When Care at Home is Not Enough… We’re Here For You!6 • APRIL 2021214 Spell Drive Richland, MS 39218601.664.1966
READERSPOTLIGHTJodiJACKSON________Why did you decide to make Rankin Countyyour home?My husband and I both grew up here, andnearly all of the memories, people, and placesthat shaped us are in Rankin County. Raisingour daughter here and giving back to thecommunity that gave us so much is what wehave always wanted.How long have you lived in Rankin County?My entire life! I moved away and came homea couple times for college and graduate school,but I’ve been back “for good” for about fiveyears.Tell us about your family.I am married to the most kind, humble,hard-working man on Earth. Justin and I havebeen friends since high school, but we didn’tstart dating until after college. The full story isa really sweet one. Saying, “Yes” to him was theeasiest decision I’ve ever made. Evie Reid isour two-year-old daughter, and she is thesweetest, silliest, little soul. We are beyondthankful to raise her in Rankin County wherehard work, kindness, and faith are valued aboveall else. It truly does take a village, and we havethe best one around!What is your favorite memory of livingin Rankin County?Many of my favorite memories were set inRhonda Whitehead’s Studio during the fifteenyears I spent taking classes there and competingwith The Company. I still name Mrs. Rhondaas one of the most influential people in my life.Everyone there was family, and the studio wasmy resting place on every good and bad day.Where are your three favorite places to eatin Rankin County?Zeke’s, Soulshine, and Fernando’s! Also,I would be remiss if I didn’t mentionCups and Mocha Mugs!What are some fun things to do in RankinCounty on the weekends?We love to take Evie to any of the area parksand kayak on the reservoir. I would also spendall my time painting pottery at Fat Cat ArtCafe if I could!Share some things you enjoy doing in yourspare time.I love painting, reading, exercising, andthrifting!What are three things on your bucket list?I want to travel to so many places! I also wantto grow my art business into a ministry ofsome kind. Justin and I have also set goalsaround becoming debt free, so we are workingreally hard to make that happen!Who is someone you admire and why?I have so much admiration for my grandmothers.My mother’s mother left her homein Minnesota to move to Mississippi to marrymy grandfather. She was a teacher and had aheart for missions. I never got to meet her,but I feel connected to her somehow.My father’s mother was a true trailblazerfor women in South Mississippi during the1950s. She began working at a departmentstore after community college that serveda majority male audience in a male dominatedindustry and worked her way up to managementvery quickly. She always balanced herintelligence and confidence with kindness.Where do you see yourself in ten years?I see us building in the Fannin community onJustin’s grandfather’s land. I want our houseto be filled with family, friends, and anyoneelse who needs a place to belong. In ten years,I hope to have created a home and a life thatserves that purpose!What is your favorite childhood memory?My younger sister and I grew up on acul-de-sac with several other kids, and wewould spend hours outside playing socceror basketball and riding our bikes down thehuge hill in our neighborhood. Summersthere were the best.If you could give us one encouraging quote,what would it be?“Go back to what you know.” Let thefoundation for your choices be what youalready know to be true and right.What is your favorite thing aboutHometown Magazines?As a new member of the Hometown team,I appreciate the welcoming environment ofthe staff. Being surrounded by other creativeswho encourage everyone to share ideas is sofun, and I love that those ideas come togetherto serve local communities. The supportHometown Magazines provides our citizens,schools, and businesses is incredible. I amhonored to be here!Hometown RANKIN • 7
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