PREACHER FEATURE
Vol 19, No. 6 • November 2019
NOVEMBER
News You Can Use
Coach E returns to her home court at Ramer at Northeast Community College and By Lucy Weber Rust College. "I was the post but I Back on the basketball court at could do it all." She thought her Ramer School, Erika Wright-Donnell basketball days were done after feels right at home. that. Wright-Donnell was a star on the But, then after this school year middle school team, starting as a Lady began, Wright-Donnell, who Eagle sixth-grader at Ramer and teaches at Head Start in continuing through high school Corinth, was contacted at McNairy Central. Now, about the Ramer's girl she's leading the team as the team needing a coach. head coach - and the first "I didn't apply, but I African American was highly recomfemale coach -- for mended," she said. "I the sixth-, seventhnever thought about coachand eighth-graders. ing before. This is a wonderful Her team has a constant way to get into it." reminder in the Ramer gym of The job was meant to be - she what their coach meant to the was named coach on her birthday school's basketball program. Oct. 2. "It was in God's time," she "There are two banners on said. "It's like I picked up with the wall with my name on basketball where I left off. I them," said Wright-Donnell, remember everything my coaches who played on Ramer teams that had taught me." became county tournament chaHer high school coach at pions in 2002 and 2003 and the McNairy Central is serving as her McNairy Central team that won coaching mentor. "We talk all the district and regional champitime. He says everybody is bragging onships in 2007. "I showed them to on me." the girls and told them I will do what She had 25 girls try out several I can to have your names up there weeks ago, and she selected 13 for the with me." team, whose first game was Nov. 4. After tearing her ACL in her senior They call her "Coach E." One of her year of high school, Wright-Donnell team members is the grandwent on to play college ball Erika Wright-Donnell daughter of Wright-Donnell's Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835 junior high basketball coach. "We've been learning plays. I want to make it fun for them," Wright-Donnell POSTAL PATRON said. "I told them we're going to push it and do it together. see COACH pg 4
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Baldwyn native shares her love of teaching and art By Lucy Weber The classroom is a special place for Dr. Avrie Kohlhiem Powell. It's where creativity flows. For 13 years as an educator, it's where she connects with her students, teaching English and sharing her love of literature. Her love of art also began in the classroom in Baldwyn where her gifted classes taught her about
everything from art history to acrylics. "What I like about teaching is there's never a dull moment," said Powell, who teaches senior English at Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa. "I love to see my students engaged. I love to see my students progress and take on new perspectives. I connect learning to real life perspectives." In the classroom, she encourages her Dr. Avrie Kohlhiem Powell
see POWELL pg 4
Book author credits God for telling the story she brings to the page said. By Lucy Weber The story tells of the town of Amy Deanes brings the sun to Sadville where it rains all the time Sadville. and people walk around with dark The author, who lives in the Cedar clouds over their heads. Mr. Bluff community outside West Point, Moses and his family come to is sharing the book that she town because they took a says God gave her 10 wrong exit., but he is still years ago. Recently smiling when he arrives at pubished, "A Town Called the town hotel. The hotel Sadville" is the first of clerk has never seen anyone what Deanes believes will smile before and is scared. The be a series about what the clerk asks Mr. Moses why he love of Jesus can bring to your life. looks that way, and Mr. Moses When she wrote it originally, she says he's happy. The clerk doesnever thought about publishing it. n't know what happy means and Instead, she let friends and family asks. Mr. Moses replies "Jesus," members read it over the years. A and the sun comes out and the cousin in the publishing business birds are singing. The clerk calls recently asked Deanes if she had the police who come to arrest Mr. writings she want to share. Moses. The clerk goes outside as "I sent it to her and she texted Mr. Moses is taken away and he back 'I'm ready to publish this book. God is telling me to pubsays "Jesus" and feels a change lish this for free," Deanes Amy Deanes see DEANES pg 4