Columns

It is interesting to take a few minutes and peruse through the old Mansfield Enterprise Newspapers at the Mansfield Female College Museum. Newspapers from the 1930’s to the 1960’s are available for your inspection. The 1951 issues reveal some items that many of you probably have forgotten. The DeSoto Hospital Fund Drive to add to the original facility was kicked off for the $100,000 expansion in 1950 with J.C. McLaren, Sr. and J.W. Caraway as Co-Chairman and Mrs. B.W. Goss, Vice Chairperson. Roger H. Silver, General Gifts Chairman, built an organization of 77 to serve as Division Chairman. The Big Gifts group was headed up by Oliver H.P. Sample, Claude Roberts, P.E.Dixon and Marshall Calhoun. Team Captains were H. L. Wiggins, Raymond Powell, Ned W. Jenkins and Riemer Calhoun, Sr. Special Gifts group consisted of Hartwell Smith, Floyd Knott, R.U. Johnson, A. N. Latham and Sam Murray.

“What do you do?”

“I’m a stay-at-home mom,” I replied with eye contact and a smile.

The “what do you do” question doesn’t bother me, though, because I dearly love my calling, or in my case — my answered prayer.

You see, for many years while my colleagues were praying for a promotion, I was pleading with God to let me be at home with my babies.

And even though I’ve been a homemaker for almost ten years, I actually do know what it’s like to be a working mom of three children.

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It’s that time of year again when we study our history. Thank you, Mr. Carter G. Woodson, for being the Father of Black History Month. February is the designated month but it’s also a wonderful thing when we take a little time and study our history every day. In order for us to get where we need to be we cannot forget where we came from. If we discuss only our victories and not our struggles we allow others to believe that you can win a war without engaging in battle. If we stand it’s because we stand on the backs of those who came before us.

“What do you want for Valentine’s Day?” My husband, Marshall, was sitting in his favorite gray chair in the living room last week when he asked me this question during a commercial.

I thought for a minute. The longer I remained in thinking mode, the more Marshall looked as if he regretted the question.

“Well, I’d reallllly like some new furniture for the back patio,” I said with a grin and raised brows.

“Um, I was thinking more along the lines of chocolate-covered strawberries,” he said.

Sigh.

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Will Rogers made the statement a number of years ago that all he knew was what he read in the papers. After having been retired from the DeSoto School System since January 1, 1980 about all I know about the DeSoto Schools is what I read in the paper – and it sure sounds good!

Being a history buff it is challenging to look back over some DeSoto School history and find DeSoto was innovative and excelling in education through the years. The first public high school in Mansfield where attendance was required by law was Central High School built in 1895 at the southeast corner of Crosby St. and Louisiana St. directly across the street from the present DeSoto School Board Office.

DeSoto Parish has produced many outstanding ladies through the years – some of whom I’ve written about. The lady in this article, Kate Tomkies Beard, is one of those that should be remembered down through the generations.

Kate was the wife of the battle of Mansfield hero, Col. James H. Beard. She was born July 4, 1835 in Lincoln County, North Carolina, the 4th child of John F. and Margaret Hoyle Tomkies. Like many other families the Tomkies started out in Virginia, moved to N. Carolina, then to Alabama and Mississippi and then on to DeSoto Parish. The family arrived in Kingston, La. in the late 1840’s. Mrs. Tomkies was related to C.E. Edwards, one of the wealthiest men in DeSoto Parish.

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Scott and Meagan Chisholm of Zionsville, Indiana, were visiting friends last November when their 23- month-old twins, Levi and Lainey, were involved in a near-fatal drowning.

Miraculously, Lainey made what doctors have called a “truly miraculous” recovery. But MRI results showed that Levi has extensive brain damage and will have a long road to recovery.

Immediately, Meagan began clinging to her unwavering faith in Christ. She and Scott set up a Facebook page called “Light for Levi and Lainey” to chronicle their journey, share their faith, and ask for the prayers and encouragement of others.

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Ok, family members, church organizations, schools, anybody out there that can help, we need you! You’re needed to help us put a smile back on our residents face. This mean ole Covid has turned our smiles to frowns. Putting a smile back on a residents face is so easy!

Let’s talk about how You could write a letter. It doesn’t have to be addressed to a certain person; just a letter telling someone what a beautiful day it is, or letting someone know you love them. Just some positive words of Love, Joy, and Hope. Make or buy a get well or thinking about you card; doesn’t have to be all fancy just filled with love will do. It’s the little things that mean so much.

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Sometimes it’s the little things in our day that bring just enough joy or relaxation to refresh us and keep us focused on the positive.

I’ll share some of those random little things from my perspective:

A steaming afternoon cup of vanilla chai tea with a splash of half-and-half (these Bigalow brand tea bags can be bought at almost any grocery store).

An extra-hot, extra-long shower.

Twenty good minutes on the treadmill.

The Gospel of John.

Planning a trip, even if it’s months away.

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When it started snowing the night of January 10, I was concerned for my husband and son Reece who were on their way back from crane hunting in Lubbock, Texas.

It had started snowing in Lubbock the day before, and the roads were not great. I figured they would stay in a hotel instead of leaving around 5 p.m. to drive all the way home, as planned.

My dad, my two brothers-in-law, and my 12-year-old nephew were also with them.

“Well, we’ve decided to drive straight through,” my husband told me. “We’ll be careful, I promise.”

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