Madison123

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M A D I S O N R I D G E L A N D F L O R A C A N T O N G L U C K S T A D T
2013 • 2023
hometown magazines

2 • JANUARY 2023

FROM OUR CONSULTING EDITOR
Ten years! That’s Hometown’s liftoff place for the year 2023.
It’s a milestone I never thought about reaching when I first
considered pursuing this dream. In fact, it was all such a new adventure
for me that I can’t even remember considering how long and into what
year this might take us. Yet here we are-meeting new people every day,
learning and sharing people’s stories, making new advertiser friendships,
and staying in the positive lane of life.
Our hometowns are filled with people of all ages who have and are
aspiring to share their talents and goodwill in their communities and
beyond. We have the challenging but rewarding task of finding those
special individuals and sharing their stories along with pictures.
With the new additions to our family this year, I have returned to my
children’s collection of books to read to our grandchildren. If I turn to
a page where I show a burst of enthusiasm, there’s usually a little
bystander that says, “Let me see, let me see!”
As publisher of our magazines, I see myself pulling from a catalogue
of gifted and interesting people in our neighborhoods to highlight them
and their images and hear our readers say, “Let me see, let me see!”
We continue to express great gratitude to the Father, our readers,
and our essential advertisers for nine years of Hometown Magazines.
The number 10 makes me smile. It’s the promise of making more new
friends and spotlighting individuals, groups and services that continue
to make our hometown the place we love to call “home!”
HOMETOWN STAFF
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya Dobbs
CFO
Kevin Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
IN THIS ISSUE
Reader Spotlight 5
Kids Who Care 16
Hometown Family 8
Iron Sharpens Iron 12
MCEDA Vision Celebration 14
Kids Who Care 16
A Print-Worthy Pursuit 26
Remaining Faithful 30
Willie Ruth 40
The Time Coin 98
...see you around town.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
ASSISTANT
Caroline Hodges
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
ADVERTISING
ASSISTANT
Lexie Ownby
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Nikki Robison
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas
3dt
STAFF
PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
STAFF
ASSISTANT
Debby Francis
www.facebook.com/hometownmadisonmagazine. For subscription information visit www.htmags.com or contact us at info@HTMags.com / 601.706.4059 / 200 Felicity Street / 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 • 3

4 • JANUARY 2023

READER
SPOTLIGHT
Ellis
WISE
Why did you make Madison your home?
Madison has always been my home. After graduating
from college in May 2022, I went back and forth as to
where I wanted to move next. I felt like I had to move
off to a big city. And I almost did just that, but
something weighed on my heart telling me to go back
home to Madison. Madison has always had a safe,
comforting feeling to it. Now being back and feeling
like I can be a part of the next generation to help the
community keep flourishing has been great.
How long have you lived in Madison County?
Born and raised. Left for four years to attend college at
Mississippi State University—Hail State!
Tell us about your family.
Family to me is one of the most important things to
have in life. It’s not just described by last names or
blood. My family, of course, starts with my parents.
My mom Jacqueline who is the epitome of someone
with hard work ethic, determination, and passion in
whatever she does. My dad JB who has always taught
me to be confident and not harp on others’ opinions
about oneself. My stepmom Whitney who has shown
me love extends beyond biology. My brother Joel
who always pushed me to stick up for myself. My
grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have all shaped
me into the person I am today. My friends are my
family; I wouldn’t make it without them. And last,
but by no means least, my fur-babies. My dog Beau
who I treat like my literal child. He is the best thing to
come home to everyday. My dad’s dog, Kenny Rogers
(yes you read that right) who is the wildest but best
thing when I go and visit him.
What is your favorite memory of living in
Madison?
When Chapel of the Cross puts on A Day in the
Country. If you have never been, I highly recommend
it! I can remember going to it every year as a child.
It is always a day outside full of fun, food, music, arts,
and games for children. It’s always a favorite of mine.
Where are your three favorite places to eat
in Madison?
Hokkiado, El Ranchito, and Angelos (the fried mac
and cheese bites will change your life).
What are some fun things to do in Madison
County on the weekends?
I love fashion and design, so shopping is always my
first go to on the weekends. I love cooking out with
my friends and family while watching sports games on
the tv.
Share some things you enjoy doing in your
spare time.
If it is a Saturday in the fall, you will find me watching
football. I can’t remember a Saturday as a little girl
where my dad and I weren’t watching a game together.
It is something we have always bonded over. One of
my most favorite things to do is attend football games
at Davis Wade Stadium. I also enjoy getting swept
away in romance and thriller novels or binge watching
a Netflix period piece (I’m a big history buff ).
Spending time listening to live music and going to
concerts always make me happy.
What are three things on your bucket list?
How can I name only three things? I have an
adventurous spirit and love learning and seeing
different cultures so there are many things on my
bucket list. If I must name only three, my top ones
would be, travel to Africa and sleep under the stars on
a safari and see an elephant (my all-time favorite
animal) in their natural habitat. Second, I want to
travel around Italy with my mom and eat delicious
pasta, relax under the sun on the Amalfi coast, and see
all their historic wine vineyards. Last but certainly not
least, I would like to get involved with an organization
where you might spend a summer helping families in
countries in Central America. Central America holds
a special place in my heart being my grandfather has
lived in El Salvador for over 40 years now, so I’ve
traveled down there many times.
Who is someone you admire and why?
Someone I admire is my grandmother, June, who
passed away six years ago. She is and always will be
held at the utmost of my admiration. She lived most of
her life sick with lupus, but you never would have
known that by just meeting her. She was always doing
for others while keeping a big smile on her face. When
I think about her I’m reminded to remain selfless
because she always did.
Where do you see yourself ten years
from now?
I don’t know where I see myself in ten days let alone
ten years! I live everyday as it comes. I’m a go with the
flow kind of girl. All I can say is that in 10 years I hope
I am happy, traveling and doing what I love. My dad
has always said if you love what you do, you never work
a day in your life!
If you could give us one encouraging quote,
what would it be?
“If you lack motivation: A day reflects a life” One of
my professors told our class this on the first day and it
has stuck with me ever since.
Hometown MADISON • 5

6 • JANUARY 2023

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Hometown MADISON • 7

8 • JANUARY 2023

The
Johnsons
Tell us about your family.
The Johnson family is made up of Jon David (30), Madelyne
(31), Coy (5), Ella Rae (2), and Anne Walker (3 months). They
love spending time together as a family, and that time primarily
revolves around being outdoors. This family deeply values the
tradition of hunting, and can typically be found relishing in the
opportunities Mississippi offers during the spring and fall. In
summer months, you’ll find them cooking out with friends and
frequenting Pickwick Lake where they enjoy being on the
water.
Tell us briefly how you and your spouse met, and how long
you’ve been married.
Jon David and Madelyne both attended Mississippi State
University where they first met. Jon David came from a small
town in West Tennessee, and Madelyne was from Flowood.
Mutual friendships led them together in Starkville, and they
have been happily married for seven years.
Hometown MADISON • 9

Do you allow time to be with your spouse for a date night?
Jon David says one of the many keys to a good marriage is to never
stop dating. Free-time isn’t around every corner with three young
children and a busy career, but they find a way to carve out time to
enjoy one another as often as possible.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
Watching their children learn and grow as individuals brings
them great joy. The little things like watching them learn to
communicate, walk, say a prayer, brush their teeth, etc. is very
special to experience. They also love seeing the honesty, imagination,
and the simple joys a child finds in mundane daily life. It is a
constant reminder to not overlook the simplicities and little
blessings in their own lives.
Who is the financial manager in your home? Please elaborate.
When it comes to personal finances for the Johnson family,
Madelyne inks the checks to keep the lights on and manages the
daily responsibilities, but Jon David keeps an eye on the balance
sheet and manages their savings. They’re both adamant that
saving is a monthly bill, and large purchases are discussed in
advance.
When your children were younger, what was your discipline
philosophy?
The Johnsons take Proverbs 13:24 seriously. They believe in the
wooden spoon and the belt! Good behavior is rewarded and poor
behavior is punished then corrected in the Johnson household. It
is important to them to never discipline in a reactionary or public
manner, but always make discipline teachable moments and
ensure their children understand that it is an act of love.
What do you see in your role as the greatest benefit to your
family?
Jon David believes his greatest role is to be a godly husband and
father, and to provide and to lead. Madelyne believes her greatest
role is to be a godly wife and mother, and to love and to teach.
What’s a quick go to meal that isn’t fast food? And who does
the cooking?
Madelyne does the cooking and Jon David says she does it well!
The family’s favorite quick go to meal that no child is protesting is
Madelyne’s skillet lasagna.
How long has Madison been your home?
Madison has been home for the Johnson’s since 2018.
What are some of your favorite things about Madison County?
The Johnsons say, “What’s not to love about Madison County? It
is full of good people, businesses, churches, eateries, schools, and it
is safe and beautiful!”
How do you spend your summer breaks?
Summer doesn’t bring much of a break to the Johnson household,
but they do their best to find a back porch and a grill or a lake on
the weekends!
What accomplishments make you proud during your time
living in Madison?
The Johnson’s are both very proud of the quality of friendships
they’ve made in their tenure thus far in Madison. Professionally,
Jon David is proud of the reputation he’s built as a veterinarian
and member of this community, and Madelyne is proud of the
impact that a service she helped create has at families’ dinner
tables across this community.
What drives you to have the job that you have?
And what do you do for a living?
Jon David is a veterinarian. There’s a long list of why he loves the
career he chose, but he mentioned a few for us. He enjoys the
diversity of medicine and the daily challenges that diversity
brings. It is a career that is heavily rooted in being a part of a
community, which he deeply cherishes. Most of all, he loves what
pets do for all of our families, and he is grateful to be a part of
ensuring that we can all experience that joy to the fullest.
Madelyne co-owns a monthly recipe subscription business named
“The Menu Mamas, LLC”. She has always delighted in cooking,
and cherished siting down around a table with family at the end of
each day. She finds fulfillment in that what she helps create are
realistically simple, mostly healthy, family friendly meals and
more importantly that Menu Mama recipes help create more
memories around a family’s dinner table.
QUESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN
What’s your favorite thing to do as a family?
Coy Go to deer camp and to the beach.
Ella Rae Play!
Anne Walker No response! (3 months old)
What your favorite restaurant?
Coy Sonic
Ella Rae Chick-fil-A
What’s your favorite TV show?
Coy Madagascar
Ella Rae Mickey Mouse
10 • JANUARY 2023

Hometown MADISON • 11

Alexander Nazario
CEO - IRON SHARPENS IRON
In the United States, a vast majority of
people that we encounter have no idea that
modern-day slavery is happening in our own
backyard.
It was during a gathering of like-minded
individuals that changed my life forever when
our conversation steered towards things we
could do to help the local community. All our
wheels started turning and we immediately
began to research what we believed was the
largest problem that our community and state
were facing. As our focus landed between
recovery or human trafficking intervention, we
realized that human trafficking was an area in
which the state of Mississippi has limited
resources. We encountered numerous safe
houses and programs for recovery, but there
were limited programs for survivors of human
trafficking and human trafficking awareness.
At that time, Mississippi rated #2 in the U.S.
with the most cases of human trafficking – as
of now, we rate #1.
Shortly after this conversation, I went to
Mexico. It was there in Mexico that I was able
to become very hands-on and interact with
many human trafficking survivors. We even
connected with a team in Texas that works
with survivors of human trafficking. After
returning to the United States, I had a burning
desire to help more survivors of human
trafficking. I was not able to sleep at night
because I could not stop thinking about those
survivors and the terrible conditions they have
been through. I was waking up in a warm bed
every day while someone out there was being
abused, and that put a burden on my heart.
I immediately knew I had to do something,
and that is how Iron Sharpens Iron came to
be. Iron Sharpens Iron partnered up with
Senda De Vida in Mexico. This partnership has
allowed us to provide so much help and
guidance to many survivors of human
trafficking. Iron Sharpens Iron has been able to
accommodate many survivors’ needs by
providing a safe place for participants and
sustaining their basic needs. We also assist in
relocation efforts, with local and out-of-state
agencies that can accommodate survivors.
Since our partnership with Senda De Vida in
Mexico, we have been in direct contact with
approximately 7,900 survivors from several
countries.
The main purpose of Iron Sharpens Iron
is to train, restore, and assist in the healing
process of survivors of human trafficking.
We would not be able to make this possible
without utilizing sources and programs within
our community and partnering together with
other organizations that also have common
views in the fight against modern-day slavery.
Celebrate Recovery, Beautiful Deliverance,
Senda de Vida, Impact Youth Program, The
Pointe Church, The MS District Pentecostal
Church of God, and Elevate Church are some
great resources and organizations that fight
to end human trafficking and help spread
awareness every day in this state.
12 • JANUARY 2023

It is important for us to keep raising
awareness every day of human trafficking in
the state of Mississippi. Teams in Louisiana,
Texas, and Florida that we partner with and
work with have a higher awareness rate than
in our own state, and that is something worth
fighting for to make a change and an impact.
Iron Sharpens Iron also focuses internationally,
and we focus on 13 countries which
include Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti, Venezuela,
Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Belarus, and Russia.
We also focus on the Mexico border, with a
presence in Texas. We also have volunteers
that help us raise awareness about Iron
Sharpens Iron and the fight against human
trafficking in Texas, Louisiana, and in Florida.
Our programs include “Impact Summer
Camp,” where the participants can spend a
week outside their environment to heal from
their trauma and have the chance to enjoy
what it is like to be a kid again. We provide
meals, games, and worship. After the week is
over, we give them an opportunity to stay
connected throughout the year with monthly
meetings and activities until they meet again
the following summer. The camp forms
long-lasting friends and a support group. We
want to ensure the participants of the summer
camp that they are not alone.
The fight to stop human trafficking is a
hard fight, but solely a fight that is from the
Lord, given the fact that Beautiful Deliverance,
Celebrate Recovery, and SWAG ministries are
100% volunteer based. Approximately
two-thirds of our program’s participants have
experienced some form of human trafficking,
which just shows how real modern-day
slavery is in today’s world. Participants
experience healing from any hurt, habit, and
hang up, aiming to fulfill the neuroplasticity
healing. We offer services to over 350 individuals
a month, with a meal at each meeting, and
worship. Following worship, Iron Sharpens
Iron participants break out into classes.
Our intent for the following years is to
bring the fight to our backyard and make sure
the human trafficking ranking in Mississippi
drops below #1 in the United States. By raising
awareness and training to the local community,
NGO, local schools, and businesses, with
the intent to prevent and identify potential
new victims, we can help fight to stop end
human trafficking.
All of the efforts of Iron Sharpens Iron
have been funded by CEO, Alexander
Nazario’s retirement check, and our team is
formed of volunteers that have a burning
desire to help others and they love to see the
restoration of others.
Visit our Website @ www.isiron.org
Hometown MADISON • 13

2022 MCEDA
Vision Celebration
f C ON O M I C
Madison
O f V f l O p
M p1u1
Au 1 Ha R 1 1 r
October 18
The Country Club of Jackson
Visionary Leadership Award
MCEDA Executive Director Joey Deason,
Clint Herring with Kerioth,
MCBL&F Chairman Ray Balentine
Vision Award
MCEDA Executive Director Joey Deason,
Nissan North America - Canton VP Manufacturing David Sliger,
MCBL&F Chairman Ray Balentine
2022-2023 Chairman
Incoming Chairman Superintendent Charlotte Seals,
Madison County Schools, MCBL&F Chairman Ray Balentine
Young Professional Award
MCBL&F Chairman Ray Balentine, Hank Waterer
14 • JANUARY 2023

Hometown MADISON • 15

16 • JANUARY 2023

KIDS WHO CARE
Macy Gladden
Mistie Desper
“I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED
HELPING, EVEN WHEN I
WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
If I can just make one person have a better
day, that makes me happy,” said Macy Gladden,
6th grader at Madison Ridgeland Academy.
Macy’s heart for serving others began at an
early age. Her mother, Whitney, recalled Macy
always being her “little helper.” During a family
trip to New Orleans, when Macy was just seven
years old, she and brother Tucker were deeply
impacted by the homeless crisis in the city. She
remembered, “For Macy, it just hurt her little
heart and she asked what they could do to help
them.”
Their mission began. The family, along with
dad, Lee, began calling local ministries to see
what they could do to begin helping others in
need. Settling on We Will Go Ministries,
Macy’s impressive list of selfless service projects
began. Macy and Tucker turned to social media
to help spread the word and the donations began
pouring in. The Provision Project, a charitable
organization started in 2017 by the siblings, was
born.
“Macy is such an unselfish person and has
no fears. She is always so willing to put in the
legwork and I’ve just put the wheels under her to
help her flourish,” said Whitney.
The list of services and acts of kindness
Macy has accomplished at her young age is not
only impressive but inspiring to all who know
her.
Each year at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
during school breaks, Macy helps God’s Haven
Ministries make and distribute sack lunches to
children out of school that only have access to
meals from the school system. She also helps
with other food based organizations, Central
Pantry and Extra Table.
Macy also helps with Shower Power to provide
lunches and necessities to Jackson’s homeless
population. She has helped collect backpacks
and led a drive that provided 100 cans of insect
repellent for those in need.
The needs of animals have also been a top
priority for Macy. She admitted, “I absolutely
love animals and would love to be a vet one day.”
Not only does the Gladden family foster a dog
from Mississippi Therapy Animals full time,
Macy also volunteers on site and hopes to
become certified as a therapy animal handler for
the organization.
Macy’s teachers have taken notice of her
many efforts over the years. Kristin Reynolds,
5th grade teacher, said, “Macy is always looking
for ways to serve her community. She has such a
big heart for those less fortunate that she is. She
uses so much of what she has been blessed with
to bless others.”
She encourages her peers and friends to get
involved anyway they can. At MRA, Macy is a
cheerleader, on the volleyball team, as well as
part of the student council. As the 6th grade
representative for the student council body, she
organizes fundraisers and various school events.
She also has a successful YouTube channel
where she posts as often as she can.
“Having a student like Macy among our
student body plays a huge role in setting a
standard of excellence in every area. Macy is
talented, gifted, and confident. She sets a great
example for her peers. She has world of
potential, and we can’t wait to see the Lord’s
plan for her unfold before our eyes,” said Ben
Haindel, middle school principal.
Whitney emphasized, “We can all find
success in lifting others up and we really all
could be one tragedy or disaster away from needing
help ourselves. Macy is an old soul who is an
inspiration to so many. If we all do a little,
together we can do a lot.”
Macy’s current project is the adoption of
three “angels” for Christmas. She said, “I really
just love helping others and I hope I can
somehow make a difference in someone’s life
and just make their day better.”
Hometown MADISON • 17

18 • JANUARY 2023

Hometown MADISON • 19

Where Public Meets Private
Coming Together for The Betterment of All
The Madison County Business League & Foundation is a private, stakeholder-based support
organization that works with business owners and decision makers to discuss topics that
affect economic development. Together, we continue to build upon the economic development
infrastructure of Madison County. We recognize and salute the industry and businesses for the
contribution they make towards our quality of life.
135 Mississippi Parkway, Canton, MS 39046 | 601.707.3303
madisoncountybusinessleague.com
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
20 • JANUARY 2023

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Madison Welch Farms
1944 Main Street, Madison
Hometown MADISON • 21

SALUTE
to First Responders
Why did you decide to be a policeman?
When I was just a youngster, I had two career choices I wanted
to pursue. The first being a professional football player and the
second being a police officer. Once I realized I lacked the size
and talent to play in the NFL, I switch to Plan B.
How long have you been with the Ridgeland Police Department?
I joined the department in February of 1996. February 2023 will mark
27 years with the department.
Tell us about your family.
I am married. My wife and I have five daughters and one son. We are
the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren and will welcome our
eighth in just a few days.
What is the toughest thing you have experienced in your job?
The realization of just how bad humans can treat one another.
I have been involved with some pretty awful incidents. To see how
some have no regard for the life of another has been difficult for me
to digest.
Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time.
I consider myself a BBQ enthusiast. I love smoking and grilling
on my many grills and smokers. I also enjoy tinkering with my old
vehicles; I have a few projects that I would like to restore once I retire.
I enjoy spending time with my family, my wife, and I enjoy going to
the movies or just relaxing with our doggies at home. We enjoy the
time we get to spend with our grandchildren as well.
Assistant Chief
Tony
WILLRIDGE
RIDGELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
What are three things on your bucket list?
1. Visit Hawaii
2. Visit the Grand Canyon
3. Visit my hometown in Germany. I am an Army brat. I was born in
Germany and have not had an opportunity to return since my family
left in 1979.
Who is someone you admire and why?
My parents. My father is from Louisiana and my mother is from
Mississippi. My father instilled in me his spirit for adventure.
I followed his example, joined the Army at an early age, and have
served for the past thirty-five years. My mother instilled in me
her work ethic. She used to tell me if you are only going to half-do
something, do not do it at all. This stuck with me throughout my
adult life. They are the reason I am the person I am today.
22 • JANUARY 2023

If you could give one piece of advice to a young person, what
would it be?
Know your worth. Do not settle for less than what you fell you
deserve. Hold yourself to a higher standard and be accountable for
your actions. Be the positive example for others to follow.
What is your favorite thing about the City of Ridgeland?
The people, and the support we receive. Our community enthusiastically
supports our department. From Mayor Gene McGee, and the
board of aldermen, to the business leaders and citizens, we have the
luxury of working for a city that stands behind its public servants.
For that, I am truly grateful.
Hometown MADISON • 23

MADISON JANUARY 2023 AD LIST
Full
Merit Health Rankin
Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet
Half
Benson Construction
Callaway’s
Citizen’s National Bank
Community Bank
Dixie National Rodeo (MS Fair)
Habitat for Humanity
Jackson Prep
JEA
Keesler Federal
MS Epoxy Dream Garages
Watkins Roofing
Quarter
Apple Annie’s
Bank Plus/ Ridgeland
BWW
Madison County Business League
Madison Marketplace
McCool Estate Sales
Pure Air Consultants
The Children’s Clinic

2013 • 2023
hometown magazines
It is so hard to believe we’re beginning our
tenth year of publishing at Hometown Magazines!
In honor of celebrating our ten years, we decided to reminisce on past
stories and publications and re-issue some of our staff’s favorite articles.
We hope you all have a great and happy New Year.
Thank you for helping us celebrate 10 years of Hometown Magazines!
Hometown MADISON • 25

26 • JANUARY 2023 Updated from January 2016

volume 5 number 2
April 2018
CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS
HOMETOWN MAGAZINES
CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS
HOMETOWN MAGAZINES
Addy Gone Farming
____________________
Welcome to Waterton
____________________
THE BURGER BOOM
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FLOWOOD • BRANDON • PELAHATCHIE • PUCKETT • FLORENCE • RICHLAND • PEARL • STAR • PISGAH• RESERVOIR
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MADISON
RIDGELAND
FLORA
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Restored
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REDEEMED
A Print-Worthy Pursuit
Mary Ann Kirby
A better name for this story may be “The Power of
Serendipity” the definition of which means to find
amazing things that you weren’t necessarily looking for.
That’s what I found in Tahya Dobbs when God brought
us together to form what has been an amazing working
relationship, and better yet, an even better friendship.
FLOWOOD • BRANDON • PELAHATCHIE • PUCKETT • FLORENCE • RICHLAND • PEARL • STAR • PISGAH• RESERVOIR
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Hometown MADISON • 27

2023 HOMETOWN MAGAZINES STAFF
Debby Francis, Nikki Robison, Daniel Thomas, Tahya Dobbs, Lexie Ownby,
Mary Ann Kirby, Alisha Floyd, Kevin Dobbs, Caroline Hodges
2016 Staff: Alisha Floyd, Brenda McCall, Daniel Thomas,
Rachael Lombardo, Mary Ann Kirby, Tahya Dobbs, Kevin Dobbs
28 • JANUARY 2023 Updated from January 2016

The story of how she and I met is, indeed,
serendipitous. In the fall of 2013, I had left my
very corporate management position with a
popular local magazine and had gone home to be a
full-time mom. It was a bittersweet move in that I
absolutely adored the magazine business along with
the creative process, but corporate media had become
extremely challenging and sometimes their vision and
mine didn’t always align. I wanted to expand and they
wanted to downsize. Bottom lines and budget cuts
always won out.
I could have ended my professional life then and
there and felt as though I had accomplished pretty
much everything I’d wanted. I’d had a successful career
in broadcast and print media sales and management
and felt like I was going out on a high note. The holidays
were approaching and I proceeded to spend my first
stress-free break at home with my husband and
then-ten-year-old son. I was relaxed and present in a
way that I hadn’t been in years’ past when precious
allotted vacations days were being rationed out until
the very end of the calendar year.
The holidays came and went and my son had
started back to school. I was beginning to settle into
my “new” routine and operating at a completely
different pace—and I liked it. One day I was out
running some errands and got a call from one of my
favorite former long-time clients. Noel Daniels called
to tell me, “There’s a gal out here with this new
magazine and I think you two need to meet. She’s a
real go-getter and really has a good thing here. You
could probably help her. It’s called Hometown
Brandon. Can I give her your number?”
The irony was that just a couple of days earlier I’d
noticed a new Facebook page that had been launched
called Hometown Brandon Magazine. It had grown to
over 2,500 likes within the first several hours of being
created and how I happened to stumble upon it, out
of all the things posted on Facebook, only God
knows—but I did. And to be honest, it made me ache
for the business I so loved. I told Noel to absolutely
share my number.
A couple of hours later my phone rang. “Mary Ann,
this is Tahya Dobbs. Noel Daniels gave me your
number so I hope you don’t mind that I called. Is this
a good time?” That was in the spring of 2014.
She was incredibly easy to talk to and we hit it off
immediately in that very first call. It turns out that
Tahya had recently had a career change, too. For years,
she had been a homemaker and raised children—not
just her own three, but four more from the foster
system, as well. Her husband had a life in ministry and
together they had hearts for the Lord and made lives
of service to the church. She carpooled and catered
and taught Sunday school. She was busy raising
children and having a house full was fulfilling to her—
but God had more to come.
Once her kids were all in school, Tahya decided to
explore her options outside of the home. She eventually
took a job with the City of Brandon mayor’s office and
fell in love immediately with all they did to promote
Brandon. She said, “I couldn’t believe I was getting
paid to actually promote the city! It was such a joy and
I made countless friends and connections while doing
it. We created events and partnered closely with our
local merchants. It was truly a dream job.”
That’s where the seed for the magazine got planted.
Tahya recalls, “I’ll never forget one day when one of
the ladies from the Brandon Garden Club came into
our office with a stack of Desoto County publications
and wanted to know what it would take for the City of
Brandon to have its own magazine.” That’s when the
bug bit. She went home that day and told her husband
that she was going to do a magazine.
“I literally felt convicted,” she went on to say.
“I left my job at the mayor’s office and set up camp on
my kitchen table as publisher of a yet-to-be-named
publication. And while I knew nothing about the
magazine business, I definitely knew what I wanted to
do with it. I wanted to promote good things. I wanted
to tell people’s stories—stories about our businesses
and neighbors and give them a real presence.
“I went to Hederman Brothers, a locally owned
and operated printer, and they gave me the name of a
freelance graphic designer that may be able to help me.
Daniel Thomas and I met at McAlister’s in Brandon
where I assured him I knew absolutely nothing about
publishing but had already sold some ads and knew
what stories would be in the first issue. I needed
someone to lay it out and he quickly assured me he
could do it.
“The magazine would be beautifully designed and
made with high quality paper and would spotlight the
people in our community that make it the wonderful
place that it is. I confided with Jamie Wier, a local
architect-friend, about my idea and he suggested I
name it something that could work in the event we
ever decided to expand. Expand. Crazy, huh? That’s
how we came up with the name Hometown.”
In July of 2013, Tahya’s parents retired and moved
from North Mississippi where they had raised their
own family. They wanted to be close to kids and
grand-kids and decided to make Brandon their home.
It was a mere three months later that Tahya would
need both a writer and a photographer to help launch
her new business. Tahya’s mom, Camille, had written
for newspapers for over twenty years and her dad,
Othel, was a professional photographer. Once again
God was orchestrating His plan and revealing each
piece of His extraordinary puzzle.
The community welcomed her and her new
venture with open arms. All those contacts she’d made
while working for the City were vital as she started
knocking on doors and asking for support. People
were blown away just a few weeks later when she came
back to deliver her very first issue of Hometown
Brandon Magazine. The quality surpassed all
expectations and she’d managed to capture the very
essence of their beautiful community and the people
that make it special.
Since then, Hometown has expanded. She and her
husband Kevin added Hometown Clinton, Hometown
Rankin, and Hometown Madison. They publish chamber
guides for area chambers of commerce and are now
embarking on their tenth year of publishing.
They’ve moved off of the kitchen table and into
an office space and it now takes a staff of ten to meet
the demands of their ever-growing business. It’s been
a remarkable homegrown success story that I’ve been
blessed to witness, firsthand. And not only does she
allow me to tinker with the magazines, once again
doing what I love, but she’s become one of my dearest
friends.
But make no mistake, Tahya doesn’t take a bit of
their success for granted. She and Kevin continue to
honor God at every turn and believe deeply that “to
whom much is given, much is required.” Much of the
content that they publish is boldly faith-based and
serves as a reflection of their core values—both in their
lives at home and in their businesses.
She goes on to say, “It never occurred to me that I
could possibly fail. Thankfully, I didn’t know enough
to know what all could go wrong. But I felt strongly
that God was showing me favor and I owed it to Him
to give it everything I had. I had to have faith. So,
that’s what I did.
“It’s been really incredible. I can’t believe how far
we’ve come—and how much I’ve grown, personally.
And nothing gives me greater satisfaction than having
a business owner that has supported me and entrusted
me with their advertising dollars call and say, ‘Tahya, it
worked.’” n
Hometown MADISON • 29

30 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published February 2016

Remaining
FaithfulJill Dale
As a writer, I’ve written many stories and
articles on various subjects. I wrote procedure
manuals and procedure documents on web
applications and other application processes
for a few years. I then began writing for the
agent magazine that is distributed to the
agency force of Southern Farm Bureau Life
Insurance Company. I remember reading
trade magazines and hearing the stories
about the importance of life insurance and
what it means to a family. I would listen to
agents talk about delivering the death claim
check and how hard that was, but also the
relief and comfort it brought to a husband,
wife or mother or father. Never did I think
I would become the story I read about and
wrote about.
As I sat Sunday morning, two days after
my son died, I reflected on this and how life
has a weird way of playing out. I stared at a
blank document on my computer. I’ve never
been at a loss for words when it comes to
writing, but now I was. The hardest thing I
have ever written would be the obituary of
my 5 year old son, Campbell Grady Dale.
How would I condense his life, his impact
into a brief obituary? How do I tell the world
what an amazing, phenomenal boy Campbell
was? How do I tell people about his love for
his friends at the hospital, for his family, for
his twin sister and especially for his Father in
heaven…the one he trusted to take care of
him and heal him forever of his cancer?
What would I most want people to know
about the most amazing boy who called me
mom and David dad? I think it could be
summed up with this–he fought a brave
battle against a fierce enemy and the ultimate
Victor won, the One who wins every battle
against death, every, single time. Campbell
believed that God would heal him of his
cancer, and He did. He may not have healed
him in the way we wanted, but He healed
him according to His perfect will, His perfect
plan for Campbell’s life and for ours.
From the first day Campbell was diagnosed,
we laid him at our Father’s feet. We knew it
would take a miracle to heal him. The odds
were stacked against him, but we were ready
to fight. Our prayer was always that “Thy will
be done” whatever that may be. As we went
through the original treatment protocol
beginning in February 2014 of 54 weeks of
intense chemotherapy and 24 days of
radiation, we trusted God with each step,
with each decision that we made. When
Campbell’s cancer returned in April 2015,
we continued to trust Him and His plan for
his life. When we received the heartbreaking
news on August 17, 2015 that our doctors had
done everything that they could to heal him
here on earth, we continued to trust Him.
We always knew Campbell would be
healed, but now we knew that healing would
come in heaven and not here on earth. As
the words began to flow, so did the tears as
I reflected on what most would consider a
short life. His life may appear short to the
normal person, but the impact he had and
continues to have will be felt for years to
come. He lived the exact amount of time
God had ordained as He knit him together
in my womb…not a day more or a day less.
Hometown MADISON • 31

The following narrative tells the arduous
story of the Dale family’s journey with
cancer. Jill Dale made regular journal
entries about the journey on CaringBridge.
org. This includes excerpts of Jill’s posts as
compiled by Susan Marquez.
Snips and snails and puppy dog tails,
that’s what little boys are made of. Campbell
Dale was a normal little boy in every way.
Spirited. Curious. Exuberant. At least, until
he began having issues with constipation one
weekend. The series of events that followed
became a journey of heartbreak tempered
with faith and love.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,
for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41:10
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
February 12, 2014 was a day the Dale
family will never forget, for that was the day
life as they knew it forever changed. “We had
not noticed anything abnormal over the
weekend,” his mom, Jill Dale, wrote on the
overview of the family’s CaringBridge site.
“Campbell had been constipated a little, but
nothing unusual. On Monday, February 10,
he went to school like normal.” Yet the
four-year-old still complained about being
constipated. An enema, a trip to the doctor,
and a couple of rounds of Miralax later,
Campbell’s temperature was climbing and
his belly was swollen. His doctor sent them
to a Radiology group to get an X-ray done.
When that came back inconclusive, a CT
scan revealed a mass in the boy’s abdomen.
“We were immediately sent to Blair E.
Batson Hospital for Children where we were
admitted at 5:30pm. After running more
tests on Thursday, we sat down with our
doctors and were told our son had a mass in
his belly that needed to be removed. It could be
anything from lymphoma, to neuroblastoma,
to a taratoma or rhabdomyosarcoma (at this
time rhabdo was toward the bottom of the
list).” On Friday, surgeons were able to remove
a 4 1/2 to 5 inch mass from his abdomen.
The mass was sent to a pathology lab and on
February 19, the family learned that Campbell
had been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma,
a rare form of cancer of the tissue. “They were
able to remove all of his tumor, but of course,
there were what they call studs left. We were
scheduled immediately for a bone scan and
PET scan for Monday, Feb. 24th. On Tuesday
the 25th, a bone marrow aspiration was done
along with the placement of a chemo port.
The preliminary results from the bone scan
and PET scan came back favorable meaning
it had not spread to the bones or other organs.
That Tuesday at 5:00, we were told that our
son has Stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma and
they had found a spot in his bone marrow.”
Campbell’s parents, David and Jill, were
told the road before them would be difficult
and hard. “We didn’t want to know the success
rate, that didn’t matter to us,” Jill wrote. “All
that mattered was ‘Can we beat this?’” The
chemo regimen would be aggressive, radiation
would be needed and 54 weeks is what it will
take. “As I laid my head on the table and cried
more than I have in two weeks, I didn’t think
I would be able to walk out of the room. So
David and I looked at each other, signed the
papers to begin treatment and told the doctor
to do whatever needed to be done to save our
son. The one thing that stood out in my mind
was David telling the doctor we know the
Great Physician (Jehovah Rapha) can heal
Campbell, not doctors or medicine…HE
provides the means to do it. So we called our
family in to tell them. The road before us
might be difficult, but we were determined
not to lie down and give up. We were in the
fight of our lives and we were confident that
Campbell would beat this.”
The family resolved to bathe themselves
in scripture and pray continuously without
ceasing.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be patient.” – Isaiah 40: 29-31
Campbell’s first chemotherapy treatment
began on Wednesday, February 26. All went
well. He actually slept through the first
treatment (he had been given some medicine
to calm him after a rough morning so he slept
all afternoon). The treatment started with
two drugs, Irinotecan and Vincristinem. The
Irinotecan was scheduled for five days straight.
Campbell’s twin sister, Avery (aka ‘’Shu”)
visited, and the children watched movies and
ate Chick-fil-A together. At the time, Jill was
reading a book, “The Red Sea Rules,” given
to hear by a woman at church. “I have found
so much wisdom and guidance in this book,”
Jill wrote. “Meditating on the truths in it has
brought so much peace: ‘So take a deep
breath and recall this deeper secret of the
Christian life: when you are in a difficult
place, realize that the Lord either placed you
there or allowed you to be there for reasons
perhaps known for now only to Himself.
The same God who led you in, will lead you
out.’ So we trust in this and we know that
HE will make a way. We don’t understand
why we are enduring this trial and may never
know while we are here on this earth, but we
know that the same God who paved the road
before us will walk beside us down this road
every step of the way. Mine and David’s
prayer throughout this entire journey is that
God will be glorified in everything. Don’t
worry about anything; instead pray about
everything and don’t forget to thank God for
His answers.”
32 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published February 2016

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
On March 3, after 5 days of treatment,
Campbell was released to go home. “We
were all very thankful to be going home to
our familiar territory, routine, food, etc. “
Like most children, Campbell was a creature
of habit. He thrived in his own environment.
“We will return to the clinic for our post op
appointment at 8:40 Thursday morning and
then our first outpatient treatment will be at
12:30 on Thursday. We will continue to do
outpatient for treatment weeks two through
five, barring Campbell doesn’t get fever or
sick, which would put us back in the hospital.
David and I have decided that each day we
would find at least one thing to give God
praise for...we are thankful and blessed to get
the opportunity to do that each day of
treatment. Each morning, our prayer is that
Campbell’s side effects from treatment
would be minimum or NOT AT ALL.
We boldly pray for not at all. I am constantly
reminded to experience true joy in each and
every moment of the day and cherish the
time God gives me with my family.”
“I will extol the Lord at all times; HIS praise will
always be on my lips.” –Psalm 34:1
“Our bold prayer is that at six weeks,
when Campbell has his first evaluation, that
they will find no cancer. We know this is a
bold request, but our God is bigger than cancer
and we know HE hears each and every request
we offer up to HIM. Our other request is
that the side effects from the chemo will be
minimum or none at all. Thank you again for
all of your prayers, love and support. We are
praying without ceasing that Campbell will be
completely healed…his story is not finished.”
Throughout the treatment, Jill and David
sought moments of normalcy for their children.
About a month after he was diagnosed,
Campbell was able to return to Trinity
Preschool for a brief moment to enjoy Fairy
Tale Day. He dressed as a pirate, and his
twin sister, Avery, dressed as Rapunzel. A few
days later, Jill arranged a photo session with
photographer Allison Muirhead. “Our
friendship/relationship with Allison goes
back 7 years. She took our wedding pictures,
newborn pictures, first year pictures and many
other pictures since, of the twins and our family.
I knew there was no one else I wanted to take
these very special pictures and capture our
family as only she can. Because we don’t know
what the future holds for our family, we wanted
to have memories of what we were before
chemo/radiation.”
Radiation…such a scary word. “It’s one I
never thought I would speak of, especially
pertaining to my child.” A meeting with
doctors revealed that Campbell was
unfortunately not a candidate for the proton
therapy the family had hoped for. “Because
of the rare location of his Rhabdo (in the
abdomen) and the studs that were left from
surgery, the proton therapy will not work.
Without getting too detailed, proton therapy
hits the tumor (or cancer cells) with radiation.
Because Campbell’s cells are probably so
small, there is no way to know what to hit
and you can’t just hit thin air and hope you
are hitting the possible cancer cells remaining.
In his case, you can’t hope, you have to
know for certain that the radiation is hitting
what it is supposed to so that it won’t come
back. So, the only way to do that is to radiate
his entire abdomen.” The good news is the
radiation could be done at UMC. The bad
news would be the toll it would take on
Campbell. The side effects from radiation
will be worse since it is targeting his abdomen…
nausea, vomiting, intestinal issues (because
the intestines do not like radiation), etc. He
will be put to sleep every day for five days a
week for five weeks (because of his age and
the need to be completely still he has to be
put to sleep). He will also be receiving chemo
throughout radiation. We are scared, we are
nervous and we worry about the many side
effects to come. Secondary cancer is a big
one. We know that God provides the wisdom
and tools to the doctors to do their jobs so
we signed the papers once again and said do
whatever you have to in order to save his life
and give him a chance at living a long, full life.”
The toll on the entire family was hard.
“I’m tired, we are tired and my heart aches
for my four-year-old who doesn’t understand
why we keep doing all of this to him. I don’t
know if there has ever really been a time in
my life where I cried out to God that I was
so scared and I wasn’t sure I could keep
going. As much as I feel we are fighting an
uphill battle, HE reminded me that HE is
right there, fighting the battle with us. Oh
gosh how HE loves Campbell more than
I do…HE loves him so much I can’t even
fathom the depths of HIS love for him. So
I release it to HIM, I release Campbell to
HIM, trusting HIM to continue to carry us
through on this journey.”
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD
is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the
earth. HE will not grow tired or weary, and HIS
understanding no one can fathom. HE gives strength
to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men
stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they
will walk and not be faint.” –Isaiah 40:28
“From the fullness of HIS grace we have all received
one blessing after another.” –John 1:16
By January, Campbell’s little body was
struggling from the effects of the radiation.
“I’m going to be honest (and David and I
have always said from day one of this journey,
we would never sugarcoat it to make it more
pleasant because honestly there aren’t a lot of
days I count as pleasant). November and
December were rough months for us.” It was
Hometown MADISON • 33

The
Moments
that
Matter
Most
Mary Ann Kirby
34 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published April 2017

Having a child grow
and change so rapidly
creates a sense of nostalgia
(and sometimes panic)
in me like few things do
and I often find myself
reflecting back on my own
childhood as a measure of
comparison. There are
particular memories that
stick out in my mind–
like sitting at the kitchen
table with my grandmother
playing endless hands of
double solitaire and learning
how to fry chicken in her
cast iron skillet–that I hold
near and dear to my heart.
Then I think about the life
that my husband and I have
created for our son and
wonder, of all the memories
(good and bad) that he’s
sure to have, what will he
actually hold onto?
I have to remind myself, on a near-constant basis, that I am actually contributing
to a narrative that my son could possibly play in his mind for the rest of
his life. And that one day, he’ll be creating and instilling memories and moments
and traditions, God-willing, into his own children based on that narrative.
No one has to be reminded that life is short. I already feel the personal
pressure of not “maximizing” my time here on earth as I have tendencies of
taking the same paths over and over again and have made, admittedly, little effort
to change it. I get into these epic ruts where days or even months may pass and
then I look up and it’s Christmas again! I start to calculate how many Christmases
I have left–and I again worry that I’ve wasted precious time. Why do we do this
to ourselves? Or maybe it’s just me.
I really do have good intentions, though, and know I need to do better.
So, in the spirit of spring renewal, I am becoming more intentional about
making the most of every minute and creating the kind of legacy that will
endure long after I’m gone. I’m gonna live like I’m dying, as Tim McGraw
would say! (A quick side note, I’m not dying. I’m just middle-aged, hormonal,
and waxing philosophical.) Hopefully it will serve as an important way to stay
focused on what matters most.
As parents, we tend to stress about things that don’t matter all that much,
don’t we? Our kids probably aren’t going to remember every detail of our home
decor or how perfectly the beds were made. They likely won’t remember that
time the laundry was all piled up on the laundry room floor or whether our
refrigerator was stocked with name brands or generics. And if that’s the case,
and I hope it is, then what will they remember?
Well, I think they’ll remember traditions . . .
Despite my own parents divorcing when I was four and living full-time with
my mom, there are some really specific things that I remember about my dad’s
parents. I remember that they were tall. My dad is 6’6” and his dad was 6’5”.
And I know that they loved to play golf and his mother made “trash” every year
at Christmas. So several years ago, I decided to start making trash during the
holidays, too. I went out and bought a huge glass canister with a lid that would
hold up to two gallons of the savory homemade snack mix and, despite having
no idea if the recipe was even remotely similar to that which I’d had so many
years before, it turned out deliciously and my son now totally identifies it with
Christmas–just like I did all those years ago.
Kids have deep need for predictability. They’ll remember, with great fondness,
the traditions you establish—whether it’s a weekly game night, places you
regularly travel for family getaways, or, in our case, Sunday dinners around
the table, a custom started by my own maternal grandmother. Be deliberate
about creating some traditions that they’ll want to pass on to their own
children someday.

I think they’ll remember the times they felt safe...
There’s a vulnerability and a need for protection in the heart
of every child, regardless of their age. Our kids will remember
the times we chased the monsters from under their bed, kept
calm during a storm, or talked them through a tough situation
they encountered at school. When children feel safe and
secure, they learn to trust other people. And when they
learn that they can trust the adults around them, it helps them
grow up happy, healthy, and better able to enjoy the world.
I think they’ll remember the times we gave them our undivided
attention...
“Watch this! Mom, watch this!” Lord, how many times can
we “watch this?” But kids measure love basically by our
attentiveness to them. The times you stop what you’re doing
to watch them–or when you go outside to throw the ball or
actually jump on the trampoline–those will be the memories
etched into their hearts and minds forever. Take the time to
do the little things with your kids, because in the end, those
will be the moments that matter most.
I think they’ll remember the way we interacted with our spouses...
We laugh a lot in our house–thank goodness! And,
unbeknownst to him, my child is forming his views of love and
relationships, in large part, by watching how my husband and
I treat each other. I hope to have the kind of marriage that
would make him excited to get married someday–and in the
meantime, it’s nice that he actually still enjoys being around us.
They’ll remember our words of affirmation–and our words of
criticism...
A child’s heart is like wet cement and the impressions
made early in life will harden and become permanent over
time. They’ll base their sense of identity, capability, and even
self-worth largely upon the words we speak to them. And
certainly while part of our job as parents is to correct and
discipline them, our words must be full of love, encouragement,
and positive reinforcement, even when we’re angry.
We must be encouragers. The world certainly has enough
critics already.
So, time marches on. We can’t stop it, rewind it, or fast
forward it. But don’t be fooled by all the pages of a calendar–
there are only as many days of the year as we make use of.
Appreciate every second to the fullest extent possible–and
make every moment count. Even if you’re just starting today.
36 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published April 2017

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week 42, and the radiation had an adverse
effect on Campbell’s bladder, necessitating
the insertion of stents. During that procedure,
it was determined there were muted cancer
cells in Campbell’s bladder. “My emotions
have been all over the map lately and this fear
has taken hold of my heart and my life once
again. I would love to say that I have it all
together and all figured out and we are
managing well, but that’s a lie. I am scared
of what my son’s future looks like…what our
future as a family looks like. In the weeks
since, I have experienced a flood of emotions,
but through it all, I have felt God’s presence,
HIS Peace that surpasses all understanding
and daily gentle reminders that HE is still on
HIS throne, HE has Campbell, us, all of us, in
the palm of HIS Hand. And I’m reminded of
that great hymn, ‘It is Well With My Soul.’
I love the words and how comforting that
those words written so many years ago are
still so true, so relevant to my life, to all of
our lives today. I love Kristene DeMarco’s
(Bethel Music) worshipful rendition of it
and find myself listening to it daily.”
With nine weeks left of chemo, David and
Jill began to look forward to week number 54.
That’s when a scan would be performed to
determine if the cancer was in remission.
All along, family, friends, church members,
neighbors, co-workers and others pulled
together to feed the Dale family literally and
spiritually. The family was provided with meals,
cards, ‘happies’ and more which let them
know that they were not alone on their
journey.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
–Psalm 90:14
The final week of chemo came on week
51, one year into the journey that began with
Campbell’s diagnosis of cancer. Jill was
reflective in her CaringBridge post: “I think
about how this is definitely not how I
pictured my life, especially after having kids.
Through this year, I am learning to not take
life for granted, but to hold on to every
second and to make sure that I make every
day count for HIS Kingdom, as that is my
sole purpose here on earth: to be in so close
fellowship with HIM that HE reveals
HIMSELF to me. That I am open to what
HE is teaching me, showing me and that my
life will be a reflection of HIM and will draw
others to HIM, because that is what life is all
about, living a life that glorifies HIM so that
others will come to know HIM as their
Savior. What a huge responsibility, but what
a glorious, magnificent thing. I never would
have thought cancer would teach me so
much and bring me so far down that the only
way to rise up is reaching and grasping HIS
hand. That’s what we are doing, we grasp and
we hold on as tight as we can because I never
want HIM to let me go. To face a monster
like cancer without a Savior, well, I cannot
even imagine. People ask David and me how
we do it, but I really don’t think we do it. We
do the only thing we know, which is to pray
and trust that HE knows better than us what
is best for us and for Campbell. I don’t think
God makes people get cancer. It’s easy to
blame Him when something bad happens. I
think because of the sinful world we live in,
death, disease, immorality, etc. is a part of this
world. It makes us hope for something better,
a place where there will be no death, disease,
sin. What a magnificent thing, I mean can
you imagine living somewhere like that for all
eternity? That’s why I have hope, because
this life is not the end for me, for Campbell,
for all those who believe. A better place is
waiting and if Campbell gets there before
me, well what a glorious reunion that will be.
He can sit at Jesus’ feet and wait for me to
join him. No, I don’t want my child to die,
but no one does so I have to trust and believe
that God will heal him and he will live a long,
full, healthy life.”
In May, the Dale family prepared
themselves for twelve three-week rounds of
chemo, 36 weeks with no break in between.
Campbell’s cancer had returned. “People
always ask how we do this day in and day out.
The answer is I just don’t know. There are
days that I am a blubbering mess and other
days where I forget this reality and our life
feels a little “normal” whatever that is. I
remember vividly having a bad day almost 2
weeks ago, bad enough that I was hyperventilating
and I couldn’t control the tears, the
anger or the emotions. Thinking about all
these things and being mad at God and
being mad at the world and not understanding
why my son was suffering so much. David
came home that night and reassured me that
it was going to all be okay. He said no matter
what, we were going to be okay (it’s funny
how God puts two people together – we are
so different, but yet our strengths and
weaknesses cancel each other out…God knew
that when he brought us together nine years
ago). After spending much time in prayer
that Tuesday night and basically crying and
praying on my knees at the foot of my child’s
bed (although this has become a regular scene
for the past 15 months), the next morning
I felt this peace wash over me and it has been
with me ever since. I know that was and is
God saying trust ME, love ME, look to
ME…I’ve got this. I have carried you this far
and will continue to carry you until the end
when you join ME in Heaven. HE continues
to give me, give us, a peace that surpasses all
of our understanding, strength to endure and
hope for tomorrow. Chemo starts tomorrow
(Monday). We are ready to fight and win.
We don’t know what the next 36 weeks
looks like.”
38 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published February 2016

“Yet I am always with you, you hold me by my right
hand. YOU guide me with your counsel, and
afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I
in heaven but YOU? And earth has nothing I desire
but YOU. My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD
is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
–Psalm 73:23-26
Those weeks were difficult for Campbell
and for his family. Jill went through all range
of emotions, including anger and helplessness.
“I don’t understand why these kids get
cancer, fight so hard and then lose the fight.
I think it is something I may always struggle
with (another question for that day when I
get to Heaven). I want more than anything
else in this world for my child to beat this
cancer. I know the odds are stacked against
him and there is literally nothing that neither
I nor David can do to change that. I want to
control the outcome. I want to control how
he responds to chemo. I want to control
every last part of it, and I can’t. I simply have
to let it go, lay it down at my Savior’s feet and
remember that Campbell is not mine. He is
only a gift to love and nurture and point him
to the One who loves him more than I do.
What a tall order, but what a gift we’ve been
given. More than anything else in this world,
I want him to know God, to know Christ as
we do, a loving Savior that died so that we
might live. But really, isn’t that what life is all
about for all of us?”
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
By mid September, Campbell was fading.
“I’ve cried many tears in the past few days,
knowing that Campbell is one day closer to
being HOME. He sat up in bed last night
and I was talking to him as he was drinking
his apple juice. I asked him if he was tired, he
nodded yes. I asked him if he was ready to go
home and he said yes. I then asked him if he
was ready to see Jesus. He nodded yes. I
hugged him tight and told him, not much
longer, and then told him that Jesus would
take care of him and told him to wait for us.
No one prepares you for this…there are
no classes, no book to walk you through
watching your child fight cancer and then
watching the cancer take over their body. I
don’t think there is any possible way to write
a book about it or tell someone how to do it.
You do it by experience and it’s an experience
I wish we never had. David and I look at each
other some days and feel like we are living in
this alternate universe or something. It’s just
a strange life we have these days. I think we
just go through the motions, just trying to
get through the day. There have been good
moments during the day with Campbell and
I cherish those. They are becoming few and
far between though. He’s tired and has slept
most of today. He’s on oxygen around the
clock and we have tried to keep him as
comfortable as possible with medication.
He knows he is loved so very much and we
kiss him and tell him that as much as we can.
I think what is scary to me is not having him
physically here to kiss and to touch. That’s
what scares me and it’s something I have
struggled with and have asked God many
times during the day to give me comfort and
peace in that.”
As difficult as the journey was, there were
blessings scattered all along the way for both
Campbell and his family. Several people with
the MSU alumni flew the family back and
forth to Starkville on Aug 25th so that
Campbell could be a Bulldog for a day.
“We are grateful to so many people,” wrote
Jill, “from the athletic department at MSU
(the basketball team, the baseball team, the
football team, Coach Mullen, Dak Prescott
and Scott Strickland), to Allison Muirhead
and John David Smith that captured so
many memories for us that day.” The
Make-A-Wish Foundation in Mississippi
helped with that, as well as granting
Campbell’s wish to go to Disney World.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on
what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what
is unseen is eternal.” –2 Corinthians 4:16-18
On September 18, 2015, just 11 days shy
of his sixth birthday, Campbell Grady Dale
passed away. “We are heartbroken and
feeling an emptiness in our hearts because
our precious Campbell is no longer here with
us. We are rejoicing that he is now with his
Savior, the one that loves him more than we
can fathom or imagine. Oh to witness that
sweet, precious reunion when he ran into his
Daddy’s arms and to look upon HIS glorious
face and hear HIM say, “Well done my good
and faithful servant. Now come and rest.”
We look forward to the day when we will be
reunited and we can worship our Father
together at HIS feet.”
“I am the Lord who comforts HIS people and will
have compassion on HIS afflicted ones. You can
transcend your troubles because I am both powerful
and compassionate.” –Jesus Today by Sarah Young
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who
is to come, the Almighty.” –Revelations 1:8 n
Hometown MADISON • 39

Willie RuthAmy Thomas
There are ticket stubs from every movie I have seen,
whether I liked the movie or not; receipts from the grocery
store, just in case I need to return the strawberries that
I have already eaten; coupons for stores I never visit but
one day might; the bottom half of a shopping list that’s
still blank enough to use. Things only disappear from the
refrigerator when one of my five magnets refuses to hold
up an additional item, instead slowly sagging to the bottom
of the door until the two photos, the invitation for a
wedding that I did not attend, and a football game ticket
are scattered across the kitchen floor.
40 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published April 2019

There is one item that has its own
designated magnet–the strongest one
of the bunch–sitting at eye-level on the
door of the freezer. It’s a list entitled
“Basil Facts,” carefully handwritten in
ballpoint pen by my grandmother and
Scotch-taped to a page from the 2001
Farmer’s Almanac Spring Edition.
“Full sun, plentiful water, well-drained,
rich soil,” it reads. “A dozen plants
will yield 4-6 cups of leaves a week.”
The basil plant that prompted these
instructions has long since withered
away. Planted from seeds in a small
terracotta-colored plastic pot, its
spot on my kitchen windowsill was
never sunny enough for it, and the
stalks grew tall and yellow in search
of warmth.
Just as my grandmother painstakingly
copied these instructions down from
her guidebook on plants, she carefully
tended to her own garden for years,
growing tomatoes, peaches, strawberries,
and butter beans, even when nothing
came out of the soil.
Every Sunday that I lived in Mississippi,
my mother and I spent the afternoon
visiting my grandparents. For more than
ten years, they lived in a small trailer home
across from my aunt, who owns most of
the land on the street and lets her horses
graze in the vacant plots next door.
Each Sunday, we would drive out of
the city until the highways turned into
two-lane streets and fences began to keep
in cows and goats. We turned at the only
gas station for miles and passed handmade
poster board signs that advertise “Baby
Chicks For Sale” or “Free Firewood–You
Haul It.” When we got to the cactus my
aunt has planted beside the road, we
would take a right onto the gravel street.
As we pulled up the driveway, I would
often see just the top of my grandmother’s
head from behind the storage shed, her
curly black hair scooting quickly across the
yard. She would be sitting in a motorized
wheelchair that was designated for
off-roading in the garden, dragging a
water hose in one hand and holding the
day’s mail in the other. She waved when
she saw us and zoomed across the grass,
up the wooden porch ramp. She would
park the chair on the porch, cover it with
a quilt, and hobble into the house with us.
Our visits didn’t usually consist of
much. My grandparents both sat in their
big recliners, my mother and I on the
brown suede couch. The television was
always turned on but always muted–
usually stuck on the local forecast or a
game show. The fridge would be stocked
with my favorite soda, and they always
asked us several times throughout the
visit if we wanted something to eat.
“Did you notice all my flowers
blooming at the front of the house?”
my grandmother asks us. We say we
didn’t, and she laughs. “I’ve got all these
flowers that have bloomed out right
Hometown MADISON • 41

here at the front porch,” she says,
pointing toward the door.
My grandfather chimes in from his
chair across the room. “Real, or fake?”
he asks, and my grandmother laughs
in response. They’re fake silk flowers
buried in the real dirt, and they bloom
year-round.
“You’d think with all the time I’ve put
in it, I would have a better garden than
what I turn out to have,” she says. “I just
really haven’t had space anywhere that
I’ve lived to have very much of a garden,
you know.”
My grandmother, who was named
Willie after her grandmother and Ruth
after her mother, grew up in the garden.
Born in southern Alabama but raised in
central Mississippi, she lived with her
family on property owned by the man
they raised crops for. In the small family
garden by their home, she helped by
shelling peas, and they lived off what
they could grow.
The first garden of her own was in
the backyard of her home on Lawrence
Road in Jackson, Mississippi. There, she
raised two daughters and lived for nearly
forty years. During the weekdays, she
worked in the daycare at their church,
Briarwood Baptist, taking care of
three-year-olds who called her “Miss
Roofie.” Her vegetable garden sat across
the length of the yard’s left edge, and
carefully planted wildflowers ran down
the other two sides of the chain-link
fence. In the center of the yard sat an
old peach tree covered in fine mesh to
keep out squirrels, and two silver metal
clothesline posts. In the summer, sunlight
made its way through the canopy of the
giant, ancient oak trees that dotted the
old neighborhood.
When they moved to the trailer in
2005, they dug up the concrete
stepping-stone that sat in front of the
gardening shed in the backyard and took
it with them. It had my mother’s name,
Debra Henderson, engraved into the
wet cement with a pointer finger, and
the year, 1968.
In the new home, my grandmother
immediately picked the best spots for
her new garden, which flanked the trailer
home on opposite ends. My uncle tilled
up the soil for her, and she set to work.
When it got harder for her to walk down
the steps and across the yard, we got her
the motorized wheelchair. After this,
she put her trowel and gardening claw
in the chair’s side pocket and began
dragging the watering hose behind her
across the yard.
At the end of every autumn, she
would say that season was her last to
work in the dirt. “I’m not doing a garden
next year,” she would tell us. We bought
her the most realistic-looking silk flowers
we could find, and she planted them by
the mailbox and in hanging baskets
along the back porch. But one Sunday
afternoon each spring, we would pull up
in the gravel driveway to see freshlytilled
earth, tree branches serving as bean
poles, and evenly-spaced mounds of dirt
with tiny green sprouts breaking free.
One particular Sunday, while sitting
in the living room as a brightly-colored
NASCAR race swirled silently around
on the TV, I asked her what it is about
gardening that she likes so much.
“I don’t know,” she said, laughing.
“I just do.” Sitting in her recliner, she is
wearing two pairs of fuzzy pink socks as
well as house shoes, and her feet barely
touch the floor. “I just like to go outside.
I could stay out there all day.” With this,
she pauses and turns to my grandfather,
who is nodding off in his own chair.
“Couldn’t I, Shelton?” she asks him.
He picked his head up and doesn’t miss
a beat. “You do,” he responds. “You do
that sometimes.” He tells us that when
the weather is good, she’ll go out at ten
and won’t come back in until two or three.
“I like to do butter beans…” she says,
looking off in the distance. “I like to have
butter beans, and okra, and tomatoes,
and squash–which I don’t have good
luck with, squash.” She continues,
“Onions, strawberries, blueberries…
peach trees, pear trees, plum trees. If
they’re good plums, they’re about like
that,” she says, holding up her fingers
to show an imaginary, golfball-sized
piece of fruit. “This past year I didn’t
have good plums because half of it….
Well, I only had half a plum each.”
That year, she carefully picked each
plum, half not quite ripe, the other half
already turning bad. Setting them in
her lap on the wheelchair, she brought
the small pile into the house each day.
She would then carefully peel each piece
of fruit, keeping only the parts that were
good. Little by little, she amassed enough
that summer to make a few jars of jelly,
which she gave to us.
“There are some vegetables that just
take too much time to plant and peel,
Mama,” my mother always told her.
“You can buy them at the store and
they taste just as good.”
“Yeah, but I still wanna’ put ‘em up,”
she said, laughing.
During my sophomore year in
college, I came home for the summer
determined to grow my own garden in
the backyard. I purchased several seed
packets at the local yard and garden
center: giant sunflowers, heirloom
tomatoes, California poppies, dark green
cucumbers. I planted the seeds in egg
cartons filled with soil and watched
them peek out of the dirt, their tiny green
bodies stretching toward the kitchen
window’s sun.
In the heat of June, I used a longhandled
shovel to break up the hard
Mississippi clay and mixed it with new,
rich, black soil, burying the roots of
each sprout an even six-inches apart.
I punctured the dirt with the ends of
freshly-pruned crepe myrtle branches
42 • JANUARY 2023 Originally published April 2019

and tied up the stems of the tiny
sunflowers with strips of old pantyhose.
Each morning, I dragged the watering
hose out to the plot, letting it soak the
ground before the sun reached noon
and could boil the tiny plants.
Around mid-July, my interest began
to wither. The tiny tomato plants were
infested with bright green hornworms
that would continue to chew the leaves
even after you cut the pest in half with
shears. The poppies never sprouted.
Angry red wasps seized control of the
sunflowers until a storm blew through
and snapped the stalks at their base.
The one cucumber that grew started to
turn a sickly pale yellow. I didn’t even
like the taste of cucumbers, and I had
an assortment of mosquito bites to
support my surrender.
After college, I moved to downtown
Birmingham. My outdoor plot is now
limited to what flower pots I can fit on
my shady third-floor fire escape, and
the constant refrain of train horns has
replaced the melodies of Mississippi
crickets at night. Even though I gave up
on the garden in my parents’ backyard,
I’m still drawn to the displays of envelopes
full of seeds that appear in the grocery
store each spring. I have killed succulents,
herbs, flowers, leafy greens, each new
season bringing in a new plant with new
promise and ending with something like
the brown, twiggy basil plant that
recently evacuated my windowsill. Even
my grandmother’s list of “Basil Facts”
can’t make amends for my black thumb.
My grandmother passed away in
the spring of 2017, leaving behind an
empty recliner and an empty garden
that can’t be filled. The only thing she
loved more than tending to her flowers
and vegetables was her family, and
she cared for us the same way she
nurtured her garden: with devotion,
tenderness, determination, and an
abundance of love.
It’s an old way of doing things:
choosing the perfect plot of soil that’s
not too sunny, not too shady; tilling
up the dirt and watching the
uncovered earthworms dance
around; carefully planting each
bulb six-inches apart and
covering them with the right
amount of soil.
You’ve got to make sure they
get enough water and enough
sun, and you’ve got to fertilize
them at exactly the right time
and keep the insects away. You’ll
painstakingly pick and peel and
chop and can. If you’re like my
grandmother, you will always be
disappointed with what you yield,
even if you’ve got enough to give
to both your daughters and all
four of your grandchildren with
some left over. But, if you’re like
my grandmother, you’ll do it
every single season just to be
outside in the sun. As she
would have told you,
“I just love to see stuff grow.”
Hometown MADISON • 43

Chocolate Pie
• 1¼ cups granulated sugar
• 3½ Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 5 oz. can evaporated milk
• 1 9-inch pie crust, homemade
or store bought
• whipped cream, for serving
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl,
whisk together the sugar and cocoa
powder. Vigorously whisk in the
eggs, butter, and evaporated milk
until completely combined and
smooth (batter will be thin).
Pour batter into the pie crust and
bake for about 50-55 minutes or
until the filling sets and there is a
thin crust on the top. (It might be
slightly jiggly in the center, but that’s
okay - as it sits and cools, it will
set up more.) Remove from oven
and let cool completely.
Slice and serve
with whipped
cream and
chocolate
shavings!
Apple Pie
• 2 9” pie crusts
• 7 large Granny Smith apples
(peeled, cored, and sliced into
½ inch slices)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
(loosely packed)
• 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
(plus the zest of half of a lemon)
• 1 large egg (lightly beaten in a
small bowl for egg wash)
• 2 Tbsp. sanding sugar (optional)
Prepare pie crusts per package
directions – refrigerate. Place oven
rack in the center position and
preheat the oven to 400. In a large
bowl, combine the sliced apples,
granulated sugar, light brown sugar,
flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and
lemon juice and lemon zest; toss to
coat evenly. Remove the pie crust
dough from the fridge, and carefully
lay the crust into the bottom of a
deep-dish pie plate. Spoon the apple
filling over the bottom crust and
discard juices at the bottom of the
bowl. Lay the second pie crust it
over the apple filling.
Use a sharp knife to trim the dough
along the outside edge of the pie
plate. Lift the edges where the two
pie crusts meet, gently press to seal
and fold them under. Rotate the pie
plate and repeat this process until
edges are neatly tucked under
themselves. Cut 4 slits in the top of
the dough to allow steam to vent.
Place the pie on a baking sheet.
Brush the surface of the pie crust
with the egg wash and sprinkle with
sanding sugar. Cover the edges with
a pie shield or a strip of foil to keep
them from over browning during
the first 25 minutes. Bake at 400 for
25 minutes. Carefully remove the
pie shield, turn the oven down to
375 and continue to bake for an
additional 30-35 minutes or until
the top is golden brown and the
juices are bubbly. Cool at room
temperature for at least 3 hours.
44 • JANUARY 2023

Bourbon Pecan Pie
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• ½ cup dark corn syrup
• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp. bourbon
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
• 1¼ cups coarsely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 375. Mix eggs, sugar,
corn syrups, butter, bourbon, vanilla
and salt until well blended. Prick the
sides and bottom of the pie shell with
a fork at ½-inch intervals. Spread the
pecans on the bottom and pour the
mixture over them. Bake for 35 to
45 minutes, until just set around the
edges but still slightly loose in the
center. (It will continue to set as it
cools.) Place on a rack to cool slightly.
National
Lemon Icebox Pie
• 1 9-inch graham cracker crust
• 8 oz. cream cheese
(room temperature)
• 1 14-oz. can sweetened
condensed milk
• ½ cup fresh lemon juice
• zest of two lemons
• whipped cream
Place the cream cheese into a mixing
bowl and use an electric mixer to
blend until smooth and creamy.
Add the sweetened condensed milk,
lemon juice and lemon zest and
blend again until the ingredients are
fully incorporated and completely
smooth. Pour the filling into the
crust, smooth the top and chill in
the refrigerator for 2 hours to set.
Top with whipped cream or cool
whip and serve cold.
Pie Day
is January 23!
Cherry Crumble Pie
Crust
• 1½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 6 Tbsp. chilled unsalted butter cut
into ½-inch pieces
• 2 Tbsp. chilled vegetable
shortening cut into ½-inch pieces
• 2 Tbsp. or more ice water
• 1 large egg yolk
Filling
• 6 cups pitted sweet cherries or
pitted frozen cherries
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 small lemon zested and juiced
• ⅛ tsp. ground allspice
• ⅛ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp. almond extract
• 2 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
ground in food processor
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter cut into
eight small pieces
Topping
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp.
old-fashioned oats
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ½ cup chilled unsalted butter
cut into ½-inch pieces
Blend flour, sugar, and salt in food
processor for 5 seconds. Add butter
and shortening and pulse processor
until mixture resembles coarse meal.
Add 2 Tbsp. of ice water and yolk to
dough and process on and off until a
moist clump forms, adding more ice
water teaspoonfuls at a time if the
dough is dry. Form dough into a ball
and then flatten it into a disk. Wrap
dough and plastic and chill for at least
1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Toss fruit with sugar, lemon juice
and zest, spices, almond extract, and
tapioca; let stand for 15 minutes.
In large bowl mix together oats, flour,
sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter
and use hands and fingertips to mix
mixture until moist clumps form;
cover and chill until ready to use.
Move oven rack to middle position
and preheat to 425. Lightly flour the
countertop and roll out the dough
into 13-14-inch round. Transfer
dough to a 9-inch deep-dish glass pie
plate. Trim dough overhang to
¾ inch. Fold dough over and crimp
edges decoratively. Spread filling over
the dough and smooth into an even
layer. Scatter butter pieces over the
filling. Sprinkle topping over filling
evenly. Bake pie for 30 minutes, then
reduce temperature to 400. Cover
just edges of pie with foil or pie shield
and continue baking until filling is
bubbly and topping is brown and
crisp, about 25 minutes longer.
Move pie to wire rack and cool at
least 30 minutes before serving.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

High
School
to Grad
School
STUDENT CHECKING
MOVES WITH YOU
Our Student Checking goes with you no matter how far
away you move from home or a BankPlus branch. We
won’t charge you to use other banks’ ATMs, and we’ll
automatically rebate fees charged by other banks for use of their
ATMs. You’ll always have control of your account with free
mobile banking, including mobile deposit and Zelle ® person-toperson
payments. Learn more at bankplus.net.
© Copyright 2022 BankPlus. Member
FDIC. *ATM Surcharge fees incurred
within the 50 United States and the
District of Columbia will be credited
back at the end of the statement cycle.
Zelle ® and other Zelle related marks
and logos are property of Early Warning
Services, LLC.
46 • JANUARY 2023

Grandparents to
grandbabies, our
specialized physicians
provide specialized care.
Your family is the most valuable gift you have. And, you want to
choose the physicians that can deliver the most specialized care
throughout your family’s life. There is a JEA physician for all the family
members you love, grandparents to grandbabies. Specialized care for
your very special family. Schedule an appointment today.
Hometown MADISON • 47

The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools
Madison Central
2022 Homecoming Queen Ava Dear
Front L-R: Rorie Annabelle Carmody, Thomas Mason Benedict, and Holland Alyse Portera.
Back L-R: MCHS principal Dr. Teague Burchfield, 2021 homecoming queen Rowan Gentry,
queen Ava Dear, Dave Dear (father), and Madison County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Seals.
48 • JANUARY 2023

2022 Homecoming Court
Front L-R: Rorie Annabelle Carmody, Thomas Mason Benedict, and Holland Alyse Portera. Second row L-R: Junior Court members Anna Edgar, Rhyin Singleton, and Lauralee Hetzel;
senior court members Zoe Zhang, Alexa Ainsworth, Mattie Dupuy, Kinsley Wilson, queen Ava Dear, and Bergen Bianchi; junior court members Brooke Bumgarner and Kylira Griffin;
sophomore court member Pearl Magee. Third row L-R: freshman court members freshman court members Reyanna Williams, Avery Coney, and Aliyiah Morris; senior court members
Bryman Williams, R.J. Smith, Jake Norris, Vic Sutton, Aiden Allen, and Isaiah Spencer; sophomore court members Aricyn Brown, Lana Nabulsi, and Sara Reeves Thomas.
Back L-R: freshman court members Damorion Smith, Trashun Brown, and Connor Wade; junior court members John Griffin, Harry Singh, Ty Miller, Max Zuluaga,
and Tyrone Richardson; sophomore court members Tripp Higgins, Brandon Huerkamp, Whit Turpin and Darren Woods.
Hometown MADISON • 49

TheTime COIN
Camille Anding
Boxes! They’ve been a big part of my life
in our moving process.
Friends have saved and shared their empty cardboard boxes so we could transport our
“treasures” in them. I’m indebted to them and their boxes. I’m even more indebted to the inventor
of the cardboard box - the efficient lightweight, recyclable container that saves me from carrying
our items by the armloads. We’ve packed everything transportable in the handy carriers. Long
live the #1 aid for moving!
I’ve discovered that our lives are surrounded by boxes - and they all hold necessities,
valuables, or treasures. There are shoe boxes in my closet, jewelry boxes on the shelf, and a
toy box in the loft. There are little boxes for nails and tacks, medium size boxes for flatware,
crackers and cereal, and mega boxes for lamps and larger valuables.
I recall the first treasure given to me in a little box. It reiterated the truth of : “If it comes in a little
black, velvet box, I’ll love it.” It was late afternoon on a road in Shelby, Mississippi, when Othel
stopped the car and handed me the little black box. What a treasure rested inside its velvet walls!
In our sorting and packing our fifty-plus years of accumulations, I’ve found more than one
medium size box holding personal treasures: original Mother’s Day cards with personal notes
from Tahya and Eli, plaster handprints, school day pictures with snaggletoothed smiles and
uneven bangs, ribbons from talent shows and artwork from not-so-promising young artists.
Cardboard boxes can definitely hold treasures.
This year a large wooden box, beautifully embellished, rolled past me at the funeral home.
I thought to myself - another box - and holding the most valuable treasure - the body of a loved
one. This “box” would be the final earthly resting place for this child of God and would leave
family and friends to be placed in a nearby cemetery. The sadness of the separation was heavy,
and then a new meaning suddenly flashed through the gloom. Cemeteries are where we bury
our treasures! Surely God must see acres of buried treasure instead of the cold, gray marble on
cemetery plots. According to His promise, one day there will be a trumpet blast, and all those
boxes of treasures will be emptied as the dead in Christ rise in glorified bodies.
That will mean the end of a lot of things - and boxes will be one of them. There won’t be any
more moves.
50 • JANUARY 2023

Hometown MADISON • 51

YOUR HEART IS IN
THE RIGHT PLACE.
THEY SAY HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS,
SO WE PROVIDE HEART CARE CLOSE TO HOME.
Our team of heart specialists are here for your routine
and preventive cardiac care through lifestyle support,
minimally invasive treatments and in emergent situations.
When you put your heart in our hands, you get the
benefit of skilled, experienced cardiovascular specialists
and Merit Health Heart’s collaborative approach to care.
To learn more, visit MeritHealthHeart.com
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.