OurTown39042web

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.”
39042 Our Town • 61