Hometown Brandon - Summer 2017

volume 4 number 3 

Summer 2017 

General Jo 

______________________ 

Making Sweet Memories 

______________________ 

The Big Lap

If something 

happened to 

the two of us, 

who would 

be responsible 

for him? 

WE HELP MOMS AND DADS PLAN FOR LIFE’S CURVE BALLS. 

12 Woodgate Drive, Suite F • Brandon, MS • 601.724.1870 • palmerslay.com 

Christopher P. Palmer chris.palmer@palmerslay.com / Craig L. Slay craig.slay@palmerslay.com

Hometown Brandon • 3

4 • Summer 2017

Publisher & Editor 

Tahya Dobbs 

CFO 

Kevin Dobbs 

CONSULTing editor 

Mary Ann Kirby 

Account ExecutiveS 

Dacia Durr Amis 

Administrative Assistants 

Alisha Floyd 

Brenda McCall 

Staff Photographer 

Othel Anding 

Contributing 

Photographers 

Charla Jordan 

Contributing Writers 

Camille Anding 

Jonathan Barnes 

Beth Bowman 

Kyle Brown 

Charla Jordan 

James Kelly 

Melanie McMillan 

Beth Reiss 

Cate Rodgers 

Suzanne Ross 

Layout Design 

3dt 

Advertising Design 

Leah Mitchener 

I flip the calendar to June and before I see the highlights attached to that month, I immediately think 

of Father’s Day. These men represent people holding powerful influence over their children. Hometown 

Rankin salutes all those special fathers who have invested their most precious gift in their children–the gift 

of time. 

Right behind Father’s Day comes VBS. What wonderful memories I have of Kool-Aid, cookies, and 

getting my turn to carry the Bible or flag during the processional. My thoughts and prayers go with all those 

volunteers and young hearts being molded. 

June also heeds vacation days and sunburns at the pool. Add snow cones and lots of watermelon to finish 

off a full month. 

July is flag-waving month, and it’s our honor to highlight the Crossgates 

Exchange Club’s special patriotic flag weekend. Mark your calendars 

to visit this red, white, and blue experience. Then grill some burgers or 

hotdogs and celebrate our nation’s freedom. What a blessing! 

The calendar turns quickly for those of us working with deadlines, 

but we at Hometown Magazines treasure our opportunity to journal those 

events that fill our pages. 

Thank you, readers and advertisers. We celebrate 

you, too! 

www.facebook.com 

/hometownbrandonmagazine 

On the cover: Statue of Steven Power at Shiloh Park 

www.HTMags.com 

Contact us at 

info@htmags.com 

601.706.4059 

26 Eastgate Drive, Suite F 

Brandon, MS 39042 

• • • 

Hometown Brandon is published by Hometown 

Magazines. All rights reserved. No portion of 

Hometown Brandon may be reproduced 

without written permission from the publisher. 

The management of Hometown Brandon is not 

responsible for opinions expressed by its 

writers or editors. All communications sent to 

our editorial staff are subject to publication and 

the unrestricted right to be refused, or to be 

edited and/or editorially commented on. All 

advertisements are subject to approval by the 

publisher. The production of Hometown Brandon 

is funded by advertising. 

In this issue The Way We Were ....................6 

Genaral Jo ........................ 10 

A Baseball Legacy ................. 12 

United We Stand .................. 18 

Making Sweet Memories.......22 

The Big Lap....................... 26 

Black Rose Theater ................ 38 

The Value of Rankin County......... 42 

The Mississippi Law Journal ...... 48w 


The 

way 

were. 

we 

Brigadier General Rebecca Wade & 

Command Sergeant Major Sam Wade 

“Solid friendships make for lasting 

marriages.” That’s what Rebecca and 

Sam Wade believe because it’s been their 

rewarding experience. 

After graduating from high school in 

Carthage, Mississippi, Rebecca went on to 

earn her nursing degree plus a masters. In 

1976, a friend who worked in the ER with 

Rebecca joined the military and persuaded 

Rebecca to do the same. 

Meanwhile, Sam had already begun his 

military career after graduating from Central 

High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and 

enlisting in the army 

after a semester at 

Memphis University. 

In 1982, Sam’s path 

crossed with Rebecca’s 

during a National 

Guard summer camp. 

Rebecca was working in the 

dispensary, and Sam went there to confirm 

that his unit was assigned a medical officer. 

Rebecca was not in, but Sam still remembers 

how the fragrance of her perfume filled the 

room. When he returned, Rebecca was 

confronting a young 

lieutenant doctor in “military style.” Sam’s 

respect was immediate! 

Rebecca remembers Sam’s professional 

manners and look - “dressed to detail.” 


“I knew we would be friends,” she said 

when describing their first meeting. 

In the military years that followed, their 

friendship grew within the parameters of 

army rules which stated that all enlisted 

dating was frowned upon. When Sam 

retired in 1995, they began dating as they 

continued building their friendship. 

They recall their long walks in Strawberry 

Park in Clinton where their long talks 

knitted their hearts more closely. On 

October 18, 1997, they sealed their friendship 

with vows and wedding rings. In their 

pre-marital counseling, Dr. James Street 

gave them two keys for growing their 

relationship: 1) tithe every payday and 2) 

continue to date. They are living testimonials 

to his sound advice. 

Sam has his own advice for couples 

considering marriage: “Become good friends 

first; too many people rush into marriage. 

It takes time to build friendships.” 

Rebecca shared additional advice, “Don’t 

go into marriage with debt; be free of 

financial obligations as much as possible.” 

The strength of Rebecca and Sam’s 

bond permeates the room like that special 

fragrance that filled the military dispensary 

years ago. Her being a “really good listener” 

and his exhibiting “true southern gentlemen 

qualities” continue to strengthen their 

marriage. 

Even Sam’s rank of command sergeant 

major being lower than Rebecca’s rank as 

brigadier general hasn’t been a negative 

factor in their relationship. Sam explains, 

“I always get the last word, and it’s always 

‘Yes mam!’” 

n 

“I knew 

we would 

be friends.” 





General Jo 

Melanie McMillan 

Spend a little time in the company of Brandon resident Jo Leslie 

and you are sure to feel inspired by her energy and compassion. 

The 87-year-old brigadier general and retired nurse lives at Peachtree 

Village, her caring spirit towards friends and fellow residents a 

continuation of a life well lived. 

Jo’s story begins near Kosciusko, Mississippi, in the small town 

of Thomastown. Jo was the baby of the family and grew up working 

on a farm alongside her siblings and sharecropper parents. It was a 

hard life, but one she says she wouldn’t trade for anything. It was 

during the early years of her life that she determined she would be a 

nurse. “From the time I could talk, that’s what I wanted to do,” she 

says. “I don’t remember ever wanting to be anything else.” 

After high school, Jo enrolled in the Mississippi Baptist School 

of Nursing. Her education lasted three years and was very regimented, 

her every minute planned for her. As it turned out, it was good 

training for what would come later. Upon her graduation in 1951, 

she went to work in the emergency department at Baptist Hospital. 

Fast forward a few years. The previously all-male Army National 

Guard was now allowing women to join, thanks to a law passed by 

Congress. There were a few stipulations, however. In order to join, 

women had to be under the age of 40, unmarried, and be a 

registered nurse. Jo Leslie fit the bill, and in 1959 she became one 

of the first women to join the Mississippi Army National Guard 

Nurse Corps. She went on to become the chief nurse and achieved 

the rank of brigadier general. In 1992, having served for 33 years, 

she says, “I called myself retired.” 

Retirement didn’t last long for “General Jo”. General Jack 

Vance, head of the Veterans Affairs Board in Mississippi, called 

Jo one day and requested a meeting. At that meeting General 

Vance asked Jo if she would be willing to serve on the veterans 

affairs board. Her first inclination was to politely decline, but what 

he said next changed her mind. “Jo, the veterans need you.” And 

so, the previously “retired” General Jo went back to work, her chief 

job being to shape up the veterans nursing homes in Mississippi. 

She did just that, working tirelessly for fifteen years, improving 

the quality of all four nursing homes in the state. In July of 2013, 

the veterans home in Kosciusko was renamed The Martha Jo Leslie 

State Veterans Home, honoring the years of service Jo gave to the 

veterans of Mississippi. Friends, family, and state and local 

dignitaries were in attendance for the ceremony. People Jo had 

grown up with were there to celebrate their hometown hero. 

“It was a great day,” Jo says. 

Although she’s officially retired, Jo still spends her days caring 

for others. She and other residents and employees have created a 

beautiful courtyard garden, a relaxing place to enjoy a cup of coffee 

in the morning or visit with friends on sunny afternoons. For those 

residents with limited mobility, Jo is there to help them get out to 

the courtyard, believing that everyone should be able to enjoy the 

outdoors. The desire to care for others that drove her to become a 

nurse is alive and well, and her optimism and cheerfulness are 

contagious. “I’ve had a good life,” Jo says, and for those who are 

blessed to know her, she makes life good. n 



A 

Baseball 

Legacy 

Beth Bowman 

The statue of the little boy 

playing baseball is an indelible 

mark in the minds of so many 

people who have visited Shiloh 

Park. This statue is representative 

of a special little guy who was 

an almost-constant presence at 

the Shiloh baseball fields. He lost 

his life in a hunting accident on 

February 17, 2002 when he was 

ten days away from his 10th 

birthday. The little boy’s name 

was Steven Power and he leaves 

a baseball legacy that lives on. 

Steven loved to play baseball 

and had a gift for the sport. In his 

almost-ten years he had played 

several positions on his teams; first, second, third, short, and 

outfield–but by far, pitching was his all-time favorite position. 

His coaches remember him as being hard-working, dedicated 

and focused. 

Shane King is a resident of Brandon and he loves 

baseball more than anything–except God and his family. 

He had heard about Steven from his wife, Suzanne. She 

was a former babysitter of Steven’s and a good friend of the 

Power family. Shane’s team had 

played the previous month in a 

memorial tournament in Jackson 

but the next time he passed the 

statue he thought, “What if I can 

organize a baseball tournament 

in Brandon that honors Steven’s 

memory?” 

With that one thought in 

mind, and an uncanny ability 

to garner support, Shane began 

work on the first Steven Power 

Memorial Tournament for U-10 

boys. Lee Pickett, Brandon 

tournament director, with the 

assistance of the City of Brandon 

Recreation Department, began 

to work alongside Shane to make the dream of a memorial 

tournament come true. Their hard work and dedication 

paid off as 25 teams registered to play in the two-day 

tournament held at Shiloh Park on March 18-19, 2017. 

Valerie and Gene Power, Steven’s parents, were on 

hand to watch the tournament and Valerie threw out the 

first pitch. Before she tossed the ball, she warned everyone 

that the ball might be “a little bit outside of the box”. 



The catcher adjusted quickly 

to catch the ball off Valerie’s 

pitch and the tournament 

began. 

Several years ago, the 

baseball team from the year 

Steven would have graduated 

from Brandon High School 

sent cards and letters to the family. One player wrote these 

words of comfort, “Life is short, but friends and memories 

last forever”. These words and many others have served 

as a special reminder to Gene and Valerie that their son is 

not forgotten. 

More importantly than baseball, Steven left a legacy 

of his faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. I had the privilege of 

being his children’s minister and watch him grow in his 

understanding of God’s plan in sending His Son. His parents 

investment in his spiritual nurturing, his brother’s example 

and his love for the Lord 

provided the background 

for Steven as he trusted Christ 

as Savior at our annual Kid 

Kamp in 2001. The decision 

to become a Christian gave 

Steven the peace of God’s 

guidance in his life and the 

assurance of eventual home in heaven. 

The current plans for Steven’s statue is to move it to 

the city’s new fields located on Boyce Thompson Drive. 

Shane is currently working to set up a fund at Trustmark 

Bank that will aid in the relocation of the statue and serve 

as a financial base for the annual event. The fields are 

set to open in 2018 and there’s no doubt that the statue 

will continue to remind baseball players and their 

families of the legacy and heritage of Steven Power. n 




United We Stand: 

In 2013, the City of Brandon began to look 

at events that were successful and others that 

needed improvement or areas where a new 

event could be added. July 4th, Independence 

Day, stuck out as a date that Brandon, nor any 

other surrounding city, truly celebrated. That 

is when officials from the City of Brandon, 

David Prevost of Brandon Baptist Church, 

and John Clendinning of First Baptist Church 

sat down and discussed creating a 4th of July 

program that emphasized God and country. 

After countless hours of preparation and 

practicing, United We Stand: Tribute of Praise 

to God & Country was held on July 3rd, 2013, 

with Brandon Baptist, First Baptist, and 

Oakdale Baptist performing the music. As 

years have passed, more family fun has been 

added like Dunk-a-Chief where participants 

can line up at the dunking booth for a chance 

of dunking either the chief of police or fire 

chief. The Exchange Club of Brandon has 

passed out watermelon to attendees. 2016 was 

extremely special when, under the direction of 

David Young, a patriotic orchestra was added. 

Every year the 4th of July celebration grows 

and last year this event brought over 3,000 

to Shiloh Park. 


Tribute of Praise 

to God & Country 

Kyle Brown 

This year even more local churches are 

participating at the event that will be held on 

Thursday, June 29th. Members from Brandon 

Baptist, Crossgates Methodist, First Baptist, Grace 

Baptist, and Brandon First United Methodist 

will be present in the chorus. Everyone will enjoy 

patriotic music, an opportunity to play games with 

local businesses and city departments, over a 

dozen inflatables for children of all ages, and a 

stunning firework display to end the evening. 

One Brandon business that has participated 

every year at God & Country is McAlister’s 

Deli. This year’s event will have an increased 

importance to Audrey Coley and the employees 

at the Brandon store. United We Stand occurs 

on McAlister’s Free Tea Day. Audrey and her 

staff will help kick off a day of celebrating by 

offering free tea, music, and entertainment. 

Make sure you swing by McAlister’s before or 

after the event. 

United We Stand: Tribute of Praise to God 

& Country 2017 will begin with registration for 

the Black Rose Theater Bike Parade at 6pm. 

The bike parade will begin at 6:45 with bikes 

judged by the Brandon Garden Club. The 

musical presentation will start at 7:30 and 

the fireworks will close out the evening 

around dusk. 


BRANDON COURT 

It was an eventful gathering for Brandon Court Nursing Home on April 21st. The staff invited firemen, police, 

and city officials to meet and greet the Brandon Court residents. The response was gratifying and enjoyable for all 

the participants. That familiar adage is true: It’s never wasted or squandered time when we share it with others. 



22 • Summer 2017 

the Cumbest family

Crossgates United Methodist Pastor Chris Cumbest has lived in 

Rankin County for three years, but his story begins in the southeast 

part of the state. He and his three siblings were raised by their mom 

and dad on a small farm in Cumbest Bluff, Mississippi, off Highway 63. 

Chris was called to the ministry 

shortly after he and his wife Sheila 

married, and pastored his first church 

at the ripe old age of 21. After 

completing their undergraduate 

degrees at the University of Southern 

Mississippi, the couple moved to 

North Carolina where they both 

enrolled in Duke Seminary. The 

Cumbests have been in ministry ever 

since, serving in churches in North 

Carolina and all over Mississippi. 

Chris also served for a year and a 

half as the coordinator of church 

recovery following Hurricane 

Katrina, helping those affected by 

the storm. Through storms and 

times of growth and change, Chris 

says he feels like God has shown him 

a theme of his ministry. 

“If there’s been one thing that’s characterized my ministry, it’s being in the midst of transition or crisis, 

and being there to help churches stabilize and see them through difficult times.” 


For many years now, the Cumbest family has 

been involved in a different kind of transition, the 

kind that takes a field of sugar cane and turns it 

into delicious cane syrup. It began with Chris’s dad, 

Otis Cumbest, and his friends Bobby D. Kennedy 

and Frank Hamilton. Mr. Bobby D, as he is known, 

has long been a craftsman and collector. “He’s 

restored all kinds of things. His house and barn 

are like a museum,” says Chris. One of the things 

Mr. Bobby D collected is a genuine cane mill, run 

on old-fashioned horse power. Luckily he also 

has horses. With Mr. Frank’s cooking expertise 

and sugar cane from the Cumbest family farm, 

the three friends began making their own syrup. 

The syrup-making venture soon became a 

family affair and is now a Thanksgiving weekend 

tradition. While others watch football or shop 

the sales, the Kennedy and Cumbest families 

make syrup. Chris’s dad and Mr. Frank have since 

passed away, but their children and grandchildren 

ensure that their legacy lives on. Chris and Sheila 

have two grown children, Elizabeth and Jesse, 

and they, along with Elizabeth’s husband Phillip, 

help with the syrup making every year. Making 

biscuits for dipping in the syrup, Sheila continues 

the tradition begun by her mother-in-law. 

Friends and even strangers show up to feed cane 

into the mill or just watch the process. Local 

musicians have even been known to make an 

appearance, and a sing-a-long inevitably ensues. 


Although the big event takes place over 

Thanksgiving weekend, the work actually begins 

in October, when dead leaves are cut off the 

stalks. One week before Thanksgiving, the sugar 

cane is cut and put on a trailer to dry. It’s then 

taken to the Kennedy farm where family and 

friends feed the cane into the mill to squeeze out 

the juice. The juice is cooked for approximately 

8 hours, and takes the cook’s full attention and 

plenty of patience. The last year that Mr. Frank 

cooked the syrup, he insisted that Chris watch 

closely, as though he sensed it would be the last 

time. He died the following spring, and Chris, the 

willing apprentice, has been the cook ever since. 

What began as three friends making syrup 

together has grown into a community event, and 

the family understands it’s about more than a 

few jars of syrup. “It’s about keeping the tradition 

and making sure it lives on,” Chris says. No doubt 

this family will be making sweet memories for 

years to come. n 



Camille Anding

Jeff Farris 

was only six-years old 

when his grandfather 

and Aunt Jean Farris 

ordained Jeff’s 

future and career. 

His granddad built a family tennis court 

at their home in Morton, Mississippi, and his 

Aunt Jean gave him his first tennis challenge. 

She handed young Jeff a tennis racket 

and ball and said, “When you can bounce 

this on your racket ten times, I’ll give you a 

dollar.” Jeff answered the challenge, earned 

his dollar and caught the tennis bug that’s 

remained “chronic!” 

Jeff reminisces about his middle and 

high school years with great fondness and 

appreciation. His parents and two sisters, 

along with Jeff, moved to North Lake Drive 

in Brandon during the first year of Jeff’s 

middle school. When he walked in his middle 

school classroom, the present Learning Center, 

he expected to see only strangers. To his delight, 

he quickly recognized Jason Townsend, a 

Camp Wesley Pines camper that Jeff had 

met a summer before and had been writing 

as a pen pal. Life was off to a great start in 

his new hometown. 

Three years later, his family moved to 

Eastgate Subdivision on Dawnview Drive. 

He describes it as a “fun street.” Members of 

his church youth group of Crossgates United 

Methodist Church, along with other friends, 

lived on his street. Together they made lasting 

memories at Crossgates pool, in church, 

and fishing and boating on Crossgates Lake. 

It was positive small-town life. 

The “big lap” was a familiar term among 

middle school classmates who participated 

in P.E. Every day their instructor would shout, 

“Big lap!” That meant running around the 

school’s boundaries, including the big hill. 

Jeff remembers it as a tough challenge but a 

part of the training that he needed for his 

budding tennis career. 

He recalls playing tennis with an insatiable 

desire to improve in the sport that he could 

play through a lifetime. Coach Scott Huskey 

took over the tennis program Jeff’s senior 

year, and Jeff is convinced the new coach put 


Brandon High School tennis on the map. 

Academics were an integral piece of Jeff’s 

tennis plans, and Mrs. Lee Tucker held him 

accountable. She was his computer and 

accounting teacher who inspired him while 

being a “good-listening” friend. 

Jeff prizes the special relationship that he 

and his dad shared growing up in Brandon. 

“We traveled to all kinds of sporting events 

together. Seeing the Atlanta Braves win the 

World Series in 1995 was a special highlight.” 

While they enjoyed sitting together as 

sports spectators, Jeff appreciated being 

chauffeured by his mom to all the tennis 

lessons and matches. “She kept me going 

and motivated,” he says of his mom. 

A life lesson that Jeff learned from his 

dad has been key to making friends. “My dad 

stressed the importance of speaking to people. 

‘Always shake their hand and speak a kind 

word,’” Jeff remembers being instructed. “I 

think it’s a big deal,” he continued, “because 

we are so caught up in our cell phones and 

other technologies.” 

When asked what comes to mind when he 

hears the word Brandon, he said, “Brandon 

Bulldogs, Crossgates United Methodist Church, 

Crossgates Lake, Brandon Day, Brandon’s 

own Miss America, and a wonderful town, 

rich in history.” 

An outstanding high school tennis record 

earned Jeff a college scholarship to Delta State 

University where he continued to excel in his 

beloved sport. He was named the 2001 Gulf 

Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and 

a two-time All GSC selection as a tennis 

student-athlete at Delta State University. 

In 2016, he was selected to head the Lady 

Statesman and Statesman Tennis program and 

also remain as Delta State’s director of alumni 

affairs. He continues to play league tennis at 

level 5.0 and was recently elected vice-president/ 

president elect of the Mississippi Tennis 

Association. 

He and wife, Stephanie (Batchelor) Farris, 

have a four-year-old son, Keegan. Their 

aspiring offspring already has a tennis racket 

just his size. 

For all the curious tennis buffs, Jeff’s overall 

favorite tennis player is Michael Chang with 

Andre Agassi coming in second. The answer 

to what’s the difference between a great tennis 

player and an average one, Jeff says, “It’s mental 

toughness and the fitness level. Both are key.” 

It appears Jeff is still on his “big lap” in his 

athletic career. There will be some tough hills 

and long straightaways, but he’s destined to 

make friends along the way and always have 

room for a tennis game – plus great memories 

of his wonderful hometown. n 


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BRANDON PUBLIC LIBRARY 

1475 W. GOV. ST • (601) 825-2672 • brandonatcmrls.lib.ms.us 

Congratulations to the Brandon Public Library 

for being named Central Mississippi Regional Library System 

Branch of the Year - Large Division - 2017 

June-July-August 2017 Events 

Summer Reading Signup For Children and Adults 

Starting May 22 Kids, make sure to get your registration bag with a 

reading log, activity dates, and more! Adults, be sure to get your yard 

stick when you sign up for summer reading! 

Summer Reading Weekly Events (organized by days of the week) 

Mondays 10:30am Summer Library Program Toddler Time Build A Better 

World...Read! Stories, songs, and activities for ages 0-2. 

Mondays 3pm SLP Teens/Middle Graders 

June 5 Electronic Experiments. Let’s see what we can make with littleBits, 

snap circuits, and more! For teens and middle graders 10+. 

June 12 You bring your imagination, we’ll bring the Legos--and maybe 

some other supplies as well! For ages 10+. 

June 19 Bridge Building! Can your bridge stand on its own? How much 

weight can it hold? Test your might! For ages 10+. 

June 26 Skyscraper Food! Just how strong is spaghetti? How good of a 

binder are marshmallows? Come find out and build as tall as you can! For 

ages 10+. 

July 3 Mural Making! Leave your mark on the Brandon Library by creating 

murals to cover our cement columns! For ages 10+. 

July 10 FINALE! Join us for a great hero movie! We’ll bring the snacks and 

pizza. For more information and titles, visit our website www.cmrls.lib.ms. 

us and click on the Events tab. Location Brandon and search for teens. 

Tuesdays at 4pm Summer Library Program-Kid Connection 

June 6 Fun with Electronics – Join us for some electronic experiments 

with littleBits and snap circuits! 

June 13 Tools – Learn all about tools with the Rankin County Historical 

Society! 

June 20 Build a Better Sandwich – Come learn how to build a better 

sandwich with expert Natasha Haynes! 

June 27 Red, White, and Blue Splash Down – Let’s have a water party 

with the Brandon Fire Dept. Wear your swim suits and bring a towel! 

July 11 Constructing Incredible Stories – Enjoy incredible and immersive 

storytelling with renowned storyteller Dianne Butler. 

Wednesdays at 10:30am Summer Library Program-Preschool Storytime 

June 1 Build a Better World: Find out about our amazing summer 

programs and activities! 

June 7 My Home: A Puppet Show – A special show by our Children’s 

Librarians just for our preschoolers! 

June 14 Community Helpers – Come learn how to build a better community 

with the Brandon Fire Department and Mayor Butch Lee! 

June 21 Building in Our Community – Learn about all kinds of cool 

construction equipment during a very special visit from Billy Ray and 

Debra Robinson of Brandon Rental. 

June 28 Building is Fun! Let’s talk about Brandon’s playgrounds with the 

Parks and Rec department and then use our imaginations to build with 

STRAWBEES. 

July 5 Building an Animal Home. Learn about animal homes and make 

your own bird feeder with Heather Jennings from the Mississippi State 

Extension Service. 

July 12 Keep Our Community Clean. Lori Redden of M-Dot will show us 

how to keep our community clean with fun activities! 

Thursdays at 6pm Summer Library Program-Family Night 

June 8 Dorian the Magician 

June 15 Animal Tales at 6:30pm 

June 22 Inky The Clown 

June 29 Home Depot will bring a fun wood project that you and your 

child can work on together and take home. 

July 6 Puppet Show. 

July 13 Summer Library Finale! Carnival Games, Inflatables, visit with a Fire 

Truck, snacks, and much more! 

Fridays at 1pm Summer Library Program-Family Movie Day 

June 9 -July 7 Come enjoy a family movie with us. Bring your own drinks. 

Popcorn will be sold for 25 cents a bag by the Friends of the Brandon 

Library. For more information and titles, visit our website www.cmrls.lib. 

ms.us and click on the Events tab. Location Brandon and search for 

movies. 

Beading Class - Mondays, 4 and 6pm - Please register. 

June 12 Guitar Pick Pendant - $7 supply fees. Bring your jewelry tools. 

July 10 Annual Christmas Ball. $8 supply fee. Must have a bead loom. 

Two part class. The second class is Monday, July 17 at 4 and 6pm 

Brandon Book Club - Mondays, 10:30am 

June 12 Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks. 

July 10 My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. 

August 14 Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly by Rob Dalby. 

Brandon Quilters - Mondays June 5, July 3, August 7, 6pm 

Bridge Lessons for Beginners - Wednesdays, 1:30pm 

Harry Black is our teacher. Free. Please register. 

BYOP Bring Your Own Project Thursdays, 1pm Weekly crafting group. 

CODING CAMP July 24 - July 27, 1 - 5pm Get tech savvy with our 

four-day CODING CAMP! Grades 3rd & up. Space is limited. 

Registration and permission forms REQUIRED. Call the for more details. 

Coin Club - Thursdays, June 1, August 3, 6pm - Tuesday, July 11, 6pm 

Join the Brandon Coin Club for their monthly meeting! 

Computer Classes - Tuesdays, 9am 

June 6, 13, 20 Basic Computer Classes 

July 11, 18, 25 Word, Excel, Power Point. Free classes. Please register. 

Creative Crafters - Thursdays, 6pm Join us as we learn and craft together. 

Dulcimer Group - Mondays, 6pm Bring your dulcimer and let’s jam. 

Family Night - Thursdays, 6pm 

August 24 Back to School Night with Raising Canes 

Friends of the Brandon Library - Tuesdays, July 18 - August 15, 6pm 

Genealogy Club - June 1, July 6, August 3, 10:30am 

Genealogy topics and assistance are the topic of the day. 

DNA Discovery Group - June 15, July 20, August 17, 10:30 am 

Understand the differences in DNA tests and testing companies. Learn 

about, discuss and test out different databases to enhance your Family 

History research. Bring your laptop if you like. Free. Contact the Genealogy 

Department at 601-825-2672 or email brgenatcmrls.lib.ms.us. 

Rankin County Historical Society/Brandon Genealogical & Historical 

Society - Tuesday, July 18, 7pm Join us for History and Fellowship. 

The public is invited. Refreshments provided. For more information, 

contact the Genealogy Department at 601-825-2672. 

Kid Connection - Tuesdays at 4pm K-5 afterschool story and craft hour. 

Make a Mosaic Picture Frame - Monday, July 31, 6pm 

$10 Supply Fee. Please pre-register. 

Painting with Carla Nations - Monday, July 24, 6pm 

We will enjoy a seasonal painting. $6 supply fee. Please register. 

Preschool Story Time - Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am 

Songs, stories, and crafts for preschoolers aged 3-5. 

Pottery Hand Building Basics - Friday, June 9, 10:30am 

Learn the basics of hand building pottery including pinch pot and coiling. 

Supply fee $5. This class is for adults. 

Sewing - How to Make an Easy Pillowcase - June 3, 10:30am 

Please pre-register. Limit of 15. Must have basic sewing experience. 

Must bring your sewing machine, supplies, and a lunch. Complete list of 

supplies available at Circulation Desk. 

Sign Language Free class. Please register. 

Beginners - Saturdays, June 10, July 8, August 12, 10:30am 

Advanced - Saturdays, June 24, July 22 and August 26, 10:30am 

Solar Eclipse Watch Party - Monday, August 21, 11am 

Start of the partial eclipse is around noon. The maximum partial eclipse 

will be around 1:30pm The end of the partial eclipse will be around 3pm. 

The library will have free eclipse glasses during the party. 

Third Thursday Book Club, 6:30pm 

June 15 WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE by Shirley Jackson 

July 20 THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by C.S. Lewis 

Toddler Time - Mondays, 10:30am 

Come join us for stories, songs, and finger plays for ages 0-2 years. 

V.V.A. Meeting - June 14 and July 12 at 1pm - August 9 at 10:30am 

Video Game Day – Saturdays For gamers of all ages. Please register. 

June 17 - MineCraft at 10am and 1pm 

July 15 at 12 noon - Smash Brothers Tournament 

July 28 & August 19 - MineCraft, 10am and 1pm 

Displays for June, July 

Lego Display of Lego Free Play Group / The Ark Display of Leon Shank 

Services offered at the Brandon Library 

Black and White and color printing/copying, Scanning, Wireless Printing 

Additional services offered by the Friends of the Brandon Library - 

Free shredding - Notary services available for a fee of $3. Available 

10-8 Monday-Thursday and 10-5 Friday. Call to check Saturday availability. 

The library will be closed July 4 for Independence Day 

______________________________________________________ 

Brandon Public Library is part of the Central Mississippi Regional Library 

System, which serves Rankin, Scott, Simpson, and Smith Counties. 


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A Field & Club of Heroes 


Betsy Ross, a seamstress in Philadelphia 

in 1776, made it into the history books 

as the maker of the first American flag. 

However, her actual involvement in its 

development is highly debated. 

No official records or documents 

place her with the first American flag 

across her lap, but there’s ample 

evidence that the Exchange Club of 

Crossgates has honored and celebrated 

our national flag and the patriots who 

gave their lives for the freedom Ole 

Glory represents. 

Let me introduce this special club. 

The National Exchange Club is the only 

service organization that exclusively 

serves communities in the United States 

and Puerto Rico. Volunteers use their 

talents and time to benefit their local 

communities and their country. Their 

core values are basic: family, community, 

and country. 

Exchange members are involved in 

activities and programs that benefit youth, 

promote pride in our country, and honor 

military and public service providers. 

The Exchange’s National Project is the 

prevention of child abuse. 

The Exchange Club of Crossgates is 

our local chapter and carries out 

enormous accomplishments with their 

small band of twelve members, men 

and women. 

Their first major goal was to provide a 

park for children close to the community. 

They purchased 12.5 acres of land from 

Tom Underwood in 1978 to create a 

youth sports complex. It is adjacent to 

I-20 at Woodgate Drive South. It’s been 

the home park for the Brandon Soccer 

Organization since its inception and was 

named after the club’s first president, 

Frank Bridges. 


Updates to the park over the years 

have included a sprinkler system 

covering ten acres, field lighting, 

a concession building, and several 

additional buildings on the property. 

To fund these major expenses, the 

Club constructed a 50’ long BBQ pit 

and have cooked many thousands of 

chicken halves to sell to the public. 

They eventually turned to the annual 

October Haunted House for their main 

fundraiser which the club members 

begin work on in March. With help from 

the Boy Scouts and the First Baptist 

Church Youth Group, the Club raises 

thousands of dollars to give toward 

and fund their various projects. 

The project that Hometown Magazines 

wishes to spotlight is their Memorial Flag 

Field. This July 1-3, they will display 500 

full-size American flags that originally 

flew on the Exchange Club’s first 9/11 

Memorial Flag Field. 

This Club has hosted two 9/11 Memorial 

Flag Fields on their park with over 4,000 

full-size flags standing in a uniform grid 

that Mayor Butch Lee and Sheriff Brian 

Bailey, along with other volunteers, 

helped implement and complete. 

The flags were displayed with names 

and information of those who died in 

the attack of 9/11 plus soldiers who were 

killed in the following war. 

This July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, the 500 

flags will be waving on the soccer field 

park, reminding I-20 travelers of the 

price of freedom. The entrance to the 

parking lot is on Woodgate Drive South, 

next to the Enterprise Building, for those 

who want to walk through the flags. 

The memorialized flags will be for 

sale with pole and the original yellow 

ribbon and a name tag that identified 

the fallen soldier associated with the 

flag. The cost is only $10. There is no 

set program planned, but a concession 

stand will be open for visitors. 

Louise Pipitone, a forty-year member 

along with husband Pat, said about the 

flag display, “It’s the most rewarding 

thing our Club has ever done. Truckers 

have pulled off the interstate all hours 

of the night to walk through the lighted 

flag field, the largest in the nation. Others 

have brought flowers and teddy bears 

to leave by the flags.” 

A special salute and thank you go out 

to this band of patriotic, hard workers. 

They need our participation in community 

projects and “new blood in memberships,” 

Mrs. Pipitone expressed. “We 

need parents to teach their children to 

volunteer and become active.” 

Community involvement in an 

organization that promotes Americanism, 

patriotism, and youth, would be an 

excellent means of commemorating all 

the fallen on this July’s Memorial Flag 

Field. The Exchange Club members urge 

us all to, “Come and show respect.” 


serving our community 

Fireman Bryhn Beck 

brandon Fire Department 

Why did you decide to be a fireman? 

The 24 on 48 off work schedule is what lured 

me to the department at first. Then I found the 

brotherhood that comes with the job, and it 

stuck. 

How long have you been with the 

Brandon Fire Department? 

Since January of 2006. 

Tell us about your family. 

I have a dedicated wife of five years and two 

amazing boys, 4 and 9, that are bound to grow 

up to be fireman at some point in their lives. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

Doing everything in my power for a family and 

it still not being enough. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in 

your spare time. 

I love being on the water. Whether it is at the 

sand bar with the family or pulling all night 

tuna fishing trips with my brothers, I feel more 

relaxed out on the river, lake, or ocean. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

I want to see the northern lights and scuba dive 

the blue hole in Belize. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

My father. He has pushed, encouraged, 

motivated, and disciplined me to become the 

man I am today. He never gave me anything 

I did not earn. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

I see myself attending college ballgames of my 

son’s. I also will be planning my retirement from 

the BFD. 

If you could give one piece of advice 

to a young person, what would it be? 

The same advice my father once gave me: Be 

careful of the toes you step on today, because 

they could be attached to the person you 

answer to tomorrow. 

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

Growing up in small-town Georgetown running 

through the woods barefooted chasing turtles 

and snakes with my best friend, Jimmy. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

Chasing the dollar. I feel young people are too 

quick to change their minds to chase a dollar. 

Sometimes the grass is not greener on the 

other side of the bridge. Stay put and endure 

the hard times. 

What is your favorite thing about the 

City of Brandon? 

The growth. I love being able to watch where 

the city was when I first came here—and to see 

how it has changed and where it will be in the 

future. 


BRANDon's finest 

Officer Christy Snow 

brandon police Department 

Why did you decide to be a policeman? 

I actually had not thought about being in law 

enforcement until a good friend and I were 

talking one day about her job being a Jackson 

police officer. During our conversation, I decided 

that it was something that I wanted to do, so 

I went to the Jackson Police Academy in June 

of 2000. It wasn’t long after I began working for 

the Jackson Police Department that I realized 

I had found my calling. 

How long have you been with the 

Brandon Police Department? 

Since September 2016. 

Tell us about your family. 

I grew up in the small town of Sebastopol. 

My dad passed away in 2005 and my mother 

in 2012. I have two children Hayes and Rylea. 

What is the toughest thing you have 

experienced in your job? 

Having to inform an individual’s family that 

someone they love has died in a car wreck. 

Share some things you enjoy doing in 

your spare time. 

I love the outdoors and spending time with 

family and friends. 

What are three things on your 

bucket list? 

I would love to experience the Grand Canyon, 

and have a long vacation in Hawaii. I also want 

to visit Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. 

Who is someone you admire and why? 

I really admire teachers. Serving as a school 

resource officer, I have had the privilege of being 

in the Brandon schools and have seen, firsthand, 

the dedication and hard work of our teachers 

serving our students. 

Where do you see yourself ten years 

from now? 

I see myself continuing to serve the city of 

Brandon. I want to be able to continue to have 

a positive impact on students. 

What is a favorite childhood memory? 

I have two favorite childhood memories. One is 

going to Florida with my family every summer, 

and the other is eating my grandmother’s 

homemade biscuits for breakfast every morning. 

What is the biggest mistake you think 

young people make today? 

The biggest mistake I see young people making 

is not being able to truly understand that the 

choices they make today can have a lasting 

impact on tomorrow. 

What is your favorite thing about the 

City of Brandon? 

My favorite thing about the city of Brandon is the 

people. It is amazing to me how a city the size of 

Brandon is able to maintain such a small town 

feel. 

What is your favorite thing about 

Rankin County? 

It’s a safe and wonderful place to live. 



Celebration 

May 3 

Brandon Municipal Center


Black Rose 

Theatre Company 

Local Actors, 

Murder Mystery, 

& Comedy 

Beth Reiss 


Despite the warming temperatures 

of late April, it was Christmastime inside 

Black Rose Theatre Company in downtown 

Brandon. The community theatre 

presented “The Games Afoot” by Ken 

Ludwig, April 20-23 and 27-30. As the 

lights went down inside the theatre, actors 

swarmed the stage, some coming from 

behind you, up the aisle. 

The play is set in December 1936 and 

Broadway star William Gillette, played 

by Clayton Southerland, is admired the 

world over for his leading role in the play 

Sherlock Holmes. Gillette has invited his 

fellow cast-members to his Connecticut 

castle for a weekend of fun. 

The set, constructed and decorated 

by David and Brenda Black, included a 

staircase and hidden room. The mantle 

spins to reveal a bar behind it – perfect for 

hiding the body of Daria Chase, played by 

Paula Herrington. Daria is a theatre critic 

visiting Gillette to write a story about him. 

But when she’s stabbed, the festivities in 

this isolated house of tricks and mirrors 

quickly turn dangerous. 

The set really comes into play in Act 

Two as Herrington brings some of the 

biggest laughs of the show. Her dead body 

continuously falls out of its hiding spot at 

the most inopportune times. Gillette calls 

the police to report the murder, and then 

changes his mind. But it’s too late as 

Inspector Goring, played by Brandi 

Southerland, is already on the case. 

Much to Inspector Goring’s dismay, 

Gillette takes it upon himself to solve the 

murder. Gillette assumes the persona of 

his beloved Holmes to track down the 

killer before the next victim appears. 

The danger and hilarity are non-stop as the 

mystery unravels and the audience 

discovers the masterminds behind the plot. 

The rest of the cast is rounded out by 

Abbey Goldman as Aggie, Leon Phillips 

as Simon, Elizabeth Marsh as Madge. 

Thomas Medina as Felix, and Donna 

Lewis as Martha Gillette. The show was 

directed by Tom Lestrade and produced 

by Tempy Murray. Charli Bardwell served 

as stage manager and Angela Sellers 

operated lights. 

_____________________________ 

Learn more at 

www.blackrosetheatre.org 

BRTC’s next show is “Boeing, Boeing” 

– a comedy set in Paris, France where 

a bachelor tries to juggle dating three 

airline stewardesses at once. The show 

is June 15-18 and 22-25. 


andon 

Recipes 

Strawberry 

Cheesecake Salad 

• 16 oz. cream cheese, softened 

• 1 c. powdered sugar 

• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

• 16 oz. Cool Whip 

• 16 oz. strawberries, sliced 

• 2 ripe bananas, sliced 

• 12 oz. raspberries 

• 3 tbsp. crushed graham crackers 

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat together 

cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until 

light and fluffy. Beat in Cool Whip until combined. 

Fold in strawberries, bananas, and raspberries. 

Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle top with 

graham cracker crumbs. 

Frozen 

Hot Chocolate 

Cheesecake 

CRUST 

• 24 oreos 

• 6 tbsp. melted butter 

• 1/4 c. sugar 

CHEESECAKE 

• 2 blocks cream cheese, softened 

• 1/2 c. powdered sugar 

• 1/4 c. chocolate sauce 

• 2-3 hot cocoa packs 

• pinch of salt 

• 2 c. heavy cream 

• 1 c. mini marshmallows 

In a food processor, pulse Oreos until they are 

fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a bowl, then 

add butter and sugar and stir until combined. 

The texture should be similar to wet sand. 

Grease a 9” pie plate and press in the crust 

mixture. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat 

cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add powdered 

sugar, chocolate sauce, cocoa packets and salt and 

mix until smooth. 

Add about half of the heavy cream and beat 

until smooth. Add the rest of the heavy cream 

and beat until very fluffy. 

Fold in mini marshmallows. Pour cheesecake 

mixture into the prepared crust. 

Freeze until solid, about 4 hours. 

Peaches n’ Cream 

Lasagna 

• 8 small peaches, sliced 

• 1/4 c. sugar 

• 1/4 c. brown sugar 

• 1 tsp. cinnamon 

• 15 graham crackers 

• 2 c. heavy cream 

• 1/4 c. powdered sugar 

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 

• 1/4 c. sliced almonds 

Macerate peaches: In a large bowl, combine 

peaches, brown sugar, sugar and cinnamon. Toss 

until the peaches are evenly coated in the sugar. 

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

Make whipped cream: In a large bowl, combine 

heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat 

mixture with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. 

Assemble lasagna. In a 8” square baking pan, 

place graham crackers in an even layer. Spread an 

even layer of whipped cream over the graham 

crackers, top with macerated peaches then sprinkle 

some almonds on top. Repeat three more times. 

Chill in refrigerated until the graham crackers 

have softened, about 2 hours. 

Serve cold. 


andon 

Recipes 

Drunk & Dirty 

Beef Tenderloin 

Marinade 

• 1 cup low sodium soy sauce 

• ½ cup bourbon, or other sour mash whiskey 

• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce 

• 2 tablespoon packed brown sugar 

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger 

• 4 cloves garlic, cut in half 

• ½ cup water 

Main Course 

• 2 pound beef tenderloin (feeds 4-5 easily) 

• 2 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper 

• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper 

• ¼ cup vegetable oil 

Prepare the smoker for an indirect cook at 

225-275 degree dome temperature. Add wood 

chunks and/or chips (oak, pecan, or hickory - 

don’t overdo it). 

Combine ingredients down to the garlic with 

1/2 cup water and marinate beef for 2-4 hours. 

Remove beef from the fridge, reserve marinade 

and cover beef with ground pepper. I don’t measure, 

I just completely cover both sides with black pepper 

and then add the white pepper not quite as liberally. 

Put half the marinade in the refrigerator and add 

the vegetable oil to the other half, if planning to baste. 

If not basting put all the marinade in the fridge. 

Heat the basting sauce to a boil for a few minutes 

and keep warm on low. 

Put the roast on the smoker and cook until 

almost done–1½ to 2 hours, mopping every 20 

minutes. 

When almost done (120 degree internal temp) 

remove from the grill and bring it up to sear temps 

(500-600 degrees). 

Holding with tongs, place the roast back on 

when grill is 500 degrees or so for about 1 minute 

per each of the four sides. You’re just trying to get a 

nice char but not too much. 

Remove from the grill, tent with foil, and let sit at 

least 5 minutes (closer to 10 is fine). While resting, 

bring reserved marinade to a boil for a few minutes 

then lower to low and reduce by about one quarter. 

Slice and either drizzle marinade over the slices 

or serve on the side for guests to drizzle themselves. 

Flat Iron Steak 

• 1.5 pound flat iron steak 

• Cluck and Squeal ‘Beef Specific’ Rub; 

Cavendar’s Greek Seasoning; Montreal Steak 

rub; or your favorite steak seasoning 

Coat steak liberally with the rub and allow it to 

“melt in” for 45 minutes to an hour, while the 

steak is coming to room temp. 

Prepare the grill for a direct cook at 600+ degrees. 

Sear for 60 seconds per side, then remove 

while bringing the temp down. 

Close the vents down and get the temp close to 

400 degrees. 

Finish, flipping as needed to prevent 

overcooking on any side. 

Remove when the internal temp reaches 

125 degrees (for medium rare). 

Rest for 10 minutes before thinly slicing against 

the grain. 

Simple Salmon 

• 1 12 oz. skin-on salmon fillet, center-cut 

• Dizzy Pig Raging River Rub 

• Dizzy Pig Shaking the Tree Rub 

• Olive Oil 

• Big Green Egg Kodiak River Rub 

Pat the filet dry then liberally coat salmon with 

the Raging River or BGE Kodiak River rub. Allow 

to “melt in” for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Prepare the grill for a 400* direct cook (on an 

Egg, the grid can be elevated or at the fire ring 

level). Add any chips (alder, apple, etc.) just before 

putting the salmon on the grill. 

If using “Shaking the Tree” rub, add just prior to 

placing on the grill. 

Oil the grill surface generously with a rag (or 

paper towel) soaked in vegetable oil, then place the 

salmon flesh down (skin up) on the grid. 

Grill with the dome closed for 2 minutes, then 

using a thin spatula, flip the filet to skin down and 

insert a temp probe, if using. 

Grill for another 5-8 minutes or so - until the 

internal temp is 120 degrees or until white protein 

starts to ooze onto the surface of the fish. 

Remove, cover with foil and rest for 5 minutes 

before serving. 



nyone who has lived in Brandon for very long 

has likely made a trip down Value Road. 

Running alongside the railroad track, Value Road 

comes to a four way stop that most Brandon residents 

are familiar with. Gold Coast is on the right and to the 

left...well, there’s a story there. 

It begins more than a hundred years ago with 

J.C. Atkins, Rankin County sheriff and prominent 

businessman. J. C. and his wife Mary owned and 

operated a successful mercantile that sat on the 

northwest corner of Value Road and Highway 471. 

The community around the store was originally settled 

in the early 1800s, and by the early 1900s, was thriving. 

The nearest post office at that time was up the hill in 

Brandon. Not far by today’s standards but in the days 

before automobiles, the trip could be cumbersome. 

So in 1913, J. C. Atkins applied to the U.S. Postmaster 

General for a new post office to be located inside his 

store. His request was granted and 

the post office began operation. 

Folks in the community could 

now shop and send and receive 

mail at one location. 



For the first few years, the post office was 

the Brandon Depot branch, presumably 

because of its close proximity to the railroad 

depot. By 1916, however, the name had changed 

to Value, and the post office and surrounding 

community were known by this name for 

several decades. 

More than one story exists regarding how 

the community and post office got their name. 

One account is that while shopping in the 

mercantile, a man held up an item and asked 

what its value was, and the name Value stuck. 

Another story suggests that the name was 

chosen simply because there wasn’t another 

post office in the country with that name. 

Whatever the true origin of the name, the 

post office inside the store was an important 

part of the community. Mr. Atkins served as 

the postmaster until his death in 1931, at which 

time his daughter, Linda Atkins McRae, became 

the postmistress. She and her husband, Jim, 

operated the store which became the McRae 

Mercantile. Business was good and the post 

office and store experienced some growing 

pains. To accommodate their customers, the 

McRae family built a new store in 1940, 

and retained the original building for use 

as a warehouse. 

Upon the death of Linda McRae in 1941, 

her sister, Lillie Atkins Moore, became the 

postmistress of the Value Post Office and 

served until 1964, when she retired. This 

marked the end of the Value Post Office, having 

been staffed by only three people, members of 

the same family, over the course of 51 years. 

The McRae Mercantile continued to 

operate until 1975, when the owner Duncan 

McRae, son of Linda and Jim, closed its doors. 

It served as a warehouse for the Hill Mattress 

Company for a while, and then remained 

vacant until it was eventually torn down. 

The original Atkins store remains, not at 

the corner of Value Road where it once stood, 

but as part of the Rankin County Historical 

Society Museum. Generously donated by 

Duncan McRae, the old building takes one 

back to a time gone by, when the center of a 

community was the general store and post 

office. It’s a testament to hard work, family, 

and commitment to community service, and 

a reminder of the “value” of Rankin County. n 

Special thanks to Anne Vanderleest, Genealogy Librarian at Brandon Public Library 

Sources: ”Hometown Mississippi” by James Brieger 

”A History of Rankin County Mississippi” by the Rankin County Historical Society 

Rankin County Historical Society Searchlight Article, May 11, 1988, Rankin County News 



Towne 

Station 

St. Paddy's 

Day


The Mississippi Law Journal, founded in 1928, is the fourth-oldest studentedited 

law review in the South. The Journal is funded and operated almost 

exclusively through student efforts. Each year, the Journal publishes four to 

six books containing articles by legal scholars and practitioners, as well as 

pieces by student members. The Journal also publishes a weekly case briefing 

service that provides synopses of Mississippi Supreme Court and Mississippi 

Court of Appeals decisions. 

Cate Rodgers, James Kelly, and Jonathan Barnes have each made extraordinary 

accomplishments as members of the Journal. Each has or will soon have articles 

published in law reviews. Cate, in 2016, and James, in 2017, were both elected by 

their peers to serve as editor-in-chief, the primary leadership position on the 

Journal responsible for overall management. 

In 2017, Jonathan was appointed executive notes and comments editor to assist 

new editors in writing legal scholarship and seeking publication. But what each 

of these three accomplished Ole Miss Law students agree is most important is 

another characteristic they all share: they proudly call Brandon home. 

Cate Rodgers 

Class of 2017 

Editor-in-Chief, Volume 86 

The City of Brandon can easily be summed up in one single term– 

community. Despite having grown to reach a population of over 

23,000, Brandon continues to be a place where you run into your 

neighbor at the grocery store, or your high school friends while out at 

dinner. Being a part of the Brandon community has impacted my life 

in many ways, the primary way being the support and encouragement 

I have received over the years. 

My mother and I moved to Brandon when I was in the 9th grade, 

and instantly I felt that I was a part of the Brandon family. My mother’s 

family is from Pelahatchie, so until then I had ties to Rankin County, 

but now I was an official resident. The Brandon community welcomed 

us and it didn’t take long for me to begin telling everyone, “I am from 

Brandon” when asked, “Where are you from?” Brandon provided me 

with a new church home, new friends, and in all, a new family. From 

youth trips with Crossgates Baptist Church, to Brandon Day at 

Shiloh Park, to the annual Christmas parade, being from Brandon 

has given me wonderful memories and a constant stream of support. 

Even though I have been a law student here at Ole Miss for the 

last few years, I can always head home to Brandon and feel like I have 

never left. I am thankful to continue to be a part of a community that 

feels like home the minute you take the I-20 exit. After graduation 

this May, my new job will take me from Oxford to Washington, D.C., 

but I know the support and encouragement I have received from the 

Brandon community will continue to follow me as I embark on a 

new adventure. 


James Blake Kelly 

Class of 2018 

Editor-in-Chief / Volume 87 

I remember when my family first moved to Brandon from my 

mother’s hometown of Clinton in 1997. It was summertime, and, as 

I contemplated starting second grade at Brandon Elementary School, 

my mind was occupied with the concerns typical of a seven-year-old: 

Would I like our new house and neighborhood? What would my 

new school be like? And, most importantly, would I be able to make 

friends as good as the ones I had left behind in Clinton? 

However, my concerns were short-lived. Very soon after we 

moved into our house on Eastgate Drive, my brother, sister, and I 

were quickly welcomed by a number of new friends who liked to do 

all the same things we did, such as riding bikes through Crossgates, 

playing at Shiloh Park, and hanging out on the Brandon Soccer Fields. 

My experience growing up in Brandon only improved from there. 

I got to attend great schools, which offered caring and committed 

teachers and top-notch courses. Whether it was the excellent language 

programs, the mind-opening experience provided by Venture, or 

outstanding math, science, and humanities classes, I always had the 

strongest of educational opportunities. 

I feel very fortunate to have been able to grow up in Brandon, and 

to benefit from the town’s strong and close-knit sense of community. 

Now that I am a law student and am serving as editor-in-chief of the 

Mississippi Law Journal, I am incredibly grateful for all of the 

influential people from my childhood who helped shape the person 

I am today. 

Jonathan Michael Barnes 

Class of 2018 

Executive Notes & Comments Editor / Volume 87 

With hands interwoven, and in the hush of inexplicable serenity, 

Janice whispered her last words in this life to my father and to Christ; 

She desired, above all else, that I would be reminded of her love, 

raised in a manner consistent with Christ’s precepts, and that I would 

mature into a man that loved and served the Lord with all my heart. 

Twenty-years later, I see the blessings God has provided on behalf of 

her desire. But specifically, I see that our hometown, Brandon, has 

truly been an answer to my mother’s prayers. 

I’m proud to be a fifth-generation Brandonian. When my father 

remarried, blessing me with Tammy and Marshall, we joined 

Crossgates Baptist Church, and Joseph and I started attending 

Brandon schools. As a family, we thrived in Brandon, not because 

of ourselves, but because of the way this community loves and 

supports each other. Our town has incredible people in our schools, 

our businesses, and our government who faithfully follow Christ. 

Brandon is a rich soil, permeated with the Gospel, and has cultivated 

a desire within me to follow Christ. 

Since starting law school, I’m frequently asked: What type of 

attorney do you want to be? Most people know the job outlook for 

law-students is bleak, so I usually reply in jest: A paid one. But that 

answer is only partially true. Of course I want a good job–but 

because of Brandon’s impact on my life–I desire, as my mother 

did, to be a man with a legal education that’s willing to love and 

serve Christ wherever He leads me. My legal education, success in 

school, and career don’t define me–that’s because of a great town 

like Brandon. 



Brandon Elementary School 

Bill-oxi Venture City 

Brandon 

City Hall 

March 28-29 



Everything’s 

Coming Up 

Charla Jordan / Suzanne Ross 

Sharing 

Pass-a-long 

Plants 

Brandon Garden Club’s (BGC) April meeting 

with its annual plant swap is the perfect 

time to share spring-blooming perennials that 

were divided last fall and fall bloomers that 

may be showing a bit of green as the days grow 

warmer. BGC members, even those who swear 

that they have “brown thumbs,” look forward to 

the plant swaps. No one leaves without a “little 

something,” including renewed enthusiasm for 

working in the dirt and appreciation for tried 

and true pass-along plants. 

Plant swaps are a practical way to learn 

what works in our neighbors’ gardens and to 

try something new and different. Identification 

tags give the name of each plant, how much sun 

it needs, and other information for successful 

planting, plus a BGC member and/or master 

gardener provides additional information. 

Garden centers or catalogues can have terrific 

plants, but many of the plants at the swaps are 

noncommercial “pass-along plants” from family 

and friends. 

In both 2016 and 2017, BGC member Karen 

Crowe has hosted the plant swap meeting at 

the house that she and her husband, Ron, built 

in Crossgates in 1972. Like most homes in the 

subdivision, the house originally had foundation 

plantings but little else. Over time, the Crowes 

began designing and adding new beds, some 

in areas dealing with too much shade or soil so 

compacted that even weeds wouldn’t grow. 

In 2015 a commercial landscaper redesigned 

and replanted the original front flower beds and 

made suggestions for other landscaping changes 

that the Crowes implemented. They installed 

a stone path with individual stones and built 

flower beds. They covered the spot where even 

weeds wouldn’t grow with a gazebo, where they 

can now sit and gaze upon the entire beautiful 

back yard. 

Karen receives great joy from her passalong 

plants and the warm memories they bring. 

Whether it is a Texas Star hibiscus from a now 

deceased friend, a plant from a garden club 

friend in Meadville, irises from her childhood 

home in Columbus; or plants received at BGC 

plant swaps, the plants bring special memories 

and a desire to continue BGC’s plant swapping 

tradition. She hopes that the plants that she 

passes along bring joy to the recipients as 

they watch them grow and attract birds and 

butterflies. 

Karen loves the easy connections and 

friendships generated from a common interest 

in sharing our gardens, and her friendships were 

strengthened in 2013 when she was diagnosed 

with a stage four incurable cancer. Garden 

friends became Karen’s prayer warriors as physicians 

made plans to treat the cancer. After four 

years, Karen’s physician recently told her that 

she is now cancer free and will no longer be on 

chemotherapy. “I will praise thee, O Lord, with 

my whole heart; I will shew (show) forth all thy 

marvelous works. Psalm 9 KJV.” BGC is thankful 

for Karen’s recovery. Plants and prayers make 

for good friends. 

Tips for a small plant swap: 

• Ask each attendee to bring one plant, either 

pass-along or purchased, and label it with the 

plant’s name, directions for growing, and a 

photograph of the plant in bloom or the site 

where it is currently growing. 

• Have a display area where plants may be 

viewed prior to the swap. 

• Choose a method to determine the order that 

members choose plants, such as by drawing 

numbers. 

• Assign a member or guest familiar with plants 

to read the labels on each plant, discuss the 

best location for planting, etc. 

• Encourage members to take extra plants 

remaining at the end of the plant swap. 

BGC invites you to view our display at Brandon 

Public Library during June as we celebrate 

National Garden Week. For information, 

visit www.thebrandongardenclub.com. 


Karen Crowe said, “I don’t know why we even painted this arch. 

It was completely covered in one season.” 

Louisiana irises are a perfect pass-along plant. 

They are prolific growers and grow well in areas with poor drainage. 

BGC members enjoyed touring Ron and Karen Crowe’s beautiful back yard. 

Karen has filled this bed with perennial pass-along plants from 

BGC plant swaps and summer flowering annuals. 

Mary-Ellen Hester, BGC member and master gardener, 

gave plant advice and instructions at the plant swap. 

Ron and Karen Crowe enjoy the gazebo built over 

the “dirt where even weeds wouldn’t grow.” 


Brandon 

Elementary 

Wax Figures 

Fourth grade students wrote stories, 

dressed up as famous Mississippians, 

and lined the halls of the school as 

wax figures. Passersby pressed a 

button that sprung the figures to life 

so they could share their stories. 




The Time Coin 

The church grounds were still 

shaded by the giant oaks decked 

in Spanish moss. The peaceful 

bay still rippled along the street that circled 

the property, but the newly constructed 

worship center dwarfed the original 

building that Dan and Evelyn had called 

their church home so many years ago. 

This day was their yearly visit with the Kratts. Evelyn could hardly 

contain her excitement. 

The visiting couple pulled into a crowded parking lot and found a 

single, vacant visitor’s spot. They waited in the welcome center for 

familiar faces and saw a large-framed gentleman, slightly stooped, 

walk through the corridor. The years had etched into his frame and 

face, but they remembered his servant heart when he worked with 

the youth. Dan greeted him and their old friend sorted through the 

hundreds of former military families he had known, and he recalled 

Dan and Evelyn’s friendships. His broad, contagious smile was the same 

that the couple remembered almost forty years ago. 

In the midst of their conversation, Mr. Kratt’s kind face caught their 

attention as he made his way toward the visitors. Their dear friend 

who had provided affordable rent along with godly mentoring in the 

couple’s first year of marriage was still smiling and involved in his 

church ministry. His ninety-two years weren’t a crutch or excuse but 

a reason to give thanks to God. 

His eyes still twinkled when he smiled, 

and his gentle voice brought back a tidal wave 

of wonderful, loving memories. The foyer 

traffic was picking up as the first service 

emptied through the large doors, but their 

reunion wasn’t hampered. They talked about 

their families and listened as he shared about 

his and the new church facilities. 

Mrs. Kratt soon joined them, and their fellowship was sweet 

and amazingly close to where Dan and Evelyn had left off a year ago. 

As the sanctuary music reminded them of the worship hour, they 

followed the elderly couple into the worship center. Mr. Kratt’s steps 

were slower, and time was attacking his body, but it hadn’t made a dent 

in his spirit. Evelyn’s heart hurt to see how the years were aging his 

once-strong frame, but she rejoiced that his faithfulness and servant 

heart were continuing to flourish. 

As they stood to sing hymns of praise, Evelyn looked to her left at 

this ninety-two-year-old friend and his sweet wife. She looked in front 

to see a young couple – military looking – a lot like she and Dan were 

almost four decades ago. Now, Dan and Evelyn were close to the age 

of the Kratts when they first met. 

Time is fleeting, “like a snowflake on a river.” It marches on 

– sometimes runs, seldom crawls, but it’s always moving. As the hymn 

of praise made heavenly background music, Evelyn whispered a prayer 

from Psalms: “Lord, teach us to number our days that we may gain a 

heart of wisdom.” n 


RANKIN COUNTY’S NEWEST VENUE IS NOW OPEN! 

Open House • 5pm-7pm • Thursday, July 6th 

Please join us • Light refreshments will be served 

202 North College Street • Brandon, MS 

To schedule a tour or to make reservations, call 601.706.4059 


More than 30 practices. 

Quick appointments. 

One number: 844-MSMERIT. 

Because there’s Merit in convenient care. 

With more than 30 primary care and specialty practices in four counties across the Jackson and Vicksburg metropolitan 

areas, Merit Health Medical Group providers offer quality care for your family with your schedule in mind. From sore 

throats and fever to annual wellness visits and more specialized care, we’ve got you covered. 

To see all locations and specialties, please visit MyMeritDoctor.com 

Call 844-MSMERIT for a provider near you. 

Walk-ins are welcome at all primary care practices, 

or ask about same-day and next-day appointments.

Hometown Brandon - Summer 2017

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