City Personals

Chandler Douglas, son of Stefanie and Charlie Douglas and grandson of Leigh Douglas, made the Chancellor’s List at Ole Miss. He carried a 4.0 gpa throughout his sophomore year. His major is linguistics with minors in computer science and Spanish. Chandler’s parents celebrated his accomplishments by taking a few days away to Rosemary Beach, sans children.

Caitlyn Bray, daughter of Mary Clay and Gene Brooks, granddaughter of Kay Wheeler and Hank Wheeler and wife of Trace Bray, made the President’s List at Delta State University. She is an elementary education major with concentrations in history and reading.

Does anyone remember Piggly Wiggly when it was open right off the square? If so, you are bound to remember Levi McFadden, who was a fixture in the grocery, always smiling and offering help. Every time I have run into him throughout the years since the grocery closed, he has asked about my children. Without fail. I was fortunate enough to be shopping over the weekend and saw Levi, who had his precious Momma with him. Mrs. McFadden is 96 years old and gets along better than I. It is times like that I am so thankful we live here. Community is what it is all about – forming bonds with people for this reason or that which last a lifetime.

When I was very young, we lived in Virginia. I had a friend, Jamie Fant, who had grandparents in Holly Springs (Gladys and Glenn Fant) like I had my Nonnie. My family had a bond with Jamie’s because his Daddy, Ruff, was raised here alongside my Momma. We did a lot of things with them, including watching the Fourth of July fireworks over Washington.

I remember a time Jamie and I boarded a plane to fly to Memphis...alone. Our parents did not think twice about us making the trip, as we were well tended to by the flight attendants. As scary as that should have been then, it is not nearly as scary as travel today.

Sunday, Ruff Fant left this earth unexpectedly. He was a wonderful man who was a major philanthropist. He did things in this lifetime for others that will live on for generations to come. My Uncle, Rowan Thompson, once told me, “Ruff is the smartest man you will ever meet.” No truer words were ever spoken.

Ruff leaves behind a beautiful wife, Susan, and three amazing children, Jamie, Delia and Henry, two handsome grandsons and his siblings, Nancy Fant Smith and Bill Fant.