Madison122web

What is your favorite memory of living
in Madison?
It would be impossible to name one favorite
memory of Madison. I would have to say that that
most of my favorite memories come from watching
our girls grow up in Madison—from taking them to
practice, mastering the monkey bars on the weekends
at Madison Avenue Elementary playground, to
making bird houses for the MAE outdoor classroom.
We watched them cheer on Madison Central at
football games and pep rallies. They were on the
mayor’s youth council and would make scarecrows
for the chamber’s junior ambassador program. We
watched the 4th of July fireworks as a family and
always attended the Madison Christmas parades—
which were among our favorites. I loved when our
girls would set up a snow cone stand at the end of our
driveway during the summers, and they loved
donating their profits to the Webster Animal Shelter.
I feel that it’s the little memories that have made our
lives in Madison so full.
Where are your three favorite places
to eat in Madison?
Kristos, Hokkaido, and my newest favorite,
Full Moon BBQ.
What are some fun things to do
in Madison on the weekends?
These days, I spend most of my weekends working
at the Bridal Path. Now, with grown children, what I
consider to be fun is shopping around Home Goods
and purchasing things I really don’t need. But when
our children were younger, we spent countless hours
at Madison’s fabulous parks playing soccer, feeding
the ducks, swinging on the swings, and attending
many birthday parties.
Share some things you enjoy doing
in your spare time.
I enjoy working in the yard, exercising, and baking.
One of the best things about Madison is how easily
we can get to our land in the country. Our family
loves the outdoors, and we spend most of our spare
time enjoying fishing, hunting, and roasting
marshmallows around the fire pit. It is the perfect
getaway with friends, family, and our darling grand
dogs.
Who is someone you admire and why?
I admire Stan Buckley. Stan is a resident of Madison,
a godly man who is an amazing father, husband, and
friend. Stan started a ministry called But God
Ministries which is making a difference in thousands
of lives on a daily basis in both Haiti and the
Mississippi Delta by providing food, clean water,
homes, schools, and medical and dental care while
sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What are three things on your
bucket list?
I have already checked many things off of my bucket
list. We have been blessed to travel to Europe and
see the Statue of David, the Sistine Chapel and the
Coliseum in Rome. We have traveled across the
United States and Canada and had amazing travels
with our girls. I would love to travel to Australia and
South Africa. In a perfect world, I would love to
actually go and meet the five adopted children that
we have through Compassion International who
live in Africa and South America and once again,
when it is safe, go on a mission trip back to Haiti.
Where do you see yourself ten years
from now?
In 10 years, I hope to still be an alderman for the
City of Madison, and work part time at the Bridal
Path, but also enjoy retirement by traveling with my
husband and taking care of several grandchildren.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories are of duck and
dove hunting with my daddy. He also loved teaching
my sister and me, and all our friends, how to water
ski. My daddy died four years ago, and I miss him
every day. He gave me a love of the outdoors that we
have continued to pass on to our girls. He and my
mom loved dancing and they chaperoned every
dance I ever went to from junior high school until
I left for college. I have carried my daddy’s drive
and ability to work hard with a smile on my face
throughout my life. My daddy was a man of integrity
who loved people and loved doing good for others.
He loved his family more than anything.
If you could give us one encouraging
quote, what would it be?
“Character is how you treat those who can do
absolutely nothing for you.”
What is your favorite thing about
Hometown Magazines?
My favorite thing is how they highlight families,
businesses, and schools in Madison. I always see
many people that I know and love the information
it provides.
Hometown MADISON • 7