Best of Pontotoc 2026 MAN OF THE YEAR WOMAN OF THE YEAR BUSINESS OF THE YEAR THE BEST FOODS THE BEST BUSINESSES THE BEST PEOPLE SELECTED BY OUR READERS
Pontotoc Progress
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Man Of The Year FRANKIE MOOREMAN Mr. PEPA is rooted in his community and keeps on giving
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BY | REGINA BUTLER
rankie Moorman is no stranger to fame, but it did shock him when he learned he was chosen as Pontotoc’s Man of the Year by the Pontotoc Progress readers. For a man who works in electricity there’s not much in his life that he wants to shock him. “I was humbled and surprised,” Frankie Moorman said. He shook his head thoughtfully. “I didn’t do anything to deserve this honor.” No stranger to fame means he is well known in the community as the electric power man. “I’ve been at PEPA for 29 years come November,” he said. But he is even more than that. He is a husband and a dad. He is married to Angie and they have a daughter, Bailey and a son Garrett. “It made me proud to see that my children stayed in Pontotoc and established roots here,” he said. Moorman said that he has always had a desire to serve his community in some way. “The Good Lord blessed me with a job opportunity here at Pontotoc Electric Power Association. I was the last employee that the late Bill Jackson hired. It was because of my Uncle Benny Joe Moorman and Johnny Seales that I got the job. They thought
it would be good for me and brought me in to interview. I started out as a groundsman/ equipment operator.” That means he dug holes and tied anchors down that are put on the electric poles as well as trimming trees and handing equipment up to the linemen. “From there I became a journeyman and
a lineman and then went into management. I was assistant foreman and then became general foreman over all the operations.” He became assistant general manager to Chuck Howell who was the manager that followed Bill Jackson. When Howell retired in July of 2020, Moorman was promoted to General Manager. BEST OF PONTOTOC 2026 | 9
One of his greatest challenges throughout these years has been “balancing work and family. When the power goes out I have to be there. I feel like a shepherd sometimes.” He laughed. “It’s like herding cats, 20,800 of them,” he said referring to the number of light poles he oversees. “We are in parts of six different counties and have a branch office in Bruce.” Frankie said although he has a great crew of people throughout the electric power co-op, “I couldn’t do it without my family. I’ve been married for 32 years and Angie has been supportive of me throughout these years. She has been my rock when there were long days and longer nights.” It brings him great joy to see his children prosper and to serve his community. And he has served his community through sunshine and rain, wind and ice. He was on the ground when the twister of 2001 hit Pontotoc. “I was a lineman. That storm was 23 miles and only in isolated areas. I just had to worry about climbing poles and restor-
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ing electricity, and going to the next pole.” Fast forward to January of 2026 when the great ice storm named Fern turned parts of states into an icy managerie. “We had all the planning in place prior to the storm and during the storm, however, it touched every corner of our system. I couldn’t get the power on fast enough. And I had a greater responsibility. I wasn’t just responsible for the line in front of me, but of every employee in the system and making sure we were out there restoring electricity as safely as possible. We also had other electric power linemen in our county during this time, and I was responsible for them, too.” It was through this that the lessons taught him by his dad, Keith Moorman were evident. “Dad always told me that I’m to stay true to my word. If I tell someone you are going to do something, do it. Finish what I started.” Every night during the ice storm he got on Facebook after working long hard hours and gave everyone an update on the progress until the last light came on.
“But I could not have done anything without my employees. During the ice storm I saw the younger guys step up and do what needed to be done. And the women helped organize meal trains to see that we all were fed on site as we were traveling.” And he will continue to keep his roots firmly planted in this community that he grew up in. “I’ve never once thought about leaving Pontotoc. I love the small town atmosphere. I grew up in my grandparents station at the corner of Liberty and Main Streets.” His grandparents were the late John and Martha Miller. “I worked at their station after school and they always served people. They taught me a lot. The main thing was if you are going to have anything you have to work for it. “I’ve always tried to earn everything I’ve got. That strong work ethic came from my parents [Janie and Keith] and my grandparents. They taught that to me and my sister, Sherry Moore.” And to Moorman, Pontotoc is a family to him. “I was humbled by the the community support during the ice storm. Anything we needed they gave it. It showed that we had a good relationship with the membership across the system. It meant a lot to
us. It makes us want to work all the harder for the community. “I love what I do. I enjoy coming to work and dealing with the challenges each day. You have to love it or you won’t last long. There is no getting away from it. A moment’s notice can change everything. “But it is rewarding to see all the lights come on and families come out and thank us for the lights.” A member of West Heights Baptist Church, “I want people to see that I have a life of thanksgiving,” he said. And then that shepherd mentality took over again. “We worked the ice storm without anyone getting hurt or killed. Every day we prayed before we left. I’m grateful we didn’t lose anyone.” When he is not seeing that electricity is going in the county, you will find Frankie working on tractors. “My hobby is working on older John Deere tractors. I love working on them and restoring them. I repaint them and get the hydraulics working again. That’s where I can be found most every Saturday.” But if his radio goes off and the power is out anywhere in the system, you will find him at it again, serving his community.
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Woman Of The Year
DEBBIE GILLESPIE She works to show the love of Jesus to others
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BY | REGINA BUTLER
he smiled timidly as she thought about the honor that was given to her by the Pontotoc Progress readers in being named Woman of the
Year. Debbie Gillespie said she wasn’t expecting this at all. “I don’t deserve this,” she said with her eyes beginning to mist over. But her family and especially her daughter Shaina Dunaway disagrees. When she asked folks to vote for her mama this is what she posted out: “My Momma hates attention but she is definitely our woman of the year every year! Our lives would not work without all she does. She babysits, chauffeurs, cooks, makes cakes, makes and repairs clothes, runs sick grandkids and great grandkids to appointments and activities, serves at her church, volunteers in her community and at school. “She has cooked and help run concession stands with or without having kids and grandkids in the sport. She is Nanny to many kids that she chooses to love as her own. She loves Jesus and others as well. So, I say she is definitely deserving of Pontotoc Woman of The Year!” And her daughter’s plea must have worked because indeed her mom was chosen for the honor. Gillespie’s parents were J.W. Austin and Ann Coleman Austin Williams. She is married to Tommy Gillespie and besides Shaina
she has two sons, Lain and Kyle. Her childhood was one of simplicity and learning to enjoy the things in nature that make you smile. “Mom and dad made things fun for us.
Daddy picked up corncobs and feathers and made us whirly birds.” She chuckled. “Mama was something else. She and dad taught us to be survivors. They also taught us to love everyone.” BEST OF PONTOTOC 2026 | 15
Gillespie’s life has been marked by working wherever God opened the door for her to earn a living. And if you have shopped for groceries, or clothes, or gone to the auction you have seen her smiling face. “I worked at Burchfield’s [the store that is now Piggly Wiggly], and at Eaton’s Custom Seating for 12 years, and at the auction for Clint and Lesa Ward.” She thought she would like to quit public work. “I asked God to let me quit work and be of service to others,” she said. And just when she thought working days might be done someone else approached her. “Jenene, who is Erica’s mom and I are best friends and she asked me to help her out at Ella Ivy.” So she helps ladies pick out the perfect outfit or whatever is needed around that store. She has endeared herself to many in her community. “I’m nanny to all the kids,” she said and smiled broadly. “But most importantly, I am a child of the King. I settled that in my heart 45 years ago August 27. My grandma Austin taught me that Jesus loved me. Every night when she prayed, she prayed for every kid. I went to a revival service with my mom-in-law Volene Mize and got under the Holy Ghost conviction,” she said. That conviction compelled her to surrender her life to Jesus. And she is manifesting that surrender by continuing to follow Him every day. “I teach Sunday school at Hebron Baptist Church,” she said. Her greatest challenge is continuing to fulfill what she wants to do in life. “There is too much to be done. I want to be able to get up and keep going. God says don’t fear, He will take care of us and He will tell us what to do.”
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Her life is marked by those deep family relationships as well as friendships. “I have seven friends that I went to Randolph School with until tenth grade and we were consolidated with South Pontotoc. We graduated in 1974 and still continue to be friends today. They are Judy Duvall, Cathy McCoy, Patty Sewell, Jenene Sullivan, Marsha Murphree and Dara Davis. There is nothing like having lifelong friends.” And that small close knit feel goes beyond these ladies to the community in general. “I love the small town atmosphere of Pontotoc. No matter what happens we come together to help one another. If someone has a
need, we work to take care of the folks who suffer.” And she learned that type of service from her grandmother Austin. “In her younger days if a family was down, they would go and cook and clean until they got back on their feet again. As you can tell, I love my family, my salvation and my dear grandchildren. They are a great joy in my life.” Her favorite scripture verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” “I want people to remember that I showed them Jesus. I want to leave a good name and that I appreciated what we had.”
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Business Of The Year
MATTRESSMART
Chris West has your back because you are like family
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BY | REGINA BUTLER
ou might not know much about mattresses when you walk into Mattress Mart, but when you leave with a mattress you are like family. Chris West has long endeavored to give everyone he can the best night’s sleep they can possibly get. In Pontotoc he started out in a little tin building on the back side of an old service station and from there, he grew his business in to needing more space. “I started my business July 1, 2010 there on Turnpike Road,” West said.
“I moved here to Oxford Street 10 years later and that was during the COVID year.” In fact, it was that epidemic that caused him to think outside of the mattress so to speak and begin selling them a different way. “We were shut down and couldn’t let folks come into the store. One day I went to Wal-Mart and saw people buying mattresses delivered to their truck. And I thought, huh, I can do that. So I started a facebook live event and it has taken off.” BEST OF PONTOTOC 2026 | 21
And he is a natural at selling things. In fact he got that from hanging around his grandpa who sold auctions when he was a boy. “It is kind of in the blood,” West said. And he will stop at nothing to sell things on line. Well not exactly nothing, but he has been known to appear in pretty hair. You might find him as a long red head or perhaps sporting long blond tresses and modeling a skirt or some house duster that he wants to sell. You will find West game for anything it takes to get your attention and start you laughing. “We do the community announcements on our live videos,” he said. “We have Family Day BBQs and our live sale doubles as a social gathering. People enjoy getting on with us and chatting to us. It creates community. We also help out with charitable activities in our county as well,” he said. He takes particular pride in saying the his mattresses are made in America. “And I am going to take care of my customers.” That customer rapport has been years in the making. It harkens back to his childhood. “I started taking care of customers when I was 10 years old,” West said. “I did it by shoveling snow and mowing yards in Illinois” When he grew up he owned two or three stores in that state. “I came down to the Furniture Market in Tupelo and met a woman and stayed,” he said of his journey south. And once he got here he got into the mattress selling business. “I saw mattresses being sold for an astronomical price. My goal is not to mark up the mattress and have a good high quality product. Our customer service is the best. I will fix it if you aren’t satisfied.” He said his greatest challenge is finding new customers. “When you sell a good product and they won’t be here for awhile you hope they will tell family and friends. But it is important to find and sell good quality mattresses for my customers or they won’t come back. J.C. Penny once said ‘Customers can fire anyone from the lowest employee to the CEO.’” West is convinced that customer service is so important that he believes that if you give good service they will follow you. “I’m not going to sell you something you don’t like. It’s about finding the right mattress. My motto is ‘We’ve got your back,’ and I mean that.” West said that his parents, Billy and Alice West, made him what he is today. “They instilled a lot of good stuff in me. I try every day to do better.” One story he recalled was a day his dad and mom went to town when he was a boy.
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“Mom found a wad of money on the ground near the post office and went to the window and turned it in. The man who owned it came in soon after that asking about it. Many people would have just picked it up and gone on. My mama showed me how to do the right thing by doing it.” West relies on his dear wife Marcia, that woman he met in Tupelo and married all those years ago as well as Trina Hardin and Jo Adams to keep the business going. “Trina and Jo have been with me since I was in the blue building,” he said. “Jo is a huge part of our service being so good. She remembers things and takes care of people for us.” Jo’s eyes twinkled. “They call me the ‘Parker Williams’ of Pontotoc. I want to take
care of people or you won’t stay in business.” [Parker Williams was the actor David Hart who starred on In the Heat of the Night TV series with Carroll O Connor. He was known for his friendly demeanor with the towns folk.] West said that is always driven by what there is left to do. “I always feel like there is more to be done. People keep me motivated and I hope that makes others want to go and do.” And of his customers he said they are like family to him. “I like to have a wholesome family atmosphere here.” Even when things are tough he believes, “This too shall pass.” But one thing he is ever so grateful for is the way the people of Pontotoc and surrounding areas have treated him. “Getting these awards is a feeling I can’t describe. Thank you all.”
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And The Winners Are... Man of the Year
FRANKIE MOORMAN
Woman of the Year
DEBBIE GILLESPIE
Business of the Year
Best Ice Cream Corner Cravings
Best Steaks Nate’s Steakhouse
Best Bakery Honey Pies
Best Japanese Restaurant Yamato Steak House of Japan
Best Sweet Tea Baps BBQ & Catering
Best BBQ Baps BBQ & Catering
Best Lunch Buffet Algoma Country Store
Best Biscuit The Butcher Block
Best Mexican Restaurant Costa Mexican Restaurant
Best AC/Heating Allen Heat and Cooling, LLC
Best Animal Clinic Pontotoc Animal Clinic
Best Milkshakes Corner Cravings
Best Antique Store Antiques Downtown
Best Nutritional Drink Lifted Nutrition
Best Arts & Crafts Bookends
Best Overall Restaurant Hwy 41 Fish and Steak House
Best Auto Detailing Deandre Allen
BEST FOODS
Best Baked Potato Spud’s
Best Breakfast The Butcher Block Best Buffet Seafood Junction Best Catfish Hwy 41 Fish and Steak House Best Chicken Baps BBQ & Catering Best Coffee Deja Brew Cafe Best Deli Honey Pies Best Desserts Honey Pies Best Fast Food Deja Brew Cafe Best Hamburger Hwy 41 Fish and Steak House Best Hushpuppies Hwy 41 Fish and Steak House
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BEST BUSINESSES
MATTRESS MART
Best Body Shop Southern Garage Body & Paint Best Bookstore Bookends Best Boutique The Rack Best Bridal Gift Shop The Red Door Best Bridal Registry The Red Door Best Building Supply Peeples Building Material Best Catering Tammy Tackitt Ollie Rose
Best Pizza Pizza Hut
Best Auto Mechanic Dustin Huffman Huffmans Tire & Auto LLC
Best Ribs Big Smooth BBQ
Best Auto Parts Advance Auto Parts
Best Salad Bar Nate’s Steakhouse
Best Baby Gift Shop The Carousel
Best Sandwiches Honey Pies
Best Bank First Choice Bank
Best Clothing Alterations Needleart Fabrics and More
Best Seafood Seafood Junction
Best Bed & Breakfast or Lodging Thaxton Grocery
Best Consignment/ Thrift Shop CK Walls/Trend to Pretend
Best Bedding Store Rogers Furniture
Best Convenience Store Algoma Country Store
Best Birthday Gift Shop Pure Bliss
Best Cosmetics Merle Norman at Legacy
Best Slaw Hwy 41 Fish and Steak House Best Sno-Cone Corner Cravings
Best Children’s Clothing The Carousel Best Chiropractor Dr. William D. Anderson, D.C. Anderson Chiropractic
Best Customer Service MattressMart Best Day Care The Learning Tree Best Dental Clinic Jeffus Family Dental Best Discount Store CK Walls/ Trend to Pretend
Best Gym/Fitness Center NMMC Wellness Center
Best Pest Control Ryan Garrison Elite Pest Control
Best Hair Salon Cut-Ups Hair Salon
Best Pet Grooming Barks & Bubbles
Best Health Food Store Lifted Nutrition
Best Pharmacy Montgomery Drugs
Best Home Decor City Mercantile
Best Plumbing Store Peeples Plumbing and Electrical
Best Electronics Walmart
Best Hotel American Inn
Best Eye Clinic Wood Eye Clinic
Best Industrial Company Pride Mobility
Best Fabric Store Needleart Fabrics and More
Best Insurance Agency Farm Bureau
Best Farm Equipment Moore’s Best Feed & Farm Supply Moore’s Best Finance/ Loan Company First Choice Bank Best Florist Redele’s Flowers & Gifts Best Formal Wear Petals and Lace Formal Fashion Best Funeral Home Tutor Memorial Funeral Home Best Furniture Manufacturer Ashley Furniture
Best Jewelry Store H&R Jewelry
Best Printing Company Premiere Printing Best Private School The Armor Best Produce Pontotoc Farmers Market Best Public School South Pontotoc Schools
Best Landscape Company Hamblin Lawn & Landscape Co.
Best Real Estate Agency Patty Turk Properties, LLC
Best Lawn Mower Dealer Wade - John Deere
Best Rental Company Event Rentals
Best Meat Market Price Cutter
Best Screen Printer Premiere Printing
Best Medical Clinic Lindsay Clinic
Best Shoe Dealer Moore’s
Best Men’s Clothing Moore’s
Best Swimming Pool Sales/Supplies The Pool Specialist
Best Mobile Home Center Regional Home Center Best New Business The Blissful Bean
Best Furniture Store Rogers Furniture
Best Nursing Home Sunshine Health Care, Inc.
Best Garden Center Ecru Garden Center
Best Oil Change Young’s Tire Store
Best Gas Station Algoma Country Store
Best Paint Store True Value Hardware Store
Best Grocery Price Cutter
Best Pawn Shop Chunn’s Pawn Shop
Best Tanning Salon Bronze Bar Best Tax Preparation Stegall & Associates, PLLC
Best Used Car Dealership Moore Brothers Best Venue First Choice Gateway Pavilion Best Windshield Repair Pontotoc Auto Glass & Accessories Best Women’s Clothing The Rack Best Wrecker Service Johnson’s Wrecker Service
BEST PEOPLE
Best Bank Teller Amanda Russell Renasant Bank Best Boss Chris West MattressMart Best Bus Driver Thea Hamilton North Pontotoc Schools Best Butcher John William Crawford Price Cutter Best Cashier MK Maffett Corner Cravings Best Coach Bill Russell South Pontotoc Schools Best Doctor Dr. Steve Montgomery Pontotoc Family Medical Clinic
Best Tire Dealer Young’s Tire Store
Best Fire Fighter Blake O’Callaghan Pontotoc Fire Department
Best Transmission Repair Tutor’s Auto Service
Best Grocery Sacker Jacob Chambers Piggly Wiggly
Best Tree Service John Howell’s Tree Service
Best Hair Stylist Josie Griffin Josie’s Beauty Studio BEST OF PONTOTOC 2026 | 27
Best Insurance Agent Chris Russell Farm Bureau
Best Loan Officer Grant Reynolds BNA Bank
Best Investment Advisor Grant Reynolds BNA Bank
Best Nail Technician Anna Grace Rogers Magnolia Roots Salon
Best Law Enforcement Scott Reynolds
Best Nurse Erin Ross - Lindsay Clinic
Best Lineman Brandon Jenkins PEPA
Best Nurse Practitioner Nicole Tindall Lindsay Clinic
Best Painter Barney Harris Best Photographer Dr. Terry Wood Best Physician Dr. Steve Montgomery Pontotoc Family Medical Clinic Best Plumber and Electrician Jason Stepp Stepp Plumbing & Electric Best Principal Mark Vandiver South Pontotoc Elementary School
Best Real Estate Agent Beth Walker Crye-Leike Realtors Best School Teacher Autumn Ritchie South Pontotoc Elementary School Kim Waldrop North Pontotoc Schools Best Secretary Mallory Trentham North Pontotoc High School Best Taxidermist Sammy Bramlett
Congratulations To All The Winners!
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