2009 COMMUNITY STARS

Beatrice Peace – Woman of the Year

“What God has given to you share with someone else.  Help someone!”, are the words of Beatrice Peace.  She serves as the Board President of the Tunica County Literacy Council and has dedicated her life to education.  Her vision for the Tunica County Literacy Council and Tunica County is the same as the mission statement (paraphrased)…don’t stop until youth and adults in this county can read and communicate effectively in society.  Beatrice and her husband, Wilbert who died in 1999, always loved children although they had no biological children.  From 1976-1999, they fostered a total of 36 children.  Many of them remain in touch with Beatrice today.  At her husband’s death, the Wilbert Peace Scholarship Fund was established.  It was so named because he was a dedicated Board member of the Tunica Literacy Council.    We honor Beatrice Peace as 2009 Community Star Woman of the Year.

Chip Johnson – Man of the Year

As an individual, Chip is dedicated to the betterment of the community in which he lives, as well as the surrounding area and the state, even beyond his duties as Mayor of Hernando.  He works tirelessly to transform Hernando into one of the state’s most communities in which to live, work and play.  In recent years, Chip has had many opportunities to share what he has learned about what local governments can do to improve the health of their residents, and also learn from others in the field, both for the benefit of his community and state.  He has represented Hernando, DeSoto County and Mississippi on many occasions speaking to state, regional, national and international groups about how small communities can make improvements toward a healthy community.  Chip and his wife, Laurie, reside in Hernando.    The honor of 2009 Community Star Man of the Year is awarded to Chip Johnson

SouthGroup / Brown & Haynes Insurance - Business of the Year

Since 1962, this business has gone about its day-to-day operations assisting residents in the mid-south area.  But behind the scenes, the employees are working to make DeSoto County a better place to live and have that ‘volunteer spirit’.    The firm raised $20,000 with a 5-K Run for Friends of Children Hospital in 2009 and is raising the goal to $25,000 for 2010.  Not only are they supporting a worthwhile cause, they are encouraging people to ‘stay fit’.  Employees have adopted two schools and read on a monthly basis to kindergarten and 1^st grades.  Each year the employees make Christmas a little merrier for adults at the Baddour Center and sponsor children from the Angel Tree.  SouthGroup, like many other businesses in the area, sponsors various charitable organizations, but they go one step further and assist in funding Safety Week for all elementary schools.  We salute the work of SouthGroup and its employees as the 2009 Community Star Business of the Year.

Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort Inc. (CARE) – Nonprofit of the Year

Five years old and going strong in Charleston,  CARE is providing arts education opportunities for the young and old in Tallahatchie County.  One of their first projects was the renovation of the former bank of Charleston as the Charleston Arts Center.  This facility allowed the ASAP (After School Arts Program) to expand, and today they have classes Monday-Thursday for per-school through 12^th grade.  A nominal fee is charged but scholarships are provided for those unable to pay.   In addition to teaching the arts, ASAP offers nutritional snacks as a way of promoting healthy living.  October 2009 saw the opening of the CARE Closet, a thrift shop that not only raises funds for the organization, but also provides a much needed service to the community.    Beautification of the Square in Charleston has brought new life to the area.  These programs and much more are being offered through CARE because the Board members and volunteers love their town and want to help it grow in beauty and in knowledge through the arts, and they want their children to have the opportunities to develop their talents and abilities to succeed in life.  We honor CARE as the 2009 Community Star Nonprofit of the Year.