Greeting Readers, Psalms 37:4 and 91:15 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Our Lord and Savior says that he will be with his people through everything if he trust in him and believe that he will take care of you. “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him,” declares the Lord.

Today, we will continue with the Eva Hall Harris and Lincoln County Schools Alumni First Legacy Hall of Honor Nominees who were honored and inducted with a Ribboned Medallion to go around his or her neck during this ceremony at the 10^th School Reunion. This ceremony was held on July 10 at 11 a.m. at Lincoln Civic Center with schoolmates, teachers, family and friends present.

Carolyn E. Beard Humphries is the sixth child born to Willie and Dessie Ree Stapleton Beard in Brookhaven, and she grew-up in the Loyd Star community where she still reside today. She attended Progress School, Eva H. Harris School and is a 1971 graduate of Loyd Star School. Carolyn has accomplished many firsts in her lifetime, and she was instrumental in organizing the first Progress and Eva H. Harris School Reunions. She worked with Headstart children at the old Progress School building, Loyd Star Public School students and Brookhaven School District students at Martin Elementary and Brookhaven Elementary Schools for many years until her retirement in 2004. Carolyn is a person who will help anyone who needs her assistance, and she was nominated for this honor by her classmate Michael Dixon. She is the wife of Kirby Humphries and the mother of Trelva Humphries Harvey (Michael Anthony Harvey I), the grandmother of Michael Anthony Harvey II and Myla Harvey of the Loyd Star community. Also, Deric Godbolt of Houston and seven grandchildren: Madonna (Fred), Danielle, Devin, Carl, Derrick, Kendra and Urea.

Tommie James Adams is the son of the late Robert Sr. and Ernestine White Adams of the Loyd Star community. He was instrumental in helping with the run of their farm and the dairy barn. In Tommie’s childhood days parents expected their children to help with the cotton, corn, all kinds of vegetables and work with the cows and hogs on a daily basic. He was a member of Progress School and of Eva H. Harris School Class of 1961. After his schooling Tommie moved to Omaha, Nebraska and began carpentry work and continued to fulfill his educational goals. He received his electrical contractor’s license in 1977 to go among other license that he already had received. Tommie’s Electrical Company has played an integral part in many community projects in Nebraska, Mississippi and many other states. Tommie is married to Wilda Adams and they are the parents of five children, and they are proud grandparents. He is a pioneer in the electrical field, a contractor, a Boys Scout’s Pack Leader and a person who has served on the Benedict’s Club Scholarship committee for many years to help others.

Dr. Hattie Magee Myles is the daughter of William and Hattie Magee, and she grew up in the Bogue Chitto community with her siblings. Her educational goals and careers include: Being a part of the last class to march at Eva Hall Harris School in 1970 in the Gymnasium where she was honored as the class valedictorian. Dr. Hattie Myles now reside in Mobile, Alabama, and she serves on many Educational and Medical Boards: locally, statewide and nationally. Dr. Hattie Myles has two children Sheena Joy and Kayla Danae Myles. Dr. Hattie Myles has done many things to help students to enter and to graduate from college and from medical schools throughout the years through special programs for which are funded through grants. She has touched young people lives through outreach ministries, and through other community, medical, and social ministries.

Carolyn Upkins is the daughter of Doris Watkins Upkins and the late Curnis Upkins, and she grew up with her siblings in the Chisholm Mission community at Bogue Chitto. Carolyn attended Lincoln County Training School, Eva Hall Harris School and was a 1971 graduate of Bogue Chitto School. She furthered her educational goals at Utica Junior College and Mississippi Valley State University where she received her Bachelor of Science. She also attended Ole Miss School of Banking Certificate of Completive Center for Creative Leadership. She is the Co-Author of “How Effective Teachers Think And What They Do” which is a tale of two sisters. Carolyn has done many things to help others, including young children, educationally, socially and intellectually. She was instrumental in planning and executing the planning of a Summer Kids Academy for children ages 6-12 years old. She co-owns a company in Jackson with her sister; that focuses on supporting principals, teachers and students in achieving academic excellence. She helped to spearhead a fundraiser that generated enough funds to take a busload of children to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Carolyn also, work with Dress for Success’ Going Places Network by the Wal-Mart Foundation, focusing on helping disadvantaged women who are unemployed or underemployed, positioning them for success in the job market and in life. She continues to help young people and older people alike, in many beneficial ways today.

Beatrice Adams Tyner is the daughter of the late Robert Sr. and the late Earnestine White Adams and grew up in the Loyd Star community with her siblings. She is married to Curtis Tyner, and they are the proud parents of two boys Curtis E. “C.E.” and Thomas O. Tyner and proud grandparents of six grandchildren. She attended Progress and Eva Hall Harris Schools and is a graduate of the class of 1966. She is also a graduate of Utica Community College and of Tougaloo College where she graduated with honors in early childhood development. She worked as a headstart teacher at Brushy Creek Headstart in Crystal Springs for 28 consecutive years until her retirement in December 2014. She planned workshops for the community for CPR and First Aid training and was a member of the County Council for the head start. Bea has served the young people well for 16 years with the Sophia Sutton Summer Youth Camp in Prentiss. During her tenure at Sophia Sutton she searched for ways to get grants and donations for community improvements, and she helped employees to further their educational goals to reach their highest potentials. Beatrice is an active member of the NAACP, and she presently serves as the assistant secretary of Eva H. Harris and Lincoln County Schools’ Alumni Reunion committee. She is a reliable person and works well for the success of the school reunions to ensure that they are ran as smoothly as possible.

Thomas Turner is the son of the late Drusilla and Elvie Turner and grew up with his siblings in the Bogue Chitto community. He has three children Thomas Jr., Krista and Ta’Asha, two grandchildren Zarhya and Candace and one great-grandchild. Thomas attended Lincoln County Training School and was a 1966 graduate of Eva H. Harris School. Shortly after graduating from Eva Harris, Thomas was drafted into the U. S. Army where he served his country well for three years. He was honorably discharged as Sgt. E-5 from the U. S. Army. He retired from St. Regis / Georgia Pacific Paper Company after 39 years of loyal and dedicated service. He received many awards and recognitions including perfect attendance certificates. He is a member of a motorcycle club and serves as a Steward at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Brookhaven. He is active in serving his church well, and he makes any repairs that need to be done at his church. Thomas volunteers his service whenever his class of his school needs him, and he serves as an active member of the Eva Harris and Lincoln County Schools’ Alumni Reunion committee.

This Legacy Hall of Honor Program would not have been a success without the help of the program participants: Bessie Hackett, Alex Robinson, Sarah Gray Bailey, President Curtis Tyner, Vice President Mozel Jackson and the readers for the honorees: Marian Ballard James, Charles McMorris, Sandra Wilson Addison, Minister Johnnie M. Ferdinand Upkins, Emma Watkins Cook, Evelyn Richardson Buie, Michael Dixon and Dr. Barbara Dillon Buie. Thanks to each of you and may God continue to Bless.

Special Congratulations to my last article honorees: Robert Earl Robinson Sr., Harry Bracey, Evangelist Willie Ray Watkins, Myra Wilson Black, Mary Frances Lyons McMorris, Dr. Cleon McKnight, Cora Bracey Edwards and Patricia Evans Hartwell and also to this week’s honoree recipients: Carolyn Beard Humphries, Tommie James Adams, Carolyn Upkins, Dr. Hattie Magee Myles, Beatrice Adams Tyner and Thomas Turner. Your works are worthy to be acknowledged and commended; Keep doing and going in God’s Speed.  May God continue to bless and keep each of you in his loving care.

The next Eva Harris and Lincoln County Schools Alumni committee meetings will be held at the public library on Thursday at 6 p.m. All former alumni members, teachers and other staff members are encouraged to be present to finalize the 10th school reunion business for 2015. The alumni and staff will also meet Oct. 20, 2015 and Nov. 24, 2015 for a meeting and the Thanksgiving Grocery Raffle. All Alumni and teachers from all four schools are encouraged to attend each of these meetings.

Special love and concern is extended to the following family who have lost a loved one and a friend this year and are still going through at this time: The family of Willie “Bro” Graham, the son of the late Sally Graham and the late O. D. May. He was a graduate of the Alexander Class of 1970. He was known by his classmates as “Huss.”  He later moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked for Zola Back Plastic and Alice Sherman Tractor Co. until he became disabled in 1990. He is sadly missed, and his memories will forever be remembered and cherished.

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report please call Carolyn E. Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.