14 • DECEMBER 2020
READERSPOTLIGHTShannaSPANN ________Why did you decide to make Rankin Countyyour home?Rankin County has always been my home.I resided in the Florence area until my parentsmoved us to Brandon in 1994.Tell us about your family.I am married Jeremy Spann, the owner of J.Gerard’s Barber Salon in Pearl, and I am acourt administrator for Judge Haydn J.Roberts in Rankin County Chancery Court.We are a happily blended family that consistsof his three boys: Jayden G. Spann (23), Ian G.Spann (17) and Kingston J. Spann (7), and mytwo children: Alanna R. McLaurin (20) andJordan B. McLaurin (14). The strong anddifferent personalities make for the best timesin our home. We encourage our children to bethemselves at all times which makes for veryinteresting and exciting conversations at ourdinner table.What is your favorite memory of living inRankin County?Definitely times spent with my family. I haveclose relationships with both the paternal andmaternal sides of my family. Family gatherings,holidays, and weekends at my grandmother’shouse and Sunday morning church services area few of my most enjoyable memories.Although I have to admit, the best memory ofall is when we moved to Brandon!Where are your three favorite places to eatin Rankin County?Hands down, our favorite place to eat inBrandon is Mudbugs. However, because theyare seasonal, my husband and I will usuallydine at McAlister’s, while the boys love Sonic.What are some fun things to do in RankinCounty on the weekends?Shopping, shopping, and more shopping!Seriously, over everything, I enjoy spendingtime with my family. I love easy weekendswhere nothing is required of us, and we haveno designated place to be. A nice relaxingevening on the patio while my husband cookson the grill is the best! Prior to COVID-19,Sundays were spent worshipping at GreaterNew Friendship Baptist Church in Brandon.Share some things you enjoy doing in yourspare time.In my spare time…what’s spare time? Honestly,I really enjoy reading a good book, but it seemslike forever since I’ve had an opportunity to doso. I also enjoy spending time with mygrandmother; we love to watch Lifetimemovies together. I am also a member of JuniorAuxiliary of Rankin County where we’realways up to something good!Who is someone you admire and why?The person I admire most is my grandmother,Ms. Henry Lee Barnes. She is 85 years young,and she is the pillar of our family and thecommunity. Filled with so much love andwisdom, she is ALWAYS honest and fair,whether the outcome favors you or not. Herstrength is unparalleled to anything I have everseen or experienced, and there has never beenanything I could tell her about my life that shehasn’t already experienced. She truly loves theLord, and it manifests in every area of herChristian walk. She gives God the glory foreverything and I believe that, as a result of herprayers, I am who I am today. She is truly myvery best friend, and I love her from thedepths of my heart.Where do you see yourself ten years fromnow?I pray that I will continue to have my health,strength and sanity of mind. I’d hope that I’dbe a better person then than I am today, as Iwill have garnered more life experiences. Iwould also hope that I will have helped othersalong the way and will have treated people asI’d like to have been treated, regardless of whothey were and regardless of their circumstances.Finally, I pray that my family and friendswould continue to be blessed in every way, aswell as for continued blessings and success inmy personal life and professional career.What is your favorite childhood memory?When my cousin Jennifer and I would explorein the woods. We gathered eggs, fed horses andplayed in the barn all day. When we got hungry,we would gather fresh fruits and veggies andeat them straight from our great-grandmother’sgarden! Then there were the timesmy cousin Nicole and I would spend theweekend at my grandmother’s house. Sheworked at MSH and her shift ended at midnightand we made it our business to be awake whenshe arrived. The next morning my grandfatherwould go squirrel hunting and he would comehome with his hunting vest full of them! Mygrandmother would smother the squirrel withgravy, along with grits, homemade biscuits anda cup of coffee. It was the most delicious mealbut I now realize not only was she feeding ourbellies, she was nourishing our souls. Afterbreakfast, our only job was to play! FUNTIMES!!If you could give us one encouraging quote,what would it be?“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and leannot on your own understanding; in all yourways acknowledge Him, and He will directyour paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6,What is your favorite thing aboutHometown Magazines?I LOVE Hometown Magazine! It is filled withtons of information and it is designed just forour county. It keeps us current on everythinggoing on around us. I never miss an issue!Hometown RANKIN • 15