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2 • NOVEMBER 2022

Hometown RANKIN • 3

4 • NOVEMBER 2022

Oh What Fun! 

it is to Run (or walk)!! 

When: Saturday, Dec. 3 

Where: Capital Ortho in Flowood 

Register today!! @ 

rankinchamber.com 

Age group awards for runners & walkers · Best Christmas Costume Contest Awards too! 


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taking things apart or researching the finer points of a business 

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8 • NOVEMBER 2022

FROM OUR PUBLISHER 

John 15:12 tell us, “Love one another as I have loved you.” 

Rankin County is a wonderful close-knit community where 

that verse is carried out by so many. Through good times and 

hard times, Rankin Countians rally around one another, and 

it’s our pleasure to highlight some of these stories. 

This issue of Hometown Rankin is dedicated to extending 

the Thanksgiving season by focusing on people that have 

touched multiple lives in so many positive ways. You’ll enjoy 

reading about these individuals that you nominated for this 

special feature called “Heart of Hometown.” If you don’t know 

them now, you’ll want to meet them, and I’m certain you will 

be thankful that they are part of our neighborhoods. 

I believe it’s good to reflect on our blessings, and you will 

discover lots of blessings for reflection in this issue. Enjoy the 

inside looks at people who are making a sound difference in 

our hometowns and be challenged to become a part of those 

who invest time and money in others. 

Don’t overlook our advertisers and please think local in 

shopping. Without our advertisers, we couldn’t showcase so 

many wonderful things about the people and places in our 

hometown. 

Out of all the magazines we have published in nine years, 

this has to be one of my all-time favorites. Happy Thanksgiving 

from all of us at Hometown Magazines – a team that always 

wants to promote an attitude of gratitude! 

HOMETOWN STAFF 

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin Dobbs 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

IN THIS ISSUE 

The Way We Were 10 

Reader Spotlight 15 

Thankful in Rankin 19 

Heart of Hometown 34 

Make-A-Wish 47 

Hometown Family 56 

God’s Heart for Orphans 62 

Magic of Lights 70 

A Centenarian Patriot 84 

The Time Coin 106 

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/hometownrankinmagazine. 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 Rankin may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Rankin is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors. 

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


Cynthia & Jeff Wall 

Sunday weddings aren’t the norm, 

high school newspaper in Troy, 

cataclysmic. Cynthia had discovered 

not only seeing each other during 

but schedules – the kind that can’t be 

Alabama. It was a joy more than a job, 

an error that meant stopping the 

workdays, they had a standing date 

altered, always supersede the norm. 

and now, after more confirmation of 

presses. She gave the order to Jeff, 

every night of the week. 

This was the circumstance dictating 

“what she didn’t want to do,” the 

who was in charge of keeping the 

Three months later, Jeff proposed. 

a Sunday wedding for Cynthia Smith 

press and journalism were plying 

presses running. There were dead- 

Cynthia said, “Yes,” creating a 

and Jeff Wall. 

for a realistic career choice. 

lines to meet. 

newspaper phenomenon because 

Early on, they would qualify as 

Meanwhile Jeff was pursuing 

Jeff refused to shut down and a 

production mangers and city editors 

successful businesspeople in their 

newspaper work, but as production 

heated verbal battle followed. While 

are usually incongruous. But they 

trades. The gene pool in Cynthia’s 

manager working the night shift for 

Cynthia was standing her ground, 

were, and are, the exception. 

family background was pointing her 

the newspaper in Hattiesburg. 

Jeff was noticing that she was 

On September 27, 1987, they 

toward the field of mathematics. 

When he was promoted to day shift, 

especially pretty when she was mad. 

were wed in Hattiesburg. 

She attempted to subscribe to the 

it wasn’t long until he met the city 

Not only that, he loved her spunk 

Jeff married the professional 

obvious direction, but a statistics 

editor, Cynthia. By this time, she 

and drive for her profession. 

whose brain and business skills he 

course made her reconsider. Perhaps 

was convinced that she had found 

Soon after their explosive 

admired. And was pretty, even when 

mathematics wasn’t meant to be her 

her place, and her expertise and 

meeting, he asked her for a date. 

she was angry. Cynthia married the 

career choice. 

talent for the newspaper business 

She agreed. “I thought it was for him 

businessman whose business expertise 

She recalled the time when her 

was obvious. 

to apologize,” she said. That date led 

she had witnessed and admired – 

friend solicited her aid with their 

Their first official meeting was 

to another and within days, they were 

his discernment in seeing potential in 

10 • NOVEMBER 2022

“Cynthia has been 

supportive of all 

my dreams and 

mission work...” 

the often overlooked or challenged 

He partnered with two other 

another non-profit organization 

October from the UMMC Cancer 

worker, and then his leadership in 

businessmen to open The Tire 

that arranges free air transportation 

and Research Institute. 

investing time in his staff with 

Depot, now in two locations. Their 

for people who need to travel to 

Even their two dogs are part of 

detailed instructions for their 

motto has been, and continues to be, 

receive lifesaving medical treatment 

the working household. Therapy 

particular job. 

“Don’t be selfish.” Their success 

but lack the means. Jeff considers it 

dog visits are their work assign- 

Their admiration for each 

substantiates this business practice. 

one of his most fulfilling life choices. 

ments. Another business that the 

other’s attributes has been a sound 

In the midst of Jeff’s demanding 

“Cynthia has been supportive of 

Walls operate from home is Wall 

foundational key to their years of a 

business endeavors, he pursued 

all my dreams and mission work,” 

Wellness. It focuses on a health and 

fulfilling marriage. Their support 

another dream – earning his pilot’s 

Jeff added. But life hasn’t exactly 

nutrition weight loss program 

for each other’s dream-goals has 

license. He accomplished that 

stood still for Cynthia’s work, 

– one that the Walls credit for their 

been yet another. 

dream and joined Pilots N Paws, 

either. In addition to her career 

losing sixty-plus pounds, each. It 

In 1990 the couple made a 

a non-profit organization where 

in newspapers, she earned her 

appears that weight loss is the only 

job-related move to Jackson. Cynthia 

pilots and plane owners assist with 

master’s degree and taught writing, 

item of the Walls’ success in 

worked at The Clarion-Ledger, and Jeff 

the transportation of animals to 

journalism, and editing at the 

business and marriage that would 

was with Quality Printing. In 2004 

those that rescue, shelter, and 

University of Southern Mississippi 

appear in a negative column. 

Jeff decided it was time for a new 

foster animals. 

and was an adjunct instructor at 

career. After twenty-seven years, it 

That led to another volunteer 

Mississippi College. She celebrated 

was time to move away from printing. 

mission, Angel Flight Soars. This is 

another retirement the last of 


A 

COMMUNITY 

YOU CAN 

COUNT ON 


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READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Alex 

RUSSELL 

Why did you decide to make Rankin 

County your home? 

Honestly, I never expected to live in Rankin 

County. I moved to Copiah County in 2016 

to help family. Life had different plans and 

I ended up getting married, and with that 

moved to Pearl for family and work (I was 

working with Copiah Bank at the time as a 

customer service representative). It was during 

the time with Copiah Bank that Pisgah High 

School called me to come work. I started at 

Pisgah in February of 2018 and haven’t looked 

back. I love the area, I love the people, and it’s 

just an amazing place to raise my family. 

How long have you lived in Rankin County? 

Six years 

Tell us about your family. 

I have two boys: Reece, who is five, just started 

kindergarten, and Graham who is two. Both of 

them are a ball of energy with incredible 

personalities. 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Rankin County? 

I think my favorite memory comes from the 

first week I started teaching at Pisgah. On my 

way to work, I decided to take a different route 

by the reservoir. I think it was the sunrise and 

just the peace that came that made me know 

this was home. 

Where are your three favorite places 

to eat in Rankin County? 

Papitos, Burgers and Blues, and McClains. 

What are some fun things to do in 

Rankin County on the weekends? 

McClain Lodge Safari, Pump it Up, Fannin 

Lanes, and Black Axes. 

Share some things you enjoy doing 

in your spare time. 

I really just enjoy getting outside. I love to go 

biking, kayaking, and going to the park with 

my boys. There are so many trails and parks, 

perfect to just get out of the house and enjoy. 

What are a few things on your bucket list? 

Visit Istanbul, Turkey (specifically to see the 

Hagia Sophia). Watch a sunrise in Alaska. 

Visit and explore all of the Civil War battlefield 

sites in the Eastern Theater, and run 

for governor. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I think the person I admire the most is my 

mother. After my father passed away in 2003, 

my mother ended up taking on responsibility 

that she never expected. She is the strongest 

person I know, and I know she gave up a lot 

to not only stay in Pontotoc so my brother and 

I could finish school there, but to also give us 

every opportunity imaginable. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

In ten years, I hope to still be at Pisgah with 

both of my boys in the high school with me. I 

hope to still be teaching and coaching because 

honestly there is nothing better. In a dream 

world, I would love to say that in 10 years, or 

within the next 10 years, I would love to run 

for governor of the great state of Mississippi. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

I think my favorite childhood memory is 

playing in the woods with my friends. We 

would spend all weekend, every weekend, 

playing games, building forts, and just having 

a blast! 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

“Life is about making choices and learning 

from them.” 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Magazines? 

I just love how Hometown gives people and 

organizations in Rankin County the chance 

to shine! 


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contacts? Our physicians are the key to unlock your eye care plan. From pediatric to geriatric, 

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BALLET MAGNIFICAT! 

THALIA MARA HALL 

DEC 17-18 



Thankful 

in Rankin 

When you look up what it means to be “thankful” the 

first thing that comes up is, “to be pleased and relieved.” 

If you keep reading, the next bullet point will say, 

“expressing gratitude and relief.” 

In this time of Thanksgiving, we not only are expressing 

our gratitude to those in our community, but also to God. 

There are no restrictions when it comes to what we can and 

cannot be thankful for. With the trials and tribulations that 

life throws at us, sad things are unpreventable. Community is 

important, and in this issue during the midst of the sad, 

we cover the happy things as well, showing gratitude 

from Omaha to our neighbors right next door. 

And as the season continues, we hold tight to what we 

are thankful for. From a man’s best friend, to members of a 

private school baseball team leading their way to a college 

National Championship title, to a little girl that is stronger and 

brighter than all of us, the Rankin County community shines 

far and beyond the spotlight on what it means to merely 

be thankful. Flip through the next few pages to see just how 

steadfast our community is and how coming together as 

one can not only impact the community as a whole but 

also every individual person who is a part of it. 



POPPY WILLIAMS 

Thankful for Community 

“Every once in a while, a dog enters your life and changes everything.” 

- Anonymous 

For the Underwood family – Ian, Melissa, and their two 

children – of Brandon, Mississippi, this quote is certainly true. 

“Chester is the 9-year-old goldendoodle that our home 

revolves around,” said Melissa. “We got him shortly after 

getting married and he has been with us ever since and 

walked with us through sickness, loss, grief, and joy. He has 

stood by me through both pregnancies, welcomed our kids 

home from the hospital with a wagging tail, helped with 

late-night feedings and sick babies, and is the best protector 

of our family.” 

Life changed unexpectedly, and perhaps forever, for the 

Underwoods when Chester was lost earlier this year after 

he escaped from his backyard, was hit by a vehicle, and fled. 

“I still remember that Saturday morning like it was 

yesterday,” said Melissa. “I let Chester out the back door 

to use the restroom, just like we had done every morning. 

What I didn’t know at the time was that a board had fallen 

from our fence, which is how Chester escaped from our 

back yard.” 

Melissa’s stomach sank when she heard a knock on the 

door not long after they let Chester out. The knock came 

from a young man who was holding his collar and asked the 

Underwoods if they owned a white dog. He went on to tell 

them that he saw Chester get hit by a vehicle and tried to 

get him before Chester broke from his collar and ran down 

Louis Wilson towards Highway 80. 

“The rest is both a blur and a vivid memory,” said Melissa. 

“We jumped in the car to go look for him, and called 

immediate family members, friends, and neighbors, to help 

us in our search. After about an hour of searching down 

Louis Wilson and Highway 80 without any luck of finding 

him, I decided to take to social media.” 



Within three hours of the post, Melissa’s plea for help to find Chester had been shared over 500 times; however, there was 

still no sign of him. By the end of the night, there were over 1,000 shares. What started off with family and friends quickly spread 

throughout the community of Brandon and manifested into a huge search and rescue mission. 

There was no sighting of Chester until around 10 p.m. that Saturday night, where he had been seen walking down North 

Street. Ian drove up and down North Street with other searchers until 3am looking for him, and the entire family returned to 

search at 5am that Sunday morning. 

“I’ll never forget seeing the large numbers of people searching with us – people that we knew and others that we didn’t,” 

said Melissa. “It looked like a parade was taking place up and down North Street all filled with people – by foot and by vehicle 

– looking for our boy.” 

By Sunday evening, Melissa’s original social media post had been shared over 1800 times. 

The parade of people searching for Chester only grew and involved the Rankin County Sheriff’s 

Office, a family with Mississippi Search and Rescue, and countless others. With the help of their 

community who rallied around the Underwood’s with a search and rescue mission, Chester was 

found 48 hours later with extensive injuries. 

“Monday morning, we were all feeling defeated, but we didn’t let up. We knew we owed it 

to Chester, and then my phone rang,” said Melissa. “He had been found! A lady who had been 

following our story went out looking for him Monday morning and found him hunkered down 

on a tree line behind the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.” 

This stranger – who the Underwood’s call an angel in disguise – was out of breath from 

carrying Chester who couldn’t walk and said he needed to immediately go to a vet. Melissa 

drove as fast as she could to Oakdale Animal Hospital. 

“Chester had extensive injuries that left him septic, extremely dehydrated, weak, and 

in critical condition,” said Melissa. “One of the first things Dr. Sullivan said to us after assessing 

him was that if he had not been found when he was, the outcome would not have been what 

any of us had hoped for.” Chester remained with Dr. Sullivan and Oakdale Animal Hospital staff 

for a week receiving IV fluids, antibiotics, and surgery on his back foot. Following that initial week, 

Chester had to remain on medications for nine weeks to combat the infections in his body. 

With the help of Dr. Sullivan, the Underwoods tried all that they could to save his leg. 

However, with no progress being made, the decision was made to amputate Chester’s front 

leg to eliminate the source of infection and keep it from becoming systemic. 

“Since his amputation, Chester has done great! He is back to his old self running around 

outside, jumping on and off furniture, and playing with us and the kids,” said Melissa. “Seeing 

him now and knowing how close we were to this all turning out so, so differently, just brings me 

to my knees.” 

According to the Underwoods, they’re forever grateful for their community who helped 

them find, and ultimately save, their boy. “I can’t even begin to list who all I saw out there in the 

trenches of that June Mississippi heat searching with us,” said Melissa. “It had to have been 

hundreds of people physically looking and even more helped us by sharing our post on Facebook 

and keeping an eye out. I’ll never forget it.” 

BOE. Most natives of Brandon know exactly what this means – Brandon Over Everything. 

For the Underwoods, their story is but one example of what BOE means in real life, where a 

community rallies together for a greater purpose. 

“Brandon is home, and our story of how Chester was found and how people still ask about him daily just wrecks me,” 

said Melissa. “It’s etched in my family’s heart forever. You can’t beat that, you know? We are so thankful.” 



Peace 

Be Still 

Sarah Rein 

Gabby 

Buford 

The Calm 

“Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us 

to mistake them for home.” C.S. Lewis 

A year ago, the Bufords were living a typical, busy suburban life. After a midlife career change, 

David was finally finished with medical school and was completing the last year of his residency. 

Kimberly was staying home with their four elementary-age children. She planned to eventually 

return to work as a school counselor, but, with a daughter practicing soccer three nights a 

week and three younger boys, there was little time to focus on anything else. 

They had moved to the Flowood area from Hattiesburg when it was time for David to start 

his residency. Grateful to return to a familiar area (both are originally from central MS), they were 

excited to settle in and have family close by. Gabby, their oldest child and only daughter, soon 

became involved in the local soccer scene. They joined Pinelake’s Reservoir campus and filled 

their days with practices, homework, school activities, and family time. During that busy season, 

David and Kimberly also had the privilege of introducing their children to their faith and teaching 

them the ways of God. 

In 2021, Gabby was thriving as she started her first year at Northwest Middle School. In a 

refreshing change from the usual kid complaints about the topic, Gabby loved school and was 

always eager to go. She was a gifted student, with a particular enjoyment of mathematics. But 

a year ago, around fall break of 2021, Kimberly began to notice some unusual changes in her 

daughter. Gabby was fatigued, frequently wanting to nap after getting home from school. She 

also noticed that her honor student was coming home with some occasional B’s. And while 

none of that was particularly alarming on its own, the changes were enough to get Kimberly’s 

attention. She made an appointment for a wellness check-up with Gabby’s pediatrician. 


The Storm 

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists 

upon being attended to. God whispers to us in 

our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but 

shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to 

rouse a deaf world.” C. S. Lewis 

But it was soon after that, while waiting for 

Gabby’s appointment, that a moment came that 

things shifted for Kimberly. On November 4, they 

were reviewing vocabulary words as they waited 

in the drop-off line before school and Gabby was 

unable to recall the words she’d known well the 

night before. “I was honestly a little frustrated with 

her. But then, as I was driving home, it just hit me. 

Something is not right. I went home and got on 

my knees in her bedroom and asked God to give 

me answers. I asked Him to help me understand 

what was going on with my baby.” She called the 

pediatrician’s office back and insisted on an earlier 

appointment. Gabby was diagnosed with cluster 

headaches and sent home with a prescription. 

After additional symptoms presented that November, 

the Bufords wound up taking Gabby to the ER 

where they requested an MRI. They were given 

an appointment for one in February. 

When the family left for a Thanksgiving trip to 

Gatlinburg, they were looking forward to slowing 

down and enjoying uninterrupted time together. 

And that was when David fully recognized the 

changes his wife had been seeing the last few 

weeks. He was actually the first to diagnose 

Gabby’s brain tumor. “We called a friend who 

was in radiology at UMC and asked for his help. 

We drove home on Sunday and he had us in for 

an MRI on Monday.” 

Here, Kimberly pauses for a shaky breath and 

lets the tears that have been held back during 

most of the conversation flow freely. “That 

Monday was the worst day of my life...” 

The first days and weeks after her diagnosis 

went by in a blur. David and Kimberly sat down 

with Gabby to explain what the MRI had revealed. 

“If I write a book one day, the first line will be... 

I took my daughter to get ice cream and to tell her 

she had a brain tumor.” Gabby was taken in for 

surgery to relieve the pressure caused by fluid from 

the tumor. At first, they found themselves reluctant 

to share the devastating news. But as they began 

processing it, Kimberly felt a pressing need to get 

the word out. “I knew I needed to ask for prayers. 

And once I asked, they began flooding in.” 

Gabby hasn’t said much at this point but she 

quietly interjects here...”Thank you Jesus.” 

26 • NOVEMBER 2022 

The Savior 

I turn my attention to Gabby. Having put me at 

ease by answering the door with a broad smile, 

she is taller than I’d expected. With a beautiful 

complexion and thick, wavy hair, Gabby has 

seemed calm and peaceful as she’s sat next to 

a perfect stranger on her couch. Kimberly had 

shared with me that conversation is sometimes 

difficult for Gabby. Words don’t come as quickly 

or easily as they used to. 

I can’t imagine how a twelve-year-old girl might 

begin to process the dramatic shift in her life over 

the last year. With no idea how she might respond, 

I ask her how this experience has changed her. 

She pauses as she considers the question. “I think 

I’ve grown stronger and healthier. But at the same 

time, the opposite.” The weight of her statement 

washes over me as I try to recall why it sounds 

familiar. Then the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 

come into focus in my mind. “So we do not lose 

heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our 

inner self is being renewed day by day.” 

After a long pause, Kimberly speaks to how this 

trial has grown their faith. “We are completely 

dependent on God. We may have been lukewarm 

before this, but we won’t ever be again. All this has 

brought to light what is important. Our society is 

so skewed - what we think matters doesn’t. I hope 

we can shed light on that for others. Sports aren’t 

important, school is not important. Whatever 

people put emphasis on, the things that drive 

them....it’s only Christ that matters.”

I ask Gabby if she has seen any good come from 

what she has gone through. She smiles that same 

big smile and looks into the distance. “I see good 

things everywhere. Good things always happen 

when bad stuff comes. And I feel very loved.” 

I wonder aloud what has made the family feel 

most loved. The community in central Mississippi 

has rallied around them in grand and beautiful 

ways. There have been numerous fundraisers, 

including a 5k. The Northwest Rankin Athletic 

Association named one of their fields the Gabby 

Strong field and the Pearl Futbol Club just hosted 

a tournament in her honor. Gabby and her family 

were even sent to Hawaii by the Make-A-Wish 

Foundation. 

And, while the Bufords are beyond grateful for 

all these efforts on their behalf, none of those are 

the first thing they mention. 

Gabby - “Mommy, Daddy, and the boys.” 

Kimberly - “The prayers. I’ve had people walk 

up to me in public who tell me they don’t know us 

but that their family has been praying for Gabby 

every day. People have sent me videos of their 

children praying, pictures of their prayer journals. 

There are days when I can’t even listen to a 

worship song, but I know I have Christian brothers 

and sisters who are praying constantly.” 

Gabby steps out the room for a few minutes, 

and I have the chance to speak to Kimberly alone. 

I comment on what a beautiful girl Gabby is, and 

Kimberly sheds fresh tears as she expresses her 

delight in her daughter. “She has always been just 

an angel of a child and I think...why? How can this 

be where we are?” She pauses, gathering herself. 

“But God’s using her in this way. We just want 

to honor Him and stand strong in faith as much 

as we can. When we dedicated her as a baby, the 

verse we had read over her was Jeremiah 29:11. 

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the 

Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you a hope and a future.’ And Gabby 

says that verse to herself when she is having a hard 

moment. She will be watching her friends on the 

soccer field sometimes and question - why? But 

then she will say that she knows God has a plan. 

She’s been so strong from the beginning and it’s 

because her identity never was in soccer or school. 

It’s in Jesus.” 

I ask Gabby one last question as we wrap up 

the interview. Knowing that she has the chance 

to say one more thing to a large group of people, 

most of whom she’ll never meet, what would she 

like to tell them? 

“Jesus loves them. He loves them and He is in 

charge. He is all we need to fix us where we are 

broken. He is everything.” 

As I walk out the door, I look back at the pair. 

Kimberly has her head resting on Gabby’s lap as 

she wraps her arms around her little girl. I’m struck 

by the image. Two daughters of the King walking 

through something they never would have imagined 

or chosen. Unsure of what comes next but 

choosing to trust with childlike faith in a Father 

who will never leave them or forsake them. 

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God 

comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, 

you can understand what He is doing. He is 

getting the drains right and stopping the leaks 

in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs 

needed doing and so you are not surprised. 

But presently He starts knocking the house about 

in a way that hurts abominably and does not 

seem to make any sense. What on earth is He 

up to? The explanation is that He is building quite 

a different house from the one you thought of - 

throwing out a new wing here, putting on an 

extra floor there, running up towers, making 

courtyards. You thought you were being made 

into a decent little cottage: but He is building a 

palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 

C.S. Lewis 


FROM OLE MISS 

TO OMAHAMelanie 

McMillan 

Fall in the South brings to mind the slow but sure changing of colors and the hope of cooler temperatures. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, but for many Mississippians, and Ole Miss fans in particular, 

Thanksgiving and Christmas came earlier this year. After six appearances in the College World Series, the Ole Miss Rebels 

brought home their first ever National Championship title, and, at least in the minds of their fellow Mississippians, 

solidified the Magnolia State’s claim to college baseball domination. Like the rest of the state, Rankin Countians, 

even those who normally chant “Hail State” or sport black and gold, were cheering for the team from Oxford, and were 

especially excited for Jackson Prep graduates Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols, freshmen on the Ole Miss roster. 


Mason and Riley began their athletic careers, and their 

long-standing friendship, as 7th graders at Jackson Prep, where 

the two played football and basketball as well as baseball. The 

list of honors they earned in their high school careers, on and 

off the field, is impressive, and Nichols and Maddox helped 

lead Prep to three state titles. Considering that COVID ended 

the season their junior year, there was not a single year they 

played that Prep didn’t win the championship. Not surprisingly, 

both players caught the eye of college recruiters, but 

their paths to Ole Miss didn’t look exactly the same. 

Riley had grown up a Mississippi State fan, and was 

offered a spot on the Bulldog roster, so initially it seemed he 

would commit to play in Starkville. “Although I’d always 

been a Mississippi State fan, when it came down to it, it just 

didn’t feel right,” Riley says. “When I received an offer from 

Ole Miss, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Coach Carl 

Lafferty had a lot to do with that decision.” 

For Mason, the choice to go to Ole Miss just made 

sense. “Coach Bianco had been there for almost 20 years 

at that point, and I really respected him and the program 

there. Ole Miss also had a reputation for having really 

good pitchers, so I felt it was a great fit for me.” 

The College World Series experience was very different for 

the two freshmen. Riley suffered an injury and underwent 

“Tommy John” surgery in May, so he was unable to play 

alongside his teammates in Omaha. His outlook and attitude, 

however, are extremely positive, and his recovery is going well. 

“It was difficult not playing of course, but I would do it again 

if it meant we would win another national championship,”says 

Maddox. “I have just recently started my throwing program 

which takes around 6-8 months.” 

When Mason took the mound in the sixth inning of game 

one of the championship series, the bases were loaded and 

Oklahoma had no outs. “I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t 

nervous before I went in to pitch,” Nichols says. “I did my best to 

focus on my catcher and not allow the situation to be overwhelming, 

but ultimately I just always found myself praying for 

strength and peace before I jogged in from the bullpen. It honestly 

is part of my testimony that God gave me the calmness to perform 

well when my team needed me to. The only thing I can say for 

sure about my experience of being on the mound in Omaha is 

that it was not by my own strength, there was something much 

bigger at work there.” Nichols pulled off five strikeouts, holding 

the Sooners at bay and setting his team up to add to their lead 

and win the game. 

Riley Maddox Mason Nichols 

Riley Maddox 


“Riley and Mason are two 

of the best competitors I’ve 

ever been around. It’s been 

a lot of fun to see them have 

success, not only at the 

high school level, but now 

the college level. They are 

two great teammates 

with bright futures 

ahead of them.” 

Brent Heavener 

Head Baseball Coach 

Jackson Prep 

“Riley and Mason are 

two extremely talented 

pitchers. Their work ethic 

and competitiveness is 

what separates them 

from others.” 

Jay Powell 

Assistant Head 

Baseball Coach 

Jackson Prep 


Winning the national championship was obviously the 

highlight of the season, but there have been other milestones 

along the way as well. For Riley, playing against Southern Miss 

at Trustmark Park was one of them. “I’m from Pearl and playing 

at Trustmark Park felt like playing at home. It was great to have 

so many family and friends who might not make it up to Oxford 

come out to see us play.” Mason felt the same about the super 

regionals in Hattiesburg. “I have a lot of family in that part of 

Mississippi,” he says, “and my parents went to Southern Miss, 

so it was really special to play there.” 

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we tend to 

reflect on the people in our lives for whom we are most 

grateful, and Maddox and Nichols are no exception. Both 

young men are keenly aware of the sacrifices and support 

their families have given them over the years, not to mention 

the coaches who have invested in them personally and 

professionally. Riley’s family consists of parents Jeff and 

Renee, both physical therapists, and older brother Aden, 

who lives in Atlanta. “My parents have always been so 

supportive and I may not have realized it at the time, but 

I certainly understand now the sacrifices they made with 

their time and finances. It’s not cheap to play travel ball,and 

I’m grateful for everything they did to make it happen for me.” 

Mason also credits his family for making him the player 

and man he is today. His dad, Mike, is an oral surgeon and his 

mom, Kimberly, is an OB/Gyn, while older sister MacKenzie is 

in her senior year at TCU. “I’m grateful to my parents for always 

pushing me to do my best, paying for countless lessons, and 

driving me where I needed to go for so many years.” 

Looking to the future, both young men hope to play baseball 

at the next level once they finish at Ole Miss, but their plans don’t 

end there. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Mason hopes to 

attend medical school and specialize in orthopedics, while Riley 

has his sights set on becoming a commercial pilot. The two have 

proven they have the determination to put in the hard work to 

achieve whatever they set their minds to. Both agree that their 

coaches and teammates at Prep prepared them for success at the 

college level, and a “healthy element of competition” between the 

two of them has fostered their growth as players and friends. 

Having won three state championships together at Prep, 

winning the national championship as teammates just seemed 

fitting. As the confetti fell in Omaha, Mason looked at Riley and 

said, “I think we’re getting pretty good at this.” 

Riley Maddox Mason Nichols 

Riley Maddox 





With the holidays in full swing, it’s always important to be intentional in thinking about who we are thankful for in our lives. 

When it comes to thinking about the people who make a difference, a variety of people come to mind. From those who have made 

a difference in the community to those that have touched our hearts personally, Rankin County is full of individuals who love to 

serve each other and make a difference in the lives of others for the better. 

Over the past few weeks, we have asked for nominations through social media for those who come to mind when you think about 

someone who is not only special in your life but serves Rankin County as well. As you will see, the following people were recognized 

as our “Heart of Hometown” winners for this year. These individuals not only make an impact in our Rankin County community but 

also hold high the morals and understanding of what it means to serve and love your neighbor. We are thankful for these hearts in 

our hometown–and Rankin County would not be as great as it is without them! 


Shakena Bowie 

“Since the age of 17, Shakena has been ill with several 

autoimmune conditions, but you will never hear her 

complain. Through all of her life circumstances; 

with her health, to losing a sibling and her parents, 

she still finds a way to be a light to everyone she 

comes in contact with. She loves serving and has a 

passion for mental health, particularly with youth. 

She is a member of Junior Auxiliary. She also works 

to find volunteers to work with hospice patients.” 

– Anonymous 

“You can’t do everything, 

but you can do something. 

Sometimes the smallest acts of service 

are the ones that make the biggest impact.” 

Shakena Bowie has called Rankin County her home all of her 

life. She feels blessed to be a graduate of Pisgah High School and 

a a two-time graduate of Jackson State University – the university 

that she refers to as “THE Jackson State University!” 

Her love for people is what drives and motivates her, and she 

credits her mom for this admirable quality. “It was my mother that 

inspired my siblings and me to have servant hearts.” 

According to Shakena and all who knew her mother, this special 

mom left a legacy of caring service. “My mom worked in Rankin 

County all her adult life at the Rankin County Human Resource 

Agency, the JTPA Career Center, Family Healthcare Clinic, and the 

Medicaid office. Her positions were never high-paying, but she was 

dedicated to helping others with all the energy and skills she had,” 

Shakena said. 

She recalls how her mother continued to work while battling 

cancer – even up and to the disease terminating her ability to carry 

on. People still stop Shakena to share how her mother helped them. 

Those encouragements continue to fuel Shakena’s desire to serve 

and help others – even as she has to deal with her own challenging 

health issues. 

Shakena’s most recent title is manager of volunteer services 

for a hospice center. She also serves as a mental health therapist 

to youth in the greater Jackson area – a work to which she’s 

extremely dedicated. Rankin County Junior Auxiliary provides 

another of her serving outlets as well as her church where she 

continues to care for and serve others. 

In the midst of Shakena’s active and serving life, she saves time 

for her husband Ivory Bowie and their one-year-old daughter, 

Kay’Lee. Family life ranks high on her priorities. 

This energized servant maintains her life philosophy: “It’s not 

about self.” She’s reminded of what her pastor Perry Fletcher 

always says, “You can’t do everything, but you can do something. 

Sometimes the smallest acts of service are the ones that make the 

biggest impact.” 

Well said, Pastor Perry, and well done, Shakena Bowie (and her 

servant mother). 


Trey Spillman 

“We all know exercise is good for your physical health, but 

participating in outdoor activities can increase personal 

confidence, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and 

encourage social interaction. Trey Spillman has been a 

dedicated advocate for cycling in our community by 

organizing The Brandon Beatdown Short Track Mountain 

Bike Series, The Brandon Quarry Crit Series, Quarry Kids 

Day, and numerous group rides. These events and group 

activities have brought people into the cycling community 

who haven’t touched a bike in years or are entirely new to 

riding. Trey’s constant encouragement and warm nature 

have welcomed all age groups and all experience levels 

creating a positive and fun environment. It is widely 

accepted that communities that participate in and 

support recreation develop strong social bonds, are safe 

places, and the residents are healthier and happier – Trey 

Spillman has played a vital role in creating this environment 

in Rankin County.” – Taylor Spillman 

The draw to biking for Trey Spillman began in 2016 when he 

realized that he needed to get outside, and to exercise. Why not 

mountain biking? It was a great idea because he began biking and 

spreading the word to colleagues and friends that biking offered 

not only physical benefits but also mental health benefits. Trey 

wanted to promote those benefits to the community so there 

could be fun times with biking groups while enjoying healthy 

exercise as a byproduct. 

Trey was aware that biking was something that was huge in 

other parts of the world, and due to the topography and the rural 

nature of Mississippi, biking could be huge in Rankin County. 

Word began to spread among those interested in outdoor exercise. 

He convinced other bikers that bike trails weren’t just for large 

cities; there could be trails locally. 

Biking was one of the keys that Trey felt could open opportunities 

to see others having fun in healthy and sustainable ways. It would 

be his answer to, “What can I do to improve our community?” 

In 2018 the local, newly formed, bike club approached the 

City of Brandon about partnering with the club to build mountain 

bike trails at the Quarry Park. Mayor Lee was very receptive, 

especially with the bike club already managing trails in Ridgeland, 

Clinton, Jackson, and near Ackerman. Interest was growing, and 

the mayor and club put a plan in place to develop biking trails. 

Their work continues on the trail system, and by early 2023 the 

bikers hope to have an additional 4.5 miles of off-road trails. 

Since the biking club was formed, they have held a multitude 

of free annual events, such as the Brandon Beatdown Short Track 

Mountain Bike Series, the Quarry Criterium Series at the Amphitheater, 

the Quarry Kids Bike Day, and several non-competitive but fun 

group rides. 

They have also been instrumental in bringing in larger, regional 

race series, such as the Louisiana and Mississippi Bicycle Racing 

Association. Due to the accessibility of more local trails, Mississippi’s 

first high school mountain biking league has been established 

and will start racing in 2024. 

A catalyst for growth and a relationship builder are obvious talents that 

Trey invests in the county, but he refuses to take credit for all the hard work 

that so many people have done to build the cycling community. He says that 

the real credit should go to the local leaders that allow us access to public 

lands and resources to build trails, the Tri-County Mountain Bike Association, 

the volunteers who build trails and help at events, and the people in the 

community willing to go outside their comfort zone to try something new. 

Trey, the current assistant county prosecutor for Rankin County, and 

running for county prosecutor in 2023, has used his skills and connections 

to ultimately ensure that outdoor recreation is something that everyone can 

have access to. Trey and his wife, Taylor, have called Rankin County home 

since moving to Flowood from Jackson in 2017. “We immediately fell in love 

with this place and with the people here,” Trey said. 

It appears safe to assume that biking can be added to that list. 


Kayla Jones 

“Kayla deserves this recognition because she is 

always there for others. She is the most selfless 

person I know. She looks out for others and puts 

them before herself. Kayla has a pantry called the 

beauty pantry that helps women and their families 

with toiletries and other necessities. The items are 

received through donations and out of Kayla’s 

pocket. But one of the other perks is that those 

receiving the items remain anonymous. I know 

because I have been one of those women. Kayla is 

truly a godsend and there’s no one else like her.” 

– Anonymous 

“It takes one person 

to make a difference.” 

Kayla is a makeup artist, specializing in giving brides a 

cosmetic “glow” that matches their wedding-day hearts. 

That, and her operating Spray Tans by Kayla in Brandon, 

Mississippi, for the past seven years, keeps her workdays 

busy, but her compassionate heart doesn’t stop there. 

Kayla was able to turn a memorable request into her 

ongoing ministry. She remembers being approached by a 

young girl who was in need of hygiene products. There 

was no mother figure in the young girl’s life, so Kayla was 

moved to help fill that void by meeting the girl’s immediate 

hygiene needs. 

It was that experience that prompted Kayla to initiate a 

ministry out of her business for young girls, moms, or just 

women in need, to come in and grab what they needed 

with no questions asked. Items such as toothpaste, 

toothbrushes, and shampoo and conditioner are just some 

of the items that she stocks. And because good news 

travels, Kayla now has had others come alongside her 

ministry and make donations to help with keeping her 

supply levels maintained. 

“I have a heart for helping women – especially young 

women,” Kayla explains. She is aware that there are always 

those who are in “hard places” and don’t have any of what 

most people take for granted. She is an advocate for 

people donating their time and resources to local 

ministries that spend countless hours helping others. 

Kayla was raised in Pearl and lived there until three years 

ago when she moved to Simpson County. However, she’s 

quick to respond that her place of business is in Rankin 

County, and she doesn’t ever plan to leave. 

Mother and wife are two other titles that bring Kayla joy. 

She’s married to Thomas Jones, and is mom to three, Tori 

Grace, Natalie, and Trey. She describes their home as a 

house full of love! 

Kayla hopes to leave a simple but meaningful charge 

to others: “It takes one person to make a difference.” 

This makeup artist is proof! 


Benny Ivey 

“Benny is a former gang leader, drug dealer, and addict 

who strives to keep kids from going down the path he 

did. His Strong Arms of Mississippi is his labor of love, 

and compassion. He never seeks attention. But his work 

is very important to our communities and youth.” 

– Christine Kendall 

“God has restored 

our lives and families 

and we're dedicated to pouring love 

into our youth to help push them 

toward a more positive path.” 

According to recurring polls, crime is the number one issue 

among voters. It’s common knowledge that drugs play a major 

part in the crime epidemic. Ask Benny Ivey. He knows firsthand, 

because he was once part of a gang, even “advancing” in crime 

to become a gang leader. He’s not hesitant to confess: “I’ve lived 

a polluted life with gangs and drugs most of my life.” 

Sadly, his home life contributed to the problem because his 

parents were drug addicts. Gang activity ensnared his empty 

and dysfunctional existence, and he was addicted to meth for 

sixteen years of his young years. Benny was incarcerated at an 

early age and lived that life for most of his youth and was in 

prison eleven years as an adult. 

What looked like a dead end road to Benny and to any who 

witnessed his downward spiral, was not! He made a dramatic 

turn in 2010. He remembers it well, because it marked a major 

milestone in his life – he “got clean.” He began building a life for 

himself and most importantly, he began building a relationship 

with God. 

In 2018 Benny began building a youth program to help lead 

youth away from the path that he had followed for most of his 

life. He named the program Strong Arms of Mississippi. He, the 

co-director, and other mentors spend time with youth that are 

in and out of juvenile detention. He carries his life-restoration 

message to the communities and schools and wherever he can 

sound hope to a hopeless segment of our youth. 

Strong Arms of Mississippi is making a powerful impact 

among those who are drowning in the quagmire of crimes and 

drugs. Benny’s goal is to lead youth away from the path to prison 

or death. His message comes through to those youth who hear 

him because he knows where they are and what they are 

experiencing. “I’ve been where you are!” is a statement that gets 

their attention. 

“We mentors can use our life experiences to meet youth 

where they are,” Benny says with committed confidence. 

He speaks for himself as well as the mentors that assist in the 

program, “God has restored our lives and families and we’re 

dedicated to pouring love into our youth to help push them 

toward a more positive path.” 

Benny is truly a product of what God can do in the midst of 

seemingly hopeless situations. He and his wife, Kristina Ivey, 

have a daughter, Natalie, a seventeen-year-old at McLaurin 

Attendance Center. Kristina works at UMMC Heart Clinic, and 

Benny is owner of Benny Ivey Plumbing & More LLC. 

Benny is happy to share that he’s been clean for twelve years 

and hopes to show others that there are paths out of the crime/ 

drug cycle. He would also encourage every citizen concerned 

about the crime epidemic to get involved in some form of 

support for programs like Strong Arms of Mississippi. 


Rusty Clark 

“Captain Rusty Clark lives in Brandon. He is the director 

of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal 

Information Center in Pearl. He has a long career in law 

enforcement, most notably his time as a trooper with the 

MS Highway Safety Patrol and now with MBI. He strives to 

make Mississippi a safe haven for its citizens and to make 

the jobs of law enforcement easier through his role at the 

CIC. Captain Clark is a great man to work for and a true 

community leader. We are grateful for his leadership.” 

– Megan Costilow 

There are a lot of people with lengthy as well as impressive 

resumes. One who qualifies to be a candidate for that type of 

resume is Rusty Clark, presently serving as the director of the 

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Information Center 

in Pearl. His thirty years in law enforcement and public service 

stem back to his home life environment. 

Rusty’s dad, Jay Clark, retired as the chief of the Mississippi 

Highway Patrol in 1995. His mother, Mary Clark, was a school nurse 

and a nurse at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Public 

service just came naturally to Rusty. 

The CIC is a division of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. 

This center is the state’s criminal history repository and a conduit 

for information exchange with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 

National Crime Information Center. The CIC houses MBI intelligence 

analysts, MS Sex Offender Registry, MS Justice Information Center, 

special processing, automated fingerprint identification system, 

mental health adjudication reporting, and the National Incident- 

Based Reporting System. Being director of this center carries a 

weighty responsibility. 

Rusty also serves as Mississippi’s CJIS systems officer which 

allows him to sit on national committees in advisory capacity – 

all relating to crime prevention. In September of 2021, Governor 

Tate Reeves appointed him to the SEARCH Membership Group. 

This national body of state-level professionals is widely representative 

of the various disciplines within the justice system and also dealing 

with operational decisions and policy making concerning the 

management of criminal justice. 

His position before his present role with CIC was the Troop C 

District Supervisor of MBI, which encompasses ten counties, including 

Rankin. In 2020 he was given the task of leading the investigation of 

the prison riots across the state with MDOC investigators. Prior to 

that, he was a criminal investigator serving with MBI, an accident 

reconstructionist with Mississippi Highway Patrol, and a trooper 

with MHP. For six years before serving with MHP, he was a police 

officer in Hattiesburg and Gulfport. 

Then there’s family life that is a valid and important part of his life. 

He and his wife, Carrie, are parents to four sons – Trey (23), married 

to Bella, Brockman (20), Banks (17), and Cooper (17). Trey is in the 

United States Air Force in Tampa, FL, Brockman is in Austin, TX, and 

Banks and Cooper are at Hartfield Academy. 

Rusty’s family continues to carry on the public service legacy. 

Carrie is a nursing leader at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, and this 

summer won MORA’s Nurse Manager of the Year award. After Trey’s 

military service is completed, he wants to work in law enforcement. 

Carrie and Rusty, residents of Flowood for the past twenty years, find it 

rewarding to give back to the community through their careers. He’s grateful 

to have friends like District Attorney Bubba Bramlett and Sheriff Bryan Bailey 

and mentors like Judge Kent McDaniels and Mr. Jesse Bingham. “These men 

are great examples of what good men in the right positions can accomplish 

in keeping Rankin County safe,” Rusty confirms. 

Rusty says, “I have loved every minute of my law enforcement career, and 

as I near thirty years in law enforcement, I feel as though I have a lot left to 

do.” One of his goals is to help Mississippi show the rest of the country and 

the world what we are capable of. The Clark’s first grandchild is on the way 

– all the more reason for his zeal in making the world a safer place. 

This lifelong law enforcement official realizes that he cannot make this 

happen on his own, but he can hopefully show that it is possible to make a 

difference in his area. He challenges, “If we all can do just a small part, then 

the change can be quantified.” 


Ashley Davis 

“Ashley exemplifies the definition of never letting any obstacle 

or challenge define you or keep you from fulfilling your dreams. 

She was a teenage mom at 17 yet got her diploma and continued 

to college to earn a degree. She met the love of her life, Matt 

Davis, and at 21 married, and they had four children together. 

She has immersed herself in the community in the Junior 

Civic League, pursued a very successful career in hospice while 

raising her five children that are all involved in sports and the 

community. She inspires me every day with her energy, tenacity 

and drive to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for her family. 

She never let any judgement or disbelief from anyone ever stop 

her from achieving all that she wanted. It’s rare that someone 

so much younger than yourself can become your hero, but 

Ashley Durr Davis is definitely my hero.” – Anonymous 

“Be the Light!” This is the send off reminder that Ashley and Matt Davis 

give their five children whenever they go anywhere. In fact, it’s been a 

family motto since Ashley and Matt were married and began growing a 

family of their own. 

Ashley’s story could have been much different had she allowed the 

challenge of being a teenage mother keep her from her dreams. But the 

challenge didn’t dissuade her from getting her high school diploma at 

age seventeen. Four years laters she met Matt, and together they have 

continued to realize their dreams. 

Ashley grew up as an Army brat and not having a permanent home. 

When her dad retired, the family moved to Brandon, the place that her 

mom still called home. Brandon has been home now for seventeen years. 

For the past five years, Ashley has been the small-business owner of 

Datin Medical Supply. Presently, she and Matt own and operate a postacute 

company, nationwide, still working out of Brandon. The couple’s 

goal has been to serve others through their occupations which is why 

they started both companies. Their focus is on the elderly and disabled 

populations to ensure their necessary care. Their business has expanded 

to help home health and hospice agencies throughout the country which 

results in helping to meet their goal of caring for the sick and elderly. 

Ashley’s motivation comes from 1John 4:19 – “We love each other 

because He first loved us.” That has been the life commitment by her 

family, and God continues to bless them with opportunities to serve 

Him and His people. Their family’s favorite ministry is the special needs 

hunt at Tanglewood. 

The Davis family is the typical busy family with school and extra 

activities. There’s Emily-age 16, Atleigh-11, Charli and Maddi-9 year old 

twins, and Levi-6. Even though family is always a priority with Ashley, she 

stays involved in organizations where she’s able to use her God-given 

gifts. The Junior Civic League has been a great outlet for her service. 

“Surround yourself with those who have the same servant’s heart,” 

is her advice to any who have gifts to share. There’s no job too large or 

small that Ashley won’t attempt to fulfill her motivation to love others. 

While she’s always involved in helping others where possible, her children 

are watching and modeling their lives after her example. That’s what she 

hopes to see in her children’s futures and in the generations to come. 

That hope has foundational promise because “Love never fails.” 

–1 Corinthians 13:8 

“Surround yourself 

with those who have the 

same servant’s heart” 


Jamane Williams 

“Jamane Williams is an inspiration to anyone realizing the 

impact he and his family have made on so many people – 

especially youth. In obedience to God, Jamane planted a new 

church – The Bridge Church in Pearl eleven years ago. Since 

then, he and his family have reached out to the surrounding 

communities and invited any and all to join in the work of 

bringing the lost to Christ. So many other ministries have 

followed, all visions of what the Williams family see as eternal 

work that pleases God. We who have watched our pastor leader 

work tirelessly are honored to nominate such a worthy 

individual.” – Anonymous 

“Knowing that I 

am pleasing God 

with the work that we do 

is my primary motivation...” 

Jamane Williams would definitely qualify as a visionary – a visionary 

with a heart for people. His outreach base is The Bridge Church, where 

he serves as co-pastor with Alecia Williams, his wife of twenty-three years. 

Pastor Jamane felt God’s call to leave the family’s home in Katy, Texas, 

to move to Rankin County to plant The Bridge Church in 2011. His latest 

vision, launched in January of 2018, is Bridge Builders Leadership where 

he serves as co-founder with his wife, and president in a volunteer 

capacity. This nonprofit organization provides free after-school and 

summer programs to 100+ families in Rankin County. 

Moving to Rankin County and launching the church and Bridge Builders 

Leadership began as visions that Jamane credits God for delivering and 

implementing. He also credits God for his motivation: “Knowing that I am 

pleasing God with the work that we do is my primary motivation. Also, 

as we see the impact that our program is making in each of our students’ 

lives, as well as the collective impact that is being made on our community, 

motivates us to be diligent, faithful, and always be improving the 

excellence of our program.” 

Family is a resource that supplies support and energy to Jamane’s 

visions. He explains, “We homeschooled all of our children prior to our 

move from Texas to Rankin County. This allowed us to build really close 

relationships with each of our children, as one of us was with them 24/7. 

Their oldest daughter, Jadyn, recently graduated from Mississippi 

College and now works as program coordinator for Bridge Builders 

Leadership. Their son, Judah, is a college student studying computer 

science, and youngest daughter, Jordyn, is also a college student 

studying film and dance. 

Jamane is confident that every fond memory and moment of 

empowerment that those under his ministry have experienced at The 

Bridge Church or any of its ministries were orchestrated by God for 

them. The Williams family is dedicated to showing God’s love to others 

– the same love that each family member has experienced. 

Love definitely has ripple effects. Jermane believes that one act of 

love done for others can have great positive impact on their community 

and the world around us. He also believes that God has given each of 

us an assignment of good works. When we are obedient to God’s 

assignments, we can address every person that is important to God 

(which is all of us) and every need. 

That would be a mind-boggling accomplishment. May each of us 

catch such a vision! 


Marlys Myers 

“To know Marlys Myers is to love her. Her compassion for others 

and her desire to help lift up others are just a few of her many 

wonderful traits that make her such an outstanding person. 

As the founder of Rankin Career Women, she has touched the 

lives of hundreds of women by encouraging them to “Love Their 

Story.” Marlys never misses an opportunity to lift up others, 

promote a Rankin County business, or lend a hand to those in 

need. She is a visionary with a heart for others and is truly the 

Heart of our Hometown.” – Angie Miles 

“We get this one life to live, 

and I know we as women, 

want to do it well. 

The tragic news shocked Marlys - how was it possible? Her good friend 

had unexpectedly and shockingly taken her own life. This was the friend who 

was the wife of a great guy, mother to a senior in high school and a career 

woman. She had a special gift, and had always invested her life in the life of 

her son, in addition to investing in kids that were not her own. 

With seventeen years of experience as a paralegal, Marlys is currently a 

realtor with Southern Homes Real Estate and is employed as executive 

administrative assistant to the director of a state agency. Even still, Marlys didn’t 

think she was too busy to consider helping women who might be pivoting on 

emotional challenges or dealing with issues never shared with others. 

In 2019 Marlys began strategic planning and looking for ideas to 

implement her vision. After several weeks of research, reaching out, and 

meeting with other successful career women and local chambers, she was 

still unable to locate a career women’s group that was addressing the elements 

that she was seeking. She said, “I wanted to hear about the business successes 

and strategies. But because of my friend’s death, I was looking for women 

willing to keep it real, be transparent, and cheer others on!” She was looking to 

experience live get-togethers, connecting women to rethink the possibilities. 

In the almost three years of Rankin Career Women (RCW), the organization 

has evolved into a vibrant and encouraging meeting of women’s minds and 

experiences. Shanna Spann, Katrina Phillips, and Angie Miles, who were 

complete strangers before beginning RCW, are board members, consistent 

and faithful in the planning, development, and promotion each month. 

Every other month, the group meets for a catered lunch at The Vault 

venue in Brandon. Luncheons include fun door prizes, decorated tables, and 

takeaways for each attendee. Marlys added, “I believe the thing that sets us 

apart from other career luncheons are the incredible keynote speakers, along 

with a second speaker that begins our meetings by sharing her personal 

story.” These stories are shared by women in the community in how they 

moved from tragedy to triumph or mediocre to unbelievable success with 

God’s help. This is the “Love Your Story” portion of RCW. 

Marlys intends for all that join the meetings to gain inspiration through the 

stories of real women who are in-the-know and succeeding in their industry. 

Instructions and information are also given to help achieve success. “We want 

women showing up and telling the truth, keeping in mind that everything that 

is true does not need to be said, however everything that is said, needs to be 

true,” Marlys added. 

Success in the future for career women is a goal that Marlys seeks because 

she has a future generation of her own she loves and values. She and husband 

Michael have two adult children who live in Rankin County, Britney Barnett 

and Brower Myers, and three grandchildren. 

Marlys sums up her aspiring goal: “We get this one life to live, and I know 

we as women, want to do it well. However, we need each other. When we 

share our stories and connect with each other, without regard to race or 

economic status, there’s just something about the ’power of same.’” 


Janet Brown 

“I am thankful for my mom who is 24/7 always trying to serve 

others. I cannot tell you the numerous lives she has touched over 

the years through teaching, ministering to those in need in our 

community, using her talents to play piano for over 50 years, 

teaching her grandkids how to encourage others, (numerous 

examples: leaving garbage men snacks, baking home goods for the 

local police department, writing encouraging letters to shut-ins/ 

widows, adopting students for Christmas and buying them toys/ 

clothes/food/jackets or belts that were needed out of the kindness 

of her heart, constantly “secretly” paying for peoples items at stores, 

etc.). My mom wakes up every day and asks the Lord to use her, 

and He does just that. She is constantly blessing her community 

and is such an example of, “Love God, Love People.” My mom hasn’t 

always had an easy life, but she has always pushed through with 

the Lord’s strength. She never stops helping others. She never stops 

telling others about what the Lord has done in her life and I know 

she will continue to be an encouragement to everyone she comes 

in contact until her final breath. I am thankful for my mom and 

the legacy she has taught me and her grandkids and can’t think 

of a better deserving person to win this distinction.” 

– Brandi Chancellor 

If you were to ask Janet Brown what makes her who she is, she could 

probably have a long list. But at the top of the list would be two admonitions 

instilled by her parents – love the Lord first, and always be true to your word. 

Those two guides carried her into church ministries of caring for others 

and playing the piano for fifty-one years – thirty-one years in Pelahatchie 

Baptist Church and twenty years in Park Place Baptist Church. 

Janet is transparent in sharing how God was calling her into ministry 

when she was nineteen. All she could hear was AFRICA. “I selfishly told God 

if I could first get married then I could do whatever he needed me to do. But 

you see, God doesn’t bless disobedience, and it affected my life. My marriage 

failed, and my path was not the path God had planned. Yet, we serve a God 

of second chances. He blessed me with my two beautiful children, son Benji 

Brown (and wife, Lauren,) and my daughter Brandi (and husband Justin), and 

five amazing grands. I had the privilege to teach for 20+ years at East Rankin 

where I got to be involved in so many wonderful children’s lives.” Another 

move to Morton gave her the opportunity to touch lives from all over the 

world. She is an encourager to all that only God can take our mess and make 

it beautiful! 

Even though Janet’s life has been one of service and ministry, another 

major turning point altered her life about a year ago. Her daughter’s family 

took a Disney trip that had been in the making for several years. The family 

headed to Orlando along with her husband Justin’s mom and dad. It was to 

be a trip of a lifetime in the “happiest place on earth.” 

Janet remembers the fun and laughter the family enjoyed on their way to 

Disney. Justin and his dad seemed to lead in the family laughter. 

Shortly after arriving and before checking into their resort, they decided 

to make a brief visit through Epcot. Within an hour Justin’s dad began having 

difficulty breathing. He fell to the floor, and Justin began pumping his chest. 

A cardiac nurse saw the emergency and took Justin’s place. Before they 

could get his dad to the hospital he was gone. 

It’s been more than a year, but Janet can still feel the pain of 

seeing this life end in a last breath and with eye-witness emotion 

says, “This precious dad’s death taught me that today could be my 

last day to live. I am not promised tomorrow, the next hour or even 

the next minute. It has made me do things I’ve been waiting to do. It 

has made me hug more, tell people I love them more, give, go, cry, 

listen, and quit whining about my life!” 

A statement that the preacher said during Justin’s dad’s funeral 

has stayed with her –“Justin’s dad thought he was going to the 

happiest place on earth, but you know, he went to the Greatest 

Place anyone could ever go, into the arms of Jesus!” 

Janet’s heart for Rankin County is for each person to live each day 

as if might be the last. She’s intentional about not wasting a single 

day. As a teacher she was reminded that there are days some 

children never have a hug or are told they are loved before going to 

school. The elderly aren’t always given the respect they deserve. 

Janet is convinced that the opportunities to show love and respect 

are all around us. Her life verse is Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you 

do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not man.” 

And she’s an adamant proponent of the faithfulness of her God of 

the Second Chances. Her church is planning a mission trip to Africa, 

and yes, Janet Brown’s name is on the list! 


Aubrey Prigden 

“Aubrey is the epitome of a Heart of Hometown man. He is 

the founder of All things New Ministry, and he also leads 

the Rankin County jail ministry. Numerous lives are touched 

everyday by his sweet spirit. He’s so deserving of this 

nomination.” – Maggie Harper 

All Things New, Inc. sounds like an interesting concept – one that 

Aubrey Prigden believes is a perfect description of his ministry and service. 

That would be leading as many people to Christ as possible – leaving 

the old, destructive way of life into the abundant, eternal life as a child of 

God. Aubrey’s devotion to this ministry comes from one of his motivation 

factors: “I know Jesus’ heart breaks for the hurting and so does mine.” 

It’s easy for Aubrey to step into the jail cells to share the love of Christ 

because Aubrey has experienced hitting rock bottom, being sentenced 

to jail for a DUI, and losing his home, car, and everything he had ever 

considered his own. 

It was in this pit of despair that Aubrey gave his life to Jesus and 

changed direction in his life – dramatically. He remembers getting to work 

in the jail’s mechanic shop and making friends there who didn’t treat him 

like trash. He was also freed from all his drug and alcohol addictions. 

By the time Aubrey was released in 1997, he knew that doing wrong 

was in his past. However, his new direction in life was opposite his wife’s, 

so a divorce ended their marriage. He moved in with his dad, and with a 

job offer, life appeared to be looking up, especially when he met 

Debbie. In 2002, they were married and began attending church but 

soon realized that they “weren’t living life the way Jesus was leading.” 

That’s when they turned to Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

Life took on a positive and new meaning. Both Aubrey and Debbie 

were bringing home great wages and growing spiritually. Aubrey was 

invited to Copiah County jail to share his testimony and minister to the 

incarcerated. The experience felt right; he was being drawn to the jail 

ministry. 

Soon the couple heard news from Rankin County about “Celebrate 

Recovery” – a twelve step program for anyone struggling with hurt, 

pain, or addiction. After renewing old friendships with Sheriff Bryan 

Bailey, Aubrey and Debbie were appointed jail chaplains and were able 

to add their experiences and gifts to the program. 

The couple was instrumental in getting over fifty churches participating 

in the “Celebrate Recovery Program.” Aubrey and Debbie began an 

extension of this program, calling it “All Things New, Inc.” Through this 

branch they could oversee the Celebrate program in the Rankin County 

jail and churches. They set up mentors, group counseling, and educational 

classes for the inmates along with providing supplies to inmates 

such as Bibles, reading glasses, underwear, etc. Inmates re-entering 

society need monies for childcare, utilities, groceries, and clothes for 

employment. Some inmates need bus ticket money to travel to families 

living out of town. 

In late November of 2019, Aubrey would meet the most catastrophic 

challenge of his life. He and Debbie were diagnosed with COVID. Aubrey 

recovered; Debbie did not. God chose to give Debbie eternal healing on 

New year’s Eve of 2019. 

Aubrey admitted that there was a brief period after her death that he 

didn’t think he could continue the programs. However, God’s strength 

enables him to go forward with his life’s work. 

All Things New, Inc. continues to grow as Aubrey devotedly points 

the hurting, the addicts, the jailed, and the homeless to Jesus and walk 

with them until they, too, rise out of life’s wreck. 

“I know Jesus’ 

heart breaks 

for the hurting 

and so does 

mine.” 


Blessings 

AT THE BLAKE 

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where you’ll find a vibrant lifestyle, unique 

amenities and premier service. 

Call (601) 401-4906 to book a tour today! 

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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. were As being you honored read through which means the information that twenty-three in the wishes Fiscal will Year be 2022 granted 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. 



• ACADEMIC 

• CAREER-TECHNICAL 

• ADULT & CONTINUING 

EDUCATION 

hindscc.edu/betterlife 

With over 90 different 

options, our Pathways 

are designed to take 

the guesswork out 

of your future. 

JACKSON | NAHC | RANKIN | RAYMOND | UTICA | VICKSBURG 

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable Federal and State Acts, Hinds Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities and does 

not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its educational programs and activities. We recognize our responsibility to provide an open and welcoming environment that fosters a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees and students to collaboratively learn, work and serve 

our communities. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these policies: 

EEOC Compliance: Marquise Kessee, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion , Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601-857-3458 or Email: EEOC@hindscc.edu. 

Title IX: DeAndre House, Associate Vice President Student Services, Title IX Coordinator , Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601-857-3353 or Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu. 



Ben & Stephanie Kitchens, Ellie Kate, 8 - Luke, 6 - Levi, 3 - Caroline, 6 months

the Kitchenses 

“Our beautiful and unique family 

came together in God’s timing. 

The journey to grow our family 

has been full of twists and turns, 

joy and grief, and God has used it 

all to create our family.” 

After listening to Stephanie and Ben Kitchens and 

watching Stephanie wipe tears away as the two shared about 

their adoption experiences, it was obvious that they were so 

blessed by each of their children. 

Stephanie and Ben met for the first time on a mission trip 

and have been married for ten years. They talked about 

adoption before they were married, and both knew they 

desired to grow their family through adoption one day. 


Because the adoption process is almost always a 

lengthy procedure, Stephanie and Ben began the 

adoption journey six months after their first child, 

Ellie Kate, was born. They chose to adopt from 

Ethiopia, and they were close to being matched 

with a child when the country shut down 

international adoptions. 

The path to adoption has had its share of 

disappointments and closed doors, but the Kitchens 

continued to feel God leading them to adopt. After 

the birth of their second child, Luke, they began 

the domestic adoption process through Lifeline 

Children’s’ Services. 

Friends put them in touch with “Hearts of 

Compassion,”– a ministry of Colonial Heights 

Baptist Church that holds an annual 5K race 

each November, along with a silent auction to 

help raise funds for families pursuing adoption. 

The ministry also connects adoptive families 

and provides encouragement and support that is 

invaluable, according to the Kitchens’ experience. 

The Kitchens now love to return to the race each 

year to gather with families and support other 

families in the adoption process. 

Stephanie said, “While adoption is beautiful, 

it is also formed from brokenness and comes with 

deep loss. When God calls us to adoption, He calls 

us to step into that brokenness.” Ben reflects on a 

quote from the Lifeline director, Herbie Newell, 

stating “The hope is not found in our home, but 

the hope is found in Jesus.” 

Speaking from a mother’s heart, Stephanie 

shared how she and Ben grieved for the birth 

mothers’ losses. She explained that there are so 

many reasons why mothers make adoption plans 

for their children. Making this selfless and very 

difficult decision comes with deep grief and 

tremendous love for their children. 


The Kitchens shared the process of creating 

their profile book that adopting parents provide 

for the expectant moms. After studying the books, 

the mother chooses the family for her child. 

Stephanie and Ben desire to honor their children’s 

first mothers in their hearts and home and desire 

to have relationships with them. 

Parenting is a challenging journey, regardless 

of how a family is formed. In order to always have 

open communication with their children as they 

process their adoption stories, Lifeline encourages 

Stephanie and Ben to begin talking with them about 

their adoption from birth. They do this now 

through talking in age-appropriate ways and 

reading children’s books. The Kitchens are grateful 

for amazing friends who share their children’s 

ethnicity who are like family, helping them with 

many things from hair/skin care to helping their 

children develop confidence in who they are. The 

supportive community of other adoptive families 

has been truly invaluable. 

Levi’s name means “to be joined together,” and 

God joined the Kitchens together with him after 

a 5-year process. They later began the process 

to adopt again and have recently brought their 

beautiful daughter Caroline home. While each 

of their children came into their family in different 

ways, they share special and close bonds with one 

another. The boys share a room, and Ellie Kate is a 

little momma to baby Caroline. Luke didn’t want 

to let anyone else hold Caroline when she came 

home, and Levi is always looking for “his baby.” 

He recently held his arm up next to Caroline’s and 

shouted with excitement that her skin was brown 

like his! Ben shared that when the children are 

questioned by others, Ellie Kate loves to tell 

people, “Families don’t have to match!” 





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.” 


REAL 

MEN 

WEAR 

PINK 

September 22 

The Faulkner 



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 



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. 




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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 


POOLS 

CHILDCARE 

601-591-CLUB 

FITNESS 

gROUP 



Pass the Gavel 

Breakfast 

SEPTEMBER 23 / MUSE CENTER 




OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 31,2022 

JACKSON, MS 

Come enjoy our special programming at the 

museums this fall! 

Country Music Trivia Night - Sept. 1 

Women in Country Music: Songs and 

Conversation - Sept. 15 

Country Music Fashion Show - Oct. 20 



Camille Anding 

A CENTENARIAN 

Patriot 

“Patriotism is not like it used to be,” 

the centenarian said as he recalled images and memories 

from his military days in the Navy. One listens closely to a 

veteran sporting one hundred years, still with a mobile 

body and amazing quick and accurate recall. 

Soon after the Pearl Harbor attack, Clyde Lacey got his draft notice 

but not before he had decided to put his own future on hold so he could 

do his part in defending his country. His Army physical considered his 

serious sinus issues sufficient to classify him as a 4F. Lacey refused to 

let that ailment keep him from serving, so he signed up with the Navy 

and was trained as an aviator mechanic. After more training in several 

states, his squadron was shipped to the Philippine Islands where he 

was never far from the war zones 


Most military vets who ever served during a war have their own wartime 

memories. Lacey’s nightmare happened when he and one other sailor were 

pulled from their troop to join some Marines working on a fighter plane. 

A major explosion sent him rushing to the runway where the plane with 

members of his squadron had exploded. “My job was picking up limbs and 

body parts of sailors I knew.” 

Lacey’s eighteen months in the Pacific were challenging. Along with war, 

the men experienced a scarcity of food. No supply ships could come to them, 

so the only fresh meat they had were fish that they could catch. 

He will always remember his happiest memory – seeing the Golden 

Gate Bridge on his safe return home. “The GI Bill was the best thing 

our government ever did for vets,” Lacey asserted. During his 

military time, Lacey had decided he wouldn’t go back to his 

carpentry job; he would go to college. He earned a 

mechanical engineering degree from University of Kansas. 

He and his wife and two sons moved to several states with 

his work, but West Virginia was his retirement home for 

he and his wife. 

Ten years ago, his son Rick told his dad, “You’re getting 

old! You and Mom need to move closer.” Brandon is now 

home where Lacey lives alone after his wife of seventy-five 

years passed in 2018. 

His 100th birthday was celebrated with a special flag and 

certificate presentation by Representative Michael Guest. A family 

reunion in Ogden, Utah, with his two sisters and 150 relatives, were also 

part of his 100th celebration. 

This military veteran should also earn recognition for his stamina and sharp 

mind. He never naps and wakes at six each morning. Then he hoists Ole Glory 

high on its flagpole and retires at 10pm after taking down his flag. His mornings 

follow a schedule of light exercises and some time on his treadmill. He 

watches westerns on TV, “fools around” on his computer and enjoys reading. 

His favorite pastime is playing golf with his friends at Bay Pointe – a 

standing appointment for most weekdays to which he drives himself. His last 

driver’s license is good to age 106. Vitamins for his eyes are his primary medicine, 

and his favorite food is navy beans and cornbread which he eats for breakfast. 

I guess you could call it the breakfast of champions and centenarian 

patriotic veterans. 





OCTOBER 18 / MIRROR LAKE 



5S Farms 

Pumpkin 

Patch 

October 1st & 7th, 2022 

Hosted by the Smith Family of Puckett 

Jerry & Heather Smith 

Sam Smith, Addie Smith, Dylan & Selby Sanford 

“A few years ago we had the most adorable miniature 

donkey born before Easter. At church one Sunday, I asked 

Ms. Frances Dotson, the owner of After School Care in 

Puckett, if the children at the daycare could come out and 

see the baby donkey, so we planned a day! On the day the 

children visited, I read a story about Jesus riding into 

Jerusalem on a donkey, and they were able to make that 

connection from just petting the little foal. We also played 

with bunny rabbits, games, and blew bubbles. The children 

had the best timelooking for clover to feed the rabbits. 

I will never forget the laughter coming from those sweet 

angels. It wasn’t a giggle, it was that wonderful laughter that 

comes from deep inside - the make-your-belly-shake kind of 

laughter! I remember thinking to myself, the power of the 

innocence of a child is one of the most special things on 

this earth. There we were - totally technology-free, 

running around and playing in the grass, and it was 

the funniest thing in the world to the kids! 

I told my husband about our day, and right then and 

there he decided we would plant pumpkins the following 

summer and have a pumpkin patch for the daycare kids. 

The next fall we had pumpkins galore and it was another 

great day with these special children. Every year 5S Farms 

has two non-profit days full of pumpkin patch fun! 

One day is for family, friends, and neighbors in the 

Puckett community, and the other day is for the daycare. 

Puckett is one of the great towns in small-town America, 

and we are so proud to live in Rankin County!” 

- Heather Smith 



SALUTE 

to First Responders 

What made you decide to work in law enforcement? 

Initially, I decided to be a police officer as a child because it looked 

cool. As I got older, I learned that being a police officer meant 

I could be a part of the change I wanted to see in the world, 

and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. 

How long have you been with the Rankin County Sheriff’s 

Department? 

About a year and a half but have been in law enforcement nine years. 

Tell us about your family. 

My family is small and has mostly been spread out since my 

generation got older. We use holiday and birthday celebrations 

as a staple to keep us connected. 

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

The toughest thing I’ve experienced about my jobs in law enforcement 

is having to disconnect from the people or cases I encounter; that can 

range from the teenager I stopped for speeding that was having a bad 

day to the family grieving the loss of a loved one. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time. 

In my spare time I’m usually all over the place! I adopt and drop 

hobbies and usually get a new one so fast that I never get a chance 

to master any. I’m currently focusing on skating and learning to play 

my guitar, using YouTube. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

My bucket list has stayed pretty consistent, and I’ve been fortunate 

to be able to knock a few things off of it. The top three things on 

my bucket list right now is to take a cross-country road trip, take 

a mission trip, and to take my kids to Disney during Christmas. 

Investigator 

Shanta 

McNAIR 

RANKIN COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

My mom. As a child, that’s something that a lot of us say. But the 

older I get the more I admire her. Growing up, my mom was always 

a working mom and prepared home-cooked meals in addition to 

keeping our house clean. With the struggles of working, homemaking 

and everyday life, she always did it all with such grace and made it 

look easy. Now that I’m older I realize it definitely wasn’t as easy as 

she made it seem. 


If you could give one piece of advice to 

a young person, what would it be? 

When you quit, you fail - just keep going! 


the city of Brandon? 

My favorite thing about Brandon are the 

places to eat. I love the variety of places 

to choose from without having to go far. 


Rankin County? 

My favorite thing about Rankin County is 

the culture. I love the comradery between 

the law enforcement agencies and the 

down-home southern feel of the community 

itself. I’ve met and worked with some of the 

best people I know in Rankin County. 



Like 

Us! 


Golf 

Tournament 

October 7 

Pearl Municipal 

Golf Course 



The CHALKBOARD 

Jackson Prep 

Jackson Prep celebrated Homecoming on September 23, at Patriot Field against Copiah Academy. 

This year’s homecoming court was represented by (Back L-R:) Meredith Hawkins (Sophomore), Hartley Craddock (Sophomore), Ava Moak (Junior), 

Anne Melton Hewitt (Freshman) and Brookelyn Johnson (Freshman) and (Front L-R:) Margaret Dye (Junior), Candace Holman (Senior), 

Anders Morgan (Senior), Kimmons Sheppard (Senior), Ryleigh Wells (Senior) and Kennedy Cleveland (Junior). 

Elam Roberson, a senior at Jackson Prep, was recently 

named an MAIS All-Star Cheerleader for 2022. 

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 National Merit Semifinalists 

Will Upton, Ben Tiller, Jake Mathews, Chase Thompson, and Kimmons Sheppard. 


Pearl Public School District 

Pirates Wear Pink. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To honor those who lost their fight, survived, or continue to battle breast 

cancer and to raise awareness for breast cancer research, Pearl Public School District encouraged everyone to wear pink on Friday, October 7. 


The CHALKBOARD 

Pisgah 

The 1st Annual Rankin County School District Junior High Honor Choir Festival was held on October 13th at Northwest Rankin’s Performing Arts Building. 

The event was a collaboration of Pisgah, Richland, Florence and Northwest Rankin choral directors and students. Chosen by their directors, the singers rehearsed 

selected pieces at their home schools and came together for an afternoon of rehearsal and instructional time led by their directors. A free concert followed at 

7:00 that evening. The All-District Choir performed “Gloria Festiva” by Emily Crocker, “Jubilate Deo” (traditional) and “Praise His Holy Name” by Keith Hampton. 

Special thanks to choral directors Linsey Smith, (Pisgah) Rachel Dennis, (Richland) Darbie Woods, (Florence) and Kristi Brumfield and Hunter Cannette (NWR). 

Thank you also to Northwest Rankin for hosting the event on their campus. There are plans already in place to make this an annual event for the students of RCSD! 


McLaurin Elementary 

Falling leaves, autumn breeze, sparkling jewels, and bow ties; McLaurin Elementary School Pageant was a night to remember! With fall décor and candid lights, the pageant 

was sponsored by the McLaurin PTO. Sixty-seven beauties and beaus were judged on poise/modeling, overall impression, and beauty. Contestants were judged by Barbie Bassett, 

Nelda Sistrunk, and Kim Barber. Contestants were crowned by Miss Teen Magnolia State Emma McNeer and the master of ceremonies was Miss Magnolia State Hayley Shue. 

Captured moments were taken by Reckless Grace Photography. 

The upper elementary Most Handsome and Most Beautiful were Gunnar Dearman and Madyson Clay. Fifteen beauties between the grades of 4th and 6th grade were crowned 

top 15. Two beaus were crowned top two. The lower elementary Most Handsome and Most Beautiful were John Luke Brashier and Layla Davenport. Twenty-five beauties between 

the grades of PreK and 3rd grade were crowned top 25. Five beaus were crowned top 5. The crowned youth are expected to be recognized in the Star Christmas parade, December 17th. 


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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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