
104 North College Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.5839
stlukes.dioms.org
The Pointe
1120 Star Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.591.1154
www.thepointebrandon.com
39042 Our Town • 15

16 • Our Town 39042

LIBRARY
Brandon Public Library
1475 W. Government St., Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2672 / cmrls.lib.ms.us
The past several years have seen many amazing changes and additions in the
Brandon Public Library’s programming and services, and we couldn’t be more
excited. The Master Gardeners, led by Chris Purser, have begun a dramatic makeover
of the bird feeding and nesting areas outside the children’s wing of the library by
landscaping with a variety of native seed, and fruit-bearing flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Did you know we have a notary public? In fact, we have four! There is almost
always one available at the branch, and the cost is only $3. We also have a public
shredder, so feel free to bring your sensitive documents and take 20 minutes to shred
them. If you want to take our bag of shreds with you, we charge $1 for the bag,
otherwise the service is free.
Our regular teen and middle grade programs are going strong and feature hits
like chocolate tasting, game nights, and STEAM+ activities like Snap Circuits,
Makey Makey, and more!
Speaking of STEAM+, January saw the rollout of our new STEAM+ program
every first and third Wednesday at 4pm (for ages 9-12) and 5pm (ages 13-18).
Designed for those who want to try out multiple activities related to science,
technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, STEAM+ is the place to take those
interests and turn them into productive skills.
We’ve also introduced The Makery, a come-and-go program every Tuesday from
1pm to 5pm where we will provide supplies and activity ideas for all ages to drop in
and create with us.
On that note, our summer library program is just around the corner! Every year
for six weeks, we go all out with programs, activities, and reading challenges for all
ages to encourage reading during the summer! This year’s theme is “Imagine Your
Story,” and it’s all about fantasy, fairy tales, myths, and legends. So gear up for some
magic, some mystery, and maybe a few spooky tales! We’ve already got our large
meeting room ready to be transformed into Wonderland, so be sure to follow us
down the rabbit hole this summer.
Other fun things you may not realize we have include sewing classes (with sewing
machines for public use) as well as fitness kits and cake pans for checkout. We also
have several online offerings including a book club (Third Thursday Online Book
Club), a writing club (Let’s Write! Brandon Library Writing Club), and a genealogy
club (CMRLS Genealogy Group), all three of which are on Facebook and can be
found via the Central Mississippi Regional Library System’s Facebook page.
Don’t forget to stop by and check out our truly impressive genealogy room.
Talk to our resident genealogy librarian, Paula Perez, and browse through hundreds
of books, newspapers, files, photographs, microfilm, and more.
There is always something going on at the Brandon Library. Come by and get
involved.
39042 Our Town • 17

18 • Our Town 39042

MEDICAL FACILITIES
Healthcare delivery is changing. In addition to great
medical care, patients expect easy access, affordability
and convenience. In Brandon, we have a high
standard with a focus on quality, convenience and a
personalized care experience. We are able to bring
acute and long-term care services closer to home
through the following providers:
Baptist Medical Clinic
Family Medicine - Brandon
1490 West Government Street
Suite 10
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.1936
Family Health Care Clinic
1551 West Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.3163
Greenfield Family Healthcare
762 Highway 468
Brandon, MS 39042
601-824-0988
Merit Health Medical Group
Primary Care Brandon
348 Crossgates Boulevard
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.2236
Merit Health Rankin
350 Crossgates Boulevard
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2811
Rankin Children’s Group, PLLC
1405 Crossgates Drive West
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.0925
Rankin Primary Care Clinic
103 Service Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.1491
Region 8 Mental Health Services
613 Marquette Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.0342
Richard C. Randolph, M.D., P.A.
348 Crossgates Boulevard
Suite 2200
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.2466
St. Dominic’s
Family Medicine - Brandon
1297 West Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.200.4790
TrustCare
1645 West Government Street
Suite F
Brandon, MS 39042
601.829.6600
39042 Our Town • 19

20 • Our Town 39042

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In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable
Federal and State Acts, 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 educational
programs and activities. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these policies: EEOC Compliance: Sherry Franklin, Vice President for Utica Campus and Administrative Services, Box 1003, Utica, MS 39175; Phone:
601.885.7002 or Email: EEOC@hindscc.edu. Title IX: Randall Harris, Vice President for Advancement and Student Services, Title IX Coordinator, Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601.857.3889 or Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu.
39042 Our Town • 21

NEW RESIDENT INFO
• Brandon was incorporated in 1831 as the county
seat of Rankin County, Mississippi. Over the years,
Brandon has experienced positive growth while
maintaining its small-town charm.
• A-rated school district
• 2nd safest city in Mississippi
• Class 4 fire rating
• The City of Brandon is 1 of 13 Certified Retirement
Cities in the state, as recognized by the Mississippi
Development Authority
Brandon Police Department
1455 West Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.7225
Brandon Fire Department
601.824.4636
Station 1
629 Marquette Road
Brandon, MS 39042
Station 2
6577 Grants Ferry Road
Brandon, MS 39042
Station 3
47 Kennedy Farm Parkway
Brandon, MS 39042
Station 4
1058 Star Road
Brandon, MS 39042
Station 5
16 Woodgate Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
Station 6
213 Poindexter Street
Brandon, MS 39042
Rankin County
Emergency Management
601 Marquette Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.1499
Rankin County Safe Room
651 Marquette Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.1480
Rankin County Tax Collector
Vehicle Registration and Title
211 East Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.1467
DPS Driver’s License Location
3851 Highway 468
Pearl, MS 39208
601.420.6342
Circuit Clerk’s Office
211 East Government Street
Suite A
Brandon, MS 39042
601.825.1475
M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm
Marriage License
• No appointment is needed,
but you must arrive by 4:30pm.
• The bride and groom must come
to the circuit clerk’s office together
to apply.
• Marriage license cost $37
- CASH ONLY.
• Proof of age must be provided in
the form of a driver’s license, birth
certificate, or other legal documents.
If either applicant is under 21 years
of age, he/she must have consent
from parents or legal guardians.
• If applicants have previously been
married and divorced or lost a spouse
through death, the applicant will need
to provide the month, day and year
the marriage ended.
• Once a license is issued, it does not
expire.
Rankin County Chamber
of Commerce
601-825-2268
Brandon City Public Works
1000 Municipal Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601.824.4579
www.brandonms.org/
departments/public-works
water@brandonms.org
The City of Brandon Public Works
Department consists of four divisions:
streets, water, sewer, and sanitation.
Together these divisions provide many
of the basic services that affect the daily
lives of everyone who lives and works
in the City of Brandon.
Some of the Public Works
Department services include:
• Maintenance of city rights of way
and stormwater drainage systems
• Major and minor infrastructure
construction projects, pothole repair,
roadway shoulder maintenance,
roadside ditch, and creek cleaning
• Operation, placement, maintenance,
and repair of traffic control devices,
including traffic signals/controllers,
pavement markings, and street and
speed signs
• Water, sewer, and residential grinder
pump repairs
• Garbage pick-up
• Mosquito abatement services and
herbicide spraying for creeks and
ditches
• Review of subdivision construction
plans
• Emergency response during adverse
weather (i.e. removing fallen trees,
treating bridges when experiencing
icy road conditions)
22 • Our Town 39042

Community Development
601-825-4580
www.brandonms.org/departments/
community-development
A building permit is required for:
Shops and other accessory buildings,
roofs, pools, additions & structure
remodels
A building permit is not required for:
Fences, painting, replacing rotten wood,
small cosmetic remodels
For code enforcement questions:
code@brandonms.org
Demographics
• Population: 11% growth from 2010
• 47% growth from 2000
• 2000: 16,436
• 2010: 21,705
• 2018:24,156
• Daytime Population: 59,311
• Children at Home: 2,661
• Retired/Disabled: 6,189
• Homemakers: 9,569
• Student Populations: 8,189
• Work at Home: 511
• Employed: 30,905
• Unemployed: 1,205
• Median Household Income: $72,529
Brandon’s household income is the
highest for municipalities in Mississippi
with populations less than 25,000, and
2nd overall for the entire state.
Permit Info
559 new single family homes in last
five years
Commercial Permit Valuation
• 44% increase from 2017-2018
• 56% increase from 2018-2019
• 2017: $8,450,185
• 2018: $13,222,341
• 2019: $30,150,587
Top Employers
• Rankin County School District: 1000
• Rankin County: 464
• Merit Health Rankin: 371
• Brandon Nursing and Rehab: 320
• Gray Daniels Auto Family: 300
• Brown Bottling Group: 250
• Kroger: 200
• City of Brandon: 170
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car: 155
• Community Bank: 140
• Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet: 130
Amphitheater
The Brandon Amphitheater, completed
in 2018, is an 8,500 ‐seat concert and
event venue. The venue has hosted 26
live concerts and has averaged nearly
66,000 annual visitors. The amphitheater
draws visitors locally as well as regionally.
Out of the 131,897 total visitors, nearly
36% (47,211) have been out‐of‐state or
live outside of the Jackson Metro Area
and have a travel distance exceeding an
hour and a half.
City Hall Live
The City of Brandon also holds concerts
and events at Brandon Municipal
Complex. There are 6-8 events held
at “City Hall” annually, and they average
600-1200 visitors per event. These
events bring an average of 6,600 visitors.
Parks & Recreation
Parks and Recreation facilities continue
to be a local and regional draw for
athletics, tournaments, and events.
Brandon has eight parks spread across
425 acres.
SHILOH PARK
• 7 Baseball/Softball Fields
• 11 Soccer Fields
• 4 Pickle Ball Courts
• 3 Playgrounds
• 1 Splash pad
QUARRY PARK
• 6 Baseball/Softball Fields
with artificial turf
CITY PARK
• 7 Full‐Size Tennis Courts
• 3 Junior Tennis Courts
• 1 Children’s Playground
Tournaments
Tournament Statistics 2019 to date
• Tournaments: 49
• Metro Teams: 1076
• Non-Metro Teams: 564
• Out of State Teams: 213
• Total Visitors: 50,819
Parades/Events
The City of Brandon hosts three
annual events that have been extremely
successful for the community and
attracts visitors locally and regionally.
• Christmas Parade: 4,000 visitors
• Gumbo Fest: 1,500 visitors
• Mardis Gras Parade: 3,000 visitors
39042 Our Town • 23

DOING BUSINESS
WITH A NEIGHBOR
FEELS GOOD.
Steven Wallace
601-825-5242
swallace@insassociate.com
24 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 25

26 • Our Town 39042

Grants
Ferry
–Parkway–
Helping build Brandon’s future!
Susan Marquez
The third and final phase of the much-anticipated
Grants Ferry Parkway will soon be under construction.
Phase C will complete the three-mile parkway,
which will be an economic boon for the city of
Brandon, opening 1200 acres for development. When
finished, the Grants Ferry Parkway will connect
Highway 80 to Highway 471.
The groundbreaking for the Parkway was in June
2016, and the first two phases, Phase A and Phase B,
are complete. “Phase A opened up 400 acres between
Highway 80 and the railroad for commercial
development,” says Tom Cook with Grants Ferry
Parkway, LLC, the developer of the project. “That area
is all south of the railroad. Having it completed has
allowed us to begin selling commercial lots between
Highway 80 and I-20.”
Phase B of the Parkway runs from Trickhambridge
Road north of the railroad, to Cornerstone, where ten
houses have been built with plans for 15 to 20 more.
Plans for Phase B are primarily commercial. “There
will be a big box retailer and a grocery store,” says
Cook. “We have sold one lot to a pharmacy, and we
have a contingency to sell a lot to a convenience store
that will have twelve gas pumps and restaurants inside.
We are also talking to banks and eventually plan for an
open-air mall. There will be several one- to three-acre
lots for stand-alone retail businesses.”
Phase C is expected to be completed by the end of
2021 and will run all the way to Highway 471. “There
could easily be 2500 home sites, and Brandon really
needs those,” Cook says.
Mayor Butch Lee is thrilled about the Grants Ferry
Parkway and what it means to Brandon’s future. “If you
look at a map of Brandon and see the area that is taken
up with Eastgate and Crossgates, that’s about the same
amount of land we’re looking at developing along the
Parkway. Brandon will add a lot of new businesses,
especially around Exit 59 off I-20.”
Brandon currently has an eight percent growth rate,
which is high for a city in Mississippi. “Brandon, in
Rankin County, is one of the three fastest-growing
areas of the state. The other two are DeSoto County in
north Mississippi, and Harrison County on the Coast.
What makes Brandon different is we’ve got great
schools, great churches and great people. We have
more and more good people moving to Brandon all
the time. Our planned green spaces, parks and
amphitheater attract people to the area. People
nowadays will choose where they want to live based
on the quality of life. They’d rather live in a place they
love and travel to work, unlike previous generations of
folks who wanted to live near their work. This parkway
will make Brandon even more attractive to families
who are looking for a certain lifestyle,” Lee concluded.
39042 Our Town • 27

28 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 29

CLUBS
The definition of a club - a group of persons organized
for a social, literary, athletic, political, or other purpose.
Brandon offers a great choice for those inclined to
organized social gatherings. Our area clubs have
united members who have invested in the advancement
of our hometown. Check out this list in our area.
Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County
Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County is a non-profit service organization for women
who desire to serve and improve their communities. Through a variety of hands-on
projects that cover a wide sector of the community, JARC members implement the
ideals of their national motto: Care Today, Character Tomorrow.
www.jankinja.org / email@rankinja.org / 601-706-9727
Kiwanis Club
Kiwanis International is a global organization of members dedicated to serving the
children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs - nearly 600,000 members
strong - annually raise more than 100 million dollars and dedicate more than 18
million volunteer hours to strengthen communities and serve children. Members
of every single age attend regular meetings, experience fellowship, raise funds for
various causes and participate in service projects that help their communities.
Members also make an impact throughout the world by participation in Kiwanis
International’s Global Campaign for Children, The Eliminate Project: Kiwanis
eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. The Rankin County Kiwanis Club
meets every Wednesday at noon at the Brandon City Hall.
www.kiwanis.org / rankinkiwanis@aol.com
Crown Club - Service project of Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County
Crown Club encourages the young women of Rankin County during their 8th
through 12th grade years to build leadership skills, foster good character, and
understand the importance of good citizenship. Crown Club members experience
the act of caring for others through community service projects.
Rotary Club
Founded in 1905, Rotary is the world’s oldest and largest international service
organization. The 34,000 Rotary clubs across the globe are composed of 1.2 million
business leaders, friends, and neighbors located in over 200 countries and territories.
Together they create positive, lasting change in their local areas and around the
world. From community service to working for a polio-free world, Rotary’s universal
motto is “Service Above Self.” Rotarians in Rankin County participate in a multitude
of service projects such as children’s literacy and reading programs, student
scholarships, helping needy families at holidays, hosting community blood drives,
assisting with building community parks, providing dictionaries to third graders and
supporting clean water projects abroad. The Rankin County Rotary Club meets
every Thursday at noon in the Buchanan Room at Brandon City Hall.
601-540-2995
30 • Our Town 39042

The Exchange Club of Crossgates
Exchange, America’s service club, is a group of men and women working together
to make our communities better places to live through programs of service in
Americanism, community service, charities, youth activities, and its national project,
the prevention of child abuse. This club was formed in 1976 as a local chapter of the
National Exchange Club dedicated to the Exchange Club covenant of service. The
Exchange Club of Crossgates meets at Penn’s Restaurant in downtown Brandon on
the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30pm.
www.crossgatesec.com / 601-825-5442
Brandon Mayor’s Youth Council
The City of Brandon Mayor’s Youth Council is a group of approximately 40-50
students from area high schools, both public and private. Mayor’s Youth Council
mission is to serve as role models in the community and among the youth of
Brandon by serving as an example and by taking an active role in community
sponsored activities and volunteer work. Members are required to earn service
hours through sponsored events to raise funds for community projects that improve
our city and unity all age groups in our community.
Rankin County Chamber Youth Leadership
The Youth Leadership Program helps young leaders develop responsible community
leadership roles and impact the future of Rankin County! The students will
familiarize themselves with community opportunities, needs, problems and
resources. They will have effective dialogue, establishing friendships among
participants and community leaders. The students will learn advanced leadership
and management skills such as:
• Goal setting
• Effective communication
• Decision making
• Team building
• Motivation and organization
• Work ethic development
39042 Our Town • 31

GARDEN CLUB
Beautifying Brandon for Almost 70 years
Since its organization in 1952, Brandon Garden Club has been a driving force for
beautification and preservation in Brandon. Throughout the year, the hard-working
club members are involved in projects to support its underlying theme of beautification
through gardening in our homes, gardens, and the Brandon community. In
2019, Brandon Garden Club was named Outstanding Garden Club in both
Mississippi and in the six-state Deep South Region.
Brandon Garden Club’s projects support the goals of our federated organizations,
The Garden Clubs of Mississippi, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and National
Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC). We are proud that the current NGC president, Gay
Austin, is from Mississippi. Her theme to “Plant America” is reflected in our current
theme “Let’s Plant Brandon!”
Brandon Garden Club’s annual Tablescapes Luncheon is our only fundraiser. It is
supported by an impressive list of businesses and individual contributors that
recognize Brandon Garden Club’s value to the community. The next Tablescapes
Luncheon will be held February 26, 2021. Get your name on the ticket list now by
contacting any Brandon Garden Club member.
The club’s 28 ongoing projects include:
• Old Brandon Cemetery – spring and fall cleanup and planting, including
memorial trees and daffodil bulbs
• Brandon Municipal Complex – donating plantscaping for the atrium and main
lobby, providing year-round plantscaping maintenance, and decorating for
Christmas
• Brandon High School – providing gardening-related programs for the special
needs class
• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities – providing garden therapy
• Commercial landscape awards – recognizing outstanding commercial landscaping
• Veterans – decorating for the Veterans Day breakfast
• Cancer awareness – planting and maintaining the “Plant It Pink” flower bed in
downtown Brandon
• Education – providing scholarships at Hinds Community College and
Mississippi State University and providing displays and programs at Brandon
Public Library
Brandon Garden Club welcomes new members and volunteers for projects.
Look for us on Facebook, visit our website www.thebrandongardenclub.com, or
email us at thebrandongardenclub@gmail.com.
32 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 33

SCHOOLS
Rouse Elementary
Rouse Elementary School is home to kindergarten and 1st graders
in the Brandon Zone of the Rankin County School District.
151 Boyce-Thompson Drive / Brandon, MS 39042
rse.rcsd.ms / 601.825.5437
34 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 35

SCHOOLS
StoneBridge Elementary
StoneBridge Elementary School is home to 2nd and 3rd graders
in the Brandon Zone of the Rankin County School District.
115 StoneBridge Boulevard / Brandon, MS 39042
sbe.rcsd.ms / 601.824.3287
36 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 37

SCHOOLS
Brandon Middle School
Brandon Middle School is home to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
in the Brandon Zone of the Rankin County School District.
408 S. College Street / Brandon, MS 39042
bms.rcsd.ms / 601.825.5998
38 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 39

SCHOOLS
Brandon Elementary
Brandon Elementary School is home to 4th and 5th graders
in the Brandon Zone of the Rankin County School District.
125 Overby Street / Brandon, MS 39042
bes.rcsd.ms / 601.825.4706
40 • Our Town 39042

Brandon High School
Brandon High School is a 6A high school and is home to 9th, 10th,
11th, and 12th graders in the Brandon Zone of the Rankin County
School District.
3090 Highway 18 / Brandon, MS 39042
bhs.rcsd.ms / 601.825.2261
39042 Our Town • 41

42 • Our Town 39042

Heartfelt thanks
to all our frontline heroes
Every day is a day for lifesaving work.
Thank you to our physicians, nurses, CCHTs,
administrative staff, social workers, dietitians,
and biomeds for taking care of our patients
and each other. FreseniusKidneyCare.com
Fresenius Kidney Care
Rankin County
209 Mar Lyn Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
1–601–591–0053
© 2020 Fresenius Medical Care. All Rights Reserved.
39042 Our Town • 43

PARKS &
RECREATION
Brandon Parks & Recreation
105 Kennedy Farm Parkway
Brandon, MS 39042
601-825-3047
Ramie Ford
Director of Parks & Recreation
Dawn Errington
Administrative Assistant
Corey Voyles
Parks Superintendent
Matt Hopkins
Athletic Director
Julie Hopson
Recreation Program Coordinator
Larry Wesson
Recreation Program Coordinator
www.brandonparkandrec.com
Facebook: Brandon Parks & Recreation
Instagram: brandonparks_rec
Brandon City Park
1463 West Government Street, Brandon, MS 39042
Bill Vance Park
72 Golden Estates Drive, Brandon, MS 39042
Crimson Lane
809 Crimson Lane. Brandon, MS 39042
Diamond St. Park
120 Diamond Street, Brandon, MS 39042
Ponderosa Park
230 Appleridge Road, Brandon, MS 39042
Quarry Park
222 Boyce Thompson, Brandon, MS 39042
Shiloh Park
330 Shiloh Road, Brandon, MS 39042
Sunset Park
810 W. Sunset Drive, Brandon, MS 39042
44 • Our Town 39042

SPECIAL EVENTS
Lori Farrar
Special Events Coordinator
601-941-3824
Carley Keyes
Assistant Special Events Coordinator
Brandon Municipal Complex
1000 Municipal Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601-825-5021
June 2020
11- Farmers Market
13/14 - Civil War Relic Show
July 2020
2 - Let Freedom Ring
9 - Farmers Market
August 2020
6 - Back to School Bash
13 - Farmers Market
November 2020
11 - Veterans Breakfast
December 2020
4 - Christmas Parade
February 2021
5/6 - Princess Ball
12 - Krewe De Roux Parade
13 - Krewe De Roux Car Show
13 - Krewe De Roux Gumbo Cook Off
20 - Rankin County
Junior Auxiliary Gala
26 - Brandon Garden Club Tablescapes
Spaces for rent for private parties
and or meetings available at
City Hall or the Public Library
Located at City Hall
Two meeting spaces with 660 sq. ft. per
room. Both rooms come with a drop
down screen, ceiling projector, and
counter for refreshments. Rental rates
begin at $200 plus a $100 refundable
deposit.
For a larger room we offer our Senior
Center with 132 capacity and 2,646 sq.
ft. room. The center features a drop
down screen, ceiling projector, sound
system, microphone, and full kitchen.
Rental rates begin at $400 plus a $200
refundable deposit. This rental includes
sixteen tables and 128 chairs. Additional
tables and chairs are available for an
additional rental charge.
Our largest room we offer is our Civic
Center with 3,771 sq. ft. room. The
center offers two drop down screens,
two ceiling projectors, sound system,
microphones, and prep kitchen. Rental
rates begin at $1,750 plus a $500
refundable deposit. This rental includes
twenty tables and 160 chairs.
Located at the Public Library
At the city’s public library we offer a
larger room with 1,748 sq. ft. The room
offers a number of tables and chairs,
drop down screen and a full kitchen.
The rental fee if $400 plus a $200
refundable deposit.
A smaller conference room is available
at the library during library hours
only. The room includes a projector,
drop down screen and a large
conference table which can hold 20
people comfortably. Rental fee for this
conference room is $125 plus a
refundable deposit of $75.
*all fees and deposits are subject to change
SENIOR CENTER
Angelia Pryor
Senior Services Coordinator
601-813-4382
Brandon Municipal Complex
1000 Municipal Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601-825-5021
Monthly Fee of $5 or $10 for
non-residents. Activities include arts,
crafts, games, fitness classes, informational
lunches, and field trips.
Baseball/Softball
• Spring registration usually begins
in January.
• Fall registration typically takes place
in July.
• We also offer Pickleball in the
summer and table tennis in the
spring.
• Football registration typically begins
in July or August.
• Soccer registration information can
be found at www.brandonfc.com.
• Pavilion rentals can be made online
at www.brandonparkandrec.com.
• Tennis reservations can be made
with the Club at Crossgates.
601-591-2582
Splash Pad
322 Shiloh Road
Brandon, MS 39042
601-824-9509
Monday-Friday 10am-5pm,
Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-6pm
$5 Admission (Ages 1 - 49)
Individual Season Pass $50
Family of 4 Season Pass $150
Party packages available for $150 for
residents, $200 for non-residents for
2 hours and 25 kids.
Private parties also available after-hours
for up to 50 participants, $250 for
residents and $300 for non-residents.
BRANDON AMPHITHEATER
8190 Rock Way Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
Grace Young
Box Office Manager
601-724-2726
601-278-3876
Facebook: BrandonAmpMs
*Tickets available through Ticketmaster
or the box office
CITY HALL LIVE
*Tickets available through Ticketmaster
CEMETERIES
(Grounds maintained by Brandon
Parks & Rec)
Brandon Memorial
300 Highway 468
Brandon, MS 39042
Plots at can be purchased through
City Hall at 601-825-5021
Ponderosa Cemetery
231 Appleridge Road
Brandon, MS 39042
Brandon Historical Cemetery
165 Old Depot Road
Brandon, MS 39042
Light of Liberty
School Road
Brandon, MS 39042
There is a flag depository for old flags
located at City Hall.
39042 Our Town • 45

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46 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 47

What do you love about living in BRANDON?
Andrew Comans
Brandon may be growing, but it still has the small
community feel. Whether out and about at the
amphitheater, local pharmacy, or one of our local
restaurants, you always see familiar, friendly faces!
Also, my other big love about Brandon is the
selflessness of everyone. Most people in our town will
always lend a helping hand when they see someone
in need. Whether that be a financial struggle or a
broken down car, our town has some of the most
selfless people you will find in the nation!
Kim Little
When my family moved to Brandon five years ago,
we were drawn by the excellent school system and the
family-oriented environment. Today, these are still
reasons that I love living in Brandon. In addition, I
love the reputation of our first responders and feel
Brandon is a safe place to live.
Shane King
Brandon feels like home. Brandon reminds me of the
small town I grew up in, in the Delta. No matter
where I go, I always run into others and enjoy
catching up. I love my job, our schools, our church,
our neighborhood, and overall I love my town!
Heather Garrett
Education, family and faith make Brandon the
community that it is. Education for our children has
prepared them for college. The churches in Brandon
are strong and caring for everyone. These attributes
have made our family feel the love and care of the
community that we call Brandon.
48 • Our Town 39042
Yolanda Anding
Brandon is very endearing to me with its small town
charm. It gives me the tranquility of country life with
the enthrallment of city life. It is economically stable
and affordable, making it an ideal place to raise my
family. Brandon is filled with hidden gems that I have
yet and can’t wait to discover.
Congressman Michael Guest
My wife, Haley, and I were raised in Brandon and
we are thankful for the opportunity to raise our two
boys here. The people who call Brandon home make
it a great place to live, worship, and raise a family.

Tonya Leach
I am 44 years old and moved to Brandon when I
was ten. I have seen tremendous growth over the
years. There are so many things I love about Brandon
that it is hard to list just one. I feel safe in Brandon,
I love the school district, Friday night football games
and tailgates, the Brandon Amphitheater and the
growth in our city over the last few years. I’m excited
our town has some of the best sports fields in the area.
My nephew, who lives out of town, attended a recent
event here and was amazed at the turnout and the
community support. When outsiders recognize your
town, it’s proof we live in one of the best cities in
Mississippi.
Marty Vinson
Brandon is a wonderful place to live! We are fortunate
to have excellent schools which provide high academic
standards and numerous extracurricular activities,
a great library, wonderful churches, outstanding
recreational facilities and parks, and a state-of-the-art
amphitheater which brings well-known artists to our
area to provide a variety of entertainment. We are
also a safe city with a well-trained police and fire
department. Most of all, it is the people of Brandon
who make this city so unique. There is a comradery
among the people of Brandon that draws us together
to make a wonderful city. I love living in Brandon!
Stacy Starling
Brandon represents a place of new beginnings for me.
I was able to succeed and give my kids the same
opportunity because I raised them in this community.
A community that wants your success as much as its
own. Here you’ll find stability, love and support–
you’ll find a family.
Chance Carter
When I think of Brandon, I think of great schools,
great churches, great quality of life, but mostly I think
of great people! Just a perfect place to raise a family.
Not just a city or a town, but a real community.
39042 Our Town • 49

50 • Our Town 39042

39042 Our Town • 51

The Stars Come Out in BRANDON
Susan Marquez
When city officials began laying out their vision
in 2014 to bring about more tourism, recreation, and
lifestyle improvements to Brandon, the idea of an
amphitheater was raised. Mayor Butch Lee and the
board of aldermen began brainstorming the idea and
it took a lot of people to bring it to fruition. From the
beginning, the city’s goal for the Brandon Amphitheater
and The Quarry was to create a quality,
family-centric atmosphere that will bring more
economic growth and increased tourism to the city of
Brandon, as well as the state.
The amphitheater opened in April 2018 and has
far exceeded expectations, according to Brandon
Parks and Rec. Director Ramie Ford, who oversees
the operations of the venue. Although the amphitheater
has a flexible capacity of 7,000 to 8,300 people,
Ford says the objective is more about quality shows
rather than quantity of crowds attending. “We need
big names to validate the venue,” he says. “And we’ve
been surprised with a few sell-out shows.”
One example is the Beach Boys, which drew a
crowd of 7,500 people. “We work to have a varied
selection of acts including Christian, comedy,
country, pop, and rock. Some of the most notable
performers include Hank Williams, Jr., Chris
Stapleton’s All-American Road Show with Marty
Stuart and Brent Cobb, the Dave Matthews Band,
Alan Jackson, Widespread Panic, Jason Aldean and
Alabama featuring the Charlie Daniels Band.
In addition to both lower and upper-level seating,
the venue offers box seats. A state-of-the-art audio and
video infrastructure, complete with LED video walls
provides a superior experience for attendees. There
are ample concession windows and beverage kiosks
throughout the venue. The Community Bank Club is
a private VIP club for amphitheater sponsors and box
seat ticket holders.
The Brandon business community has supported
the Brandon Amphitheater since the beginning.
When it opened, the city welcomed a distinguished
group of sponsors, including C-Spire, Miller Lite/
Capital City Beverage, Community Bank, Brown
Bottling Group, Bob Boyte Honda, Merit Health,
Entergy, Ergon, and Cathead.
The Brandon Amphitheatre is part of a 250-acre
park called The Quarry, which includes walking and
biking trails, a dog park and tournament-equipped
baseball fields. “We had our first season on The
Quarry fields last year,” says Ford. “Right now we have
the fields at Shiloh open allowing baseball teams to
practice. We are hoping to have league games and
tournaments this summer.” Ford says the hiking and
biking trails are currently under construction.
It’s unfortunate that the COVID-19 pandemic
has cut the concert season short this year. “I think this
would have been a banner year for us had the
coronavirus not been a problem. We had a great
line-up scheduled.” But Ford is optimistic about the
future. “I am in contact with promoters weekly, if not
daily,” says Ford. “I’m letting them know that once it’s
safe to have large outdoor concerts, Brandon,
Mississippi, is ready! We may have a lot of shows
crammed into the last few months of the year!”
People can stay up to date on all the latest concert
and ticket announcements by following the Brandon
Amphitheater’s website www.brandonamphitheater.
com or by calling the box office at 601-724-2726.
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Friends
for Life
Camille Ferriss & Pam Partridge
Dani Edmonson
When faced with life’s challenges, many
people attribute three things to their mental or
physical survival: faith, family, and friendships.
We are born with love of family, but faith and
friendships are born from choice. While friends
can come and go, it is possible to find that
elusive-but-real best friend.
Brandon residents, Camille Ferriss and
Pam Partridge, met some 45 years ago when
Pam pledged Chi Omega at Mississippi State
University. The year Pam pledged, Camille
was beginning her third year. “Sorority
membership wasn’t as large as it is today,”
Pam said. “It was easy to get to know all the
members, and Camille and I just kept
bumping into each other.”
Camille graduated MSU in 1975; Pam in
1977. Pam stayed to attend graduate school
until 1978. This time gap and geographical
distance would dissolve most youthful
friendships, but their shared degrees in
teaching would soon bring the two back
together.
“We were single and living in Jackson,”
Camille began. “We both accepted jobs at
Brandon Middle School, reconnected our
friendship, and carpooled to work for the next
three years.” Camille taught science, and Pam
taught special education. “Our classrooms were
down the hall from each other,” Camille said.
Camille got married in the spring of 1981 and
soon expected her first child, so she left the
world of teaching children to stay home and
raise her own. “After my first child was born,
my mother got cancer, and since I was her only
child, I felt I needed to take care of her,” Camille
said. Her mother’s health brought Camille and
her family back to her childhood home on East
Jasper Street in Brandon to make caregiving
more of a reality.
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Though Camille never returned to the
classroom, she and Pam stayed in touch. In 1992,
Pam, who had moved to Laurel for a short while,
found herself drawn once more to the Brandon
area. “I called Camille and asked if she knew of
any houses for sale in the older part of Brandon,”
Pam said. “She told me the house across the
street from hers was for sale.” Camille, a lifelong
resident of Brandon, was quite familiar with
the neighborhood and the livability the small
community offered. Pam said, “It was between
that and one other, but I loved the neighborly
feel of the East Jasper Street house.”
Pam moved across the street from Camille,
and they have been neighbors for 29 years.
Ironically, Camille obtained her real estate
license a few years after helping Pam find her
forever home and now has her own business,
Camille Ferriss and Company. Pam retired from
teaching after 26 years, but since 2006, has been
working part-time with the Rankin County
School District in student support services.
Pam said, “I love the small-town feel of
Brandon. My church is here, my work is here,
and I just feel safe here.” In November of 1992,
a tornado ravaged Brandon, wreaking havoc
on the East Jasper neighborhood. Camille said,
“We evacuated to Pam’s house that night.” Pam
laughed and added, “Three families came over
that night, including all of their pets.” Though
Pam has no children of her own, she is always
a devoted mother to fur babies. “One of our
friends once said, ‘When I die, I want to come
back as one of Pam’s dogs,’” Camille added.
When asked to explain the secret to such a
sustained friendship, they agree it is a comfortable
friendship. While both Camille and Pam
have other friends, the “neighbor-friend”
relationship is a great one. “We’re across the
street in a heartbeat if needed – always!” Pam
said. Camille said, “We laugh a lot. We often
think things are funny that others may not. But
even though we’ve had laughs, we’ve also had
deaths and the gauntlet of things that happen
during a lifetime.” Pam said, “Friendships just
happen. We may go a week without seeing each
other or talking, but if I need anything, I can
depend on her and she on me.”
Like an old married couple, the two women
are able to complete each other’s thoughts. And
one story led to another being told collaboratively
by the two of them. But no recollections
of any tough times between the two came up.
“While we don’t agree on everything,” Camille
said, “we just shrug it off and overlook it.”
As the storytelling wound down, both Pam
and Camille admitted that living in Brandon is
one of their binding factors. Camille said,
“Mary Ann Mobley, Brandon’s first Miss
America, said it best about the city of Brandon;
‘Everybody’s joys are everybody else’s joys, and
everybody’s sorrows are everybody else’s
sorrows. We know each other at the grocery
store, church, wherever you go. It’s a comfortable
feeling.’”
Pam added, “I think this place was the
best-kept secret. But not anymore, because so
many people are moving here!”
On any given morning, you can find the
two women, as well as other East Jasper Street
neighbors, out in the middle of the road with a
cup of coffee and an abundance of conversation.
They both said, “Everyone feels welcome.”
Grab a cup and join them. l
“I can depend
on her and
she on me.”
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BRANDON
HIGH SCHOOL
Tailgating
FALL 2019

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brandon
Gumbo
Fest
February 22, 2020

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LET
FREEDOM
RING
BRANDON AMPHITHEATER
JULY 3, 2019
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Krewe De Roux
Parade
February 21, 2020
downtown Brandon
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Brandon
Christmas
Parade
DECEMBER 6, 2019
DOWNTOWN
BRANDON

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BRANDON
Princess
Ball
February 1-2, 2020
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Brandon High School
Pep Rally • March 6, 2020
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Brandon High School
Supports Make-A-Wish Mississippi
Melanie McMillan
Rankin County is a place where community
members are quick to pitch in to help those in need.
It’s one of the reasons so many call Rankin home,
where examples of neighbor helping neighbor
are plentiful. Whether you’re a “native” Rankin
Countian or a “transplant,” you’re family here.
Josh and Liza Forbes moved to Rankin
County from Louisiana eight years ago when
Josh accepted a position at Nissan. Stay-at-home
mom Liza stayed busy with their two boys and the
family settled into their new home and community.
They have since welcomed two more sons to the
family and are the proud parents of Jude, 10,
Jacob, 9, Jonah, 4, and Jesse 1. They enjoy camping,
traveling, and just spending time together.
Nothing could have prepared the happy family
for the news they would receive two years ago.
In March of 2018, the family spent their
spring break in Tennessee. While they were there,
the older boys got a cold but Jonah seemed fine.
When they returned home, Jonah began to run
fever. Liza assumed he had caught a cold from
his brothers and didn’t think much about it.
However, the fever continued for several days,
spiking every night. Seemingly unrelated, Jonah
had begun to bruise more than normal for a two
year old. Because he is very fair and red-haired,
not to mention a typical “rough and tumble” boy,
Josh and Liza weren’t overly concerned about the
bruises. The fever didn’t go away, however, so
they took Jonah to the pediatrician where he was
tested for the flu and strep, which were both
negative. It occurred to Liza that Jonah’s iron
levels might be low, causing the bruising, so she
requested a CBC, which turned out to be the
key to learning what was causing Jonah’s fever.
The blood test revealed that Jonah’s platelets
were extremely low, and the family was referred
to Batson cancer clinic. “During that 15 minute
ride to the hospital, I was on my phone googling
about low platelets, and ‘leukemia’ just kept coming
up,” Liza says. Within one hour of arriving at
Batson, Jonah was diagnosed with leukemia,
specifically acute lymphoblastic B cell leukemia.
He was admitted that day and had surgery the
following day to put in his chemo port.
“The first month was awful,” Liza shares.
“He couldn’t walk, and he was on steroids so he
was always hungry but would get sick from eating.”
Fast forward two years, and although they have
been through some very rough times, Jonah is in
remission. He goes to the clinic once a month for
check-ups, takes chemo at home every day, and
also gets a weekly and monthly dose of chemo.
This year, Brandon High School held its
annual Make-A-Wish pep rally in Jonah’s honor,
presenting the family with $2,000 for Jonah’s
wish. “Through the Make-A-Wish pep rally, we
are able to give back to deserving children in our
community who are going through unimaginable
challenges,” says BHS principal Bryan Marshall.
Teacher Rebecca Russell, organizer of the pep
rally says, “Make-A-Wish Mississippi is an
amazing organization that helps sick children
right in our own area. I love that our community
and all five Brandon schools work together to
support our Wish child. There’s no better joy
than seeing high school kids give their time and
money to help others.”
Participating in the Make-A-Wish pep rally
is very meaningful to the high school students as
well. “Make-A-Wish is a great opportunity for a
child to experience something magical,” says
student Mackenzie Brown. “I am so glad that
Jonah came to our pep rally to celebrate
Make-A-Wish with Brandon High School.”
Student Cadence Howell adds, “Make-A-Wish
gives children an amazing experience they might
not otherwise have.”
When a child goes through a serious illness,
every member of the family is affected. Parents
face worry and exhaustion, and siblings struggle
to understand what is happening and why they
may not have as much time with mom and dad.
It’s a difficult balancing act, and time spent
together having fun as a family becomes a
precious commodity.
Thanks to the outpouring of support from
the community and help from Make-A-Wish,
the Forbes family will soon enjoy a trip to Disney
World, where they will make memories to last a
lifetime, and their Rankin county “family”
couldn’t be happier.
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Buy One, Get One
Buy any 6-inch sub and a 40 oz. drink,
and get a 6-inch sub of equal or lesser
price free! Extras at additional cost.
Valid only at:
112 Service Drive
Brandon, MS 39042
601-825-8344
/SubwayofCrossgates
*Must present this coupon to redeem offer. Free sub excludes Extras.
Valid for in-restaurant orders only, excluding kiosk orders. Plus applicable tax.
No additional discounts or coupons may be applied.
Subway ® is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP Inc.
© 2018 Subway IP Inc.
220 E Government St.
Brandon, MS 39042
601-825-8383
/SubwayofDowntownBrandon
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