Simpson
Free
Magazine
A community guide for Simpson County, Mississippi presented by Venture South Magazine
Welcome to Simpson Magazine
Jason Niblett Publisher jason@myventuresouth.com
When we launched Venture South Magazine in the summer of 2017, I had just been laid off from a closing newspaper. I was working for a newspaper in Laurel when out of the blue, boom! I got a telephone call on a Thursday afternoon announcing the following week’s closure. I wasn’t shocked... this was the third time it had happened in my newspaper career. With a lot of prayer and conversations with friends and family, it was then I decided to take the plunge to work for myself, and Venture South was born! I didn’t want to publish just any magazine. There are so many lifestyle or home or social magazines in our state. I wanted something different. I love to promote Mississippi, and I love to travel. As it turned out, there are a lot of people looking for things to do in their own state. We didn’t plan to cover or distribute statewide, but it happened quickly. Along the way, we found the need and desire from smaller community leaders who felt as if other media ignored them unless something bad happened. Sure, we still write about events in places like Jackson, the Gulf Coast or Hattiesburg, but we also focus just as much on smaller places. It was also through this mission to highlight and promote Mississippi’s sometimes overlooked communities that we started publishing city guides or community guides for smaller towns and counties. Simpson Magazine isn’t our first, but it’s certainly one of my favorite ones so far. I spent several years of my childhood and teenage years growing up in Simpson County, so there is very much a sense of pride in being able to do something for a place that formed so much of the person I am today. Thank you, readers and advertisers, for helping to make dreams come true! I sincerely hope that this magazine promotes Magee, Mendenhall, and the entire Simpson County community in a way that shines on great people and businesses while bringing positive economic growth and attention. If you enjoy this publication, be sure to check out our monthly Venture South Magazine. You can pick it up at about a dozen places across Simpson County!
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Contents On the cover Artist Wade Stephenson
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Making things happen Magee’s changing style
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Growing Mendenhall
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David’s Field of Dreams
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Community faces Katina: A rising star
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Awestruck Theatre
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Anna Beth’s Simpson Co.
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Simpson Magazine A special publication of Venture South Magazine
About the cover The beautiful Simpson County Courthouse in Mendenhall shown as a gorgeous Wade Stephenson painting. © 2018 / All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Venture South Media LLC/Venture South Magazine cannot be held liable for errors and omissions. Copies are available at locations throughout Simpson County and across Mississippi.
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Downtown Magee
Embracing the future, respecting the past Written by Shane Little Photos by Jason Niblett
Stepping into the future while paying respect to the past, downtown Magee is accomplishing both at a rapid pace. The big, small town of Magee is steeped in tradition, from tailgating on Friday night for Trojan football to the annual Crazy Day festival or The Block reunion ride. The City of Magee is growing, and the downtown area is growing with it, holding to tradition to remember where they came from. A quick turn off U. S. Highway 49 and one is already on Main Avenue. This is where one can find just about anything they are looking for, from New Orleans-style balcony living, music, or fantastic food to the finest men’s formal wear. Staying connected, The Vault is the newest restaurant in Magee. It has brought fine food, good music, and a long overdue social gathering spot the city has needed. Taking over a former bank building downtown and turning it into a place for live music and great food was no easy task, but Nona and Jean-Philippe Cook took it to an exciting level. The Vault did not forget the past when looking to the future of Magee. Staying true with their name, The Vault still has the bank’s old safety deposit vault, which is now a secluded dining area. The president’s office is also available for private parties. The Vault has a rusty chic décor that seats 100 people, an over 30-footlong natural wood bar serving the coldest beer in town, and a blackened fish or 32-ounce cowboy ribeye that will melt in one’s mouth. If a visitor still needs to relax a little more, step around back to find Jean-Philippe in “The Perfect Blend” for a fine cigar and coffee. At The Vault, one cannot help but feel like they’re where they are supposed to be. Nona says it is a cliché, but it is true: “It’s all about good food, good friends, and good times from the ladies bridge team that plays weekly to local musicians on the weekend, good times can be found at The Vault.” Sticking with the music scene, Music City Instruments located across Main Avenue from The
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Vault has provided Magee and the surrounding area with all the area’s music and instrumental needs since 1995. There is a passion in what they do at Music City that one cannot find at the larger stores in bigger cities. The staff here live for music and love passing on their knowledge to the new up and coming artist. Music City has everything for the beginner, offering books and videos for self-teaching to lighting, drums, and amplifiers large enough to rock any stage. Joe Garner at Music City brings his love for music and community with him wherever he goes and, when a guest walks in, they are not overwhelmed by pushy salespeople or staff that intimidates them for a lack of knowledge. They have a love of music and truly get excited for anyone trying to find a sound and a passion. When leaving Music City Instruments, one will leave with a tune in their head and a song in their heart. Alfa Insurance may not be the first name that comes to mind when one hears “New Orleans-style balcony living,” but Lacye Evans will change that quickly. Lacye has grown her agency year after year and decided it was time to help downtown grow as well. Taking over an empty lot on Main Avenue and building a beautiful new 1600-square-foot office, she added two 800-square-foot upstairs apartments with balconies overlooking downtown. She knew this was a leap that had to be taken.
Taking notes from other small towns around the state and how they were rejuvenating their downtown areas hit home for Lacye. “I am excited about what is to come for downtown Magee,” Lacye stated. “It was actually a pleasure working with the City of Magee.” She staffed her Alfa Insurance office with more than 20 years of combined experience and is looking to possibly expand her agency in the future. With a waiting list for the apartments above the Alfa office stretching out the door, downtown Magee may be seeing even more from Lacye Evans in the future. When it comes to a longtime business downtown, why change a good thing? Meador’s Menswear has been a staple downtown since 1974. Tommy Meador and his staff are the best in the business. Every man needs a good suit, and a hand-tailored suit from Meador’s is the perfect treat for any gentleman. A dying art in this day and age, the tailor has a skill that is hard to find. There is not one thing a man can purchase that can change their life as much as a well-cut suit that will make him feel he can change the world. With 44 years in his craft and serving his community, Meador and Meador’s Men’s Wear has dressed nearly every young man for prom in Simpson County and helped make them look their best on their wedding day. Ready to wear suits are hanging wall to wall at Meador’s, and
they are some of the finest one can find. Regardless of where a guest is from, walking into Meador’s Men’s Wear will make a customer feel like they’re the most important customer the store has ever had. The energy in downtown Magee can be felt across the region and it’s drawing in new people and businesses. Quality Insurance is just one of those new businesses in town. Cody Cornwell and his Hub City Insurance agency out of Hattiesburg opened Quality Insurance in downtown Magee just more than one year ago and has grown to be a formidable player in the industry. Cody and his local agent, Brooke Little, are providing several different options in the market which brings a lower cost to some customers that other insurance companies are unable to help. One thing is for sure, walking into Quality Insurance will make a guest feel like they are doing business with family. Brooke knows just about everyone in the county and who they are kin to while Cody keeps a smile on his face and is truly excited about being a part of this great community and providing affordable options for the people that have not always been available in Magee. When one takes the time to visit downtown Magee they will leave feeling like this is their hometown where everyone knows everybody, even if they don’t know anybody. Visitors should do themselves a favor and come home to Magee.
Downtown Mendenhall
Savvy women grow their hometown Written by Lindsay Buffington Purdum Photos by Jason Niblett
A group of women entrepreneurs are working to not only stabilize their hometown, but make it thrive. Sure, they may be in competition with each other, but they also share a common goal: Bring more people and shoppers to downtown Mendenhall. As they work to get more traffic into downtown, they know this will benefit not only their own shops, but all the others, too. Conveniently located off U.S. Highway 49 in Simpson County, Mendenhall is in a prime location for shopping. A quick trip downtown will make one feel like stepping back to a simpler time, but this town is far from simple and its citizens are making advancements for small businesses and women… yes, women. Three of
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Mendenhall’s most successful businesses downtown are all run by women: Stephens of Mendenhall, Darling & Distressed, and Tags Consignment. Stephens of Mendenhall has been serving Simpson County for more than 80 years. The store has survived through World War II and has continued to thrive while the world around it continues to change. Although the name has changed slightly over the years, the store’s mission to provide quality items locally and at affordable prices has continued through the decades. Stephens is known for being a “high touch store.” If one walks in the front doors, they’re greeted by smiling faces that are ready and willing to help anyone find the prefect outfit for any occasion. Christy Stephens Rotenberry is synonymous in town with Stephens of Mendenhall. Christy had a desire to continue the family business and obtained a marketing degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas to provide her with the skills she would need for continued success at Stephens. Combining large cities’ (such as Dallas) fashion with home-town, family friendly values made Stephen’s a continued success that will be around for years to come. “One thing Stephens’ is not is a serve yourself store,” Rotenberry said. “We always try to be available with advice and assistance to offer service and a pleasant touch. It’s important to help please each customer in finding that special item just for her. I love Mendenhall and want to see it continue to grow. It’s exciting seeing these younger women opening businesses.” The store’s success can be attributed to hard work and a desire to continue to make Mendenhall home for her family. Christy and her daughter, Rebecca Rotenberry, are currently overseeing the downtown business which has more than 1,700 followers on Facebook and now offers woman’s clothing, baby’s clothing, jewelry, Merle Norman Cosmetics, and a bridal registry. Darling & Distressed is owned by Madison Morgan Magee. With more than 1,300 followers on Facebook and another 2,000 followers on Instagram, Darling and Distressed is taking the social media shopping experience by storm. Madison has been shipping pieces of
Mendenhall through online shopping. D&D, as the locals call it, offers a variety of clothing (baby, teen, women’s and men’s) and gifts. Although a huge part of Darling & Distress’s success has been through social media, Madison has a desire to not only provide a service in Mendenhall, but a service for Mendenhall as well. Darling and Distressed is in the old Mendenhall Grocery & Grain building. Madison, along with family and friends, have renovated the old building. The shop proudly boasts the original wood floors, taking one back to 1928. This “one stop shop” provides modern style and convenience while preserving the building’s historic characteristics. Originally located in the Old Palmyra Store (an old women’s clothing shop), Tags Consignment (known as Tags to locals) has expanded and is now located in the former J. Grant’s Menswear Store. Tags has quickly become a successful business. The owners, Hannah Barnard and Ancy Rushing, frequented the consignment circuit. Both women had a desire to not only save time, but money. Consignment was not only convenient, but it was a responsible way of clothing their children. Hannah and Ancy began their business by focusing on their home and the vision of Tags Consignment came to life in February
of 2018. “Being on Main Street in Mendenhall has been great. I am thankful that God has blessed us, the store, and this town. Being a working mom in a small town is something that people can relate to here. Mendenhall is supportive of women in business, but honestly, I think they’re supportive of families that are willing to continue to breathe life and love into Mendenhall. In the end, everyone wants to see Simpson County grow and prosper. I am thankful that I can be part of the story of continued growth,” Barnard said. Through innovative thinking and providing a service that potentially helps their customers make money, Tags is sure to continue to grow and prosper. Tags is unique in that the customer has an opportunity to make money. Customers can not only shop new and gently used clothes, but they can sell items to the store as well. This innovative business plan is sure to make Tags a continued success. Mendenhall has embraced women in business, and these businesses embrace Mendenhall. In the South, there are two things people attribute success to: Faith and Family. For these businesses, they attribute their success to Faith, Family, and Home. Come home to small town, Mississippi. Shop Simpson County first.
David’s Field of Dreams
Magee’s Sportsplex is an economic engine Written by Jason Niblett Photos courtesy of David Dunn
Baseball is, obviously, a big thing for youth in just about every American town or city. There are parks, playgrounds and school facilities. Magee has that, and much more, with the fantastic sportsplex that was the brainchild of David Dunn, who officially serves as the recreation director and zoning administrator for the City of Magee. Unofficially, Dunn bleeds Magee. His family before him and after him have worked and promoted the city as if it belongs to the Dunn’s personally. He wanted something special, and special he got. “This is my most special place in all the world, Ray. Once a place touches you like this, the wind never blows so cold again. You feel for it, like it was your child.” - Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham, The Field of Dreams Dunn loves baseball just as much as he loves Magee. He studied and planned, planned and budgeted. He developed his pitch, and city and civic leaders bought into the idea. Now, the field draws people from all over with eight artificial turf fields, a high school-sized field, regulation football field, a playground, a covered exercise area, a splash pad, and a covered pavilion. When other places must cancel tourneys, Dunn and his team can step right in ready to go. Magee’s fields can “weather the storm” and
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be prepped for play easily. The only problem about being a backup site is now Magee finds its sports complex booked so often. “These tournaments could be anywhere from 20 teams to 55 teams, depending,” Dunn explained. “They can generate $150,000 for the city, or more. We had six or seven in 2018.” Dunn said the fields have also helped to explode the interest in youth sports. “We’ve grown from eight teams in our league to more than 65 teams in our league,” he said. “We have 800 to
900 kids in the program. We have 35 boys teams and 31 girls teams. When they all come to town, we have to open the football field for parking.” With the first phase opening in 2001, the city financed the project with a one percent sales tax on hot prepared food and hotel stays. Dunn said the city’s coffers prove it was a good investment. He said people should consider that teams include 15 players, three coaches, and their families. Tourneys could draw 2,000 people to Magee. “We’re up $50 to $60,000 in sales tax,” he said. “We’re probably a good portion of that.”
Small-town roots, big world impact
Katina Rankin: Author, news anchor and philanthropist Katina Rankin, a native of Magee, is an Emmy-nominated journalist. Although her roots were in a small city, she’s done great things. Now a news anchor in Memphis, Tennessee, she spends a great deal of her time writing and helping to improve the lives of impoverished children. “I’m proud to call Mississippi home,” Rankin explained. “I’m even prouder to say I grew up in Magee. Those two places on the map formed, shaped me into the person I am today.
“Growing up in a loving home in Magee, Mississippi taught me my values, my morals, my character. More importantly, my Magee family taught me to always stand for what’s right, whether that puts you in the minority or not. My Magee family always taught me to reach back and help someone even if that someone is a continent away, always give back in your own special way.” She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Alcorn State University (ASU) and her master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Jackson
State University (JSU). While attending ASU, Katina began her journalism career as an intern at WLBT. After six years on the air in Mississippi, Katina’s career led her to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, where she co-anchored the main newscast at Eyewitness News. During her journalism career, Katina has covered everything from the Mississippi murder trials of Byron De La Beckwith and Sam Bowers to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in Texas. She has featured local Miss America Pageant contestants by following them to Atlantic City, and she has traveled to San Antonio for the Final Four tournaments. Katina’s daily reports about the impact of Hurricane Katrina included an in-depth interview with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Additionally, she interviewed notable figures and broke many stories in the lacrosse rape investigation at Duke University in North Carolina. Katina has also interviewed former NAACP president Myrlie Evers, presidential candidate John Edwards, the late Rosa Parks, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Reverend Al Sharpton, basketball greats Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, and blues legend B.B. King. Katina distinguished herself as a journalist by earning several news awards including an Emmy nomination. After more than 17 years in broadcast and print media, Katina felt entrepreneurial. She founded Katina Rankin Enterprises (KRE), a public relations firm. Katina’s public relations work took her to three countries: Israel, Egypt, and Palestine. During her travels, Katina interviewed world peace advocate and recording artist Fred Nassiri and the Governess of Bethlehem, Palestine Salah Al-Ta’mari - just to name a few. Katina’s passion is helping people. She has given back to the community by speaking to hundreds of church groups, schools and universities through the years. Katina believes proper training can help individuals realize their potential and help them get to the next level. In addition to giving back to the community, Katina has taught writing classes at Jackson State University, and she has given the commencement address at Alcorn State University. Katina has also been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Katina has been named Mississippi’s Woman of the Year, Shero of the Year and Mid-South Influencer for her work with women and children. She is also founder of Katina’s Klassroom, a 501(c) (3) non-profit, that focuses on literacy and food insecurity for children in low income areas. Notably, Katina has authored and published Up North, Down South: City Folk Meet Country Folk, a children’s book. The Up North, Down South: City Folk Meet Country Folk Coloring and Activity book was released in mid-December
www.katinarankin.com Author of Up North, Down South: City Folk Meet Country Folk, Emmett Till: Sometimes Good Can Come Out Of A Bad Situation, Medgar Evers: He Taught His Kids To Crawl So We Could Stand and March On Children! The Story of James Meredith’s March Against Fear. Available on katinarankin.com, amazon.com, Mid-South Kroger Stores, Mid-South Sam’s Clubs, the National Civil Rights Museum’s Gift Shop, and Two Mississippi Museum Gift Shop. https://www.facebook.com/473745379310898/ posts/2149466708405415/ Founder of Katina’s Klassroom, a 501c3 Non-profit.
2016. Kendall’s Kitchen: Healthy and Hearty Recipes for Kids is the sequel to UNDS. Katina’s children’s civil rights books: Emmett Till: Sometimes Good Can Come Out of a Bad Situation was published in June 2018; Medgar Evers: He Taught His Kids to Crawl so We Could Stand was published in July 2018, and March on Children! The Story of James Meredith’s March Against Fear was published in August 2018. All books are available on amazon.com. “When I first began writing children’s books, I had a simple slogan: ‘With Books You Can Go Places! #READ. Who knew two years later, GOD would lead me to Jamestown, Ghana in Africa to a little school called Noyaa Academy where the children have no running water or electricity. The shoes and clothes they wear, right down to the underwear are used and donated? I’ve adopted all 130 children, and I ask you to join me through my non-profit, Katina’s Klassroom, to give these children a better way of life. I’ve created a Facebook page where you can donate to help me in my mission,” Rankin said. “It is my Magee values that taught me one person can make a difference. A community can change the world. Join me in changing the lives of Noyaa children. Noyaa is a Gaa word that means progress, move forward. We can help them move forward together.”
Awestruck Community Theatre Big stage in a small town
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Hidden within the small town of Magee is a local community theatre troupe. Tracey Crawford and Julie Jones began the Awestruck Community Theatre three years ago with hopes of keeping theater available for Magee and the surrounding communities. A fourth season kicked off in October. Three plays are produced each year: A children’s play in the fall, a teenage play in the spring, and the adults take the stage the end of summer. It doesn’t matter the age, but being on stage gives people confidence and responsibility, which is why Tracey and Julie start with children ages five and up. They believe that lifelong friendships will be formed as they work together to put on a play. They encourage people to not only try out for acting parts, but to assist with lighting, sound, choreography, costuming, or even as a part of the stage crew. Julie’s sister, Becky Wells, has been a dedicated sound tech for them. Tracey and Julie have been known to step in and not only direct, but also take acting parts! If being a part of a play is not one’s cup of tea, people may still attend and applaud these up-and-coming stars with some positive feedback. Be enlightened; everyone loves playing to a full house! Patrons keep Awestruck Community Theatre afloat. Without these generous supporters and their contributions to the arts, it would be hard for this local troupe to keep putting out superb plays at Boswell Regional Center’s Auditorium. Boswell allows ACT to utilize their stage on their beautiful main campus between Magee and Mendenhall. So, if one is in the neighborhood, check in with these ladies, and they’ll get you to a show either in December, March, or August. Plan to audition, participate, support, contribute and attend!
Braxton
D’Lo
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Nearly every scene in this Coen Brothers smash-hit was filmed in Mississippi. Head to the Strong River in D’Lo, just off U.S. Hwy. 49 south of Jackson, to walk the stones at D’Lo Water Park where the sirens charmed Everett, Delmar and Pete. A short drive north to Canton is the oldtime courthouse square, site of Homer’s political rally. Additional sites from Natchez to Vicksburg to Leland are also featured, with a picturesque railroad bridge in Edwards providing the closing scene. (IMBD.com) Small Town, Big Mayor D’Lo is a quaint town of just a few hundred people that seems to be straight out of the 1950s - nobody locks their doors and everyone seemingly knows everyone. Mayor John Henry Berry, a fourth-generation D’Lo resident, has made it his mission to reverse the town’s downward trend. The white suit-wearing mayor campaigned on the promise of returning D’Lo to its former glory and has four years to get it done. He has developed a 95-point plan he thinks can save the town, but his efforts are complicated by the demands required of him by his other duties. Just some of those duties include being the town arbitrator, dogcatcher, sewer repairman and volunteer fireman. (UPTV.com)
Snapshots D’Lo Park
Simpson County Lake
The former site of the famous round-table restaurant
Braxton park
Visit us online for our monthly travel magazine! www.myventuresouth.com
Wade Stephenson A watercolor world Written by Jason Niblett Art courtesy of Wade Stephenson
Mendenhall’s Wade Stephenson spent his entire life making images. These weren’t the find of pictures or paintings one might consider beautiful with a premium spot above the fireplace. No, these were medical images, the ones surgeons used to train other physicians in classrooms. Stephenson might would dabble in art during limited free time, but nothing too serious. Mississippi art collectors are thankful that changed. After time in the military, Stephenson worked for Veterans Affairs hospitals in Shreveport, Louisiana and Jackson. “They told me I needed to get an education, so I went to art school in Nebraska where I had an internship as a biology photographer. I also worked in 16mm, shooting films in the operating room,” he said. “I to work at the University Medical Center in 1974 and stayed there until I retired a few years ago,” Stephenson continued. “I worked in medical media production, creating training materials for physicians. I was very involved with watercolor in my job. If they needed an illustration of a heart, I did one.” After retiring, he and his wife moved to a beautiful piece of property between Mendenhall and Magee. A pleasant studio awaits visitors at the end of a long driveway at the end of a tiny road. It’s a piece of Heaven for someone wanting to relax and spend time in nature. “My wife and I knew that we wanted to live here,” he said. “It is 70 acres and a pond, and when I am on this land, I feel like I’m a million miles away from the rest of
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the world. It’s so peaceful and beautiful.” It was here he started painting for fun. Sure, he sells paintings and once spent quite a bit of time traveling to festivals, but he paints what he wants and what he finds interesting. “Before, everything I did was an assignment,” Stephenson said. “Now I can paint anything I want. I used to sell my work at shows like the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, and at Diamondhead, Bay St. Louis, Hattiesburg and the Mississippi Museum of Art.” He didn’t quit going to as many festivals because of a lack of interest from people, that’s for sure. He placed in the Top 10 at the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs. He also got some recognition from Blue Moon using their logo in some paintings for the festival. His paintings are hanging in offices all over.
He relies on photographs from time to time when painting something he likes, but oftentimes his inspiration comes from memory. “Right now I’m painting an old closed drugstore, a donut shop and the Pink Rooster, all located in Ocean Springs. I may have four or five photos, but I’ll look at them all, then put them away and paint from memory. That makes it more enjoyable for me.” “I’ve added an art gallery and studio to my home, and I want to gradually have all my work here. I have been in galleries in other cities, and that’s been great, but I’d love people to come see where I do my paintings and enjoy this beautiful scenery that I get to see every day. I’d love to make it a real enjoyable stop for folks,” he said. To find Stephenson’s gallery or to see his work, find him on Facebook.
Anna Beth Sullivan This place I call home
“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts” (Oliver Wendell Holmes). Simpson County has been my home for my whole life and I can honestly say that I have absolutely loved living here. I consider myself extremely blessed to have spent my childhood running through the hot, humid days of a Mississippi summer. It is crazy to me that a little box on the map of Mississippi could contain so many memories and I have only been here for 16 years! Simpson County is rich in history, in character, and in its amazing people. I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. Simpson County is full of family. Many people make their own homes here because this is where their parents and grandparents lived, too. My family has lived in Simpson County for many generations. My grandmother can tell you who first owned all the land form the south tip of Magee to the very north of Mendenhall. One of my most favorite times is when my grandparents sit down and tell us about our family’s history here in Simpson County. They also remind us of the hard work our great grandparents, great aunts, and great uncles did willingly, so we could be where we are today. It was during these talks that I learned where and when our great-grandfather first
started running cattle. Our family has been blessed to continue that piece of our history by staying centered around the cattle business. My brother, cousins, and I have all gotten the chance to grow up with hay in our hair and mud on our boots. I smile when I see my brother raking hay in his John Deere tractor with the radio turned full blast. We all laugh as we watch the smallest member of our family run fearlessly to the side of a huge two-thousand-pound show bull and give him a big hug. Simpson County is also jam packed with character! From the breathtaking courthouse in my hometown of Mendenhall to miles and miles of picturesque farm land, it seems there is something beautiful after every turn. While our county may be marked by many as a small country town, it offers more than that. Over the past years Simpson County has grown so much and it is just beginning! I cannot wait to see what new things the future will bring, but I believe one of my favorite things about Simpson County will always be the ‘small town’ culture, though I would like to see a ChickFil-a here soon! I love almost every aspect of my hometown, but my absolute favorite part of living in Simpson County must be the people. The people
of Simpson County are some of the kindest I know. I do believe the reason lies in the fact that many of these wonderful people love the God of the Bible more than anything else. From the time I was a baby my family has prayed for me and taught me of God’s faithfulness. I remember when my great-grandmother passed, and we found her prayer journal. In it were the names of every member of our family. She earnestly prayed for us and lived out her faith daily. It is people like her that make Simpson County such a special place. The rich history, growing character, and amazing people of Simpson County make it a place my feet may leave, but never my heart. I am so thankful that I got to grow up in such an amazing place! I don’t know where the Lord may lead me in life, but I do know that I will never forget the wonderful memories I have in this amazing County. I am so happy I do not have to worry about leaving anytime soon! What I have learned in my short lifetime is that God granted us the ability to connect with others. While some people may know Simpson county for our courthouse or our land, if they truly knew what make Simpson county click, it’s the love others, the care of the community, the kindness of its people. And that is what makes Simpson County proud. Simpson Magazine
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Advertiser’s Directory Dr. Kimberly Smith, DMD 2 Dr. John Michael Miller II 3 City of Mendenhall 4, 5 Magee News 6 People’s Bank 7 Central Sunbelt FCU 10 Stephens of Mendenhall 11 Magee Outdoor Power 15 Robby’s Small Engines 19 Gene Polk’s Pharmacy & Gifts 20 Brandi’s Hope 21 Renew 96.9 FM 25 Venture South Magazine 30 Tags Consignment 31 Quality Insurance Agency 31 Insurance Associates of Magee 34 Southern Pine EPA 34 McGuffee’s Drug Store 35 Darling & Distressed 35 State Farm/Chuck Cooper 39 Booth Discount Tire 39 Fortenberry Law Firm PLLC 43 Lampton Love Propane 43 Medcenter Pharmacy 43 Keller Williams Realty 43 Jose’s Restaurant and Grill 48