14 • JANUARY 2024
READER SPOTLIGHT June PICKLE Why did you decide to make Rankin County your home? When I was six years old, my parents moved to Pearl from a small town in North Mississippi. Pearl and Brandon have always felt like home. How long have you lived in Rankin County? 58 years except for a quick six month move to Knoxville, Tennessee. Tell us about your family. I met Bobby in 1981. I was cutting hair at the time. I cut his hair and a year later we were married. We have two boys, Brett and Lake. Lake married Lacey Ainsworth last year and Brett got married this summer to Anna Beth Houston. What is your favorite memory of living in Rankin County? How can I name just one? I could name the street I grew up on in Pearl, the places I have worked, or my church. But when I thought about this, it is all because of the people. The relationships have been the best part. Where are your three favorite places to eat in Rankin County? We love Osaka, Jerry’s Fish House, and Fernando’s. What are some fun things to do in Rankin County on the weekends? We enjoy going to the movies and we must get popcorn. We like walking at the nature trail in Flowood and getting coffee at Mocha Mugs. Tell us about your occupation. I recently retired from Rankin County Schools. What a joy it was to work there. I was an assistant teacher, librarian, and an office worker. I started working at the schools because I thought it was the best job to have, being a mom. And it was, but God showed me so much there. I loved the teachers, and the children touched my heart and truly changed my life. I have such good memories in the classroom and in the office. Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time. Brett, our oldest son, lives in Laurel. When Bobby and I go visit him and Anna Beth, we also love to go look for the houses they redo on the HGTV show Home Town. It’s like a treasure hunt to us. We like to take daytrips around Mississippi and find little hidden treasures, such as the town of Rodney. We have a group of ladies (we call ourselves the Sassy Divas) that get together once a month. We go on trips in Mississippi, play games, or just eat out together and it is always fun. What are three things on your bucket list? Bobby and I would love to go to the Holy Land to see all the places of the Bible. I would love to go to Amsterdam to see Corrie ten Boom’s home/museum. My daddy was in World War II, and I have always wanted to go to Germany. Who is someone you admire and why? Joyce Miskelly. When I met Joyce, we were both cutting hair at Paul’s of Pearl. We both were single. She was a Christian, I was not. I did not like her, but she was still kind to me. She never judged but always chose love. I knew there was something different about her. One day I wanted what she had, and my life totally changed. If anyone knows Joyce, they know she always gives gifts, but she showed me the best gift—Jesus. Where do you see yourself in ten years? Bobby and I would like to travel more. What is your favorite childhood memory? Randa Massey (now Randa Blakeney) lived across the street from me in Pearl. We lived at each other’s houses. She was and is family to me. They had said on the news we might be getting snow, and the schools would be closed. That hardly ever happened. That night it started snowing. We could not believe it! Our parents let us spend the night together on a school night. We loved it. We played in the snow and Momma made snow ice cream. It was simple fun. If you could give us one encouraging quote, what would it be? Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 Hometown RANKIN • 15