One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was moving to Starkville. I am a proud graduate of Starkville High School and Mississippi State. Starkville offered these top-notch educations and the best kind of people to be surrounded with, who helped my parents raise me so that I could become more than I ever imagined. These were the ones who “spoke the truth in love,” whether it was about something in our community or me that needed some encouragement or improvement. 

One of the greatest gifts I gave myself was moving back home to Starkville, where I ran into Bob Fuller and started free community movie night, Movies on the Green, and started our own family with Evelyn, Caroline & Clara. 

Another gift presented itself in this opportunity to serve my hometown through the Starkville Community Foundation. In teaching and in pastoring, I see firsthand the difference it makes when people have a stable foundation to build their lives on. When folks have the basics, food, shelter, & clothing, they feel safe enough to explore the possibilities life offers in education and vocations. Nothing feels better than belonging at school, work, or in a faith or social community. 

It’s all about relationships! Just having one person believe in you makes a huge difference. When folks have people who care around them, they continue growing into more than they can imagine themselves to be. 

This is what Starkville was for me growing up, and it’s what I want for everyone growing up and grown up here. We have some things to work on, but together, we can ensure that everyone has a solid foundation and Starkville continues to thrive for all who call it home.