Meridian Life June 2023 | Page 4

EDITORS CORNER

MERIDIAN LIFE The People & Communities of Lauderdale County

S Publisher Terry Connor
Editor Glenda Sanders
Contributing Writers Thomas Howard Christian Knox Cheryl Owens David Scott Kay Scott
Contributing Photographers Shanna Barnett Thomas Howard Katherine McKiever David Scott Kay Scott
Design Inga Bass
Advertising Tayler Dailey Lisa Webb
Production Jennifer Hammond
Distribution Bobby Fields Melissa Miller
Meridian Life , a publication of The Meridian Star , is published six times a year .
814 22nd Avenue Meridian , MS 39301 601.693.1551
Comments or editorial content , including photos , should be sent to gsanders @ themeridianstar . com . Meridian Life is not responsible for unsolicited submissions .
Reproduction or use of any content in this publication for any manner without permission is prohibited .
Meridian Life can be found online at meridianstar . com .

This year , Mother ’ s Day falls in between two big milestones in my children ’ s lives . My oldest daughter graduates from Meridian Community College on Friday with her associate ’ s degree , while my youngest daughter graduates from high school on Monday night . Both will be moving to Hattiesburg in the fall to continue pursuing their dreams . To say life has been hectic lately is an understatement . Maybe it is a good thing because it keeps me from thinking about what this change will mean for our household , as well as the quietness and slower pace it will bring .

In life , change is inevitable . People age , new babies are born . Businesses close , new stores open . Old leaders retire , new leaders emerge . Change is always happening around us . But as long as we keep following that change forward , then progress will occur .
We have been working on a few changes here at Meridian Life magazine , and we are excited to reveal many of them with this June edition . Our overall goal is to showcase more of our people and communities here in Lauderdale County .
This edition is packed full of stories to tell from super talented Holly Brand to long-time OB / GYN Dr . Ronnye Purvis to race car owner Randy Thompson to Hope Village for Children ’ s Terri Province . We hope you find them as fascinating as we do . We would like to thank Shanna Barnett from Shanna Barnett Photography for her eye-catching and expressive photos of Dr . Ronnie Purvis , Katherine McKiever of Skylight Exposures Photography for her beautiful photos of Holly Brand and Thomas Howard for his interesting photos used in all of our other articles .
We also are introducing a new department called Artist Corner , which we hope will allow us to showcase many of the talented artists , musicians , singers , writers and craftspeople of Lauderdale County . Our inaugural artist is long-time blacksmith Benny Crevitt , a member of The Craftsmen ’ s Guild of Mississippi , whose work with iron and steel is just amazing .
In addition , we are starting a new regular feature we think will be popular called Local Eats . We have so many tasty restaurants and eateries here in the Queen City , and we think you will enjoy reading a little bit about their history . First up is Squealer ’ s-B-Que , which is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is a good example of what change and progress can bring .
One of my favorite new additions to the magazine is our Queen City Word Search . Check it out and see if you can find all the words relating to Lauderdale County .
Like I have said before , everybody has a story to tell , and we hope you enjoy the ones we have brought to you with this edition . As always , please feel free to email me at gsanders @ themeridianstar . com with your thoughts or suggestions about the magazine .
Glenda Sanders Editor

EDITORS CORNER

4 • MERIDIAN LIFE