Terry Headlight News

The block of Canton Street that has been closed has since been re-opened. It had been closed for several weeks.

Short Cakes at 228 North Utica Street has opened in the old undertaker’s shop (later the home of Mavis Hollingsworth). Also, the Sweets by Monique will be opening in the future in Catherine Morgan’s old store. Also, a gentleman of Cambodian linage who lives in Crystal Springs plans to open a doughnut shop in Mr. Quentin’s Sojourner’s former service station on the corner of Utica and Cunningham Streets.

Our town was the location of the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Signature Style Beauty Store at 110 West Cunningham Street in the downtown block. The was on Friday Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m. This business is in the old store owned (among others) by Mr. Boyd Funchess. Another store opened later opened in that location operated by Ms. Emily Ellison.

The Mexican restaurant downtown has been closed for several weeks due to the health problems of the owner.

We learned last week of the death of Levon Sanders Doolittle of Madison. She, of course, was a native of Terry who attended Terry School. The following obituary of Levon was located:

“Levon Sanders Doolittle, age 78, of Madison, MS passed away on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. She was born on Jan. 2, 1944.

“A visitation for Levon was held Friday, Sept. 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 noon.

“Levon was laid to rest in Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, MS.

“Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.parkwayfuneralhomeridgeland.com for the Doolittle family.”

This obituary told very little about the life of Levon, whose life was quite fully lived. It failed to state that she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sanders of Wynndale, that they had attended the Terry Methodist Church, and that she was the mother of 4 children.

Congratulations to State Representative Gregory Holloway of Hazlehurst. He represents the Town of Terry in the State House of Representatives. The historic class of 1971 of Hazlehurst High School has honored Rep. Holloway as the “Community Person of the Year.” The 1971 class was the first class to graduate after complete integration came to Copiah County.

The Town of Terry has named Davis Gates as its City Attorney and Prosecutor. In his role, Mr. Gates will work alongside Terry’s mayor, Board of Alders, and associated staff in evaluating various issues to better this town and in resolving matters as they may arise. He will advise on legal matters pending in front of the Town and provide assistance as Terry’s officials continue to tackle matters emphasized by constituents. Gates is a licensed attorney and he’s sworn into practice in every state court as well as the U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has experience in private practice along with experience working with state agencies including the MS Department of Human Services, the MS Personal Service Contract Review Board, and most recently the MS Public Service Commission where he currently serves as legal and policy advisor to the Commissioner for the Central District of MS. “I am excited to join the staff and look forward to working with the City of Terry to help my home town in any way I can,” Gates said. Gates attended Terry High School and graduated as its valedictorian in 2008. Gates is a graduate of the University of MS School of Law where he was a member of the Trial Advocacy Board, Secretary of the Law School Student Body, member of the Pro Bono Initiative and heavily involved with the transactional law clinic. He is also a graduate of the University of MS in Oxford where he was inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Honors college, a member of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and a Luckyday Scholar. He has studied law at The University of Cambridge, policy at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and Spanish at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

There was a food give-away of blessing boxes on Sat. in the Cunningham Street parking lot of the First Baptist Church where the former pastorium building once stood.

The congregation began its fall revival on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 6:00. Preaching will be Brian Dickens, Fred Luter, Danny Lanier and Gary Permenter. The services will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. No time was provided to be shared.

The First Baptist Church will also host a fish fry on Sunday, Oct. 26 following its morning worship service.

The Terry Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 323 Raymond Street (across from the former tennis courts) is also holding a revival also from Sept. 25-28. The revival’s theme is “The Return of His Grace,” and the scripture is Jeremiah 31:1(“So there is hope for you in the future,” says the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.”) This will be nightly at 7:00p.m. Reverend Gilbert Andrews, former pastor of Tulane Baptist Church in Yazoo City was the speaker on Sunday morning. Pastor Ava S. Harvey of Pilgrim Rest M. B. Church in Brandon is preaching for each of the evening services.

The schedule of services at the (Episcopal) Church of the Good Shepherd on the corner of Claiborne and Utica Streets for the month of Oct. is as follows: October 2nd, 16th, and 30th will be led by Deacon Rose Mary Foncree. The service on Oct. 9 will be led by Father John Childress. On Oct. 23, the Morning Prayer service will be observed.

The arrival of fall came last week. Thurs. Sept. 22 marked the beginning of the new season, and it is very hard for most of us to realize that 2022 is nearing the end. October will be here this week!

Please add Harold Crowder, the Doolittle family, David Hester, the Hubbard family, Barry Ivers, Steve Jones and Gay Price to your prayer lists.

Terry High School on Beasley Street hosts its Homecoming Parade on Thursday evening (Sept.29th) at 6:00 p.m. The marchers will leave the school, march through its parking lot, turn north on Utica Street, and turn west on Claiborne Street (at the Episcopal church) to the B. C. Lee Football Field for the 7:00 pep rally. The Homecoming football game against Northeast Rankin High School will be played at 7:00 on Friday evening.

The Royal Court for 2022-2023 is comprised of Kristen Day and Nigel Horne (Freshman Duchess and Duke), Nicole Ramsey and Michael Powell (Sophomore Duchess and Duke), Saniya Hopkins and Damarcus Thomas (Junior Duchess and Duke), Addyson Jones and Blake Hansberry (Freshman Princess and Prince), Kamora Mister and Chance Manning (Sophomore Princess and Prince), Chole King and T’orin Harmon (Junior Princess and Prince), Kenydi Pugh and J’Marion Haynes (Senior Princess and Prince), Ma’Kayla Garrett Corey Meaders (Miss and Mr. Freshman), Khamori Ratliff and Rian Huddleston (Miss and Mr. Sophomore), Lauren Williams and William Johnson (Miss and Mr. Junior), Troy Christian and N’Kayah Kendrick (Mr. and Miss Senior Class), Mya Taylor (Miss T.H.S.) and Patrick Bracey II (Mr. T.H.S.).

The Homecoming Dance (Old Skool vs. New Skool), a semi-formal event, will be on Saturday, October 1 in the school’s cafeteria.

On Sept.25, Terry High School ‘s nineth-grade football team played against Northwest Rankin High School. The school’s volleyball team played against Velma Jackson High School

Congratulations to Ms. Marlecia Lyles of Terry High School. She was named the Farm Bereau “Player of the Week” for the week of Sept. 12.

The school is having a canned food drive to benefit the Felicia Newman Food Pantry (located at 20505 Midway Road south of Terry) this week. The class with the biggest participation will receive a breakfast party.

This Sunday (Oct. 2) will be the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. The epistle reading is 2nd Timothy 1:1-14 (“encouragement from Timothy”) and the gospel reading is Luke 17:5-10 (“how big is your faith” and “be good servants”).

To many of us, it is hard to realize that Sept. is coming to its end and October will begin on Friday. Fall 2022 came to us on Thursday, Sept. 22.

As was mentioned in this column at the beginning of Sept. here is a recipe for rice pudding from the late performer in vaudeville, movies, radio and television (my favorite comedienne) Gracie Allen:

“The secret of making this pudding is the washing of the rice. Wash it until there is not the slightest trace of starch left. It is well to put the rice in a colander and allow the water to run over it for an hour or more.

“Take one quart of milk, one cup of rice, salt to taste, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 tablespoons grated lemon rind, 2 tablespoons grated orange rind, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup raisins and mix together thoroughly.

“Pour into a well-buttered baking dish and bake at the lowest temperature possible for 2 and 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and stir in 2 well beaten eggs. Dust the top with cinnamon and serve warm (or chilled, if preferred).”