Introducing the Haywood County Leadership Class of 2013
 |
| Johnny N. Bradford |
Johnny N. Bradford
A 21-year resident of Haywood
County, Johnny is currently serving as a substitute teacher and also provides
sound for various programs and events in the school system. He is also a disc
jockey. Johnny is active in his church, Willow Grove Baptist, where he serves
as sound technician and a Youth Department committee member. He has also served
as an assistant to the Teen Advisors at Haywood High and is a member of the
National Education Association. This year he is serving as a Blueminati, a
group who helps bridge the gap between Tennessee State University alumni and
undergrads. Johnny’s goal in life is to give of his time and energy to help
others. He loves to read and is a self-described history buff, an avid sports
fan and is trying his hand at video production. Johnny holds a bachelor of
science degree from Tennessee State University and is currently working on
earning a master’s degree from Bethel University. He believes a major issue in
Haywood County is that youth do not realize the importance of a post-secondary
education. He wants to see the community come together to solve various
pressing issues here. “If we do,” he says, “we will see a dramatic increase in
the quality of life here.”
 |
| Senica Ann Cephus |
Senica Ann Cephus
As office manager at Golden
Circle, Senica oversees the day-to-day business activities for the company. She
is a Haywood High School graduate, holds an associate degree from Jackson State
and a bachelor of business degree from Lane College. Senica also holds a
certified license in property and casualty, life and health insurance. She was
named to Who’s Who at Lane and earned honors and Dean’s List recognition. She
has lived in Haywood County for 30 years. She is a member of Faith Deliverance
Church and serves as a youth advisor. Senica enjoys mentoring youth, and in
addition to the youth at church, she also served as a mentor at Lane College.
She feels it is important to always be helpful to others. Her hobbies include
shopping, fashion, spending time with husband and two sons, swimming and
helping others. An issue Senica believes is of utmost importance in the
community is the lack of recreation for the community’s youth. “When Haywood
can come together with a common goal, as a community, we are unstoppable,” she
says. She also believes that we have a lack of vision and actions concerning
our community.
 |
| Terry G. Chambers |
Terry G. Chambers
Terry Chambers, who holds
certification as a landfill operator, has been in Haywood County for 40 years.
He attends Brownsville Baptist Church, has served in the Dixie Youth Baseball
program and was a member of the Jaycees. What he believes to be important about
his work in the community is helping others, especially children. He enjoys
gardening and landscaping, fishing and hunting, and going on beach vacations
with his wife. Most of all, he says, he enjoys spending time with family – his
children and grandchildren. He believes unemployment is a huge issue and
challenge that our city and county leaders face. Terry is concerned for the
young people who are looking to settle in Haywood County and raise their
families. He also believes that city and county government leaders, the school
system and civic organizations are three strong areas in the community.
 |
| Timothy Lewis Chapman |
Timothy Lewis Chapman
Tim Chapman, who lives in
Stanton, is a senior process/cost reduction engineer at Teknor Apex. He manages
a maintenance group in the garden hose plant. He has worked in Haywood County
for 6-1/2 years. He is a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers and Wire
Association International. Tim has been a teacher of Kung Fu and attained a
Black Sash rank. He enjoys attending antique tractor and engine shows, working
on old tractors and stationary engines, residential wiring, welding, carpentry,
gardening, landscaping and other outdoor activities. Tim holds a bachelor of
science degree in plastics engineering technology and an MBA from William Carey
College. He also holds an associate degree in landscaping technology. Tim was
awarded a patent for a new garden hose design. He believes that Haywood County
would benefit from more good-paying employment opportunities. He is impressed
with the local schools, the quality of life here and the local hospital. Tim
says, “I can make an impact working to keep my employer strong to help maintain
and grow the stable, good paying jobs we already have.”
 |
| Clinton Francis |
Clinton Francis
Clinton Frances supervises the daily operations of the
deposit functions of InSouth Bank. He has worked in Haywood County for six
years. He is a member of the Exchange Club in Covington and has served as
treasurer. He enjoys supporting his children’s sports, hunting and spending
time with family. Clinton is interested in learning more about the community he
works in, and he sees that the people here have great support for their
community.
Gordon Joseph Geter
Joey Geter is a newcomer to
Brownsville/Haywood County. He has been here for nine months and is a partner
in his CPA firm that also has offices in Jackson, Martin and Paris. He is from
Natchez, Mississippi, and holds a master’s degree in accounting with seven
years’ experience and attends more than 40 hours of CPE a year. He was a
founding member of the Chamber of Commerce – Natchez Young and Upcoming
Professionals. He was also named to Who’s Who Among Young Professionals and
Executives and is the co-creator of the Brownsville Business column in the
States-Graphic. Joey is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, the Brownsville Rotary Club, the Brownsville Country Club and the
Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a coach and
board member for the local Dixie Youth Baseball. He said being in these
organizations has helped him become accustomed to the town and how it
functions. He enjoys fishing, golfing, going to church, spending time with
family and participating in and watching sports. Joey believes that a major
issue in the community is city growth and industrial development. He says our
rich agriculture history and a welcoming small-town feeling are two of
Brownsville’s strengths. He believes we can keep that feeling while growing and
modernizing.
 |
| Vincent A. Harvell |
Vincent A. Harvell
Vincent Harvell is the Chief
Financial Officer for Haywood County Schools. In his eighth year with the
school system, he is responsible for the management of fiscal operations,
maintenance and building operations and technology infrastructure. Vincent
holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Lambuth University. He’s
also taken additional classes through the University of Memphis and Jackson
State Community College. He is a member of St. Paul M. B. Church and serves as
Trustee and as a Sunday School teacher. He is a member of the Tennessee
Association of School Business officials, the BEP Review Committee and a former
Lambuth College Alumni Board member. Vincent believes as a Sunday School
teacher, he has had the opportunity to mentor children and try to make a
difference in their lives. He enjoys his job with the schools, watching
basketball games and playing with his granddaughter. His concern for Haywood
County is centered on education. He wants to see training opportunities for
citizens, and he believes affordable decent housing is also an issue. He also
believes that Haywood County’s school system has made tremendous improvement.
“It is a work in progress, but has a very good upside,” Vincent said.
 |
| Drew Scott Magruder |
Drew Scott Magruder
The voice of Brownsville Radio,
Drew Magruder, oversees operations for the day part of programming for the
local station. He has been in Brownsville for 5-1/2 years and has become an
integral part of the community. He attended the Columbia School of
Broadcasting. He is also CPR trained. Drew serves on the Haywood County Rescue
Squad and is the PA announcer for the Tomcats. He says his training has taught
him how to communicate in stressful situations. His hobbies are exercising and
biking, and he feels he now has more energy and wants to more active in
community. Drew sees race relations as one of the biggest challenges in the
community. “Haywood Countians should learn to work together,” he says. “It is
the only way our county can move forward.” Drew also believes that the people
are the county’s biggest asset. He believes that the good, creative and
passionate people of this community can work together to make positive changes.
 |
| Renee Moss |
Reneé Moss
New to Brownsville/Haywood
County, Renee Moss was recently selected to lead the local chamber of commerce.
Before moving to Brownsville, she served on the McNairy County Chamber Board,
on the Executive Board of the Tourism Association of Southwest Tennessee and as
the Adamsville Partnership Secretary. She is a certified Tennessee Tourism
Professional and is a graduate of McNairy County Adult Leadership 2010. Through
her work, Renee has used her skills and experience to organize a number of
community events. Her hobbies include spending time with family, shopping,
reading, playing games online and Facebook. She believes Brownsville’s
challenges are in the areas of education and retail. For community strengths,
she listed industrial development, city and county work well together,
community involvement and agriculture.
 |
| Joyce Ann Pirtle |
Joyce Ann Pirtle
Joyce is retired from the Haywood
County Clerk’s office and spends her time in retirement visiting the nursing
home and the sick and shut-in, attending meetings, helping at church and with
family members. She has lived in Haywood County since 1975. Joyce is currently
a Policy Council Member for the Southwest Human Resource Agency, the secretary
for the Haywood County NAACP, and serves as a committee member and secretary
for the Relay for Life committee for Willow Grove M. B. Church. She has also
served as missionary secretary, Sunday School secretary and Youth Committee
member at her church and as a committee member for the United Way. She attended
the West Tennessee Business College in Jackson. Joyce has received a number of
plaques, certificates and awards for her work at church and in the community.
From her work, she has met and worked with people from all walks of life. She
likes to listen to ideas and comments from others so that whatever needs there
are in the community can be met. Joyce believes that homelessness is an issue
in Haywood County, and she is interested in being involved in correcting this
problem. She also believes that the people of Haywood County should be proud of
their community service and willingness to help others.
 |
| David Leonard Prine |
David Leonard Prine
David Prine, a 30-year resident
of Haywood County, is a machinist for Lasco Fittings. He is a member of Calvary
Baptist Church where he serves as Sunday School Director, a Deacon, a Sunday
School teacher and is actively involved in numerous committees. He was active
in the Industrial Softball League here. He also enjoys hunting, fishing and
camping, which he says has allowed him to spend quality time with his
grandchildren. He is from Leland, Mississippi, and attended Mississippi Delta
Junior College on a football scholarship. He also held the position of
commissioner with the Brownsville Dixie Youth Baseball League. David believes
that Haywood County lacks activities for our young people to keep them busy and
off the streets. He wants a safer environment for the youth, and believes that
we need to encourage and train our children to become future leaders in the
community. He also believes that the community has a strong industrial base.
 |
| Holt Pritchett |
Holt Pritchett
Holt Pritchett, who has been with
First South Bank for six years, is a commercial lender in the Haywood County
branch. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin with a
business degree, of Barnett School of Banking Commercial Lending Academy and
the Southeastern School of Advanced Commercial Lending. Holt is an officer for
Habitat for Humanity and has been a volunteer for Relay for Life and March of
Dimes and is a member of Rotary. He has assisted numerous families through HFH
to better their lives and has helped raise funds needed for numerous other
organizations. He enjoys hunting, golf, water sports, sports and running. Holt
believes that the local school system and the lack of growth in the community
are two of its biggest challenges. He also believes that continued involvement
by citizens will improve both of these issues. In his opinion, the fact that
the community is so tight-knit will help it overcome its weaknesses. Holt
points out that our agriculture base, a beautiful courthouse and downtown area
and our close proximity to larger towns are three other assets of the
community.
 |
| Teri Leann Robinson |
Teri Leann Robinson
A 10-year resident of Haywood
County, Teri Robinson is in customer service and performs various other duties
at Brownsville Utility Department. She holds a BBA in general business from the
University of Mississippi. She is active at Westside Church of Christ, in the
Republican Women, PTO, Relay for Life and Boy Scouts. She says serving in her
church and the community, especially helping children and families, is the most
important thing she can do. She appreciates the opportunity to meet others in
this service. She is an avid Ole Miss fan and tries to attend all home games.
She also likes to read, spend time with her kids and walk. “Fostering an
attitude of free enterprise and small business friendliness is a great concern
of mine,” Teri says of Brownsville’s challenges. She believes Brownsville can
become a hub for small businesses and wants to research our business policies
and recruitment strategies to make sure they are the best in the area. Teri
believes that involvement and concerns from our citizens during time of need is
impressive. “So many of our town come out and support our local charities,
businesses, and children’s activities.”
 |
| Glenn William Stoots |
Glenn William Stoots
Glenn Stoots is a supervisor at
Teknor Apex and has lived in Haywood County for 30 years. He has attended
seminars to become a more effective supervisor and learn management and leadership
skills. Glenn is a member of the Haywood County Volunteer Fire Department
District #5. He has also served with the United Way Fund Allocation Team. He
says his involvement in these activities has been important to him because it
has given him the opportunity to give back and help out in the community. He is
also very interested in finding out ways that he may be able to help out in
volunteer work in the community, especially with the youth. According to Glenn,
one particular issue he feels is critical to the community is creating more
activities for the youth. Because of this, he says, our community is losing tax
dollars and losing families to surrounding communities. Glenn said that its
strongest asset is that the community will come together to help out its fellow
citizens.
 |
| Regen M. Thornton |
Regen M. Thornton
Regen Thornton, who has lived in
Brownsville for 10 years, has deep roots in the community. He has been coming
here for years to visit Brownsville, and now calls it home. He is an
agriculture loan officer for First State Bank. Regen is a graduate of the
University of Tennessee at Martin and holds a degree in agriculture business.
He is also a licensed land surveyor. He has been training with First State
since January learning about farm financial analysis and recently completed a
week-long Agricultural Lending School at the University of Missouri. Regen’s
hobbies include golf, hunting and fishing. He believes that education is a
challenge in Haywood County and that its biggest strength is its agriculture.
