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4 • FEBRUARY 2024

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Hometown RANKIN • 5

6 • FEBRUARY 2024

FROM OUR PUBLISHER 

Legends are always fascinating, which is why I wanted to visit a 

place of legends and meet two of the people this issue highlights. 

I was in the Coach Billy Rhodes Gymnasium of East 

Rankin Academy, the center of activity during basketball 

season, when it hit me. 

A true wave of memories raced through my mind as I 

heard the basketballs bouncing over the familiar hardwood. 

For a brief, satisfying moment, I was running out on the 

basketball court of my high school team as a New Albany 

Bulldog. The fans and families filled the stands and cheered 

us to a lot of victories. I was learning teamwork, discipline, 

the ability to overcome defeats, and the joy of victories. 

There were lots of skinned knees and multiple bruises, 

but I carried them as tokens of competition. 

Hopefully, Hometown Magazines will always touch 

hearts with special memories and challenge each of us 

to be “team players” focused on making our hometown 

the best it can be. 

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 

Hometown Family 18 

Living the Legacy 24 

Kids Who Care 30 

Bully Prevention Awareness 42 

First Responders 52 

The Time Coin 58 

...see you around town. 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Barbie Bassett 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Amy Forsyth 

ADVERTISING 

ASSISTANT 

Melissa Kennon 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ASSISTANT 

Alisha Floyd 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas 

3dt 

STAFF 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

STAFF 

ASSISTANT 

Debby Francis 

CONTENT MANAGER 

Susan Wolgamott 

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. 


8 • FEBRUARY 2024


Jane & Steve Wilson 

Camille Anding 

Sometime between Steve 

Wilson’s high school and college 

days, a wise friend suggested that 

Steve make a list of the qualities 

or traits that he would want in a 

future wife. He recalls his list that 

named “good-looking, smart, and 

a sense of humor.” 

By the time Jane Pinson was a 

teenager, she had begun to make her 

checklist for a future husband to 

fill. First, he had to be a Christian, 

then a man of integrity with a 

sense of humor. 

With their forty-first 

anniversary coming this July 23rd, 

it appears all their expectations for 

a happily-ever-after relationship 

were and are being met. Jane said, 

“We’ve always been comfortable 

together.” Being in their company 

any length of time gives credence 

to her statement. 

Steve describes his unique way 

of becoming acquainted with Jane. 

“I made friends with her mother 

before I made friends with Jane.” 

That is because Steve worked 

part-time at the YMCA where 

Jane’s mother was the bookkeeper. 

Jane would work there in the 

summers when she was home 

from Ole Miss. 

Their occasional conversations 

led Steve to ask Jane for a date. 

They still remember dining at 

Cock of the Walk and seeing the 

Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. 

There was an immediate 

connection that kept them dating. 

Steve was pursuing his goal of 

becoming a medical doctor, taking 

all the biology and chemistry 

courses at Millsaps and then at 

Mississippi College. It was on the 

Natchez Trace while traveling to 

classes at Mississippi College that 

he distinctly sensed God speaking 

to him. The direction was plain: 

“Your job is to point people to Me.” 

There was little hesitation for 

Steve to change his life course. 

Even though medical professions 

were predominant in Steve’s 

family, he never wavered in his 

obedience to his very clear call. 

Jane was not surprised when Steve 

shared this turn in his plans, and 

becoming a minister’s wife didn’t 

deter Jane’s devotion to this young 

man who had already won her heart. 

After dating for a full year 

while Jane was a student at Ole 

Miss, Steve drove to Oxford for a 

date that would cement their 

relationship. It was on January 13, 

1983, on the grounds of Rowan 

Oak. Steve dropped to a knee 

and asked Jane to marry him. She 

accepted his request, and in July of 

that year, walked down the Hillcrest 

Baptist Church aisle in South 

Jackson on her dad’s arm to repeat 

vows with Steve. Her dad cried, 

but Jane and Steve shared a united 

joy that would continue to grow in 

the years to come. 

Preparation for the ministry 

meant enrolling in New Orleans 

Baptist Theological Seminary. 

The couple lived across from Billy 

and Flo Simmons, Steve’s New 

Testament professor. It did not 

take the newlyweds long to realize 

how God was meeting all their 

needs. The Simmons “adopted” 

the young couple and demonstrated 

10 • FEBRUARY 2024

“...be reminded 

that your spouse 

loves you, so always 

show grace.” 

to Steve the humility, beauty, and 

joy of allowing Christ to live in 

and through a Christian – even a 

seminary professor. Flo mentored 

Jane on how to live and flourish as 

a pastor’s wife. One key piece of 

advice was, “Accept that you can’t 

do everything people think you 

can do.” 

The Wilson’s first pastorate 

was in Temple Baptist Church in 

Dermott, Arkansas, from 1986 to 

1992. They left there to answer 

Meadow Grove Baptist Church’s 

call to be their pastor. That is 

where they still serve and lead in 

their Brandon community. 

They are parents to three 

grown sons. Robert is on staff as 

manager of student opportunities 

at The Open University in 

England, an online college with 

175,000 students. Jess is his wife, 

and they have two children, Ella 

and Jack. Andrew is married to 

Zoë. They have one son, Emmett. 

Andrew is working toward his PhD, 

while on staff at the New Orleans 

Seminary Caskey Center for 

Church Excellence, in preaching. 

John, the youngest, has a master’s 

degree in divinity and is studying 

toward his Master of Theology 

while on staff at Southeastern 

Baptist Theological Seminary in 

Wake Forest, North Carolina. 

The Wilsons’ sons have all 

attained to higher education, 

which leads one to inquire about 

their childhood. Jane said, “We 

read to them at an early age, and 

they learned to love books and 

read a lot on their own.” 

Steve added, “We limited 

their screen time, talked to them 

like adults, and did fun things as a 

family.” Both parents agreed that 

friends become more important as 

children get older, and it is essential 

for parents to know their kids’ 

friends. The question was raised 

about cell phones. Those were 

granted when their teenagers 

got their drivers’ licenses. Steve 

interjected, “I told them they 

could borrow their friends’ phones 

if they ever had an emergency.” 

Chores were another key to 

teaching their sons responsibility. 

They learned to cook, and all 

began doing their own laundry 

at age seven. 

As a pastor, it is no surprise to 

hear Steve’s advice to newly married 

couples: “Get involved in church. 

Start doing life together with 

believers, and good things will 

materialize.” Jane sees communication 

as a key to enriching a 

marriage – it needs to be learned. 

Steve closed out with grace. 

“During misunderstandings, be 

reminded that your spouse loves 

you, so always show grace.” 

It is obvious that Steve’s choice 

in his bride and his obedience to 

God’s call, blended with Jane’s 

role as pastor’s wife and mother, 

has resulted in lives that are 

blessed while their lives bless 

others. Their future promises to 

follow their lives’ blueprint. 

Steve put it in his own words, 

“I don’t want to stop living 

before I die.” 




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READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Morgan 

BAILEY 

Tell us about your occupation. 

I am the director of sales at the Blake at 

Flowood. I have been here since October 2023. 

I love being part of such a special community 

and enjoy the relationships I get to make with 

each resident as well as every family that takes 

time out of their day to tour our community and 

trusts us with their loved ones. I also help out at 

Rollin Beans Coffee Company on Spillway 

Road every now and then! Best coffee in 

Rankin County! 

Why did you decide to make Rankin County 

your home? 

I was born in Rankin County! My parents felt 

Rankin County was the best place to start a 

family and knew it was somewhere they would 

want to stay forever. 

How long have you lived in Rankin County? 

My whole life. I attended Brandon schools from 

kindergarten through graduation. I spent a 

semester at the Hinds Rankin Campus before 

transferring to Mississippi State University. 

After graduation, I moved back to Rankin 

County to begin my adult life. 

Tell us about your family. 

My mom, stepdad, brother, and stepsisters live 

in Brandon. My mother is a home health nurse, 

and my stepdad is a teacher at Brandon Middle 

School. My dad, stepmom, and step siblings live 

in Madison. My dad is a NICU nurse, and my 

stepmom is a labor and delivery nurse. I am 

blessed with a beautiful, blended family! I am 

recently engaged to Robert Cox, and we will be 

starting our own family in September of 2024! 

What is your favorite memory of living in 

Rankin County? 

Being a homecoming maid and riding through 

downtown Brandon during the homecoming 

parades. There was such an overwhelming sense 

of community, and I loved seeing the parade 

route jam-packed with what felt like every 

single person in Brandon. 

Where are your three favorite places 

to eat in Rankin County? 

El Sombrero in Pearl (best street tacos around!), 

The Cleaners, and OEC. 

What are some fun things to do in 

Rankin County on the weekends? 

I love going out to eat with my friends on the 

weekends. I love having lots of great restaurants 

to choose from! I also love going to concerts at 

the Brandon amphitheater and shopping in 

Dogwood. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare 

time? 

I am beginning to enjoy wedding planning! 

I enjoy spending time with my friends and 

family and working out at Burn Boot Camp. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I admire so many of my sweet residents at the 

Blake at Flowood. It is incredible to be let into 

their daily lives. I am working in their home and 

each and every person has their own background 

and life story that I can learn from daily. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

I hope to be still living in Rankin County with 

my children attending the Brandon school 

systems where my fiancé and I both attended 

school. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

Walking to Shiloh Park and watching the 

fireworks for the Fourth of July or Brandon Day. 

I grew up in a home directly behind the t-ball 

fields, so we could walk as a family, to where the 

splash pad is now, and sit and watch the 

fireworks. 

If you could give us one encouraging 

quote, what would it be? 

Nobody is paying as much attention to your 

failures as you are. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Go snow skiing, read the entire Bible, and go to 

Greece. 



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Kyle’s hobbies include exercising, hunting, and fishing. 

Katie’s hobbies include exercising, going on long walks with Kyle, 

reading books, and always finding herself at a grocery store to get 

snacks for the kids. 

Cooper is eleven years old and enjoys hunting, fishing, and playing 

all sports. 

Able is eight years old and loves playing with Legos, playing soccer, 

and climbing trees. 

Lincoln is five years old and plays with toy robots and Legos. 

Tucker is five years old and enjoys wrestling with his brothers. 

Joy is three years old and loves taking care of her baby dolls. 

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

We met on a mission trip in Ecuador where we spent time going to 

different villages sharing the Gospel and giving kids some of their first 

pairs of shoes. We’ve been happily married for sixteen years. 

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

Although we enjoy date nights, we usually have Friday morning 

dates together while the kids are in school. Primos Cafe is a great 

breakfast date spot! 


What brings you the greatest joy as a parent? 

Our story to become parents has been our greatest joy. God blessed 

us with five amazing kids. We struggled with being able to have kids 

for over seven years and had doctors give us no hope. By God’s 

calling, we adopted Cooper and Able and experienced unexplainable 

joy when both of them were placed in our arms. A few years later, 

God did an absolute miracle, and we got pregnant with our twin 

boys. Then, the cherry on top was getting pregnant again with our 

daughter, Joy. It’s a huge honor to be their parents. 

What is your discipline philosophy with your kids? 

We need the Lord’s help in this every day. Our goal is to intentionally 

have close relationships with each of our kids, so when we do 

discipline, it comes from a place of love and trust. We want to 

discipline immediately and consistently and always love abundantly. 

We continually pray together as parents and declare scripture over 

our kids. 

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

And who does the cooking? 

Katie usually does the cooking and our quick, go-to meal is 

Sausage Tortellini Soup. 

• 6 links sweet Italian sausage 

• 2 cloves garlic, minced 

• 1/2 onion, chopped 

• 2 cans beef broth 

• 2 cans water 

• 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes 

• 1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 

• 2 cups sliced zucchini 

• 1 can kidney beans 

• 1 cup carrots diced 

• 1 package cheese tortellini 

• grated parmesan 

In saucepan, heat oil over medium heat and brown sausage links. 

Add garlic and onion. When onion is tender and sausage is cooked, 

slice sausage links. In large pot, bring beef broth, water, sausage, 

garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, zucchini, kidney beans, 

and carrots to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10-20 

minutes. Add tortellini, and cook until tortellini is tender. 

Serve with Parmesan cheese. 

Who is the financial manager in your home? 

We’re both aware of all of our personal finances, but Katie manages 

the bills and budget. 

What are your favorite things about Rankin County? 

We quickly realized how much the people of Rankin County 

love where they live. They have a sense of pride for their part of 

the community. It excites us to watch how much the county is 

growing and thriving. 

How do you spend your summer breaks? 

We love to use the summer break as a moment to rest intentionally 

from routine and spend lots of time outside with friends. We usually 

take a trip to Smith Lake and the Gulf Coast beaches to spend time 

with family. 

What drives you to have the job that you have? 

And what do you do for a living? 

Kyle I was radically saved by the Lord at nineteen years old. 

Then, He called me to preach at the age of twenty-one. After 

struggling through the process of surrender, I haven’t looked back. 

For twenty- one years, I’ve been blessed to be a part of His work 

in the world. I have the privilege of serving as senior pastor at 

Crossgates Baptist Church. 

Katie I have an elementary education degree and use every bit 

of it while being a stay-at-home mom right now. I also feel honored 

to be a pastor’s wife to Kyle. We get to serve the local church, talk 

about the hope we have in Jesus, and minister to people. Doesn’t 

get better than that! 

QUESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN 

Favorite Family Activity? 

Cooper going on trips Able going to Smith Lake in Alabama 

Lincoln playing with toys Tucker making s’mores 

Joy playing at the playground. 

Favorite Restaurant? 

Cooper Wendy’s Able Primo’s Café Lincoln The Cleaners 

by Pizza Shack Tucker Lost Pizza Joy Primo’s Café 

Favorite TV Show? 

Cooper Hunting Public Able Dude Perfect 

Lincoln Transformers Tucker Transformers Joy Frozen 

Favorite Book to Read as a Family? 

The Adam Raccoon book series by Glen Keane 




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“Shoot 100 shots 

every day,” and she 

did-as a third grader! 

Then, she began dribbling 

her basketball up and down 

the driveway. More coaching 

instructions came: “Dribble 

two basketballs using both 

hands,” and she did! 

Those coaching instructions might have 

seemed challenging to most children her age, 

but for Brooke Rhodes, it was a must to follow 

because those instructions came from her 

legendary granddaddy, Billy Rhodes. Everyone 

in the surrounding area of Pelahatchie knows 

him as the basketball coach that trained and 

coached young athletes from 1970 to 2016, 

winning state championships in ‘75, ‘76, and 

‘77. In addition, the gym and growth of the 

private school would not have become a reality 

without the Rhodes husband-wife team who 

invested so much of their lives and are now 

delighted to see its present enrollment grow 

to over 700. 

By the time Brooke reached the eighth 

grade, it was obvious to everyone, especially 

her granddaddy and dad, that she had the 

“gift” for excelling in basketball. When her 

granddaddy was not instructing, her dad 

filled in. Even Brooke’s mom worked as her 

rebound partner when Brooke shot rounds 

upon rounds of practice shots. 

Brooke’s high school years on the hardwood 

continued to display her talent. She averaged 

21.4 points and led East Rankin Academy to 

a 35-2 record and the MAIS Overall Tournament 

Championship for the first in school 

history. Brooke scored 35 points in the final 

game, and 2,568 total points in her high school 

career. College recruiting letters began to 

acknowledge her talent by her junior year. 

She accepted a scholarship to Delta State, 

believing its size and distance from home was 

the best choice. After three successful years 

there, her coach took another position which 

left Brooke considering her own transfer to 

University of Southern Mississippi. With 

only a year of eligibility left to play basketball, 

Brooke understood the challenge it would 

present to hone her skills and become a player 

that could compete at this new level. 

Brooke described that challenge, “The girls 

on the team were better, taller, and appeared 

to have more skills than I was expecting. 

However, I knew I wasn’t going to sit on the 

bench my senior year, so I knew I had to work 

harder and play better than I had ever played.” 

Her determination and drive delivered and 

earned her the award of MVP at the end of 

her senior year at Southern. After graduating, 


she switched from playing on the hardwood 

to coaching. Brooke was an assistant coach at 

Central Arkansas, Jones College, Presbyterian 

College in South Carolina, and Western 

Carolina for a combined six years before 

returning home. “It was where I 

knew I was supposed to be 

– I sensed God calling me 

to return to my roots.” 

In only her third season at East Rankin, 

it is obvious that her playing “gift” has 

progressed into a coaching “gift.” She and 

her team hold a 26-4 record so far this year, 

and the Lady Patriots have set their sights 

on the 5A state title and an even higher goal 

of the Overall title. 

The coaching fit is perfect for Brooke. 

She loves the game and is passionate about it. 

She confessed that she played with passion 

and coaches in the same manner. Her passion 

spills over at certain times, which is why her 

dad sits beside her during the games. “He’s 

been known to give my jacket a little yank at 

times to keep me calm!” 


Coach Rhodes wants her players to know 

that she loves them and that they can always 

trust her word. In the midst of molding them 

into stellar athletes, she is also instilling lifetime 

values of integrity and servanthood. 

“I want younger girls to want to be like these 

players on and off the court.” 

Brooke’s coaching schedule of 5th graders 

through high school does not leave much downtime, 

but she thrives on any free time that she 

gets to spend on her family’s farm and with her 

nieces, Reese and Libby. Hay-baling is another 

family affair when she helps drive the heavy 

farming equipment. Her coach’s office holds 

past memorabilia relating to her impressive 

career. A crowded rack of basketballs line one 

wall and her framed Southern jersey is mounted 

to her right. The office is not occupied much of 

the week – Coach is usually on the court doing 

what she is gifted at and loves. Today her PawPaw 

joined the interview. Their love and admiration 

for each other were expressed often during our 

talk. He has been her chief mentor, and she has 

been his delight. 

PawPaw pointed out that she has refused some 

coaching offers with salaries far exceeding her 

present one, but Brooke was quick to explain 

that money was not her goal. For now, she is 

where God wants her – enjoying coaching 

in a supportive school and community, living 

“next door” to family, and going to work every 

weekday in a building with her PawPaw’s name 

printed across the front. There is an enviable 

supply of contentment in Coach Rhodes’s office. 

The legacy? To be continued. 





KIDS WHO CARE 

Mary Grace Tomlinson 

Mistie Desper 

“MARY GRACE IS 

‘THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT’ 

PERSONIFIED. She has always had 

the ability to see a need and fill it.” Mom, 

Lauren, praises her daughter’s servant’s 

heart. From an early age, Mary Grace 

Tomlinson, a freshman at Florence High 

School, has had a strong desire to not only 

be the best version of herself but to also be a 

role model for her peers to pursue acts of 

kindness and service to those in need. She 

would always lend a helping hand wherever 

she could. In middle school, she took this 

kindness one step further. 

Having family and close family friends 

who had courageously served in the military, 

Mary Grace and her father Bryan noticed 

that the flag was not being raised on campus. 

Being patriotic and recognizing the respect 

that should be shown for our flag and country, 

she knew she had to take action. Mary Grace 

reached out to the administration and thus 

the Flag Raisers Club was born with her 

leading others as president. “I felt that it was 

important because things like this can get 

lost in today’s society.” When she moved up 

to the high school, she made sure that an 

election was held and the position was filled 

to keep raising the flag each and every day 

carrying on the legacy she started. 

Attending Lakeshore Church in Byram 

keeps Mary Grace quite busy. There, she 

serves on the praise and worship team, is 

part of the children’s ministry, helps with 

their annual summer programs and vacation 

Bible school. She also helps with their 

popular outreach programs like the fall 

festival and the enormously anticipated 

yearly live nativity drive-through. The live 

nativity takes many hands to execute, but it is 

such a joy for the young, and young-at-heart, 

to be able to drive through with a CD story 

of Christ’s birth. Lakeshore draws a huge 

crowd for this event, and Mary Grace is 

honored to be a part of it when she can. “I just 

hope that my actions in the community show 

others Jesus. It can be hard for others to 

participate, and I hope that by seeing me 

and others, it can make it easier for someone 

my age to do the same. I strive to be my best 

self and try to always be encouraging and 

welcoming to everyone, especially those 

younger than me.” 

Kelsey Williams, assistant principal at 

Florence High School, said, “I am not sure 

that I have ever met a student who is more 

dedicated to serving others than Mary Grace. 

She is always willing to help faculty, staff, 

and other students in need. She has helped 

tour new students around the school, recited 

the pledge over the intercom daily, and 

volunteered to set up car rider speakers many 

afternoons. She is truly a ‘kid who cares’ as 

she represents the Florence community with 

passion and humility.” 

Bryan, Lauren, and sister, Rory, are so 

proud of Mary Grace and her willingness to 

get out in her community and serve. “She is 

just so humble, she won’t tell you exactly 

everything she has done for her community.” 

Lauren shared that Mary Grace has also 

been involved in the Color A Smile program 

that sends colored sheets to those in nursing 

homes, adoption agencies, and even our 

military troops to brighten their day. 

Her Sunday school class raised money 

for Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that 

builds houses, schools, hospitals, and 

churches in areas affected by disaster, 

poverty, and war. She decided to take the 

donations public into her school and ended 

up raising a substantial amount for the 

organization. Mary Grace has also given up 

the traditional things for herself like 

birthday gifts. For many years, she has asked 

that donations be made to CARA (Community 

Animal Rescue and Adoption) 

instead. “She is just so self-motivated and 

driven to succeed. We really don’t deserve 

her and her goodness, but we sure are 

thankful that the Lord gave her to us 

because she is just too good for this world. 

We are so proud of her and cannot wait to 

see what the future holds for her,” said 

Lauren. As she continues to enjoy her high 

school years serving her community and 

playing soccer for her school, she is thinking 

about life after high school and considering 

a future career in physical therapy or 

chiropractic care. Mary Grace is excited for 

her future and left me with her favorite 

Bible verse, Esther 4:14 which reminds us 

that God has a plan for our life even when 

He asks us to do difficult things and that 

we can always have hope and confidence 

that God is there for us. 




34 • FEBRUARY 2024 

88th Annual Children’s Benefit Gala 

JANUARY 13 / CLYDE MUSE CENTER



This story begins in 2020, when my husband was deploying and covid 

was preparing to take over the U.S. We were completely unprepared 

for the deployment, let alone a pandemic, when he came home 

after drill and told me that he was going to be gone for a year. 

I understand that this is a part of being a military spouse. 

It’s something that we “sign up” for–at least that’s what they tell us. 

And, for the most part, we are pretty resilient and flexible. And while 

we do break, somehow, we always figure out how to piece ourselves 

back together. 

Deployments are just a part of the package when you marry a 

service member. As a wife, this would be our second deployment of 

our marriage. As a mom, however, it would be our first. We struggled 

to get prepared for when my husband would leave in March of 2020. 

As adults, we understand what it means when someone deploys. 

We can understand that this is a vital part of being in the military 

and that, ultimately, it’s going to happen. For my little boy, who was 

almost three years old, I didn’t know how to explain this. I tried to 

tell him that his daddy had to go away for a while. But for a child, 

there is no concept of time. That could mean a few hours, or a 

couple of days, even. 

While we wrestled with our own breaking hearts, I realized that 

if it hurt me and my husband this badly, it was going to hurt our son 

even more. 

We had discovered the animatronic dinosaurs at the Natural 

Science Museum and we frequently visited them, trying desperately 

to make as many memories as possible before my husband left for 

a year. Then, one day, the exhibit was over, and the dinosaurs were 

gone. My little boy, Maddox, kept asking us, “where did the dinosaurs 

go?” He asked it over and over again. 

That’s when I had an idea. I told him that Daddy was going to go 

find the dinosaurs and bring them home! He would be gone for a 

long time because they had a lot of dinosaurs to track down. 

When the time came for my husband to leave, we had a plan. 

We were going to swap dinosaur stories while he was away! The 

night my husband boarded a plane leaving the country, in his 

possession was also a plastic Spinosaurus named Sergeant Steg. 


Over the course of a year, Maddox and I 

used dinosaurs to go on adventures, to take 

photos with friends, and used our dinos to 

tell Daddy all about what we were learning! 

We even sent our friend, Sgt. Steg, a care 

package full of gummy fish, berries, and a 

blanket. He became the unofficial mascot of 

the entire battery. I was working at the 

Mississippi National Guard at the time and 

when they caught wind of our story, they 

loved it! They wanted to make sure every 

kid with deployed parents got a dinosaur to 

go on adventures with, too. 

I realized that this wasn’t just an idea 

anymore. This was a children’s book. I 

began writing, researching, and trying to 

find someone to help me create it. And 

when I couldn’t find an illustrator, I started 

drawing for hours a day and putting the 

ideas I had on paper. 

38 • FEBRUARY 2024 

My husband had returned at this point, 

and we went through the typical postdeployment 

emotions that meant getting 

to know each other all over again. This brings 

with it its own special kind of challenges, but 

through it all, I kept drawing and kept writing. 

For three years, I drew for hours at night 

while everyone was asleep. When my 

grandma was sick and dying in the hospital, 

I drew by her bedside. After all, she was 

the one who told me that I was capable 

of writing this story. 

In 2022, I saw some illustrations at a 

children’s book festival that were absolutely 

incredible. They made me realize that if I was 

going to do this, I had to put my heart and 

soul into my illustrations. My husband took 

us to Washington, D.C., in March of 2022, 

and I met with a Navy spouse to show her 

my book. When she told me that she loved 

it, that was all I needed to push forward and 

finally complete my book, “Super Dangerous 

Top Secret Dinosaur Mission.” 

The reason I’m writing this is because it’s 

my son’s story. The courage that I witnessed 

from him as a 3-year-old gave me the stamina 

to write, illustrate over 60 different scenes, 

edit, learn how to format, and ultimately 

begin printing our special project. 

Maddox’s story, the story of a child 

struggling with separation, anxiety, and fear, 

is very common among military children. 

We have books for children all over the 

world, but we have few books about coping 

with deployments, and even fewer that ask 

children to use their imaginations to 

overcome traumatic separations. 

The dinosaurs are also a way of bringing 

tangibility to “bad guys.” They can see what 

their parent/guardian, etc. is up against and 

it is not as frightening as hearing that 

Daddy/Mommy has to go away for a while 

to fight the scary people.

Children don’t understand why their parent(s) 

can’t do their jobs from home. They become 

afraid that the bad guys are going to hurt 

their parents, or possibly even them. Because 

of these intangible fears that our military 

children face, I believe that this book can 

help them. I have faith that this book will give 

them the courage to use their imaginations, 

the most powerful thing in this world, and 

look beyond the unknown to create a world 

that they can understand. 

Maddox is six now, and still in love with 

dinosaurs. He’s also my co-author. This book 

is a love letter to my little boy. I had no 

experience in drawing, and if you’ve ever 

illustrated something, you know how 

tedious it can be, especially for a beginner. 

My love for him kept me going–not just 

while writing and illustrating this book, but 

also during the deployment. 

There were times when I was sure it was 

going to break me. I believe that it did once 

or twice. But, seeing my little boy’s courage 

made me get back up every time. Military 

kids will do that to you. 

My husband has been a huge cheerleader 

through this whole process, as well as my 

little community of military and non-military 

friends and family. Now, I want to share this 

story with everyone else, so they can use it to 

keep pushing when their spouse is deployed, 

and when everything seems like it’s going to 

cave in on them. 

Thank you for reading our story. 



OUR 

jacksonprep.net I 601.939.8611 

Inpatient mental health services for senior adults ages 65+ 

Psychiatric assessments may be necessary 

if an individual has trouble with: 

• Memory loss 

• Mood disturbances 

• Depression or anxiety 

• Coping with losses and transitions 

• Activities of daily living 

• Substance use 

We can help with no-cost assessments 

available 24/7. Walk-ins are welcome and 

most insurances accepted. Call us today 

at 601-936-7886 to take the next step. 

Learn more at brentwoodjackson.com. 

3531 Lakeland Drive • Flowood, MS 39232 

601-936-7886 

Model representations of real patients are shown. Physicians are 

on the medical staff of Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare, but, with 

limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not 

employees or agents of Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare. The facility 

shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. 

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the 

nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 232304-2988 11/23 


Bully 

Prevention 

Awareness 

CATEGORY 1 PreK - 2nd 

For the past eight years, the Rankin 

County School District has hosted their 

Bully Prevention Awareness Poster Contest. 

Students from grades Pre-K to 12th are 

encouraged to submit original artwork 

addressing positive friendships, peer 

pressure, peer conflict, as well as physical 

bullying, emotional bullying, social bullying, 

and cyber-bullying. In recent years, we added 

a poetry division for the middle/high division 

to allow another creative outlet for students. 

“This contest, along with other programs 

and initiatives, serves our students by 

allowing them to think outside the box and 

visually present problems that they or other 

students may face in regard to bullying and 

also offers a way for them to be a part of 

the solution. We feel that when students 

are reaching out to one another and striving 

for positivity through opportunities like this 

contest, they are providing their peers with 

a message of support and hope,” said 

Ginger Jones, RCSD director of student 

support services and counseling. 

The winning posters and poems in each 

category are placed in all 28 of the schools 

in the Rankin County School District. 

Colton McCoy 2ND GRADE Steen’s Creek Elementary - $100 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyla Schaffhauser 2ND GRADE StoneBridge Elementary School - $50 

Posters were submitted for judging at the 

school level, and each school submitted 

three posters and three poems to go on to 

the district level competition. Each of the 

six categories had district-level first, second, 

and third place winners. Rankin County 

School District had the twelve winning 

posters and six winning poems reproduced 

to display in district schools and offices. 

 

 

 

The Foundation for Rankin County Public 

Schools provided checks in the amount 

of $100 for first place winners, 

$50 for second place winners, and 

$25 for third place winners. 

Devansh Sadhu 1ST GRADE Northwest Rankin Elementary School - $25 


CATEGORY 4 9th-12th Poster 

Jossalyn White 10TH GRADE 

Brandon High School - $100 

Lauren Entremont 11TH GRADE 

Brandon High School - $50 

Kaitlyn Gowdy 12TH GRADE 

Northwest Rankin High School - $25 

 

 

 


CATEGORY 3 6th-8th Poetry 

“Put Yourself In Their Shoes” 

“In the End Kindness Wins” 

 

 

 

 

Broken Crayons Still Color 

McKinley Stanton 8TH GRADE 

Richland High School - $100 

CATEGORY 4 9th-12th Poetry 

Put Yourself in Their Shoes 

Braelyn Vincent 8TH GRADE 

Brandon Middle School - $50 

In the End Kindness Wins 

Sadie-Jane Boyd 6TH GRADE 

Pisgah Elementary School - $25 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easily Renewed 

Josiah Johnson 9TH GRADE 

Pisgah High School - $100 

Words Hurt 

Marli Sutherland 11TH GRADE 

Florence High School - $50 

Clouds 

Ruthie Partridge 9TH GRADE 

Puckett High School - $25 


CATEGORY 2 3rd-5th Poster 

Richard Traylor 5TH GRADE 

Northwest Rankin Elementary School - $100 

Ellie Kellems 4TH GRADE 

Brandon Elementary School - $50 

Clara Nelson 3RD GRADE 

Puckett Elementary School - $25 

CATEGORY 3 6th-8th Poster 

Annabelle Long 7TH GRADE 

Northwest Rankin Middle School - $100 

Maycee Fallin 6TH GRADE 

Richland Upper Elementary School - $50 

Violet Sanchez 7TH GRADE 

Richland High School - $25 


Help a child 

While you shop. 

Friends of Children’s Hospital Debit Card 

The Friends Card cost $12 per year, 100% of which is donated to Friends. 

BankPlus makes a donation to Friends each time the card is used. 

Available via instant issue. Since inception, the Friends debt card has 

raised over $4,000,000. 

© Copyright 2023 BankPlus. 

Member FDIC. 



Quick Strawberry Jam 

• 1 quart hulled strawberries 

• ½ cup sugar 

• 2 Tbsp. fresh 

lemon juice 

Process 

strawberries in 

a food processor 

until coarsely chopped. Transfer to 

a large skillet, and stir in sugar and 

lemon juice. Cook over mediumhigh 

heat, stirring frequently, until 

jam is thickened and bubbles 

completely cover surface, 9 to 10 

minutes. Transfer jam to a jar and 

let cool to room temperature. To 

store, seal jar and refrigerate up to 

10 days. 

Strawberry 

Blue Cheese Pizza 

• 1 (11oz.) tube refrigerated 

thin pizza crust 

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 

• 1 Tbsp. honey 

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 

• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles 

• 8 medium strawberries, 

hulled and thinly sliced 

• 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 

Preheat oven to 400. Line a rimmed 

baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Stretch the pizza dough on baking 

sheet into approximately a 10x14 

inch rectangle. Brush the dough 

with 1 Tbsp. oil. Bake 5 minutes. 

In a small bowl, whisk together 

remaining 1 Tbsp. oil with the 

honey. Season with pepper, and 

set aside. Sprinkle the mozzarella 

and blue cheese over 

partially baked dough. 

Arrange strawberries on 

top and sprinkle with 

thyme. Bake 13-16 minutes, 

until the crust is golden 

brown on bottom. Drizzle 

honey mixture over pizza 

and serve. 

Barbecue 

Strawberry Chicken 

• 2 Tbsp. canola oil 

• 4 boneless skinless chicken 

breast halves (6 oz. each) 

• 2 Tbsp. butter 

• ¼ cup finely chopped red onion 

• 1 cup barbecue sauce 

• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 

• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 

• 2 Tbsp. honey 

• 1 cup sliced strawberries 

Preheat oven to 350. In a large, 

ovenproof skillet, heat oil over 

medium-high heat. Brown chicken 

on both sides. Remove from pan. 

In same pan, heat butter over 

medium-high heat. Add onion; 

cook and stir until tender, about 

one minute. Stir in barbecue sauce, 

brown sugar, vinegar, and honey. 

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 

uncovered until thickened, 4-6 

minutes. Return chicken to pan. 

Bake until thermometer reads 165, 

12-15 minutes. Stir in strawberries. 


Strawberry Biscuits 

• 2/3 cups flour 

• ¼ cup sugar 

• 1 Tbsp. baking powder 

• ¼ tsp. salt 

• ¾ cup butter, frozen 

• 1 cup diced fresh strawberries 

• 2/3 cup buttermilk 

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 

• 1 Tbsp. heavy cream 

• 2 Tbsp. sugar 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a 

baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Combine flour, ¼ cup sugar, baking 

powder, and salt in a large bowl. Place 

frozen butter into dry ingredients. 

Gently mix. Add strawberries and 

mix until strawberries are coated with 

the flour mixture. Combine buttermilk 

and vanilla. Pour into strawberry 

mixture and stir until barely combined. 

Do not overmix or biscuits will be 

tough. Use an ice cream scoop to 

scoop biscuits onto the prepared 

baking sheet. Brush top of biscuits 

with heavy cream, and sprinkle with 

the 2 Tbsp. sugar. Bake in the 

preheated oven until bottoms are 

browned, 15 to 17 minutes. Let sit 

for 5 minutes. Remove biscuits, and 

cool completely on a wire rack. 

Glaze 

• ½ cup confectioner’s sugar 

• 1 Tbsp. milk 

Whisk together powdered sugar 

and milk together in a cup. Drizzle 

over biscuits. 

Pork Tenderloin Medallions 

with Strawberry Sauce 

• 1½ cups reduced-sodium 

beef broth 

• 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries, 

divided 

• ½ cup white wine vinegar 

• ¼ cup packed brown sugar 

• ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce 

• 3 garlic cloves, minced 

• 2 lbs. pork tenderloin, 

cut into ½ inch slices 

• 1 tsp. garlic powder 

• ½ tsp. salt 

• ½ tsp. pepper 

• 2 Tbsp. canola oil 

• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 

• 2 Tbsp. cold water 

• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 

• ½ cup chopped green onions 

In a large saucepan, combine broth, 

one cup strawberries, vinegar, brown 

sugar, soy sauce, and garlic; bring to a 

boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 

for 15 minutes or until slightly 

thickened. Strain mixture and set 

aside liquid, discarding solids. Sprinkle 

pork with garlic powder, salt, and 

pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over 

medium heat. Brown pork in batches 

on both sides. Remove and keep 

warm. Add broth mixture to pan; 

bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch 

and water until smooth, and gradually 

stir into skillet. Return pork to the 

pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; 

cook and stir until sauce is thickened 

and pork is tender, about 2 minutes. 

Top servings with cheese, onions, and 

remaining 1 cup of strawberries. 

Strawberry Cobbler 

Filling 

• 2 lbs. strawberries, trimmed 

and quartered (6 cups) 

• 1 cup granulated sugar 

• 1/3 cup cornstarch 

• 1 tsp. coarse salt 

• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 

Preheat oven to 375 with racks in 

middle and bottom. Line a baking 

sheet with foil, and place on bottom 

rack to catch any bubble over. Stir 

together berries, sugar, cornstarch, 

salt, and lemon juice. Transfer to a 

2½ quart baking dish. 

Topping 

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour 

• ¼ cup sugar 

• 1¾ tsp. baking powder 

• ¾ tsp. coarse salt 

• 6 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, 

cut into pieces 

• 1 cup heavy cream, plus more 

for brushing 

• Sanding sugar, for sprinkling, 

optional 

• Heavy cream or ice cream, 

for serving (optional) 

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking 

powder, and salt. Cut in butter until 

the largest pieces are the size of small 

peas. Add cream, and use a fork to 

incorporate, stirring until a soft sticky 

dough forms. Dollop dough over 

filling, dividing evenly into 9 pieces. 

Brush with cream and sprinkle with 

sugar. Bake until biscuits are golden 

brown in the center, about 1 hour and 

10 minutes. Cool at least 1 hour 

before serving. 

Strawberry Salsa 

• 9 oz. strawberries, hulled and diced 

(1½ cups) 

• ¼ cup finely diced red onion 

• ½ jalapeno, finely chopped 

(remove seeds for a less spicy salsa) 

• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro 

• Kosher salt 

• Tortilla chips for serving 

Combine strawberries, onion, 

jalapeno, and cilantro in a bowl and 

season with salt; refrigerate 15 

minutes. Serve with tortilla chips. 

Strawberry Spinach Salad 

• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 

• 1 Tbsp. white balsamic vinegar 

• Coarse salt and freshly ground 

pepper 

• 4 cups lightly packed baby spinach 

• 6 ounces strawberries (1½ cups), 

hulled and thinly sliced 

¼ cup almonds (1½ oz.), 

toasted and coarsely chopped 

• 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds, toasted 

• 2 oz. feta, crumbled 

Whisk together oil and vinegar in 

a large bowl. Season with salt and 

pepper. Add spinach, strawberries, 

almonds, sesame seeds, and feta. 

Gently toss until spinach is evenly 

coated with dressing. Serve 

immediately. 




SALUTE 

to First Responders 

What made you decide to work as a first responder? 

As a child, I always had an interest in fire and EMS services. 

When I graduated high school, I wasn’t exactly sure what I 

wanted to pursue. I rode along with a paramedic friend of mine, 

and after riding just a few hours with him, I knew it’s what I 

wanted to do. I enrolled in EMT school the next day. 

How long have you been with the Pafford EMS? 

I’ve been with Pafford since they began operating in Rankin 

County in 2015. Previously, I was a firefighter and paramedic 

at Brandon Fire Department and AMR. I also volunteer with 

Puckett Fire Department. 


I have been married to Molleigh for 14 years, and we have a 

10-year-old son, Hayes. We live in the Puckett community. 

What is the toughest thing you have experienced 

in your job? 

The hardest part of the job for me is taking care of sick children 

or seeing children in conditions that you wish you could get 

them away from. That’s always been tough. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time. 

In my spare time, I enjoy taking my family to all Mississippi 

State athletic events. My son is a huge fan and doesn’t want to 

miss a game! When we aren’t in Starkville, we love to travel. 

We love to visit Walt Disney World, go on cruises, and new 

places we have never been! 

Curtis 

Paramedic 

WELDON 

PAFFORD EMS 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I would love to travel out west to Yellowstone and Grand Teton 

National Park. I want to travel to Europe. I would also like to 

complete a marathon one day. 

SPONSORED BY 


Who is someone you admire and why? 

I’ve had many mentors and people in my life that have 

meant a lot to me, but I always looked up to and admired 

my grandfather, Don Henry. He passed away when I was 

in high school, but my time with him shaped me into the 

person I am today. 

What advice would you give to a young person? 

Always be open to new experiences and never stop 

learning. Find something you love, and give it all 

you’ve got. 

What is your favorite thing about Rankin County? 

I’ve lived in Rankin County my whole life, and I have 

always enjoyed the small town feel of Rankin County. 

It seems like everywhere you go you see someone you 

know. The main reason I came to Pafford was because 

I wanted to work in my home county. I wouldn’t want 

to live or work anywhere else. 


The CHALKBOARD 

Pearl Public School District 

Mississippi Interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. Raymond C. Morgigno recently visited Pearl Upper Elementary to commemorate 

the school’s A-rating. During the celebration, fifth-grade science teacher Jennifer Hite received the surprise of a lifetime - the national 

Milken Educator Award along with a $25,000 prize! The Milken Educator Award recognizes outstanding educators for their excellence and 

innovation in the field of education. 


Jackson Prep 

DONATION DRIVE FOR 

PARKLANE ACADEMY STEM LAB 

Congratulations to Mrs. Bailey’s fifth grade 

homeroom for winning the Parklane Academy 

Supply Drive Competition by bringing the most donations! 

Prep Middle School students donated various supplies 

to restock Parklane Academy’s 

STEM Lab after their recent fire. 

Front L-R: Gabriella Coxwell, Lucy Robertson, 

Patrick Gunn, Beau Bitner, Walt Mardis, 

Metta Margaret Ferris, Everly Smith. 

Back L-R: Walker Teague, Henry Collins, 

Andrew Vanderloo. 

ROBOTICS TEAM WINS TOP AWARD 

The Jackson Prep Upper School VEX Robotics competition 

team recently won their first tournament. Recognized 

with the Excellence Award, this top award signifies their 

status as the best overall team and qualifies them for the 

state championship. To obtain this award, the team 

competed against other high schools in interviews and 

the submission of their engineering notebooks garnering 

high rankings. Congratulations to team members 

L-R: Miriam Caballero, Bennett O’ Quinn, Payne Stroud, 

Jefferson Keller, and Jake Zhang. 

Not pictured: Lola Burch and Brock Young. 

LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD 

Congratulations to Jackson Prep seniors 

Margaret Dye and Percy Oliver for completing their 

Make A Difference project supporting Clinton Retirement 

Home. Over Christmas break, the students decorated 

hallways and doors, provided Christmas foods and 

spirited visits for weeks leading up to Christmas Day. 

For their volunteerism, Dye and Oliver were awarded 

the Jackson Prep Impact Award for Leadership 

and Excellence. L-R: Margaret Dye, 

Colonel William Merrell, Director of the Global 

Leadership Institute, Percy Oliver. 

FIRST-EVER COLONIAL FAIR FOR GRADE 4 

Shown in costume at their first Colonial Fair are 

Jackson Prep Lower School fourth graders. 

L-R: Matthew Hammack, Millie Tompkins, teacher 

Tori Williams, Anna Kathryn Hinshaw, Lucy Maddux, 

Arjun Adari, Samuel Warf, Britt Bitner. 

2023 NUTCRACKER PRODUCTIONS 

Jackson Prep students were featured in the holiday 

classic, The Nutcracker, held at Thalia Mara Hall 

(Ballet Mississippi) and Jackson Academy 

(Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy). 

Ballet Mississippi ballerinas L-R: Anna Kathryn Hinshaw, 

Polly Waterloo, Madelyn Magee. Back L-R: Sims Abdalla, 

Mary Harr Payne, Lily Frances Garner, McClain Morgan, 

Olivia Thompson, Ruby Hospodor. 

MMDA L-R: Avery Dale, Stella Barbour-Matthews, 

Hart Maley, and Caroline McPhillips. 

PREP POETRY OUT LOUD WINNERS 

Jackson Prep recently held its annual 

Poetry Out Loud competition. 

This year’s top three winners, 

L-R: Brianna Wang (Grade 9), third alternate; 

Allie Landry (Grade 11), winner; 

Caleb Zhu (Grade 10), second alternate. 

Landry will go on to compete in the regional 

competition in February 2024 with a chance 

to progress to the state finals in March. 


The CHALKBOARD 

Florence High 

Eaglette Dance Team Wins Double State Championship 

The Florence High School Eaglettes competed in the MHSAA 

State Dance Championship on December 8, 2023, at the 

Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. The team was awarded a 

state title in 3A-5A Hip Hop as well as 3A-5A Pom. Outgoing 

co-captain and senior Avery Meredith stated,” There are no 

words to describe this feeling. We worked so hard to get to 

this point, and we overcame so much. We had teammates 

get injured or become ill, but we banded together to work 

through it. This was the goal we set in August, and to be able 

to bring those trophies home to our school makes us so proud!” 

Rising senior and incoming team captain Sydney Higdon 

agreed. She said, “It still doesn’t seem real! When they 

called our name, we just screamed and hugged. It was such 

a memorable day! As a team, we cannot wait to get started 

on our 2024 season. We love our school and our Eagles, and 

we want to represent them well in every pep rally and game. 

We want to hear our names called as a 2024 champion, too!” 

Eaglette seniors are Alana Guillot, Avery Meredith, Brelyn 

Muse, Sarah Register, and Lanie Smith. Juniors are Sydney 

Higdon and Carley Jo Smith. Sophomores are Kylie Bates, 

Laina Dunkley, Sawyer Register, Shelby Claire Walters, 

and Ashlyn Watts. Team freshmen are Skylar Cloer, Skylar 

Dickerson, Kaylee Hall, Avery Martin, Taylor Raymond, 

Sammy Sebren, and Mary Yates. The team is under the 

direction of Amy McAllister and Taylor Willoughby. Florence 

High School’s principal is Mr. Keith Reed. FHS Athletic 

Director is Mr. Brian Huskey. 



TheTime COIN 

Camille Anding 

Long-stem roses for Valentine romantics? 

For sure, and my “significant other” knows that I am overly fond of roses, but I prefer them with 

their roots on and ready to plant. Just fill me with joy by allowing me to grow my own Valentine 

roses in their growing season. 

Recently, it was a mild February day that rose pruning was calling. I grabbed my 

clippers, garden gloves and some garbage bags and proceeded to my rose garden. 

The end of their blooming year had left them with long, rambling stems and ragged 

ends. I’m not a prolific rose grower, but the task of trimming my less than a dozen 

plants would take time and a lot of wrangling to bag the cuttings. 

The thorns are the problem. Unless I snip the cuttings into small pieces, pushing 

the prickly stems into a plastic bag is like poking a wild cat into a duffle bag. 

(Simply an imaginary comparison!) 

With protective gloves, jeans, and long-sleeved shirt, I launched into my task. 

It’s not a job one rushes! Even with my garden gloves, the thorns outwitted me. 

They snagged my clothes, managed to scratch my arms, and found weak spots 

in my gloves. 

By the time I finished, I felt wounded. By night, my fingers were sore, and I was 

probing into my fingertips with a needle. Some of the tiny thorns had stayed after their 

piercings. The pruning had taken several hours and numerous, painful thorn punctures. 

As I examined my fingers for more thorn splinters, I thought of the care that roses needed. 

The humidity and extreme temps in Mississippi would never be optimum growing conditions. 

Herbicides were a necessity to help keep them healthy, and they required regular feedings and 

watering during droughts. Were they worth the cost, their requirements and pain? 

Then I remembered the first buds of spring, the joy of cutting fresh bouquets, the aroma and 

beauty they added to a room, and the color they added to my garden. Yes, they were worth it! 

The following morning, I spotted another small thorn that I had to remove from my red and 

tender thumb. It was almost microscopic – so much smaller than the circle of thorns that were 

pressed onto Christ’s head before His crucifixion. I wondered what servant was forced to weave 

such a painful task. Even the handling of so many thorns surely left some wounds, but to be pierced 

violently by having that painful crown pressed into His scalp was so cruel, so brutally agonizing. 

During those horrible hours, was there ever a point at which Jesus must have thought, 

“Are they worth it?” 

How I want to be.

Rankin224web

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