Terry Headlight News

Can you believe that this Sunday will be the last Sunday of July? Suggested scriptural readings for this weekend are Genesis 29:15-28 (Jacob is tricked.), 1 Kings 3:5-12 (Solomon asks for wisdom.), Psalm 105:1-11, 45b (God’s love for Israel), Psalm 128 (the happy home), Psalm 119:129-136 (the word of God), Romans 8:26-39 (our future glory) and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (stories of mustard seed and yeast).

On Sunday, July 30, there will be a Fifth Sunday worship service at Collis Hill Church of God in Christ. Four churches are joining for this service: Collis Hill COGIC, Mount Wade Missionary Church, Salem Missionary Baptist Church and Terry Grove Missionary Baptist Church. These congregations remember what was written many years ago by Saint Matthew (“This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them.”) Pastor Kevin Ware is the host pastor.

The Terry Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Raymond Street celebrated is Family and Friends Sunday on July 23. One of the themes of this service was Psalm 133:1 (“It is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in peace!). Dr. Dion Porter is the pastor at Terry Grove Church. I was told by Alderwoman Bonnie Holly that the service was wonderful and that church building was full. A number of candidates were present.

Earlier this week, WLBT News from Jackson featured a very good story on The Newman Foundation and the Felicia Newman Food Pantry (a “beacon of light in a dark world”), which is a family-based foundation with a heart to help the community God planted them in. The Newman Foundation organized in 2004 and incorporated in 2010. Our vision is to serve the most vulnerable citizens and aid in the quality of life for all. It is the responsibility to take a bold stand and become part of the solution in the rebuilding of our communities. Developing families and strengthen relationships one at a time is our mission. This vision is to be a beacon of light in a dark world. The Foundation’s vision includes two social areas of need: Food Relief and Community Partnership. Food is distributed on the first Monday and the third Monday of each month at the Salem Missionary Baptist Church by this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Candidate for Fifth District Supervisor Malcolm Johnson and his son Ashton were in Terry on Saturday afternoon. They had been to Utica, Cayuga, Utica, Dry Grove, and Learned already that day, and they planned to go to the Byram area and Jackson later in the day. They were distributing the three-hundred watermelons that he had purchased earlier in Smith County.

Malcolm asked me to take one of the watermelons to Pam Kister Jones. I drove to her late mother’s house and got to see Nancy Kister Cohn. She confirmed the sad news that she was in the process of moving up to Ohio. She also gave me an update on both of her children and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Town of Terry recently hired two new female employees to work in the Town Hall. Sheila Johnson of Crystal Springs is now the deputy Town Clerk, and Sopia West is the new deputy Court Clerk.

These things have been happening this summer at the Ella Bess Memorial Library in Terry (Mr. Corey Tyler is the manager):

Realizing that there are many teachers in the Terry community - including those from Terry High School, homeschool teachers, and retirees - the staff comprised a booklet which included daily affirmations, a scrapbook section, a teacher word search, and a student signature page. Eighty of these books as well as a cake were delivered to Terry High School.

A preview of the library’s Summer Reading Program was held on May 20th. Pizza was served to patrons because this preview was held on National Pizza Day.

The days between May 22nd and May 27th were observed as Backyard Games week. A new game was played each day by pre-school and school-aged children at 2:00 p. m. Refreshments were also served to the youngsters and others.

A guest presenter from the Mississippi State Department of Health discussed mental health on May 30th.

The tutoring program for students will resume as soon as the new school year begins in August.

Recently, these birthday of people from Terry or with Terry connections have been celebrated: July 24 - Julia Sanford Hughes, Donald Rhodes, Ronald Rhodes; July 26 - Sherry Strong Broadwater, Judge P. Tiffany Grove; July 28 - Rev. Lee Faler; July 29 - Vicki Mumford, Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace; July 30 - Bishop Brian Seage.

The August 8 Democratic and Republican party primaries are approaching. Our Circuit Clerk, Zack Wallace, has announced that the number of absentee ballots cast thus far has been smaller than anticipated. Any voter who is over the age of sixty-four years may vote early at the Circuit Clerk’s offices in either Raymond or Jackson. This is an advantage to those of us who prefer to avoid the lines of Election Day.

Many people who voted for candidates four years ago will find that they will vote on other candidates this August. Senator David Blount reminded me in a meeting last week that so many voters cast ballots for other candidates four years ago but are now in Senator Blount’s Senatorial district due to redistricting. Also added to Supervisor’s District Five are three new precincts: Cayuga, Learned, and Utica 1.

There was a pop-up watermelon give-away on Saturday, July 22nd sponsored by the Committee to Elect Malcolm Johnson. Stops were planned for Utica, Cayoga, Learned, Byram, Terry, Dry Grove and Jackson. It was possible to follow these stops on Facebook Live, and I must say that candidate Johnson has used Facebook in a way that I had not known about before now.

Here are the two sample ballots for the T1 precinct located at Terry High School’s R.O.T.C. building: DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

GOVERNOR -Brandon Presley

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR -D. Ryan Grover

SECRETARY OF STATE -Shuwaski Young

ATTORNEY GENERAL -Greta Kemp Martin

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE -Bruce Burton

TREASURER -Addie Green

AUDITOR -Larry Bradford

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE -Robert “Brad” Bradford, Sr. -Bethany Hill -Terry Rogers, II

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER -

CENTRAL DISTRICT -Willie Simmons

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER -

CENTRAL DISTRICT -Dekeither Stamps

STATE SENATOR -

DISTRICT 29 -David Blount -Dwayne Pickett

HOUSE DISTRICT 76 -Gregory Holloway

SHERIFF -Marshand Chisler -Tyree D. Jones

CIRCUIT CLERK -Zack Wallace

CHANCERY CLERK -Eddie Jean Carr

TAX ACCESSOR -Willie Bob McGinnis -Charles E. Stokes

TAX COLLECTOR -Eddie J. Fair -Timothy G. Lewis

COUNTY ATTORNEY -Gerald Mumford

CORORONER -Sharon Grisham-Stewart -Lee Thompson, Jr.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - DISTRICT 7 -Jody Owens

SUPERVISOR - 5TH DISTRICT -Ashley Floyd -Darrell Dewayne Harper -Malcolm Johnson -Dexter Hutton -Bobby “Bobcat” McGowan -Freddie Schuller -Joseph “Joe” Smith -Robert A. Wall

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE- 5TH DISTRICT -Pearlie Brown Owens

CONSTABLE - 5TH DISTRICT

-Beverly Wade Green -Larry White

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

GOVERNOR -David Grady Hardigree -Tate Reeves -David Wilcher

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR -Delbert Hoseman -Tiffany Longino -Chris McDaniel

SECRETARY OF STATE -Michael Watson

ATTORNEY GENERAL -Lynn Fitch

TREASURER -David McRae

AUDITOR -Shad White

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE -Mike Chaney -Mitch Young

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE -Andy Gipson

STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION - CENTRAL DISTRICT -John Caldwell -Busby Charles -Ricky Pennington, Jr.

COUNTY SURVEYOR -Jeffrey Maurice Lewis

SENATE - DISTRICT 29 -Michael Carson

HOUSE OF REPRESETATIVE -

DISTRICT 76 -Rickey Gene Smylie

The name of Independent candidate for Governor (Gwendolyn Gray) will appear on the ballot in November. The name of Independent candidate for Sheriff (Reginald Thompson) will appear on the ballot in November. The name of Independent candidate for District Attorney (Darla Palmer) will appear on the ballot in November. The names of Independent candidates for Supervisor - District Five (Jonathan Pond and Chris “Biskit” Woodward) will appear on the ballot in November.

The three countywide officials who do not have any opponents this year are Circuit Clerk Zack Wallace, Chancery Clerk Eddie Jean Carr and County Attorney Gerald Mumford. These three are not only three of the most cordial elected officials but also three of the hardest working!

The elections for President and Congress will be held next year in 2024, and Municipal Elections will be held in 2025.

One name on next Tuesday’s ballot should be explained. The unopposed candidate for County Surveyor, Jeffrey Maurice Lewis, is the great-nephew of the late Reece Lewis, who was the night watchman in Terry for a long time.

I am not sure how much rain is predicted in the upcoming forecast, but we all love the summertime rain showers or even sprinkles to help gardens. Young Mr. Levi Ward does not live in Terry but a little north of Terry. His father, Terry High School graduate Lee Ward, posted three pictures of Levy standing in garden on Facebook this week. It was captioned “Levi’s Farmer’s Market.” I am hoping to write an article about Levy later for the Gazette. I am not sure of his age, but he is very young and cannot possibly be over the age of seven.

This is a hymn that found to accompany the scriptural mentioned above (Matthew 13:31) and I am sure that Levi, Rev. Newman and the Newman Foundation volunteers or anyone with a summer garden will appreciate this text, which was written in 1845:

“Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean And the beauteous land. “And the little moments, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity. “Little deeds of kindness, Little words of love, Make our earth an Eden, Like the Heaven above. “So our little errors Lead the soul away, From the paths of virtue Into sin to stray. “Little seeds of mercy Sown by youthful hands Grow to bless the nations Far in heathen lands.”

You have been reading the best newspaper in the state, the Hinds County Gazette. This newspaper has been sharing news weekly about this county since 1845. When you wish to have your news about illness, nuptials, childbirth, or passings, you are invited to share these things with this writer in order that he may have your news printed. He may be reached by e-mail at: terryj1@bellsouth.net.

The Gazette would love to share your recipe with others! This is National Blueberry Month, so, if you have a recipe that calls for blueberries, please consider sharing it! (Pray for PEACE, people everywhere.)