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CONNECTING PEOPLE TO 

THEIR DREAMS 

From Playroom to Boardroom 

Growing up, you always took make-believe to the 

next level. Today, you still pursue the full potential 

of each idea – finding advisors who relate to your 

intuition. We share that drive, because connecting 

people to their dreams is our true passion. 

Every great relationship has an Origin story. 

Start yours today at Origin.Bank/YourStory 

MEMBER FDIC 

8 • NOVEMBER 2022

FROM OUR CONSULTING EDITOR 

I was born in November, so it’s naturally my favorite month of the year! 

It seems like everything that happens between Labor Day and Christmas 

becomes one big blur, however. My husband says it’s because I try to do too 

many things at once. But I happen to think that if you don’t do everything you 

can, when you can, you may miss out on doing it at all. 

There are a couple of stories in this month’s issue that are really near and dear 

to my heart. The first one documents the traditional Secret Mission trip that my 

husband and two of his closest friends have created for all our collective kids. 

It started when my own child was merely six years old. Today, he’s a sophomore 

in college. But the point is that these dads were very intentional about the way 

they spent their time with their kids—going back to doing everything you can, 

when you can. 

The other is a follow-up story about Shower Power—a grassroots organization 

that serves the growing homeless population in downtown Jackson. It’s where 

I spend nearly 100% of my time and energy when I’m not working for the 

magazine. We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our “village” that sustains us 

with time, talents, and resources, and wanted to bring you up to date on what’s 

happening in our little organization. 

Finally, I’d like to remind you about “A Home for Brad.” Madison County 

Sheriff Deputy Brad Sullivan took two bullets to the head in 2019 while pursuing 

a kidnapping suspect. Miraculously, he lived. After months in the hospital, he was 

asked what he wanted more than anything. His answers were simple. He wanted 

to WALK out of that hospital—and he wanted to be home for Christmas. 

Brad did in fact walk out of the hospital—with assistance—but he is confined 

to a wheelchair and his home isn’t ADA compliant. It just doesn’t work on any 

level. So, a group of people got together and, with the generosity and support of 

friends and complete strangers alike, have built Brad a new home. The goal is to 

get him “home” by Christmas. Building supply costs skyrocketed while they were 

slap in the middle of the build. Any contingency dollars they thought they had 

are long gone. If you feel led, they desperately need your financial support to 

get them across the finish line and get Brad into a home that works for him. 

Please consider giving at AHomeForBrad.org. 

I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving, a wonderful Christmas, 

and a Happy New Year. There’s so much to be grateful for—even when times 

are hard. We’re all called to love one another. I challenge you to find a way to 

make a difference in someone’s life. 

ON THE COVER: Our Art Contest winner, Germantown 9th grader Bella Brewer 

HOMETOWN STAFF 

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

In ThIs IsSue 

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

Hometown Family . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 

Magic of Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

God’s Heart for Orphans. . . . . . . . . 30 

Real Men Wear Pink. . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Resting Their Sails . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Shower Power Update . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Make-A-Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 

Hometown Eats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

The Secret Mission . . . . . . . . . . . 64 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

ASSISTANT 

Caroline Hodges 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ASSISTANT 

Alisha Floyd 

ADVERTISING 

ASSISTANT 

Lexie Ownby 

...see you around town. 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas 

3dt 

STAFF 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Nikki Robison 

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. 


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November 10th - 21st, 2022 

Save Now, Gift Later! 

Purchase online at 3in1GiftCard.com 

In person at BRAVO!, Broad Street, and 

Sal & Mookie’s 

Digital and physical gift card options 

No Limit to how many you can purchase 

GIFT CARDS NEVER EXPIRE! 

Plus, We Give 10% to Charity! 

Select 1 of 12 community chosen charities, 

and WE will donate 10% of your total gift 

card purchase to your selected charity. 

Plus, we will feature one of the 12 selected 

charities each month in 2023, and they will 

receive additional donations from each 

10 • NOVEMBER 2022

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Christy 

WALKER 

Why did you make Madison your home? 

My husband grew up in Farmhaven and graduated 

from Canton Academy. We moved to Canton after 

we married in 2004. Seven years ago, we moved to 

Gluckstadt to be closer to both our schools and our 

church, Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in 

Ridgeland. 

Tell us about your family. 

I am married to Matt Walker of Canton. We have 

been married for eighteen years. He is a teacher and 

football/track coach at MRA. He also co-owns a 

power washing business, Xterior Xperts, and 

Walker’s Elite Nutrition, a nutrition company 

specializing in supplements. We have two daughters 

– Mary Tristen, a 10th grader at Germantown High, 

and Mattie, a 6th grader at Germantown Middle. 

I just started my twenty-third year of teaching, sixteen 

of those with Madison County School District. I have 

been teaching at Germantown High School since its 

opening in 2011. Also, as part of our family, we have 

four dogs, four cats, many ducks and chickens, and just 

added honeybees this past May. 

What are some fun things to do in 

Madison County on the weekends? 

My husband and I love just being home, creating or 

dreaming of projects which means visiting local home 

and garden stores. MT loves to hang out with friends 

at a local restaurant or at the Renaissance. Mattie loves 

hanging out with her friends at the barn at Blue 

Ribbon Riding Academy. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in 

your spare time. 

I absolutely love to read! Two years ago, I created a 

blog where I suggested books. I recently transferred 

everything over to my own personal website 

(mytinylittlefarm.com). I love updating it with my 

book reviews, lesson plans, or just thoughts about 

teaching. Other than reading and blogging, I love 

to tend to my chickens and ducks, gardening, and 

learning how to be a beekeeper. Also, on Saturdays, 

you will probably find me at Goodwill. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

My parents! I am thankful they told us “no” to many 

of our “wants” during our childhood. They instilled in 

us not only a strong work ethic but the belief that if we 

wanted the “extras,” we had to save up and purchase 

them ourselves. My husband and I have instilled this 

in both of our girls who must save their own money 

to buy technological devices. My mom has also 

inspired me on how to be a working mom. Looking 

back, I have no idea how she worked a full-time job 

in addition to a part-time job, being active in band 

boosters, and staying up late nights to make the 

goodies or homemade gifts for school parties. She 

never complained about being too tired. She also 

never wasted a special opportunity. I remember her 

taking my siblings and me to hear President Bush 

speak at MSU’s graduation ceremony in 1989. I 

complained about sitting in the rain at the time but 

now am thankful for that moment. Now that both 

my girls are becoming more active in school and 

church activities, I try not to fret about how to make 

it all happen but just make it happen! My mom always 

reminds me that I will only get this chance once so 

enjoy the busy times, the messy house, the load of 

dishes, and the pile of laundry. 

Where are your three favorite places 

to eat in Madison? 

Trace Grill is my absolute favorite, followed by Kristos 

and McAlister’s. 

What’s on your bucket list? 

I really don’t have a bucket list. However, if you ask 

my sister to name the two things I have always wanted 

to do, it would be to drive a dump truck and to be on 

Wheel of Fortune. If I had to add one more item to 

the list, for one summer, I would love to live in the 

countryside of Great Britain or Cornwall. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

Retired but hopefully either helping train future 

teachers or training current teachers. I love creating 

and sharing lesson plans, so I do not think that I will 

ever be able to let go of that part of my job. 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Madison? 

My grandmother was German, and my mom was 

born in Germany. After I married and learned about 

GermanFest in Gluckstadt, my mom and I would try 

and go each year. I still love GermanFest and take 

the girls each year, if just to give them a taste of 

German foods and traditions. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary 

troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that 

far outweighs them all.” 



The 

Richardss 


Jay and Martha Richardson We were blessed with three sons, 

James, Adam, and Joel, who all still live in Madison. All our sons 

and their children are involved and serving in their churches. James 

and his family are members of Highland Colony Baptist Church, 

Adam and his family are members of Christ Covenant Presbyterian 

Church, and Joel and his family serve at Highland Colony Baptist 

Church, where he is now the senior pastor. 

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

We met at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton in April 

of 1979 and we married in October of 1979. We were introduced by 

the pastor and his wife and have been married for 43 years. In 1988, 

God called Jay and our family into full time Christian ministry. 

After attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where 

he received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, Jay 

pastored Drew Baptist Church in Drew, Mississippi; First Baptist 

Church in Greenville, Mississippi and Highland Colony Baptist 

Church in Ridgeland, Mississippi. He recently retired as senior 

pastor at HCBC, and our youngest son Joel now serves in that role. 


James & Kristin – Jack, Sam & Ellie James 

Joel & Elizabeth – Hayes & Brooks 

Do you allow time to be with your spouse for a date night? 

We have tried to maintain a date time each week, even when the 

children were growing up. It may be lunch once a week or a Friday 

night. But time for just the two of us is very important. 

What brings you the greatest joy as a parent? 

As parents, our greatest joy is seeing our children serving in their 

local church, leading their children to a relationship with Jesus 

and growing in their faith. 

Who is the financial manager in your home? 

We share the responsibility of the finances. Martha pays the bills, 

but any financial decision is discussed with each other and made 

together. 

When your children were younger, what was your discipline 

philosophy? 

Living in a pastor’s home should be no different than any other 

Christian’s home. We tried to live our lives as real people, showing 

them our walk with the Lord in our everyday lives. Our boys knew 

we loved them and in that love was boundaries. Discipline is a 

part of parenting that is not fun but necessary in all of our lives. 

What do you see in your role as the greatest benefit to your 

family? 

Our greatest role now as grandparents is to continue to pass our 

faith on to our grandchildren. Our sons and their families are 

raising their children in faith in Jesus, and we want to reinforce 

that in their lives. 


Adam & Samantha – Aiden, Sydney, Cruze, Henry, Griffin, Shep, John Christian (and one due in January!) 

What’s a quick go to meal that isn’t fast food? 

We enjoy is breakfast for supper. It has always been a favorite 

in our home! 

How long has Madison been your home? 

We have lived in Madison since September of 2003, when we 

were called to Highland Colony Baptist Church in Ridgeland.. 

Jay became the senior pastor there at that time. 

What are some of your favorite things about Madison County? 

What we love most of all of Madison County is the people, especially 

our church family. 

How do you spend your summer breaks? 

Now that we are retired, summer breaks will be year-round! 


‘Tis the Season 

for Financing 

YOUR Dreams! 

YAZOO CITY | F LORA | FLOWOOD | CROSSGATES 

BANKOFYAZOO.COM 

KIM PEYTON, CPA 

7720 Old Canton Road, Suite A 

Madison, MS 39110 

direct 601.707.8221 

fax 601.707.8222 

cell 601.540.6751 

kim@peytonandcompany.com 


ART CONTEST 

For the 2022 holiday issue of Hometown Madison, 

we asked for submissions of Christmas-themed art from high 

school art students throughout Madison County. We want to 

encourage the artistic ability in the county’s brightest young artists! 

Congratulations to Bella Brewer 

on being chosen as our cash prize winner! 

Merry Christmas! 

Germantown - Ava Fulgham, 9th 

Germantown - Bella Brewer, 9th 

Germantown - Mary Robertson, 9th Germantown - Regan Alexander, 9th Velma Jackson - Akail Middleton, 12th Velma Jackson - Alonzo Johnson, 10th 

Velma Jackson - Carltavious Ross, 12th Velma Jackson - Jordan Conway, 10th Velma Jackson - Juliana King, 9th Velma Jackson - Sherman Williamson, 10th 


Susan Marquez 

The Brandon Amphitheater will be transformed into a light-filled venue 

for the holiday season. The lights will be turned on for the drive-through 

holiday-themed display starting on Friday, November 18, 2022, 

and will shine nightly through Sunday, January 1, 2023. 


The event will feature dozens of light displays, illuminated canopies, and digital animation, 

all constructed with over two million lights, including one million individual LED lights. 

“With our focus toward being a quality community for families to live, work, and play, the 

Brandon Amphitheater is the natural destination to host an enjoyable, drive through 

Christmas presentation of this caliber for people of all ages,” says Brandon 

Mayor Butch Lee. “Our efforts are geared towards transforming our Quarry Park 

Trails that surround the Brandon Amphitheater into a magical experience filled 

with memorable moments for years to come. We are excited this year to be 

one of 21 locations in North America to host a Magic of Lights show. Attracting 

a show of this magnitude, with sister show events in locations 

such as the NFL Gillette Stadium in Boston, and the Daytona 

National Speedway in Daytona, Florida, speaks well for our 

hometown and life in Brandon.” 


The Magic of Lights display will be produced by Family 

Entertainment Live, a family-oriented entertainment holding 

company headquartered in Medina, Ohio. The event is 

presented by WLBT-TV. “We are excited to bring Magic of 

Lights to the Brandon community and the Brandon Amphitheater 

for the first time ever and hope it becomes an annual 

holiday tradition,” says Ken Hudgens, CEO of Family 

Entertainment Live. 

Ted Fortenberry, Regional Vice President and GM of WLBT 

says, “We are excited to present the Magic of Lights at 

Brandon’s Amphitheater. It is the perfect setting for this 

fantastic family holiday experience. Helping to bring in 

events like Magic of Lights so families can create lifelong 

holiday memories fits perfectly with WLBT’s commitment to 

serve the communities of Central and Southwest Mississippi.” 

Visitors to the event can enjoy the tour’s displays from the 

comfort of their own vehicle. Displays will feature a 32-foot 

tall, animated Mattel’s Barbie, and prehistoric Christmas 

display featuring life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the season. 

Other displays will include Big Foot Monster Trucks, Winter 

Wonderland, as well as Magic of Lights favorites including the 

Twelve Days of Christmas, Toyland, and the 200-foot long 

Enchanting Tunnel of Lights. “Magic of Lights is a nostalgic 

and festive experience for guests of all ages,” says Hudgens. 

The numbers to create the event are staggering. The total 

Magic of Lights event will use 12.6 miles of light cord. It takes 

3,750-man hours to set up each Magic of Lights event. Each 

Magic of Lights event uses about ten miles of steel to build 

the displays and ten miles of LED lighting installed inside of 

the displays, which are designed, bent, cut, and welded into 

about 800 frames that are combined in different color 

configurations to create each show’s giant winter holiday 

scenes. Each frame of each scene is designed using state-ofthe-art 

technology. And each display is hand-built in-house 

from fifteen pages of design specifications. Scenes are as 

high as 32 feet tall, and as long as several hundred feet. 

Magic of Lights shines nightly from 5:30pm until 10pm. 

Mayor Lee says more than 10,000 vehicles are expected 

to drive to Rankin County to experience the event. “This 

Christmas light event will pave the way for this to become 

an annual, family friendly show in the years ahead.” 

Tickets for this festive holiday event are on sale now and 

can be purchased for any day starting at just $15 per vehicle, 

for a limited time. For a complete schedule and to purchase 

tickets, visit MagicOfLights.com/Brandon. 



Staff Sides 

Squash Casserole 

• 3 lb. cooked squash 

• 1 small onion 

• 1 cup sour cream 

• 1 cup grated cheese 

• 1 cup Minute Rice 

• 1 stick butter, melted 

• 1 can cream of mushroom soup 

In a large saucepan, steam squash 

with onion, stirring occasionally. 

Once tender, gently combine with 

other ingredients. Transfer to 

a 

glass baking dish, and bake 

35 minutes at 325. 

LEXIE 

Broccoli Salad 

• 5 cups broccoli florets 

• 1 cup bacon, cooked and 

crumbled 

• ½ cup sliced almonds 

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 

• ¼ cup red onion, chopped 

Add broccoli, bacon, almonds, 

cheddar, and onion in a large 

mixing bowl. 

Dressing 

• 1 cup mayonnaise 

• ¼ cup sugar 

(or your preferred sweetener) 

• 1 Tbsp. white vinegar 

• Salt and pepper, to taste 

In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise, 

vinegar, sweetener, salt, and pepper. 

Add dressing mixture to broccoli 

salad and toss to combine until 

evenly coated. Refrigerate one hour 

and serve. 

Carrot Souffle 

• 3½ lbs. peeled carrots 

• 1½ cups sugar 

• 1 tsp. baking powder 

• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 

• 6 eggs 

• ½ lb. margarine softened 

(butter works too) 

• 1/4 cup flour 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large pot filled to just below the 

steamer with water, add the carrots. 

Steam for 12-14 minutes or until 

very tender. Into your blender add 

carrots, sugar, baking powder, vanilla 

extract, eggs and margarine. Mix 

until creamy with no chunks of 

carrots. Add flour and pulse a couple 

of times until just combined. Bake in 

a 13x9 casserole for one hour until 

golden brown on top. 

MARY ANN 

ALISHA 


Strawberry Pretzel Salad 

Pretzel Crust 

• 2 cups crushed pretzels 

• ¾ cup butter melted 

• 3 Tbsp. sugar 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Combine crushed pretzels, butter, 

and sugar in a bowl and press into the 

bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake 10 

minutes and cool completely. 

Creamy Filling 

• 8 oz. cream cheese softened 

• ¾ cup sugar 

• 8 oz. Cool W hip, defrosted 

In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese 

and sugar with a hand mixer on 

medium until fluff y. Gently fold in 

Cool W hip. Spread mixture evenly 

over the cooled crust and refrigerate 

at least 1 hour. 

Strawberry Topping 

• 6 oz. strawberry Jell-O 

• 2 cups boiling water 

• 4 cups sliced strawberries 

In a large mixing bowl combine 

Jell-O and boiling water until jello 

is dissolved. Allow mixture to sit at 

room temperature until completely 

cooled. Place sliced strawberries over 

the cream cheese mixture. 

Pour cooled Jell-O overtop. 

Refrigerate until firmly set, at least 

4-6 hours or overnight. 

TAHYA 

Loaded Hash Brown 

Casserole 

• 1 20 oz. package shredded 

hash browns (thawed) 

• 1 cup cooked bacon (about 16 

slices), chopped into crumbles 

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 

• 1 can cream of chicken 

or cream of mushroom soup 

• 3/4 cup sour cream 

• 4 Tbsp. butter, melted 

• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Spray11x7 baking dish with nonstick 

cooking spray. In a large bowl, 

combine hash browns, half of the 

bacon and cheese, cream of 

mushroom/chicken soup, sour 

cream, and butter. Mix well and 

spread evenly into baking dish. 

Bake 50-55 minutes or until 

potatoes are tender. Top with 

remaining bacon and cheese and 

return to oven to bake for an 

additional five minutes or until 

cheese is melted. Remove from 

oven and top with green onions. 

Serve and enjoy! 

NIKKI 

Green Bean Casserole 

• 2 lb. fresh green beans, ends cut off 

• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/4 inch pieces 

• 3 cloves garlic, minced 

• ½ whole large onion, chopped 

• 4 Tbsp. butter 

• 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 

• 2½ cups whole milk 

• ½ cup half-and-half 

• 1½ tsp. salt, more to taste 

• Freshly ground black pepper 

• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper 

• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese 

• 4 oz. sliced pimentos, drained 

• French fried onions 

Cut green beans in half, blanch and 

drain, set aside. Cook bacon over 

medium heat for two minutes, add 

onion and garlic, continue cooking for 

3 to 5 minutes, until bacon is done 

and onions are golden brown. In a 

separate skillet or saucepan, melt butter 

over medium heat. Wisk in flour to 

evenly mix into the butter. Cook for a 

minute or two, pour in milk and half 

and half. Continue cooking, whisking 

constantly, while sauce thickens, about 

2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, cayenne 

and cheddar. Stir while cheese melts. 

If sauce is too thick, splash in some 

chicken broth. Turn off heat. Add 

pimentos and bacon/onion mixture. 

Stir to combine. Pour over green 

beans and stir gently to combine. 

Pour into a baking dish and top with 

French fried onions. Bake at 350 

for 30 minutes or until 

sauce is bubbly. 

Sweet Potato Casserole 

• 4 cups large sweet potatoes, 

peeled and cubed 

• ½ cup packed brown sugar 

• 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter, melted 

• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

• ½ cup milk 

• 2 large eggs 

• ½ tsp. kosher salt 

• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 

• ½ cup all-purpose flour 

• 4 Tbsp. butter, melted 

• 1 cup chopped pecans 

• 2½ cups mini marshmallows 

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 

9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. 

Place sweet potatoes in a large pot and 

cover with water. Bring to boil, reduce 

heat and simmer until tender, about 

15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. 

In a large bowl, stir together sweet 

potatoes, sugar, butter, vanilla, milk, 

eggs, and salt until smooth. Pour 

into prepared dish. In a medium bowl, 

stir together sugar, flour, and butter 

until it clumps. Stir in pecans, then 

spread evenly over potatoes. Top 

with marshmallows. Bake until 

cooked through and golden, about 

30 minutes. 

CAROLINE 

DANIEL 





ADVERTORIAL 

Jenny Dabbs & J Dabbs Design 

Being Different and Enjoying It 

Sarah Rein 

Jenny Dabbs had a somewhat non-traditional 

entry into the world of design but that has not 

impeded the tremendous growth her business 

has undergone in the last fifteen years. If 

anything, Jenny’s career trajectory may have risen 

faster because of it. And, to be clear, that’s for 

career number two in her life. 

In early adulthood, Jenny worked as a nurse. 

But she’d always been interested in design, 

architecture, landscaping…anything that added 

to a space’s character and beauty. When she and 

her husband moved their family of four from 

Jackson back to her hometown of Philadelphia, 

they bought a run-down home in the lovely, 

wooded neighborhood she grew up in. It ended 

up becoming her first big project. “We didn’t 

have money at the time to hire architects and 

designers, so I read and studied and figured out 

how to do it myself! After 18 months and a total 

gut and rebuild, we had our home. And it’s just 

great.” 

It must be, because people began asking her 

for advice regarding their own homes. In what 

must be a profoundly humble statement, Jenny 

“winged it” - learning the craft as she practiced 

it. She started out doing small projects like paint 

selections and flooring ideas. Today, her portfolio 

includes multi-million dollar estates with projects 

and clients from 30A to Atlanta. Based in 

Philadelphia, Miss., Jenny is always on the go 

and is in the Jackson and Starkville areas on an 

almost weekly basis. 

For many years, Jenny channeled her 

creativity into her first business venture - The 

Potting Shed, a high-end garden and gift shop 

in Philadelphia. When it opened in 2005, her 

son Henry was only 18 months old and her 

daughter was six. And her husband, Andy, had 

opened a surgery clinic just a few years prior. In 

the midst of that busy season, Jenny was able to 

meet scores of people from the community. One 

of them, Melody Vowell, frequently went to 

Jenny with her design and decorating questions 

because she liked Jenny’s taste so much. And 

then, in 2017, when she decided to build a home, 

she hired Jenny as her consultant during the 

design and decorating phases. 

“Jenny has a way of bridging the gap between 

what the client wants and the path to get there. 

For instance, you may have a picture of a kitchen 

you like, but you have to make decisions during 

each step of the building process to achieve that 

same feel in your own home. Jenny was my go-to 

person for that. She interviews her clients to 

understand their vision and their particular 

style–being mindful of individual functional 

needs and budget considerations,” Vowell 

stated. 

As The Potting Shed grew, Jenny decided 

to move it into a historic home in downtown 

Philadelphia that she then renovated herself. 

She sold her business in 2014, but hung onto 

the building. After a year-long sabbatical to 

travel the country with her daughter who was 

playing tournament softball, Jenny joined the 

Antique Shops of Jackson and reopened her 

retail business, while still doing renovations, 

new construction and consulting. 

In 2021, Jenny decided to move JDabbs 

Design back home to Philadelphia. She 

approached the owner of a historic building 

that used to house The Busy Bee Cafe, a 1960s 

staple in downtown Philadelphia. Having just 

renovated the second floor of his building into 

New York-style loft apartments, Douglas 

Hudson was immediately interested in seeing 

what Jenny could make of the first level of his 

old, neglected building, now known as The 

Busy Bee Suites. “I knew she had an amazing 

sense of style and a gift for interior design. I was 

particular about the feel that I envisioned, and 

she was on board. She immediately went to work 

exposing ceiling beams in some areas, repairing 

tin ceilings in other areas, and exposing red 

brick under the stucco walls. I was very involved 

in the beginning of the renovation, but soon 

realized that Jenny could be trusted to transform 

the space into what we had agreed it should be.” 

Shortly after, Jenny acquired a historic, 

abandoned Western Auto warehouse just three 

buildings down from the Busy Bee. It became 

the latest addition to the collection of JDabbs 

buildings and has operated as another showroom 

and gathering spot for Jenny’s friends and 

customers. She recently purchased a baby grand 

for the space to use for events and open houses. 


Sometimes Jenny plays and sometimes she 

invites a jazz trio. A lover of music, she likes to 

bring that into any space she is working in. 

Jenny celebrates her own individuality as a 

designer, hoping that it translates into the 

experience her customers have when they step 

into a JDabbs building. 

“My goal is for you to have a wonderful, 

warm, cozy, feeling when you walk in… whether 

you’re shopping or just stopping by to visit. We 

love to sit and hang out with our customers. We 

sit on the styled furniture, have drinks in the 

warehouse. We always have great music playing 

and it smells good and…we just have a great time. 

It’s fun for us and we want our customers to 

feel the same. 

“We often put lawn chairs outside and sit 

on the sidewalks in front of shops and just hang 

out. We enjoy having a good time, singing and 

dancing daily. We just make life fun in our 

spaces and why not? Who says high-end has 

to be stuffy?” 

Dabb’s zest for life and work has led her to 

take on the biggest renovation she’s ever been 

part of and one of the biggest that downtown 

Philadelphia has ever seen. Greg and Pam Smith 

and their daughter Kadee purchased the historic 

Yates building on the Square in April of 2022. 

Kadee, who had met Jenny when she was a bride 

shopping for items in The Potting Shed, was 

insistent that Jenny be the one to bring their 

vision to life. “When I knew we were about to 

tackle one of the biggest renovations of such a 

historic building on the square I knew we 

needed to go over the top on design and I knew 

only one person would fill that bill and that was 

Jenny. We are a little over halfway through and 

she has been a gem to work with. She can turn 

small budgets into works of art. She knows 

where you can spend less and still make the 

final outcome breathtaking. She has cemented 

herself as our family’s forever designer.” 

Renovations began on July 1. “It’s coming 

along great,” Jenny relates. “The Yates Hospital 

is an old building with an immense amount of 

character. It was built in the 1920s, so it has 

around 100 years of history that we’re trying to 

preserve while getting rid of anything that’s not 

useful like junk and debris.” The plan is to turn 

the first floor, formerly a pharmacy, into a 

restaurant. The second floor, which used to be a 

hospital, is still in the planning and dreaming 

phase. 

Jenny sees a big future for the revitalization 

of Philadelphia and can’t wait to see what’s next. 

She now splits her time between working 

out of town with clients and in her shop 

downtown. Neither of which would be possible 

without her very supportive family and the 

close-knit team that runs the shop when she is 

traveling. JDabbs Design spaces are a reflection 

of Jenny’s particular style, of which her colleagues 

and customers are big fans. Will Ballou of 

Ballou Design Group says, “Jenny never stops. 

She has a great eye for design and her store 

reflects this. She has a talent for combining 

unique pieces to create a cohesive result. Her 

store fills a gap in central Mississippi for home 

furnishings and accessories. I have bought 

several pieces of my own from her.” 

Melody Vowell is now settled into the 

home Jenny designed and is thrilled with the 

end result. “One of my favorite things Jenny 

encouraged me to do was put black subway tile 

on my kitchen wall instead of white. I was a 

little hesitant at first, but I am so glad we did! 

There is a lot of natural light in my house and 

the black subway wall gives my kitchen a much 

needed depth and contrast.” 

Jenny’s current projects include a massive 

hunting lodge in the delta, a historic home in 

Eastover, a furnish in Reunion, and two new 

construction builds in Starkville. Were that 

not enough, she’s also running her shop and 

considering adding to her collection of retail 

spaces if the right building becomes available 

in Starkville. 

And how does Jenny herself see her 

contribution to the local and regional design 

landscape? 

“I am different and see things differently. 

I like to have a story behind my work or design 

things in a way that is unexpected. I’ll try things 

others might not be willing to try. I want people 

to see my work and ask….how did she do that?” 


You can visit Jenny at her shop, JDabbs Design, in downtown Philadelphia Monday-Saturday from 10-5 or visit jdabbsdesign.com 

for information and examples of the services she offers. They range from design, remodeling, and project coordination to 

procurement and installation. And don’t be intimidated. In Jenny’s own words, “You do not have to be wealthy 

to hire a designer, but the wealth of knowledge that our industry offers is often priceless.” 



LEIGH RAMSEY 

God’s Heart for Orphans 

“The story of Zacchaeus in the Bible is found in Luke 19:1-10. In this passage, we read 

that Zacchaeus’s life was forever changed when he encountered Jesus that day in the tree. 

Jesus radically changed my life as well on two very different occasions during the 

adoption of our two daughters.” Chris Gray of Brandon shared the inspiration 

behind the name of the adoption ministry he and his wife, Andrea founded. 

The ministry is called the Zacchaeus Tree Adoption Ministry. 

In 2008, the couple felt led to pursue 

adoption after struggling with infertility. They 

decided to adopt from Russia. Andrea had the 

idea that the couple should purchase birthday 

gifts for the little girl, Hannah Claire, who 

would soon be joining their family. They made 

a list of items they would get her for ages three 

through 18. One of the gifts they were searching 

for was a Bible written in Russian. 

On December 2, 2008, the couple went to 

Russia to meet their daughter. They visited her 

in the mornings. The afternoons and evenings 

were free to go sightseeing and find the items on 

their list. They visited street vendors, souvenir 

shops and bookstores searching for the perfect 

gifts. Each stop, they’d ask for a Bible, but were 

unable to find one. 

The couple later returned to Russia for their 

final trip. They’d be coming back to the U.S. with 

their daughter. It was extremely cold, and they 

were warned by the adoption agency that Hannah 

Claire would not be used to it and should not 

be taken out. But the clock was ticking–they 

still hadn’t found a Bible. Chris prayed, “God, 

how will I find a Bible in less than 24 hours?” 

They boarded a bus that was completely 

full except for one empty seat across from Chris. 

An older gentleman took the vacant spot, and 

began doing hand motions. He never spoke, 

just kept moving his hands. Chris and Andrea 

became nervous. Eventually, the mysterious 

stranger moved to the back of the bus. When 

the bus stopped and it was time to exit, they 

locked eyes with the older gentleman, who was 

now sitting on the steps of the bus. 

He stared at Chris and slowly stood to his 

feet, while putting his hand in his coat pocket. 

Chris began to step off of the bus, and the man 

put an item in Chris’s chest just before the doors 

closed. Chris knew immediately what he had 

been given, a New Testament written in Russian. 

Chris reflects, “That man changed my life 

forever. I hope to meet him in Heaven one day 

and thank him. That encounter was the 

cornerstone for starting the adoption ministry.” 


In January of 2012, the Gray family felt led 

to adopt again. Chris remembers thinking, 

“There is no way we’ll have another experience 

like we did with Hannah Claire’s adoption.” 

The couple had started the process and paid 

$27,000 toward the adoption. They were 

devastated to learn that Vladamir Putin had 

banned Americans from adopting Russian 

children. The money put toward the adoption 

was lost. The couple chose to start the adoption 

process again, this time in Moldova. Six 

months into that process, Moldova’s adoption 

process came to a standstill as well. The couple 

lost their money again. 

They eventually started the work to adopt 

from Poland. In January of 2014, Chris 

attended a Wednesday night church service at 

Pinelake. He had turned in a prayer request 

card that read, “God, if you want us to continue 

this adoption process, you’ll have to provide 

for it because we have lost so much.” Chris 

watched as Chip Henderson, the senior pastor 

at Pinelake, stepped onto the stage and held 

Chris’s prayer request and announced the 

prayer need to the congregation. 

Eight months later, Chris felt led to fill out 

the paperwork for an adoption grant. The 

grant was for $5,000 to help cover the cost of 

an adoption. But time slowly passed and both 

Chris and Andrea assumed they had not been 

selected for the grant. 

In November of 2014, Chris visited Target 

on his lunch break. He decided to check his 

email while he was there. He was surprised to 

see an email reading, “Congratulations Gray 

Family.” They had been awarded a $20,000 

grant. Chris shared that it touched his heart 

that God showed how much he loves and cares 

for orphans through providing a Bible for 

Hannah Claire and the money for Ava’s 

adoption. 

In 2015, Chris was attending another 

Wednesday night service at Pinelake. The 

sermon was on Jonah. Chip said, “If you’ve 

been running from something God has asked 

of you, stand and we will pray over you.” Chris 

stood, knowing he had been asked to encourage 

others who are in the process of adoption. 

He has now spoken about adoption and 

foster care at over 90 churches in Mississippi. 

He also teaches a class to families considering 

adoption or fostering at Crossgates Baptist 

Church on the first and third Wednesday of 

each month. He started the Zacchaeus Tree 

Adoption Ministry, which offers adoption 

grants to Mississippi families. Families can 

raise up to $2,500 toward an adoption, and 

the ministry will match it through Lifesong 

for Orphans. So far, the ministry has helped 

ten families fund their adoptions. 

Chris was recently recognized for his work 

in helping families who are on the journey 

toward adoption and fostering. In September, 

the Gray family traveled to Washington D.C. 

to receive this recognition. He said of the 

event: “It was an honor to be selected by U.S. 


Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for the Congressional 

Coalition on Adoption Institute Award in Mississippi. 

I am so proud to have had the opportunity to meet 

with Senator Hyde-Smith, and to know that she 

is a strong supporter of adoption. I had the 

opportunity to talk to her about creating legislation 

for a “Certificate of Foreign Birth” bill to help 

families who are adopting or who have adopted a 

child from a foreign country, so that these families 

would be able to get their child a birth certificate 

in Mississippi. It was interesting to learn that the 

CCAI, which was created by congress, is the 

largest bipartisanship caucus in Washington.” 

Mr. Gray shared how God has repeatedly 

revealed that He is a God who cares about all of 

the details that seem so small to us. Chris shared 

a bit more about how God’s character had been 

revealed to him through this journey, “I also find 

that God is quite humorous in that the street that 

I grew up on in Pearl was named Sycamore, which 

is the type of tree that Zacchaeus climbed up to 

see Jesus.” 


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REAL MEN 

WEAR PINK 

Central MS 

Ambassadors 

Why 

do you 

wear 

pink? 

BLAKE BRENNAN 

PATRICK HILTON JACKSON ELLIS 

WLBT – 2022 CHAIRMAN OF RMWP 

Using my platform to be a ‘wind of 

change’ to advocate and push for 

early detection, better treatments, and 

further research for women and men is 

important so that one day no one else 

will ever hear the words, “You have 

cancer.” The more people we have in 

this fight, the quicker that will happen! 

FRANK DIAZ 

HERRIN GEAR – CURRENTLY RANKED 

IN THE NATIONAL TOP 10 REAL MEN AMBASSADORS 

20 years ago, I found out that my wife 

was pregnant with our second child. 

Soon after that, we found out that she 

had breast cancer. We were told by 

multiple doctors that we needed to 

have an abortion and move along with 

chemotherapy. We believed that God 

would provide a way to have chemo and 

still have a full-term healthy baby. And 

He did just that. We had a healthy baby 

boy, who is now a senior at Ole Miss. We 

lost my wife to this horrible disease eight 

months after our second son was born. 

I want to do what I can to contribute to 

finding a cure for cancer because I do 

not want to see any family have to go 

through the pain and sorrow of seeing 

a loved one pass away from cancer. 

TRIPP SPRUILL 

THE INSURANCE CENTER 

I was still in high school when I first 

learned how ugly cancer can be. My Aunt 

Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer 

shortly after marrying my uncle. She 

fought courageously but unfortunately 

passed away three years after her 

diagnosis. Since then, my wife and I have 

been affected by breast cancer through 

many friends and other family members. 

This impacts us all! Because of that, I have 

always felt the urge to do more. Which 

is why I am extremely excited about the 

opportunity to be a part of this year’s 

RMWP campaign! 

DR. ZACH ASHCRAFT 

THE WINNING SMILE 

I choose to wear pink because I have 

seen the impacts of breast cancer hit all 

too close to home, and I want to be a 

part of helping families who are fighting it. 


AUSTIN RESSER, 

CED JACKSON 

BEN COLLINS 

SMOAK SALON 

BRIAN LOTT 

NOLA LENDING 

I wear pink for the family that found out 

this year that the wife has Stage II breast 

cancer and is battling chemo daily. I wear 

pink for the family that last year received 

the news that the oldest daughter has 

breast cancer, then later discovered that 

not only has the wife been diagnosed with 

breast cancer, but the youngest daughter 

tested positive for the BRCA gene, leading 

to all three of them having to undergo 

mastectomies. These two families, who 

mean the world to me and my wife, are 

why I wear pink and have dedicated my 

efforts in this campaign to them! 

When I was eight years old, I lost my 

great-grandmother to cancer, who I 

was remarkably close to. At twenty-eight, 

I lost my great uncle to cancer. Last year, 

my grandmother received a breast cancer 

diagnosis. With a smile on her face, 

always kind words, and never a complaint 

(except that she could not taste food), 

she raised up to fight against cancer and 

she won! I wear pink for her, for those 

that did not win, for those yet to receive 

a diagnosis, and because one day it could 

be me. 

My grandfather Victor Aguzzi, who 

battled cancer almost 20 years ago, 

unfortunately passed in 2004. When 

asked to stand beside 27 others Real Men 

for 2022, I envisioned how proud he and 

my family would be for me to represent 

the cure for cancers. While visiting with 

family, friends, coaches, teammates, 

my church, and working friends, I have 

learned that it was more than just my 

grandfather that fights this disease. Pink 

is one of my favorite colors. It is loud and 

full of love. While wearing pink, I fight for 

all of those battling. 

CHRIS ROBERTS 

BANKPLUS 

DURDEN PILLOW 

MAGNOLIA HEALTH 

MARK PAYTON 

MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE 

I am raising funds and awareness for 

my mother Kathy Roberts who was 

diagnosed with breast cancer in October 

2020. Since that time, she has undergone 

chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. 

She is two years past her diagnosis and 

is nearing retirement from a 35-plus 

year career in insurance. She is looking 

forward to traveling and spending time 

with friends and family in the years to 

come. 

My why is easy. Cancer affects every 

family, but breast cancer has affected 

my family over the years. My mom had 

breast cancer in 2001 and my dad, yes 

men make up ~1% of all breast cancer, 

had breast cancer in 2012. Others in my 

family have had or are beating breast 

cancer as we speak. The research and 

advancements in treatments have allowed 

my family to be survivors. This is my why! 

In my family, cancer is something that 

we often have to worry about and think 

about. We have lost great pillars in my 

family line due to various cancers. But, we 

also have warriors and survivors that have 

conquered cancer. I wear pink to honor 

those who have passed and to celebrate 

those who are not only living but thriving. 


Why 

do you 

wear 

pink? 

WARREN HERRING 

TRUSTCARE 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer 

among women worldwide. As a husband, 

father, and son, any movement aimed at 

helping my wife, two daughters and mother 

live their lives free of breast cancer has my 

tireless support. There are so many 

courageous women diagnosed with 

breast cancer each year. Wearing pink 

is an opportunity to support them while 

continuing to raise awareness for the 

disease and promote the importance of 

catching it early by scheduling regular 

check-ups. 

SHAW CASE 

STRIBLING EQUIPMENT 

My wife, Roxanne, was diagnosed with 

breast cancer at age 49. God has blessed us 

with many gifts, including our connection 

to people. The more people we spoke to 

about cancer, the clearer it became that 

this disease affected 1 in 5 women, but it 

seemed like more. That’s why I’m stepping 

up to fight breast cancer with all I have. 

Since I’m in a position to make a difference 

within my community, I believe I have an 

obligation to do so. By raising money and 

awareness through Real Men Wear Pink, I’m 

helping save more lives from breast cancer. 

MIKE PATEL 

WEALTH HOSPITALITY GROUP 

Cancer. It’s a word no one wants to hear. 

It has affected so many people whether 

it be a parent, sibling, relatives, or friends. 

My first cousin was affected by it and has 

been in remission for quite some time. My 

wife’s grandfather lost his battle with lung 

cancer. My grandmother had breast cancer 

and my wife’s dad has been in remission. 

We have had some losses—but we’ve also 

had wins along the way and that is why I 

continue to raise funds for the American 

Cancer Society. That’s why I wear pink! 

ANTHONY BROWN 

EXP REALTY 

I’m wearing pink for all the awesome 

women I have in my life and family. 

Each one of them deserves to be fought 

for daily, but especially for a cause as 

important as the fight against breast 

cancer. The great ladies I’m blessed to 

have in my immediate and extended 

family are shining examples of what it 

is to be good and loving in a world that 

seems so upside down so often. 

NATHAN SMITH 

BOAR’S HEAD PURVEYOR 

I wear pink because I have seen what 

breast cancer has done to our friends, our 

sisters, and our mothers. I wish that no one 

would have to go through battling this 

disease—that we wouldn’t have to worry 

about our spouse’s pain and suffering or 

what life is going to be like without them. 

That children didn’t have to watch their 

moms suffer and then grow up without 

them by their side. My hope is that we 

can one day truly defeat this disease. 


STEPHEN WILSON 

GEORGIA BLUE 

JAMES SWANNER 

2021 RMWP CHAIRMAN 

ANTHONY WEBB 

COMMUNITY BANK 

BILL LATHAM 

TABLE100/SUPERCHIX 

After losing three family members to 

cancer, I know firsthand the hardships 

many face after hearing the words “You 

have cancer.” The American Cancer 

Society provides services that build the 

bridge between surviving and thriving 

for those living with cancer, especially in 

Mississippi. By wearing pink, I’m doing 

my part to ensure fewer people struggle 

when facing the obstacles that come 

after a cancer diagnosis and funding the 

research that could lead to a cancer free 

future. 

BLAKE FULLER 

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK 

CHRIS KIMMEL 

MOSQUITO MARSHALS 

DR. SCOTT BERRY 

UMMC 

TRAVIS FOSTER 

WATKINS CONSTRUCTION 

DR. THOMAS DOBBS 

UMC 

DR. THOMAS WILLIAMSON 

JACKSON ONCOLOGY 

ASSOCIATES - BAPTIST 

HEALTH SYSTEMS 

GEROLD SMITH 

BDAY 99.1 FM 

I wear pink for my grandmother who 

passed away too soon due to cancer. I 

wear pink for my four girls because I want 

a future for them that doesn’t involve 

breast cancer or cancer of any kind. I 

wear pink because our moms, wives, and 

daughters are worth fighting for! 

KENNETH HERRING 

KERIOTH CORP 

RONNIE CALHOUN 

TEAM NATCHEZ 


Resting Their Sails 

Susan Marquez 


Jeanne Tew grew up swimming in lakes and rivers. 

She knew nothing about the sea, nor did she know how to sail a boat. 

When she met Ron Tew, she had to learn fast. “I am from Columbus, and 

Ron is from Natchez,” says Jeanne, in her smooth Southern drawl. “He was 

living in Columbus, and we met while working for the same company.” 

Ron had retired early from his position as a bank president. He had 

taken sailing lessons at the Barnett Reservoir back in the 1960s and 

always loved sailing. When he retired, he bought a sailboat and docked 

it in Pensacola. 

Ron was ready to go on a long sailing trip. “We were both divorced, 

and he asked me if I wanted to go on a sailing trip. I told him I didn’t know 

how to sail, and he asked if I could cook. I said, ‘of course,’ and the told 

me he could teach me to sail.” 

They took off to Pensacola, where Ron gave Jeanne a few sailing 

lessons. They loaded up on supplies and took off December 1997 for 

the trip of a lifetime. Their first destination was Key West, via the Gulf of 

Mexico. “I learned really quick that I get seasick,” she recalls. “We hit some 

bad weather one day, and I was so sick that night. The next night, Ron 

was tired due to lack of sleep, so I said I would stand watch. I saw some 

lighting off in the distance, and before I knew it, threre was a squall, and 

all the sails were up. Ron came running up to the deck and we got things 

under control. I learned fast how to read the weather.” 

Christmas was spent in Key West. Thinking they were on their own, 

they heard over the radio that the marina was hosting a potluck dinner 

for all the cruisers. The marina provided the turkey and ham, and everyone 

showed up bringing their favorite dish. “That was our introduction to the 

sailing lifestyle,” says Jeanne. “Soon we heard calls go out that there 

would be cocktails on the beach, or people invited us onto their boat. 

It was a very social lifestyle. I was surprised how easily we met other 

people. It’s not that easy with people who live on dirt.” 

The social status for the people who lived on boats was immediately 

leveled. “Everyone wore the same uniform, which was a t-shirt and 

shorts, or a bathing suit. From the largest mega yacht to the single-handed 

sailor, everyone faced the same issues: weather conditions, the hassle 

of checking into a new country, or how to get a needed boat part 

shipped in.” 

The Tews spent two years on their boat, Tewsday. It was a 38’ Island 

Packet. “We sailed from the Keys, through the Bahamas, and around the 

Caribbean. We headed west through the Panama Canal to San Diego 

where we stayed for the next six months.” While in San Diego, Jeanne 



says they bought a ‘beater’ car to get around. They joined the San Diego 

Zoo. “A boat is like a house, in that there is always something to do. We 

would work on the boat in the morning, get tired, then head to the Zoo 

for a while.” They were anchored in San Diego for New Year’s Eve in 

2001, better known as Y2K. “We didn’t know what to anticipate, but it 

was nothing.” 

They wound up selling the boat in San Diego when Ron purchased 

a Blue Hull 52’ Tayana named Vixon. “Ron said it was the prettiest thing he 

had ever seen. I said, ‘gee, thanks, but can it cook?’” The couple packed 

up their belongings and flew to Trinidad to take possession of the boat. 

They sailed for another two years. “We didn’t just bounce from place 

to place,” says Jeanne. “We would stay for a few days to a few weeks. 

I played tennis, so I always found a group to play with.” They sailed up the 

east coast as far as Maine. “We stayed in Bar Harbor for three months.” 

Ron was already a scuba diver, and Jeanne took lessons on the island 

of Grenada to be certified. “I also snorkel, which I really love.” 

Both Jeanne and Ronnie were English majors in college, and during 

their sailing years they both journaled every day. “Ronnie always said that 

when he retired, he wanted to open a little bookstore. He had already 

written one book before we left.” Ron has now authored seven books, 

most of which are novels. He has written one young adult book, a 

memoir about his travels and growing up in Natchez, and a book called 

The Love of Wisdom, in which Ron shares his beliefs and philosophy of 

life through story. “I am more of an editor,” says Jeanne. “I have written 

a book called Me & Captain Ron & the Sea, which is filled with funny 

anecdotes from our travels.” 

Jeanne says that wonderful life lessons were learned along the way. 

“We have adopted the idea of manana, which isn’t so much ‘tomorrow’ 

as it is ‘some time.” We had friends who came down to visit us, and we 

would tell them to meet us at a certain port on a certain day. We also 

said that if we weren’t there, they were grownups and they would have to 

find a hotel. You see, if the weather was bad, we would not be able to sail 

in to pick them up.” They also learned that people are generally friendly, 

and they will help you if you need it. “If you are respectful and polite to 

people, they will usually act the same towards you.” 

The Tews finally rested their sails when they started having grandkids. 

They have thirteen grandchildren, all in Mississippi. “The kids got bored 

with sailing after an hour or so, so we sold the sailboat and bought a 

powerboat so we could zip out and back.” They decided to move to 

Madison, and they now live in Reunion, in a home on the water. They 

are members of the Jackson Yacht Club, and Jeanne sometimes subs 

for sailing crews when they need someone for weekend races. “I also 

kayak on the lake in Reunion.” 





A SHOWER POWER UPDATE 

Envisioning a 

Masterpiece 

Sarah Rein 

There is a short story by J.R.R. 

Tolkien called “Leaf by Niggle.” 

In it, the main character is an 

artist named Niggle who loves 

to envision his life’s great work 

- an exquisite painting of a tree 

in the middle of a forest. 

He pays an obsessive amount of attention 

to a single leaf - laboring to make it the very 

best it can be. But life is forever interrupting 

his focus. He has a lame neighbor with a sick 

wife who frequently needs his help. He can 

never quite get his work to take shape. And, 

before he knows it, he is called away on a long 

journey he has been putting off. Niggle is 

unprepared and frustrated that his work has 

never come to fruition. But, to his astonishment, 

when he arrives at his destination, his tree is 

waiting for him…the tree he had seen in his 

mind but had never been able to form into 

reality. Every feature is perfect. Every color, 

expertly chosen. Everything so much better 

than he was ever able to make it in his lifetime. 

When Teresa Renkenberger had the 

inspiration for Shower Power in 2019, it started 

with the moving story of befriending a homeless 

man named Benny who needed a place to get 

clean. She purchased a box truck with plans to 

turn it into a mobile shower unit—and then 

immediately brought her good friend Mary 

Ann Kirby on board. 

And so began the creation of their “leaf.” 

Teresa Renkenberger 

Like Niggle, they have paid a great deal of 

attention to the details of their project. And 

despite starting out as a potential solution for 

just one man, Shower Power’s ministry has 

now provided nearly 4,000 showers to people 

and added a food pantry and clothing closet. 

On Fridays, local churches, companies, and 

organizations partner with Shower Power to 

provide a meal to roughly one hundred members 

of the homeless community. And in October 

of 2020, Project Hope was created as an 

extension of the ministry. Project Hope 

identifies which of the unsheltered Shower 

Power visitors would be good candidates for 

a sponsored move to low-income housing– 

and then supports them for a time as they 

transition from life on the streets. 

Mary Ann Kirby 

Working through Challenges 

Life has thrown them unexpected curveballs in 

much the same way as it did Niggle. In February 

2021, that came in the form of historically low 

temperatures. Operations Manager Mary Ann 

Kirby recounts that event. “Teresa called me one 

morning, and we talked about what it would look 

like to put some of our people in hotel rooms. 

We made a post on Facebook about raising $50 

per night to get people in from the cold. We 

figured we’d raise enough to put 25 or 30 people 

up. We ended up putting 137 people in hotels 

for eleven nights straight. And paid cash for it... 

all of which was donated in the span of about 

48 hours. Then, in January of 2022, we did it 

again. But this time we rented the entire Red 

Roof Inn. 150 people that would typically be 

unsheltered spent a total of 22 nights inside.” 


Even then, they faced the discouragement of 

knowing that three people had died of 

hypothermia…one just around the corner from 

where Shower Power was housing many others. 

So, they began adjusting their plan. 

Knowing that there would always be more 

frigid nights, they started collecting extreme 

cold-weather gear–zero-degree rated sleeping 

bags, ski gloves instead of flimsy knit gloves, 

and tents and tarps. Since implementing that 

approach in February 2022, they haven’t lost a 

single person to hypothermia. This year they 

are looking to stockpile 200 more zero-degree 

rated sleeping bags. 

As the women behind Shower Power labor 

to create their masterpiece, they continue to 

work through issues that can temporarily disrupt 

their focus. Kirby explains, “We’re funded 

almost entirely by private donations. Every can 

of food, every coat, every pair of shoes we give out 

comes from our “village.” Learning to manage 

those donations has come with a steep learning 

curve. We used to just give away everything we 

had, but then realized that we needed to try to 

start keeping up with what we were giving out 

to make sure that resources were going to those 

who truly needed them. We can achieve some of 

that just by implementing good record-keeping 

and good common sense. We’re actually in the 

process of putting those new procedures in 

place as we speak. It also lets us know what our 

greatest needs are so that we can be proactive 

in maintaining our supply inventory levels. So 

we’re growing not only in the people that we 

serve but in our systems and procedures as well.” 

Seeing what God is making 

When Niggle is called away on his long 

journey, he is unprepared and his life’s work is 

unfinished. He has to leave with the stinging 

realization that his creation is incomplete. Such 

is the nature of a ministry like Shower Power. 

The work will never be complete this side of 

eternity. The complex realities of poverty and 

the brokenness of our world mean there will 

always be people to feed, clothe, and to provide 

the dignity of a shower. But through all the 

challenges, interruptions, and heartbreak, there 

are glimpses of the masterpiece being created. 

48 • NOVEMBER 2022 

In 2021, Teresa and Mary Ann had identified 

their next candidate for Project Hope, a regular 

visitor named John who had gratefully accepted 

that 11-night hotel stay during February’s ice 

storm. He had been regularly showing up for 

Friday lunches, occasionally with his keyboard 

in tow to serenade the group with Lionel 

Richie renditions. 

During the storm, and through social media, 

God had providentially brought Shower Power 

to the attention of Charles and Tina Elliott, and 

their son Austin, as the ministry team worked 

to usher people into shelter during the freezing 

temperatures. 

It was only four days later, however, that 

Austin made his own long journey as his earthly 

life ended very unexpectedly. But through their 

own grief, and grappling with their unimaginable 

loss, the Elliott family made the decision to 

honor Austin by donating to Shower Power. 

When Mary Ann and Teresa sat down with 

the couple, they asked if they were willing to 

give a $7,200 Project Hope scholarship with 

John as the recipient. 

As they listened to the women describe John, 

the Elliotts were floored. Austin’s great love 

had been music. A guitarist who had traveled 

extensively to hear bands he loved, Austin had 

recently graduated from Ole Miss and was just 

beginning his adult life. And John, who is also 

a musician and plays the bass guitar, was now 

about to get a fresh start in his. God was doing 

what He does - making beauty from ashes. 

John’s new home is full of Austin’s furniture 

and his closet is full of Austin’s shoes…they wear 

the exact same size. Charles and John have 

become the closest of friends and speak on the 

phone daily. 

Their story gives a peak at the good God is 

doing behind the scenes. And it isn’t the only 

success story—there are likely many that will 

never be known until heaven. But there is plenty

When asked how Shower Power has 

changed her Teresa replied, “Our mission 

will always be to make people feel worthy 

and loved. I firmly believe that showing people 

love can heal them–like literally work miracles. 

And we’ve surrounded ourselves with all kinds 

of volunteers who demonstrate the same kind 

of compassion. We love the people we serve– 

and they love us back. That has changed me 

more than anything else.” 

Shower Power and the women and 

volunteers behind it have given a glimpse of 

something special and life-changing. And 

when its creators see the work God has done 

through it in eternity, they may have the same 

reaction as Niggle. The final masterpiece 

will be more glorious than they could have 

imagined in this lifetime. 

more work to be done. Mary Ann describes the 

growth they’ve experienced. “There are so many 

people that have come alongside us who believe 

in what we’re doing and willingly offer their 

time and talents. We found ourselves needing 

accounting and legal oversight and now we have 

it. We have people that arrange their full-time 

jobs around Fridays so they can be there to help. 

We have a spectacular lineup of businesses and 

schools and churches and organizations that 

come to us and want to be helpful. Their desire 

for involvement provides us with incredible 

validation.” 

And future plans? “We are quickly reaching 

capacity with space. And while our weekly 

crowd size has soared, we know it is going 

to be important to grow horizontally and not 

just vertically. We are planning to purchase 

another shower and put it in a different part 

of town to meet those geographical needs. 

We’ll purchase the shower unit, brand it to 

Shower Power, and find a church or ministry 

outreach that would be willing to run it as 

their own. They’ll staff it, and we help them 

with as much coaching, underwriting, and 

foundation-building as they need.” 

If your church, business, volunteer group, 

or family would like to get involved 

with this vibrant ministry, 

visit showerpower.ms/ 

to learn more about the 

opportunities available. 



Together, 

WE CREATE LIFE-CHANGING WISHES 

FOR CHILDREN WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES. 

Who We Are and Who We Serve 

Who We Are and Who We Serve 

Since Make-A-Wish Mississippi’s inception in 1984, more than 2,528 children with critical illnesses have experienced 

life-changing Since Make-A-Wish wishes. We Mississippi’s serve children inception the 65 southern in 1984, most more counties than 2,528 in the state, children spanning with every critical socioeconomic 

factor illnesses and ethnic have background. experienced We’ve life-changing never turned wishes. away a We child serve eligible children for a wish. in the A family’s 65 southern financial most status, race, or 

religion counties has in no the bearing state, on spanning whether a every child will socioeconomic receive a wish. factor and ethnic background. We’ve 

never turned away a child eligible for a wish. A family’s financial status, race, or religion has 

Our no continued bearing on success whether at Make-A-Wish a child will receive Mississippi a wish. 

only achieved with great people and great relationships. 

It’s through the generous support – our community of donors, staff, volunteers, medical professionals and sponsors – 

the Our real continued heart and soul success of the at organization Make-A-Wish – that Mississippi we will reach is our only vision. achieved with great people and 

great relationships. It’s through the generous support – our community of donors, staff, 

On volunteers, August 11, a medical kick-off social professionals for W.I.S.H. and Society sponsors (Women – the Inspiring real heart Strength and and soul Hope) of the was organization held at Char Restaurant 

in – Jackson. that we Twenty-three will reach our women vision. are As being you honored read through which means the information that twenty-three in the wishes Fiscal will Year be granted 2022 for 

deserving annual report, kids fighting please to overcome remember unimaginable how important odds right you are here to in all Mississippi. the progress we have made … 

and all that is yet to come. Your impact is profound and meaningful. 

Thank you for your commitment to our organization and the precious lives we transform each year. 

Thank you for your commitment to our organization and the precious lives we transform 

each year. 


2022 W.I.S.H. SOCIETY HONOREES 

Millie Baker 

Meeks Cockroft Agency 

Shelter Insurance 

Insurance Agent 

When I was in school at Ridgeland 

High School, we lost a friend in our 

class to cancer and Make-A-Wish 

was able to send his family to the 

Augusta Nationals in his honor. 

I’ll never forget that. Through that 

experience, I was forever touched, 

and I desired to continue a friend’s 

legacy of inspiration by being an 

honoree for W.I.S.H. Society. 

A specific philanthropic achievement 

that I will forever be grateful for is 

raising over $15,000 for malnourishment 

supplements for But God 

Ministries in Haiti. I then got to help 

distribute them during my summer 

internship in Haiti. It was a massive 

honor that I will forever remember. 

Being an honoree for W.I.S.H. 

Society is a great honor. Having a 

platform to help grant wishes in my 

home state of Mississippi is the 

highest honor. I’m very grateful! 

Heather Bennett 

W.G. Yates & Sons 

Construction Company 

Corporate Counsel 

Make-A-Wish is a wonderful 

organization that has a lasting impact 

on people and one that I love very 

much. My goddaughter was gifted 

with a trip to Disney World several 

years ago. She was still healing from 

a life-threatening illness and her 

two sisters and parents were all 

tired, scared, and in need of JOY! 

Make-A-Wish brought so much 

joy to them. 

I am thrilled and excited to be given 

the opportunity to help give to an 

organization that has given so much 

to others and to meet and work with 

other like-minded women. 

Tameika Bennett 

Bennett Law Office, PLLC 

Owner/ Managing Partner 

I am truly humbled to be a W.I.S.H. 

Society honoree. I believe that this 

opportunity will help me be of service 

to those in need and encourage me to 

reach out and assist deserving people. 

Helping others experience joy is 

something that is very important to 

me. In this exciting and fulfilling 

experience as an honoree, I hope to 

serve others! 

Lorraine Boykin 

Currie Johnson & Myers 

Attorney 

I’ve seen firsthand the power that a 

wish can give to a family! I’ve worked 

with several children whose wish was 

a Disney vacation, and I’ve seen the 

value to these families of time away 

together! Instead of focusing on 

hospital visits and medical treatments 

ahead, these families had the ability 

to enjoy their time together and 

make memories that they will always 

cherish. I wanted to be a part of the 

W.I.S.H Society to help raise funds 

to provide even more wishes to 

Mississippi children through 

Make-A-Wish. 

I am thrilled to be among this 

group of women bringing awareness 

to Make-A-Wish and what this 

organization does for families. Every 

child should be able to just be a kid, 

and that’s what happens when a 

wish is granted. It gives me great joy 

to know that our efforts will help 

provide even more opportunities to 

Mississippi families. 


Katie Browning 

CDFL Architects & Engineers 

Ginny DeHart 

Pediatric Physical Therapist 

LaVerne Edney 

Butler Snow Law Firm 

Tanya Ellis 

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP 

Principal 

Owner McB’s Bar & Grill 

Attorney/ Partner 

Partner 

I have had the privilege of working 

in healthcare design throughout my 

career. I work with providers and 

clinicians to create spaces that promote 

healing and allow medical professionals 

to provide exemplary care. In 

doing so, I have had the opportunity 

to meet patients and learn more about 

the medical needs in our community. 

Most recently, working on UMMC’s 

new Children’s of Mississippi project 

and the Children’s Center for Cancer 

and Blood Disorders, I have met 

numerous professionals who are 

working to care for the children in 

our community. By participating as 

a W.I.S.H. honoree I can support 

Make-A-Wish, honor our health care 

community, and provide another 

level of support and encouragement 

to children in the metro area. 

I am humbled to be recognized as a 

W.I.S.H. honoree. Community is 

incredibly important to me because 

when we work collectively to lift one 

another, we can do great things. 

Make-A-Wish is an organization 

that inspires hope and strength for 

so many and our efforts and support 

will enable them to fulfill their 

mission and positively impact lives. 

After graduating college, I worked in 

hospitals and clinics doing therapy 

with kids and adults. In 2006, I 

made the decision to start a similar 

business providing therapy to 

children. As a pediatric physical 

therapist, I work closely with children 

and their families in helping them 

achieve their gross and fine motor 

skill milestones. The children are 

happy with the achievements made 

with therapy; however, being able to 

help a child’s wishes and dreams 

come true through this organization 

helps them on a much grander scale. 

I personally believe that being a part 

of a child’s big wish and dreams 

coming true is the ultimate gift– 

there’s nothing that compares in 

their eye! 

It is an honor to be invited to 

represent the W.I.S.H. Society that 

helps to make the wishes and dreams 

of children come true. As a true lover 

of children, it is the best feeling to 

make a child smile or laugh or have a 

good time. I have accepted this role 

because I will be involved, in not 

only making a child happy but in 

making their wishes and dreams 

come true. 

This role will allow me to be a part 

of making children’s wishes come 

true. Before accepting the role of 

W.I.S.H. honoree, I did my 

independent research. I was pleased 

to see the mission of the organization 

and the many lives that have been 

changed by the generous donations 

of others. After confirming the 

organization’s mission and the 

impact it has had on children in the 

world, I gladly accepted the role of 

W.I.S.H. Society honoree. I’m 

honored to be a part of a good cause. 

Knowing that it is not about me, but 

about how I can help others makes it 

even more worthwhile and honorable. 

I am looking forward to seeing 

children happy when their dreams 

become reality. 

The past few years have been hard 

for all of us. There is rarely anything 

positive in the headlines these days, 

and divisiveness seems to be the new 

norm. Amidst all of this, Make-A- 

Wish is serving as a light to families 

and children in the darkest of 

times- something we can all support. 

I’m serving as an honoree to be a part 

of that light and help this amazing 

organization continue its work. I am 

humbled by this opportunity and 

grateful to be a small part of this 

extraordinary effort. 



Whitney Foster 

Material Girls & Highland Park 

Kathleen Grigsby 

Jackson Public School District 

Sue Grisham 

University of MS Medical Center 

Tondra Hall 

Nissan Manufacturing 

Owner/ Founder 

I am grateful to have been selected 

as a W.I.S.H. Society honoree. 

I cannot wait to help with the 

Make-A-Wish organization and 

aspire to bring more awareness to 

Make-A-Wish Mississippi. I hope 

to assist in sharing more about the 

organization and spreading the word 

about Make-A-Wish being a local 

non-profit organization in our area. 

Assistant Superintendent of 

Elementary Division 1 

I am truly humbled to be selected 

to serve in this capacity as a W.I.S.H. 

Society honoree. I am looking 

forward to meeting others who 

embody the idea that we are all one 

part of the whole. This will be my 

first time engaging with Make-A- 

Wish on a project, and I am so 

excited. I accepted the role of 

honoree simply because I want to 

help the organization in achieving 

its vision! 

Pediatric Hospitalist 

I have had the honor for almost ten 

years of taking care of the children 

and families of Mississippi during 

some of their most challenging times. 

I see firsthand the complexity of 

health care challenges in some of 

our patients and the joy that an 

experience such as this can bring. 

I have witnessed the difficulty of 

families and patients trying to 

navigate life when it changes in the 

blink of an eye. This is an organization 

that I am thrilled to be a part 

of to positively impact these precious 

children in need. Through this 

opportunity, I hope to serve these 

children and help fulfill wishes they 

will treasure, give them the opportunity 

to make memories, to dream, 

sustain hope, and feel celebrated 

and loved. 

Senior Manager, HRBP 

Make-A-Wish Mississippi is near 

and dear to my heart, and I am 

grateful for the opportunity to help 

make a difference. My first interaction 

with Make-A-Wish came over 

twenty years ago when I was a 

manager at our local Toys-R-Us. 

I remember the smiles on the 

children’s faces as they filled their 

shopping carts during their shopping 

sprees. I was happy to assist them 

with their wishes then, yet, I wanted 

to make a bigger contribution to 

their lives. I was fortunate enough to 

begin serving on the board in 2019 

and my wish has been granted to 

make an even larger contribution 

to these children through this honor. 

I am excited to accept this great 

responsibility and I look forward to 

working within our community to 

address the needs of these deserving 

children. I intend to partner with 

individuals, organizations, and 

businesses who have traditionally not 

been approached to offer their 

support to Make-A-Wish Mississippi. 

It is an absolute honor to serve our 

community through Make-A-Wish 

and I am looking forward to 

extending that privilege to everyone 

who is willing to serve and make a 

child’s life better. 


Kye Handy 

Balch & Bingham, LLP 

Attorney 

I accepted the role of honoree 

because I appreciate that all the 

money raised helps children in 

Mississippi. It is an amazing cause 

to put a smile on the face of children 

and families going through the most 

challenging time of their life. 

Community is extremely important 

to me, along with giving back to the 

community. Make-A-Wish Mississippi 

makes such a huge impact on so 

many lives and it is an amazing honor 

to be a part of that process. 

Mamie Herron 

Skinny’s Nutrition Studio 

Owner 

When I was in the Disney College 

Program in 1995, I volunteered with 

the Make-A-Wish program’s 

Parent’s Night Out and it was a really 

rewarding opportunity for me as a 

college student that I will never 

forget. I have always loved fundraising 

opportunities, and I feel that I have 

been given the opportunity to know 

so many generous individuals that 

love to support this type of event. 

Together, in the past, we have been 

able to accomplish great things! 

From this experience, I am excited 

to be able to contribute to fulfilling 

a wish through my efforts. 

Wendy Lewis 

The Winning Smile 

Dental Group 

Co-Owner/ Dentist 

I am truly humbled to have been 

thought of as someone who would 

represent this organization well. It 

gives me so much joy to know that 

others see me as someone who 

continues to use my God-given 

talents and abilities to bless others 

beyond just my practice. It is an 

incredible honor to not only have 

the opportunity to raise money and 

bring awareness to this great cause 

but also to do it alongside such 

amazing women who inspire and 

motivate me to be a better version 

of myself. Having worked with the 

Make-A-Wish foundation previously 

and being passionate about continuing 

to use my platform to bring awareness 

and smiles to others in our state and 

community, I knew this would be an 

incredible opportunity to make a 

difference by doing just that. I hope 

to leave this experience feeling as 

though I was successful in meeting 

the goals that we set. I pray that even 

one life will be changed for the better. 

My mentor, Dr. Heber Simmons, Jr. 

always said to “leave the woodpile 

higher than you found it.” I look 

forward to meeting and working 

with other women who share this 

mission and like-mindedness. 

Mona McBride 

Mississippi Pharmacists 

Association 

Executive Director 

It is such an honor to be able to serve 

others in this capacity as a W.I.S.H. 

Society honoree because I desire to 

help others. I accepted the role of 

honoree without hesitation to be 

able to help make a difference in the 

lives of critically ill children and see 

their wishes become a reality. I have 

always had a servant leadership heart 

and I am committed to helping 

others. From this experience, I strive 

to help a child’s dream be fulfilled. 



Mary McNeely 

I am humbled to be recognized as a 

W.I.S.H. Society honoree, but even 

more excited to bring awareness to 

the Make-A-Wish organization. I 

look forward to sharing the mission 

of the Make-A-Wish organization 

and the value it has in our community. 

My husband and I love supporting 

different non-profits in our state. 

Having five children in our blended 

family, we see value in the Make-A- 

Wish mission. I am excited to 

support this wonderful organization. 

Krystal Minor 

BFAC.COM 

Chief Operations Officer 

I love children. Watching little ones 

grow into the leaders God called 

them to be is very special to me. 

I felt honored to be asked to 

represent or take part in an effort 

that will bless our future leaders. 

This organization’s goal is to provide 

hope and courage for kids as they go 

through medical treatment, and I 

want to be a part of this important 

effort. To be honored in this capacity 

is to know that the honor is in the 

cause and the mission to give a gift 

of hope to children who are going 

through life-altering illnesses. From 

this experience, I want to help raise 

enough money to at least help one 

child get his/her wish and to continue 

to bring awareness to this important 

organization. 

Susan Murphy 

Diabetes Foundation 

of Mississippi 

Board Member 

I’m honored to accept this role in the 

W.I.S.H. society. What a privilege to 

raise funds and awareness for 

children with critical illnesses and to 

grant more wishes throughout our 

state of Mississippi. I’ve accepted this 

role because I’ve found that helping 

children in need has been the most 

rewarding philanthropic thing I’ve 

done. Being honored in this capacity 

helps me to know that my charitable 

actions are truly making a difference. 

I hope that this experience is a 

springboard for future opportunities 

to continue to serve with W.I.S.H. 

and other organizations in our 

community. 

Swayze Pentecost 

First Presbyterian Day School 

Advancement Director 

Make-A-Wish will always hold a 

special place in my heart. Working 

with families and seeing firsthand 

the impact of a wish is something 

that I will never forget or take for 

granted. These children continually 

have their childhood robbed by 

disease. They miss out on school, 

birthday parties, and just general 

“kid” things. Make-A-Wish lets 

them feel normal, even if for just a 

day. Because of these things, I happily 

accepted the role of honoree. 

Make-A-Wish has such an incredible 

community of volunteers and 

supporters. To be asked to participate 

in the WISH Society was such an 

honor and one that I do not take 

lightly. It is important to continue to 

support this incredible organization, 

and I am grateful to be a small part! 

I want to share with others the 

impact that Make-A-Wish has had 

on my life. I am excited to be 

involved and share the stories that 

have forever stayed with me from my 

time at Make-A-Wish. I hope it 

encourages others to get involved! 


Amy Ramsey 

The Fit Soul, LLC 

Liz Walker 

Ergon, Inc. 

Chianti Woodfork 

Prestige Dental Care 

Melanie Burrow 

2022 W.I.S.H. Society Chair 

President & Owner 

Healthy & Lifestyle Coach 

Independent Brand Partner 

for Savvi Corporation 

Founding Brand Partner 

in new athleisure company 

Accepting the role of honoree for 

W.I.S.H. Society was an easy “yes” 

for me as their mission aligns with 

my personal values and beliefs to 

make an impact by serving and loving 

others. I receive this role of honoree 

as an incredible privilege to be able to 

grant a wish to these precious children 

and their families battling critical 

illnesses, and maybe for a moment, 

deliver the gift of hope with an 

unforgettable experience. Being 

recognized as a female leader in our 

community and serving alongside 

other like-minded women, where we 

can use our talents, strengths, and 

resources to make a difference through 

Make- A-Wish Mississippi is an 

incredible honor, thank you for the 

opportunity! 

I am passionate about serving my 

community and especially children. 

I am excited to be a part of the 2022 

W.I.S.H. Society. I have seen firsthand 

what it means to a child and his/her 

family to have a wish granted. 

As a pediatric oncology social worker 

for 13 years, I referred many patients 

to Make-A-Wish. When I began 

working with children and their 

families at Children’s of MS in 1991, 

my very first referral from Dr. Pullen 

was to find a way to make Edward 

Earl’s wish to go to Disney World 

come true. 

Edward Earl had been approved to 

have his wish granted but he had 

taken a sudden turn and was not 

expected to live. The wish coordinator 

and I brought Disney World to 

Edward Earl. We got a Mickey Mouse 

costume, and the wish coordinator 

became Mickey. Her husband came 

with a video camera. We decorated 

his hospital room with all things 

Disney! 

Owner/ General Dentist 

I am passionate about serving my 

community and building relationships 

with those around me. I knew I 

could build long-lasting relationships 

and serve my community further by 

being an honoree. Being an honoree 

for W.I.S.H. Society is a uniquely 

incredible opportunity to not only 

inspire but be inspired by other 

like-minded women and leaders in 

the community. Make-A-Wish is an 

organization with a long history of 

bettering individuals’ lives. I was 

more than happy to accept this role 

and responsibility. 

I’ve had the opportunity to see a 

wish granted, firsthand. It’s such a 

special moment for everyone involved. 

The excitement is contagious. I’m 

honored to serve as chair this year. 

I am most excited about seeing what 

these phenomenal women will 

accomplish, and the joy that will be 

brought to all these kids, as a result 

of their efforts. 

Allison Tyler 

President & CEO / 

Make-A-Wish Mississippi 

I will never forget Edward Earl 

opening his eyes for the first time in 

days as we sang the M-I-C-K-E-Y 

song to him. I knew right then that 

Make-A-Wish makes a difference! 

Allison joined Make-A-Wish in 2019, 

and under her leadership, increased 

it’s fundraising by double digits.This 

continued level of funding will allow 

Make-A-Wish Mississippi a chance 

to grant every critically ill child their 

wish on time. 



A 

COMMUNITY 

YOU CAN 

COUNT ON 


NEIGHBORHOOD 

NEIGHBORHOOD 

SUSAN MARQUEZ 

When Robert St. John had an opportunity to take over the Biaggi’s 

space at the Renaissance, he jumped. “I had looked at that space years 

ago and wanted to do my Crescent City Grill concept there,” he says. 

Crescent City Grill is just one of Robert’s restaurants in his hometown 

of Hattiesburg. He operates several restaurants in Hattiesburg, one of 

which is an Italian restaurant named Tabella. “I opened Tabella in 2011, 

before I ever went to Italy,” he says. “I came to Jackson every week for 

months and spent time learning recipes in David Trigiani’s kitchen.” 

Now Robert spends a quarter of each year in Italy. He takes three 

tour groups to Italy annually. During his travels there he has made many 

friends and learned about the different regions of Italy. “Tuscany is my 

favorite,” he says. “I love the Tuscan people, the scenery, and the food. 

My take on Italian food is night and day from what it was when I first 

opened Tabella.” 

Robert’s newest restaurant opened in September in Ridgeland’s 

Renaissance at Colony Park. He named the restaurant Enzo Osteria, 

after his Tuscan friend, Enzo Corti. “Enzo is one of my favorite Italian 

friends. He lives in the small town of Barberino-Tavernelle in the heart 

of the Chianti region of Tuscany. He and his wife, Annagloria, are the 

first people my wife and I met when we traveled to Italy in 2011. We 

stayed in one of their villas, and we still stay there when we go to Italy. 

I told Enzo I wanted to name a restaurant after him, and Annagloria 

asked why we didn’t name one after her. I told her that her name was too 

long. Besides, Enzo has a z in it, and z’s are cool.” 

Enzo is a fourth-generation wine and olive oil merchant. “He embodies 

everything I love about Italian food and culture, and we have patterned 

our restaurant, and its approach, after his love of Tuscan food and wine, 

his zest for living, exuberant charm, and infectious personality. At Enzo 

Osteria, we aim to live up to all those characteristics.” 


After taking several tour groups to Italy over the years, Robert says 

hundreds of people now know Enzo. “The Tuscany region is a lot like the 

American South. That really struck me. It is an agrarian society, but instead 

of cotton and soybeans, they grow grapes and olives. They love family, and 

they are very hospitable. They love good food, and they love to have long, 

leisurely dinners with friends and family.” 

In Italy, an osteria is a place that serves wine and simple food. “We are 

doing a mix of American Italian and authentic Italian,” Robert says. “The 

authentic Italian cuisine at Enzo will be Tuscan in origin. The pizzas in 

Tuscany are very thin, with minimal ingredients. We’ll be doing some 

American Italian stuff too. I like both. Both are great.” Some tweaks are 

made in the food prepared to please the American palate. 


Robert says the menu includes recipes he has learned in his travels 

to Italy, and recipes his son learned while working in Tuscany. “We 

kept the inaugural menu very limited to make sure all our staff were on 

the same page during the opening days. We have gradually added more 

authentic Italian recipes through a daily features program, and many of 

those items will eventually transition onto the regular menu.” 

The former Biaggi’s location was built fifteen years ago. “The 

building had great bones,” says Robert. “We did some work to the 

interior,” Robert says. The restaurant was closed for two weeks for the 

transition from Biaggi’s to Enzo Osteria. “The biggest change is in the 

bar. It is a lot darker. It’s a great happy hour after work bar. We also 

have two dining rooms, a private room, and a great outdoor area.” 

Another big change in the restaurant is the faux finishes. But if you 

didn’t know they were faux, you really wouldn’t know. “When we got 

the restaurant, the stacked stone wall in the lobby was painted bright 

white,” Robert says. “I knew we had to do something about that.” A 

customer gave Robert the name of local faux finish artist Cherry 

Rountree. “I went in and met Robert,” says Cherry. “He knew exactly 

what he wanted, which I like. He told me that he wanted the wall to 

match the stone on the exterior.” Cherry has been doing faux finishes 

for 24 years. She went about hand painting each stone to make it look 

like the original stone. If you didn’t know it was painted, you’d be 

hard-pressed to recognize that it is not the original finish of the stone. 

62 • NOVEMBER JULY 2022 2022

Cherry also worked on the hearth in the private room of the restaurant, 

and she was asked to do something about the white circular backsplash. “I 

had just done tongue and groove in my own home from a source I found in 

Hickory, Mississippi. I had some left over and suggested using that. Jarrod 

Patterson (Robert’s business partner) said ‘do it!’ So, I bought a little saw 

and turned into a part-time carpenter to get it done.” 

Robert says his first, and most important, goal was to keep everyone on 

staff. “We paid them all while we were closed during the transition from 

Biaggi’s to Enzo. We trained them, worked with the kitchen to teach them 

the new recipes, and many helped with a deep cleaning and the renovation. 

I’m happy to say we opened with a full staff of former Biaggi’s employees.” 

Enzo Osteria is open daily from 11am to 9pm, and on Saturdays until 

10pm. It is located at 970 Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. 


How It Started– 

How It’s Going 

PARKER KIRBY 


This is a story about being intentional with time... 

It’s kinda like that feeling you got as a kid on Christmas morning. 

The anticipation of it would put butterflies in your stomach. When I 

asked the others in the group how they would describe the mission, 

they used words like adventurous, exciting, memorable, and special. 

Since just about as long as I can remember, the “Secret Mission” 

trip has occurred right around Christmas—when all of us were out of 

school. When it started, there were four of us kids. One family had a 

baby brother at home that was too young to go. I can remember 

getting ready to go on our first ever trip and the nervous excitement 

I had about it. Now I look back thirteen years later, and over 21,000 

miles traveled, and I’m more excited than ever to go on the next one. 

The Kirbys, the Heimers, and the Drydens have always been close. 

Being neighbors and friends since we were all practically born made 

it easy for us to become a close group. The group included our dads, 

Bill Heimer, Jamie Dryden, and Michael Kirby, and the kids, Anna 

Grace Heimer and her sister Emma, Sara Foster Dryden and her 

brother Jack, and me, Parker Kirby. Jack was just a toddler when 

this started so it would be a few years before he’d join us. 

Every Saturday morning, our dads would take us all 

to Chick-fil-A. For the dads, it was a chance to give the 

moms an opportunity to run errands or do things 

around the house without the kids underfoot. And for 

the kids, it was a great excuse to play! 

As our dads would sit there and have their coffee, 

they started brainstorming on what a little “day-trip” 

with the kids might look like. I don’t think any of us could 

anticipate what would come from it. 

So, one Saturday, they decided to shake things up from 

our normal routine. We were told that instead of going to 

Chick-fil-A, we’d be doing something new. When we asked 

exactly what that would entail, all we were told was, “It’s a 

secret. You’ll just have to find out.” And with that single 

mysterious statement, we were hooked. 

All we were told was that the day would begin at the train 

station in Jackson. I was six years old so getting on a train 

was a huge deal, in and of itself. We killed a little time by 

going across the street to the King Edward Hotel to get a 

picture in front of their hotel lobby Christmas tree. (This has since 

become a very important part of the tradition.) A little while later, we 

boarded the train, took our seats, and eventually started to pull out of 

the station. From that moment on, we were anxious at every stop, 

hoping that we had reached our final destination. 

We eventually made it to Brookhaven and spent the next seven 

hours going around the town completing a scavenger hunt that our 

dads had created for us—and exploring as much as we could. The 

scavenger hunt called for having a picture made with a police officer, 

singing a Christmas carol in public, and getting a picture with Santa 

Claus, among other things. 

At the end of the day, we hadn’t made it fifteen minutes down the 

tracks, headed back to Jackson, before we were asking where we were 

going next year! And with that, the Secret Mission was born. 

All of us were very young at the time of this first trip—yet I 

remember just about every detail of that day thirteen years ago. It was 

hard for us to recognize the magnitude of the tradition that had just 

been created, yet all of us seemed to understand how important the 

secret mission would be to us in the future. 

The Brookhaven trip was a blast! But the dads were about to catch 

a whole different gear. In hindsight, although the first secret mission 

wasn’t necessarily the most exciting trip we’d take, it definitely laid the 

groundwork for the trip as we know it today. 

The next few years were filled with new experiences. We went to 

New Orleans, Memphis, and Little Rock, with more and 

more anticipation and excitement every year. And bear in 

mind, we never knew where we were going. We got to experience 

trolleys, the Peabody ducks, and even a little snow! And being able to 

experience these things with the group at such an early age was 

even better. 

From the team building we had completing scavenger hunts to the 

closeness we gained playing card games late at night, the true meaning 

of the secret mission was becoming obvious. The trip was much more 

than a chance for the dads to get away for a weekend or for the kids to 



go have fun. This trip was created to be 

an opportunity for the group to form an 

unbreakable bond with each other that 

would span decades—and so far, it had 

done just that. 

Next thing we knew, four years had 

gone by, and we’d already made life-long 

memories with each other that we’ll be 

able to talk about forever. But little did 

we know, the best was yet to come. 

I would consider trips 5-11 to be the 

most iconic years of the mission—just 

because of our ages. We went all over 

and continued to make memories, but 

the later years started to feel a little 

different. We were getting older. 

During our sixth trip, which was in 

Nashville, the dads decided to try 

something new that they had heard 

might be cool. These places were 

called escape rooms—and they were 

new to the entertainment scene 

and quickly gaining popularity. 

The escape room experience was a 

turning point for the secret mission, and we have not done a single 

mission since without completing one or two of them—a continued 

staple of the trip. 

The bond of the group grew greater with the revelation of escape 

rooms, and the core traditions of the trip had been cemented. There 

could be no secret mission without the basics—scavenger hunt, escape 

rooms, and late-night conversations over card games. We had no idea 

how important these traditions would be in forming the relationships 

we have with each other today. 

After 11 years of the trip, we had watched NBA and NHL games 

together, had gone to Dave and Busters more times than the average 

person should, and experienced some of America’s greatest cities 

together. We’d ziplined, boat toured, ice skated, and theme park 

hopped. It was hard to grasp how much the trip had grown, and more 

importantly how much we had grown since the secret mission’s 

beginning. It’s still baffles me to think that we went from taking a 

train to Brookhaven to taking a flight to Chicago, making lifelong 

memories all along the way. 

The last few years of the secret mission have looked a little different. 

With COVID-19 and all the challenges that it brought to planning a 

trip, we were provided the opportunity to slow down and change the 

trip’s dynamic. We started as young kids—but now all but one of us are 

either in college or graduated 

college. We’ve grown up—and the 

secret mission has found yet a 

new meaning. 

Before, it was about keeping the 

kids entertained. Now, it’s about 

keeping the kids close. We used to 

talk about our favorite toys and how 

our sports were going, and now we 

talk about our values and what’s 

really going on in our lives. I’m not 

completely sure that any of us knew 

where the secret mission was going 

to end up, or how close we would 

become as a group, but I am beyond 

grateful for it. 

Thankfully the tradition is far from 

over. But it’s still fun to look back and 

reminisce over the times we’ve had so 

far. Looking back at the pictures, 

documenting the countless memories 

we have made, and charting the growth 

of the trip and the group really allows 

me to grasp the true meaning of our 

time together. The unbreakable bond and 

community we have formed makes the trip that much more worthwhile. 

I would want nothing more than to be able to keep the secret mission 

going with my own children with the hopes of creating the same 

traditions and instilling the same values that our fathers have created 

and instilled in us. I grow more and more grateful every day for the 

sacrifices that have been made and the time that our dads have spent 

crafting this trip to become what it has, and I hope that this tradition 

is one that will be handed through generations because of their efforts. 

I can think of no greater legacy. 

So here I sit, writing this piece as a sophomore in college, with 

the same enthusiasm and anticipation for this year’s trip that that 

six-year-old had sitting in the train station in Jackson thirteen years 

ago. We’ve been to Brookhaven, New Orleans, Memphis, Little Rock, 

Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Asheville, 

Huntsville, and Orlando. And as time would tell, I have a completely 

different appreciation for the secret mission than I ever would have 

imagined. I am beyond grateful for the community-turned-family that 

I get to do it with, and I’m eager to see where it leads us in the future. 

And more than anything, I am extremely excited for this year’s 

trip. Of course, I don’t know where we’re going. They still keep it a 

secret. And like they’ve always told us, we’ll just have to find out. 


SALUTE 

to First Responders 

Why did you decide to be a policeman? 

While in college at the University of New Mexico on a football 

scholarship, I dreamed of playing professional football in the NFL. 

However, things didn’t work out for me. After the draft, I was left 

with a lot of smaller professional opportunities to play arena league 

football. 

During college, going into law enforcement was always my back-up 

plan. After deciding to let those football dreams go, I decided law 

enforcement was where I wanted to be. I have always enjoyed 

helping people and being a police officer would allow me to do just 

that. I am also able to experience something different every day. 

I do believe that God’s plan is sufficient. Although my job comes 

with many challenges, it is also very rewarding. I do not regret my 

decision. 


I am originally from a tough neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee. 

In 2002, my parents, two younger brothers, and I moved to Ridgeland, 

Mississippi. At that point, I attended Ridgeland High School where I 

initially met my beautiful wife who played hard to get until I returned 

home from college. We eventually started dating before getting 

married in 2015 and started a family. We have two amazing children: 

Jace (6) and Zoe (2) and two dogs K-9 Dalton (2) and Rudy our 

11-year-old boxer. 

What is the toughest thing you have experienced in your job? 

During my time as the full-time DUI officer for the city of Madison 

(2015-2019), working fatalities and seeing first-hand how drunk 

drivers really destroy families and affect so many people was the 

worst. And not only the offender—but the innocent victim losing 

their life or having their life altered and changed forever by the 

senseless decisions of an impaired driver. 

Sergeant 

Karlin 

GIVENS 

MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time. 

I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family and when I’m 

not traveling, having cookouts and watching sporting events from 

football, basketball, or boxing. I am a really big sports fan. I also enjoy 

training dogs in my spare time which is why I aspired to become a 

K9 handler. I credit my love for dog training to my first German 

Shepherd (Kodi), who helped me fight through the disappointment 

of not being drafted into the NFL. He helped set the tone for a very 

specific direction in my career. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Retirement, traveling to Dubai, taking my family to Hawaii once 

Zoe gets a little older. 


Who is someone you admire and why? 

My mother! We have been through a lot of ups and downs and 

after losing my father last year, things have really been tough on 

her and the family. But she remains strong in faith and continues 

to move the family forward and keeps all of us together. 

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

what would it be? 

Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, work hard and go for them. 

Always keep God first and don’t let negativity stop you. Be the 

absolute best you can be. 

What is your favorite thing about the City of Madison? 

I work in a community that is extremely supportive of law 

enforcement. During the current climate of law enforcement and 

the harsh daily criticisms we receive, it’s refreshing to have city 

leaders that are completely supportive of us. I’m also thankful to 

have the opportunity to work for a department that’s extremely 

supportive of growth and advancement. 


The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools 

Madison Central 

Madison Central is proud to announce its 2022-2023 National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars. 

Front L-R: Semifinalists Morgan Stroud, Jessica Eibert, Shreya Sinha, McKinley Johnson, Allie Hazelwood; Commended Scholar Jordan Northington; 

Semifinalist Ryan Watson; Commended Scholars Molly Albritton, Ella Ruhl; Semifinalists Sofia Elenkov, Lexie Elenkov, Alicia Xu. 

Back L-R: Semifinalists Cassie Howell, Claire Boykin, Rithik Banerjee; Commended Scholar Bassel Aldaoud; Semifinalists Jason Tu, Leo Mei, John Phelan, 

Fabricio Neira, Charlie Ratliff, Hayes Henry; Commended Scholars Daniel Ainsworth, Beau Barnette, Emma Greene, Bethany Abraham. 

Madison Central presented its 2022-2023 homecoming court Friday, October 28. 

Senior Homecoming Court 

Front L-R: Kinsley Wilson, Alexa Ainsworth, Mattie Dupuy, Bergen Bianchi, Zoe Zhang, Ava Dear. 

Back L-R: Vic Sutton, Isaiah Spencer, Aiden Allen, R.J. Smith, Bryman Williams 

Not pictured, Jake Norris 


Junior Homecoming Court 

Front L-R: Kylira Griffin, 

Brooke Bumgarner, Lauralee Hetzel, 

Rhyin Singleton, and Anna Edgar. 

Back L-R: Dino Pickett, John Griffin, 

Tyrone Richardson, Ty Miller, 

Harry Singh. 

Sophomore Homecoming Court 

Front L-R: Sara Reeves Thomas, 

Lana Nabulsi, Pearl Magee, 

Aricyn Brown. 

Back L-R: Darren Woods, 

Whit Turpin, Brandon Huerkamp, 

Tripp Higgins. 

Sophomore Homecoming Court 

Front L-R: Avery Coney, Alilyiah Morris, 

Reyanna Williams. 

Back L-R: Connor Wade, 

Trashun Brown, Damorion Smith. 


The CHALKBOARD Madison Schools 

Canton 

Mr. & Miss Canton High 2022-2023 

say they are ready to bring in a wave of change 

as they proudly represent their Tigers with style, 

humility, and grace! 

Mr. Canton High, Dwight Luckett, Jr. says he wants 

to inspire students to work hard to get a good 

education because he says with hard work and 

perseverance, they can achieve their wildest 

dreams. He also wants students to know the 

importance of giving back to their community. 

While he is a proud Tiger, he wants CHS to be 

a place where scholars can also have fun while 

learning. He wants his peers to take more 

educational field trips and get involved in great 

clubs that celebrate their unique qualities and 

honor their success. 

One of his favorite quotes comes from a person he 

greatly admires, former President Barack Obama. 

“Change will not come if we wait for some other 

person or some other time. We are the ones 

we’ve been waiting for. We are the CHANGE 

that we seek.” 

Miss Canton High, Erin Nichols, says she wants 

to make sure CHS is a place where everybody is 

somebody and where students can get involved 

and be heard. 

One of her favorite quotes comes from a person 

she greatly admires, former First Lady Michelle 

Obama. “You may not always have a comfortable 

life and you will not always be able to solve all 

of the world’s problems at once, but don’t ever 

underestimate the importance you can have. 

History has shown us that courage can be 

contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.” 

Let’s Go, Tigers! 


COMING SOON 

TO CALHOUN PARKWAY 

The newest location of PriorityOne Bank will be a full-service retail banking and lending establishment 

featuring three drive-thru lanes, a commercial deposit lane, and an Interactive Teller Machine. 

www.priorityonebank.com 


TheTime COIN 

Camille Anding 

Miracles! The word draws us and creates 

mystery and a bit (or a lot) of awe in most. 

We long for miracles and often just hearing of miracles renews our hopes and captures our 

attention again. 

I’ve read of many miracles, beginning with so many in the Bible. Some believe those kinds of 

miracles disappeared with the days of the disciples and apostles. I don’t! I believe miracles are still 

here - as long as we believe in a miracle-working God and his indwelling Spirit in his children. 

However, I’ve never witnessed a body of water split for a dry walk-through, and I’ve never had 

my spiritual eyes opened enough to see an army of angels encircling me. I’ve never watched anyone 

walk on water or heard and seen a single command turn a stormy sea into a glass-top surface. 

I would have been mesmerized to see thick clouds fall over a mountain and hear God’s Voice 

boom through the darkness, and to actually see the sun stand still would have been beyond my 

comprehension - but oh how I would have been an eager spectator. 

Yet, when I stop and consider miracles, I realize they are all around me - so 

many that I just take for granted. Gravity isn’t a subject that takes up any of my 

thinking space, but it’s a constant miracle in my life. Without gravity, I would float 

off into space along with anything or anyone that wasn’t tied down! 

Our universe is measured in billions, and there are galaxies that are so distant, 

a telescope has never come near them - and yet, here on earth’s planet, humans 

live and function daily - on the only life-inhabited planet that’s known. 

Even the animal kingdom is a network of the miraculous. Birds annually fly 

thousands of miles to migrate to warmer climates and then find their way back to 

their original location without any gadgets or road signs. When the hummingbirds 

return to my summer feeders, I never consider the miracles of their nonstop 

flights of up to 500 miles in a single day. 

It’s obvious that the scientific world can write volumes on the unexplainable and the hypothetical, 

but when I consider everyday miracles, I run out of brain space. The ability to see a rose in bloom 

and smell its fragrance, to be immediately sensitive to the touch of hot and cold, to hear sounds 

and have a brain to transmit their origin and meaning, to need sleep and stay in that mode for hours 

each 24-hour cycle, to be able to satisfy hunger with food. 

The list could be endless. Scientists continue to find unexplained miracles operating in the human 

body. So many of these scientists spend their lives in attempting to find a “how,” “where,” or “why,” 

to our universe and its occupants. I’m extremely grateful that God opened my spiritual eyes to his 

creation and miracles and gave me faith to believe in four simple words: “In the beginning God...” 



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