07.09.2021 Views

Madison921web

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

MADISON • RIDGELAND • FLORA • CANTON • GLUCKSTADT

V75 / 921


2 • JULY 2021


Hometown MADISON • 3


“I tell all my friends

and family to join

Keesler Federal.

They truly

listen to their

members.”

Scan here for

more stories

kfcu.org/courtney

Madison Welch Farms

1944 Main Street, Madison

Membership and credit eligibility required.

Federally insured by NCUA

4 • SEPTEMBER 2021


FROM OUR PUBLISHER

Every year –

in the pre-fall days –

the memories return.

I remember my first book satchel. Now they are obsolete;

backpacks in multiple shapes, sizes, styles and prices have replaced

them.

I remember my fat pencils and the oblong tablet with crisp lines

that told me how high to write the alphabet big letters and how small

to write the little ones. The pencils and tablet may still survive in some

schools, but I’ve observed my young nieces and nephews with their

iPads and their schedules and assignments on an electronic screen.

I watch the lines of carpools and the school buses unload the

growing number of students. I remember my early environment of

Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo and wonder what has already

been programmed into these young minds. The media explosion

has multiplied the challenges for parents and teachers.

When I think about those challenges, I remember the wisdom

of God’s Word and want to etch it in the minds of all the young

learners: “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” We who

are without power CAN turn to the Lord who has all power. His

Word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be

made known to God.”

This verse is a must to remember for the sake of all the young

learners. God’s word will never be obsolete!

ON THE COVER: “A Home for Brad” organizers Deputy Dwayne Moak, LeeAnn Sanders, Sheriff Randy Tucker, and Lt. Joey Butler

with Deputy Brad Sullivan as a social media campaign to build Brad a new home kicks off.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

MANAGER

Brenda McCall

HOMETOWN STAFF

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Tahya Dobbs

LAYOUT DESIGN

Daniel Thomas

3dt

SPECIAL PROJECTS

ASSISTANT

Caroline Hodges

CFO

Kevin Dobbs

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Othel Anding

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT

Alisha Floyd

CONSULTING EDITOR

Mary Ann Kirby

ADVERTISING

ASSISTANT

Jodi Jackson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Kim Cochram

IN THIS ISSUE

A Home for Brad . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Reader Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Conversations Over Coffee . . . . . . 14

Superfan Families . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Madison Area Schools. . . . . . . . . 28

Make-A-Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Spreading the Magic . . . . . . . . . 78

Women in Business . . . . . . . . . . 86

Time Coin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

...see you around town.

www.facebook.com/hometownmadisonmagazine. For subscription information visit www.htmags.com or contact us at info@HTMags.com / 601.706.4059 / 26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F / Brandon, MS 39042

All rights reserved. No portion of Hometown Madison may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Madison is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors.

Hometown Madison maintains the unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to approval by the publisher. The production of Hometown Madison is funded by advertising.

Hometown MADISON • 5


ALL PURPOSE SEASONING AVAILABLE

CARRY OUT OR COOK AT HOME,

WE HAVE YOU COVERED

CALL IN ORDERS WELCOME

601.957.3753 • KOESTLERPRIME.COM • 1000 HIGHLAND COLONY PKWY SUITE 6001

6 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Business Borrow

Business Loans Commercial Real Estate Loans Agricultural Loans

SBA Loans

Wealth Management

Community

is an

investment.

AND TOGETHER WE MAKE IT GROW.

About Us

Our People

Our Services

Account Access

About Us

BankPlus was founded as a true community bank.

We’re committed to improving quality of life

Who We Are In Community Careers Benefits

and making a positive difference for our customers

and neighbors. BankPlus. It’s more than a name.

It’s a promise. Learn more at bankplus.net.

The Source

Other

Facebook

Twitter

© Copyright 2021 BankPlus.

Member FDIC.

Contact Us

Chat

Instagram Linked In Online Privacy

CALL NOW: 601-401-3299

Hometown MADISON • 7


8 • SEPTEMBER 2021

“A Home for Brad” organizers Deputy Dwayne Moak, LeeAnn Sanders,

Sheriff Randy Tucker, and Lt. Joey Butler with Deputy Brad Sullivan

as a social media campaign to build Brad a new home kicks off.


MARY ANN KIRBY

Back in November of 2020,

Hometown Madison brought

you an in-depth story about Brad

Sullivan, the Madison County sheriff

deputy that sustained life-threatening

injuries while attempting to arrest a kidnapping

suspect east of Canton on September 5, 2019.

The events of that day left this single father of two with two

bullet wounds in his head. Thirty-two days later, after being in a

medically induced coma, Brad Sullivan was awake and facing

the uphill battle of rehabilitation and recovery.

As with most physical disabilities, the ongoing expenses associated

with an injury of this magnitude can often make prioritizing

a livable home fall way down on the to-do list. Brad suffers

paralysis to his left side and regularly uses a wheelchair. Brad

has retrofitted and engineered as much as he can on his own,

including his personal vehicle, but it’s not hard to imagine the

limitations that come with not having properly ADA compliant

home.

Fast forward to 2021 and enter the Madison County Mississippi

Sheriff’s Department Benefit Association. This organization has

begun a fund-raising project with the goal of building a fully

compliant home for Brad and his family to spend the remainder

of their lives. Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, Lt. Joey Butler

and Dwayne Moak are spearheading the “A Home for Brad”

project and hope to provide a special place for their former

co-worker and friend—a place that will accommodate his

special needs.

“Brad has a piece of land that we’re going to build on—so we’re

already that far along in the process,” stated Joey Butler. The

Home Builders Association of Jackson will be coordinating the

construction of the home through Kirkland Development, Charter

Homes, HouseWorks, and other HBAJ partners.

The “A Home for Brad” campaign

launched on August 31 and utilizes

Facebook, primarily, to reach the

over 11,000 followers of the “A Home

for Brad – Praying for Deputy Brad

Sullivan” page.

“This is going to be an expensive project,” said Dwayne Moak.

“Not only have the cost of building supplies skyrocketed, but

everything in Brad’s home will have to be customized, adding

expense, so it’s important we reach as many people as possible.”

All donations are fully tax deductible. Contributions can be made

through their website at www.ahomeforbrad.org or checks may

be made payable to the Madison County Mississippi Sheriff’s

Department Benefit Association, Inc. (Madison SD Benefit

Association) at 2941 Highway 51, Canton, MS 39046.

Those interested in donating homebuilding services, supplies,

equipment, etc., can contact Vicky Bratton of the Home Builders

Association of Jackson at vicky@hbajackson.com. For all

monetary donation inquiries, contact LeeAnn Sanders with

the Madison County Sheriff’s Department at leeann.sanders@

madison-co.com. For all other general inquiries email support@

ahomeforbrad.org.

Joey Butler is confident the community will support this endeavor.

“We depend on law enforcement to keep us

safe and protect us. Brad did his job. Now Brad

needs a home. He deserves that. We’re looking

forward to meeting that need.”

AHomeforBrad.org

Hometown MADISON • 9


10 • SEPTEMBER 2021


READER

SPOTLIGHT

Thomas

LISTER

Why did you decide to make Madison

your home?

My wife and I both grew up in Madison, so most

of our family lives here or close to here. We love

Madison and the feeling of family you get here.

How long have you lived in Madison?

29 years

Tell us about your family.

Jennings and I met growing up because we both

attended Broadmoor Baptist Church. It wasn’t until

we were both working at Broadmoor as interns (she

was in college, and I was in seminary) that we started

dating. We got married in 2018 at Broadmoor, and

we welcomed our daughter, Katherine, to the family

in February of 2021.

What is your favorite memory of living

in Madison?

I have had so many great memories over the years,

but my favorite memories involve the first house that

my wife and I purchased. The day we broke ground

on the foundation, the day we moved in, and the day

we brought Katherine home there are all great

memories.

Where are your three favorite places

to eat in Madison?

Kristos, El Ranchito, the new Burgers and Blues.

Make sure you get the loaded curly fry from Kristos!

What are some fun things to do in

Madison on the weekends?

Hunt, hang out on the deck with friends, and go

to church.

Share some things you enjoy doing

in your spare time.

I love to do pretty much anything outside.

I especially like to hunt and fish!

What are three things on your bucket list?

Go on a hunting trip to New Zealand, see the Grand

Canyon, and see the northern lights.

Who is someone you admire and why?

There are so many people that have made a lasting

impact on my life. The one that has had the biggest is

my dad. He made sure and continues to make sure

that I have everything I need to succeed. The most

important way that he has done that is by discipling

me to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior!

Where do you see yourself ten years

from now?

I hope to be lucky enough to still be serving at

Broadmoor Baptist Church in some capacity.

I hope to have at least one more kid, and definitely

still living in or near Madison.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I loved being on the Madison Central football team.

We grew together, almost made it to state, and had a

great time doing it!

If you could give us one encouraging

quote, what would it be?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom

shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

What is your favorite thing about

Hometown Magazines?

I love how Hometown Magazines helps the readers

get to know business owners and other leaders

within their hometowns!

Hometown MADISON • 11


BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

TO HELP YOU

GROW

We’re here to help you meet your business

goals, with deposit and loan options

designed for business growth!

MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

12 • SEPTEMBER 2021


COMING SOON

EXPANDED

OFFERINGS IN

RIDGELAND!

This Fall and Spring, Holmes will begin offering new programs on our

Ridgeland Campus, including Drafting and Design Technology, Heating,

Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) & Refrigeration Technology, Massage

Therapy, and an Evening/Weekend Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) option.

LOVE MUSIC? We are also extending our Band and

Concert Chorale programs to Ridgeland as well!

1-800-HOLMES-4

HOLMESCC.EDU

#NOPLACELIKEHOLMES

COMING SOON TO MADISON

1022 Highway 51, Suite 500 • Madison, MS 39110

P (601) 572-3818 • F (601) 620-0820

Haley Mays, PT, DPT, Clinic Director

Max Thomas, PT, CSCS

Getting you back to the things you LOVE.

VISIT US ONLINE AT MYELITEPT.COM

Hometown MADISON • 13


Conversations

over coffee

Melanie McMillan

“Would you be interested in writing an editorial?” read the text

message. Although I’ve written many articles for Hometown

Magazines over the years, editorials were new territory, as I had done

only one. That one, “Random Acts of Kindness,” was so inspiring and

thought-provoking for me that my enthusiastic response was “Yes!

What’s the topic?” The reply came quickly: “September 29th is

National Coffee Day and we thought it would be neat to read about

the conversations and community that happen over a cup of coffee.”

As any good writer/journalist would do, I began my research

enthusiastically - by making a cup of coffee.

Contrary to popular memes, one can live without coffee - though

why anyone would take that chance I’m sure I don’t know. For many,

a morning cup of joe is a non-negotiable part of the daily routine, and

flagging creative juices during an afternoon slump are often brought

back to life by a hot - or iced - brew. There’s just something about it

that sets it apart from other beverages, whether it’s a medium roast

you brew at home, or a cappuccino from your favorite coffee shop.

Even those who have never acquired a taste for it understand that a

friend’s invitation to grab a cup of coffee isn’t at all about the actual

drink. It’s an invitation to catch up, reconnect, and spend unhurried

time in conversation.

14 • SEPTEMBER 2021


in Tokyo - which, by the way, included five from Ole Miss and six from

Mississippi State.

As we talked, it struck me how naturally the conversation flowed.

Some may attribute that to being in the South and how we are, as a

rule, fairly friendly folks. However, there’s something about sitting

down at a table together with a cup of coffee that prompts interaction,

even when it’s spontaneous and among strangers.

Several years ago I read a book entitled, “First We Have Coffee,”

On a recent Saturday morning at Cups in Brandon, I asked two

gentlemen who were enjoying coffee and conversation if I could

interrupt them for a moment. Jokingly they replied, “that depends.”

I explained that I was writing a story about conversations over coffee,

and they graciously invited me to sit down and visit. Jay Eads of

Brandon and Joel Jones of Pearl met 20 years ago at Brandon Gun and

Pawn and found they had much in common. Both men were in

the military for many years - Jay in the Navy and Joel in the Marines

and Army. They are also both retired attorneys and worked for the

attorney general of Mississippi, though not in the same department.

For several years, the two have met every Saturday morning to

catch up over coffee, with topics ranging from politics, electric cars,

family, and everything in between. “We’ve come up with solutions to

lots of problems,” the pair joked, “but so far no one has asked us for

them.” This particular morning they were discussing the Olympics,

wishing there was more publicity about Mississippi athletes competing

by Margaret Jensen, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants. Filled with

stories from her childhood, the book paints a beautiful picture of

Jensen’s mother, a pastor’s wife, who over the years welcomed countless

friends and strangers into her home with a hot cup of coffee and,

more importantly, a listening ear. “Mama” offered encouragement,

wisdom, and hope to others when she put the coffee pot on and said,

“first we have coffee, and then we talk.”

Life moved at a slower pace when “Mama” was entertaining at her

kitchen table over 100 years ago. “I’m just so busy.” How many times

have we heard this, or said it ourselves? Our days are filled with

checking items off a to-do list, but if we’re honest, much of our

“busyness” is of our own making, with little lasting importance. I think

my acquaintances at the coffee shop would agree that our lives would

be infinitely richer if we replaced an item or two on our to-do list with

“invite a friend for coffee.” Jay said it perfectly. “Coffee is just the

vehicle. It’s really about the conversations and the relationships.”

Hometown MADISON • 15


Hometown

White Chocolate Mocha

• ¾ cup whole milk, or low-fat

• 3 Tbsp. white chocolate chips

• ½ cup brewed coffee

• 1 tsp. sugar, optional

• 2 Tbsp. whipped cream,

for garnish

• Dash ground nutmeg, for garnish

Add milk and chocolate chips to

a pot. Whisk together on mediumlow

heat, until the chocolate has

been incorporated and the sauce is

smooth. Meanwhile, brew a half cup

of your favorite coffee or espresso

and pour into a cup or mug. Pour

the white chocolate milk sauce over

the coffee and stir in any additional

sugar, if desired. Top with whipped

cream a light dusting of ground

nutmeg. Serve and enjoy!

Whipped Coffee

• 2 Tbsp. hot water

• 2 Tbsp. sugar

• 2 Tbsp. instant coffee powder

• milk and ice

Add hot water, sugar, and

instant coffee to a bowl. Hand

whisk or use an electric mixer

until the mixture is fluffy and light.

To serve, spoon a dollop over a cup

of milk with ice in it and stir.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 1 cup milk

• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin puree

• 1 Tbsp. sugar

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp. ground ginger

• ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

• ⅛ tsp. ground cloves

• ½ tsp. vanilla extract

• ½ cup brewed espresso,

or strongly brewed coffee

• 2 Tbsp. sweetened whipped cream

Add pumpkin puree, sugar,

cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves,

vanilla and espresso to a small pot.

Bring to a simmer on medium-low

heat and whisk occasionally until

pumpkin puree has been incorporated

and the sugar and spices

dissolve. Add milk to a second pot

or a microwave safe jar and heat just

enough to warm through. Whisk

milk vigorously until it begins to

foam or froth. If you have a milk

frother wand, you may use this to

create the foam desired. Pour the

hot coffee mixture into a mug and

then pour in the frothy milk. Top

with whipped cream and a dash

of cinnamon, if desired.

Iced Coffee

• 1 cup coffee, at room temperature

• 2 Tbsp. half and half,

or more, to taste

Simple Syrup

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Combine sugar and water in a

medium saucepan over medium

heat, stirring until the sugar has

dissolved. Let cool completely and

stir in vanilla extract; set aside in

refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serve coffee over ice with half and

half and simple syrup, adding one

teaspoon at a time, to taste.

Frappuccino

• 12 oz. fluid very strong brewed

coffee or espresso, chilled

• 8 oz. fluid whole milk

(more to taste)

• ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• ¼ cup chocolate syrup

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Whipped cream

• ¼ cup half-and-half (optional)

16 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Vanilla Frappuccino

Combine coffee, milk, sweetened

condensed milk, and vanilla to a

blender. Add ice and blend until

smooth and icy. (Add half-and-half

for richer and creamier Frappuccino.)

Serve with whipped cream on top.

Mocha Frappuccino

Combine coffee, milk, sweetened

condensed milk, vanilla, and

chocolate syrup to a blender.

Add ice and blend until smooth and

icy. (Add half-and-half if you’d like it

to be a little richer and creamier.)

Serve with whipped cream on top.

Mocha Chip Frappuccino

Combine coffee, milk, sweetened

condensed milk, vanilla, chocolate

syrup, and chocolate chips to a

blender. Add ice and blend until

smooth and icy, with tiny chocolate

bits throughout. (Add half-and-half if

you’d like it to be a little richer and

creamier.) Serve with whipped cream

on top, and drizzle the whipped

cream with chocolate syrup or dot

with more chocolate chips.

Chocolate Comfort Cake

• 1 package dark chocolate cake mix

• 1 package (3.9 oz.) instant

chocolate pudding mix

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 cup sour cream

• ¾ cup canola oil

• ¾ cup brewed coffee

• ½ cup sugar

• 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

• 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

• 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate,

chopped

In a large bowl, combine the first

seven ingredients; beat on low speed

for 45 seconds. Beat on medium for

two minutes. Pour into a well-greased

10-in. fluted tube pan. Bake at 350°

until a toothpick inserted near the

center comes out clean, approximately

50-55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes

before removing from pan to a wire

rack to cool completely.

In top of a double boiler, melt butter

and chocolate. Stir occasionally until

mixture is glossy and smooth.

Drizzle over cake.

Apple Nutmeg Coffee Cake

• 3 Tbsp. butter, cubed

• 2 cups chopped peeled Gala apple

• ½ cup packed brown sugar,

divided

• ¼ cup brewed coffee

• ⅔ cup canola oil

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 large egg plus 1 large egg white,

room temperature

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp. salt

• ½ tsp. baking soda

• ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

For the drizzle:

• ⅓ cup brewed coffee

• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream

• 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 375°. In a 10-inch

cast iron or other ovenproof skillet,

melt butter over low heat. Add apple

and ¼ cup brown sugar. Cook and

stir until crisp-tender, about five

minutes. Stir in coffee; remove from

heat. In a large bowl, beat oil, sugar,

egg, egg white, vanilla and remaining

¼ cup brown sugar until well

blended. In another bowl, whisk

flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda

and nutmeg; gradually beat into oil

mixture. Gently spread over apple

mixture. Bake until a toothpick

inserted in center comes out clean,

18-22 minutes. Cool on a wire rack

10 minutes.

Meanwhile, for drizzle, in a small

saucepan, bring coffee and cream to

a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to

¼ cup, 10-12 minutes. Remove from

heat; stir in confectioners’ sugar. Let

stand 10 minutes. Drizzle over cake.

Java Muffins

• ¼ cup butter, softened

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

• ½ cup buttermilk

• ½ cup strong brewed coffee

• 1 Tbsp. instant coffee granules

• ½ tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup whole wheat flour

• 1½ tsp. baking powder

• ½ tsp. baking soda

• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ½ cup finely chopped pecans,

divided

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl,

beat butter and brown sugar until

crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs

and mix well. Beat in applesauce. In a

small bowl, whisk buttermilk, coffee,

coffee granules and vanilla until

granules are dissolved; gradually add

to butter mixture. In another bowl,

whisk flours, baking powder, baking

soda, cinnamon and salt. Add to

butter mixture; stir just until moistened.

Fold in ¼ cup pecans. Coat 12 muffin

cups with cooking spray or use paper

liners; fill three-fourths full. Sprinkle

with remaining pecans. Bake 15-20

minutes or until a toothpick inserted

in center comes out clean. Cool 5

minutes before removing from pan

to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Café Mocha Cookies

• 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened

• 1½ cup dark brown sugar, packed

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 eggs

• 4 tsp. vanilla extract

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups bread flour

• 4 tsp. cornstarch

• 2 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1½ heaping Tbsp. coffee

grounds, fine or coarse

• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line

baking sheets with parchment paper

or silicone baking mats. In a large

bowl, add flours, cornstarch, baking

soda, salt, and coffee grounds. Whisk

to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted

with the paddle attachment, cream

together butter and sugars for two

minutes until light and fluffy. Then

add in the eggs and vanilla extract

and beat for 2 more minutes. Slowly

add in the flour mixture and mix until

all combined and well-incorporated.

Using a spatula, fold in the mini

chocolate chips. Bake for 11-13

minutes. They will look super soft but

they continue cooking after removing

from the oven. Let cool on baking

sheet for five minutes before moving

to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container.

Coffee Granola

• 1½ pounds rolled oats (7½ cups)

• ½ cup finely ground coffee

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar

• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup rye flour

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, frozen

• ¾ cup dark porter

• ¼ cup unsulfured molasses

Preheat oven to 350. Line two large

rimmed baking sheets with

parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss

the rolled oats with the coffee, both

sugars, both flours and the salt. Using

a box grater, shred the frozen butter

into the bowl, then toss to mix. Stir in

the porter and molasses until evenly

coated. Spread the mixture on the

prepared baking sheets. Bake for

about 30 minutes, stirring every 8-10

minutes, until golden and nearly

crisp. Let cool completely, stirring

occasionally. Granola can be stored

in an airtight container for up to

three weeks.

Hometown MADISON • 17


18 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Bridges

the

Tell us about your family.

Casey, Amber, Colton (10), Gabriella (4)

Colton loves all things Mississippi State, playing baseball, and

deer and turkey hunting. Gabriella loves princesses, tumbling,

swimming, and pretending to be a Mississippi State cheerleader.

Our hobbies are carting our children around to their hobbies!

But on the off chance we have a free weekend we enjoy sitting

by the pool and traveling.

How did you meet, and how long have

you have been married?

We met in the gym and have been married for 11 years now.

What brings you the greatest joy

as a parent?

Watching them do the things they love! No matter if it’s baseball

or hunting for Colton or dancing and meeting Elsa for Gabriella.

That moment of pure happiness on their face is something that

can’t be replaced.

What are some of your favorite things

about Madison County?

We have some great restaurants here in Madison County!

It’s awesome to eat at these places that are locally owned.

The schools in Madison County are top notch. And the community

is great at coming together to support each other.

What personal accomplishments

make you proud during your time

living in Madison County?

We have been active in raising money and awareness for

Make-A-Wish Mississippi since 2015. We started with a goal of

granting one wish a year and we worked our way up to granting

six wishes in one year. Covid put a stop to our Wine and Wish

event that was scheduled for fall of 2020 but we hope to get

back to helping others very soon.

FAVORITE TAILGATE RECIPE

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

• 1 lb. hot sausage, uncooked

• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened

• 1¼ cups Bisquick

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Mix all ingredients until well

combined. (I use a mixer with dough hook attachment)

Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a rimmed

baking sheet. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until brown.

What makes you love your college

team?

Honestly my wife - she’s a diehard Mississippi State fan! She

truly bleeds maroon and it’s hard not to love something that she

loves so much. But if you’ve ever been inside Davis Wade and

hear those cowbells ringing or at the Dude for SEC baseball –

there’s really nowhere like it!

Hometown MADISON • 19


20 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Fosters

the

Tell us about your family.

We are Jane and Lantz Foster of Canton. Together we have three

children: Jared Foster, Landon Foster, and Brittany Sones. Brittany is

married to Sam Sones and they have blessed us with four beautiful

grandchildren: Rosie, Lottie, Sammy, and Si. Entertaining is definitely

our hobby! We have been doing the Zebra Tent in the Grove for

19 years.

How did you meet and how long have

you been married?

Lantz and I met through a mutual friend many years ago and have

now been happily married for 25 years.

What brings you the greatest joy

as a parent?

Seeing our children grown and doing well.

What are some of your favorite things

about Madison County?

We love our Canton community. It is a wonderful place to live

and raise children. Everyone knows everyone!

What personal accomplishments make

you proud during your time living in

Madison County?

I have a built a fashion and lifestyle social media presence and

Lantz owns Madison County Rocks and Pools.

What makes you love your college team?

Our family loves the Grove and all the wonderful people. This year

we can’t wait to watch Matt Corral. The gameday fashion is so much

fun to watch, too!

FAVORITE TAILGATE RECIPE

Jalapeno Poppers

• 12 jalapenos

• 8 oz. cream cheese room temp.

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

• 3 Tbsp. green onion, chopped

• 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

• 8 oz. bacon, cooked and chopped

• 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, optional

Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Halve the jalapenos

lengthwise. Remove and discard the seeds and

membranes. In a large bowl, combine cream

cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, green onion,

shredded cheese, and cooked bacon for the

filling. Fill the jalapeno halves with the mixture.

Placed stuffed jalapenos on a baking sheet and

bake at 400˚F for 18-20 minutes, or until the

cheese melts golden in color. Sprinkle Parmesan

cheese over the poppers and serve.

Hometown MADISON • 21


22 • SEPTEMBER 2021


ogo is not available for use on all

aterials. Beyond the Department of

is logo is limited to gameday-related

otional items for student recruitment

dent Affairs.

this logo on any communications

sements, social media graphics

ms must be granted by both

letics and the Office of University

Russells

the

Tell us about your family.

Ronald Russell, age 60, USM Class of 1984, CPA. Hobbies include USM sports, Saints

football, Reds baseball, and Celtics basketball! Monica Russell, age 59, USM Class of

1983, office manager. Hobbies include reading and teaching tap dancing at Ridgeland

Recreation and Parks. Audra Russell, age 30, USM Class of 2013, 2nd grade teacher

at Benedict Day School. Hobbies include fitness training and running. Avery Russell,

age 24, USM Class of 2019, buyer at Forrest General Hospital. Hobbies include reading

and baking. Adele Russell, age 20, USM Class of 2023, student at USM! Hobbies

include tennis and playing cards with friends.

How did you meet and how long have you been married?

We met in 1981 when we were both juniors at USM. We were neighbors in an apartment

complex and became friends, played softball, and bowled together. We began our first

jobs, Ronald, a CPA in Natchez, and Monica, an insurance agent in Bay St. Louis and

dated long distance for three years, then moved to Jackson in 1986. We made the move

to Ridgeland two years later, then built our forever home in Madison County in 1994.

We have been married for 35 years.

What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?

The greatest joy we have experienced as parents has been watching our girls grow into

confident, caring, and moral adults. They all work hard to fulfill their goals. All three

followed in our footsteps and went to USM. They each received alumni and other

scholarships. The older two have graduated and the youngest is halfway there!

What are some of your favorite things about Madison County?

All three of our girls graduated from Madison Central. Being a close-knit community,

many of their school friends were also their church friends. We are long-term members

of Broadmoor Baptist Church and have lived in the Ingleside subdivision in Madison

County for 27 years. We say we’re blessed that we are in the “country” but still close to

the city! Madison is truly a melting pot of people from other parts of the state. Ronald

was originally from Jones County and Monica from Bay St. Louis but we all consider

Madison our home.

What makes you love your college team?

We love Southern Miss because it is truly a family of fans. This “family” stays with the

teams through thick and thin. Winning seasons are a bonus as we are loyal to our team

and will attend football and other sporting events regardless of the win/loss record.

As Avery told a dean in a scholarship interview, USM is the “family business!” Adele’s

friends joke that they can always spot our cars around Madison because we all have

USM license plates. We have had football season tickets for 36 years and Ronald has

only missed one home game in 38 years—when Avery was born! The Russell family also

considers the city of Hattiesburg part of the package. We bought a house in Hattiesburg

15 years ago in anticipation of all three of our girls attending USM. To our delight, all

three girls have gone to Southern Miss and have lived at “Camp Russell” in Hattiesburg.

We have been blessed to host many USM pre-game celebrations at our home away

from home! SMTTT!

FAVORITE TAILGATE RECIPE

Fireside Dip

• ½ cup mayo

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

• 4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded

• 2 Tbsp. dried onion flakes

• 3 oz. real bacon bits

Mix all ingredients except bacon bits.

Put in a small baking dish and sprinkle

the top with bacon bits. Bake at 350

for 20 minutes. Serve with wheat

thins. (This recipe was shared with

Adele on the school bus when she

was in 6th grade–Thanks Tyler!)

Hometown MADISON • 23


24 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Benders

the

Tell us about your family.

Samuel Bender, Sr. (48) likes spending time with family, playing Candy

Crush, and watching movies. Anitra Bender (38) likes dancing, helping

others, spending time with family and friends, shopping, and traveling.

Samuel Blake Bender, II (13) likes school, traveling, spending time with

family and friends, and basketball.

What makes you love your college team?

Thee I love my dear ol’ college home! Thee I love wherever I may

roam, Jackson Fair, Jackson Dear! Jackson State University is not

only my alma mater, but also the birthplace of many long-lasting

friendships, opportunities, and firsts. I love my college team because

they have survived so much adversity over the years. Yet, they still

thrive off the positivity of fans, such as me and thousands of others.

We are not only fans, but we’re also supporters! We travel, near and

far, to see our team, and even if they don’t bring home the win, we

are still fans. There is nothing fair weathered about us. Tiger Fans are

everywhere!

The Sonic Boom of the South and the Prancing J-Settes are also a hot

topic! This band has the utmost respect, worldwide. When people

hear SBOTS, they oftentimes think of the famous “Tiger Run-On” or

“Get Ready!” This is how the band takes the field. It is electrifying and

so classic! The sound of the drums whoa the crowd and immediately

they stand to their feet. The Boom is made up of hundreds of young

musicians that have a love for band, a love for JSU and a love for music.

These scholars not only give us a show, each weekend, they are also

into their studies, as this is a major component of being a member of

this organization. Grades are important, therefore, that is a top priority.

My husband, Samuel, Sr. was a member of “The Boom.” Each section

has a uniquely identifiable name, and his section was “War and

Thunder,” also known as “WT.” He was a tenor drum player and also

participated in Motown 30 with the Sonic Boom of the South.

The classy, jazzy dancers, known as The Thrill of Billion Eyes, The

Prancing J-Settes are also a force. These young ladies have the skill

and agility to take on any and every field. These young ladies grow

up watching the J-Settes, hoping and wishing one day they will be

in their shoes, whether they are jazz boots or Nancy boots. Dance is

so meaningful to them, as they have different variants of their own

technique. Their uniforms are insanely plentiful and eye-catching.

They often wear two different uniforms, each performance, sometimes

three. Though it is a process to become a PJS, it is very much

so worth the time and energy. Membership requires lots of practice

time, as they spend hours perfecting their routines. Being a J-Sette,

from 2001-2005, I learned so much about myself, about consistency,

about sisterhood, about dance. I was also afforded the opportunity to

participate in the 34th NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood, California,

amongst many, many superstars. It was then I discovered that many

are called, but few are chosen. Jackson State University afforded me

so many valuable opportunities that I would have never received,

elsewhere. I am forever grateful to 1400 J.R. Lynch Street.

#TheeWeAllLove

FAVORITE TAILGATE RECIPE

Louisiana Seafood Boil

• 8 quarts water

• 1/3 cup canola oil

• 6 yellow onions, unpeeled

• 4 celery stalks, halved crosswise

• 2 lemons, unpeeled and quartered

• 12 garlic cloves

• 5 bay leaves

• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, thickly sliced

• 6 oz. packaged whole-spice crab boil

• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sea salt, or to taste

• 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 Tbsp. black peppercorns, or to taste

• 2 to 3 lb. small, red-skinned potatoes, unpeeled

• 24 live blue crabs or 4 to 6 small live Dungeness crabs

• 6 ears of corn, husked and halved crosswise

• 5 lb. large shrimp, with heads attached

Pour water into a large stockpot. Add oil, onions, celery,

lemons, garlic, bay leaves, ginger, crab boil, salt, cayenne

and black peppercorns and bring to a boil over high heat.

Boil 10 minutes. Add potatoes and boil 5 minutes. Add crabs

and boil 15 minutes. Add corn and boil 5 minutes. Add

shrimp and boil 1 minute. Turn off the heat and let stand for

5 minutes. Using tongs or a skimmer, retrieve the seafood

and vegetables from the pot and serve them warm atop

several thicknesses of newspaper or large sheets of

parchment paper, or transfer to a large serving platter.

The seafood can also be served at room temperature or

chilled. Use a nutcracker or a table knife to crack the shells.

Serves 8 to 12.

Hometown MADISON • 25


26 • SEPTEMBER 2021


www.priorityonebank.com

Hometown MADISON • 27


28 • SEPTEMBER 2021

MADISON-RIDGELAND ACADEMY


USHEALTH Advisors

proudly supports

the MRA Patriots

Alicia Adams 601-540-7699

Health • Dental • Vision

MRA Patriots

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 13 7:00 pm Home Greenville Christian

August 20 7:00 pm Away Natchez Cathedral

August 28 7:00 pm Home Oakland

September 3 7:00 pm Away Pulaski Academy

September 10 7:00 pm Away Simpson

September 17 7:00 pm Home Jackson Academy

September 24 7:00 pm Away Raleigh

October 1 7:00 pm Away Jackson Prep

October 8 7:00 pm Home Presbyterian Christian

October 15 7:00 pm Home Magnolia Heights

October 22 7:00 pm Away Parklane

October 29 7:00 pm Home Hartfield

Hometown MADISON • 29


30 • SEPTEMBER 2021


We Are Family

Termie Land & Beth Yerger

While faced with a great deal of uncertainty and multiple

challenges as we began school last August, the MRA family came

together to make this a truly successful year. The cooperation

from everyone was phenomenal and epitomizes the term

“family.” It took the entire MRA family working together to

make this year possible, and the support, resilience, and

cooperation of students, parents, faculty, and staff were outstanding.

MRA successfully completed the school year without

having to go to virtual learning and we consider that a victory!

Our faculty developed and implemented an exceptional

distance learning plan in the spring of 2020, and then followed

that up with a great year back on campus. Faced with many

challenges from teaching in face masks to providing an excellent

education for students in quarantine as well as those on campus,

the faculty rose to the occasion and ensured our students

received a quality educational experience. Not only was the

education exceptional, but it was also delivered with a personal

touch while developing strong, positive relationships which

helped students deal with the stresses of the pandemic.

Our parents partnered with MRA with the goal of keeping

us in school, and together we were successful in meeting that

important objective. We missed having parents in the buildings

but are so appreciative of all the parent volunteers who opened

car doors in the carpool line and helped make possible a great

Gardens of Madison County. This event was again professional,

fun, and successful. Many thanks to all the volunteers and

especially to Stacey Carter and Nancye Carter for their hard

work and leadership.

Our student body rose to the challenges we have faced over

the last 14 months. The Class of 2021 provided leadership by

setting a positive example and earning multiple honors and

achievements. Their ACT average was one of the highest in

school history, and they received over $6 million dollars in

scholarships. We are so proud of their accomplishments and the

example they have set for our younger students.

Athletically the 2020-21 school year was a record-setting

year. Eight state championships were won by girls’ cross country,

dance, cheer, football, boys’ basketball, archery, girls’ track, and

boy’s track. All our squads worked diligently throughout the

year and performed exceptionally well.

Campus transformations have become a trend at MRA, and

this summer was no different! We have turfed the elementary

playground and athletic practice field, added a 3rd grade

classroom, renovated the gym dressing rooms, added a state-ofthe-art

video scoreboard, and expanded and updated the

administration and high school student services office areas.

MRA’s educational philosophy is to educate our students

through a balanced approach that emphasizes academic

excellence and incorporates a number of extracurricular

opportunities that provide a well-rounded educational experience

for each child in a Christian environment. Now the largest

independent school in Mississippi, MRA continues a trend of

record enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year with a

continued commitment to outstanding student-teacher ratios.

We look forward to another outstanding year as we strive to

fulfill the mission of the school to provide a superior educational

experience while encouraging and enabling each student to

reach his or her individual potential in mind, body, and spirit.

Hometown MADISON • 31


32 • SEPTEMBER 2021


St. Joseph Bruins

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 20 7:00 pm Away Copiah

August 27 7:00 pm Home Cathedral

September 3 7:00 pm Home East Rankin

September 10 7:00 pm Away Jackson Academy

September 17 7:00 pm Away Tri County Academy

September 24 7:00 pm Home Simpson

October 1 7:00 pm Away Leake Academy

October 8 7:00 pm Home Sacred Heart

October 15 7:00 pm Home Lamar

October 22 7:00 pm Away Park Place

Hometown MADISON • 33


34 • SEPTEMBER 2021


New School Year Changes

Terry Cassreino

When St. Joseph Catholic School started the new school

year August 10, students saw several major changes that

include a remodeled cafeteria, a new sports affiliation and a

dual-credit program with Mississippi College.

More significantly, St. Joe will operate as close as possible to

the way things were before the coronavirus pandemic. Classes

will return to the normal size; masks will not be required; and

everyone will be able to attend school sporting events.

“St. Joe was open all last year with classes held in person

amid strict Coronavirus protocols,” said Dr. Dena Kinsey, the

school principal.

“Now it’s time to return a sense of normalcy to school and

to everyone’s lives this fall,” she said. “Despite the challenges

of the pandemic and our continued heightened awareness of

virus transmissions, we had a great school year last year. This

school year will be even better.”

St. Joseph Catholic School, founded in 1870 by the Sisters

of Mercy, is celebrating more than 150 years of faith formation

and education excellence. The school offers seventh- through

12th-grade students a rigorous college prep curriculum

grounded in the teachings of the Catholic church.

St. Joe, at 308 New Mannsdale Road in Madison just west

of the Interstate 55-Mississippi 463 exit, is accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting

arm of Cognia.

Changes at St. Joe began shortly after school broke for the

summer. Classrooms and hallways were painted, as were the

hallways and lobby of the fine arts building.

Lockers were removed from two of the three buildings that

house middle school and high school classes. Having no

lockers will improve the flow of student traffic and make it

easier to change classrooms between periods.

Lockers remain in one of the three classroom buildings for

high school students who request to use one.

The St. Joe cafeteria will see the most cosmetic changes.

Ceiling tiles were replaced, walls were painted, student art will

adorn the walls and new tables and chairs will be available on

the deck overlooking the football field. The microwave station

has been rebuilt and new microwaves purchased.

In athletics, coaches and players continue to prepare for

the upcoming fall sports season and St. Joe’s move to the

Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, or the

MAIS – the state’s private school sports association.

As a member of the MAIS, St. Joe will be able to renew

longtime Catholic school rivalries with Natchez Cathedral,

Vicksburg St. Aloysius, and Greenville St. Joseph – all of

which already are MAIS member schools.

Joining the MAIS means girls soccer will move from

winter to fall and softball will move from spring to fall. Both

will join other fall sports that include football, volleyball,

swimming and cross country.

“It’s been a move we have thought about for the last four or

five years,” said Michael Howell, the St. Joe athletic director.

“We thought it best for our students. We also will renew old

rivalries with our other Catholic schools. Getting them back on

the schedule will be great for us and the Catholic community.”

The most significant change this fall will come in academics.

St. Joe and Mississippi College have joined forces to offer

Bruin seniors college-level math and English courses that will

satisfy high school graduation requirements and also count as

three hours of college credit. Seniors will be able to take

English Comp I, English Comp II, College Algebra with

Application, and College Trigonometry.

Students interested in taking the two English classes, two

math classes or all four must have an ACT subscore of at least

20 in math and/or English. They also must pay a $200 fee for

each class to Mississippi College; the $200 fee is in addition to

their St. Joe tuition.

St. Joe students who take the dual credit courses will enroll

as MC freshmen and have access to all amenities offered the

traditional college student.

“This is a great opportunity for our students,” Kinsey said.

“While finishing their senior year they also can get a head

start at college at a cost significantly less than they would

normally pay,” she said. “The ability to take college courses

while still under the safety net of high school teachers will

give them a significant advantage in their college academics

wherever they go,” she continued.

“These things – and our emphasis of and efforts at fostering

faith and love of Jesus – make our school a unique experience.

We are not your average Joe.”

Hometown MADISON • 35


36 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Madison Central Jaguars

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 20 7:00 pm Away Canton

August 27 7:00 pm Home West Jones

September 3 7:00 pm Home Brandon

September 10 7:00 pm Away Northwest Rankin

September 24 7:00 pm Away Starkville

October 1 7:00 pm Home Grenada

October 8 7:00 pm Away Clinton

October 15 7:00 pm Home Tupelo

October 22 7:00 pm Away Germantown

October 29 7:00 pm Away Murrah

November 5 7:00 pm Home Oxford

Hometown MADISON • 37


38 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Something for Everyone

Vicky Williams

Madison Central High School is a special place, affectionately

known as “the Jungle.” Students are only in the Jungle for

three years but there is a saying “Once a Jag, always a Jag” that

follows a student forever. The Jungle is a special place where

students can excel in a number of ways. There is something

for everyone at Madison Central.

The advanced placement and dual enrollment classes offer

students the opportunity to enhance their high school

experience for college entrance, obtain college course credit

and increase chances for scholarships. Everything from art to

science classes are offered. Students have the opportunity to

broaden their skills or learn more about an unfamiliar subject,

allowing them to gain a jumpstart on college.

Each fall, the drama/choral department opens auditions to

the entire campus for a chance to claim a spot as a musical cast

member. There are drama and stage crew classes offering a

more detailed approach to learning about onstage performances,

and stagecraft and lighting behind the scenes. These

electives are another way to explore a student’s creativity.

Along with these classes and extra curriculars, the

award-winning marching band, mass choir and show choir

offer students the opportunity to showcase their talents

through music. Students attend competitions throughout the

year as they perfect their craft. Many students go on to play in

college bands, gaining scholarship dollars.

At Madison Central, there are academies which combine a

curriculum with an occupational theme determined by

student interest. Specific course selections are offered to these

students in the Teacher Academy, Engineering Academy and

the Academy of Multimedia and Communications. Students

have a specific track that leads to graduation. Some students

are offered internships throughout this process, adding to

their classroom experiences.

Journalism classes can be added to a student’s schedule if

they are interested in broadcast or publishing. Students attend

college workshops throughout the year enhancing their

writing, social media, filming, interviewing and photography

skills. Broadcast, newspaper, and yearbook classes produce

professional projects throughout the year highlighting

students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Another important role of a student at Madison Central is

service to the community. Throughout the year, students are

given the opportunity to donate to the Mississippi Food

Network for the school’s annual canned food drive. Thousands

of cans are donated throughout the Jag zone each year.

Make-A-Wish is another way students are able to show

support to grant a wish for a local child battling cancer. Clubs

also donate to various groups for clothing drives, book drives

or volunteer after school for events in the community.

Becoming a well-rounded student is very important in “the

Jungle.” A student has limitless opportunities to get involved

throughout the school year, whether joining a club or trying

out for an athletic team. The campus offers over

40 clubs that meet before or after school - every interest from

cooking to politics is covered. Whether a student is a member

of a state championship team, National Merit Semifinalist,

award-winning art student, or an active club member, there is

something for everyone at Madison Central.

Hometown MADISON • 39


40 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Ridgeland Titans

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 20 7:00 pm Away Lawrence County

August 27 7:00 pm Away Northwest Rankin

September 3 7:00 pm Away Pearl

September 10 7:00 pm Home Jim Hill

September 17 7:00 pm Home Provine

September 24 7:00 pm Away Callaway

October 8 7:00 pm Home Neshoba Central

October 15 7:00 pm Away Vicksburg

October 22 7:00 pm Away Forest Hill

October 29 7:00 pm Home Holmes County

November 5 7:00 pm Home Canton

Hometown MADISON • 41


42 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Ridgeland Robotics Team

Lynne Schneider

Even in a year with the limitations of Covid-19 precautions,

The Ridgeland High School robotics teams managed a

record-breaking season during the 2020-21 school year.

RHS robotics teams have made a name for themselves since

2016, when the robotics program was founded by teacher Bill

Richardson at Old Town Middle School for middle and high

school students. This year, the team managed the impossible,

winning not one but two awards at world competition, an

accomplishment that is practically unheard of at the international

level.

“It’s pretty amazing. We are lucky to get one (award),”

Richardson said, and added that winning two awards is

something that most teams will never see at internationallevel

competition.

Two RHS teams competed this year by invitation at the

Vex World Championships, the 6th year in a row they were

invited to world competition, and 7th year in a row to be state

champions. One team, 7536c, won the Vex World Innovate

Award for the most efficient and effective robot design process.

The other team, 7536R, won the Build Award, based on the

durability of the robot and its reliability on the competition

field.

The RHS team competed on the world stage this year with

over 150 teams from 55 different countries. Because of

Covid-19, all competition was virtual instead of in person,

adding a new difficulty for robotics teams who are accustomed

to traveling to and competing in person. In a normal year,

teams would compete in a skills-based competition and a

head-to-head competition to score as much as possible in a

game that changes every year. While many people may picture

TV shows like “Battle Bots” when they imagine competition,

the games are more like sports, with robots having to manipulate

balls and other objects to score points. Each year the competition

game changes, and Richardson said this year’s game was very

much like “a three-day Tic-Tac-Toe game.” This year, only the

skills-based competition was held because of the limitations of

virtual-only competition, but the Titan team did not let these

limitations slow them down.

A visit to Richardson’s classroom at RHS, which houses the

school’s engineering academy instantly makes the team’s long

legacy of excellence obvious. There are over 150 trophies and

banners from the state, national, and world level of competition

surrounding the classroom, which is full of equipment used to

build robots and houses the gaming area. The robotics teams

are extracurricular, and team members work extremely hard

outside of school to prepare for competition. They can be

found working and practicing most evenings during the week,

on weekends, and even during summer. Building the robots

requires skills in robotics, CAD design, mechanical design,

and other engineering skills that students learn as part of the

engineering academy. Their commitment to the team and

their love of robotics has led to many students finding their

future college and career goals.

“My best captains and leaders are all fully engaged in college,

and most are in engineering-related fields,” Richardson said.

They can be found at colleges all over the country, a fact

Richardson is very proud of. While his wife has told him at

times he is too tough as a coach, his robotics team is very clear

that they have excelled because of his coaching. Richardson

saw another award added to his distinguished career this year

when he was selected as one of the four inductees to the

REC Foundation’s STEM Hall of Fame Inspiration All-Stars,

one of the highest honors in the world or scholastic robotics

competition.

Hometown MADISON • 43


44 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Canton Tigers

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 27 7:00 pm Away Velma Jackson

September 3 7:00 pm Away Germantown

September 10 7:00 pm Home Vicksburg

September 17 7:00 pm Away Callaway

September 24 7:00 pm Home Holmes County

October 1 7:00 pm Away Neshoba Central

October 15 7:00 pm Home Forest Hill

October 22 7:00 pm Away Jim Hill

October 29 7:00 pm Home Provine

November 5 7:00 pm Away Ridgeland

Hometown MADISON • 45


46 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Keepers of the Legacy

Beverly Luckett

Canton High students Dwayne Nelson and Marquicia

Douglas say they are excited to be “Keepers of the Legacy.”

That is the theme of their inaugural group. They participated

in the pilot program “A Virtual Healing Café - A Seat at

the Table.”

“We all have a voice, and we all need to do our part to

positively impact our community. You might not be able to

give a million dollars, but you can help pick up trash and

clean up your surroundings, you can go vote, there are so

many ways you can be a positive influence in your community

and in the world,” said Dwayne Nelson.

The 12-week pilot program, administered by the Medgar

and Myrlie Evers Institute was sponsored by the Kellogg

Foundation, the Atlanta Braves, and the Mississippi Braves.

Mrs. Reena Evers-Everette, Medgar and Myrlie Evers’

daughter, along with Mrs. Corinne Anderson, lead sessions

to inspire and encourage our future leaders.

“The program provides skills training and support services

for addressing community trauma aligned with concepts of

building resilience, socio-emotional, and social justice

awareness,” said Reena Evers-Everette.

CHS scholars like Marquicia Douglas praised the program

for giving young people a voice and encouraging them

to be leaders in their community. “Your voice is needed, not

just government officials and politicians, but you can speak

up and effect change in your community and in the world,”

said Douglas.

Students say during the virtual sessions they were able to

learn more about the important impact Medgar and Myrlie

Evers had on civil rights in Mississippi and in the nation.

They say they were also empowered and inspired to be

“Keepers of the Legacy” by committing themselves to always

look for opportunities to be involved and to be agents of

change. Students didn’t just talk; they took action by rolling

up their sleeves and completing various community service

projects. One project included donating canned foods to

Our Daily Bread Ministries in Canton. Officials there were

elated to receive the items. They say their pantry was almost

depleted and encouraged students to continue giving back

and inspiring others to give to those in need.

The pilot program made such an impact on students that

it was extended from its original plan of six weeks to twelve

weeks. Thanks to a grant from the Mississippi and Atlanta

Braves, students were awarded certificates and up to $150 for

each 6-week session. They also received MS Braves game tickets,

books, and other gifts for their outstanding participation.

Superintendent Gary Hannah and the Canton Public

School District Board of Trustees praised the students and

the program for its outstanding work by honoring them at

its June board meeting.

CHS scholars say they were truly enriched by participating

in this program. Now they’re on a mission to use their voice

to be leaders in their community and work for positive

changes in their state, nation, and the world.

Hometown MADISON • 47


48 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Velma Jackson Falcons

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 27 7:00 pm Home Canton

September 3 7:00 pm Away Yazoo County

September 10 7:00 pm Away Raymond

September 17 7:00 pm Home Yazoo City

September 24 7:00 pm Away Leake Central

October 1 7:00 pm Away Pelahatchie

October 8 7:00 pm Home Pisgah

October 15 7:00 pm Away Puckett

October 29 7:00 pm Home Scott Central

Hometown MADISON • 49


50 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Velma Jackson Welcomes

New Principal

Nicole Schuler

Brendon Bell, ED.S. was appointed as the new principal

of Velma Jackson High School in April of this year. Upon

earning his master’s degree in educational leadership in 2016,

Bell served as assistant principal of Old Town Middle School

in Ridgeland from 2015 to 2018 and principal of Madison

County Academic Options Center from 2018 to 2021. Prior to

entering the field of education, Bell served in law enforcement

for nine years as a narcotics and patrol officer. When asked

why he made the career change, Bell explained it was time to

“switch gears to a career that allows more time with family.”

Brendon Bell has a clear desire and passion to see students

grow “holistically, socially, emotionally, and educationally.”

His primary goal is to push his students towards success in

becoming “well-rounded contributors to society.” Bell’s

motivator is seeing his students become successful in the

workforce. “I love observing the impact education has on

students,” said Bell. “I have taught a lot of kids and coached

a lot of sports. The most rewarding part is seeing students

graduate and become successful contributors to society.”

According to Brendon Bell, a student’s mindset is the most

pivotal factor in determining their success. “It is so important

to create a mindset in students that they can be successful,”

said Bell. “You may have to reshape their thoughts about

where they come from. They have to believe they can persevere

despite their socio-economic circumstance.” Bell believes an

adequate measure of student success in the classroom is based

on engagement. “Seeing students taking ownership in their

progress and success is one of the best indicators of student

achievement,” he said.

Bell described his approach to student discipline as “fair,

firm, and consistent.” According to Bell, the best way to “mold

and shape them into good people” is to provide solid and

steady direction. “My job is to give them guidance, structure,

and support throughout their academic journey,” he said. “Of

course, I always need to have sympathy, as well,” he explained.

Being sympathetic towards the student and root of the

behavior is a necessary mindset to have when approaching

student discipline. “As I grew as an administrator, I learned to

get to know what is happening to cause the misbehavior,” said

Bell. “Even if consequences are still in order, we can execute

that without damaging relationships.”

Brendon Bell has high expectations for his students and

teachers. He acts as an advocate for his faculty and staff by

“being a great source of support for them.” Bell emphasized

the value in providing quality instruction and assistance to his

staff. “I need to be willing and able to help them grow in their

craft and provide quality instruction at their level, side by side,

instead of from a higher position,” he said.

Velma Jackson exhibits a strong sense of pride in community.

According to Bell, the atmosphere created by the faculty and

staff make it feel like home. “It makes me want to go the extra

mile to help everyone succeed. Becoming the principal at Velma

Jackson has been one of the best decisions I have made in my

career so far.”

According to Bell, Velma Jackson is one of the premier

high schools in the state of Mississippi. The school is home to

Mississippi’s first model academy of multimedia. The academy

of multimedia allows students to design graphics, operate the

jumbotron, explore 3D printing, and create banners and

posters for school events. “There is so much potential in these

students, which we work tirelessly to cultivate,” said Bell. He

called the school a “diamond in the rough” explaining that it is

a “small town school with so much potential.”

When asked about his plans to improve the school, Bell

explained his goal is to “continue to sharpen focus on academics

and instructional practices.” Bell looks to expose the students

to more opportunities in arts and education. “I want to

partner with the workforce to find out what they are looking

for. This way we can cultivate a student who can meet the

needs of the workforce,” said Bell. “My main focus is to create

a body of students who are college and career ready.”

Hometown MADISON • 51


52 • SEPTEMBER 2021


TCA Rebels

DATE

TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 20 7:00 pm Home Indianola Academy

August 27 7:00 pm Away Bowling Green

September 3 7:00 pm Away Central Holmes Christian

September 10 7:00 pm Home Riverfield Academy

September 17 7:00 pm Home St. Joseph Catholic

September 24 7:00 pm Away Canton Academy

October 1 7:00 pm Home Carroll Academy

October 8 7:00 pm Home Adams County Christian

October 15 7:00 pm Away Clinton Christian Academy

October 22 7:00 pm Away St. Aloysius

Hometown MADISON • 53


54 • SEPTEMBER 2021


21st Century Tri-County

Dr. Thomas Taylor

When someone mentions Tri-County Academy, there is no

doubt that the words family and football are always among

the first to come to mind. While family and football are very

important and will always be at the forefront of any highlight

reel or conversation about the school, the Tri-County family

will quickly tell you that there are many other exciting things

going on in Rebel Country each and every day.

With a student population that has increased by 15% over

the past three years to nearly 410 students in grades K3-12,

Tri-County Academy has continued to meet the ever-increasing

demand for student enrollment by actively growing their

existing academic and extracurricular programs. The Flora

area continues to be an attractive draw for new housing,

business development, and unique restaurants, which continues

to promote the need for programmatic growth at Tri-County

Academy and the area.

One of the most significant and obvious upgrades on the

Tri-County Academy campus continues to be the growth of

technology infrastructure and technology devices that are

being used as an integral part of everyday learning for each

grade level. In the past three years, Tri-County Academy has

partnered with Synergetics DCS, Inc. from Starkville and

Howard Technology Solutions in Ellisville, along with C-Spire,

to bring full-scale technology infrastructure enhancements to

the TCA campus. These recent modernizations have included

all new infrastructure components to support a campus-wide

high speed and wireless network that has new technology

devices, which includes multiple computer carts, new interactive

display boards in the classrooms, a state-of-the-art computer

lab with the latest and greatest software programs, along with

technology and computer instruction for students and

professional development for faculty and staff.

With significant technology upgrades, Tri-County Academy

has continued to bridge the gap in meeting the demands of a

21st century student and educator, which include digital literacy

and technology literacy as some of the core competencies

needed for today’s graduates and classroom teachers.

While family and football will always be at the heart of

Tri-County Academy, it’s no secret among TCA students,

faculty, and patrons that major strides are taking place every

day on the campus to produce individuals that are highly

prepared in order to be college and career ready in today’s

21st century!

Hometown MADISON • 55


56 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Canton Academy

Panthers

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 13 7:00 pm Away Sylva Bay Academy

August 20 7:00 pm Away Amite School Center

August 27 7:00 pm Home Winston Academy

September 10 7:00 pm Home Oak Hill Academy

September 17 7:00 pm Away Hillcrest Christian

September 24 7:00 pm Home Tri County Academy

October 1 7:00 pm Home Central Holmes

October 8 7:00 pm Away Clinton Christian

October 15 7:00 pm Home Benton Academy

October 22 7:00 pm Away Winona Christian

Hometown MADISON • 57


58 • SEPTEMBER 2021


CA Students Learn

Lord of the Flies Survivor-Style

Courtney Warren

Each year, the tradition of playing “Survivor” is the talk of

the spring semester at Canton Academy. Mrs. Courtney

Warren’s eighth-grade students read Lord of the Flies by

William Golding and then compete in a Survivor challenge.

Students are divided into tribes and then play games that are

based on the themes found in the book.

“It was very exciting to come to English class every day

and compete. We played Survivor to experience Lord of the

Flies firsthand,” said Natalie Seabrook.

“The Survivor experience was full of excitement. I had a

lot of adrenaline built up before each challenge. The challenges

were really fun, especially with a good strategy to win.

We played Survivor, so we could have interactive learning

instead of a boring essay,” said Matt Thomas.

The game of Survivor has been a tradition at Canton

Academy for three years running. This past year was the

biggest year yet because the class was so large and full of

students who were not only book smart, but also athletic.

Warren wants to think outside of the box for the books that

she teaches yearly and tries to be as creative as possible.

Last year, students had to do this activity virtually, which

was really disappointing to all involved. When it came time

to read Lord of the Flies and play the game in the 2020-2021

school year, Courtney knew she wanted to go much bigger

than before. “We stretched it out for almost three weeks and

involved discussion questions based on book themes,” said

Warren. “Each theme tied into these games. I created the

games after watching every season of Survivor, but also other

challenge-style shows. I also tried to level the playing field

and mix in facts from the story, puzzle and brain teasers, as

well as athletic challenges.”

“I’ve always loved the social aspect of the game as well,”

Warren explained. The students see how this competition

really bleeds into their other classes and everyday lives, just

like the problems on the island challenged the characters in

the book. They form alliances and even go against a previous

alliance to better their own chances. “Our students were

incredibly competitive, but it was all fun and even though

they went against their alliances sometimes, their friendships

and kind natures still shined through after it was all said and

done. I was really proud of them and love being in an

environment where we can get creative with our learning.”

Each day, the students rushed to class to find out what the

daily challenge entailed. From human ring toss and book

trivia to puzzle and endurance challenges, the eighth-grade

class had to outperform each other in order to be “immune”

from the tribal council.

The tribal council, another element to the game, added a

social aspect. The students voted each other off of the

“island,” which led to fierce class discussions about how the

characters in the novel lost friendships over trivial matters.

While most of their school year involves grammar,

reading, and tests, the students agreed they will remember

this book and activity for years to come.

“I loved doing this activity because it helped me better

connect with the material,” said Cruz Johnson.

Ayden Hughes added, “It honestly puts the book in

physical form. I really enjoyed it. The discussions related to

what happened in the book and tied into the games.”

Panthers in other grades attend these games throughout

the week, and the anticipation is high for the seventh

graders, who will read Lord of the Flies next year.

“I’m so ready to read Lord of the Flies. I love when we get to

do activities with the books. It helps me learn better,” said

seventh-grader Mac Stacey.

When it comes to reading and literacy, as William Golding

said, sometimes “The greatest ideas are the simplest.”

Hometown MADISON • 59


60 • SEPTEMBER 2021

ST. ANDREW ’ S


St. Andrew’s Saints

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 20 7:00 pm Away Puckett

August 27 7:00 pm Away Salem

September 3 7:00 pm Away St. Patrick Catholic

September 10 7:00 pm Home Richton

September 17 7:00 pm Home McAdams

September 24 7:00 pm Home McLaurin

October 1 7:00 pm Away Sacred Heart

October 7 7:00 pm Away West Lincoln

October 15 7:00 pm Home Loyd Star

October 22 7:00 pm Home Central Hinds

October 29 7:00 pm Away Pisgah

Hometown MADISON • 61


62 • SEPTEMBER 2021


St. Andrew’sAmong

Top 20% in America

Marlo Kirkpatrick

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School ranks among the top 20

percent of all private high schools in the United States and is

the #1 private high school in Mississippi. Newsweek reported

the rankings in a February 3, 2021 article listing St. Andrew’s

#178 in its ranking of the nation’s top 1,000 private schools.

“The Newsweek ranking reinforces what we already

knew,” said Tom Sheppard, St. Andrew’s head of school.

“While we’re happy to be recognized as the best in Mississippi,

St. Andrew’s offers a national caliber education. Our ranking

as one of the top 20 percent of schools in America is

reflected in the caliber of our faculty and our programming

and in the achievements of our current students and our

alumni nationwide.”

Newsweek relied on criteria provided by Niche, a private

organization that annually ranks every K-12 school in the

United States, in compiling the rankings. Criteria included

academics, quality of faculty, teacher/student ratio, diversity,

college prep, sports programs, and clubs and extracurricular

opportunities. The national rankings were based on statistical

information, plus reviews by actual teachers, students,

and parents at each school.

Based on the Niche criteria, St. Andrew’s was the only

private high school in Mississippi ranked among the top 500

nationwide; the highest ranking by another Mississippi

private high school was #861.

Return on Investment

At $20,050, St. Andrew’s tuition was the sixth lowest on

the list of top schools in each state profiled by Newsweek.

The highest tuition on Newsweek’s top schools list was

$55,500. The average tuition was $30,762.

According to St. Andrew’s alumni, the school delivers a

strong return on that tuition investment. As senior vice

president of digital products with Rightpoint in Boston,

Ben Johnson, St. Andrew’s Class of 2007 and the school’s

2021 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, leads a team of

designers creating custom digital products for clients. His

clients have included Costco, Cadillac, Macy’s, Six Flags,

and Boston Dynamics.

“My parents prioritized my education by sending me to

St. Andrew’s,” Johnson said. “It was important to them that

I take academics seriously, but also that I was pushed to

explore different activities. My time at St. Andrew’s helped

shape my leadership skills and laid a strong foundation for

the work I’m doing today. I’m forever indebted to my

parents for seeking out the kind of education I received at

St. Andrew’s.”

Josh Clark, a 1990 graduate and founder of New Yorkbased

Southpoint Capital Advisors, agreed. “I graduated

from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then earned my MBA

at Harvard. I can honestly tell you St. Andrew’s provided the

best education I ever had.”

Highest Caliber Faculty

A critical factor in the rankings was the caliber of the St.

Andrew’ faculty. St. Andrew’s recruits locally, nationally, and

internationally to find and hire the most talented educators

in every discipline. Almost 20 percent of faculty and staff

members are from out-of-state or overseas.

“Being part of a place that offers viewpoints that bring in

broad, worldwide perspectives is refreshing,” said Colin

Dunnigan, director of college counseling and associate head

of St. Andrew’s Upper School. “It’s meaningful to be part of

a faculty that sees its purpose as encouraging students to take

on intellectually challenging work in all subject areas. I see

St. Andrew’s as counter-cultural in a time when expectations

too often seem to be lowered, or the trajectory for students’

futures is narrow or self-limiting. Being part of the group

that shepherds students through such a place is rewarding

beyond measure.”

The faculty also includes St. Andrew’s alumni who chose

the school that shaped them as the best place to build a

rewarding career.

“As an alum of St. Andrew’s, I have the privilege to work

alongside many of the teachers who inspired me to teach,”

said 2003 graduate Marty Kelly, upper school English teacher.

“This ranking is validation for the hard work done day in

and day out by our faculty, staff, coaches, administration, and

especially our students. Mississippi is oft- maligned for lack

of educational achievement. I’m proud that St. Andrew’s

changes that narrative and that I get to be a part of that change.”

Hometown MADISON • 63


64 • SEPTEMBER 2021

Germantown


Germantown Mavericks

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

August 27 7:00 pm Away Vicksburg

September 3 7:00 pm Home Canton

September 10 7:00 pm Away Warren Central

September 17 7:00 pm Home Gulfport

September 24 7:00 pm Away Clinton

September 30 7:00 pm Away Murrah

October 8 7:00 pm Home Oxford

October 15 7:00 pm Away Grenada

October 22 7:00 pm Home Madison Central

October 29 7:00 pm Away Starkville

November 5 7:00 pm Home Tupelo

Hometown MADISON • 65


2021 Personal Finance state winners / 4th in nation

L-R: Shreenithi Lakshminarayanan, Cooper Word, Isaac Toles, Preethika Lakshminarayanan

2021 Economics Challenge state winners

L-R: Isaac Toles, Samantha Case, Shreenithi Lakshminarayanan, Cooper Word

66 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Accepting the Challenge

Christy Walker

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge

always pays the best interest.” At Germantown High School, a

few students have truly taken that quote to heart, winning both

economics and personal finance state competitions for not

just this past school year but for the past three years straight!

What started as an introduction to basic economic and

personal finance principles under former GMS teacher

Deborah Morali has grown to a consistent investment in

themselves. Team member Shreenithi Lakshminarayanan said

each time she competes, she gets to practice new applications

in practical scenarios and learns about the importance of

diversifying and understanding the foundational principles in

economics and finance that will teach her skills that will be

heavily utilized in her future.

Each year, the Mississippi Council on Economics Education

conducts the Economics Challenge and Personal Finance

Challenge state competitions for middle and high schoolers

from across the state. The winners earn college scholarships

with the high school teams advancing to the national competition.

GHS team member Cooper Word believes competing

in the economics and personal finance challenges taught him

to understand both his own and the world’s dealings with

money.

Each year, with more practice and more instruction under

GHS teachers Christy Walker and Cindy McMullen, this

group continues to be competitive at the national level in both

economics and personal finance. And as the saying goes, hard

work pays off. This past year, they placed fourth in the national

personal finance competition, a feat that is incredibly hard to

attain. Three of the four team members will be seniors this

year which leaves one more year to compete and one more

year to strive for that national title. However, as Henry David

Thoreau once said, “What you get by achieving your goals is

not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

Although the national title would be great, what these

team members have learned along the way will be much

more valuable. For more information on the state challenges,

contact Mississippi Council on Economic Education at

Mscee@millsaps.edu or 601-974-1325.

Hometown MADISON • 67


68 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Now Open at

Madison on Main!

1917 Main Street, Suite B, Madison, MS

Monday-Saturday | 10:30AM-8PM | 601-707-7670

Dine-In | Drive-Thru | Delivery

Online Ordering | Curbside Pickup | Catering

Hometown MADISON • 69


Lillee Edmonson

Lillee Edmonson loves to draw. “She draws all the time,” says her mother, Deborah Edmonson.

“Her artwork is incredible. She is going to start taking art classes soon.” The eight year old also

loves music, and wants to take piano lessons, too. Inquisitive and full of life, it’s hard to believe

that just a few years ago she was so very sick.

“We adopted Lillee from China,” says Deborah. “She has albinism, but it wasn’t a surprise to us.

We knew she had the condition before we got her.” An inherited disorder that presents with little

or no melanin production, children with albinism have little or no color to their skin, eyes, or hair.

Deborah and her husband, Steven, traveled to China, spending two weeks there to pick up Lillee,

who was just 15 months old when they got her. “She was so precious, dancing around, always happy,”

says Deborah.

Lillee adapted well to life with her new family, who lives in Madison. She attended First Presbyterian

Pre-K and fit in beautifully. When she was four years old, Deborah went to pick up Lillee, and she

was called into the office. A substitute teacher was with Lillee’s class that day, and she said Lillee had

been difficult. She had refused to walk or talk all day. Deborah says that was unusual for Lillee, who

was typically very well behaved. Deborah went to the classroom to get Lillee, and she was shocked by

what she saw. “Her legs were like noodles, and she couldn’t talk. She just gave me a very confused

look.” Deborah panicked and realized she could get the child the hospital faster on her own than

waiting for an ambulance. “I rushed her into the emergency room.”

70 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Within 24 hours Lillee was diagnosed with

moyamoya, a very rare and very serious disease.

The disease causes the carotid arteries, located at

the base of the brain, to become narrowed over

time, restricting flow of blood to the brain.

“Lillee had had a stroke,” explains Deborah.

“The doctors told us she had had previous

strokes as well, likely before we got her.”

Lillee had a difficult surgery on her brain. The

revascularization surgery connects a scalp artery

directly to the middle brain (cerebral) artery in

order to increase blood flow to the brain. “It’s

basically a brain by-pass in hopes that blood flow

could be re-established to parts of her brain,”

says Deborah. The procedure was particularly

difficult with Lillee because moyamoya causes

the blood vessels to be constricted. “It was so

hard to get an IV line in her because her blood

vessels were so tiny. It was difficult to explain to

Lillee, who had turned five while in the hospital,

what was happening to her.”

When Lillee and Steven spoke with people at

Make-A-Wish, they told them that Lillee

wanted to go to Disney World. “We were making

plans to go to Disney World before she got sick,”

Deborah says. “As a matter of fact, we were

supposed to be there while she was in the hospital.”

It was decided that when Lillee got better, the

family would make the trip to Disney World

together. “That was a big carrot for Lillee. She

went through such a hard time and the trip was

her encouragement to be brave.”

And Lillee was so very brave. She endured

many pricks, pokes, and other uncomfortable

procedures, but she knew that if she was brave,

she could go to Disney World. That day finally

came in January 2020. Lillee and her parents

and three sisters and one brother piled into their

vehicle and headed to Orlando. “Make-A-Wish

would have flown us there, but we were

concerned about how the pressure in the plane

might affect Lillee’s brain,” Deborah explains.

They checked into the Give the Kids the World

hotel, designed specifically for Make-A-Wish

kids. “That place was great in itself,” recalls

Deborah.

For seven days, the family forgot all about

doctors and hospitals and procedures and had

fun at Disney World. “Lillee rode every ride she

could for her size, sometimes twice,” laughs

Deborah. “She is such a little daredevil – she

loved every minute of it!” During their stay in

Orlando, the family also visited the dolphin

enclosure at Sea World, and went to Universal

Studios, where she again rode as many rides as

she could. “We had gold-colored Make-A-Wish

bracelets that allowed us to go the front of the

line. It was amazing!” The family experienced

pure joy at the parks, forgetting all they had been

through in the previous couple of years.

“Make-A-Wish really spoiled us. Everything was

taken care of, and I never had to say no if one of

the kids wanted something. We came home with

lots of souvenirs. I will be forever grateful for

what they did for our family.”

Lillee is the baby of a large family. Her sister,

Katherine, is in graduate school in California,

studying to become a speech pathologist. Her

brother, John, is a student at Ole Miss. Sisters

Karlie (13) and Taylor (12) are homeschooled

along with Lillee. “Taylor loved the Disney

experience as much as anyone,” says Deborah.

“She has Down syndrome, and it’s all magic to

Taylor!”

For now, Lillee is “very stable” and doing well.

Moyamoya is a lifelong disease, and she’ll need to

have checkups yearly. It is hoped that Lillee will

progress normally and enjoy activities with her

family, such as traveling. “We love to travel,” says

Deborah. “We are planning a ‘glamping’ trip to

South Dakota, depending on what happens with

Covid. We also travel to Colorado each summer

to see my mother and brother.” But no matter

where they go in the future, they’ll always be

thankful to Make-A-Wish for the trip of a

lifetime. “And we are grateful that Lillee was so

brave so that we could go!”

Hometown MADISON • 71


2021 W.I.S.H. SOCIETY HONOREES

Amy Adams

Executive Director

The Alignment Project

Martin Luther King once said,

“Life’s persistent and most urgent

question is ‘What are you doing for

others?’” Every day I think about

small acts of service my parents did

for their community. My desire is

to continue their legacy of helping

others by way of being an honoree

for W.I.S.H. Society. I would also

hope others will see this and be

inspired to make a difference in

their own towns.

Melanie Burrow

This year I had the opportunity,

through Mississippi Sports

Medicine, to see a wish granted.

It was such a special moment not

only for the wish child, but for all

of the employees and volunteers

that made it happen. MSMOC

employees were so engaged and

excited to participate in granting

the wish. The excitement was

contagious.

Community is so important to

my family and me. I give credit to

my parents for instilling in me the

importance of volunteer work and

giving back. It is an honor to be

recognized, but I am most excited

about highlighting a child and

seeing their wish granted.

The biggest honor will be

getting to know a wish child

and working with such a

phenomenal organization.

Ashley Cannady

Partner, Balch & Bingham LLP

Over the years, several of my

friends’ children were recipients of

a wish. It was so touching to see the

photos of their smiling faces while

truly enjoying the trips.

When I first learned of the

W.I.S.H. Society, I immediately

knew that I wanted to be involved.

The women in our community

are known for giving back in so

many ways.

I am excited to be chosen for this

particular ride that will directly

benefit deserving children in the

Jackson Metro area.

Dana Canoy

Village Boutique, Owner

The opportunity to be selected

as W.I.S.H. Society Ambassador

and to have a positive impact

within my own community is truly

humbling. Granting the simple

wish of a critically ill child...how

uplifting! I believe ordinary people

can achieve extraordinary things

and I hope I can inspire others to

become involved with Make-A-

Wish and experience the joy of

philanthropy. I look forward to

collaborating with these outstanding

women in their efforts to raise

funds for these deserving children

and their families. I can’t wait to

see the strides we make through

W.I.S.H. Society this year and see

the joy we bring to children right

here in Mississippi!

72 • SEPTEMBER 2021


TaraClark

Anthem, Inc. and Amerigroup MS

Dr.JennaDear

University of MS Medical Center

Dr.Stacey Donaldson

Belhaven University

Alex Edgin

Hemline, Owner

I am so excited to be an honoree

for Make-A-Wish this year. I know

that Make-A-Wish is a wonderful

organization that brings hope and

happiness to kids and families that

are going through a tough journey

together. I am humbled to be a

small part of making other

people’s lives better and brighter.

I appreciate the W.I.S.H. Society

recognizing strong women leaders

in our community. Being a leader in

any capacity is often difficult and

comes with a lot of hard work,

determination, and sacrifice.

Throw in a demanding career, a

commitment to giving back to the

community and rearing a family,

and it gets really hard, really fast.

But there are so many women

leaders that manage it and manage

it well. I personally could not do

any of it without my husband and

dedicated partner.

I have taken care of several

patients over the years that have

been chosen to be Wish recipients.

I have seen firsthand what these

wishes mean to the child as well as

to the family. I am honored to be

chosen to be a part of a wonderful

organization that makes a difference

for these special children.

It means so much to me to be able

to help bring alive the dreams of

children who are going through a

difficult time. I spend my workday

helping children medically, so I am

beyond honored to be able to be

involved in a more personal and

“fun” aspect of their lives through

my fundraising.

It’s truly an opportunity to serve

in a different capacity than I’ve

served. I thrive in situations where

there is need. That’s why teaching

has been such a fulfilling experience.

To have taught middle and high

school students in rural, urban,

and suburban settings over a

13-year span, it’s refreshing to

collaborate and serve with a child,

who could have easily been my

student and could ask for anything

for himself but decides to bless

others. It’s my pleasure to follow

his lead and do the same.

This experience just rejuvenates

my desire to help those who need

help even if it’s in the smallest way.

It’s the small things that mean most

sometimes. I also want to exercise

the same faith Abraham exhibits in

his desire to feed the homeless and

help him in this endeavor.

It is touching and an honor

to be selected as an honoree.

It’s a privilege to get the chance

to represent Make-A-Wish and all

it stands for. I feel I am capable

of fundraising to help a child get

their wish. I am blessed to have a

business where I meet so many

great people and where I can use

platforms like our social media to

bring awareness and give more

exposure to Make-A-Wish.

I would like to do a good job

fundraising towards our goal,

bringing more awareness to

Make-A-Wish, and getting to

know others involved in this effort.

It means so much to be recognized,

but it means even more to be able

to use our resources and talent to

bring joy and hope to other people.

Hometown MADISON • 73


Dr. BrittanyFlaggs

Healing Hands Rehabilitation

Services, Co-Owner

Mani Hairston

Mississippi Development Authority

Dr.Whitney Herring

Mississippi Center for Advanced

Medicine, Director of Pediatric

Obesity Medicine and Nutrition

Jamie Boteler Higdon

Tempstaff, Co-owner

and VP of Operations

I accepted the role of honoree

without hesitation because I strive

every day to be the change that I

want to see in this world, a value

instilled in me at a very young age.

In making a difference in the lives

of local children who have been

diagnosed with life-threatening

medical conditions through

Make-A-Wish, I was honored to

be a part of this mission in creating

effective change in our community.

The Make-A-Wish foundation

has been known to be very

impactful in many people’s lives.

To be a part of this extraordinary

group is an honor for me and

I’m inspired by all the kind hearts.

The great boxer Muhammad Ali

once said, “service to others is the

rent you pay for your room here on

earth.” I’m paying my rent here.

For me, it’s the honor of being

included in an organization that

has a remarkable track record of

granting life-changing wishes for

our most critically ill children.

As a mother of three, seeing joy in

children is the ultimate gift for me.

I am excited about helping

Make-A-Wish provide unforgettable

experiences for children with

critical illnesses. It means so much

to me. I have always wanted to

work with Make-A-Wish directly.

I would love to make children

eligible for wishes and to play an

integral role in making a child’s

wish come true.

I have seen the impact Make-A-

Wish can have on children and

their families. It is a privilege to

have the honor of helping to grant

a wish to a child facing adversity

that we, as adults, may never

understand. We have each been

challenged to raise funds to help

grant a wish to a deserving child in

each of our respective communities.

I can’t wait to see the end

result when 25 children’s lives are

impacted by our collective efforts.

74 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Dr. Cindy Melton

Mississippi College, Dean,

School of Education

My professional career has

spanned the last 27 years in the

field of education as a teacher,

professor, and administrator.

For me, teaching has been more

than a career; it has been my calling.

Working with children, families,

communities, and with those

training to be educators has

provided unique opportunities

for me to use my time and

skills to help others.

The opportunity to work with

Make-A-Wish and advocate for,

support, and encourage some of

these precious children and

families in our community and

throughout our state in an absolute

honor. Accepting this role is an

exciting and wonderful opportunity

to connect with and to serve

families and children around our

state. I believe every child deserves

the opportunity to simply be a

child, to celebrate childhood,

to dream, to wish, to feel valued,

to feel special, to celebrate, and to

be celebrated. To meet and come

alongside a family who has

been through so much,

is the least I can do.

Marlys Myers

Southern Homes Real Estate

and MDHS, Realtor and Assistant

to the Executive Director of MDHS

In 2006, my son was diagnosed

with a chronic illness at the age of

six. While Type 1 diabetes is not a

terminal illness, it requires costly

medical equipment and supplies

in order to stay alive. Long-term

management options continue

to evolve, and the expense is

phenomenal. Raising funds for

Make-A-Wish, knowing their

mission, along with the fact that

those Mississippians with both

critical and chronic illnesses will

be granted wishes, was enough for

me to accept this role. It is an

honor to be recognized as a woman

who inspires strength and hope.

It is my goal during this experience

to see lives touched by wishes and

to connect with like-minded

women who share a passion for

creating a lasting impact.

April Nall

I’m grateful to have been selected

to help with this organization and

I hope I can assist in making a

child’s wish come true. I love

children and anything to help

those in need bring me great joy.

I want children to have a

memorable experience.

Kelly Nations

Cowboy’s Kitchens,

Contract Sales Associate

One of my dearest friends, who

is the strongest person that I know,

was blessed to receive a wish a few

years ago. Her son, Charlie, takes

after his momma and his favorite

place is the beach. Being able to

share the experience in Hawaii

with the whole family was an

experience I know they won’t

soon forget.

I am honored to serve in this

capacity to help grant more wishes

to kids like Charlie. Having the

chance to raise money for these

kids is all the experience I need.

Hometown MADISON • 75


Gail Pittman

Gail Pittman, Inc., Owner

This role will allow me to

become more familiar with the

mission of Make-A-Wish and the

great work they do. I have always

heard of it but have never known

how the organization works and

how they fulfill the wishes of the

children they serve.

The honor for me will be to

grant a wish. Many of us want to

help but unless there is an

organization to facilitate the effort,

sometimes we might not achieve

the objective. I am most grateful to

the W.I.S.H. Society for allowing

me the opportunity to participate.

If in some small way a moment

of happiness will be granted to a

child by my participation, then I

will feel blessed beyond measure.

Candie Simmons

Regions, SVP,

Geography Marketing Strategist

I believe my purpose in life is to

do for others and I enjoy being

active in the community. Most

importantly, I have lived a pretty

healthy life and if I can help place a

smile on a child’s face who has

faced health adversity, then that will

make my heart happy and further

affirm my life’s purpose. I want to

raise as much money as I can while

sharing my “why” and encouraging

others to give for their “why” and

not, just because.

Mary-Straton Smith

BankPlus, Director of The Source

The work Make-A-Wish does is

life-changing for not only the

children, but their families,

volunteers, and all who contribute.

I can’t think of a better investment

of our time and efforts than that of

bringing the priceless gift of hope

and encouragement to children

battling critical illnesses. As the

mother of two daughters, it’s

humbling to see the courage these

incredible children have in the face

of such adversity. I’m so honored to

be able to pour into the families

who benefit from Make-A-Wish

and have a small part of the joy and

excitement and hope for the future

their wishes bring.

Dr. Deidra Snell

Ridgewood Smiles Dentistry, LLC

Owner/Dentist

It is an extreme honor to be

recognized as someone who can

positively contribute to someone’s

quality of life. I want to not only

get to be a part of the personal

story of a wish being granted to a

deserving individual but having any

involvement with this well-known

organization adds to a quality of life

to those others may view as

hopeless.

76 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Kelli Stabbs

Reunion Golf & Country Club,

Director of Membership

and Marketing

CassandraWelchlin

MS Black Women’s Roundtable,

Executive Director/Co-Convenor

Emily Witcher

Ruff Draft Papers,

Owner/Designer

Camille SalesYoung

Cornerstone Government Affairs,

Principal/Director

Wish granters have always been

an inspiration to me and what an

honor it will be to watch a dream

come true for someone. We all take

so much for granted every day and

I have seen this firsthand over

the last year.

I can’t wait to help bring a

little light into someone’s eyes.

Being honored like this means

more to me than anyone

can imagine.

What better way to give hope

than to give the gift of love through

a wish? Seeing someone smile is

the best gift in the world to me!

I know personally what it’s like to

have children with complex

healthcare challenges. It’s often

emotionally, physically, and

mentally draining and heavy.

Yet in the midst of the struggle,

I have found joy, strength, courage,

and another day worth fighting

for due to my children’s resiliency

and faith. That’s why I accepted

this role, because I believe that

every child has the right to live

their best life. Make-A-Wish gives

families and children with complex

healthcare issues opportunities

and the freedoms to be present

and remain hopeful.

To whom much is given, much is

required. I govern myself to this

truth and I’m honored to continue

serving my community.

I am a firm believer in giving

more than you take and using your

gifts to glorify God. I pray that

others have seen that and this

gives me hope that they have.

I truly am beaming with joy and

pride to be given this honor.

I love Make-A-Wish and what it

allows families to do. I am beyond

honored to play a small role in

this amazing organization.

Serving our community and

especially children is incredibly

important to me. I love by the

mantra, “to whom much is given,

much is required.” It is my honor

to be selected as an honoree to

support the amazing work of

Make-A-Wish. Being considered

as a woman who inspired

strength and hope is humbling.

I am excited for this opportunity

and want to be a blessing to others.

Hometown MADISON • 77


78 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Ember Gryder

Spreading

the

Magic

rincess tiaras, superhero capes,

ball gowns, and a little bit of

pixie dust – Enchanting

Memories Entertainment has

brought quite a bit of magic to the

Madison County area, one character

at a time. Taylor Bridges, 23, is the

creative mind and magic maker for

a local business that is bringing fairytales to

life. From birthday parties and event

appearances to Comic Cons and ribbon

cuttings, Taylor and her cast are creating

memorable experiences for all.

Taylor, a Yazoo City native, works at Van’s

Comics, Cards, and Games in Ridgeland.

She has always loved the ability to bring her

favorite characters to life and, through Van’s,

she has had the ability to assist in Comic Cons

and other local events.

Growing up obsessing over Disney, Taylor

jumps at any opportunity to dress up as her

favorite characters. She has traveled all over

the southeast to participate in various

conventions and events with her friends.

Taylor enjoys getting to meet new people

and networking though these events, and

she likes being able to draw inspiration from

other cosplayers. Van’s Comics, Cards, and

Games has played a large role in the success

of Enchanting Memories by helping Taylor

with business advice and encouragement

along the way.

Enchanting Memories Entertainment

didn’t develop overnight. The idea of

Taylor’s started close to six years ago at

King’s Daughters Hospital in Yazoo City.

Her grandmother, who was a nurse at King’s

Daughters at the time, asked if she would be

interested in volunteering for the hospital’s

Princesses and Pancakes event. Taylor

dressed up as Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.

Hometown MADISON • 79


“I remember being so nervous and wondering if kids would

believe that I was the real character. And to my surprise, it

brought me so much joy when the children ran up to hug me

and ask me questions really thinking I was Elsa!” she said with

enthusiasm. It was from there she discovered cosplay (dressing

up as a character from a movie, book, or video game). Taylor

knew this was something she could develop into a business.

October will mark Enchanting Memories’ two-year anniversary.

What started out with two characters has now expanded greatly.

Many of the of the world’s favorite characters have been brought

to life by Enchanting Memories Entertainment. With a cast of

eighteen people ranging from ages eighteen to thirty, Enchanting

Memories takes events and gatherings to another level. The cast

includes well-known princesses, superheroes, fairies, Mickey and

Minnie Mouse, and much more. Each character has detailed

costuming, quality hair and makeup, and experienced actors to

provide a realistic experience.

Taylor puts much thought, time, and consideration into every

detail. Although she personally creates, builds, and develops

many of her own cosplay costumes, Taylor typically commissions

out the costumes used for her business. She enjoys being able to

support other local creators while also having the ability to add

her own flair and unique touches to familiar character costumes.

Taylor also orders high quality character wigs for her cast members.

Due to the amount of wear each wig acquires, it is important for

those pieces to be made well to uphold heavy restyling.

Another significant element that brings the magic alive is the

ability to find the right cast. The casting process is specific, and

Taylor makes tremendous efforts to hire skilled and experienced

actors and actresses. “The application process starts out by the

person sending in a headshot and a video of him or her singing.

If he or she is someone we are interested in, we will invite them

to an in-person audition,” says Bridges. Once a decision is made

on adding the applicant to the cast, he or she can begin training.

Enchanting Memories Entertainment has been very busy

over the last two years. This summer alone, the cast was able to

partake in several events, one of those being Summer Storytime

at Coffee Prosé located at Highland Village in Jackson. Families

and other locals were able to enjoy delicious treats at the coffee

shop while also getting to hear one of their favorite princesses

read a children’s book. Another fun event was Princess Night

80 • SEPTEMBER 20201


held at The Vault Venue in Brandon. Hundreds

of tiny princesses were seen entering the venue

for the event during the last week of July.

“Events like Princess Night are great trial runs

for families who are considering visiting places

like Disney World. Parents can see how their

child might react to characters in person,” says

Taylor. Bridges’ cast has also been seen dressed

as the Sanderson Sisters from the movie Hocus

Pocus around Halloween as well as elves and other

Christmas classics during the winter holiday

season. To say they can and have done

it all is an understatement!

With in-person interactions being limited

during the height of quarantine in 2020, Taylor

and her team had to think of creative ways to still

connect with the community. It was during that

time they began doing character FaceTime calls.

Characters like Elsa would call to say hello and

would add a personal touch to the dialog in order

to make the conversation feel more real. “Getting

to see kids’ faces light up when they answered the

phone was unlike anything else! They truly

believed a princess was calling them!” exclaimed

Taylor. The quarantine video calls broke through

the city limits, and Enchanting Memories made

calls all over the country. But as people began to

gather more often as the year went on the cast was

able shift away from the limitations of a video call

and begin booking appearances in person again.

When asked what her goals were and where

she wanted to see the business go, Taylor listed off

several hopes and dreams. “I would love to see

my business reach into different regions of the

state. It would be amazing to have a team in the

Northern Mississippi as well as the Coast,” she

said. Another aspiration Taylor has is to acquire a

storefront for her business.

The Enchanting Memories team typically

travels to their events held at homes, local

businesses, and other locations. Taylor dreams of

the day where people do not have to worry with

hosting a space to book her team. The storefront

could allow customers to schedule parties and

events without the trouble of finding their own

event space. As she and her cast grow, she wants

to see her business capabilities grow as well.

Bridges explained, “My mind is always going.

I am always trying to think of ways for us to get a

little bigger and better.”

Enchanting Memories Entertainment can

bring the fairytale spark to your next event.

Taylor and her team offer a “Fairy Godmother

Consultation” where different character

combinations and party packages can be

explained. Characters can be booked by simply

reaching out via Facebook, Instagram, or email

(enchantingmemoriesms@gmail.com).

“Where people may think they are just hiring

a princess, they are ultimately supporting a group

of actresses and singers that genuinely love doing

what they do. Anytime people book us for an

event, we are excited to continue to spread our

magic,” Taylor concludes. Enchanting Memories

has proved that magic and fairytales aren’t just on

television and in storybooks. They are right here

in your hometown.

Hometown MADISON • 81


SALUTE

to First Responders

What made you decide to become a firefighter?

I was actually a junior firefighter when I was younger, and my dad was

chief of Crossgates Volunteer Fire Protection District. Later on, it was

merged with Brandon Fire Dept. and I became a full-fledged volunteer

at the age of eighteen. During my time as a volunteer, I was able to see

the way the fire department helped people. It wasn’t until my second

semester of college that I felt my calling to help others. The Brandon Fire

Department had an opening, so I applied and got the job. I have never

regretted it for a minute. Helping others is one of the greatest callings

I believe someone can have on their life.

How long have you been with the Ridgeland Fire

Department?

I have been with Ridgeland Fire over fourteen years and was with

Brandon over three years, prior to that.

Tell us about your family.

My family is a blessing. My wife Elizabeth and I have been together since

2003 and married since 2007. I would like to say it has been pictureperfect

since the beginning, but I don’t think anyone can say that. We’ve

faced family tragedies on both sides of our family and difficulties in our

marriage brought on by the job I have. Through it all though, she has

shown an unbelievable amount of grace and love. She truly is my best

friend and love of my life.

Gage, our son, is my mini me in so many ways. He has a big heart

and loves to play sports and go hunting and fishing. Last but certainly not

least we have Gracie, and she is her mother made over—lots of love with

that hint of sassy attitude but with a big heart as well. I don’t think I could

ask for a better family. God has blessed me beyond measure with them. I

couldn’t be more happy and proud to be and husband and father to them.

Fireman

Mark

GREENWOOD

RIDGELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT

What is the toughest thing you have experienced

in your job?

With this job there is no shortage of tough things to go through. One of

the toughest things would be the first call where I lost a young person.

We were responding to a wreck on the interstate and when we arrived it

was clear that it was bad, and soon discovered that it was a young teenage

girl that had passed away. The hardest part was that I had to try to explain

to her mom, who was injured badly herself, that her daughter wasn’t

coming home. That is when it hit me - that this was going to be the

hardest job ever - but at times it would be rewarding.

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time.

In my spare time, if there is such a thing for firefighters, I like to do

CrossFit and spend time with my family, cooking, baking, or whatever

time allows. I love to take my son hunting and hope to take my daughter

one day as well.

82 • SEPTEMBER 2021


What is the most rewarding part of your job as a

firefighter?

The most rewarding thing about being a firefighter is the lives you

change for the better and the lives we impact in a good way, even

though the outcome isn’t always good. I once responded to a call of

a man struggling to breathe, and he sadly passed away in my arms.

His wife came by the station during our next shift and dropped off

food. I told her that we didn’t deserve it because we didn’t save

him, and she explained that his condition was very unstable, and

even in the best of circumstances he probably would not have

made it. She was thanking us for the effort and heart we put into

what we do. So that is rewarding to me, even though we didn’t

save him she knew we had done our absolute best.

What are three things on your bucket list?

This is actually an easy one. Number one, I would like to marry

my wife again. I know it sounds crazy at first, but I would really

like to renew our vows in a ceremony and do our honeymoon all

over again. Number two and three are in the same area so I count

them as one and that is to complete a full Ironman and compete

in a CrossFit competition. Number three would be to skydive.

Who is someone you admire and why?

I wish this was an easy one but it’s not, so I’ll pick the one that is

still living, my stepdad. My dad passed back in 2009 and for the

longest time I didn’t know if my mom would find someone, but she

did. His name his Larry Phillips he is a Vietnam Veteran and a

carpenter but most of all he’s a dad that he really didn’t have to be.

I know it’s the title of a country song but it’s true. He has loved my

family unconditionally, as if we were his own. I was full grown and

married with kids when he came into our lives, but it’s been like

he’s always been there.

If you could give one piece of advice to a young person,

what would it be?

Be yourself and put God first in every part of your life. When we

stop putting God first and chasing after what the world tells us to,

we lose that special thing that makes us who we are. Before we

know it, we don’t recognize ourselves and we forget why we were

put here in the first place, because we’ve left God out. I can’t count

the blessings I’ve missed because of doing it the world’s way. But I

make it a point to put Him above all now and it has been a blessing

every day and I count it all as joy.

What is your favorite thing about Madison County?

The diversity of Madison County is what makes it so appealing

– there are people from all walks of life we run into on a daily

basis. They make Madison County what it is and I’m thankful

for that.

Hometown MADISON • 83


VIrtual Virtual Travel

Show Series

AAA will behosting aseries

of virtual travel shows so

you can learn more about

the destinations waiting

for your when you’re ready

to travel. See how our

travel agents can help

plan your next journey.

Space islimited. For more

information and to to RSVP. RSVP.

scan the QRcode or visit

AAA.com/travelshowqr

IT’S TIME

TO LET MORE THAN

YOUR MIND WANDER

AAA Travel is here for you when you’re ready for

your next vacation. Our travel advisors in the AAA

Ridgeland office can help you safely navigate the

changing travel industry. We’re also hosting virtual

travel shows about the experiences

waiting for you, including tropical

escapes to Hawaii and the Caribbean

and U.S. destinations like Alaska. For

more details, scan the QR code or

click on AAA.com/travelshowqr.

CALL 601-957-8484

VISIT 900 E. County Line Road

Ridgeland, MS 39157

You do not have to be a AAA member to use AAA Travel. AAA Missouri members must make advance reservations through

AAA Travel to obtain Member Benefits and savings. Member Benefits may be available for a limited time only, are subject to

availability and restrictions may apply. Offers and benefits are subject to change without notice. Not responsible for errors or

omissions. The Automobile Club of Missouri acts only as an agent for its travel vendors and is a motor club with a principal place

of business at 12901 N. Forty Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. Copyright ©2021 Automobile Club of Missouri. All Rights Reserved.

84 • SEPTEMBER 2021


Hometown MADISON • 85


Heather Aby

ABY LAW

86 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

Heather Aby has always been the kind of

person who pushes harder. “I always wanted

to be better. I wanted something more in life!”

Not that she expects things to be given to her.

“I know that to get the things you want, you

have to work hard for them. That’s what I’ve

done my whole life.”

Heather believes in herself, and she believes

in the power of women to accomplish anything

they set their mind to. Last year she started

her law practice, Aby Law, PLLC, in Madison,

after practicing law for 18 years, earning

numerous awards. “My daughter, Tanner Aby

Walker, had just graduated from law school at

Mississippi College, and I decided it was time

to pull off that Band-Aid and do what I had

always wanted to do!” Tanner practices law

alongside her mother in the firm that is

comprised of all women.

It was a long road to hanging her own

shingle. Heather grew up in Petal, Mississippi.

She attended the University of Southern

Mississippi where she majored in psychology

and minored in business administration. It

wasn’t until her last year at Southern Miss.

that Heather began thinking seriously about

going to law school. “I knew I could go farther

and do more, and becoming a lawyer was a

way to accomplish even more. It was a way for

me to help people in ways I may not have

been able to otherwise.”

About to get married to her husband, Trey,

Heather moved to Brandon and attended the

Mississippi College School of Law. “Trey

owned a lawn care business and already had

clients in Ridgeland, so that worked out great!”

She received her juris doctorate in 2002 and

went to work for Butler Snow. “I learned so

much when I was there,” says Heather. “I went

on to be an equity partner in a law firm with

two men.”

From the beginning, Heather was focused

on working in her clients’ best interest. “My

practice covers a broad spectrum, from family

law to criminal defense. I am most satisfied in

my job when I am helping others the best I

can. I put in the work for the client and when

they are happy, that is my biggest reward.”

Oftentimes, the people seeking the services

of an attorney are in a difficult situation in

their lives. Heather looks at the big picture

and focuses on what is best for each client.

“We see heartbreaking cases of drug abuse and

such, and we work to create conservatorships

to protect the children in the family. The

satisfaction comes with the success stories

when people turn their lives around and prove

themselves and we find ourselves back in court

again to dissolve the conservatorship. It is a

satisfying feeling to know that family will be

stronger now.” After years of representing

individuals accused of crimes, Heather took

on the added role of a public defender in

Madison County approximately nine years ago.

Heather says she loves practicing law with

her daughter. “Tanner is so smart, and I’ve

learned so much from her,” Heather states.

“She has a passion for the law like I do and

working with her day after day is so meaningful

for me. I love that I can share this with my

daughter. She is my other half!”

Married to Trey since August 8, 1999,

Heather says they have the perfect blended

family. “We have been together since 1998,

and we have four kids together.” In addition

to Tanner, Heather says their other daughter is

Taylor Shows, who lives in Hattiesburg, as well

as son C.J. Aby, who is a senior at Belhaven in

creative writing and will soon be getting his

master’s in animation.The caboose is Palmer

Aby, who is 17 and attending Pisgah High

School. “We are proud of all of our children.”

Heather describes Trey as “the hero in all of

my stories.” He may be a behind-the-scenes

kind of guy, but Heather says Trey is her rock.

The family loves travel, and instead of

buying gifts and putting up a tree, the family

spends time together on a trip. “We decide in

March or April where we want to go and we’ll

plan the rest of the year, researching the best

places to go and things to do.” The family has

traveled to such exotic locales as Southern

Thailand, Indonesia, Figi, Mexico, and many

trips to Los Angeles and New York. “We are

planning on going to Paris after Christmas,

but we’ll have to see what happens with this

pandemic.” Trey and Heather enjoy good food

and fine wines. “I am lucky, because Trey is a

great chef at home!” Heather is a huge

Alabama fan. “Trey is from Alabama, and I

have a special place in my heart for the

University of Alabama. I love rooting for

them in every sport!”

Speaking of sports, Heather’s other

business is owning a baseball team. “I loved

watching Trey catch in games in Palmer

Crossing which was the Black Sox’s original

field. The team has been important in my life

for decades. Our youngest son is named

Forrest Palmer Aby, after Palmer’s Crossing,

located in Forrest County, Mississippi!”

The Black Sox began operation as a team

in 1941 with Milton Barnes as the team’s

original owner. In January 2002, Milton

handed over the reins to Trey and Heather.

Trey gave sole ownership of the team to

Heather in 2009. Heather truly cares about

the players on her team and does everything

but play. “I sit in the dugout with the team,”

she says. “To my knowledge, I’m the only

female owner of a baseball team, and I was the

first woman inducted into the Mississippi

Baseball Congress Hall of Fame.” Her team

has dubbed her “Queen Bee.”

Heather’s office is located at 403B Towne Center Boulevard,

Suite 102, in Ridgeland. For more information on Heather Aby

and Aby Law, PLLC, visit www.abylawpllc.com.

Hometown MADISON • 87


Summer Starnes

Cotton & Tumbleweeds

88 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

Since she was a child, Summer Starnes has

dreamed of owning her own store. She loves

fashion and unique decorative items for the

home, and she wanted to open a place where

people could feel comfortable shopping for

themselves and others. In 2018, her dream

became a reality when she opened Cotton &

Tumbleweeds in downtown Flora.

“My husband, Wes, and I had a remodeling

company. We have always worked together.

I do a lot of his design work, which I love. I guess

I have the creative personality. I actually went

to Academy of Art University where I studied

interior design.” Because of their combined

skills, creating the space for the shop came

naturally.

Summer named the store Cotton &

Tumbleweeds Lifestyle Marketplace after

herself and her husband. “My husband has deep

Mississippi roots, and he keeps me grounded.

He is the ‘cotton’ in the name of the store. I’m

originally from Odessa, Texas, and my parents

moved to this area when I was a teenager.

I’m all over the place like a Texas ‘tumbleweed,’

so that’s me!”

After finding the right spot on Main Street

in Flora, Summer thought about how the

space could be used. She loved the idea of a

community gathering spot, so she thought

having a space for classes and workshops

would be ideal. “We enjoy traveling, and we

all love coffee,” she says. “We always visit local

coffee shops when we are traveling, and we

realized there was no place to get specialty

coffees in Flora. We had to drive to Madison

or Clinton to get a good cup of coffee.”

Summer talked to her husband, Wes, about

adding a coffee shop to the store. He said it

was no problem, so we opened it with a coffee

café in the front.”

The coffee café has been wildly popular

with Flora residents as well as with others who

visit the small town. “We have lots of regulars

who come in, and several people use it as an

extended office, meeting with clients and

working on their laptops.”

In addition to all the standard coffee shop

fare, Summer has created their own signature

coffee drinks, including the Tumbleweeds

Latte, Dixie Darlin’ Frappe, and the Magnolia

Java Chip Frappe.

In addition to coffee, the café serves

homemade milkshakes and “freakshakes,”

something Summer made up last summer.

“They were a big hit,” Summer says. “Now it’s

become a big Friday after-school treat when

kids have been good all week.” Other items

on the menu include smoothies, protein

smoothies, and creamies.

Summer has added grab-and-go breakfast

burritos, including a Mexican-style sausage,

egg and cheese burritos made with Rotel

tomatoes and green chiles. There are also large

jumbo muffins, including chocolate, banana

nut, blueberry, and apple cinnamon. Another

popular grab-and-go item is the Southernstyle

biscuit with honey butter and breaded

crispy chicken. The café also has pie, including

Texas Trash Pie, Ann’s Pecan Pie, Sweet ‘n

Salty Pie and Bud’s Chocolate Pie. “We are

transitioning to a full breakfast on Saturdays,”

says Summer.

The retail side of the business features

everything from t-shirts, vintage clothing, and

other apparel to reclaimed wood furniture,

enamel ware splatterware, Dixie Belle chalk

paint, and locally made jewelry and gifts. “We

try to have as many local vendors as possible,”

says Summer.

Part of Summer’s vision for her business

was to have a place where people could gather

to learn new skills. “We did a few workshops

before Covid hit, and they were very successful,”

she says. “We are looking forward to

bringing that back. We already have a

‘Witches’ Night Out’ event planned for

October that will include a sip-and-shop,

crafts, and lots of fun. We are hoping to add

more kids’ classes, and I’d like to start a regular

craft class for homeschooled kids.”

Summer homeschooled her three children,

Austin (22), Caden (19) and Kenzie (16).

Austin works on the coffee side of the

business and Kenzie works in both the store

and the coffee shop. Caden is working with

the renovation company with his dad.

Summer could easily be an ambassador

for Flora. “We love this little town! Flora has

been so good to us. We were a new business

when Covid hit. People reached out to us and

asked what they could do to support us. They

didn’t want to see us leave!” Summer says they

did all they could by doing curbside pickup

and selling on social media. “We sell a

surprising amount online, and we are so

grateful for that!”

Cotton & Tumbleweeds is located at 4849 East Main Street in Flora.

Visit their website at www.cottonandtumbleweeds.com.

Hometown MADISON • 89


Lindsey Herr

Herr Law Firm

90 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

Lindsey Herr went to college to study both

philosophy and biology. “I was interested in

both!” But by her sophomore year at University

of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg,

Virginia, Lindsey knew she want to go to law

school. “I just didn’t take the traditional route

that most do, taking classes in political science

and such.” After applying to law schools down

the Eastern seaboard and across the south to

Arkansas, the Martinsville, Virginia, native

received a letter from Mississippi College in

Clinton. “There was a handwritten note with

my acceptance letter, and that’s what helped

me make my decision to come to Mississippi.”

Lindsey has had a passion for juvenile justice

for as long as she can remember. “I interned

at a law firm in Virginia that specialized in

juvenile justice – a job I took on a whim.”

While working at that firm, Lindsey learned a

lot about abuse and neglect and the importance

of protecting those who are too young to

protect themselves. “I wrote my entrance essay

on juvenile justice and why I thought it was

important. The dean of the MC Law School

wrote that I should check out their family

law studies.”

While in law school, Lindsey interned with

Staci O’Neal, who owned a small law firm in

Madison. “Staci contacted the MC Law School

and asked for an intern. When I got there, she

asked what I knew about real estate and

closings, and I told her I knew very little. But

she taught me so much.” Staci ran for judge in

Madison County, and during that time, she

prepped Lindsey on managing the day-to-day

duties at the law firm should she win the

election, which she did in November 2016.

That was a turning point for Lindsey. She

and her husband, Matt, discussed what could

be a bigger plan for Lindsey’s career. “I could

go to work for a larger firm, or I could buy Staci’s

firm and run it as my own.” On January 1, 2017,

Lindsey hung her shingle on Herr Law Firm

in Madison.

If everything you do in life prepares you for

the next thing, then Lindsey’s internships at law

firms that focused on juvenile justice and real

estate law prepared her to specialize in those

areas. In Madison, she is a public defender in

youth court. “When a kid is arrested for a

crime, we move with them through the court

system. In cases of abuse or neglect, we work

on guardian ad litem to protect the best

interest of the children.”

Real estate is also a big part of Herr Law

Firm. “We deal with closings as well as state

probate, which we take to court to deal with

last wishes. We also do estate legacy planning.

Much of the law we deal with has to do with

specific stages of life. We are at both ends of

the spectrum, from buying a first home to

selling a home after the death of parents.

That keeps it interesting.”

Lindsey says she enjoys practicing law

because it allows her to help others while

maintaining a good home-life balance. With

two young children, there is an ebb and flow,

and she is flexible to be where she needs to be.

The couple has a three-year-old daughter,

Penny, and a six-month-old son, Will. Matt,

who is a case manager for adult drug court in

Madison and Rankin Counties, is also a big

help at home.

Herr Law Firm is a small firm, by design.

“I like having it small, as I feel we can better

serve our clients,” Lindsey says. The other

person working in the firm is Emma Crosby,

who took her bar exam in July. “Bringing

Emma in has been great. We do a good bit of

family law, including divorce, child custody

adjustments, name changes and adoptions.”

Outside of work, Lindsey is involved with

at-risk teenage girls in Madison County. She

formed a non-profit called Brave New Girls,

Inc. in August 2019. Girls from the area met

with Lindsey each week in a small group

setting where they learned life skills. It also

gave them a safe place to talk about what was

going on in their lives. “Sadly, Covid has

upended the good intentions I had,” signs

Lindsey. Now the focus is on fewer girls, but

girls with very specific needs, such as three

girls who were pregnant. “We support them

from pregnancy to young mothers, which

looks different for each girl. We are pouring

into the girls, to motivate them and keep them

on the right track and trying to keep them off

my docket!”

As a successful attorney and businesswoman,

Lindsey feels fortunate to do what she does,

and it is important to her to show young

women that they can make a good living and

have a healthy work-life balance.

Lindsey's office is at 7736 Old Canton Road, Suite C, Madison.

More information can be found at www.herrfirm.com.

Hometown MADISON • 91


Teresa Sones

BLESS THIS FOOD CATERING

92 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

So, whether you eat or drink or whatever

you do, do it all for the glory of God.

–1 Corinthians, 10:31

Teresa Sones didn’t set out to be a caterer.

She didn’t dream of having a store that sells

baked goods and casseroles. Teresa went to

college to become a nurse. And she was a

nurse, for ten years. But after having four

children, it was not cost-effective for her to

work anymore. Her husband, Jeff, was

working fulltime in the National Guard, so

Teresa went home and began homeschooling

her children.

Born in Louisiana, Teresa’s family moved to

Jackson when she was young, and she grew up

in the Belhaven area of Jackson. After

graduating from nursing school at Hinds

Community College, she went to work in her

chosen profession.

She and Jeff lived in Tupelo for eight years,

and while she was there, their pastor, Tim

Fortner, shared his recipe for sourdough bread

with Teresa. “He taught me how to make it

and I began giving it as gifts.” People asked if

they could buy her bread. The couple moved

to Flora in 2008, and many of Teresa’s

working mom friends took notice of the

delicious meals she was preparing for her

family. Her friends said they wished she could

cook for them. That gave Teresa an idea.

There was a small building behind her

house, and Teresa called the health department,

and they came out and told her what

kind of equipment she would need to have a

commercial kitchen. Soon she was taking

orders for meals and bread and delivering to

busy moms-on-the-go. Teresa was still on the

fence about having a business, but she knew

she wanted to do something to contribute to

their household income. “Our paster, Hunter

Brewer, told me that I needed to do something

so big that if God’s not in it, it won’t

work; and if He is in it, you can’t stop it. That

stuck with me, and I moved forward. I was

inspired by the Bible verse from first Corinthians

that says, ‘So, whether you eat or drink

or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of

God.’ It’s one of the verses we studied a lot at

the church we went to in Tupelo. I decided to

name my business Bless This Food Catering.”

The more she got into the business, the

more she realized that feeding people is what

drives her. “I like to bless people with food!”

Because she had struggled with her weight for

so long, she began to think about her own

relationship with food differently. “I feed my

body for the glory of God. I like to think I’m

feeding others for the same reason.”

The business began to grow organically. “I

sure didn’t have a business plan,” laughs

Teresa. People found out about her business

via word of mouth, and soon she was getting

orders for corporate lunches and even

weddings. They began to do more made-toorder

items, in addition to the baked goods

that Teresa makes each day. Two years ago,

Teresa signed a lease on a building and moved

her operation to Flora. Daughter Sarah

stepped in and built a website as well as the

new store. “She handled all the construction

details,” says Teresa. “Sarah has big ideas, and

she is so creative.” Daughter Rebekah now

takes care of the business end, keeping the

books, taking orders and planning wedding

reception catering. The business continues to

grow, with a new lease recently signed for a

second storefront in Pearl.

At the Flora location, meals for catering

lunches are prepared and bread is baked daily.

“My day starts at 4am, when I start making

the bread,” Teresa says. “I go to the gym at 5,

which is what keeps me moving, then back to

the store at 6 to finish the bread and make

cinnamon rolls, regular rolls and cakes. Some

days I’m done by midday, other days it may be

later.” Teresa says that ninety percent of their

catering business is for pharmaceutical

lunches. “I know all the doctors in town and

their food preferences,” laughs Teresa. “I know

what they like and don’t like, and we make the

lunches accordingly. We also do a lot of

Wednesday night suppers for churches.” The

business does a couple of weddings each

month. “We do smaller weddings, with 100

people or less, but that is picking up.” While

they don’t make wedding cakes, Teresa says

they do set things up, serve, and break it down

afterwards.

The Flora location also offers ready-made

meals, both frozen and refrigerated, as well as

baked goods. “Our most popular dishes are

the poppy seed chicken and chicken spaghetti,”

says Teresa. “We separate them by size,

from small (feeds two to three), to medium

(feeds four to six) to large (feeds ten).” The

refrigerator is filled with chicken salad and

homemade pimiento cheese, along with

individual healthy meals. “We have several

families that order weekly. During Covid,

business went crazy. We did a lot of curbside

pickup and home deliveries.”

When she’s not working, Teresa says she

enjoys traveling. “We try to go to a major

league baseball game every year. This past July

we flew to Denver to attend the All-Star

game.” The boys now play football at

Tri-County Academy, so the Sones are in the

stands for the Friday night lights. They are

also members of Madison Heights Church.

Bless This Food is located at 740 Highway 49, Suite I, in Flora,

in the Cotton Exchange Plaza. More information can be at

www.blessthisfoodcatering.com.

Hometown MADISON • 93


Gladys Dorian

MADISON MARKETPLACE

94 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

Anyone who walks into Madison Marketplace

will surely see the smiling face of

proprietor Gladys Dorian. Blonde hair piled

on top of her head, dimples that accentuate

her beautiful smile, Gladys exudes happiness

and makes everyone in her presence feel

welcomed. “I’m just so blessed to be here,

doing what I’m doing, and that makes me

happy every day.”

A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Gladys

attended Catholic schools while growing up,

then went to college at the Montgomery

branch of Auburn University where she

studied elementary education and business.

The business part of her studies was further

enhanced by the on-the-job training she got

while working for her brother who owned two

retail businesses in Montgomery. “I worked

for him starting at age 21, and I worked retail

with him until I was 29.” Her other brother

moved to Pensacola and opened a store there.

In the late 1980s, Gladys moved to Atlanta.

“I had been doing business there, going to

market for my brother’s stores, and I went to

work for someone in the apparel market. I

even opened my own business for a few years.”

Gladys got married to her husband, John, in

1993, and his job brought them to Madison in

1996, shortly after the birth of their twin sons,

Chuck and Andy. “I thought Madison looked

like a little storybook town. We lived in an

apartment when we first moved here, then we

bought a house in Madison. Our sons were

just six weeks old when we moved here, so

they grew up in Madison.” The family now

lives in the neighborhood behind St. Francis

Church, where they are parishioners.

While her sons were in school, Gladys

taught pre-school. “I taught for 15 years while

the boys were in school. It was perfect, because

my schedule worked with theirs, and I could

be there for practice and games, and I was off

the summers and holidays with them.”

Six years ago, the retail bug began to bite

again, and Gladys says she was ready to start a

new venture. Gladys and her business partner,

Tracy Allen, found the perfect spot to open a

retail business in Madison - an old home built

in 1860, on Madison Avenue. Opening and

establishing a successful business is an

all-encompassing endeavor, and Gladys says

that’s certainly been the case with Madison

Marketplace. While Gladys is the “face” of

Madison Marketplace, she owns the business

with Tracy, who is a full-time pharmacist at

the Blair Batson Children’s Hospital. “We

invited area artists to an open house to see the

building and to hear my plans for it,” says

Gladys. “We wanted a store that features

Mississippi artists and products,” says Tracy.

“We fill in with other things that appeal to this

market.”

Madison Marketplace celebrated its sixth

anniversary in business in June of this year.

The business has become much more than a

gift shop. “We feature artists in each room,

including Jill Stricklin, Sarah McTaggart,

Cindy Mercer and Jonni Webb,” says Gladys.

“We have added a lot of new artists since we’ve

opened as well. I feel so blessed to showcase so

many talented artists, and I’ve become good

friends with many of them.” Featuring

Mississippi-made products is important to

Gladys, who says that the store also carries

many local food products and other items.

Customers at Madison Marketplace have

become friends as well. “We are incredibly

blessed with the most wonderful and loyal

customers,” says Gladys. “They certainly

sustained us during Covid.” Gladys says the

pandemic forced the store to close for some

time, which could have been disastrous.

“I had to find a different way to sell,” she says.

“I went to the store every day and posted

pictures on social media. We shipped items,

and one of my sons delivered all over the

tri-county area. We also did curbside pickup.

Our customers were such a blessing to us.

They kept us going by buying Easter baskets

and Mother’s Day gifts, as well as gifts for

weddings and birthdays. That made all the

difference.” Tracy says the business made it

through the pandemic because Gladys dug in

deep and worked harder.

Gladys feels she is in the ideal location for

long-term success. “Madison Avenue opened

up to the interstate a few years ago, so we are

even more accessible. The new town center

development across from us will bring even

more excitement to our area.”

One of the fun things about the business

for Gladys is having customers come in and

say they once lived in the house. “It was a

residence until the 1980s,” she says. “Since that

time it’s been a restaurant and a tearoom. We

have had customers tell us stories about living

in the house or eating in the restaurant or even

spending time in the tearoom. One lady said

her mama planted the fig tree out back when

they lived there. And another told us that

parents would sit on the front porch of the

house and watch the football games across the

street at the school. This old house has a lot of

stories, and we are adding to them!” Tracy says

that when they were first talking about what

kind of business they wanted to create, she

and Gladys agreed they wanted a food, fun,

happy place. “We wanted a drama-free

workplace where everyone felt at home.”

While the store keeps her busy, Gladys

says she makes time each morning to walk in

Strawberry Patch Park. “That’s a special place

for me. I used to stroll my boys there when

they were babies, and as they grew, they

played in the park. I walk three or four laps

on the track each morning and I’ve found it’s

the best way to start my day. I absolutely love

it.” A member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic

Church, Gladys says the family has always

enjoyed the many events held at the church,

including the annual Friday nigh Lenten

service and the annual Cajun Fest. “I actually

had a booth at the Cajun Fest for a couple of

years before I opened the store.”

Family is everything to Gladys, and she says

her twin boys are truly the greatest two joys of

her life. Now 25, Chris lives and works in

Atlanta, where he is pursuing a career in the

fitness industry. Andy lives in Madison and

works at Methodist Rehab. He is currently in

physical therapy tech school. Glady’s rock is her

husband, John, who is in medical sales and

drives for Uber. “I can’t imagine being anywhere

else,” says Gladys. “I am so very blessed.”

Madison Marketplace is at 961 Madison Avenue in Madison.

Find out more at madison-market-place.business.site/.

Hometown MADISON • 95


Dr. Adriane Stanley

STANLEY FAMILY DENTAL

96 • SEPTEMBER 2021


– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –

A D V E R T O R I A L

For Dr. Adriane Stanley, taking care of her

patients’ teeth is more than just a career, it is a

ministry. “It is by my faith that I’ve been able to

do this,” says the Oak Grove native. Throughout

her childhood, Adriane always wanted to

be in medicine. “My mom was a nurse, and my

father was a pastor, and both were very serviceoriented

people which is probably where I

inherited my desire to help others.” While in

school, Adriane loved anything to do with the

body. “Every paper or report I ever had to

write was about the medical field or the

human body.”

Adriane graduated from the University

of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of

Science in biological sciences. She began her

family early, and her first job out of college was

teaching high school biology and chemistry.

She shadowed a dentist who was a friend of

her family and in doing so she realized that’s

what she was supposed to do. “Being a dentist

would allow me to work in the medical field,

and to have regular hours so I could be present

for my family.” She took the DAT exam and

did well. “That’s what solidified my decision,”

she says. “I felt the Lord lead me into that field.”

Adriane moved to the Jackson area when

her son was just two and a half years old so she

could attend dental school at University of

Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry.

Starting dental school with a toddler could

have been difficult for some, but for Adriane,

her son, Dawson, was a great diversion from the

intense classes and studying. “He was my escape.”

After dental school, she completed a

one-year general practice residency which led

her to hospital dentistry. “I learned more complex

techniques and procedures, as well as how

to treat medically-compromised people and

persons with handicaps,” Adriane says.

“I went to the operating room and worked

directly with an anesthesiologist on full-mouth

dentistry, mostly on adults. Later in private

practice, I took children to the operating room.”

For a year, Adriane worked as an associate

dentist at a dental practice in Puckett before

moving to Ridgeland and working for another

year as an associate dentist at the practice she

ultimately bought. “I started my own general

dentistry practice in 2010.” Starting her own

practice is a point of pride for Adriane. “It’s

exciting for me to have a business where I can

be of service and care for others.”

The owner of Stanley Family Dental in

Ridgeland, Adriane has worked to create a

comfortable, caring environment for her

patients. Although she sometimes must refer to

other specialists for more complex specialized

procedures, Adriane says her practice offers as

many dental-related procedures as possible so

that her patients won’t have to go somewhere

else. “We try to make it easy for people, doing

what our patients need, from root canals and

extractions to cosmetic dentistry and children,”

says Adriane. I love taking care of whole

families.”

Adriane is married to Scott Stanley. “We

married 13 years ago. We started dating while

I was still in my residency and married shortly

afterwards. We truly have a blended family.”

Her son, Dawson, is now twenty years old and

studying civil engineering at Mississippi State.

Their daughter, Anna Jane, is also twenty and

is at Ole Miss where she plans on attending

law school. The youngest child is daughter

Elin, a fifth-grade student at Mannsdale

Upper Elementary School in Madison.

“Our hobby has always been attending our

children’s sporting events,” laughs Adriane.

“Whatever they are involved in is what we

have been involved in as well.” The two older

children were on a traveling soccer team

throughout high school. “We were on the

road a lot in those days!” Elin is involved with

cheerleading at ACE Cheer Company in

Ridgeland. “They compete all over, so we are

on the road again!”

The family moved to Madison from

Brandon during the quarantine phase of the

Covid pandemic last year. “We are members

of First Ridgeland Baptist Church.” Adriane

says it is a great church and her family hopes to

get more involved, to the extent that it is safe

to within the Covid situation.

To stay both focused and fit, Adriane says

she enjoys working out and running. “I’m

trying prepare to run a 10K at St. Jude in

Memphis in the fall with a good friend,”

says Adriane.

Practicing dentistry is so much more than

a career for Adriane. “I have dedicated my

dental practice as my ministry,” she says. “I

play the K-Love radio station in my office,

which is very positive and uplifting. Creating

a comfortable, caring environment for our

patients is important to me. I’m blessed to do

what I do.”

Stanley Family Dental is located at 101 West Washington Street

in Ridgeland. Learn more about the practice at

www.adrianestanleydmd.com.

Hometown MADISON • 97


TheTime COIN

Camille Anding

Three mothers saw the same digital face

as they looked at the wake-up time.

This was the day that had come too quickly. They

weren’t’ ready, but the clock’s hands never slowed or

ticked backward. The day was here.

Abby stroked her daughter’s golden hair that lay

tousled on her pillow. “Wake up! It’s school day. You’re a

first grader today!” Abby tried to sound excited and

cheery, but the knot in her stomach reminded her that

this beloved, priceless child was no longer a preschooler

but a student and would be one for many more years.

Would her teacher be sensitive to this precious child?

Would her daughter make friends quickly? Would there be

a bully in her class? Abby wished for more time. There

was so much more she wanted her daughter to know.

Doris had to wake her teenage son a second time.

“Don’t be late for the first day of school, son. Middle

school will have tighter rules with more

responsibilities. You know how some of

your older friends have talked about

middle school adjustments.”

As the apple of her eye shuffled off to the bathroom,

Doris longed for a sign from God that her son would make

wise choices, choose good friends, and make his best

effort in his classes. There would be so many choices for

him. If only she had more time where she could stress

more of what she knew he would need.

Why did “Pomp and Circumstance” come to Jan’s mind

as she heard her daughter’s phone alarm? The first day

of her senior year! Couldn’t be!! Time had turned enemy

on her. Jan knew this year would pass in a whirlwind of

senior activities. College would soon occupy her daughter’s

thoughts, but Jan refused to allow moving away to

college to fog the future. Today she must deal with the

senior year that every high school senior anticipates. Her

daughter seemed too young for what lay ahead. Would

there be enough time in her senior year for more

instruction about life that was rushing toward her?

Three mothers – blessed with children of their own,

but each facing a new chapter – each one needing

wisdom, discernment, patience, strength and more time

– ALWAYS more time.

98 • SEPTEMBER 2021



You can postpone

the vacation.

You can postpone

the vacation.

But don’t put of f your

But don’t put of f your

health care.

Many things have been postponed because of the pandemic,

Many things have been postponed because of the pandemic,

but your health care shouldn’t be delayed. Routine screenings

but and annual your health wellness care exams shouldn’t can help identify be delayed. health issues Routine in the screenings

and earliest annual stages, wellness when they exams are most can treatable. help identify health issues in the

earliest stages, when they are most treatable.

Our providers are committed to helping you stay well. We are

Our taking providers extra precautions are committed to provide to a safe helping and clean you stay environment well. We are

and offer both in-person and telehealth appointments.

taking extra precautions to provide a safe and clean environment

and Make offer your both health in-person a priority and and schedule telehealth an appointments. today.

MyMeritDoctor.com

Make your health a priority and schedule an appointment today.

844-MSMERIT

MyMeritDoctor.com

844-MSMERIT

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!