A rose to Jennifer Claybrook who was chosen as the new director for the Lowndes County Recreation Department. Claybrook, who had previously served as Athletics Director at Mississippi University for Women, is the permanent replacement for Roger Short, who passed away in October 2022. Tom Velek, who had served as interim director as the county conducted its search for a permanent director, will stay on as deputy director. Claybrook served as athletic director at MUW from 2021 until October, when she resigned the position. She came to the W from Lagrange College in Georgia, where she served as athletic director, vice president for athletics, head softball coach and assistant for sports information. Velek’s long association with youth soccer in the community will also be of great value as the department begins operations at its $12 million sportsplex facility in the western part of the county. Solidifying the leadership of the department at this time will help the LCRD make the most of the facilities now at their disposal.
A rose to Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science students Chloe Wesley and Iysiahs York, for giving a glimpse of their Choctaw culture and history to the campus through a program that included Choctaw regalia, storytelling and dancing. Wesley, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians located in the central part of the state, said attending MSMS was her first real exposure to students outside her community. The same held true for other students. These kinds of exchanges are an important benefit of attending a school that draws students from all races, backgrounds and areas of the state. Learning about each other enriches those students in ways that are hard to replicate. We applaud the students who shared their culture and all those who participated in this unique event.
A rose to Bud and Joy Phillips, whose generosity has turned an eyesore into a thing of beauty along Holly Hills Road in Columbus. The old Midway Missionary Baptist Church on the site had deteriorated beyond repair over the years when Bud and Joy approached the pastor of the church, which had relocated to another location, about buying the property. The purchase was contingent on the Phillips preserving the church cemetery adjacent to the church building. The Phillips made good on that pledge, erecting a chain-link fence around the cemetery, but went even further than that. After demolishing the church, the Phillips paid for the installation of a waterfall that flows between two ponds. The waterfall provides a touch of unexpected natural beauty for travelers along Holly Hills Road, a gift to the community from Bud and Joy Phillips.
A previous version of this post had Joy Phillips’ incorrect name. We apologize for the error.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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