Rankin1220web

TheMcNeils
Tell us about your family.
Stacey (46) and Lynnette (47) are parents to Stacey’s son Tyler
(20) and their son Thorn (8). Stacey loves hunting and finds joy
in most everything outdoors. Thorn loves to run and is an avid
reader, so for this English teacher, that makes my heart sing–
which is something I love to do anyway. Our favorite thing to
do together is simply spend time with our family and friends.
We don’t have the picture-perfect family that you’ll see on
many social media profile pics because we are real about who we
are and what has shaped us into the people we have become.
Having both been married once before, we each have a deep,
heartfelt understanding of what we each need from and bring to
our marriage, and we strive daily to make sure the other person
always feels loved and valued. As such, we strive to set that
example for our sons.
Tell us how you and your spouse met,
and how long you’ve been married.
This is a story I love to tell, so it’s not easy to be brief. Stacey
and I have known each since we were about four years old and
grew up together as great friends–going to the same small school
and church in Raleigh, Mississippi, where our families still live
today. Our parents actually went to school together. I had such a
crush on him growing up but never said anything. Then, life
happened after graduating high school, and we didn’t see each
other again for 16 years. During that time we both were married
and divorced, but God brought us back together one night in
2007 at Belk.
Both my mom and aunt wanted to do a little shopping before
our dinner out that night, and as I was shopping, I thought I heard
my name but didn’t see anyone I recognized. After the second
time, this great looking guy said, “It’s me, Stacey.” Waiting,
because he had taken his mom by to shop as well, we talked for
half an hour, catching up on the past 16 years. Immediately after
seeing him, I couldn’t stop thinking, “God, what are You up to?”
Hometown RANKIN • 19