Where legacies are built
EXIT Legacy is family owned and nationally known. Home to 30 and counting real estate professionals, we’re dedicated to creating opportunities and building lasting legacies. We are thrilled to share that we have found our new home in a stunning 1924 historic building in the place we love most, downtown Leeds. As we honor the building’s rich history, we have lovingly restored its charm. We take pride in having a precious piece of Leeds history where businesses have flourished within these iconic walls. As both a family and a company, we are committed to turning our clients’ real estate goals into reality by caring for and educating them through each milestone.
Thank you for choosing us as Leeds Best Local Real Estate Agency. Congrats to our agent, Julie Hubbard for being named Leeds Best Real Estate Agent. Residential - Commercial
After being born non-verbal, Christopher “CJ” Terry keeps striving for growth. FINDING HIS VOICE
LEEDS’ BEST 2026 37
You voted. We tallied. Now see who you said Leeds’ best retailers, restaurants, community events and more are.
PHOTO BY DAKOTA DUVALL
13 Not Finished Yet: Chris Barentz’s Purpose for her Art 20 Read this Book: Leeds Library Staff’s Top Semiquincentennial Reads
21 The Face of LCS: Mary Beth Lochridge Supports Students in Joyful Role
Five Questions For: Jennifer Wehrwein, First Grade Teacher at Leeds
The Rabbit Hole: Christine Leonardi and The Three Earred Rabbit
Five Questions For: Ginger Noriega, Floor Manager at The Three Earred Rabbit
PHOTO BY CAROLINE SIMMONS
EDITORIAL
Michaela Bankston
Anna Grace Breedlove
Dave Domescik
Daniel Locke
Tyler Raley
Andrew Simonson
Noah Wortham
CONTRIBUTORS
Hanna Allen
Carmen Shea Brown
Dakota Duvall
Amber Helms
Felecia Marie
Loyd McIntosh
Amanda E.H. Pritchard
Caroline Simmons
DESIGN
Sydney Allen
Jamie Dawkins
Morgan Lockhart
Lavens Maginnis
MARKETING
Evann Campbell
Octavia Campbell
Rachel Henderson
Rhett McCreight
Tori Smith
ADMINISTRATION
Carlee Chappell
Anna Marie Cleckler
Mary Jo Eskridge
Alec Etheredge
Stacey Meadows
Lauren Morris
Kayla Reeves
Leslie Reeves
Brittany Schofield
Hanna Allen, Writer
Hanna Allen recently graduated from Samford university with a degree in journalism and mass communications with a concentration in print and a minor in writing. She is a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and has a deep passion for storytelling and exploring the ways strong writing can connect people and ideas. Since interning with Shelby County Newsmedia over the summer, she has continued writing to gain hands-on experience as a journalist.
Carmen Shea Brown, Writer
Carmen earned her master’s degree in communication and information sciences from the University of Alabama. She has worked as a magazine feature writer for the last 15 years and also works as a writing coach and copy editor. Her work has been published in HomeCare, Tuscaloosa Magazine, The Executive and more. She enjoys writing articles on a variety of topics, especially health and wellness and inspirational articles on human resilience. Check out her website at carmensheabrown.com.
Felecia Marie, Writer
Felecia Marie is an Alabama-based writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience. With degrees in communication studies and health studies, her writing spans feature pieces, blog posts, newsletters and community event coverage. She finds joy in the creative process while getting to meet new people through various assignments, and her diverse background in healthcare, sales and business development gives her a unique perspective that enriches everything she writes. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her making home-cooked meals with her family, hiking with her fiancé or chilling with her Toyger cat, Maverick.
Loyd McIntosh, Writer
Loyd McIntosh is an award-winning writer and marketing professional with nearly 30 years of experience. Originally from Trussville, Loyd has contributed to more than 50 publications, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, food, the arts and business. He is also the co-host and producer of The Rough Draft: A Podcast About Writing. By day, he serves as the Marketing Manager for Automation Personnel Services, a staffing agency headquartered in Birmingham. Outside of work, he enjoys life in Pell City with his two daughters, Emily Grace and Lily.
Leeds Living Magazine is published quarterly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Leeds Living Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Leeds Living Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.
Leeds Living Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Leeds, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit LeedsLivingMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting LeedsLivingMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.
Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@shelbycountyreporter.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
II’ve always had somewhat of a competitive nature. Not the kind that made me a sore loser, but the kind that encouraged me to push myself to be better if I lost.
Over the years, I’ve realized there’s a healthy balance in pushing to be my best while accepting that won’t always be the best, but we all like to win sometimes, right?
As many of you have anticipated, this issue reveals the winners of our annual contest. After weeks of promotion or voting for your favorite retailers, community places and more, the time has come to see who will hold the title of Leeds’ Best 2026 and who will have to wait until next year to try again.
Before you get to those winners, this issue is filled with overcomers who are winning at life.
A few years ago, Mary Beth Lochridge (page 21) won teacher of the year, but that wasn’t her greatest accomplishment. A turning point in her life led her to her current role as F.A.C.E. program coordinator at Leeds City Schools where she seeks and spreads joy daily.
Starting on page 13, you can read about the multiple challenges Chris Barentz has faced since accepting her calling to art. You’ll also read how those obstacles shaped her view and what keeps her going.
CJ Terry (page 37) had a different challenge as we was born nonverbal. With different types of therapy and support from his mom and others, 9-year-old CJ not only talks, but loves to joke, and in his own words knows, “autism does not define you.”
Win or lose at whatever you’re doing, I hope you keep striving to be better. As you’ll read in this issue, not everything is immediate or easy, but the important thing is not giving up.
That’s the real win. Keep going, even when it’s difficult, and try to find joy in the process.
Enjoy the ride, folks,
michaela@leedslivingmagazine.com
Awake My Soul
Chris Barentz shares her faith with Christian-themed art and traveling studio.
Photo by Amber Helms Design by Sydney Allen
” “THE QUESTION
What artist would you most like to see in concert this season?
We’re going to see Alex Warren in June and so excited! It’s our boys’ first ever concert!
-Maegan Dockery
Maroon 5 but their old songs
-Ashley Michelle
Alexandra Kay
-Macie Allred
Keith Urban
-Deborah Richardson Burleson
Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South)
-Ronald Howard
Jason Wilber would be fun.
-Jimmy Morrison
Considering the price of tickets, nobody
-Deidre Parvin Stokes
Restless Road !!!
-Lisa Smith
@leeds.living
Tag us in your Leeds photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
@koplon_dentistry
Cheering on our patient @kadyn_proctor as he attends the @nfldraft tonight. We can’t wait to see where you and your smile land next! @duvall_dakota
@tannerrgalloway_
I will forever cherish the friendships, memories, and life long lessons over the past 6 years! Thank you, @leedssoftball for giving me a sweet escape, a new family, and so much more! I know I will forever be able to call this place home!
THE GUIDE
MOTORS ON MAIN JUNE 26, JULY 24 & AUG. 28
5:30-8:30 P.M. Downtown Leeds
Motors on Main is back for its second year and will take place on the fourth Friday of each month through October. Each event benefits a featured nonprofit: S.A.F.E.R. Together in June, Magic Moments in July and Houston project in August. In addition to the car show, enjoy live music, food trucks and exclusive sales from businesses staying open. For more information or to donate, visit motorsonmain.com.
JUNE 13
America’s 250th Celebration
5:30-8 P.M.
Downtown Leeds
The City of Leeds, Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, Leeds Main Street, Leeds Historical Society, Leeds City Schools, Leeds Arts Council and Leeds Jane Culbreth Library have all come together to put on an epic celebration for the semiquincentennial in the City of Valor. The event starts with a parade of kids, so decorate bikes, scooters, etc. with red, white and blue. The Pride of the Greenwave Marching Band, First Baptist Church Handbell Choir and Leeds Community Chorus will perform patriotic tunes, and the new mural will be dedicated. The evening will end with a birthday bash including food trucks, music and more!
THURSDAYS
Leeds Farmers Market
3-7 P.M.
The Green Space
The Leeds Farmers Market has returned and will take place every Thursday until August. A variety of vendors arrive each afternoon with their handmade and homegrown products. For more information and to see specific vendors each week, find Leeds Farmers Market on Facebook.
AROUND TOWN
JUNE 11 & 18
Gospel of John Bible Study
Leeds First Methodist Church
JUNE 18
Chamber Luncheon, featuring guest speaker
Senator Scott Ortis
Leeds First Methodist Church
JUNE 27
Railyard Concert Series: Next Year/Speak in Whisper Rails and Ales
JULY 9-12
“Illumination Station” Vacation Bible School
Leeds First Methodist Church
JULY 13-17
“Rainforest Falls” Vacation Bible School
Cedar Grove Baptist Church
JULY 16
Chamber Luncheon, featuring guest speaker David Salters
Leeds First Methodist Church
JULY 23-AUG. 2
“SpongeBob, The Musical” Performances Leeds Arts Council
JULY 25
Railyard Concert Series: Steel City Jug Slammers Rails and Ales
AUG. 3-4
“Into the Woods” Auditions Leeds Arts Council
AUG. 20
Chamber Luncheon, featuring guest speaker
Leeds Outreach
Leeds First Methodist Church
AUG. 20
Varsity Football
Jamboree vs. Minor
Homer Smiles Stadium
AUG. 24
Varsity & JV Volleyball First Home Games
Tri-match vs. Alexandria & Jefferson County IB Leeds High School
AUG. 25
Flag Football First Home Games Tri-match vs. Gadsden City & Anniston
Homer Smiles Stadium
AUG. 27
Varsity & JV Volleyball Home Games vs. Pinson Valley Leeds High School
AUG. 28
Varsity Football First Home Game vs. St. Clair
Homer Smiles Stadium
AUG. 29
Railyard Concert Series: New Favorite Rails and Ales
JUNE & JULY
Summer Reading Program
Leeds Jane Culbreth Library
Join the Leeds Jane Culbreth Library’s annual Summer Reading Challenge, where you can track your reading and attend fun events to win prizes. This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story!” so get ready to travel back in time this summer with a plethora of animal/science-themed programs. Activities take place each day, MondaySaturday. Come with your family to earn prizes together, and check out books to help build the community reading dinosaur. For more information, find Leeds Jane Culbreth Library on Facebook, or drop by the library today
ARTS CULTURE&
NOT FINISHED YET
Chris Barentz uses her Christian-themed art to share a message of hope and perseverance.
BY CARMEN SHEA BROWN
PHOTOS BY AMBER HELMS
CChris Barentz can see it in her mind like it happened yesterday, down to the denim dress she wore with red bandana sleeves that her mother had made for her. She had gone on a field trip with her fifth grade class to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. There, she and her classmates took part in a drawing contest.
“The director said, ‘I want you to close your eyes, and I want you to imagine what you’re seeing while we play this song,’” she said.
Her winning piece, called “The Fire Dance Lady,” was featured in “The Birmingham News,” and her prize was getting to direct the symphony.
“That was my first memory of just loving how it felt that someone else appreciated my art,” she said.
Now, through her Awake My Soul brand, featuring her traveling studio, people all over the country appreciate her art. Known as “Birdie” by her grandchildren, she is especially known for her portraits of birds and was recently picked up by Wild Birds Unlimited in Hoover, but the purpose of her work is for far more than the birds: to glorify God who has helped her get through many challenges throughout her life.
“I feel that He has saved me from a lot,” she said.
After that surreal fifth grade moment, Barentz continued to draw as she got older, even serving as president of the Art Club at Leeds High School. After graduating, she tried following in her father’s footsteps by pursuing a civil engineering degree, but she “hated drawing nuts and bolts.” She changed her major to interior design for a short time, but she ultimately decided school was not her thing.
In 1990, after she painted a mural in her newborn daughter’s bedroom, word began to spread about her artistic talent. By 1998, she was training at the Kelly S King Institute of Deco in Omaha, Nebraska, learning high-end decorative finishes for walls and furniture.
Nearly a decade later, Barentz experienced a string of unfortunate events. In 2007, her father unexpectedly passed away; her first marriage ended, and the economy tanked, resulting in a lack of clients. This was when she knew she needed divine guidance.
“I go to the Church of the Highlands, and it was a Wednesday night service in August,” she said. “I was just praying so hard because I had nothing going on, and I was just praying to the Lord, ‘Please just tell me what I need to do.’”
Then, the church began to sing “Awake My Soul” by Chris Tomlin.
“I said, ‘Oh my gosh, yes, awake my soul, Lord. Just awake my soul, and tell me what I need to do,’” she said.
This was when she decided to pivot by applying her wall-finishing techniques to wood and canvas to create Christian-themed art.
“I had to reinvent myself, so that’s how I started doing all this Christian art,” she said. “I used the finishes and techniques that I learned to create on walls to put on canvas. That’s why I did Christian art, to give God all the glory.”
Around the same time, while she was going through her divorce, Barentz said a friend wanted to set her up on a blind date. While in college, she had dated a man named Larry Stanley, but they had broken up and gone on to marry other people.
“I said that my divorce wasn’t final, and I wasn’t interested,” she said. “She was like, ‘No, you’ve got to. He’s perfect for you.’ Long story short, she told me his name was Larry Stanley, and what ended up being 21 years later, we were reunited. In October of 2008 we got married, and we’ve been together ever since. It’s like we just picked up where we left off.”
While she enjoyed a new chapter in her personal life, more obstacles lay ahead for her professional one.
In 2017, she suffered nerve damage in her right hand.
“When all that nerve damage happened—I used to paint everything over and over again—I had to figure out, how am I going to spread His word if I can’t paint?” she said. “I have been so fortunate to have partners that are local, that are around me, to print all my work for me.”
Barentz had already been doing painting parties at her studio on Ninth Street when a friend suggested she come to others’ homes and businesses to teach. She decided to close her studio and started her traveling studio.
“For my paint parties, I go to Rails and Ales, and at Chick-fil-A here in Leeds, I started doing Milkshakes and Masterpieces, where you get dinner and a free milkshake and pay to paint,” she said. “I travel to churches, to people’s homes, to businesses. I do a lot of small groups that just want to paint.”
Barentz said she tries to encourage people to relax and enjoy themselves as much as possible, and she is happy to help people as little or as much as they would like.
“I just love the excitement on their faces when I hold it up and say, ‘Look what you did,’ and they just love it,” she said. “I do all the highlighting and the outlining; I put the words on it, and then they walk away with a piece that they love. I never let anyone
leave without something they are happy with.”
However, she faced another major setback in 2020 when she survived four heart attacks caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
“The doctor said, ‘I don’t know how you survived a car ride to this hospital,’” she said. “He said ‘You’re about to have a fifth heart attack, and this one’s going to take you out.’ They put a nitroglycerin patch on me and started the medications through the IVs. So, I’m very, very fortunate to be here.”
Still, more personal and health-related obstacles lay ahead. Three years later, her mother passed away, and later that November, a spinal fusion surgery resulted in a paralyzed vocal cord, leaving her unable to speak for three months. During her church’s 21 Days of Prayer, Barentz said she and her husband prayed that her voice would return, and three days later, it did.
Barentz said knowing that God is not yet finished with her helped her come up with her tagline for her work.
“My little tag is ‘Spreading His Word One Piece at a Time,’” she said. “Each piece that I have is a Bible verse, or it’s something meaningful to our Lord.”
In addition to her faith, the unwavering support of her family keeps her anchored. She calls her husband
I had to reinvent myself, so that’s how I started doing all this Christian art. I used the finishes and techniques that I learned to create on walls to put on canvas. That’s why I did Christian art, to give God all the glory.
Chris Barentz
her “roadie” and biggest fan, while her sister helps her “sling art” in her basement studio and on the road.
Although she spends much of her time traveling to art shows with her studio, she said her future plans are to slow down and work at home more often, while learning to become more tech-savvy with promoting her art.
“I just love being in my basement painting and
creating,” she said. “I just crank up that worship music, and that’s what I love.”
Whether on the road or at home, Barentz uses the talents she’s been given to honor the One that gave them to her.
To see more of Chris Barentz’s art or inquire about a paint party, go to chrisbarentzoriginals.com, call the studio at 205-914-5987, or find Awake My Soul on Facebook.
The Leeds Depot and Rowan Oaks are available for event rental. For details, availability, and to reserve either venue please contact LHS at 205-571-1812 or visit our website, LeedsHistoricalSociety.org. Preserving the Cornerstones of our Past
250 Years
Recommendations from
Leeds Jane Culbreth Library Staff
This July marks the 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial, of the creation of the United States of America. In light of the upcoming celebration, the books recommended here, both real and fictional, detail the stories of different people, at different times, in different places throughout this country.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
By Kevin Noble Maillard | Children’s Literature
“Fry Bread,” a staple food amongst many tribes and nations of Native Americans, is both celebrated as it is and used to talk about the ways that the history of this recipe intersects with the history of many of the country’s native people. Filled with wonderful illustrations of large gatherings and warm family moments, the whimsy and charm of this book make a great way to introduce kids to a lesser-known part of the American story.
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776
By Lauren Tarshis | Children’s Historical Fiction
This book, a part of the very popular “I Survived” series of books for children, uses the point of view of a fictional child to describe the events of the chaotic start to the American Revolution. While fictional, it draws from primary sources in order to help give it a basis in historical reality. It is designed to be easy to read with lots of action, great illustrations and interesting facts about this pivotal moment in American history.
Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge
By Ramey Channell | Southern Fiction
Though most of these books are focused around large, mythological stories of America, much of the human experience in this country is encompassed in the lives of the people of the many small towns that dot the nation. This story, written by a longtime resident of Leeds, is fiction that will deeply resonate and feel familiar to those who have grown up in the South. Smaller stories about smaller places are an important part of what composes the United States.
Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II
By Elyse Graham | Historical Nonfiction
While the library staff may be partial to the subjects of this one for obvious reasons, it tells of how intelligence agencies have played such an important part of the American story. This true account of some of the members of the Office of Strategic Services, which laid the foundation for the CIA, provides important insights into this pivotal time in American history. While this particular narrative takes place during World War II, it helps foreshadow many of the triumphs, tribulations and mistakes that would punctuate the story of American intelligence, espionage and subterfuge.
Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking
By Toni Tipton-Martin | Cookbook
The story of the United States is incomplete without a history of our cuisine and is especially incomplete without the influence, ingredients and innovation of African Americans. This book weaves together recipes by an accomplished culinary book writer with stories that help show the context in which these recipes were created. Given that culture, food and human interaction are inextricably linked, this book helps provide important insight into the past and future of the United States as it moves into 250 years and beyond.
SCHOOL SPORTS&
THE FACE OF LCS
Mary Beth Lochridge supports students through new dream job as F.A.C.E. of Leeds City Schools.
BY FELECIA MARIE
BY DAKOTA DUVALL & CONTRIBUTED
PHOTOS
MMary Beth Lochridge spent the summer of 2015 making a list of 100 things she wanted to do with her life. Number 67 was: Do Something Crazy. She had no idea that when she made that list, it would propel her to become one of the heartbeats of Leeds City Schools.
Lochridge grew up in Leeds, but in an area that at the time was zoned for Moody schools. So, while she attended Moody schools, Leeds has always been her home, a place where her family attended church, and she played sports. After graduating, she went to the University of Alabama and majored in telecommunications and film, which, according to her, is a fancy way of saying broadcasting.
Her professional dream was to be a “newsgirl” and produce the news, which led to her first job at a TV station in Tuscaloosa. Once she finished her undergraduate degree, she was offered a position at one of the Birmingham morning shows. She
jumped at the chance, feeling like she had found her dream job at 22.
“I thought it was awesome, a dream come true, and loved it!” Lochridge said. “I worked overnight for three years and produced the morning show for channel 13.”
Then something shifted; she went through what she considered a crisis in her mid-twenties.
Lochridge said some might call it a breakup because it was the most difficult thing she had dealt with up to that point, and she was unsure of how to handle that adversity.
“After like 10 months of crying in my Cheerios about my life, I said, ‘OK, I am going to make a list of 100 things that I want to do to get my life back.”
It was a wide variety of items, ranging from picking four-leaf clovers and test-driving her favorite cars to taking a spontaneous road trip to Texas and adding a new tattoo. She realized
quickly that her main goal was to “find joy.” She decided to create a hashtag, #Marys100Things, to document and share her experiences.
That brings us back to Number 67, which ended up being to jump out of an airplane at Skydive Alabama. Lochridge experienced an epiphany jumping out of that plane that she would never forget.
“I feel like you can’t really know joy unless you’ve known pain, or if you are seeking joy in that capacity in desperation,” she said. “I was so thankful to have the perspective that you can always find joy regardless of what you’ve been through. So when I got home that afternoon, I decided to do something different with my life. I felt so fortunate that God had given me my life back, and it kind of shifted my thinking.”
Lochridge’s next step was applying for a position with Teach for America. Within days she received an acceptance letter placing her in Birmingham, which was a smooth transition when her TV contract ended in May of 2016. She left everything she knew behind and started training in Atlanta that summer.
“It was the most humbling experience of my life because I knew I really knew nothing about public education outside of what I had growing up, which was a fine education,” Lochridge said. “I didn’t really know a lot about poverty, and I didn’t know a lot about a lot of things. Also, I had no clue how to teach.”
She fell in love with teaching. The students, families and daily work of showing up for kids who needed someone in their corner quickly became her calling. It was also during this time that she got married, and many of her students attended the wedding.
In 2020, pregnant with their first child, Lochridge and her husband moved back to Leeds. She was still commuting to Birmingham when a call came in about an opening at Leeds Primary School.
Even though she was nine months pregnant, she interviewed, being transparent that she was expecting, unsure they’d want to hire someone who might miss the beginning of the school year. As it turned out, COVID restrictions delayed the start, and she never missed a day.
“I taught first grade here, and I realized quickly that I didn’t have to be in the inner city to also have a ministry here,” she said. “There’s a need here too. It really doesn’t matter your socioeconomic class. I learned quickly that you can help anywhere you are.”
In her second year at Leeds Primary, Lochridge was named Teacher of the Year. As luck would have it the superintendent’s son was in her class, setting the groundwork for a future fruitful relationship.
In 2024, Lochridge had her next epiphany, and the idea for F.A.C.E. (Family and Community Engagement), a program to bridge gaps between families and the school system with support from the community, began to take root.
“I have prided myself on the relationships with the families because I have years worth of documentation to show that if you have a relationship with the parent, a kid succeeds,” she said.
Over the previous two years, Lochridge had developed a strong relationship with one of the children in her class and the girl’s family, consistently communicating that she would never
“I was so thankful to have the perspective that you can always find joy regardless of what you’ve been through...I felt so fortunate that God had given me my life back, and it kind of shifted my thinking.”
-Mary Beth Lochridge
leave their daughter behind. Even on the day she buried her grandmother, she still showed up to a previously scheduled meeting with the family at the school.
“I could hardly concentrate in that meeting because I just kept sitting there going, every family deserves to feel like that. Like, did you have somebody in your corner?” she said. “Because if you didn’t go to school to be an educator, it is really intimidating to approach situations.”
She first spoke to the principal, who was immediately on board for finding someone whose role was to advocate for the school system and provide support. Lochridge then collected data by talking to parents, not just at the school, but at ballparks and throughout the community, and gathering information from teachers, counselors
and other community members before presenting the idea to Superintendent John Moore in June 2024. A few days later, he called to give her the green light.
“I felt like I was building a plane as I flew it because we’ve never had a position like this,” Lochridge said. “So we couldn’t figure out what we were going to call it, because it’s not just PR. I kind of have to hone in on the external communications piece. It’s truly that we needed a face that people knew from pre-K to 12th grade.”
Lochridge has served as the program’s coordinator since its launch in 2024. Under her leadership, Leeds City Schools has gone from a dormant social media status to 567 posts per week. The program also includes parenting classes covering communication, discipline and what’s going on in
the schools.
“I also love sitting with parents in parent meetings to prep them for what (they) might hear,” she said. “I love getting the school’s perspective or almost literally being a mediator between the school and home.”
This coming year, Lochridge is launching Greenwave Parent Academy, one-night events offered in August and January, where families can select two of 12 available classes. Topics will range from understanding your child’s behavior to helping students master major tests, such as the ACT.
Outside of work, Lochridge renovates houses with her husband, spends time at the lake and takes a yearly beach vacation. She still fits in a 5 a.m. workout at Burn Boot Camp, and in her downtime, she can often be found reading or practicing needlepoint.
“This truly just kind of goes back to that list of 100 things,” she said. “For me, it’s just finding joy each day, and that’s what I’m trying to teach my children. No matter what you go through, there’s always something you can find.”
For Lochridge, looking for joy and providing it to others appears to be a circular loop, and it’s one she has no intention of terminating.
“I feel like the rest of my life is supposed to be spreading joy,” Lochridge said. “So I get to do it, being the face of all this.”
To learn more about F.A.C.E., email Mary Beth Lochridge at mlochridge@leedsk12.org, or call 205-999-0427.
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Jennifer Wehrwein
First Grade Teacher at Leeds Primary School
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Jennifer Wehrwein graduated from Sardis High School and later earned her undergraduate degree from Jacksonville State University and her master’s degree from The University of West Alabama. She has spent all 18 years of her teaching career with Leeds City Schools, teaching first grade from 2008-2020 before serving as library media specialist at Leeds Primary School from 2020-2024. She returned to the classroom in fall 2024 because she missed building a close classroom community with her students. She lives in Leeds with her husband and their two children, Cate and Hayes.
What led you to your career in elementary education?
I’ve always been a rule follower and someone who genuinely loves learning. I enjoyed school so much that I never really left; I just became the teacher. My parents made education a priority, and my mom was very involved at my elementary school as a substitute and PTO member. Our family loved my teachers at Whitesboro Elementary so much that my mom still sends them Christmas cards each year. That sense of a school family made a lasting impression on me and inspired me to create the same kind of environment for my own students and their families.
What does a day in the life look like for you as a first grade teacher?
Each morning, I greet my students at the door, and we start our day with a morning meeting on the rug where we share how we’re feeling and connect as a class. Much of our day is spent learning to read by exploring new phonics skills, practicing reading and writing and applying those skills in books. We build knowledge through read-alouds and meaningful classroom discussions. In
math, students develop problem-solving strategies while strengthening their number sense and fluency. Of course, some of the students’ favorite times are lunch, specials, P.E. and recess.
What is the most-rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of teaching is building relationships with my students and their families. Creating a classroom community where every child feels safe, valued and loved is my top priority. First grade is a magical grade because I get to watch my students transform into readers. I love introducing them to my favorite books and authors and helping them discover the joy of reading. There is nothing like seeing that spark in a child when they realize they can read, and then watching that excitement grow into a genuine love of reading.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
One of the most challenging parts of my job is creating a close classroom family each year and then having to let them go at the
end. It’s also difficult to support students who carry trauma, knowing I can’t simply “fix” everything for them. Like many teachers, I also work to balance being a teacher, a mother and a wife, which can be overwhelming at times. More recently, a challenge has been competing with the instant gratification of screens and helping students stay engaged in meaningful learning experiences.
What would you like people to know about your job that many do not already know?
One thing I wish more people understood is that teachers never truly forget their students. If I’ve ever taught you, you will always be one of “my kids.” I also think people sometimes assume teachers have everything perfectly put together, but we’re human too. We’re constantly learning and growing, just like our students. I’ve taught hundreds of children, yet I still face challenges as a parent to my own two kids. Teaching is deeply personal work, and we care more than most people ever realize.
FOOD DRINK&
THE RABBIT HOLE
The Three Earred Rabbit serves great food as part of Downtown Leeds revitalization.
BY LOYD MCINTOSH
PHOTOS BY CAROLINE SIMMONS
IIt’s been eight years since Christine Leonardi rolled the dice on the corner of Parkway Drive and 8th Street South in Downtown Leeds. The owner of The Three Earred Rabbit in Trussville since 2015, she thought the time seemed right to expand the business, and this spot was ideal.
The space had exposed brick on the interior, plenty of natural light pouring in from multiple directions and was situated right across the street from Leeds Jane Culbreth Library. It had also been the site of a catering company, so converting it into a restaurant was easier than starting from a blank slate.
“It’s on the corner; it’s got the kitchen in it; it’s got the hood, the vent, the grease trap,” Leonardi said. “It was kind of like winning the lottery.”
Still, like many small business owners, she couldn’t help but worry if she made the right decision after signing on the dotted line. At that time, the Downtown Leeds renaissance was in an embryonic
state, and she began to have doubts while the ink on the contract was still wet.
“When I first signed that lease, and I drove back to Trussville, I drove through the town, and I was like, ‘What did I just do?’ Because there was nothing there,” Leonardi recalled, before adding, “I think Mum & Me had just bought the Monkey’s Uncle building, and she was remodeling that, and the Pants Store, which has been there forever, and Bud’s Place, but there wasn’t much else,”
She needn’t have worried. Since opening the doors in 2018, The Three Earred Rabbit has become a local favorite, serving up appetite-satisfying grub while providing a cozy and funky place to hang out for residents of Leeds and beyond. Additionally, Leonardi was among the cutting edge of entrepreneurs leading the revival of Leeds’ historic downtown.
“I personally feel that being there, being like an anchor for Leeds, has just brought people down
there,” she said. “It was a good addition to Downtown Leeds, and now it’s growing with another restaurant coming in and the coffee shop. It’s coming together as a cute little town.”
While the food business isn’t necessarily in her blood, for Leonardi, food is more than just sustenance. Instead, it’s a passion born from her experience growing up in an Italian family in Brooklyn, New York and New Jersey where preparing meals was an endeavor that involved the entire family.
“Every Sunday, we would get together and make
homemade pasta, sauce and eggplant Parmesan. It was a family affair—great grandma, all her children, all their children—spending three or four days cooking for 40 or 50 of us,” she recalled, before adding, “My job was to hang the freshly-cut pasta on the clothesline in the apartment, so it could dry. Everything was made from scratch. I wouldn’t change that upbringing for the world.”
Before moving to Alabama and jumping headfirst into the food business, Leonardi was a production manager and buyer in the high-stress world of retail for brands like Nordstrom and Nine West. Add in
the dense, hustling and bustling New York/New Jersey corridor, and by the mid-2010s, Leonardi found herself burned out and in need of a lifestyle change.
Leonardi’s brother had moved to the Trussville area several years earlier and discovered that the original owners of The Three Earred Rabbit were interested in selling the business. He gave his sister a call, thinking this might be the opportunity she was looking for.
“I came down a couple of times to show interest, and it just all fell into place in 2015,” Leonardi said.
“I’ve been here since.”
So, this Italian, New Jersey girl has been running a food business in the middle of Alabama for more than a decade overall with eight of those years in Leeds. While The Three Earred Rabbit would never be considered an Italian restaurant, Leonardi instills the restaurant’s food with the same passion she had as a kid helping out with Sunday family meals.
In addition, as someone who once worked for some large consumer brands, she understands one key factor that made those companies successful: consistency.
“When that sandwich goes out, and they come back two days from now and get the same thing, it has to taste the same,” Leonardi said. “That, I think, has been one of our biggest successes; consistency.”
Being a lunch spot, The Three Earred Rabbit’s menu is heavy on sandwiches. However, one stands above the rest, the mighty Reuben. Featuring Boar’s Head corned beef and fresh sauerkraut, the Reuben is the restaurant’s signature item.
“We give you, a quarter pound of corned beef on
your sandwich, on a nice, thick rye bread,” Leonardi said. “I don’t know what makes it so special; people just love it. Every time a person eats a Reuben, they come back just for the Reuben.”
Second in popularity is the 4 corners special, a sandwich made with Boar’s Head mesquite turkey, creamy provolone and Vermont cheddar cheeses, sliced apples and bacon.
While those two lead the pack, Leonardi is bullish on a new item, the Cali club. Served on a toasted
Chef’s Picks
Sandwich
REUBEN
Boar’s Head top round corned beef, mild Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and creamy thousand island, served on rye and grilled to perfection.
Salad
THE RED BIRD SALAD
Grilled chicken, feta cheese, almonds, toasted pecans, pepitas and dried cranberries on a bed of mixed greens and served with house honey balsamic dressing.
Dessert
OOEY GOOEY BARS
Buttery dessert bar with a soft cake-like base and a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth topping.
ciabatta roll, the Cali Club features Boar’s Head EverRoast chicken, Swiss cheese, guacamole and sriracha.
The Three Earred Rabbit is also well known for its chicken salad. On the sweeter side, the chicken salad contains grapes, pecans and “other secret ingredients,” according to the menu.
“We must go through at least 15 to 20 quarts (of chicken salad) a week,” Leonardi said. “People come in and say, ‘I’ll take two quarts; I’ll take a pint.’ It’s constantly moving.”
Rounding out the menu are fresh green salads, decadent desserts, such as the ooey gooey bar, strawberry cake and a selection of milkshakes and sundaes, and newer additions like the chicken Alfredo melt.
For those looking to take dinner home, The Three Earred Rabbit also offers made-from-scratch casseroles, most notably the chicken pot pie, poppy seed casserole and in a nod to Leonardi’s Italian heritage, baked ziti.
As the summer sun seemingly gets hotter each day, The Three Earred Rabbit is waiting on the corner with delectable sandwiches, salads and plenty of ice cream to help anyone cool down.
The Three Earred Rabbit is located on Parkway Drive in Downtown Leeds. It is open TuesdayThursday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit eatattherabbit.com.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Ginger Noriega Floor Manager at The Three Earred Rabbit Leeds
PHOTO BY CAROLINE SIMMONS
Ginger Noriega grew up mostly in Texas but also traveled due to her parents being in the military. Her husband’s job relocation moved them from Dallas to Leeds in 2014. She has five children and five grandchildren.
How did you get your start in the food industry?
About eight years ago, I started going to The Three Earred Rabbit in Trussville weekly for lunch with my late husband before he had to go get his chemotherapy treatments. One day I overheard someone say that they were going to be opening up a location in Leeds, which prompted me to go apply, resulting in a 7-year-tenure at The Three Earred Rabbit.
What has been your favorite part of working at The Three Earred Rabbit?
My favorite highlights of working at The
Three Earred Rabbit would have to be the loyal customers who come in weekly and who I have been blessed to call some close friends.
How have you enjoyed crafting food for the community of Leeds and beyond?
One of the best aspects I love about my job at the Rabbit would be the desserts that I get to build and watching the looks on the customers faces as I bring it to their table. Some just don’t realize just what kind of sundaes we can build!
What is the best item on the menu?
I don’t think there is anything on our menu that isn’t good to eat, but my top pick would be the California Club sandwich. It truly stands out!
What would you suggest to someone walking into The Three Earred Rabbit on a hot, summer day ?
I’d say you definitely have to have an old-fashioned Banana Split on any hot or even cold Alabama day!
Finding His Voice
After being born non-verbal, Christopher “CJ” Terry keeps striving for growth.
By Hanna Allen
Photos by Dakota Duvall & Contributed
OOn Friday nights in Leeds, Christopher “CJ”
Terry can often be found near the high school band, watching and occasionally stepping in as an enthusiastic, self-appointed band director. His mother, Ashley Reed, said the band has become an important part of their lives, especially the band director, Chip Wise, who she described as a father figure and steady presence for CJ and his younger brother, Jace Terry.
After Reed’s mother died, she said Wise and others at First Baptist Church Leeds stepped in to support their family. CJ and his brother now refer to him as “G Daddy.”
Nine-year-old CJ is active and social, participating in sports and community activities throughout the year. His level of engagement today contrasts with his early childhood, when communication did not come easily.
CJ was nonverbal until around age 3 and a half. Reed said he rarely spoke as a toddler and instead communicated through sounds, sometimes growling, which led her to jokingly call him “her little monster” during that stage of uncertainty.
She went on to say she first noticed developmental differences when he was about 2 years old.
“He wasn’t talking much,” she said. “Most babies start to babble or say their first words, and he just wasn’t.”
Concerned, she sought early support, and CJ began occupational therapy at age 2 before receiving a formal diagnosis. At age 4, after multiple evaluations, he was diagnosed with autism.
“The diagnosis was emotional,” she said. “It was hard, but it also gave us direction. We finally knew how to help him.”
Following the diagnosis, CJ participated in speech therapy, occupational therapy and applied behavior analysis. Reed said those early years required a significant time commitment, with frequent appointments and long waitlists to access services.
“You have to advocate constantly,” she said. “There were times I was calling every day just to check on openings or appointments.”
One of CJ’s earliest breakthroughs in
communication happened at home. Reed said he was watching a music video with lyrics displayed on the screen when he began saying the words aloud.
“That was the first time I realized he could read and say them,” she said.
At the time, his communication was largely based on repetition. He could read or repeat words he saw, but he did not yet engage in conversation or express his thoughts independently. Over time, that began to shift.
“As he got older, he started to use more of his own words,” Reed said.
Today, CJ is conversational and expressive, and his ability to communicate has shaped how he interacts with others at school, in sports and at home. As his communication improved, his personality became more apparent.
“He’s very funny,” Reed said. “He likes to joke and play tricks.”
She also described him as caring and loyal, particularly toward people he knows well.
“If he loves you, he really loves you,” she said.
CJ also shows awareness of his diagnosis and how much it matters.
“Autism does not define you,” he said, which
his mother said reflects his understanding of himself.
Faith has also been a consistent part of CJ’s upbringing. His family attends First Baptist Church Leeds, where Reed said the community has played a significant role in supporting them through both challenges and everyday life.
CJ participates in baseball, football and wrestling, and he has also played basketball and soccer. His involvement in sports began at a young age as a way to channel his energy.
“He had so much energy, and I wanted to get him involved in something structured,” Reed said.
She said CJ’s introduction to organized sports began through Leeds Youth Baseball, where Jessie Jones encouraged him to join a team at an early age.
“He looked at him and said, ‘Yeah, he can come play,’” Reed said. “That’s really where it started.”
She said she enrolled him in baseball before his diagnosis, simply to give him an outlet.
“I just wanted him to have something to do and be part of,” she said.
Over time, sports became an important part of his development. In addition to physical activity,
they provided opportunities for social interaction and communication.
“He’s learned how to be on a team, how to listen to a coach and how to communicate with others,” Reed said.
She said sports have also helped CJ build independence by encouraging him to interact with coaches and teammates on his own rather than relying on her in every situation.
“He can’t just come to me for everything,” she said. “He has to talk to his coach or teammates.”
CJ just finished third grade, and his mother said his teachers have played an important role in his development, both academically and socially. One early influence was Mrs. Holcombe, who helped support him in the classroom with structure and consistency during his early school years.
“They’ve been very supportive,” she said. “They believe in him and work with him.”
She said that support has been consistent since pre-K, helping build foundational skills that continue to benefit him.
At home, CJ has a close relationship with his younger brother, Jace, 7. Reed said their relationship reflects both stereotypical sibling
dynamics and moments of more maturity.
“They have a typical sibling relationship, but Jace can also be very understanding,” she said. “He’ll help calm his brother down when he’s upset.”
CJ continues to face challenges, particularly with emotional regulation.
“He feels things very strongly,” Reed said. “Sometimes it’s hard for him to manage those emotions.”
She said he also prefers structure and can struggle when situations change unexpectedly or
when he is not in control of an environment. To address this, she and his teachers work with him to develop strategies for managing emotions and adapting to different environments. That process, she said, is ongoing and requires patience and consistency from both family members and educators.
Reed, who works as a paraprofessional in a kindergarten classroom, said raising CJ has shaped both her personal and professional perspective. Through her work, she interacts with other children with autism and said her
Living well happens
Living with a chronic health condition doesn’t mean childhood has to stop. At Children’s of Alabama, we make sure kids can keep doing what they do best—laughing, playing, and simply being kids. With expert care, advanced treatments, and a team that never stops believing in brighter days, we help families navigate their healthcare journey with confidence, strength, and hope.
experiences as a parent have informed how she supports students in the classroom.
“One of the biggest things is not to limit them,” she said. “They’re capable of so much.”
She said children with autism often experience the world differently, but that perspective can be valuable.
“You can learn a lot from them,” she said.
She also said CJ has influenced her own growth by teaching her how to advocate, remain persistent and approach challenges with a different mindset.
“He’s taught me how strong I am,” she said.
Childrens AL •org
We are here in your neighborhood at Pediatrics East. To schedule an appointment at either the Trussville or Deerfoot locations visit www.pediatricseast.org
At 9 years old, CJ continues to develop communication skills, independence and confidence. Reed said she plans to continue supporting his interests while encouraging growth, both in structured settings like school and sports and in everyday life.
“I think he can do whatever he sets his mind to,” she said.
From finding his voice to tackling different sports, he certainly has a good track record of that so far.
LEEDS’ BEST WINNERS 2026
Who’s the best? We asked, and you answered. Thousands of votes were cast in Leeds Living’s annual contest. Read on to find out who our readers’ favorites are this year.
Photos by Michaela Bankston, Blair Ramsey & Contributed
ARTS, CULTURE, PLACES
BEST CITY PARK
Leeds Memorial Park leedsalabama.gov 205-699-2585
Runners Up: Leeds Gazebo Park, Old City Park
BEST COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Maegan Dockery - Leeds Main Street Marketing Director leedsmainstreet.com
Runners Up: Tiffiany Ward - Leeds Main Street Board President, Andi Argo - The Burrow Bookstore
SWEET CAROLINE’S PIZZERIA AND CREAMERY BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS), BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT, BEST PIZZA
BEST COMMUNITY HUB
The Burrow Bookstore theburrowbookstore.com 205-500-0711
Runners Up: Rails & Ales, Historic Downtown Leeds
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Millenial Bank millennial.bank 205-702-2265
Runners Up: AmFirst, Vick Accounting & Tax Service
BEST EVENT/WEDDING VENUE
The Sonnet House thesonnethouse.com 205-699-7490
Runners Up: Leeds Railroad Depot, Rowan House
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
Tena Payne - Earthborn Studios Inc. earthbornpottery.net 205-702-7055
Runners Up: Grand River Pickers, Chris Barentz - Awake My Soul Studio
BEST LOCAL CAUSE
Leeds Main Street leedsmainstreet.com
Runners Up: Ann’s New Life Center, Backpack Buddies
BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL Mistletoe on Main leedsmainstreet.com
Runners Up: Grand RiverFest, Creek Bank Festival
BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY
Charles Barkley
Runners Up: Tiffiany WardLeeds Main Street Board
President, Maegan DockeryLeeds Main Street Marketing Director
BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Brittany Hackleman Photography facebook.com/ brittanyhacklemanphotography 205-807-7626
Runners Up: Amber Helms Photography, LB Studios
BEST MUSEUM
Barber Motorsports Park and Museum
barberracingevents.com 205-699-7275
Runners Up: Leeds Railroad Depot, Bass House Museum
BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS)
Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery facebook.com (Sweet Caroline’sLeeds) 205-702-6055
Runners Up: Marano’s d’asporto, Primo Grill Pizza & Pasta
BEST PASTOR
Pastor Brandon RodgersLeeds First Methodist Church leedsfirst.org 205-699-8575
Runners Up: Pastor Billy Abrams - Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Dr. Steven Weems - First Baptist Church
BEST PLACE FOR A FAMILY OUTING
Historic Downtown Leeds leedsmainstreet.com
Runners Up: The Backyard, The Shops of Grand River
BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
The Backyard backyardleeds.com 205-352-9180
Runners Up: Leeds Memorial Park, Earthborn Studios Inc.
BEST PLACE TO WORK
Leeds City Schools leedsk12.org 205-699-5437
Runners Up: The Burrow Bookstore, Exit Legacy Realty
BEST PLACE TO WORSHIP
Leeds First Methodist Church leedsfirst.org 205-699-8575
Runners Up: Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Ashville Road Church of Christ
BEST PUBLIC/PRIVATE SCHOOL
Leeds Primary School lps.leedsk12.org 205-702-2300
Runners Up: Leeds High School, Leeds Elementary School
BEST TEACHER
Jennifer Wehrwein - Leeds Primary School lps.leedsk12.org 205-702-2300
Runners Up: Emma Bagby Williams - Leeds Elementary School, Macy Vandergrift - Leeds Primary School
DINING & NIGHTLIFE
BEST BAKED GOODS
Suga Mama’s Bakery sugamamabakery.com 256-503-3341
Runners Up: Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Five Loaves Micro Bakery
TENA PAYNE - EARTHBORN STUDIOS INC. BEST LOCAL ARTIST
LENA GAUNTT - SUGA MAMA’S BAKERY
BEST SWEET TREATS, BEST BAKED GOODS, BEST CULINARY TALENT
THE BACKYARD
BEST PATIO DINING, BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT, BEST KID-FRIENDLY DINING
BEST BARBECUE
Rusty’s Bar-B-Q rustysbarbq.com 205-699-4766
Runner Up: Saw’s BBQ
BEST BARTENDER
Daneen Jackson - Neon Moon Lounge
theneonmoonloungeofleeds.com 205-460-1088
Runners Up: Mandi Rae TrottRails & Ales, Amber Vines - Rails & Ales
BEST BEER/WINE SELECTION
Rails & Ales railsandales.beer 205-352-0365
Runner Up: Neighbors Brewing Co - The Backyard
BEST BURGER
Rusty’s Bar-B-Q rustysbarbq.com 205-699-4766
Runners Up: Saw’s BBQ, The Three Earred Rabbit
BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT
Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery facebook.com (Sweet Caroline’sLeeds) 205-702-6055
Runners Up: Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, The Backyard
BEST CATERER
Rusty’s Bar-B-Q rustysbarbq.com 205-699-4766
Runners Up: Amy Coots, Primo Grill Pizza & Pasta
BEST COCKTAILS
Neon Moon Lounge theneonmoonloungeofleeds.com 205-460-1088
Runners Up: Rails & Ales, The Backyard
BEST CULINARY TALENT
Lena Gauntt - Suga Mama’s Bakery sugamamabakery.com 256-503-3341
Runners Up: Rusty TuckerRusty’s Bar-B-Q, Lauren BrownFive Loaves Micro Bakery
BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT
The Backyard backyardleeds.com 205-352-9180
Runners Up: El Cazador, Rusty’s Bar-B-Q
BEST ETHNIC DINING
China Wok chinawokleedsal.com 205-702-6248
Runners Up: Marano’s d’asporto, El Cazador
BEST KID-FRIENDLY DINING
The Backyard backyardleeds.com 205-352-9180
Runners Up: Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery, Rusty’s Bar-B-Q
BEST LUNCH SPOT
The Three Earred Rabbit threeearred.com 205-702-6109
Runners Up: Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery
BEST MARGARITA
El Cazador elcazadoralabama.com 205-699-1655
Runners Up: Neon Moon Lounge, Guerrero Mexican Grill
BEST PATIO DINING
The Backyard backyardleeds.com 205-352-9180
Runners Up: Rails & Ales, Rusty’s Bar-B-Q
BEST PIZZA
Sweet Caroline’s Pizzeria & Creamery facebook.com (Sweet Caroline’sLeeds) 205-702-6055
Runners Up: Primo Grill Pizza & Pasta, Marano’s d’asporto
BEST SWEET TREATS
Suga Mama’s Bakery sugamamabakery.com 256-503-3341
Runners Up: Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, The Three Earred Rabbit
FINANCIAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
BEST ACCOUNTANT
Jay Vick - Vick Accounting & Tax Service vickaccounting.com 205-702-6067
Runner Up: Ryan D. Miller, CPA, CFE - Leeds CPA LLC
BEST ACCOUNTANTING FIRM
Vick Accounting & Tax Service vickaccounting.com 205-702-6067
Runner Up: Leeds CPA LLC
DR. SCOTT KOPLON - KOPLON IMPLANT & FAMILY DENTISTRY
BEST DOCTOR, BEST DENTIST, BEST DENTAL PRACTICE
BEST ATTORNEY
Brunson Barnett & Sherrer, P.C. bbsatty.com 205-702-6700
Runner Up: Barnes & Barnes Law Firm, P.C.
BEST BANK
Millennial Bank millennial.bank 205-702-2265
Runners Up: Regions, PNC
BEST CREDIT UNION
AmFirst amfirst.org 205-699-2091
Runners Up: WinSouth Credit Union, Heritage South Credit Union
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISING
GROUP
Cahawba Financial, Inc. cahawbafinancial.com 205-699-3500
Runners Up: Kristi G. Scott Group powered by Premier Mortgage Resources, AmFirst
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR
AmFirst amfirst.org 205-699-2091
Runners Up: Brad PoolCahawba Financial, Inc.; Donna Cates - Money Matters Wealth Solutions
BEST LAW FIRM
Brunson Barnett & Sherrer, P.C. bbsatty.com 205-702-6700
Runner Up: Barnes & Barnes Law Firm, P.C.
BEST LOCAL INSURANCE AGENCY
Armstrong & Edwards Agency facebook.com (Armstrong & Edwards Alfa Agency) 205-699-3131
Runners Up: Scott PellowskiState Farm Insurance Agent, Franklin Insurance Group
BEST LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT
Kristin Nickles - Alfa Insurance facebook.com (Kristin NicklesAlfa Insurance) 205-957-3374
Runners Up: Scott PellowskiState Farm Insurance Agent, Cherish Franklin - Franklin Insurance Group
BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY
Exit Legacy Realty exitlegacyrealty.com 205-699-4837
Runners Up: Bob Watkins Realty, Webb & Company Realty
BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT
Julie Hubbard - Exit Legacy Realty juliehubbardrealtor.com 205-966-7228
Runners Up: Kasey Blair - Exit Legacy Realty, Trenity Poe - Exit Legacy Realty
BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE TEAM
Exit Legacy Realty exitlegacyrealty.com 205-699-4837
Runners Up: Webb & Company Realty, Bob Watkins Realty
BEST MORTGAGE GROUP
Casey Parsons Team - Guild Mortgage facebook.com/Guildiseverywhere 205-209-2725
Runners Up: Kristi G. Scott Group powered by Premier Mortgage Resources, AmFirst
HEALTH & FITNESS
BEST CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Leeds Family Chiropractic leedsfamilychiropractic.com 205-699-6600
Runner Up: Dr. Alan C. Walch Jr. - Walch Chiropractic Center PC
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Drs. Richard & Jill PalmaLeeds Family Chiropractic leedsfamilychiropractic.com 205-699-6600
Runner Up: Walch Chiropractic Center PC
BEST DANCE/GYMNASTICS STUDIO
Dancing with Dani facebook.com (Dancing with Dani)
Runners Up: Beverly’s Dance, The Tumble House
BEST DENTAL PRACTICE
Koplon Implant & Family Dentistry koplondmd.com 205-259-7571
Runners Up: Michelle Davis Dental, Peterson Dental
BEST DENTIST
Dr. Adam Koplon - Koplon Implant & Family Dentistry koplondmd.com 205-259-7571
Runners Up: Dr. Michelle Davis - Michelle Davis Dental, Dr. Eric Peterson - Peterson Dental
MILLS PHARMACY BEST PHARMACY
BEST DOCTOR
Dr. Scott Koplon - Koplon Implant & Family Dentistry koplondmd.com 205-259-7571
Runners Up: Dr. Christopher Carter - Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, Dr. Sarah Bragg - UAB Medicine Leeds
BEST FITNESS CENTER
Workout Anytime workoutanytime.com 205-702-2789
Runners Up: Fit City Movement & Arts, Righteous Wellness
BEST OPTOMETRIST
Dr. Jason Pulliam - Leeds
Family Eye Care visionsource-leedsfamilyeyecare.com 205-702-4380
Runner Up: Dr. Rick WilliamsLeeds Family Eye Care
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Julie Watters - Fit City Movement & Arts facebook.com (Fit City Movement & Arts) 205-520-8791
Runners Up: Jalil Nance - Workout Anytime, Jared Jordan - Righteous Wellness
BEST PHARMACY
Mills Pharmacy millspharmacies.com 205-699-5195
Runners Up: Patterson Pharmacy, Walgreens
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY
PRACTICE
Drayer Physical Therapy Institute drayer.urpt.com 205-699-8280
Runners Up: Encore Rehabilitation, TherapySouth
BEST SPA
Health Art Massage healthartmassage.com 205-702-6040
Runners Up: Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers, Blossom Spa
BEST THERAPY/COUNSELING
PRACTICE
Grove Counseling counselinggrove.com 205-499-2607
Runners Up: Leeds Counseling, Embers of Hope Counseling, LLC
HOME & AUTO SERVICES
BEST AUTO SERVICE
Murray’s Garage Inc. murraysgarage.net 205-699-6651
Runners Up: Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, Ron’s Automotive
MUM & ME MERCANTILE BEST BOUTIQUE, BEST GIFT SHOP, BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE
BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICE
Poe Electric Inc. poeelectric.com 205-640-1746
Runners Up: Polar Bear Services, Firefly Electrical LLC
BEST HVAC SERVICE
Tri-Counties Heating & Air Services tricountiesheatingandair.com 205-699-6088
Runners Up: Polar Bear Services, Guin Service LLC
BEST HOME BUILDER
Blair Homes facebook.com (Blair Homes) 205-699-2283
Runners Up: Curtis White Companies Inc., Layfield Homes LLC
BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY
Growing Green Landscapes growinggreenlandscapes.com 205-537-8647
Runners Up: The Arborist, Vulcan Cleaning Company
BEST PLUMBER
J Hancock Plumbing jhancockplumbing.com 205-973-9821
Runners Up: Guin Service LLC, Lovelady Plumbing Co.
BEST REMODELER
Blair Homes facebook.com (Blair Homes) 205-699-2283
Runners Up: Gough Flooring & Design, Curtis White Companies Inc
PERSONAL & FAMILY
BEST BARBER SHOP
MAQ’s On Main Barbershop facebook.com (MAQ’s On Main Barbershop) 205-699-3304
Runners Up: Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers, Kut/Ups Hair & Nail Salon
BEST HAIR SALON
Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers poshsalonspaandbarbers. glossgenius.com 205-577-0836
Runners Up: Kut/Ups Hair & Nail Salon, Leigh’s Signature Salon
BEST HAIR STYLIST
Shelby Hicks - Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers poshsalonspaandbarbers. glossgenius.com 205-577-0836
Runners Up: Meaghan QuickMAQ’s On Main Barbershop, Hannah Roseman - Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers
BEST NAIL SALON
Kut/Ups Hair & Nail Salon facebook.com (Kut/Ups Hair & Nail Salon) 205-699-6245
Runners Up: Posh Salon, Spa and Barbers, City Nails
GRAND RIVER PICKERS
BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/DECOR, BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE
SHOPPING
BEST ANTIQUE/VINTAGE STORE
Yellowhammer Antiques yellowhammerantiques.com 205-702-0109
Runners Up: Grand River Pickers, The Burrow Bookstore
BEST BOUTIQUE
Mum & Me Mercantile mumandmeleeds.com 205-702-6677
Runners Up: Grand River Pickers, Pants Store
BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE
Grand River Pickers grandriverpickers.com 256-504-2606
Runners Up: Something HopeFilled, Yellowhammer Antiques
BEST GIFT SHOP
Mum & Me Mercantile mumandmeleeds.com 205-702-6677
Runners Up: Grand River Pickers, Earthborn Studios Inc.
BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE
Mum & Me Mercantile mumandmeleeds.com 205-702-6677
Runners Up: The Children’s Place, The Grumpy Princess
BEST PLANT NURSERY
Green Up Garden Shop facebook.com/ GreenUpGardenShop 205-542-5801
Runner Up: Warren Family Garden Center
BEST SPECIALTY STORE
The Burrow Bookstore theburrowbookstore.com 205-500-0711
Runners Up: Grand River Pickers, Earthborn Studios Inc.
BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/DECOR
Grand River Pickers grandriverpickers.com 256-504-2606
Runners Up: Yellowhammer Antiques, Farmers Home Furniture
Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce
CONNECTIONS
Letter from the Director
New Member Spotlight
Dreamcatcher Flower Shop + Gifts
Renasant Bank
Viva Health
Miss Jefferson County Organization
Remnant Coffee
Total Wireless
WURL (AM radio)
Patria Ministries International, Inc.
We’re Ready to Partner With you
To support your business
To support your community
To support your schools
As your information bureau
As your business resource
As your liasion between city government and the business community
As we move into the summer season, I find myself reflecting on one of the greatest strengths of our community—the people who stand beside us. In every successful event, business, organization and moment of growth, there is always a team working together behind the scenes. One of the most valuable lessons leadership continues to teach me is that no one is meant to carry every responsibility alone. Especially during the seasons that feel the most challenging, it is so important to lean on your team, trust those around you and allow others to help carry the vision forward. Here in Leeds, we are incredibly fortunate to have a community built on collaboration, encouragement and genuine support. I am especially grateful for the outstanding leadership provided by the City of Leeds over the past year. Their willingness to partner, communicate and invest in our community has created momentum that is felt throughout our city. We deeply appreciate the support they continue to show the chamber, our local businesses, and the citizens of Leeds each and every day. One of the most beautiful examples of this collaborative spirit was the success of Creek Bank Festival 2026. What an incredible celebration for our community! From city leaders and volunteers to sponsors, businesses, vendors, public safety officials and community organizations, the level of teamwork and dedication was truly astonishing. Watching our community come together to create such a meaningful and successful event was both inspiring and humbling. Events like Creek Bank remind us that when people work together with a shared purpose, amazing things can happen. The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce remains committed to fostering these connections and continuing to create opportunities for growth, engagement, and community pride. We are grateful for every member, volunteer, sponsor and supporter who helps make this work possible. Your belief in Leeds and your willingness to serve this community do not go unnoticed. As we enjoy the summer months ahead, I encourage everyone to continue supporting local businesses, attend community events and invest in the relationships that make Leeds feel like home. Together, we are building something truly special. Thank you for allowing us the privilege to serve this wonderful community. We are excited for all that is still to come.
Warmly,
Amy Lee Executive Director, Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce
Ribbon Cuttings
Past Events
Upcoming Events
JUNE 13 250th Celebration 5:30-8 p.m. Downtown Leeds
JUNE 18
Monthly Luncheon, featuring guest speaker Senator Scott Ortis 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Leeds First Methodist Church
JULY 16
Monthly Luncheon, featuring guest speaker David Salters 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Leeds First Methodist Church
AUG. 20
Monthly Luncheon, featuring guest speaker Leeds Outreach 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Leeds First Methodist Church
Daddy-Daughter Princess Gala March 13
Creek Bank Festival May 16
Drayer Physical Therapy April 8
Raindrop Carwash March 20
Sweet Caroline’s February 23
Remnant Coffee APRIL 1
Total Wireless APRIL 26
MARDI ON MAIN
PHOTOS BY AMANDA E.H. PRITCHARD
On Saturday, February 28, Leeds Main Street transformed the historic Leeds Train Depot and the Livery Event Center for a festive, Mardi-Gras inspired casino night.
1. Marilyn Newton, Alec and Julia Guthrie and Jennifer Rybka
2. Faith Burns and Ken Eady
3. Debbie, Richard and Pat Moore
4. Dave Thomas and Laysea Chasteen
5. Mike Mardis and Elizabeth Duvall
6. Brandin and Brittany Reeves and Christy and Lanier Millsap
7. Pam and John Ingram and Jack and Sheila Fuller
8. Beth Rigsby and Linda Miller
9. Mary Jim Alexander and Pam Wood
10. Anna and Paul Irwin
11. Brad and Jessica Baker
12. Trenity Poe and Anna Greenwood
13. Amber Yeackle and Tracy Brasher
14. Pete Pritchard and Buddy Jones
15. Jessica and Cary Kennedy
DADDY-DAUGHTER PRINCESS GALA
PHOTOS BY MICHAELA BANKSTON
On Friday, March 13, at the Livery Event Center, dads and daughters dressed to impress for the DaddyDaughter Princess Gala, hosted by Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce.
1. Kevin and Journey Patterson
2. Adeline and Jeremy Snider
3. James and Emily Hughes
4. Amy Lee, Steve Karr and Jennie Kruse
5. Adam and Emma Irwin
6. Tim and Layiana Hurd
7. Millie and Mila
8. Jamal and Faith Jenkins and Harley and Greg Martin
9. Raelyn and Rich Lloyd
10. MaKenzie Ruth and Jessie Simmons
11. Ryan and Tenley Austin
12. John and Lakelyn Coffman
13. Colton Moody and Hannalyse Hudson
14. Palmer and Charles Harrison
15. Adam and Rosaleigh Lindsey
16. Rilynn and Sam Harris
MARKET ON MAIN AND HISTORIC WALKING TOUR
BY MICHAELA BANKSTON
On Saturday, April 11, vendors lined up in Downtown Leeds for Leeds Main Street’s Market on Main, while reenactors, musicians and sets were throughout the area for Leeds Trails & Tours’ walking tour bringing the 1960s back to life for the day.
1. Allie, Nate and Angie Dutton and Gracie Smeraglia
2. Gerald and Linda Miller
3. Jennifer, Maddie and Kristen
4. Fletcher, Hayden and Mike Bell
5. Emerson Thrash and Ruby Keith
6. Rosie and Max
7. Pat Goudeau and Elise Gaston
8. Shots on 3
9. Molly and Jeff Gros
10. Chris Bryant and Cassandra Naylor
11. Angela Harris and Briana and Gabriel Powell
12. Emily, Easton and Caleb Duncan
13. Debbie and Mayor Eddie Moore
14. Cathy Karr and India Dye
15. Linda Peoples, Penny Nunnelley, Bridget Hall and Robyn Grant
PHOTOS
MY LEEDS BUDDY JONES
Leeds Main Street Executive Director & Owner of Rails & Ales
Special Memories
Rails & Ales
There’s a few at the top of my list, but I think my favorite was when we first happened upon Rails & Ales. We went in to listen to live music and sat at a round table on the back porch. It was me, my wife, Judith, and our dog, Cooper. It seemed that every person that walked by our table stopped to say hi and introduce themselves. The bartender that night, Amber, was also so friendly and kept checking on us. It really showed how much Leeds cares!
Outdoors Spots
Downtown Leeds
I really enjoy walking around downtown. If you take the time to do so, there is just so much history that you can see. Not only on Parkway Drive, but off of Parkway to the Depot and Livery, and don’t forget Green Up Garden Shop! (Green Up is very high on sentimental memories too!)
Now, I am going to need to go get one today!
Sentimental Spots
“Main Street”
It’s tough to say a sentimental place having not grown up in Leeds. However, for me, it would be Downtown Leeds. That is where I fell in love with Leeds. As clear as yesterday, I remember driving down Parkway Drive and taking a video to send to my wife back at home. She immediately commented how much she loved it. From that day, we have been involved in whatever we can to be a part of our Main Street.
Community Fellowship
Mistletoe on Main
My favorite event has to be Mistletoe on Main. From the ice rink to the activities to the parade, it is just an all-around great family event. I do also need to include the Leeds Historic Walk. Each year is a new decade to experience, and it is great to see the history of the buildings and feel immersed in the era. Market on Main is an added bonus that day as well where we always pick up some great artisan crafted goods.
Local Eats
The Three Eared Rabbit
The Three Eared Rabbit has the best chicken salad sandwich. I love getting it with the pasta salad as well.
