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FROM OUR PUBLISHER 

After the princesses and superheroes have put away their costumes, 

and Christmas lights begin packing the retail shelves, the “merriment” 

seasons are officially underway. 

For young families, most months have more than their share 

of activities and demanding schedules—but November and 

December carry the greatest weight for pausing. 

Even with schedules that scream for attention, the majority 

in our hometowns take time to express thanksgiving for their 

multitude of blessings and to celebrate the greatest of all blessings 

– the birth of our only Savior. 

Our staff hopes this issue is a reminder of your blessings and 

gives you warm thoughts as you pause to reflect on your own 

countless blessings. From my office door I catch glimpses of staff 

members who are dedicated to completing their assignments 

and who continue to help meet those never-ending deadlines. 

Their names are listed on the editorial page of each of our 

publications. I’m immensely grateful for their talents, attitudes, 

and willingness to work as a team. 

There are times that are stressful, and all will probably admit, 

there’s never a lot of downtime to small talk around the coffee pot. 

As we grow, and praise God that’s happening, additional jobs 

keep popping up which demand more work on everyone’s part. 

I’m blessed and grateful with a team like Hometown’s! 

As we set aside time in the next two months to share with 

our families and friends, let thanksgiving be at the top of each 

menu and gathering. We at Hometown Magazines consider 

our advertisers and readers high on OUR thanksgiving list and... 

if you are reading this, know that one more deadline was met! 

Let the merriment begin! 

COVER ART: Chloe McHann, Clinton High Senior 

IN THIS ISSUE 

...see you around town. 

The Way We Were 6 

Reader Spotlight 9 

Historic Homes in Olde Towne 11 

Before & After 14 

Kids Who Care 18 

Holiday Gift Guide 21 

Hometown Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Meet Eden Followell 32 

A Place Called Raymond 42 

Salute to First Responders 52 

The Time Coin 58 

www.facebook.com/hometownclintonmagazine. 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 Clinton be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Hometown Clinton is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers or editors. 

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

Hometown CLINTON • 3

4 • NOVEMBER 2023

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Rowland & Lloyd Roberts 

Camille Anding 

“I needed to be married and 

married to her!” were the thoughts 

going through Lloyd Roberts’ mind 

after his first date with his future wife, 

Rowland Jones. Their paths had crossed 

briefly in Clinton, but friends of Lloyd’s 

had arranged a blind date for the two 

on New Year’s Eve of 1986 in Raymond. 

The still young-at-heart, seventynine 

year-old Dr. Roberts delivered a 

hearty laugh when he recalled that first 

date. “We didn’t have but one date!” he 

said with a twinkle in his eye. From that 

first evening the two kept a standing 

date whenever their schedules allowed 

their being together. 

Rowland remembers that she didn’t 

hear from him for several days after 

their first date. After such a fun New 

Year’s evening, she couldn’t understand 

his not calling or connecting with her. 

By the end of the week, he called, 

sharing that he had woken on the first 

day of January with the flu. With his 

first back-to-life strength, he called and 

asked, “Are you sick?” She wasn’t, and 

Lloyd arranged for the date that was to 

be continued. 

The time was right for new 

beginnings for Rowland and Lloyd. 

Divorces had left each of them with a 

lot of challenging years and two children 

to raise - Rowland with a son, Charles; 

Lloyd with a daughter, Angie. 

On November 20, 1987, the 

professor and Rowland were wed in 

Rowland’s parents’ home in Clinton. 

They honeymooned in New Orleans 

and returned to a “forever after” joy to 

plant their roots together in Clinton. 

Lloyd brags on Rowland’s expertise 

in decorating their lovely home with its 

tasteful interior. Several of Dr. Roberts’ 

paintings hang on the walls, another 

aspect of his gifts. A focal print by 

Kenneth Quinn hangs over their 

fireplace – a lighthouse scene picturing 

Round Island off the coast of Pascagoula. 

“There’s a story behind that painting,” 

the professor began sharing. That area 

was home to his great grandmother 

who gave birth to eight children. The 

amazing part of that story was her 

delivering all eight of them herself and by 

herself! Lloyd’s grandparents operated 

a lighthouse that represented a 

pioneering heritage. 

During the absorbing interview, the 

professor recalled people, times, and 

experiences that were still retrievable 

from his notable brain. Rowland 

listened attentively, fully aware of her 

husband’s outgoing personality but when 

asked, had stories and experiences of 

her own. 

The nearest description of the time 

with the Roberts would be closest akin 

to brainpower. Education, wit, joy, 

experience, discipline, determination 

and excellence were just a few of the 

obvious attributes making up these two 

personalities. 

Rowland earned her degree from 

Louisiana State University and two 

graduate degrees from Mississippi 

College. She taught high school math 

at Jackson Preparatory for five years 

where she was named Star Teacher. An 

opening at Clinton High School math 

department allowed her to be closer to 

home and teach an additional five years 

before retiring. 

Dr. Roberts, a graduate of Ole Miss, 

earned his Ph.D. at the young age of 

twenty-five. He took a position in a 

management company in Little Rock, 

Arkansas, and also taught at Arkansas 

State. In 1991, he was passing through 

Jackson on business and ran into a 

friend who was in administration at 

Mississippi College. The friend told 

Dr. Roberts about an opening in the 

business department and encouraged 

him to come for an interview. Roberts 

took his friend’s advice. 

As a result, in December of 1981, 

Roberts and his daughter moved to 

Clinton where he would begin his new 

job as professor in the business 

department. Next, he served as chair 

6 • NOVEMBER 2023

“ Never leave 

anything unsaid 

– talk about it.” 

of the department of business and 

economics. From 2001 to 2002 he 

served as interim president of the 

college. His expertise in business was 

key to his being named chief financial 

officer until 2006. From that year to 

2016, he returned to the college 

classroom as a professor, doing what 

he loved best. 

The experience and talents in 

education are remarkable and multiplied 

with this Roberts team. Rowland spoke 

highly of her satisfaction in being a 

math teacher. Her solution to potential 

disruptions by unruly students was 

simple – keep them too busy to create 

problems. She named trigonometry 

and calculus as her favorite math 

courses. Dr. Roberts joined in, “I love 

Trig too – I signed up for a Trig course 

online about six years ago just because 

I enjoy it!” 

Dr. Roberts said that he had never 

given true/false or multiple choice 

questions on a test. “I didn’t want to 

know what they hadn’t learned. I wanted 

them to be able to make applications to 

what they had learned.” He gave them 

problems to solve. He added that he 

learned every student’s name on the 

first day of the class and called them by 

their names. He also made it a practice 

to grade all tests before their next class. 

If the professor saw a student failing 

to utilize their abilities to learn, he 

would call them in for a conference to 

reinforce them. “We must have 

expectations as teachers,” he said. 

The couple also had instructions 

about marriage. Rowland believes 

communication is key to a successful 

marriage. Lloyd added, “Never leave 

anything unsaid – talk about it.” As 

they pondered pointers on marriage, 

they confessed that they never argued. 

That fact spoke volumes about their 

compatibility. Lloyd nodded his head 

and said, “It’s worked well.” 

Four granddaughters along with 

their three great grandchildren are a 

big part of their lives now. Soccer and 

other team sports have the Roberts 

back in the spectator stands cheering 

for their little ones. Activity is important 

in their lifestyle. Roberts insists, “You 

gotta keep everything moving. I want 

to be able to mow my lawn when I’m 

ninety!” 

Even though there’s time for travel, 

the Roberts choose to stay close to home. 

Lloyd said, “If we choose to purchase 

an expensive item, we just justify it as 

our trip to Europe.” As for dining out, 

they seldom choose restaurants over 

Lloyd’s talent in the kitchen. He has a 

flair for Cajun cooking and learned 

how to make biscuits when he was just 

a boy. Rowland has several favorite 

cookie recipes that make sweet treats. 

She prepares their lunch; Lloyd 

volunteers for dinners. 

Another interesting print adorns 

their living room wall. It’s a night image 

of Nelson Hall, the administration 

building on the college campus. Dr. 

Roberts pointed out the one lit window 

on the corner office on the bottom 

floor. The print, by Allen Smathers, 

was presented to Dr. Roberts by his 

staff on his 60th birthday. Rowland 

spoke up, “He stayed late a lot of nights 

in that office.” 

Dr. Roberts continues to serve on 

various committees and boards for the 

college and has an office in Nelson 

Hall – “A small one,” he said. 

The interview began as an 

assignment but ended in sensing new 

friendships. Their hospitality was 

generous, and their joy with each other 

and their accomplishments filled the 

room. They walked us to the door 

as we expressed our enjoyment of 

meeting such a remarkable couple. 

Rowland leaned toward me and 

whispered, “I think he’s the best.” 

After being in their company, “best” 

was an excellent description of both 

their characters. 


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READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Kim 

CHANDLER 

_________________________ 

Why did you decide to make Clinton 

your home? 

Clinton became our home after Andy and I graduated 

from Mississippi College. We had ties to Clinton 

with my husband’s grandmother living here and 

I also worked at The Cupboard in Clinton when 

we first moved here after getting married in 2000. 

I loved Clinton while I was at MC, and I made 

many friends here through school and work. We 

loved everything about the Clinton community 

and wanted to live here and raise our children here. 

How long have you lived in Clinton? 

I have lived in Clinton for 26 years including my 

time at Mississippi College. 

Tell us about your family. 

I’m married to Andy Chandler, and we have been 

married for 23 years. We have two children. Drew is a 

graduate of Clinton High and is now a sophomore at 

Mississippi College studying business administration. 

Meredith is a sophomore at Jackson Academy. We 

attend First Baptist Church. Andy works for Randy 

Watkins Golf Group. I am a dyslexia therapist at 

Mississippi College. 

What is your favorite memory of living 

in Clinton? 

As a college student working at The Cupboard, we 

always enjoyed the Christmas parade. It was a fun 

day to work each year. We would close the store 

during the parade, and all go out and enjoy it together. 

I had never experienced the Christmas parade until 

I began working at The Cupboard. After having 

children, we always had breakfast with Santa and 

attended the parade as a family. It’s a sweet memory. 

Where are your three favorite places 

to eat in Clinton? 

Froghead Grill, The Bank by Pizza Shack, and 

Roma Italian Restaurant. 

What are some fun things to do 

in Clinton on the weekends? 

Main Street Clinton hosts markets on Saturday 

mornings and those are always fun, especially around 

the holidays. Gamedays at Mississippi College are 

also a fun Saturday. The Quad is full of students and 

others tailgating and just enjoying the beautiful 

campus of MC before a game. Olde Towne Clinton 

is a great place on the weekends, too. There are cute 

boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops along the 

brick streets of Clinton just off the campus of MC. 

Share some things you enjoy doing 

in your spare time. 

I enjoy spending time with my family at Lake Bruin. 

We enjoy boating, swimming, cooking, and relaxing 

together at the lake. I also enjoy eating out, shopping, 

and reading in my spare time. In the fall, I love to 

watch college football! 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

My parents are the people I admire most. They have 

always been great role models in the way they love 

each another and the way they love God. My mom 

was a stay-at-home mom when I was growing up and 

she was always there for me and willing to help me in 

any way possible. She has continued to be that constant 

source of encouragement and love throughout my 

life. She is my best friend. My dad is a business owner 

and has worked very hard my entire life, but always 

has time for his family. He has shown me through 

owning his own business what it means to have 

Christ at the forefront of your business as well as 

your life. He has been very successful, and he gives 

all the glory to God. My parents are wonderful 

people, and I am so blessed that God chose them 

to be my parents. I admire them most because they 

are both very strong Christians and show it in their 

everyday lives. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

I see myself retired and enjoying life with Andy and 

my adult children. I hope to get to travel more and 

see other parts of the world. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

My favorite childhood memory is traveling with my 

family on various vacations over the years. We took 

many trips, and I have fond memories of traveling 

as a family. One trip that sticks out in my mind is a 

trip we took to California one summer. We drove 

and we were able to see many things along the way. 

Seeing the Grand Canyon on that trip was very 

memorable for me. We rode mules down into the 

canyon and it was a great experience, frightening 

at first, but really great. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not 

lean on your own understanding. In all your ways 

acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your 

paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 

What is your favorite thing about 

Hometown Magazines? 

My favorite thing about Hometown Magazines is 

reading about all the people and places in our town. 


MOVE BETTER. 

LIVE BETTER. 

Walk-Ins Welcome | No Referral Needed 

10 • NOVEMBER 2023

City of Clinton 

Historic 

Homes 

BETHANY COLE 

in Olde 

Towne 

For any resident of Clinton, the brick 

streets in downtown carry a sense of 

nostalgia, familiarity, and welcome. 

The area, known as Olde Towne, is 

home to numerous businesses, 

shops, and annual events 

that mark the traditional spirit 

of Clinton. Along with these 

attributes, the zone is laden with 

historic homes along fence-lined streets. 

These residences, ranging in age from 

the early-mid 1800s to the 1920s and 

beyond, are an ode to a different time. 

Many of the homes are still maintained 

by family members of the 

original owners. 


One such residence is the Landrum House, located on Main Street, just 

beyond the Jefferson Street intersection. Established in 1863, the Landrum 

House is currently home to Sherry Landrum and Gerald Kerner. Sherry, who 

married her first husband David Landrum in 1975, moved into the home in 

1990. Eight years later after moving in, David was diagnosed with cancer and 

subsequently passed away in 2001. Contemplating the significance and history 

of the home, Sherry says, “my late husband’s grandmother loved this house, and 

when it came up for sale in 1924, Ms. Nelle Landrum went to the Clinton 

Depot and offered the owners money to purchase it and they agreed.” Since 

1924, the home has been in the Landrum family. “The Landrum’s are an integral 

part of Clinton,” says Sherry. “My late husband was the Clinton fire chief for 

twenty plus years. His dad, Cliff Landrum, was the Clinton Public Works 

director for many years, and his uncle, Dewitt Landrum, was the city building 

inspector for several years.” The Landrum’s were also in the construction 

business and owned Landrum Building Supply, which was housed in what is 

now Wyatt Waters Gallery. In addition, the Landrum’s built many churches 

and homes in the Clinton area. 

Years following David’s passing, Sherry met Gerald, and the two have 

worked consistently to keep the spirit of the home intact. “My favorite thing 

about our home is the history and the stories I have heard and learned over the 

years,” notes Sherry. Architectural details, such as the high ceilings, lend a 

particular charm and character that she and Gerald cherish. “I love the Civil 

War architecture and the classic, smaller Southern plantation style,” says Gerald. 

As Sherry and Gerald have studied the home’s history, they have discovered 

numerous aspects regarding its construction and subsequent renovations. 

“There is a picture of this house from 1863,” says Gerald. “We are guessing the 

picture was to document completing the house. I believe this house had two 

major additions; one to add the middle bedroom, master bath, electricity and 

central hall, and another to add the kitchen, dining room, and a bathroom.” 

Preservation of the home has not been without its challenges. In June of 2023, 

a massive tree fell on the house. The damage was extensive, leading to a full gut 

and much-needed renovation of the kitchen, sunroom, and outside deck. 

Following the damage, “We learned to appreciate this house even more,” says 

Sherry. “During the rebuilding process, we have discovered even more history 

and the pride that was taken attempting to keep the history intact.” 

Reflecting on how the history of the home is personal to her, Sherry says, 

“Although I have many wonderful memories in this house over the years with 

my family, my most precious memory is being able to bring Jeff home to live out 

his remaining days in the care and comfort of our home surrounded by his family 

and friends.” 


While the Landrum house is the oldest in the Olde Towne area, it is one of several 

historic homes that add character to Clinton. Across from the Landrum House sits 

Tanglewood, which is the current residence of Clinton’s mayor and wife. Tanglewood, 

originally constructed on Norrell Road around 1845, was moved to its current location on 

Jefferson Street circa 1878. The home, designed as a Greek revival cottage, was renovated 

in 1926. Eighty-seven years later, in 2013, the home was listed on the National Register of 

Historic Places. Flanking the Landrum’s home on the other side is the McEarley-Allen 

House, established circa 1929. Numerous others dot the streets of Olde Towne, signifying 

their historic nature with recognizable yard signs that walkers and visitors can observe. 

Many of these homes, according to owners, have required ongoing and significant 

updates and renovations, as one would expect. However, these homes add a distinct 

richness to Clinton, one which Sherry, Gerald, and others, are passionate about preserving. 

“Older homes are worth preserving, protecting, and repairing when necessary,” says Gerald. 

Sherry agrees: “Olde Towne is a unique part of Clinton, and we are all doing our part to 

preserve Clinton’s history.” 



Before & After 

Brandye Boyd’s Story 

Sarah Rein 

You know those moments in life when 

all seems to be going well? There are 

no major issues at work, the laundry is 

caught up, the children are getting good 

grades and staying out of trouble, and 

more meals were eaten at home than 

out that week. You have that brief, 

illusory moment in which you think... 

“I might actually have 

life under control.” 

In her previous life, Brandye Boyd would 

have treasured that feeling. A self-proclaimed 

busybody who thrived on having things 

together, she was the woman many of us 

aspire to be—an involved mom to three young 

kids, leader of her church’s ministry to young 

mothers, and an adjunct college professor 

with a master’s degree. 

The first part of Brandye’s story sounds 

like a life many of us would have been glad 

to have. She was fortunate to grow up in a 

happy home in Clinton - with a mother who 

put the needs of Brandye and her brother 

first, a stepfather who treated them as his 

own, involved grandparents, and a church 

family. As a regular churchgoer, she knew 

about Jesus from an early age and, though 

she considered herself a Christian, she isn’t 

sure she understood what it meant to 

relinquish control of her life to God. 

After receiving her degree in education 

from Mississippi College in 1996, Brandye 

began teaching school and coaching a 

cheerleading squad at Byram Middle School 

and moved into an apartment with her best 

friend from high school. Young and single, 

Brandye was enjoying her freedom. When 

she met her current husband, Joey, she did 

not relish the thought of settling down. 

The night they met, Brandye was at a 

Halloween costume party at her apartment 

complex. She had recently been in a car 

accident that left her with a broken femur 

and was on crutches. Not wanting to miss 

out on the fun, her roommate decided to 

make the most of Brandye’s misfortune by 

dressing them in coordinating patient and 

nurse costumes. After she’d changed out of 

her costume, Joey, who worked at the 

apartment complex, approached her to ask 

for a date and comment on her costume 

choice. Brandye, who was savoring her 

newfound adult life, was not eager to accept. 

“I thought he seemed like a cute, good guy, 

but I wasn’t ready for a relationship,” Brandye 

shared. Eventually, however, Joey’s persistence 

won her over, and they went out for lunch. 

Brandye’s intuition had been correct, and 

the two have been inseparable ever since. 

When they got married just a year later, 

both agreed they wanted to grow up and make 

some life changes. They moved to Rankin 

County because of the excellent school 

district, and Brandye decided to pursue a 

master’s degree in education. Joey began a 

new career with BellSouth. Their first order 

of business after moving was to choose a 

church to attend. These were the days before 

your first thought was to Google church 

options. “We opened The Clarion-Ledger to the 

Places to Worship section and saw that 

Pinelake was near our house,” she recalls 

laughing. And that church is where they 

found their community - the people they 

were going to do life with. 


As they joined small groups and mentoring 

programs, they didn’t realize how vital those 

connections were going to be. They began 

having children and raising them alongside 

the other couples from their young adult 

Sunday school class. Brandye shares that at 

one point there were thirteen women in 

their church group that were pregnant 

simultaneously. This was a pivotal time in 

Brandye’s life, and you can tell she’s unsure 

how to explain it. “This was when I truly 

came into relationship with God,” she 

remembers. “I don’t know if I’d say it was a 

rededication or what, but I know that’s 

when I really met the Lord.” 

Their careers were also off to a promising 

start. Brandye took a job at the Department 

of Education, and Joey had moved into 

management at BellSouth. But commuting 

to Clinton to drop off her oldest son, Blayze, 

with her mother before heading to work in 

Jackson was wearying. And when Brandye 

became pregnant with their second son, 

Bran, she and Joey agreed it was time for her 

to scale down to working part-time. She set 

her own schedule conducting teacher 

training for the Department of Education 

and became a representative for Cheer & 

Dance apparel. But when their third child 

and only daughter, Breyle, was born, they 

decided to make adjustments that would 

allow Brandye to be home full-time… 

something she’d been praying for for years. 

Brandye thrived in the business of that 

season of life. “I had everything color-coded 

for each kid and three-ring binders with lists 

and schedules,” she chuckles. “I was such a 

control freak, and I just couldn’t sit still.” 

Indeed, she filled up every spare minute 

volunteering at Pinelake and heading up 

various committees and programs at her 

children’s schools. She was the mom who 

kept her kitchen stocked with children’s 

snacks so the neighborhood children would 

gravitate to their house to play. 

That was life before. 

In the summer of 2010, Brandye was 

training for the Watermelon Classic run 

when she began having regular headaches. 

Blaming it on the heat and the fact that her 

children were a handful during the summer 

months, she began taking Excedrin Migraine 

regularly to try to find relief. She’d experienced 

migraines off and on during her life 

and saw a neurologist once a year to keep 

them managed. But as the summer continued, 

feeling unwell began to take a toll on her. 

Brandye found herself sending the kids 

over to the neighbors’ homes to play and 

not planning her usual outings. Events she 

usually hosted and enjoyed, like the summer 

planning meeting for Pinelake’s MOMS 

program, she forgot to prepare for. She 

missed her yearly neurologist appointment 

without ever realizing it and unintentionally 

offended friends by behaving in ways they 

would not normally expect. 

In the meantime, Brandye had been 

reading in the book of Luke during her daily 

devotional time. A few days before her 

August 13th birthday, she wrote the words 

“God, increase my faith,” in the margin of 

her Bible. There was an upcoming church 

mission trip to Africa that several of Brandye’s 

friends were going on and that she wanted to 

join, but she was nervous about leaving her three 

young children. “That’s what I meant when 

I wrote that. I wanted Him to increase my faith 

enough to make me feel comfortable about 

leaving the kids,” she laughs. But He would 

answer that prayer in a very different way. 

In August, Joey planned a trip to New 

Orleans to celebrate Brandye’s birthday. Her 

brother, an Ole Miss graduate, and Joey, an 

LSU fan, had made a bet on which team 

would win when they played that year. And 

the couple whose team lost had to babysit 

the winning couple’s children for a weekend. 

Since LSU was victorious that year, Brandye 

and Joey were cashing in on the bet and 

planned to drop their children (ages 8, 6, 

and 3 at the time) off in Covington with her 

brother. But as they were unpacking the 

kids’ stuff, Brandye suddenly fainted. When 

she recovered, she insisted she felt well 

enough to continue with their plans. But it 

did force her to share with Joey what had 

been going on with her health recently. 

While they were alone that weekend, 

Joey paid closer attention to Brandye’s 

behavior than he was usually able to. And 

she didn’t seem like herself to him. Her gait 

was off as she walked and she was more tired 

than usual, so Joey insisted she see a doctor 

when they got home. Brandye was unable to 

get in to see her neurologist, Dr. Ruth 

Fredericks, on such short notice but she did 

agree to go to MEA the Tuesday morning 

after they returned. She was hoping for 

some relief from her headaches. 

The doctor she saw that day at MEA 

gave her a shot for pain relief but required 

that she get a ride home from the clinic. He 

also made a call to get an MRI scheduled for 

her as soon as possible. Joey, who was at a 

meet-the-teacher event for their daughter’s 

preschool program, came to pick her up and 

asked Brandye’s mentor from Pinelake, 

Susan, to come stay with their daughter. But 

just as Joey and Brandye were leaving MEA, 

the doctor informed them that the imaging 

center had a cancellation and asked if they 

could go have the MRI performed right then. 

The Boyds headed straight to the center for 

the test and afterwards were told they could 

return to MEA for the doctor to read the 

results to them. 

Assuming this was how the process usually 

worked, they returned to MEA and were 

taken immediately to an exam room. A new 

doctor, Dr. Marc Hellrung, came into the 

room to meet them, explaining that his 

colleague they’d just seen that morning was 

gone for the day. Dr. Hellrung began their 

conversation by saying, “I’ve been praying 

about how to deliver this news to you.” And 

then he shocked them by saying Brandye 

had a brain tumor encased in a cyst that was 

the size of a grapefruit. It needed to be 

removed immediately. 

Life as they knew it was over. Reeling 

from the news, the Boyds asked their doctor 

if he would pray for them. And so they were 

ushered into their new reality through the 

prayers of a complete stranger. Brandye said, 

“My mind immediately went to what I’d 

written in my Bible days before. I knew this 

was God answering that prayer. Joey didn’t 

know about that yet, but I felt at peace.” 


They went to more appointments that 

day for initial neuro-oncology consultations 

and, when they arrived home at the end of 

the day, they were met by a crowd of their 

church friends. Joey and Brandye took their 

boys into a bedroom to share the news with 

them (their daughter was too young to 

understand what was happening) and pray 

together. Brandye remembers those moments 

vividly. “The only hospital their boys were 

familiar with is the one they were born in - 

St. Dominic. So, Blayze prayed that I would 

get to go there for my surgery, and he also 

asked that I wouldn’t be left alone at all.” 

That night, their pastor, Chip Henderson, 

and some of the church’s elders, along with 

their family and friends, came to pray for the 

Boyds. Brandye surprised herself by being 

able to pray aloud. “I asked God to let me be 

here to finish my roles on earth - to be a help 

to Joey and raise my babies. I know I’ll be 

healed ultimately, but I do want to be healed 

here on earth. Still though, I trusted that His 

ways are higher than mine.” 

Over the next few days, Dr. Fredericks 

helped them form a treatment plan. She was 

immediately admitted to the hospital where her 

surgeon practiced—which was St. Dominic. 

After waiting a few days for the level of 

aspirin in her blood to reduce, Brandye had 

a five-hour surgery to remove the tumor 

which was then sent off for testing. And, in 

another answer to her son’s prayer, a kind 

nurse brought a cot into the ICU for Joey to 

sleep on so he never had to leave Brandye’s 

side during recovery. 

The initial reports were that the tumor 

was benign - a best-case scenario meaning 

no additional treatment would be required. 

However, further tests revealed the tumor 

was malignant - an aggressive grade 3 tumor 

that would require every form of treatment 

they could throw at it. So, while Brandye 

began undergoing radiation, their friends 

mobilized support. 

Meals began arriving that week in 

August and didn’t stop until Thanksgiving. 

She remembers offers of help coming in 

constantly - “One friend called about 

organizing a barbecue fundraiser which made 

me laugh because I thought…what am I 

going to do? Pass out red and white napkins? 

And then another friend asked if she could 

sell t-shirts at the fundraiser.” Next, someone 

asked Brandye to design a Christmas shirt to 

sell, and now, thirteen years later, the shirts 

have become an annual fundraiser. “I never 

imagined we would still be doing this thirteen 

years later. Or that people would actually 

continue to buy them!” Brandye marvels. 

That was largely because of the poor prognosis 

Brandye received after being diagnosed. 

They knew her life expectancy would likely 

be shorter. The Boyds trusted their doctors, 

and they knew that, ultimately, God was in 

control of her disease. 

After receiving the lifetime maximum 

amount of radiation, Brandye began chemotherapy 

to hold the cancer at bay. She is 

scanned regularly and her treatment is 

adjusted as needed when a particular medicine 

stops being effective in keeping the remnants 

of her tumor stable. But it’s not just the 

cancer that has to be monitored constantly. 

Brandye fights an even more important daily 

battle in her mind and heart. “I’ve always 

heard to take your thoughts captive but I 

didn’t grasp what it meant. It’s moment by 

moment. When my mind starts to go on 

trips, I have to say the truth out loud. I may 

have this, but God You are still good! When 

I got to see my sons graduate from high 

school, I was so thankful to live to see that 

day. It just changed my entire perspective.” 

Early in her treatment, Brandye remembers 

waking up at the usual 4am to spend time 

with God before the day started. She has a 

particular chair she sits in with her Bible and 

journal. But, on that particular morning, she 

lay there exhausted, trying to will herself up 

and into her reading spot. As she lay there, 

she felt God prompting her to rest and 

assuring her that He could talk to her right 

there in her bed. She believes that God then 

gave her a visual - a mental image she has 

held on to in the years since. She imagined 

herself on a roller coaster but knew that 

God was the one in charge of driving it. She 

shares, “It was like He told me, ‘Look, there 

are going to be dips and sharp turns. In the 

end, we are going to arrive just fine. But first, 

you have to get out of the driver’s seat and 

let me take over. Just stay behind me and all 

will be well.’” 

There have been plenty of scary moments 

in the last thirteen years. Her chemo has been 

changed twice because of tumor growth, and 

she experiences seizures and mini-strokes on 

occasion. Brandye has moments, she confesses, 

in which she wishes her children could have 

had more years with the pre-cancer version 

of herself. She’s been sick since her daughter, 

now a junior at Hartfield, was three, so she 

has no memories of life before her mom’s 

diagnosis. And yet, she knows their lives are 

better because of it. Brandye thinks often of 

the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible. 

When Jesus came to visit, Martha was up 

cooking and cleaning and playing hostess 

while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to learn. When 

Martha complained to Jesus that Mary 

wasn’t helping, He told her that Mary had 

“chosen the better part.” 

Brandye remembers herself before cancer 

almost as a different person. She longed to 

be like Mary but knew her personality made 

her prone to Martha’s distraction and worry. 

She reminisces, “I don’t think my faith would 

ever have grown like it has otherwise. I believe 

God knew me and loved me enough that He 

knew I needed this. And, honestly, it sounds 

crazy but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” 



KIDS WHO CARE 

Emma Grace Markham 

Bethany Cole 

FOR EMMA GRACE MARKHAM, 

BEING IN MOTION, IN ONE FORM 

OR ANOTHER, HAS ALWAYS 

BEEN A PART OF HER LIFE. 

Born in Washington State into a military 

family as the youngest of four children, Emma 

Grace lived in Germany and was able to visit 

a large portion of the world as a young child. 

Beginning at the age of two, she began to 

develop a deep love of dance that continued 

through childhood. While her traveling 

eventually stilled as she set up residence in 

Clinton, her dancing ambitions continued to 

propel her through childhood and adolescence. 

It was this affinity for dance that eventually 

led her to work alongside and help inspire the 

Down syndrome community in the metro 

Jackson area. 

When Emma Grace arrived at Clinton 

High School, Lindsay Pardue, a family friend 

who babysat Emma Grace as a child and is 

now a special education teacher at CHS, 

encouraged Emma Grace to utilize her gift 

and love of dancing to become involved 

with The Buddy Center. The Buddy Center, 

located in Ridgeland, is a place where 

“buddies” can attend and participate in a 

variety of classes such as handwriting, 

painting, dance, and others. “It is an incredible 

resource for all who are impacted by Down 

syndrome,” says Emma Kate. The Buddy 

Center was designed by the Central Mississippi 

Down Syndrome Society, whose overall aim 

is to provide individuals and families with 

Down syndrome community and inclusion. 

While in high school, “I decided to be a 

helper in [Mrs. Pardue’s] class,” recalls Emma 

Grace. “And I loved it! Mrs. Pardue was a key 

component in helping the vision of the Buddy 

Center come to life, so when she asked if I 

would like to teach a dance class, I was so 

excited.” 

Last September, Emma Grace, along with 

her friend Haddie Heindl, began teaching 

Saturday dance classes at The Buddy Center. 

“We both look forward to it each week,” she 

says. “ Dance is my greatest passion, and to 

have the opportunity to share it with so many 

wonderful people filled with genuine joy is 

something I will forever be grateful for.” 

Outside of her work at The Buddy 

Center, Emma Grace is involved in a number 

of school activities, including being a member 

of Clinton Attaché since her ninth-grade 

year, and a part of the Legends Dance 

Company. She is also a participant in 

numerous clubs, such as National Honor 

Society (serving as president), Student 

Council, Anchor Club, Fellowship of 

Christian Athletes, and others. Additionally, 

she has been recognized as a Hinds County 

Distinguished Young Woman. 

As her high school career concludes, 

Emma Grace is looking towards the future 

with dancing in mind. “Next year I plan on 

pursuing dance and hope to receive a BFA in 

dance performance and choreography,” she 

says. This fall she will focus on auditioning 

for nationwide BFA programs. Although 

Emma Grace is excited about the next 

chapter, she will inevitably miss Clinton, and 

the annual town events that made for lasting 

memories. As she says, “My favorite thing 

about Clinton is our traditions.” 

Reflecting on the desire to give back and 

invest in others, Emma Kate credits her 

mother, Krista Markham, and her grandmother, 

“Mimi,” with inspiring her to 

maintain a compassionate and service-oriented 

posture in life. “Two of the most influential 

people in my life are my Mimi and mom,” 

she explains. “My Mimi reminds me each day 

to have compassion for others and encourages 

me to have a servant’s heart by her example. 

My Mom teaches me to have strength and 

persevere through any situation I face, and 

she reminds me that if you are determined 

enough, you can create a solution for every 

problem.” 

To learn more about The Central 

Mississippi Down Syndrome Society and 

The Buddy Center, visit: www.cmdss.org 


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The Boswells 


Judd (46) is the athletic director and head football coach at 

Clinton High School. He enjoys hunting and attending all 

the kid’s sporting events. 

Kim (47) teaches 4th grade math and science at Eastside 

Elementary. She enjoys shopping, reading, and attending the 

kids’ sporting events. 

Lauren (29) teaches science at Northwest Middle School. 

She also helps with the dance team there. 

Mamie Rae (13) is a 7th grader at Clinton Junior High. 

She plays soccer for the school as well as Brilla. 

Jax (11) is in the 5th grade at Eastside Elementary. He plays 

for the Clinton Reds baseball team and flag football for 

parks and rec. 

Claire (8) is a 3rd grader at Northside Elementary. She plays 

softball for the Clinton Rampage and soccer for Brilla. 

How did you meet and how long have you been 

married? 

Judd and I have known each other since high school. Judd 

and my brother were best friends. We have been married 15 

years this December. 



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

We try and take a couple of kid-free weekends throughout the year. 

Since Judd coaches and our anniversary is in December, we usually 

make the Mississippi All Star Football Game and the Mississippi/ 

Alabama All Star Football games our anniversary getaways. This 

year, Judd is the head coach of the Mississippi team, so that will look 

a little different for us. 

What brings you the greatest joy as a parent? 

Knowing that all of our children have accepted Christ as their Lord 

and Savior brings us the greatest joy. Claire, our youngest, just asked 

Jesus into her heart and will soon be baptized. We are so excited to 

know that we will all spend eternity together one day. 

Who is the financial manager in your home? 

I handle the finances. I joke all the time that Judd doesn’t know if 

we have five dollars or five thousand dollars in our checking account. 

A few years back, we got the kids Greenlight debit cards in hopes of 

helping them see the importance of a dollar. I mainly did the card 

because they all tell me to just swipe my card for things. They now see 

you can’t swipe a card if the money is not there. 

When your children were younger, what was your 

discipline philosophy? 

We have always tried to teach our kids that every action will have a 

consequence. All of our kids have very different personalities that 

have required us to handle disciplining them a little differently. 

What works for Jax Boswell doesn’t always work for the girls. 

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

your family? 

Judd is the calm to the storm when he needs to be, but he also can 

be the one that lays the hammer down. I feel like I am the organizer 

and planner for our family. Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I always 

like to have an itinerary wherever we go. 

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

And who does the cooking? 

We actually share cooking duties. Judd grills and I do the inside 

cooking. We also try to rotate who cleans the kitchen based on who 

cooked that night. If you cook, you don’t clean. Our favorite go-to 

meal is taco bar. It is about the only meal all of us will agree on. 

How long has Clinton been your home? 

We have been in Clinton for 11 years. Judd has been here for 12. 

He commuted the first year and I stayed in Forest. Lauren was the 

valedictorian, and we didn’t want to move on her senior year. Jax was 

actually born the first home game Judd coached for the Arrows. I was 

on bed rest and didn’t get to go. I called Judd right before the game 

and told him I was headed to the hospital, but I wanted him to coach 

until I called him back. My doctor ended up calling him and he left 

at halftime. We call Jax our “Friday Night Lights” baby. 

What are some of your favorite things about Clinton? 

We love our church, Pinelake. The kids are always so excited when 

the gingerbread house gets displayed in front of Mascagni Wealth. 

Claire especially loves walking the brick streets looking for rocks. 

How do you spend your summer breaks? 

With both of us being educators, we love our summers. Our favorite 

vacation spot is the beach, but lately we have spent our summers at 

ball fields. We are happy to do that, too. 

What accomplishments make you proud during your time 

living in Clinton? 

Judd coached the Clinton Arrows to their first state championship 

in 2016. I am happy to say that our 4th grade math team has been 

number one in the state for two years in a row. We both love our 

Arrows, whether they are on a field or in the classroom, and watching 

them succeed in both has been so fun. 

What drives you to have the job that you have? 

Judd Helping kids, watching them grow mentally and physically. 

Being able to have an impact on how they handle themselves when 

adversity hits. I have always felt that sports teach valuable life lessons 

and that is what drives me to do what I do. 

Kim Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs. I love watching 

kids grow in confidence. We have been in Clinton long enough that 

I am able to watch some of my former students play for Judd. It is 

such an incredible feeling to have cheered them on in 4th grade 

academics to cheering them on as a 16/17 year old athlete. 

QUESTIONS FOR CHILDREN 

What’s your favorite thing to do as a family? 

Mamie Rae Attend my brother and sister’s athletic events. 

Jax I like to hunt with my dad and sometimes I let my sisters come. 

Claire I like going to church with my family and going out to eat. 

What’s your favorite restaurant? 

Mamie Rae Osaka 

Jax Buffalo Wild Wings 

Claire Lost Pizza 

What’s your favorite TV show? 

Mamie Rae Dance Moms 

Jax Duck Dynasty 

Claire Thundermans 

What’s your go-to family Bible verse? 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer 

– Romans 12:12 


THANKS 

to our readers 

and advertisers. 

We appreciate 

you! 


Brittany McHann 601.506.5686 | Brad McHann 601.259.0269 

Whether you are interested in buying or selling, Highland Realty MS is here to help. 


Meet 

Eden BETHANY COLE 

Followell 

The name Eden, in Hebrew, 

means “paradise.” A reference 

to the Garden which served as the 

cradle of creation, where every fiber 

of existence steadied itself in perfect 

order. It reflects a reality beyond the 

realm of our current world, connoting 

the hope of what was and what 

Christians believe will one day come 

to pass: restoration, redemption, and 

complete virtuous equilibrium. Given 

the context, it seems a fitting name for 

Eden Followell. Adopted from circumstances 

of abandonment that resulted 

in physical and emotional harm, Eden’s 

name is a reflection of what her parents, 

Robby and Jess Followell, hope tells a 

greater story - one of God’s deep love 

and summoning heart for humanity. 

The Foundation of a Family 

Robby and Jess Followell met in 2005, while 

both attending Mississippi College. Married 

three years later, in the summer of 2008, they 

lived on campus serving as resident director 

(Jess) and admissions counselor (Robby). 

During that time, Robby also began to launch 

his business, Followell Fotography. 

In 2009, Robby transitioned to photography 

full time; he opened a studio on the brick streets, 

while Jess taught school in the Jackson Public 

School System. In August of 2011, their first 

daughter, Meg, was born. With the photography 

business gaining footing, Jess opted to stay 

home with Meg. The family built a house on 

Lawson Street, in Olde Towne, and settled 

into life in Clinton. 

Bringing Eden Home 

Five months after Meg was born, Robby and 

Jess watched a documentary detailing the 

gender preference crisis for boys over girls in 

India and China. Around the same time, their 

church, Pinelake, was launching an initiative 

to highlight adoption and offer financial support 

to adoptive families. The surrounding messages 

struck a deep chord of conviction, and the 

Followell’s began to pursue options for bringing 

a daughter home. Given that they were too 

young to adopt from China, India became the 

immediate choice. 

The journey took just under three years, in 

total, before Eden would be in their arms and 

officially their daughter. They began the process 

in early 2012, and brought Eden home in late 

2014. The days in between, filled with paperwork 

and approvals and prayers, were often 

marked by the unknown. “On the front end, prior 

to adoption, the emotions of longing didn’t have 

a face, but she was a promise,” reflects Robby. 



“Just as powerful was a sense that we were 

empowered by the community that rallied 

behind us, and Eden was a part of Clinton’s 

story. The whole process transformed my 

view of the Body of Christ, as people shared 

their hopes and dreams alongside us.” At the 

conclusion of 2014, the Followell’s traveled to 

India to meet Eden and bring her home. 

Eden is Home: Making Medical Decisions 

As the Followell’s settled into life with Eden, 

they began to navigate the range of emotions 

and needs that accompany adoptive parent life. 

One of which, Jess notes, was the aforementioned 

fundamental need for community. “The power 

of community has been present from the moment 

we got home, and it has not let up,” says Jess. 

This community has propelled them through 

each stage of the last ten years, including 

navigating the medical landscape of Eden’s 

treatments. 

Upon arrival back to the States, one of the 

Followell’s primary objectives was seeking out 

care and knowledgeable opinions regarding 

Eden’s birth defects. Eden was born with defects 

causing blood restriction in all four limbs, which 

prohibited all of her fingers from fully developing. 

As a result, she had many varying issues with her 

lower limbs. 

To date, Eden has had eleven surgeries over 

the last ten years of her life, with some being 

minor and outpatient, while others were far more 

complicated. “The most recent surgery she had 

was a reconstruction of both feet,” explains Jess. 

“Thus far, the surgery has been deemed 

incredibly successful.” 

Life Now 

Reflecting on the journey of adoption, with 

both its joys and challenges, Jess says that, 

“We believe adoption is beautiful because it 

stretches the whole family to embrace life 

lessons and perspectives we would never have 

had without Eden. She has pushed us to take a 

hard look into places and to endure things that 

have strengthened us all. We have a broader 

experience with love, suffering, perseverance, 

and community because of her.” The ways in 

which Eden has added such beauty to her family 

is largely due to her personality, which Robby 

says, “is deep and complex, while also affectionate 

and wildly defensive of her independence. 

Our journey has been one of reminding her that 

she doesn’t have to protect herself.” 

Eden is reminded of this reality both in her 

parents and siblings (older sister Meg, now 11, 

and younger brother Simon, who was born in 

2016), and by being raised in the welcoming 

environment of Clinton. “Clinton has an 

approachability that is distinctive,” says Robby. 

“It is such a beautiful mix of people, including 

many adoptive families.” 

The Adoptive Calling 

When asked what advice they would give 

prospective adoptive parents, Robby says, 

“The hardest part of the adoption journey isn’t 

getting the child, but following with the child 

after the ‘Gotcha Day.’ There is so much 

emphasis on the front end, and not as much on 

the lifelong commitment.” As the years in the 

adoptive journey have passed, Robby says 

they have realized, “There is no way to get 

as up close and personal to the Gospel, 

than to adopt a child. If you feel 

any tug, walk one step at a 

time and God will lead the 

steps to follow.” 



What does 

freedom 

mean 

to you? 

Hometown Magazines 

Salutes the Veterans 

at Brookdale 

Senior Living 

Ben Alford 

Freedom means the world to me. 

“Honor to the soldier and sailor 

everywhere, who bravely bears 

his country’s cause. Honor, also, 

to the citizen who cares for his 

brother in the field and serves, 

as he best can, the same cause.” 

- Lincoln 

Edna Dreher 

Being able to do what you want. 


Bob Dunaway 

To do what we want without harming our fellow 

man. We have freedom to express our thoughts 

and freedom to worship. 

Charles Bohannon 

I can go anyplace I like to, and I can do anything 

l like to. That’s freedom. 

Elton Booth 

Not fighting 

Gerald Bourgeois 

It means you can do anything you want to do 

unless it infringes on someone else’s efforts. 


James McDonald 

We should have it. 

JD Burchfield 

I can do the things I want to do. 

John Salter 

It means America. 

Robert Clark 

Freedom is what every veteran did so that we 

could have it. 


Jean Johnson 

I am all for the constitution and what those men did. 

I’m free because of what they did, and I don’t forget it. 

John McNeece 

My country is a free country to live in 

and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. 

Thomas Ogletree 

Freedom means being able to speak and do what 

you want to do as long as it’s within the law. 

Tom Shreve 

Freedom is that you aren’t obligated to a dictator. 

We can change political parties and feel free to do it. 


Cranberry Pecan Sweet 

Potato Wild Rice Pilaf 

• 2 cups chicken broth 

• 1 cup wild rice blend 

• ½ teaspoon dried parsley 

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano 

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 

• 1 cup sweet potato diced small 

• ¼ cup chopped onion 

• ⅓ cup dried cranberries 

• ⅓ cup pecans chopped 

In a medium saucepan, bring the 

broth to a boil and add wild rice, 

parsley, oregano, and thyme. Reduce 

the heat to a simmer and cover with 

a lid. Cook for 45 minutes or until 

tender. In another skillet add olive 

oil, sweet potato, and onion and 

cook until tender. Add 

cranberries and chopped 

pecans and cook for 1-2 

minutes. Add to the rice 

mixture and fluff with a fork. 

Parmesan Herb Roasted 

Acorn Squash 

• 2 acorn squash 

(small to medium sized) 

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 

• 1 cup finely grated parmesan 

cheese 

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt 

• ½ teaspoon dried basil 

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme 

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano 

Preheat oven to 425. Slice the top 

and bottom of the squash, then 

place it on a flat end and slice it in 

half. Scoop out the seeds with a 

spoon and slice each half into slices 

about 1-inch thick. 

Place slices on a parchment-lined 

baking tray. If there’s extra parmesan 

herb mixture in the bowl, just press 

that onto the top side of the slices. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until soft 

and lightly golden on top. Transfer 

the roasted acorn squash to a 

serving platter and enjoy! 

Pineapple Cheese 

Casserole 

• 2 (15 oz.) cans pineapple chunks 

drained 

• 1 cup white sugar 

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour 

• 2 cups shredder cheddar cheese 

• 25 buttery round crackers, 

crumbled 

• ½ cup melted butter 

Preheat oven to 350. Spread 

pineapple a 2 quart casserole dish. 

In a small bowl, stir together sugar, 

flour and cheese. Add to casserole 

dish. Sprinkle crackers over the top 

of pineapple and cheese mixture. 

Pour melted butter over the top and 

bake for 30 minutes. 

Cornbread Casserole 

• ¼ lb. butter, melted 

• 1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, 

drained 

• 1 (15 oz.) can cream corn 

• 1 (8.5 oz.) package corn bread mix 

• 1 oz. sour cream 

Preheat oven to 350. Fold all 

ingredients together in a mixing 

bowl and pour into a 2 quart 

casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour. 


Garlic Parmesan 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

• 2 large sweet potatoes, washed 

(peeling is optional) 

• 3 Tbsp. melted butter 

• 1 cup parmesan 

• ½ teaspoon fresh cracked 

black pepper 

• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic 

(or garlic powder) 

• 1 teaspoon salt 

• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning 

• 4 strips of bacon (optional) 

• 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped 

for garnish (or chives) 

Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking 

sheet with parchment paper. Prep 

sweet potatoes by first cutting off the 

ends and slicing in rounds with 

a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife. 

In a small bowl, combine parmesan, 

garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian 

seasoning. Arrange sweet potato 

slices on the baking sheet, slightly 

overlapping. Brush with melted 

butter and sprinkle the parmesan 

mixture over. Roast sweet potatoes 

at 400 for 25 minutes. 

In the meantime, cook bacon on the 

stove until crispy, drain from fat, and 

then cut into small bits. This step is 

optional. Remove roasted sweet 

potatoes from the oven, sprinkle with 

bacon bits, and fresh chopped parsley 

or chives. Serve the roasted sweet 

potatoes immediately with a delicious 

grilled meat, or on its own, enjoy! 

Apple Cranberry 

Walnut Salad 

• 6 cups salad 

• 1 red apple 

• 1 green apple 

• 1 cup walnuts - roughly chopped 

• 4-6 bacon strips - cooked and 

chopped (optional) 

• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese 

• ⅓ cup dried cranberries 

Dressing 

• 1 cup apple juice 

• 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

(or white vinegar) 

• 2 tablespoons honey 

• ½ teaspoon salt 

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper 

• ¼ cup oil 

• candied walnuts (optional) 

• 1 cup walnut halves 

• 1 Tbsp. butter 

• ¼ cup sugar 

• ¼ teaspoon salt 

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 

Core and chop apples (thin slices or 

1 inch chunks). Toss lettuce, apples, 

walnuts, feta, bacon (if using) and 

cranberries together in a large bowl. 

Whisk together all dressing 

ingredients or combine in a jar and 

shake vigorously. Toss with salad 

immediately before serving. Enjoy! 

Sheet Pan Roasted 

Vegetables 

• 8 zucchini, peeled and chopped 

• 1 eggplant, peeled and diced 

• 8 carrots, diced 

• 16 cherry tomatoes 

• 2 red onions, sliced 

• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 

• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced 

• ½ cup olive oil 

• 1 tsp. dried rosemary 

• 1 tsp. dried thyme 

• 2 bay leaves, crushed 

• 1 tsp. dried oregano 

• 2 cloves garlic, minced 

• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 

• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest 

• Salt and pepper to taste 

In a large bowl mix zucchini, eggplant, 

carrots, tomatoes, onions and peppers 

with oil, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, 

oregano, garlic, lemon juice, lemon 

zest, salt and pepper. Cover and chill 

for at least 2 hours, and preferably 

overnight. Preheat oven to 400. 

On a large pan, roast the vegetables, 

uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until 

the tomatoes have split and the edges 

of some of the vegetables are starting 

to crisp. Remove from oven and stir 

before returning to the oven for 

another 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 

200 and continue cooking until 

vegetables are tender, turning every 

20 minutes. 

The Best Mashed Potatoes 

• 5 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes 

• 2 cups parmesan cheese 

• 1½ cups cream cheese 

• 1 cup chopped fresh chives 

• ½ cup butter 

• ½ medium head garlic, 

peeled and minced 

• 1 pinch of salt and pepper to taste 

Peel and quarter potatoes and place 

in a large pot. Cover with salted water 

and bring to a boil. Cook until tender 

but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain 

and return potatoes to the pot over 

low heat to dry for 1 to 2 minutes. 

Add parmesan cheese, cream cheese, 

chives, butter, garlic, salt and pepper. 

Use a potato masher to mash until 

smooth and serve. 

Easiest Eggplant 

• ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs 

• 1 medium eggplant, peeled and 

sliced into ½ inch rounds 

• 4 Tbsp. mayonnaise, or as needed 

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking 

sheet with aluminum foil. Place 

breadcrumbs in a small shallow dish. 

Coat eggplant slices on both sides 

with mayonnaise, then press into 

breadcrumbs to coat. Place on the 

baking sheet. Bake until bottoms are 

golden brown, about 20 minutes. 

Flip slices over and continue baking 

until brown on the other side, 20 to 

25 minutes. 


ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT 

SUSAN MARQUEZ 

Just a short drive away, Raymond 

is one of central Mississippi’s 

best-kept secrets. 

For an easy day trip, Raymond invites you to shop, eat, 

and experience all the unique small town has to offer. 

Centrally located almost exactly in the middle of the state, 

Raymond is easily accessible from I-20 and is a short drive 

from downtown Jackson and the airport. From its earliest days, 

native Americans and early settlers were drawn to the area 

due to its abundant wildlife. When Hinds County was established 

in 1821, Raymond became the first county seat. It still 

remains as one of two county seats for Hinds County. 



Sadly, Raymond’s namesake, 

sells his premium duck calls there, 

I love the people. I believe visitors are 

up-and-coming haven for the arts and 

General Raymond Robinson, was 

and he and his wife, Ann, carefully 

attracted to genuineness, integrity, 

a place where there is never a lack of 

killed by Grant’s army as they marched 

curate leather goods and gifts for 

passion, and a love for what you do. 

something to do. Eagle Ridge 

his troops through the area on their 

those who enjoy the outdoors. 

Love and respect for each other’s 

Conference Center is nearby and 

way to capture Vicksburg. On May 12, 

Josh grew up here and has chosen 

talents and gifts are the key for 

offers a golf course, a meeting venue, 

1863, 12,000 Union soldiers and 

Raymond to locate his business and 

multiple businesses to co-exist and 

and newly renovated hotel rooms. 

3,000 Confederate soldiers met in 

raise their children. “There is a sense 

grow in healthy ways toward a 

Over 70 happenings are held in 

the Battle of Raymond. After the 

of community here that I want to 

greater future.” 

the town each year, including the 

battle, over 1,000 wounded soldiers 

sustain.” Josh and his wife, Ann, are 

Porch has invested all of 

Raymond Country Fair each May, and 

from both armies were cared for by 

raising their two children in Raymond. 

herself into growing the community. 

Christmas on the Square in Decem- 

residents in their homes, in St. Mark’s 

“I could have put my business 

In addition to other ventures and 

ber, the two largest events presented 

Episcopal Church, and in the newly 

anywhere, but I choose to be here. 

accomplishments in Raymond, 

by the Chamber. Ribbon cuttings for 

built Hinds County Courthouse. 

I believe in our town, and I want to 

she currently owns two growing 

new businesses, open houses, 

Stains of blood still remain visible 

continue investing in its future.” 

businesses. The Lucky Hen is a unique 

and meet-and-greets make up 

on the wood floors of St. Mark’s, 

Take a drive around the Square 

gift shop that highlights products 

more activities. 

a definite reminder of times past. 

and it’s easy to see both the town’s 

made in Mississippi with a distinct 

Shopping in Raymond is a 

Today’s Raymond is a quiet and 

historic background as well as its 

style of gifts and curiosities. The 

pleasure, with gift shops offering 

peaceful place where people come to 

progression towards the future. Kim 

White Horse Coffee Shop, situated 

made-in-Mississippi products, 

raise families and retire. Jerry Bryant 

Porch, who serves as president of the 

within The Lucky Hen, offers a range 

professional framing and art, a coffee 

and his wife, Cathryn, moved to 

Raymond Chamber of Commerce, 

of specialty coffee drinks and good 

shop, a shop for teas and shakes, 

Raymond in 1969, and for decades 

says, “I want to see Raymond grow 

vibes all around. 

antiques and consignments, and a 

he served the town as their only 

with integrity to honor the past while 

With Hinds Community College 

grocery store conveniently located on 

pharmacist. “I like seeing the progress 

being progressive in our thinking 

located nearby, Raymond has cultural, 

the Square. Merchants and Planters 

in Raymond,” he says. 

and vision. I have a love for Raymond 

recreational, and educational 

Bank is an anchor for the community 

Within the past couple of years, 

and the state of Mississippi. I believe 

opportunities often only found in 

and offers many services and 

Albert Smathers has created a fabulous 

visitors to our sweet city come here 

larger communities. The town is 

continually helps support the town. 

mural on the side of the old drug- 

for a genuine experience, and that’s 

quaint and vibrant and is focused on 

Little Big Store has been selling 

store, which now houses Raggio 

what they’ll find. It’s a new day in 

providing a good quality of life for 

albums in Raymond since the early 

Mercantile. Josh Raggio makes and 

Raymond. I love the history here, and 

everyone. It has developed into an 

1990s and they ship albums all over 

the world. Boondocks on Highway 18 

offers shooting ranges and training 

classes for the community and they 

routinely help sponsor events and 

even host events on site. 

Several new Airbnbs have opened 

in Raymond and surrounding areas, 

many in historic 1800s buildings, and 

stay booked by people who are 

traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway, 

located only three miles from the city 

limits. Many people also follow the 


Mississippi Blues Trail. “It’s not unusual 

to see people visiting here from 

Europe, the Netherlands, Asia, and 

other places,” says Porch, who credits 

Raymond’s mayor, Isla Tullos, and city 

leaders, along with town patriarchs 

for making the city what it is today. 

“They have worked for many decades 

and have paved the way for the 

possibilities and potential for greatness 

that we enjoy today,” Porch says. 

“Groups like the Raymond 

Garden Club keep our city looking 

beautiful,” says Porch. “They maintain 

a community garden, select the Yard 

of the Month, keep the community 

involved, and work hard to keep our 

Square looking nice.” 

The Culture Club has been 

meeting monthly since the 1930s, 

keeping the city’s history relevant and 

hosting speakers from all over the 

state. Friends of the Library board 

offers community events and holds 

weekly readings for school children. 

Several churches are in the area and 

many have fantastic architecture and 

histories, adding a real sense of 

support and resources for the city. 

“Everybody calls this Mayberry,” 

laughs Porch. “But there is something 

to that. There is a real genuine spirit 

here. We have a lot of momentum in 

Raymond, and we encourage folks to 

come spend a day with us to see all 

we have to offer. We don’t take 

anything for granted and we believe 

every day is a gift to be shared. There 

is a real sense of goodness here and 

that is something we strive for and 

want to share with others.” 



ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT 


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: 

48 • NOVEMBER 2023 

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

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

Hometown RANKIN • 49



SALUTE 

to First Responders 

Sponsored by 

Pat & Randy Bell 

CLINTON 

Why did you decide to be a first responder? 

Honestly, back in 1999, I was approached by an officer asking me if I had 

ever thought about being a police officer. I replied no and then a few days 

later I was a reserve officer. I will try anything once—and that was a little 

over 24 years ago. 

How long have you been with the Clinton Police Department? 

I started as a reserve officer in August 1999 while employed at Delphi/ 

Packard Electric and started full time April 2011. 


I have two children; Megan, 19, attends Mississippi State and is in The 

Famous Maroon Band, and Kara, 16, is in her junior year at Clinton High 

School performing in Attache’. Megan wants to be a teacher and Kara feels 

like she wants to pursue a career in public safety, at the moment. 

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

Calls for service dealing with small children because they are unable to 

defend/speak for themselves. There have been a few calls for service that 

have really bothered me dealing with child neglect cases. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time. 

Anything outside—from hunting, fishing, helping others with outside 

landscape/home renovation, fixing my old pick-up truck and not thinking 

about police work. 

Lieutenant 

Matt 

CAMPBELL 

CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Spend some time out west in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton 

National Park, and then go to Alaska. All three places have a shortage of 

people during certain times of the year. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I will say that I admire my father, Charles Campbell. My father has taught 

me so much over the course of my life. He has taught me everything I 

know today about the outdoors, being independent, and good work ethic. 

He has always been there to help guide me in life and that has molded me 

into the man I am today. 

What advice would you give to to a young person? 

Pick your friends wisely. Do not let image be a factor in your life. Stay true 

to yourself. Find a career that you love/want to do; money is not everything. 

Enjoy life, tomorrow is not always guaranteed. And appreciate the 

small things. 

What is your favorite thing about the City of Clinton? 

The small-town feel and the support from Clinton residents. I enjoy the 

farmers markets during the summer months. 


I need to get 

an oil change. 

Send text about 

that meeting. 

Don’t forget 

to pick up 

DINNER! 

Report due 

TOMORROW! 

DOCTOR’S 

APPOINTMENT: 

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With plenty of provider and location 

options, quick online scheduling and 

more, your health concerns are one 

less thing to worry about. Learn more 

at stdom.com/WeListenWeHeal. 


The CHALKBOARD 

Clinton 

The Clinton Public School District earned an 

A-Rating from the Mississippi Department of Education’s 

accountability system, the highest possible academic 

rating a Mississippi school district can attain. 

MDE officially approved the accountability grades 

for the 2022-2023 school year on September 28. 

With an overall score of 782, the district grew 

eight points, ranking as the third-highest performing 

district in the state of Mississippi and the highest 

performing district in the metro area. 

This year’s achievement places CPSD in the top 

five school districts in the state for the second 

consecutive year since MDE resumed school 

accountability grades in 2022. 

Clinton’s overall score of 782 marks the district’s 

highest accountability score achieved under the new 

accountability system, breaking the district’s record 

set in the 2021-2022 school year. 

“The ability to achieve at such a high level, on a 

consistent basis, is a reflection of the hard work of 

our teachers, students and school administrators,” 

CPSD Superintendent Dr. Andy Schoggin said. 

“All members of our Clinton Arrow community– 

our parents, students, and community partners– 

understand and support the mission of our district 

and have an important role in achieving excellence,” 

Dr. Schoggin added. 

“We are truly blessed to have such wonderful 

teachers and administrators who help our students 

set high expectations and achieve their goals,” CPSD 

Board of Trustees President Bernard Kines said. 

Dr. Schoggin said this continued success is a 

result of teachers continuously seeking avenues for 

student improvement. 

“Sustaining success is an incredible accomplishment 

for our district,” Dr. Schoggin said. “Our teachers 

understand the importance of maximizing each day 

we have with students.” 

This year’s accountability rankings have Clinton 

Park, Northside, Eastside and Clinton Junior High 

School continuing their sustained A-Rating. Sumner 

Hill Junior High School and Clinton High School 

advance to a combined A-Rating. 

Though Lovett Elementary showed tremendous 

growth, the sixth grade campus rated as a B. 

This year’s A-District celebration was held at 

halftime during the Clinton Arrows Football game on 

Friday, October 20. 

Mississippi’s schools and districts are graded on 

an A-F scale. The grades are part of the state’s 

accountability system, which helps teachers, school 

leaders, parents and communities know how well 

their local schools and districts are serving their 

students. 

Calculations for the accountability grades rely 

heavily on the amount of progress elementary students 

make in English Language Arts, mathematics, and 

science. Secondary students are also assessed in 

these areas, as well as in Algebra I, Biology, English II 

and U.S. History. Other factors such as graduation 

rates, English Learner progress and participation in 

advanced placement and dual enrollment courses are 

considered in the state’s accountability model. 

TOP TEN DISTRICTS 

• Ocean Springs 810 • Long Beach 797 

• Clinton 782 • Petal 766 

• Neshoba County 766 • Enterprise 760 

• Union County 759 • Madison County 758 

• Forrest County AHS 756 • Biloxi 755 


Clinton Christian Academy 

CCA held our homecoming game and court on September 8th. We hosted McAdams School and won the game 46-0! 

Homecoming Maids L-R: 7th grade: Becca Uzzle, 8th grade: Kylee Fullerton, 9th grade: Izzie Mcgehee, Kenlie Mitchell, Seniors: Annie Katherine King, Selena White (Queen), 

Alyssa Folse 10th grade: Jaelyn Gholar, Madison Curington 11th grade: Ashlyn Barnes, Annalise Whitworth 

Varsity Cheer just won grand champs in their division at the MAIS State competition. 

CCA was excited to add girls’ volleyball to their list of sports this year. 

The girls did great and went to the first round of playoffs. 

CCA is having a great year in football under new Head Coach Teddy Dyess. 

Our kindergarten and 1st grade enjoy a trip to Mitchell Farms Pumpkin Patch. 


The CHALKBOARD 

Mt. Salus 

Elementary students have been enjoying projects, experiments, and guest speakers in their STEM classes this semester. From building experiments 

and learning about plants to making “oobleck” and hearing about different gems and minerals, students have been busy increasing their love for science, 

technology, engineering, and mathematics with their teacher, Mrs. Tiffany McNeely. 

Students are enjoying chess club for a third year. Second Grade Teacher Amy Carter, leads the program, which challenges and encourages students to grow 

in their ability and knowledge of chess. Students in 2nd grade through high school meet weekly to practice their skills, learn more about chess, and engage 

in friendly competition. Several of the students will be participating in the upcoming MAIS chess tournament. 

Each fall, Mt. Salus introduces and showcases its fall athletic teams. This fall, staff, students, family, and friends enjoyed a cross country run by the elementary 

and junior varsity cross country teams, as well as an exhibition elementary soccer game. After these events, Head of School Mr. Bill Maner introduced each 

of the fall athletic teams and their members, while all in attendance enjoyed wonderful food and time to catch up and fellowship. 



TheTime COIN 

Camille Anding 

Living in Mississippi means living far from climate control. 

The temperature gauge can resemble a rollercoaster, and the seasons can 

name their own conditions – even in November and December. 

I recall a particular December weather pattern when we lived further north in 

the state. The radio Christmas station sang of winter wonderlands, sleigh bells 

ringing, and “Baby, it’s cold outside.” But in reality, the grass was still green, the lawn 

mowers still hummed, and shoppers wore shorts and flip flops to the mall. 

We opened lovely Christmas cards with traditional snow scenes, but our 

back yard actually had December blooms of daisies, begonias, and Mexican heather. 

My four baskets of hanging ferns shot out new growth and leafed out like they were 

finalists in the county fair. 

Meanwhile, sweaters stayed in dresser drawers, fleece jackets rested in closets, 

and furry boots waited their turn behind sandals. Turkey and dressing kept their spot 

on the Christmas menu, but grilled burgers and baked beans would actually 

have been the more appropriate fare. 

There was a lesson for me in the unseasonable December weather. 

Complaining and whining didn’t drop the thermostats a single degree. 

While I dreamed of frosty mornings and toasty firesides, those on 

fixed incomes were grateful for the break on heating bills, and the 

homeless surely rejoiced for every mild night. 

Nature didn’t gripe about balmy December days. Instead, they 

flourished in the lingering blooming climate. I enjoyed roses longer 

than I ever remembered because they continued to do what their 

Creator intended. They bloomed where they were planted! 

If they had followed the calendar, they would have dropped their 

leaves and turned into thorny stubs. Instead, they absorbed the warm sun 

rays and continued to add beauty to the landscape. 

The apostle Paul is a shining example of living free from murmuring and 

complaining: ”...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” 

A few “blooms” added to our attitudes during a month that’s become way too 

frenzied could make a powerful statement on our world’s landscape. 



Let’s Talk... 

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Clinton1123web

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