One dozen local scouts recently attained the rank of Eagle, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. They were honored in a special service at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven.

Troop 119 is the oldest continuously chartered Boy Scout troop in Mississippi, and the only one remaining in Lincoln County. Tracing its beginnings to 1909, it is as old as the incorporated BSA.

Troop 19 was formed at First Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven by local Episcopalian minister Dr. Cran and C.H. Hamilton, through the New Orleans council. In 1910, the unit was officially recognized by the local scout office in Vicksburg.

The troop was renamed to Troop 119 after the Andrew Jackson Council of the BSA was formed. First Presbyterian Church sponsored the troop until 1938-1939, when its sponsorship was taken over by the Men’s Bible Class of First United Methodist Church, where it has remained since.

Troop members have become doctors, lawyers and professionals of many types. More than 125 scouts have earned the rank of Eagle in Troop 119.

The 12 scouts who were awarded Eagle most recently are Braxton Bradley, Connor Case, Braden Gatlin, Jackson Greer, Ian Kellum, Brooklyn Lee, Asher Newman, John Kelly Perkins, Mason Pigott, Colt Piper, Wyatt Roberts and Russell Watts.

 

Braxton Bradley

Bradley is an eighth-grade student at Alexander Junior High School, where he plays on the baseball team, his favorite sport. He also is on the Brookhaven High School junior varsity soccer team. He started scouting in 2014 as a Cub Scout and earned the Arrow of Light. He has served as patrol leader, scribe and quartermaster.

For his Eagle Scout project, Bradley built a walkway at Mamie Martin Elementary School’s parent pickup area to help ensure teachers, parents and students could walk safely to and from vehicles. He also cleaned adjoining structures and beautified the area. Bradley’s late grandfather Jack Bradley was an Eagle Scout and motivated Bradley and his brother to earn Eagle, as well. When Bradley saw his “Papa Jack” pin his brother as an Eagle in 2020, he knew he wanted to earn the same rank, recognition and respect. Bradley plans to tryout for the BHS baseball and soccer teams.

 

Connor Case

Case is a freshman at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he is a member of the marching band. He joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and earned the Arrow of Light. As a Boy Scout, he served as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, scribe and quartermaster. For his Eagle project, Case repainted the Exchange Club Fair’s dunking booth. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, BSA’s honor society. Case is studying political science and intends to pursue a law degree.

 

Braden Gatlin

Gatlin is an eighth-grade student at Alexander Junior High, where he plays trumpet in the band. He is an active member of First Baptist Church’s youth group and an avid Alabama fan. He joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and earned the Arrow of Light. He has served as an assistant patrol leader in Boy Scouts. For his Eagle project, Gatlin helped revitalize the FUMC Scout Hut.

 

Jackson Greer

Greer is an eighth-grader at Alexander Junior High, where he is on the cross country, soccer and track teams. He joined Cub Scouts in the second grade as a Wolf Scout and earned the Arrow of Light. His Eagle project was a firefighter care station that included a picnic table and grill. He is active in First Baptist’s youth band playing guitar. Greer also is a percussionist in the AJH band. He enjoys hunting and reading.

 

Ian Kellum

Kellum is a freshman at Brookhaven High School, where he is an honor student and plays trumpet in the Pride of Old Brook Band. He began scouting as a Tiger Cub and earned the Arrow of Light. He has served as patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader, and is a member of the Order of the Arrow. For his Eagle project, Kellum planned and supervised the building and installation of five bat houses, which were placed around the Hansel King Sports Complex to assist in management of the insect population. He plans to pursue a career in science/engineering upon graduation, but is first looking forward to being on summer camp staff at Hood Scout Reservation in 2023 and going on the Troop 119 backpacking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico in 2024.

 

Brooklyn Lee

Lee is a seventh-grade student at Alexander Junior High, where he plays French horn in the band and is an all-A student. He is a member of the AJH baseball and cross country teams, and the BHS golf team. Lee is an active member of the First Baptist youth group, an avid LSU fan, and enjoys going to baseball and football games. He joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and earned the Arrow of Light. Lee has served as assistant patrol leader and patrol leader. For his Eagle project, he renovated the basketball game at Exchange Club Park, replacing goals and creating a second goal for younger participants. Lee is looking forward to the eight-day Missouri River trip in 2023, retracing the historic Lewis and Clark expedition.

 

Asher Newman

Newman is a Brookhaven Academy freshman, and plays varsity soccer and football. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and has earned numerous academic achievements. He began scouting in first grade as a Tiger Cub, earned the Arrow of Light, and became part of Troop 119 in sixth grade, where he has served as patrol leader. Newman’s Eagle project was cleaning and landscaping the areas around Angel’s Attic Thrift Store, May 5-Sept. 30, 2022. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Mississippi.

 

John Kelly Perkins

Perkins is a sophomore at Brookhaven High School, where he is a member of the baseball and tennis teams, and is on the Mock Trial team. He joined Cub Scouts in the second grade and has served as patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He is also a member of Order of the Arrow. His best BSA experience was hiking with his troop in 2021 for 125 miles across Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Perkins’ Eagle project was honoring Brookhaven native and World War II hero Hiram Cassedy, for which he was awarded Big Creek Eagle Project of the Year.

 

Mason Pigott

Pigott is a BHS sophomore. He plays mellophone and French horn in the band, and is a member of the track and field and golf teams. He has been a member of his church’s Youth Leadership Team for several years. Pigott joined Boy Scouts in 2018 and has since served as quartermaster, scribe and patrol leader. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, and serves as Big Creek Chapter Chief. For his Eagle project, Pigott chose a cemetery cleanup project at his church. His team picked up litter, pulled weeds and washed tombstones as a way of honoring his church family. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Mississippi and major in kinesiology.

 

Colt Piper

Piper is a sophomore at Brookhaven High School, where he participates in football, power lifting, and track and field, and is a member of The National Honor Society. He joined scouting in first grade as a Cub Scout, and has since served as assistant senior patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, scribe, chaplain, patrol leader and historian, and was recently inducted into the Order of the Arrow. Piper’s Eagle project was to provide backpacks filled with hygiene products and a clothing voucher — redeemable at Angel’s Attic Thrift Store — to needy individuals. The backpacks were given to the Food Pantry of The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer to be distributed as needed. Piper plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi and seek a degree in polymer science and engineering.

 

Wyatt Roberts

Roberts is an eighth-grade student at Alexander Junior High, where he is a percussionist in the band and dabbles with guitar. He formerly ran cross country until sidelined by an injury. He joined Cub Scouts in the first grade and earned the Arrow of Light. Roberts has served as troop historian and Outdoor Ethics Guide. For his Eagle project, he renovated, repaired and painted the Exchange Club Fair ticket booth, including repair of several crowd guide railings. Roberts is looking forward to the Missouri River trip in 2023, retracing the historic Lewis and Clark expedition, and other future scouting events.

 

Russell Watts

Watts is an eight-grade student at Bogue Chitto Attendance Center, where he plays snare drum on the band’s drum line. He is on the basketball and tennis teams, serves as vice president of Junior Beta Club, and is an active member of the Technology Student Association. Watts joined Cub Scouts in the first grade as a Tiger Cub and earned the ranks of Wolf, Bear, Webelo and Arrow of Light. In Boy Scouts, he was served as assistant patrol leader. For his Eagle project, he built a handicapped-accessible ramp and additional hand rail for an elderly member of his church. Watts is looking forward to the eight-day Missouri River trip in 2023, retracing the historic Lewis and Clark expedition, and other future scouting events.