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Sondra & J.W. Beck
Camille Anding
Five years in the Navy carried
J.W. was “wowed” by Sondra’s
When she shared the news
home – a great place to raise their
J.W. Beck all over the world – miles
personality, good looks, and her
with her employer, he asked why
three children, Heatherly, Christy
and oceans from his hometown
reputation as the “Miami beauty.”
on earth she would move to
and Johnny.
of McComb, Mississippi. After
They were both older, twenty-
Mississippi. Without hesitation
When asked about any points
the Navy, an offer as football
coach and math teacher at Miami
nine and thirty-five, and knew
what they were looking for in a
she answered, “We’re in love;
we’re getting married and will
of contention in their fifty-three
years of marriage, they agreed that
Senior High carried him to
mate.
live happily ever after.” They were
disciplining their children had
another rewarding career and an
J.W. proposed, and she
wed on June 19, 1971, at Plymouth
been the source of most disagree-
even more rewarding discovery.
accepted. When J.W. had to move
Congregational Church, the
ments. Sondra explained,
Sondra Conner, a legal
back to McComb to help with his
oldest church in Miami.
“Mothers take up for their kids,
secretary for a Miami law firm,
aging parents, the long distance
They moved to Brandon in
and I would discipline, but I
was introduced to J.W. by
phone bills were sky-high between
1988. J.W. thought it was ironic
would do it more lovingly.”
a mutual friend. “He was strong,
the engaged couple. Sondra
that he sailed aboard the USS
J.W. spoke up with one other
handsome, and loved football
recalled those days and with
Rankin, a naval ship named after
pet peeve – being on time; not
as much as I loved it,” Sondra
laughter said, “It was cheaper
Rankin County and now was
late. “Sondra starts to leave, but we
remembers.
to get married!”
making Rankin County their
don’t leave – she picks up this and
straightens that.”
10 • APRIL 2024