Raymond News

Raymond’s downtown is getting spiffier and spiffier. On August 20, Josh Raggio will have his grand opening of Raggio Mercantile and duck call shop. It is in the old Raymond Drug Store building. Our other fancy shops, The Yellow Feather, The Gathering along with the Raymond Venue have changed the look of downtown.

While Best Nails Spa is not on Main St,. but in the Plaza shopping mall. It is renovated and provides a new service for Raymond citizens. Phil and I both enjoyed a relaxing visit there on Monday.

Corner Market has a new manager. Alan Smith has been moved to another Corner Market in Jackson. He did a great job while here and we wish him well in his new place.

The Askews have been having a wonderful time in Alaska. They may have left some fish in the Arctic Ocean, but I can’t promise that. Lou Ann Askew said “Sid and I have been on numerous fishing trips together but this fishing trip has exceed all expectations! A big thank you to Arctic Fox Adventures for a full week of fishing (we caught every species in the area) we saw sea lions, whales, glaciers, dolphins, mountain goats, watched black bears on the shoreline while we ate breakfast, and finally watched an eagle swoop down in the water to catch a fish.” Truly sounds like a wonderful way to spend time away from our heat and humidity.

We are finally having some wonderful rain. I think we will have this off and on for the rest of the week. Raymond Library story time and ice cream social featuring Mrs. Amie and Mr. Story on August 19th at 10 am. Sounds like a fun time for our youngsters. Amie has magic with children.

Hot August nights at Raymond United Methodist Church begins on Sunday, August 7 will be Maura McIntosh . She is the daughter of the Rev. David and Rosemary McIntosh, and the niece of our own Morris Thigpen. She lives in Madison, MS and is a member of Christ United Methodist Church. Maura is a Millsaps College graduate. She began writing songs at age 15, and has recorded six projects. She is a retired public school music teacher, having served K-12 in Pontotoc City Schools.

August 14... Tom Edwards grew up in a musical family in rural Mississippi and has been surrounded by Gospel-centered music his entire life. Musical styling's of blues, country, rock, Gospel and anything in between have worked together to influence a unique sound that seems to have an appeal across every generation. Tom understands that music has a way of connecting words with the deeper parts of ourselves. Words that speak the Gospel, that express our need for Jesus, that remind us of our devotion to Him - when these words are tethered to a melody that your heart just can’t stop singing, they can take root and become ingrained in who we are. This is why he feels it is so important for the church to sing their faith and is the driving passion of his ministry.

August 21... Mary Margaret (May) Culpepper, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (‘10) and her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy (‘12) from Mississippi College.

During her time there, she performed several leading roles in the musical theater and opera productions and received numerous awards across the Southeast through the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. She has trained nationally and internationally under leading Metropolitan Opera sopranos and performed on stages in New York City and Belgium.

August 28... 5PM, Family Night Dinner - Cook up your favorite dish and join us for a great night of food, fun and fellowship, followed by the first night of our 3-night Revival.

Come enjoy this musical blessing.

Happy Birthday next week to: 8/5/2022 Wrangler Tanner; 8/7 Brian Dollar, Lydia Jane Mayo, Caden Fleming, Daryl Brewer, Jr., Cecilia Stewart; 8/8 Claire Groome, George Mayo; 8/9 Tanner Leggett, Nora Grace Berry; 8/10 Sue Berry, Tara Easterwood, Lou Anne Askew. Ann Laster, Zach Byrd; 8/11 Trae Muse, Dixie Tanner.

Happy Anniversary to: 8/6/2022 Tim and Brenda Bozeman; 8/8 Mike and Cindy Wilson; 8/10 Will and Doris Downing, Frank and Donna White, Bob and Margaret Greenfield; 8/11 Lamar and Lynda Buntyn, Phil and Mary Adams Kuhn.