Madison524web

524 

V103 

The Art of 

Friendship 

Standout 

SENIORS

2 • NOVEMBER 2023

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Hometown MADISON • 3

4 • MAY 2024


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6 • MAY 2024

FROM OUR PUBLISHER 

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a time to reflect on the impact 

mothers have had throughout generations. 

From the nurturing embrace of our own mothers to the remarkable 

journey of motherhood we embark upon ourselves, there is a timeless 

thread of love and strength that binds us together. 

In life, mothers play a pivotal role. They are the ones who hold us 

in their arms, instill in us values that guide our every step, and teach us 

the importance of compassion, perseverance, and faith. Just as Jesus 

honored his mother, Mary, we are called to honor the mothers in our 

lives—those who have shaped us and those whom we now have the 

privilege to shape. 

I am incredibly grateful for the godly example set by my own 

mother—a woman whose faith in God has been a guiding light 

through both joyous moments and trials. I am forever thankful for 

her presence in my life. 

As I celebrate Mother’s Day with my own daughters, I’m grateful 

for the amazing moms they are to their own children. Witnessing 

their strength, resilience, and devotion to their own families blesses 

my heart. They are not only remarkable mothers, but also shining 

examples of God’s grace and love. 

To all the mothers out there—past, present, and future—I want to 

express my deepest admiration and appreciation. Your sacrifices, your 

tireless dedication, and your boundless love don’t go unnoticed. 

You are the heartbeats of our families. 

This Mother’s Day, let us honor and cherish the generations of 

mothers who have shaped our lives. May we continue to uphold their 

legacy of faith, love, and strength as we journey through life together. 

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Tahya Dobbs 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Amy Forsyth 

LAYOUT DESIGN 

Daniel Thomas 

3dt 

HOMETOWN STAFF 

CFO 

Kevin Dobbs 

ADVERTISING 

ASSISTANT 

Melissa Kennon 

STAFF 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Othel Anding 

CONSULTING EDITOR 

Mary Ann Kirby 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ASSISTANT 

Alisha Floyd 

STAFF 

ASSISTANT 

Debby Francis 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 

Barbie Bassett 

CONTENT MANAGER 

Susan Wolgamott 

COPY EDITOR 

Jodi Jackson 

IN THIS ISSUE 

Reader Spotlight 9 

The Art of Friendship 12 

Madison’s Red Carpet 29 

Young Professionals 40 

Hometown Family 48 

Kids Who Care 54 

Standout Seniors 59 

Spring Showers Bring May Flowers 72 

Ellen Skrmetti – Making People Laugh 80 

The Time Coin 98 

...see you around town. 

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

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


8 • MAY 2024

READER 

SPOTLIGHT 

Lane 

MILTON 

Why did you make Madison your home? 

I grew up in central Mississippi and relocated 

back home in 2011. At that time in my life, my 

children were school age, and Madison provided 

the education systems that we needed. To me, 

Madison provides a small-town vibe with things 

to do. 

How long have you lived in Madison County? 

Nearly thirteen years. 

Tell us about your family. 

I have been blessed with a wonderful family. My 

parents are no longer with us, but growing up, 

they instilled great morals and values equipping 

me for my own journey as a parent. My siblings 

are my best friends. I am a mother of seven 

children. When I got married, I knew I wanted 

a family, I just did not know what God’s plan 

for my journey through motherhood would 

look like. My family is multi-cultural. I have two 

biological sons and five adopted children. Some 

of the children were adopted as a sibling group, 

and some were single adoptions. The wonderful 

part about all of it is that I was never on an 

adoption agency list or a foster parent. They 

were all word-of-mouth, and special situations. 

They are all unique individuals, and I am 

honored to be called their mother. 

What is your favorite memory of living in 

Madison County? 

My favorite memories are watching the children 

with all of their school activities: football, 

basketball, school events, and all of the things 

that go with raising them. 

Where are your three favorite places to eat 

in Madison? 

Local 463 and Sombra are definitely some 

favorites, but when Keifer’s opens, it will be my 

number one! 

What are some fun things to do in Madison 

County on the weekends? 

Madison County has some great parks. I tend to 

prefer more outdoorsy activities. I like the bike 

trail, riding bikes, and walking dogs. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your 

spare time. 

I have a few favorite things I like to do. I love to 

visit the small towns in Mississippi and learn 

about their history. Part of that is learning where 

my ancestors lived throughout the state and 

learning how I ended up in central Mississippi. 

I am also a small breeder of standard poodles 

and giant schnauzers. I love training them and 

watching the puppies grow, mature, and move on 

to bring joy to families. Lastly, I love to garden. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I want to visit every state in the United States 

and learn about each state’s unique qualities. 

I would like to visit a few select countries. I have 

a few bucket list concerts I would like to see 

including Imagine Dragons and One Republic. 

Ultimately, I want to leave a lasting impact on 

society. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

This is so hard. I have been so blessed with the 

people in my life, and they all have done things 

I am proud of. In all honesty, I would say my 

grandmothers. They both were born in the early 

nineteen hundreds and lived in a time when 

women did not have careers. They both worked 

full-time; one was a beautician and the other 

worked in a ticketing office for the railroad. 

They have been very inspiring to me. 

Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

I hope I am retired by then, enjoying my 

grandchildren, and spending some time traveling 

and walking on the beach. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

My most consistent and fondest memory as a 

child is growing up on Lake Bruin in Louisianna. 

We had a summer lake house there. We would 

ski, float in the water, cook out, tell stories, and 

play games with friends and family. I miss those 

times! 

If you could give us one encouraging quote, 

what would it be? 

“You must be the change you wish to see in the 

world.” – Mahatma Gandhi 


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10 • MAY 2024


The Art of 

Friendship 

Melanie McMillan 

It’s no secret that lasting friendships are often formed 

through shared experiences, as common interests tend to 

draw people together. For a group of Madison County artists, 

it was their love of painting that drew them together and 

forged a deep friendship that has grown over the years. 

12 • MAY 2024


Christie Mandy Sarah 

It was in January of 2019 that local artist 

Mandy Ellard first invited Christie Farese, Beth 

Dean, Peyton Hutchinson, and Sarah McTaggart 

to her studio. “We had known each other 

for years through painting and life in general, 

but that was the first time we had gotten 

together to paint,” says Christie. “We had a ball 

and knew this was something we wanted to do 

again. The next time we got together, we met at 

Sarah’s studio. Beth said we needed a name for 

our group and suggested ‘The MAD Artists’ 

because we all live in Madison, and we are all a 

little ‘mad.’ It’s silly and just for fun, but the 

nickname stuck, and here we are almost five 

years later.” 

Each of the MAD Artists is a successful, 

professional artist in her own right, and the 

friends make time to get together every few 

months to share new mediums or techniques 

with one another. They take turns hosting in 

their respective studios. “We give critiques and 

advice to each other on paintings we are 

working on,” says Beth. “We are safe, non-competitive 

sounding boards for each other.” 

Last fall, four members of the group had the 

opportunity to paint together in Italy for ten 

days. “Beth was a great resource for the rest of us 

as she’s been to Italy dozens of times and speaks 

Italian,” says Christie. “We stayed in a villa in 

Tuscany and painted ‘plein air’ or ‘in the open 

air.’ It was truly magical.” Peyton agrees, saying, 

“Traveling together has been my favorite thing 

we’ve done together as a group. It was absolutely 

amazing, and we made so many memories. This 

spring, we are staying a little closer to home and 

going to my family’s hunting camp to paint 

along the Big Black River.” 

The MAD Artists recently had the 

opportunity to collaborate on a project to 

support the Friends of the Mansion, a group 

dedicated to the preservation of the historic 

Governor’s Mansion. “Each April, the First 

Lady hosts a garden party for the group at the 

Mansion,” says Christie. “I have live-painted 

at the party the past two years, donating my 

painting to be auctioned off to raise money for 

the organization. When I received the call to 

live-paint at the garden party for the third 

year, I thought it would be fun to have five 

live-painters instead of just one. It was a great 

night, which allowed us to share our love of 

plein air painting with our fellow Mississippians, 

while raising funds for a good cause.” 

MAD Artist Sarah McTaggart will soon 

realize her dream of opening a studio space on 

the square in Flora, and her fellow MAD artists 

will be there to help. The friends know and 

appreciate that what they have is special. 

“Many people share similarities in their hobbies, 

which make their friendships work, and I feel so 

blessed that ours just happen to be art. The fact 

is though, when we are together, we don’t even 

have to paint. Sometimes we read good art 

magazines, and sometimes we learn and share 

new artist techniques or strategies.” Christie 

agrees, saying, “As we continue to meet and 

support one another’s careers and deepen our 

friendship through art, we are extremely blessed 

in Madison County and the tri-county area to 

have a very open and supportive artist 

community. It’s not that way everywhere. 

We love each other sincerely and genuinely.” 

14 • MAY 2024

Beth 

Peyton 

FOR MORE 

INFORMATION 

Christie Farese 

www.christiefarese.com 

Instagram @christiefaresefineart 

Mandy Ellard 

Instagram @mandyellardart 

Sarah McTaggart 

Instagram @mctaggartfineart 

Beth Dean 

www.bethdeanstudio.com 

Instagram @bethdeanstudio 

Peyton Hutchinson 

www.peytonhutchinson.com 

Instagram @peytonpaintings 


Friends 

of the 

Mansion 

Friends of the Mansion was started back in the late 1970s 

by Governor Winter and First Lady Elise Winter. It began as 

a way to generate support and interest for the preservation of 

the historic section of the Mansion. Our Governor’s Mansion is 

the second oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence 

in the country. It is a real treasure. Through the different 

administrations, first ladies could embrace the FOM or choose 

to focus on other initiatives. Luckily for us, our First Lady Elee Reeves 

chose to resurrect the Friends of the Mansion. 

After meeting with the executive director of archives and history, 

we made some updates to what the purpose of the FOM 

organization was and our goals that we would like to achieve. 

$50 tax-deductible membership dues annually go directly to 

archives and history. Money that we raise through events like 

the garden party go directly to refurbishing furniture, 

rewiring old lamps, etc., in the historic section. 

Our goal now is to refresh all of the draperies. We cannot 

change the fabric as it all has to remain period/era authentic, but 

we can refresh the fabrics. It seems as if there is always something 

that needs attention. The carpets are also on our list to address. 

We handle what we can with what we have. 

Ann Beard, Chief of Staff, Office of the First Lady 

16 • MAY 2024


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18 • MAY 2024

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20 • MAY 2024

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22 • MAY 2024

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT 

The Village 

at Madison 

Melanie McMillan 

The city of Madison has long been known for its thriving 

economy, highly-rated schools, low crime rate, and outstanding 

quality of life, making it a top choice for families 

and businesses looking to put down roots. Located off 

Main Street in the historic heart of the city is The Village 

at Madison, a unique twenty-five-acre residential and 

commercial development. Featuring restaurant, retail, and 

professional office space, as well as homes and lots for sale, 

The Village at Madison is gaining the attention of residents 

and business owners alike. 

Mark Castleberry and his partners at Main Street Investors 

first began work on the development in 2018, and the first 

business, Half Shell Oyster House, opened in 2020. “Half 

Shell opened right before Covid,” says Castleberry, “and 

while the pandemic slowed things down, we have continued 

to develop the property as planned. The second commercial 

site is a 12,000 square-foot, mixed-use space, which is fully 

leased and should be completely occupied by the end of the 

year.” Construction is set to begin in May or June of this year 

for a 25,000 square-foot space, which will be anchored by 

Watercolor Salon. According to Castleberry, two additional 

commercial sites are planned and are currently being 

marketed. One will be a mixed-use space, while the other, 

located by the lake, will most likely be an office building. 


24 • MAY 2024

The residential community at The Village at Madison offers 

zero-lot-line home sites within walking distance to nearby 

businesses. “Being from Madison and growing up in Madison, 

I love that there is a neighborhood like this in the historical 

district right off Main Street,” says Jessie Haley, owner of 

Haley Properties, exclusive marketing agent of the residential 

section of The Village. “The architecture mimics the New 

Orleans Garden District, featuring several home designs 

buyers can customize.” With a dog park and common-area 

green spaces, homeowners can enjoy the outdoors without 

the yard work, within a neighborhood which backs up to the 

historic Montgomery House. The city is planning renovations 

to the Montgomery House, as well as the development 

of a beautiful botanical garden on adjacent land, and eight of 

the planned homes will overlook the garden. With walking 

trails for easy access to the Village, the residential community 

is much sought after for those wanting walkability and a 

New Orleans-inspired neighborhood. The proximity to the 

Madison Police Department, Visitor’s Center, and local 

churches, as well as businesses, adds to the appeal of the 

development. The Village of Madison is also home to the 

2022 St. Jude dream home. “We feel strongly about supporting 

St. Jude,” says Mark Castleberry, “and we were honored 

to be a small part of the tremendous work they do.” 

While The Village at Madison offers larger floor plans, 

empty nesters wishing to downsize can also find a home plan 

perfect for their changing needs. “Often, the square footage 

minimum requirement for homes in a new development 

makes it impractical for couples who are looking to downsize,” 

says Castleberry. “With a minimum of 2,000 square 

feet under roof, The Village at Madison is an ideal location 

for those home buyers.” 

For more information about The Village at Madison, 

visit TheVillageatMadison.com or find them on 

Facebook @VillageatMadison. 


26 • MAY 2024


28 • MAY 2024

Madison’s 

BEST OF 

THE BEST 

In March, Hometown Madison rolled out the red carpet 

to recognize excellence in business throughout Madison 

County. The event spanned two nights and celebrated 

forty-four categories as the winners in each category 

were honored among their peers. Bridlewood of Madison 

provided the perfect backdrop as the champagne flowed 

for this inaugural event. 

Thank you to everyone who came. And congratulations 

to everyone nominated! We’ll see you all again next year 

at Madison’s Red Carpet Best of the Best! 

And the winner is... 


Dining 

BEST BAR 

Caet [seafood | oysterette] 

Half Shell Oyster House 

Koestler Prime 

The Briar Patch WINNER 

Two Rivers Restaurant & Catering 

BEST BARBEQUE 

Angelo's BBQ-Pizza-Italian 

Boo's Smokehouse BBQ 

Burgers Blues Barbecue WINNER 

Dickey's Barbecue Pit 

Full Moon Bar-B-Que 

BEST CATERER 

Bless This Food Catering 

Madison Graze 

The Strawberry Cafe 

Two Rivers Restaurant & Catering WINNER 

Your Personal Chef 

BEST COFFEE SHOP 

Cups Expresso Cafe WINNER 

Fusion Coffeehouse 

Kudzu Coffee & Bakery 

Mocha Mugs 

Parkway Perk 

BEST LUNCH 

Aplos Simple Mediterranean 

Mama Hamil’s WINNER 

Primos Cafe & Bake Shop 

The Strawberry Cafe 

Trace Grill 

BEST MEXICAN 

Cazadores, Ridgeland 

El Ranchito, Madison WINNER 

El Sombrero, Gluckstadt 

Fernando's, Ridgeland 

Plato Feliz, Livingston 

BEST PIZZA 

Lost Pizza 

Pizza Shack 

Railroad Pizza Company WINNER 

Sal & Mookie’s 

Soulshine Pizza 

BEST SHAKES/SMOOTHIES/ 

NUTRITIONAL TEAS 

Madison Nutrition 

MissiSIPPi Nutrition (Sipp) WINNER 

Smoothie King 

Stadt Nutrition 

The Blend Nutrition 

BEST STEAKHOUSE 

Bill's Creole and Steak Depot 

Ely’s Restaurant & Bar 

Koestler Prime WINNER 

Shapley's Restaurant 

Two Rivers Restaurant & Catering 

Health & Wellness 

BEST SKINCARE SERVICES 

Body Anew Spa & Aesthetics 

Faces, PLLC 

Gluckstadt Aesthetics 

MAD Esthetics Medspa 

SKIN Aesthetics WINNER 

BEST DENTAL CLINIC 

Center for Contemporary Dentistry 

Murphey Dental Aesthetics 

Olde Towne Dental 

The Winning Smile WINNER 

Tracey Douglas, DMD, PA 

BEST FITNESS CENTER 

Baptist Healthplex 

Burn Boot Camp WINNER 

Flora Fit - CrossFit Flora 

Gluckstadt Fitness 

Orangetheory Fitness 

BEST MEDICAL CLINIC 

AFC Urgent Care 

Baptist Medical Clinic- 

Gluckstadt Primary Care WINNER 

MEA-Madison Primary Plus Clinic 

Merit Health Medical Group, Canton 

Trustcare Medical Clinic, Highland Colony Pkwy 

BEST OPTOMETRY/ 

OPHTHALMOLOGY CLINIC 

Crawford Eye Care 

Eye Group of Mississippi 

Jackson Eye Associates WINNER 

Northeast Eye Care 

Professional Eyecare Associates, Madison 

BEST ORTHODONTIC CLINIC 

Boleware | Vassar Orthodontics 

Dr. Eugene Brown, DMD WINNER 

Jolly Orthodontics 

Moffett & Walley Orthodontics 

SmartSmile Orthodontics 

BEST PHARMACY 

Brick City Drugs WINNER 

Flora Pharmacy 

Saver Express, Ridgeland 

The Corner Pharmacy and Market 

Uptown Pharmacy 

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY 

CLINIC 

Elite Physical Therapy WINNER 

Healing Hands Rehabilitation Services 

Performance Therapy 

Professional Therapy Solutions 

TherapySouth 

Retail 

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP 

CIA Autoplex 

Hallmark Hyundai North 

Mac Haik 

Mercedes-Benz of Jackson 

Patty Peck Honda WINNER 

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE 

Ace of Grace Boutique 

CoatTails 

Monkee's of Ridgeland 

Pink Possum 

West of Fifty Five WINNER 

BEST FLORIST 

Bellini Blooms 

Gina Diamond's Flower Co. WINNER 

Green Oak Florist 

Mostly Martha's Floral Designs 

Wisteria Lane Florist & Gifts 

BEST FORMAL WEAR 

Elle James Bridal 

Once Upon a Dress 

Prim and Proper 

The Bridal Path WINNER 

Tuxedo Junction, Ridgeland 

BEST FURNITURE 

& HOME DECOR 

Farmhouse WINNER 

Interior Spaces 

J.Allan's 

Relish Home Accents 

SummerHouse 

BEST GIFT SHOP 

Apple Annie's WINNER 

Impromptu 

Lagniappe Gifts 

Madison Marketplace 

Persnickety 

30 • MAY 2024

BEST MARKET/ 

PLANTS/PRODUCE 

Callaway's Yard & Garden Center WINNER 

Freshway Produce 

Madison Garden Center 

Martinson's Garden Works 

Two Dog Farms 

BEST NAIL SALON 

Best Nails, Madison 

Euro Nails 

4 Seasons, Gluckstadt 

Sandals Day Spa & Nails 

Serenity Nails, Gluckstadt WINNER 

BEST SALON/BARBER SHOP 

Canvas Salon 

Salon Honey 

The Glossary Salon 

The Tonsorium of Flora 

Watercolor Salon WINNER 

Professionals 

BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM 

GranthamPoole, PLLC 

Harper Raines Knight & Company, P.A. 

HORNE WINNER 

Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay, P.A. 

Weems McDonald, LLC 

BEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRM 

Dean Architecture P.A., Ridgeland WINNER 

Design Studio Inc., Ridgeland 

Greg Ainsworth Architects, Madison 

Joseph Orr Architecture P.A., Madison 

Seabold Architectural Studio, Ridgeland 

BEST AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE 

Big 10 

Car Care Clinic WINNER 

European Auto Repair 

Madison Motor Werks 

Mavis Madison Tire & Brakes 

BEST EQUIPMENT 

RENTAL SERVICE 

Big River Rentals 

Deviney Rental & Supply WINNER 

Hartley Equipment Company 

Mississippi Tent & Party Rental 

Puckett Rents 

BEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTION 

BankPlus WINNER 

Cadence Bank 

Origin Bank 

RiverHills Bank 

Trustmark Bank 

BEST HOME BUILDING/ 

RESTORATION COMPANY 

Cedarstone Construction 

Ellard Properties 

Servpro of Jackson & Madison County 

Tate Properties 

Watkins Construction & Roofing WINNER 

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY 

Allstate, Amy Edwards and Derek Tortorich 

Nationwide Insurance, Rusty Healy 

Shelter Insurance, 

Bradford Foster and David Thames 

State Farm, Robin Covington WINNER 

Summit Insurance Group, Sarah McCurdy 

BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY 

Burleson Lawn Service 

Kinkade's Lawn and Landscape 

LawnScape Solutions 

Pro-Lawn Landscape & Maintenance 

Turf Solutions, LLC WINNER 

BEST LAW FIRM 

Baldridge Law Firm, PLLC 

Butler Snow WINNER 

Elliott Law Firm, PLLC 

Luckett Land Title 

Wells Marble & Hurst PLLC 

BEST REALTY AGENCY 

The Chandler Group 

Haley Properties WINNER 

Hometown Property Group 

Keller Williams New Beginnings 

Polles Properties 

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY 

AAA Travel 

Allen Travel Planners 

Elite Travels 

For Travelers Only 

Magnolia Travel Group WINNER 

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC 

All Creatures Animal Care Center 

Canton Animal Hospital 

Flora Animal Hospital 

Gluckstadt Animal Hospital 

Mannsdale Animal Clinic WINNER 

Community 

BEST ASSISTED LIVING 

FACILITY/NURSING HOME 

St. Catherine's Village 

Sunnybrook Estates 

The Blake At Township 

The Orchard WINNER 

The Waterford on Highland Colony 

BEST CHEER/DANCE STUDIO 

ACE Cheer Company 

Encore Dance Studio 

JAM Athletics 

Mississippi Metropolitan 

Dance Academy WINNER 

Victory Sport 

BEST PLACE TO WORK 

- SMALL 

1-49 EMPLOYEES 

Flora Pharmacy WINNER 

Morris Transport & Moving 

MS Neurology Care Clinic 

Repeat Street 

SmallTown Hunting Properties 

& Real Estate 


- MEDIUM 

50-100 EMPLOYEES 

AccentCare Home Health 

Georgia Blue 

Origin Bank WINNER 

Sullivan's Marketplace, Gluckstadt 

Watkins Construction and Roofing 


- LARGE 

101+ EMPLOYEES 

C Spire 

City of Madison 

Madison County School District WINNER 

Merit Health Madison 

Nissan 

BEST NON PROFIT 

Hope Hollow Ministries 

Junior Auxiliary of Madison County 

MadCAAP 

Sunnybrook Children's Home WINNER 

The Lily Pad 


32 • MAY 2024


34 • MAY 2024


36 • MAY 2024


38 • MAY 2024


Madison County Young Professionals 

Seeds have the ability to grow where they are planted, whether that is on purpose by a farmer or accidentally by 

a bird or even the wind. People have the same ability as seeds. They can flourish where they are planted, dropped, 

or have fallen. Although a lot of young adults dream of moving out of their hometown upon college graduation, 

Madison County has been blessed with many young professionals who have decided to plant their businesses or 

trades here and grow within the community. 

40 • MAY 2024

By taking advantage of the opportunities they have in their lives, they have been able to establish their roots here. 

These steps will help build a foundation to launch the next chapter in their lives and the community. With their skills 

they will care for us, make us beautiful, comfort us, and give us hope for the future. These young professionals are 

the future and upcoming business leaders and health providers who have chosen to make Madison County a better 

place and call it their home. 


Amber Young 

Employer - Madison County School District 

Alma Mater - Mississippi State University 

Favorite thing about Madison County - The progress the community 

continues to make with new businesses and organizations 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Aplos 

Hobbies - Travel, shop, and spend time with friends and family 

Wes Neely 

Employer - Guaranty Bank 


Favorite thing about Madison County - Being a part of the Pinelake Madison Campus 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Aplos 

Hobbies - Playing golf, hunting, and going to MSU sporting events 

Margot Collins 

Employer - Madison County School District 


Favorite thing about Madison County - I believe the schools are what make it stand out 

the most. I knew there was no better place to pursue my career in teaching than the place 

that shaped me into who I grew up to be. 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Cazadores, Aplos, and Caet 

Hobbies - Dancing, shopping, reading, working out, and spending time on the boat 

with family and friends 

Katie Hutson 

Employer - Harper Rains Knight & Company, CPA 


Favorite thing about Madison County - The Natchez Trace trails and public parks 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Strawberry Café 

Hobbies - Being outdoors, gardening, yoga, hiking, reading, listening to music, drawing, 

traveling, and spending time with family and friends 

42 • MAY 2024

Mary Morgan Agostinelli 

Employer - AnderCorp 


Favorite thing about Madison County - The strong sense of community. 

Residents are engaged and actively participate in local events, initiatives, 

and volunteer efforts. 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Amerigo 

Hobbies - Cooking dinner with roommates, reading, spending time with 

friends and family typically watching sports and grabbing a bite to eat 

Bradford Blackmon 

Employer - Blackmon & Blackmon PLLC & The State of Mississippi 

Alma Mater - University of Pennsylvania 

Favorite thing about Madison County - Being close to family and knowing everyone 

you run into while out and about in the county 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Anjou and Two Rivers 

Hobbies - Hunting, being outside enjoying the land, spending time with dog, playing 

video games, and bowling 

William Collins 

Employer - Mississippi Office of the Attorney General 

Alma Mater - Mississippi College School of Law 

Favorite thing about Madison County - Madison County is filled with great 

and caring people 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Local 463 

Hobbies - Jogging, hiking, hunting, fishing and attending college sporting events 

with my wife 

Ellis Wise 

Employer - Madison County Business League & Foundation 


Favorite thing about Madison County - Strong leadership; Madison County is 

continuously growing and attracting businesses and industries to locate here, enhancing 

our overall quality of life 

Favorite place to eat in Madison County - Caet 

Hobbies - Traveling, shopping, cooking, listening to live music, reading books and 

spending time with family and friends 


44 • MAY 2024

WE’RE HONORED BY 

YOUR APPRECIATI N 

Many thanks to our community for voting us the top place to work 

in Hometown Madison Magazine’s Best of the Best Awards. 

Personal relationships are the most meaningful part of our work, 

and we look forward to serving you further in the years to come! 

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48 • MAY 2024

The Godfreys 


We met in our last semester of college in a capstone marketing 

class at Mississippi State. I, (Kaitlin) had a job lined up back home in 

Birmingham with no plans of staying in Mississippi after graduation. 

Brad is from Madison and planned to work for his family business, 

Airflo Sales. Long story short, within a year-and-a-half, we were 

married and living in Madison. By our first anniversary, we were 

about to have our first son, Wyatt (12), followed by Ann Kirk (9) 

and Owen (4). This year, we will be married fourteen years. 

Wyatt may look like his mama, but he is reserved like his dad. 

He is kind and generous and truly a gift from God. He loves trying 

new things–like pickleball with his grandfather! We had our first 

taste of school sports when he played soccer for the MRA JV 

team this year as a sixth grader. It was freezing, wet, and a lot of 

fun! This is our second year at MRA, and we are truly enjoying 

the community and fellowship it brings to our lives. Knowing that 

our kids are loved and prayed for by their teachers and friends’ 

parents is invaluable to us. 

Ann Kirk is in third grade and she never meets a stranger. 

She is the boss of our home and loves to “mother” her little brother… 

and really everyone. She is finishing up being on the gymnastics 

team as she has decided she wants to just have fun playing softball 


and trying even more new sports. Both 

Wyatt and Ann Kirk take piano lessons, 

and Wyatt just started guitar. Music is 

important to our family–I was in the 

choir at MSU and sing in the choir at 

Madison Methodist on special occasions. 

Owen was our sweet surprise, and he 

really leans into being the third child. He 

is hilarious and mischievous and often 

called the “class clown” by any teacher he’s 

ever had. Owen brings laughter and levity 

to our home on a daily basis. He is truly 

the best surprise we could have ever 

hoped for. 

What brings you the greatest joy 

as a parent? 

Our greatest joy in parenting is 

discovering our children’s individual 

personalities and watching them grow 

into who they are. It is amazing to us how 

three little people could come from us 

and be so very different yet each wonderful 

in their own ways. 

Do you allow time to be with your 

spouse for a date night? 

We are learning that we need to make 

more time for ourselves as a couple after 

coming up for air from raising little 

children. It is not any less busy, but it is 

more manageable now that they are all 

at the same school and the big kids can 

do some things for themselves. During 

Covid, we sent the older kids to St. 

Augustine, a classical Christian school. 

They attended two days in person and 

the other days were homeschool. It was a 

sweet time, but Wyatt missed the time 

with friends and different activities as he 

had been in a traditional school previously. 

Our family craved more structure. MRA 

was a great fit for us. 

What are some of your favorite things 

about Madison County? 

The thing we love most is our church 

community. We have been members of 

Madison Methodist Church for almost 

eleven years. The family we have gained 

from our church is hard to even explain. 

As a Mississippi transplant without my 

family close by, it is truly the reason I love 

Madison. Our Sunday school class started 

with a few families and those core 

families are our best friends. Our kids are 

growing up with each other, and we really 

do life together. We know it is special and 

do not take for granted that not everyone 

has a community like this. Both of us are 

involved in the church through different 

committees and volunteer positions. It 

brings our family joy and fulfillment to 

use our gifts and serve the Lord in this way. 

Brad enjoys playing golf whenever he 

gets a chance and is loving that Wyatt is 

now interested in playing with him. He 

helps Ann Kirk with softball and tries to 

get the kids into fitness. He also loves to 

go to concerts whenever he gets a chance. 

We love to get outside and garden or do 

yard work. Mississippi weather is perfect 

for us because you will find us on our back 

patio grilling out several times a week 

with friends as soon as it warms up. We 

love live music and watching Mississippi 

State football— well, that is a bit of a love/ 

hate actually! 

What’s a quick go-to meal that isn’t 

fast food? 

A delicious, easy weeknight meal 

we enjoy is baked salmon. It is so easy! 

Drizzle salmon with avocado oil, lemon 

pepper seasoning, salt, and lemon slices. 

Cook on 400 for 13 minutes. We add 

whatever veggie we have on hand-preference 

for this is asparagus cooked at the 

same temperature. Heat a bag of Uncle 

Ben’s Jasmine rice, drizzle with coconut 

aminos, and you are good to go!! 

How do you spend summer breaks? 

We spend any free minute we get in 

the summer with my family at Lake 

Martin, Alabama. It is beautiful. Brad 

and the kids love wakeboarding and being 

on the boat. There is nothing better than 

relaxing on the wrap-around porch 

drinking coffee and reading a good book. 

What drives you to have the job 

that you have? And what do you do 

for a living? 

After working for the family business 

for several years, Brad went back to school 

and got his mechanical engineering degree 

through the University of Alabama. He is 

now a part-owner at Airflo Sales. They 

supply HVAC materials to mechanical 

contractors. 

I started working last summer for 

the first time full-time since having kids. 

I am the director of development at 

Wesley Biblical Seminary. It has been a 

big change but in the best way. I felt the 

call to work outside the home but not 

unless it was meaningful. The mission of 

developing trusted leaders for faithful 

churches is an easy one to get behind. 

The growth at the seminary is exciting 

to be a part of and the faculty and staff 

really care for the students and one another. 

In this position, I get to build relationships 

with people in the community who 

want to further God’s Kingdom through 

supporting the education of future pastors. 

There is nothing more important. 

To leave the home for the first time, 

WBS has been a perfect fit. Going back 

to work has created other opportunities 

like becoming a diplomat for the City 

of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce. 

I also serve on the board of directors 

for Redeemed Women Gathering, a 

non-profit aimed to encourage Christian 

women of all denominations to be strong 

disciples of the Lord Jesus through events 

designed to help women grow in their 

faith and understanding of God’s word. 

50 • MAY 2024

QUESTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN 

What is your favorite thing to do 

as a family? 

Wyatt I love watching movies as a 

family and having game nights. 

Ann Kirk I like going to the movie 

theatre and getting popcorn, 

Skittles, and root beer. 

Owen I love going to pizza shops 

and Strawberry Park. 

What is your favorite restaurant? 

Wyatt Full Moon. I love barbeque. 

Ann Kirk La Guadalupe 

Owen La Guadalupe 

What is your favorite TV show? 

Wyatt Fast and Furious Spy Racers 

Ann Kirk Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn 

Owen Sonic Boom 


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52 • MAY 2024


54 • MAY 2024

KIDS WHO CARE 

Celia Lane 

Susan 

Marquez 

CELIA LANE SUPPORTS 

THE WELL-BEING OF 

EXPECTANT MOTHERS 

Since an early age, Celia Lane has known she 

wanted to be a doctor. The high school junior is 

particularly interested in the neonatal and 

maternal fetal area of medicine, especially after 

learning that Mississippi has unusually high 

infant mortality rates. 

Celia has been a student at St. Andrews since 

the seventh grade. She spent time shadowing at 

the Women’s Clinic and the high-risk clinic at 

UMMC. After her first-hand experience, Celia 

felt compelled to start a non-profit to address the 

needs of expectant women. 

Nourish is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit 

organization dedicated to providing resources and 

support for pregnant patients and mothers for 

every step of their journey. According to the 

Nourish website, the organization combines 

science with service, seeking to aid expectant 

women by ensuring they obtain the necessary 

nutrients for fetal development. “We want to 

make sure new mothers leave the hospital with 

needed resources to take care of their child in the 

best way possible,” says Celia. 

To that end, Celia developed the Baby Box 

Initiative. “I was inspired by a story I saw on the 

news,” she says. “Providing expectant mothers 

with boxes full of items to take care of a newborn 

is a common practice in Finland. Each new 

mother there receives a baby box from the 

government.” 

Celia decided to do her own version of a baby 

box for expectant mothers in the central 

Mississippi area. She began talking to people from 

health clinics around central Mississippi to get 

ideas on what to include in her baby boxes. She 

raised funds for the project by baking and selling 

bundt cakes. She also reached out to various 

businesses for donated items. 

When it was time to fill the boxes, Celia 

recruited the help of her classmates. The boxes 

included onesies, socks, blankets, towels, a 

thermometer, pads, toothbrushes, soap, diaper 

cream, and a booklet filled with recipes that are 

also found on the Nourish website. 

“The recipes came from my research on 

what nutrients are beneficial for mothers and 

developing babies,” explains Celia. “I searched 

for recipes that included the right nutrients, 

and I also searched for recipes from different 

cultures. I wanted to be sure everyone found 

something they liked.” 

Celia did the test-cooking of most of the 

recipes with her grandmother. “I love to cook, 

and I enjoy doing it with my grandmother.” 

Altogether, Celia’s nonprofit donated fifty 

Baby Boxes to the Tougaloo Clinic, where half 

the boxes were distributed to their patients, and 

the other half was given to Central Hinds Clinic 

to distribute to patients there. 

“Nourish expands the knowledge of 

neonatology in both our members and the greater 

community, fostering a growing love of service 

and appreciation for the importance of caring for 

those who choose pregnancy,” says Celia. While 

she intends to do more baby boxes, she is 

focusing on legislative change as well. 

“Our agenda includes community-based 

changes through recurring baby box drives as well 

as expansion goals regarding the implementation 

of legislation in support of pregnant people and 

their healthcare, ensuring the government stands 

strongly with us behind our mothers.” 

Celia is the daughter of Colby and Erin Lane, 

neither of whom is in the medical field; although, 

they wholeheartedly support Celia’s efforts. “My 

mom is a lawyer, and my dad works in software,” 

she says. Celia also has three siblings. Her older 

brother, Patten, is a freshman at Rice University, 

and she has two younger sisters, Mary Emily and 

Eliza Kate. 


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BUYING, BUILDING, 

OR REFINANCING 

Your Home is 

Our Priority 

58 • MAY 2024

Standout 

SENIORS 

What event in the life of a teenager could 

be more epic than 

high school 

graduation? 

It marks the end of one important period 

of your life–and the beginning of another. 

It’s exciting and full of anxious anticipation. 

But you’ve made it! 

Whatever you decide to do with your life after graduation– 

remember to follow your dreams with confidence. 

What feels like the end is just the beginning. 

We pray that wherever life takes you next, 

it is sure to be a great adventure! 

Congratulations and best wishes 

for your continued success! 


Lynley 

BLACKWELL 

TRI-COUNTY ACADEMY 

Lynley will always remember her sophomore year of high 

school playing as a second baseman for the Tri-County varsity 

softball team. That year, the team won first place in the district 

south state game as well as the state championship. Lynley 

names her senior softball season as the highlight of her 

senior year. “This may have been my last season with my best 

friends, but it will be a season that I will never forget.” During 

this season, Lynley and her teammates won the district 

championship, placed second in south state, and placed third 

in state. She says this season will always hold a special place 

in her heart. 

Lynley’s favorite teacher throughout high school has been 

Mrs. Heather Jones, her math teacher. “She is supportive, 

connects with all of her students, makes learning fun, and 

truly cares for all of her students’ success,” says Lynley. 

The best advice Lynley has ever been given are wise words 

from her mother: “Do not let that steal your joy.” She says this 

is great advice because it reminds her to focus on the 

positive things and not let the negative things in life bring her 

down. The advice Lynley herself gives to incoming freshmen 

is: “Stay organized, manage your time effectively, and do not 

be afraid to ask for help when needed. Also, do not be afraid 

to step out of your comfort zone. High school is a time of 

growth and exploration, so make the most of it!” 

Lynley would not go back and change anything about high 

school because everything she experienced during the past 

four years has made her who she is today. However, if she 

had to change something, she says she would not be so hard 

on herself. She has a tendency to be her own toughest critic, 

but she also believes that it is okay to make mistakes and 

says, “It’s how we learn.” 

After graduation, Lynley will attend East Central Community 

College to play softball on an athletic scholarship. After East 

Central, she plans to pursue a bachelor of science degree in 

nursing before going to CRNA school. In ten years, Lynley 

hopes to have successfully completed the necessary 

schooling to be practicing as a certified registered nurse 

anesthetist. She also hopes to have started a family and be 

living a purposeful life. 

60 • MAY 2024

Salaria 

CHESSER 

VELMA JACKSON 

Salaria recalls two different memories from her high school 

years that she holds dear. Salaria will always remember when 

she joined the band. She did not enjoy it initially but decided 

to try anyway. To her surprise, she gained many skills, both 

musical and mental, and she became section leader her 

junior year. During her senior year, Salaria won first place for 

Future Technology and Engineering Teacher in TSA. She 

says, “It was a wonderful moment where all my hard work 

paid off.” 

Salaria’s favorite teacher throughout high school is Mr. 

Muhammad. He taught Salaria many life lessons and helped 

build her into a strong individual with his encouraging words. 

Salaria has her own encouraging words for incoming freshmen. 

She wants them to know that their high school experiences 

will be what they make them. She adds, “Work hard now 

because it pays off later. Nothing in life is easy, so don’t quit 

when things get hard.” 

Advice that Salaria clings to is from the following quote: 

“When you give one hundred percent, that’s all you can do. 

You’re not going to always like the outcome. You have to 

have tough skin. It’s a part of life that everyone has to adapt 

to, but never give up.”- E. Thompson 

She learned some of these lessons the hard way. Salaria says 

if she could go back and change one thing, she would attend 

face-to-face her ninth-grade year instead of choosing to 

attend virtually. 

After graduation, Salaria will attend Belhaven University to 

pursue a degree in accounting. In ten years, she sees herself 

holding a master’s degree and owning a successful business. 


Anna 

Claire 

MABRY 

CANTON ACADEMY 

“Focus on what you can control, and let God take care of the 

rest.” This is the best advice Anna Claire has ever been given. 

She goes on to say with great confidence that she would 

not change a thing about her high school experience and 

provides meaningful advice to incoming freshmen: “Don’t 

blink. Enjoy and appreciate every moment that you get 

from now until senior year. It goes by so fast. Follow God’s 

guidance, cherish your friendships, and work hard. 

I promise it all pays off.” 

Anna Claire has many fond memories of her high school 

years and names being crowned Miss Canton Academy as 

the highlight of her time there. She also says she will always 

remember the feeling of a Friday during football season. 

Some of her favorite memories are riding in the spirit train, 

cheering at pep rallies, and performing at half-time. 

Her favorite teacher throughout high school is Mrs. Kathleen 

Penn. Mrs. Penn has pushed Anna Claire to be her very 

best and has never failed to remind her of her potential. 

Anna Claire is grateful for Mrs. Penn’s guidance and the 

goals she set for her. 

After graduation, Anna Claire will attend Mississippi State 

University and pursue a degree in marketing and a minor in 

communications. In ten years, she hopes to be involved in a 

women’s ministry, married, and working as a marketing and 

communications director. 

62 • MAY 2024

Caitlin 

NELSON 

CANTON HIGH 

The highlight of Caitlin’s senior year was playing point guard 

on the varsity basketball team and going to the “big house” 

to play in the state championship. She speaks very fondly of 

her coach, and favorite teacher throughout high school, 

Melissa Word. “She was a firm, yet caring, teacher and coach. 

She possesses a personality that students cherish long after 

they have left the classroom.” Caitlin will always remember 

Coach Word’s influence, her experiences as a high school 

athlete, and how those experiences taught her discipline, 

determination, and leadership. 

Considering all her great memories, Caitlin says there is 

nothing she would change about her high school experiences. 

Each one taught her something valuable. She believes in 

working hard to change the things that need changing to 

reach her goals. The best advice she has ever received is 

simple: “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” 

So, her advice for incoming freshmen is: “Don’t be afraid to 

work towards making a change. If you don’t, then who will 

be that voice?” 

After graduation, Caitlin will attend the University of Mississippi 

and pursue a degree in kinesiology. Caitlin prays that in ten 

years she will be happy, healthy, and have successfully fulfilled 

her aspiration to become physical therapist. 


Zoe 

THIGPEN 

GERMANTOWN 

Zoe will always remember being a part of homecoming court 

her junior year but recalls one hilarious memory in particular. 

While standing on the field during halftime, a bug landed on 

her forehead. “I started to freak out,” she says, “I turned to my 

dad so he could flick it off. Instead, he smushed it right on my 

face with his finger. I was so embarrassed, but luckily, no one 

ever brought it up. I didn’t talk about it to anyone after that.” 

The highlight of Zoe’s senior year was mentoring at her 

elementary school. She has thoroughly enjoyed forming 

relationships with her mentees. Zoe says that while she is 

pouring into their lives, they are pouring into hers every time 

she sees them. Working with those students brings her so 

much joy. 

Zoe’s favorite teacher is her choir teacher, Ms. Jordan 

Langworthy. Ms. Langworthy taught Zoe for three years, and 

Zoe says each day she walked into Ms. Langworthy’s class, 

she knows she was safe and loved. Ms. Langworthy’s passion 

for music and her students makes the choir room the place 

everyone wants to be. Zoe adds, “She has such a bright 

personality and never fails to bring her students joy, even on 

our worst days. My high school experience would not have 

been the same without her!” 

Zoe says the best advice she has ever received is: “Practice 

doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.” She 

believes in order for people to succeed at their goals, they 

must work hard at them behind closed doors and practice 

the way they want to perform. 

Zoe has both sentimental and practical advice for incoming 

freshmen: “Embrace and enjoy every moment because it goes 

by fast. Also, try to get as many elective credits completed as 

possible while you’re an underclassman so senior year isn’t 

too stressful.” In hindsight, if she could go back, Zoe says she 

would have taken AP World History in the traditional classroom 

setting instead of virtual learning. “It was a difficult class 

to do online!” 

In the fall, Zoe will attend the University of Mississippi and 

major in allied health studies. In ten years, she sees herself 

living in the suburbs with her husband and maybe two kids 

working at a pediatric clinic. 

64 • MAY 2024

Camden 

HOOD 

MADISON CENTRAL 

“The one who fails and gets up is stronger than the one who 

never tried. Do not fear failure, but rather, fear not trying.” 

This quote by Roy T. Bennett is important to Camden. 

As someone who is academically driven, Camden always 

feels like he needs to get things perfect the first time; however, 

he has learned that failing at things has allowed him to learn 

more. If he could change anything about his high school 

career, he would take in every moment and spend more time 

doing things he enjoys and less time stressing about school 

and the future. His advice to incoming freshmen is: “Find 

what you enjoy doing, and stick to it.” 

The highlight of Camden’s senior year is growing closer with 

his classmates by getting more involved in school activities. 

Travelling to sporting events, parading, and going to pep 

rallies with his class has allowed him to bond with his peers. 

Camden will always remember the trips he took with the 

show choir and cross-country team. Staying up late talking 

with his friends and playing games on the long bus rides are 

fond memories he will always cherish. 

Mr. Logan has been the most influential teacher Camden had 

during his high school career. Not only did Mr. Logan make 

the curriculum fun by adding in personal stories, but he also 

went above and beyond to make the class entertaining. 

Camden’s favorite memory of Mr. Logan is when he 

challenged Camden to learn fifty country flags, but instead 

of just learning the assigned fifty, Camden decided to learn 

every country’s flag...just for fun. 

After graduation, Camden will major in accounting and minor 

in French at the University of Mississippi. Then, he plans to 

go to law school and pursue a career in business or tax law. 

He has always loved connecting with different people and 

experiencing new places and cultures; so, in ten years, 

Camden hopes to be an international business lawyer and 

helping people around the world. 


Srila 

ANUGU 

RIDGELAND HIGH 

The highlight of Srila’s senior year has been soaking up all 

her last firsts and enjoying the time with her friends and her 

graduating class. Srila will always remember the memories 

she made over the past four years and the lessons and skills 

she has learned. She says high school has been the most 

transforming time in her life thus far, and all of her experiences 

have helped shape her. 

Her favorite teacher throughout high school is Mrs. Davidson. 

From attending PSAT class and AP Language and Composition, 

to simply hanging out in Mrs. Davidson’s room while she 

proofread all of Srila’s college essays and applications, Mrs. 

Davidson has been there for a large part of Srila’s high school 

career. “She has motivated me and guided me in so many 

aspects and is truly one of the best teachers I have ever had.” 

The best advice Srila has been given is: “Focus on your 

perspective.” She believes that depending on how she sees any 

situation, there is always a solution. Perhaps that perspective 

has informed her advice about balance for incoming freshman: 

“Give yourself time to do everything.” She encourages them 

to focus on school, but she also says they should make time 

to relax, go out with friends, attend a sporting event, and 

anything else they enjoy. 

If Srila could change one thing, she would change the way 

she believed she had to do everything as an underclassman 

such as join every club, sign up for every volunteer event, 

take every class, etc. She realized, well into high school, that 

doing her best and putting all her effort into just a few things 

that she really enjoyed was more beneficial in terms of a 

college application and even her own satisfaction. 

Srila’s plans after graduation are to attend the University of 

Mississippi and major in biological sciences on the pre-med 

track with minors in chemistry and psychology. In ten years, 

Srila sees herself graduated from medical school and in 

residency at a top program in her chosen specialty. 

66 • MAY 2024

Ben 

HORNER 

MADISON-RIDGELAND 

ACADEMY 

Ben names attending Passion Conference 2024 with his 

fellow seniors as being the highlight of his senior year. He 

says, “Being able to worship and grow relationships with my 

classmates during this time was invaluable. I feel like Passion 

held messages that, in some way, we all needed to hear and 

were able to be present with each other for.” Ben’s friends are 

important to him, and he will always remember laughing with 

them. He says, “I can’t think of anything more rejuvenating 

and life-giving.” 

Mr. Austin Fortenberry is Ben’s favorite teacher throughout 

high school. Mr. Fortenberry was Ben’s 10th and 11th grade 

English teacher, who challenged Ben’s ability to think critically 

and helped him grow into an effective analyzer and writer. On 

a more personal level, Ben credits Mr. Fortenberry with 

helping him grow his relationship with Jesus through knowledge 

of scripture and application of Jesus’s teachings. Ben 

says what he most appreciates about Mr. Fortenberry is that 

he challenges Ben both intellectually and spiritually. He adds, 

“I have seen such a positive change in my spiritual life as a 

result of the Bible study he hosted.” Ben values the opportunity 

Mr. Fortenberry provided for Ben and other group members 

to openly discuss issues with one another and gain 

scriptural knowledge together. 

Ben would not go back and change a thing. He believes that 

without having had certain experiences, he would have 

missed out on learning the valuable lessons that have helped 

shape him into who he is today and who he wishes to 

become. Ben says the best advice he has ever been given is: 

“Don’t approach life and relationships asking yourself ‘How 

can this help me?’ Instead ask, ‘How can I help others?’” 

“Allow yourself to fail,” Ben advises incoming freshmen. “Don’t 

put unrealistic pressure on yourself. Failure is inevitable in all 

facets of life, so learning to grow through such failure and into 

a greater version of yourself is key, especially in these 

exciting years of your life.” 

After graduation, Ben will attend Mississippi State University 

and major in biomedical or chemical engineering. In ten 

years, the only certainties that Ben wishes to have in life is a 

stronger relationship with Jesus and the feeling that he is 

making a meaningful contribution in the lives of many. He 

believes that if he holds those two things together, life will 

unfold. He sees himself continuing to endure challenges in 

order to grow in whatever season of life he is experiencing. 


Paige 

LOYACONO 

ST. JOSEPH 

CATHOLIC SCHOOL 

The highlight of Paige’s senior year has been deepening 

relationships with all her classmates. She is incredibly lucky 

to be in a highly intelligent, ambitious, and well-rounded class 

that has pushed everyone to be their best. Everyone in the 

senior class gets along, and she has enjoyed growing her 

friendships with them. Being with her classmates brings Paige 

a lot of joy that she will definitely miss next year. 

Paige will always remember the sense of community she 

feels at St. Joe. “Every day, I feel loved by every teacher and 

student. The teachers have connected with me personally, 

and I have felt not only educational support throughout my 

years at St. Joe but personal backing from them as well.” 

Paige loves that all the students know each other because 

it strengthens the sense of community within the school. 

Paige has been very fortunate to have so many teachers who 

have helped her grow so much academically, spiritually, and 

personally. “It is very difficult to choose a favorite, but I think I 

would have to pick my honors chemistry teacher, Mrs. Dianne 

Waldon. She was very challenging, but I knew she always 

wanted the best for me. She works extremely hard and has 

a passion that I hope to possess in my future career.” Paige 

also wishes to acknowledge Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Brock, and 

Mrs. Dickson. 

Paige claims she has always been someone who plans far 

into the future and thought she had to have her career picked 

out for herself at the age of ten. One day, in a conversation 

with her grandmother, Paige was given this valuable lesson: 

“If you choose a path that you are truly passionate about, 

every day won’t feel like work. Instead, your days will be 

enjoyable because you are doing what you love.” These 

words continue to resonate with Paige as she begins making 

important career decisions. 

Paige has simple advice for future St. Joe freshmen: “Get 

involved. St. Joe is small enough that you really can get involved 

in whatever you want.” She goes on to say that her activities 

have helped shape her into who she is today. Through getting 

involved in numerous teams, clubs, committees, and arts, 

Paige has found her true passions and encourages incoming 

freshmen to test the waters in numerous areas to do the same. 

If Paige could go back and change one thing, she would 

ensure that she lived in the moment. She says that she would 

sometimes catch herself going through the motions. “High 

school goes by very fast, and you only get to live through the 

experiences it offers once.” 

After graduation, Paige will attend Auburn University to study 

biomedical sciences on the pre-med track and will eventually 

attend medical school. In ten years, Paige hopes to be in her 

residency and says, “I have wanted to be a doctor since 

elementary school, and it feels surreal that I am starting to 

take the first steps to get there.” 

68 • MAY 2024

Justin 

LINDSAY 

ST. ANDREWS 

The highlight of Justin’s senior year has been hanging out 

with his friends and trying all different types of food throughout 

the state. He says they have made efforts to make the 

most of the time they have had together because they know 

they will all soon be going their separate ways. Justin also 

cherishes being inducted into the Cum Laude Society last 

year and celebrating that accomplishment with his family. 

Justin’s favorite teacher throughout high school has been 

Mrs. Marty Kelly. He says, “She has not only helped me 

improve as a student. She has been an amazing advisor to 

me during the college process.” Justin says if he could go 

back and change one thing, he would read more books and 

explore nature more often. He recalls being “too happy with 

being inside during quarantine early on in high school,” but 

now, he loves to be outdoors. 

Justin says he has been given two very important pieces of 

advice: “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and “Worrying never 

accomplishes anything.” He advises incoming freshmen to 

work hard in and out of the classroom and find a way to enjoy 

every moment because it only lasts for a short time. He wants 

them to find their passions and get out of their comfort zones 

and insists, “You won’t regret it.” 

After graduation, Justin will attend either the University of 

Alabama at Birmingham or Mississippi State University and 

major in kinesiology/pre-medicine. In ten years, Justin sees 

himself practicing medicine as a sports medicine physician or 

perhaps another type of doctor. He adds, “Hopefully, I’ll be 

giving back to the community that raised me.” 


70 • MAY 2024

Registration 

NOW OPEN 


72 • MAY 2024

Submitted by The River of Pearls Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution 

Service to our community and conservation 

are two important drivers for Donna Yowell and 

the River of Pearls Chapter of Daughters of the 

American Revolution. Yowell and the members 

of the chapter came together to combine these 

two goals in several ways throughout Canton, 

Gluckstadt, and Madison schools. 

Donna Yowell, the executive director of the 

Mississippi Urban Forest Council, has dedicated 

her career to assisting people and communities in 

understanding the importance of trees and plants. 

Born in Brookhaven and raised in Jackson, Donna 

holds a bachelor of science degree in horticulture 

from Mississippi State University. She began her 

career as a floral designer but found her true love 

was in planning events that raised environmental 

awareness throughout Mississippi. Donna has 

spent the last two decades working with the 

Mississippi Urban Forest Council. The MUFC 

acts as an education and advocacy group and 

meets with policy makers and citizens to promote 

the importance of native Mississippi trees. In her 

experience with the MUFC, she has worked 

with FEMA, the National Association of State 

Floodplain Managers, Mississippi Wildlife 

Federation, Mississippi Department of Environmental 

Quality, and the Mississippi Department 

of Marine Resources as well as numerous City of 

Madison officials. 

Yowell is also proud of her national appointment 

as an advisor to the USDA secretary of 

agriculture. She was one of only three women 

appointed to this position. Presently, Donna is 

involved in helping communities throughout 

Mississippi to develop arboretums, particularly 

in conjunction with trails. There are now 

twenty-seven certified community arboretums 

throughout the state. 

Ms. Yowell also sponsors forums around the 

state with the Flower Growers of Mississippi and 

teaches individuals how to establish flower farms 

as a business. Many of the flowers used in the 

floral industry could be grown right here in 

Mississippi as our climate and soil are perfect for 

such endeavors. 

She says her proudest accomplishment was 

the establishment of the Madison Children’s 

Memorial Garden located in Strawberry Patch 

Park, at 271 St. Augustine Drive in Madison. 

This garden was made in memory of her 

granddaughter. 

Yowell says her favorite students are youth. 

She says “When students care about how their 

campus looks, they will take pride in it.” She 

believes instilling a passion for nature and the 

responsibilities we have in taking care of our trees 

is important for children to know. Recently, 


74 • MAY 2024

she teamed up with the River of Pearls Chapter, 

NSDAR, to participate in the national “Read 

Across America” program with two books. 

I Can Name Fifty Trees Today! – a book from The Cat 

in the Hat’s Learning Library series by Bonnie Worth 

– was presented to children at Mannsdale Lower 

Elementary, Madison Avenue Upper Elementary, 

Madison Crossing Elementary, Canton Elementary, 

and Germantown High School (Super- 

MAVS Class). Courtney Creel, special education 

teacher stated, “Our gentle flowers bloom to be 

astonishing individuals that spread love and joy 

to all.” 

Oh Say Can You Seed?, also by Worth, 

introduced the students to the parts of flower 

bulbs, how they bloom, and how the wind and 

bees carry pollen from flower to flower to ensure 

pollination continues the cycle of plant life. 

After reading the book, each student was given 

the opportunity to plant a narcissus bulb in the 

pollinator garden designated areas on each 

campus. Additionally, each child was given a 

bulb to take home to plant. The students will 

witness, firsthand, and how spring showers do 

bring May flowers to their communities. 

All bulbs were donated by Yowell. 

School administrators were thrilled by the 

program offered at their campuses and shared 

their thoughts. Debra Houghton, principal of 

Madison Crossing Elementary School, stated: 

“Madison Crossing was so excited to participate 

in the conservation and bulb project. Giving back 

to and taking care of this beautiful planet we live 

on is so important. Planting these bulbs is our 

start in doing just that.” Bethany Berry, library 

media specialist at Madison Avenue Upper 

Elementary shared, “Conservation and beautification 

can be cultivated in a student through the 

lens of a simple book.” Shalondia Washington, 

principal of Canton Elementary believes, “Taking 

care of the earth’s natural resources through 

conservation will ensure our survival needs for 

today and into the future.” 

Donna Russell, regent of the River of Pearls 

Chapter says, “The help and guidance Donna 

Yowell has given to our chapter has been 

tremendous and has made it possible for us to 

take our conservations projects into Canton, 

Gluckstadt, and Madison schools, where we 

have been able to teach and provide hands-on 

experiences for hundreds of children, showing 

them the beauty and value of preserving nature in 

our schools.” 

The chapter will present the prestigious DAR 

Conservation Medal to Ms. Yowell later this year 

as a token of its appreciation of her outstanding 

efforts in establishing the arboretums, youth 

leadership, and conservation-related education 

programs for our community. 


76 • MAY 2024

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78 • MAY 2024


80 • MAY 2024

Ellen 

Skrmetti 

BORN 

TO MAKE 

PEOPLE 

LAUGH 

SUSAN MARQUEZ 

Some people were born to be on stage. There is no 

doubt that Ellen Skrmetti is one of them. She has always 

loved performing, from school plays and singing in the 

church choir, to the Miss Mississippi pageant where she 

represented her hometown of Ripley. Backstage at the 

pageant is where Ellen had her first-ever bout of stage 

fright. She began praying in earnest, promising God that if 

He would help her get through the evening, she would 

never get on stage again. She went out on stage and hit 

the high note from a song from the Guys and Dolls musical: 

“Adelaide’s Lament.” “I thought I had packed up my drama 

clothes for good,” she laughs. Evidently, God had other 

plans for Ellen’s life. 

Ellen lived in Madison for thirteen years, working in media 

sales. “I was never the kid who knew what she wanted to 

do when she grew up. I wanted to do everything! I worked 

at The Everyday Gourmet for a while, and Donna Barksdale 

was a consultant for the store. One day, she came in, and 

we talked. She said, ‘Ellen, you are going to have to find 

your cliff and jump.’” Not long after having that conversation, 

Ellen saw an ad in the paper for a magazine sales rep. 

“I went for it. I got the job, and I loved doing ad sales – 

I was able to use my degree from Southern Miss in fashion 

merchandising and marketing.” 

Now, she uses her skillset in her own out-of-the-box 

business, which started by accident and has grown 

organically. Using her Southern charm and quick wit, 

Ellen is making millions of people laugh at a time when 

laughter is needed more than ever. 

Ellen and her husband moved with their two children to 

Nashville, then Birmingham. She tried standup in Nashville, 

which was a big turning point for her. “When I moved to 

Nashville, I didn’t know anybody there. I realized that I could 

make strangers laugh, so maybe I was on to something.” 

When she turned forty-one, her husband Tim paid for 

standup writing classes from a local comedy club in 

Birmingham. “That was right before everything shut down 

for COVID. In a way, it was a good thing for me, because 

places like Second City in Chicago, which had previously 

only offered in-person classes, began offering classes 

online.” Ellen developed a community of comedy mentors. 

“I follow several comedians online.” 


I HOPE THE TAKEAWAY 

IS THAT ANYONE CAN 

CALL JESUS AT ANY TIME 

AND TELL HIM ANYTHING. 

HE DOESN’T MIND 

BEING BOTHERED. 

During COVID-19, she wanted to bring some joy into the dark 

struggles she saw the world facing. “I thought of all the times Jesus 

has walked me through pain and heartache (and even during hot 

flashes), so I decided to share that message with others.” She began 

making thirty-second videos and posting them to Instagram. In the 

videos, Ellen holds a television remote control in her hand and “calls” 

Jesus with comments and questions as well as her request not to 

make her an “advanced maternal age mama – again.” Her humor 

came out more and more with each “call.” She asked Jesus to bless 

her food to someone else’s body and advice on what nursing home 

plans to make when she was just eight years past her first “geriatric 

pregnancy.” 

“Jesus has a sense of humor,” Ellen asserts, “and He wants us to 

come to Him for all things. So many people say they don’t know how 

to pray. I tell them to just start talking to Jesus like they’d talk to a 

friend because Jesus is the best friend they’ll ever have.” 

In January 2022, Ellen posted her first comedic reel, which was 

a combination of many of her Instagram posts. “I prayed that the 

Lord would do something so big with this that it could only be God. 

I wasn’t as concerned with numbers – I wanted my message to 

reach the right people,” she says. She quickly reached 25,000 

followers, and she was contacted by Shannon Marven, president 

of Dupree Miller, who asked if she had ever thought about writing a 

book. “Shannon has a lot of high-profile clients on her roster. She told 

me it is fun for her to discover new talent on the internet.” Shannon 

helped Ellen sculpt her proposal, and it was not long before Ellen 

got a book deal. “I signed with Hatchette on their Worthy imprint.” 

The book is called Hey Jesus, It’s Me, and it will be published in 

September. “I’m proud of the book,” she says. “I started with my most 

viral videos. I took those sketches and wrote the meat behind the 

stories. I hope the takeaway is that anyone can call Jesus at any time 

and tell him anything. He doesn’t mind being bothered. The book was 

inspired by my Mississippi life and my adventures of moving from 

Madison to Nashville to Birmingham. I talk about a lot of Southern things 

including funerals. My agent said it’s a book that makes Southern 

women proud to be Southern, and others will wish they were.” 

Now, Ellen has a manager, and she works hard to keep her social 

media current. “It’s like putting together a puzzle,” she laughs. Ellen 

will be doing a book tour when the book comes out, including a 

big launch in the Jackson area. “Oh, it’s going to be big. It will be 

a celebration with a cocktail party, and I’ll do a Q&A session.” 

Meanwhile, Ellen has had time to get back on the stage at a 

comedy club in Birmingham called Stardom. “I rented a room just 

to see how it would go, and I sold out four shows!” 

Learn more about Ellen on her website. www.ellenskrmetti.com. 

Links to all her social media sites are found on the website. 

82 • MAY 2024

APRIL 11 

BELHAVEN 

TOWN CENTER 


84 • MAY 2024


Strawberry Lemonade 

• 1 lb. strawberries, 

plus more to garnish 

• 1½ cups granulated sugar 

• 2 cups fresh lemon juice, 

strained and divided 

• Ice 

• Lemon slices for garnish 

Hull and quarter the strawberries. 

Place the strawberries in a large 

bowl, stir in the sugar and ¼ cup 

lemon juice. Allow to sit covered for 

30 minutes. In a countertop blender, 

blend the strawberry mixture until 

pureed. Strain the mixture 

through a fine mesh 

sieve to get remove 

seeds. In a large bowl, 

combine the strawberry 

puree with the remaining 

1¾ cups of lemon juice 

and 4 cups of water. Add 

up to 1 additional cup of 

water to taste if the mixture 

is too sweet or strong. 

To serve, stir the lemonade, 

and pour over ice. Garnish 

with sliced lemon and 

strawberries. 

Easy Pasta Salad 

• 3 cups uncooked fusilli pasta 

• 2 heaping cups halved 

cherry tomatoes 

• 1½ cooked chickpeas, 

drained and rinsed 

• 2 cups arugula 

• 1 cup cucumbers, sliced 

into thin half moons 

• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 

• 1 cup basil leaves, torn 

• ½ cup minced parsley 

• ½ cup chopped mint 

• ¼ cup toasted pine nuts 

Prepare pasta according to package 

directions. Drain, toss with a little 

olive oil (so that it does not stick 

together), and let it cool to room 

temperature. Transfer to a large bowl 

with tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, 

cucumbers, feta cheese, basil, 

parsley, mint, and pine nuts. Add 

dressing and toss to coat. Season to 

taste with more lemon, salt, pepper, 

and/or drizzle olive, if desired, 

and serve. 

Dressing 

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 

• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice 

• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 

• 3 garlic cloves, minced 

• 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning 

• ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes 

• ¼ tsp. sea salt 

In a small bowl, whisk together all 

ingredients. 

Southern Pimento 

and Cheese 

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 

• ½ cup mayonnaise 

• 1 4 oz. jar diced pimento, drained 

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, 

and minced (optional) 

• ¼ tsp. garlic powder 

• ¼ tsp. ground cayenne pepper 

(optional) 

• ¼ tsp. onion powder 

• Salt and black pepper to taste 

Mix all ingredients until thoroughly 

combined. Season to taste with 

black pepper. Enjoy with your 

favorite crackers! 

86 • MAY 2024

Deviled Eggs 

• 12 whole boiled eggs 

• ½ cup mayonnaise 

• 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard 

• 2 tsp. dill pickle juice 

• ¼ tsp. kosher salt 

• ¼ tsp. black pepper 

• Hot sauce, optional 

• Ground paprika, for sprinkling 

• Chopped chives, optional 

Peel eggs, and cut in half lengthwise. 

Remove yolks from the egg halves, 

and place them into a bowl. Mash 

yolks with a fork until they are broken 

up. Add mayonnaise, mustard, pickle 

juice, salt, pepper and a few drops of 

hot sauce, if desired. Stir to combine; 

mixture should be mostly smooth. 

Spoon mixture into a zip-top plastic 

bag, and snip ¼ inch of one of the 

bottom corners. Pipe the mixture into 

the egg white halves. Sprinkle eggs 

with paprika, and chill the eggs in an 

airtight container until ready to eat. 

Chef’s Salad on a Stick 

• 4 hardboiled eggs 

• ½ English cucumber 

• 2 oz. deli ham, thick cut 

• 2 oz. deli turkey breast, thick cut 

• 2 oz. deli roast beef, thick cut 

• 8 oz. Swiss cheese block 

• 1 head red lettuce 

• 16 grape tomatoes 

• 8 large green olives 

• 8 12-inch skewers 

• Ranch dressing 

• black pepper 

Cut each egg into four pieces. Slice 

cucumbers lengthwise, then cut into 

half circles, about a half inch thick. 

Cut ham, turkey, and roast beef slices 

lengthwise into 1-inch-wide strips. 

Roll each strip into a pinwheel. Cut 

Swiss cheese block into 16 squares. 

Alternating pieces, place two pieces 

each of cheese, cucumber, tomato 

and egg; 1 pinwheel each of ham, 

turkey, and roast beef; and three 

pieces of lettuce, each folded up into a 

bundle, on each skewer. Finish each 

skewer with one green olive. Serve on 

a platter drizzled with ranch dressing 

and sprinkled with black pepper. 

Ham Sandwiches 

with Quick Pickles 

• 2 small to medium Kirby 

cucumbers 

• ½ cup distilled white vinegar 

• ½ cup sugar 

• 2 tsp. pickling spice 

• 1 Tbsp. kosher salt 

• Pinch of cayenne pepper 

• 8 large slices of crusty white bread 

• ¾ cup Miracle Whip 

• 4 large leaves iceberg lettuce 

• 1 lb. country ham 

• Freshly ground black pepper 

Pickles 

Cut off the tops and bottoms of the 

cucumbers, then slice the ¼ inch 

thick. Put in a small heatproof bowl. 

Bring vinegar, sugar, pickling spice, 

salt, cayenne and ½ cup water to 

simmer in a medium saucepan over 

medium heat, stirring occasionally to 

dissolve the sugar. Remove from the 

heat, and pour over the cucumber 

slices. Press the cucumbers down so 

they are completely submerged. Let 

cool to room temperature, about 45 

minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and 

refrigerate until cold, at least 1 ½ 

hours and up to 5 days. 

Sandwiches 

Lay four bread slices on a cutting 

board, and spread each slice with 

2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip. Top with a 

lettuce leaf and some ham. Drain 

pickles, and pile on top of the ham. 

Season generously with black pepper. 

Corn Salad 

• 4 large ears of yellow corn, shucked 

or 4 cups of drained, canned corn 

• 2 plum tomatoes, chopped 

• 1 avocado, peeled and chopped 

• 1 cup chopped red onion 

• 1 jalapeno stemmed and chopped 

• ½ cup chopped cilantro, 

plus leaves for garnish 

• ½ cup crumbled queso fresco, 

plus more for garnish 

• Lime wedges, for serving 

Salad 

Add corn to a large pot of water, 

season generously with salt and boil 

for three minutes. Let cool to room 

temperature. Slice kernels off the 

cobb. (You should have about four 

cups of corn). In a large bowl, gently 

toss corn, tomatoes, avocado, red 

onion, jalapeno, chopped cilantro, 

and queso fresco. Drizzle with 

dressing, and toss gently to coat. 

Sprinkle more cilantro, queso fresco, 

and chipotle chili powder. Serve with 

lime wedges. 

Dressing 

• ¼ cup sour cream 

• 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise 

• 2 Tbsp. lime juice 

• 2 tsp. hot sauce 

• ¾ tsp. kosher salt 

• ½ tsp. chipotle chili powder, 

plus more for garnish 

• ¼ tsp. ground cumin 

• ¼ tsp. black pepper 

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients 

with 1 Tbsp. water. 


ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT 

Like it never 

even 

happened. 

To see more 

of what 

SERVPRO of 

Jackson & Madison 

County offers, 

follow the QR code 

below 

SERVPRO of Jackson 

& Madison County 

Local Experts with Local Roots 

When disaster strikes, you need a 

partner who understands the value 

of home and community. 

88 • MAY 2024

SERVPRO of Jackson & Madison County is 

not just a business. We are an operation rooted 

in central Mississippi, and family-owned and 

operated by Robby and Gisele Hansbrough, 

who raised their three daughters in the area 

and know firsthand the importance of keeping 

a home safe and comfortable. This personal 

experience drives their commitment to helping 

others during times of crisis. 

With a comprehensive range of services 

- from fire and water damage restoration to 

mold remediation - and substantial equipment 

to handle any size project, SERVPRO of 

Jackson & Madison County is ready to tackle 

any emergency. We also offer construction 

services to rebuild and renew, ensuring your 

home or business returns to its best shape. 

When you choose SERVPRO, you’re not just 

hiring a service - you’re gaining a partner who 

genuinely cares about your well-being and 

peace of mind. 

SERVPRO of Jackson & Madison County 

Your partner in restoration and construction 

We are Mississippi’s - and a leader 

nationwide - choice for cleanup, restoration, 

and construction and offer 24/7 emergency 

response for residential and commercial 

properties. Our comprehensive services 

include: 

• Water Damage Restoration 

• Water removal and drying 

• Assistance with insurance claims 

• Prevention of further damage and 

mold growth 

Fire Damage Restoration 

• Assessment of fire and smoke damage 

• Removal of water from firefighting efforts 

• Cleaning smoke and soot from carpets 

and upholstery 

Storm Damage Restoration 

• Cleanup of storm debris and floodwater 

• Board-up to secure the property 

HVAC Duct Cleaning 

Commercial & Residential 

• Removal of dirt, debris, allergens, and pollen 

• Regular duct maintenance of HVAC systems 

• Improved air quality and system efficiency 

• Odor removal and deodorization 

Construction 

• Debris removal and site cleanup 

• Repair and reconstruction services 

• Remodeling and renovations 

Specialty Cleaning 

• Biohazard and crime scene cleanup 

• Vandalism and graffiti removal 

The SERVPRO of Jackson & Madison 

County team is led by Alyssa and Joseph Gray, 

the Hansbrough’s daughter and son-in-law, 

who bring a unique blend of family values and 

professional expertise. Alyssa and Joseph 

ensure every customer feels like part of the 

SERVPRO family. This culture of compassion is 

reflected in everything they do, from restoration 

and construction, to community involvement. 

The franchise actively participates in local 

events, school events, and charitable activities, 

reinforcing its deep ties to central Mississippi. 

With a history of serving the community since 

1967, they have earned the trust of countless 

residents and business owners. 

If you ever need restoration or construction 

services, SERVPRO of Jackson & Madison 

County is just a phone call away at 601-353-2286. 

We are committed to ensuring a seamless 

transition from damage mitigation to reconstruction, 

making any disaster “Like it never 

even happened.” 


90 • MAY 2024

Cochon de laroti 

APRIL 25 

Celebration on being named 

Best Independent Living by US News. 

Here are a few facts that set us apart from others 

across the United States…the fact that 98% of our 

residents would recommend The Orchard to their 

friends and family is outstanding. 

98% of our residents feel confidence in the 

Licensed Nursing staffs knowledge and skills in 

medical care. And 94% of our residents are satisfied 

with the quality and consistency of the food. 

“ We love what we do here at The Orchard and 

it shows. We are fortunate to have the best staff, 

their love and compassion is the reason why we 

are the best. It takes a team and we all have the 

same goal in mind, providing the best care 

possible for our residents. 


SALUTE 

to First Responders 

What made you decide to work as a first responder? 

When I was in college, I was drum major. During the award ceremony 

at a competition we hosted, one of our band members had a medical 

emergency and the band instructor advised me and another drum 

major. We went to the member and stayed with him until EMS arrived. 

This sparked my interest in the emergency medical services. 

How long have you been with Pafford EMS? 

One year as an EMT and two years as a paramedic. 


My mother was the county attorney for Alcorn County until she 

suffered a heart attack that resulted in her retirement. My father owns 

a machine shop in Corinth. His work ethic keeps me motivated and 

inspired to work to the best of my ability every day. My younger 

brother is twenty-one and is currently a student at Ole Miss, where 

he studies music education and is a member of the band. 

What is the toughest thing you have experienced 

in your job? 

The hardest thing I experience are calls that involve children. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I deeply enjoy going to a shooting range for target practice, working out 

at the gym, experimenting with recipes and new foods, and socializing 

with friends and family. 

Drew 

Paramedic 

PHILLIPS 

PAFFORD EMS 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

I would like to go to Europe, be a mountain search and rescue medic, 

and take my dad hunting for big game in Montana. 

SPONSORED BY 

92 • MAY 2024

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I admire my father. He works very hard to provide for his 

family and gives great life advice. He will give the shirt off his 

back to help someone in need. Overall, he is the kindest, most 

polite, and most knowledgeable man I know. 

What advice would you give to a young person? 

“Find something you love doing, and you will never work a day 

in your life.” - Glen Phillips. My father quoted this to me growing 

up, which has helped me find my employment today. 

What is your favorite thing about Madison 

County? 

My favorite thing is how easily accessible everything is here. 


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94 • MAY 2024


L IKE US 

THANKS TO ALL OUR READERS & ADVERTISERS. 

WE APPRECIATE YOU! 

96 • MAY 2024

TheTime COIN 

Camille Anding 

The topic was Heaven, and the conversation was lively; 

it usually is when people take time to consider the next step after death. 

There is always the customary list: Will we know our family and friends? Will we get to eat? What will our 

new bodies be like? How about work and jobs? 

The questions from Sunday school members were kindled during the tape series recorded by a respected 

and notable pastor in our denomination. His facts were authenticated by scripture, so the lesson was interesting 

and beneficial. 

A forever body is more than my imagination can capture, but living eternally in one that will never ache, 

break, or wrinkle is wonderfully fascinating. I once read in one of those near-death-experience books that our 

eyes will see added colors with greater brilliance. The book of John describes Jesus in a post-resurrection 

appearance to His disciples in His forever body, but the doors are locked in the room where He appears. 

Does this suggest there are additional dimensions that our new bodies will experience and navigate? 

The following Monday, I walked around our back yard looking for signs of resurrection in some of my 

dormant plants and perennials. I planted a small dogwood before the last frigid temps, and I stopped to 

examine it for signs of life. Near the base of the sleeping dogwood was a tiny, three-inch oak tree. I bent over, 

and with a jerk, pulled it from its earthly mooring. There it was! The Lord was giving me a living interpretation 

concerning our “corruptible bodies being raised incorruptible,” and “It is sown a natural body; 

it is raised a spiritual body.” 

Attached to the base of the tiny tree was an acorn – the tree’s original body, but the small 

tree had no resemblance to it. The acorn had to be buried and die an acorn to be “resurrected” 

as a living oak tree. 

If any of our neighbors happened to witness me inspecting that tiny phenomenon, they 

would never imagine the theological breakthrough I was making. Certainly, it was a simple 

prototype of something much more complex, but it brought clearer meaning to the picture of death. 

Death! O, yes. It is the stalking enemy, the dark prerequisite for leaving this world. Death is a fact that 

always comes attached to every life. It always has its turn. However, the believer has a resurrection verse from the 

apostle Paul who asks death a question it can’t answer: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 

Then Christians resound, “But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

98 • MAY 2024

Madison524web

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