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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