Hometown Madison Magazine

01/27/2025

Living a Life of Faith

Coach Davis’s incredible journey is a story of unwavering faith, community, and the life-changing power of organ donation. In 2021, Coach Davis, beloved by his community, faced kidney failure after years of health struggles. Despite the challenges, he remained hopeful, leaning on his faith and the prayers of countless supporters. His journey took a remarkable turn when Leah Cox, a member of his community, decided to step forward to help.

What followed was nothing short of miraculous. After a long process of matching and testing, Leah turned out to be the perfect match—not only for Coach Davis but also as the key to unlocking Mississippi’s largest-ever kidney donor swap. Through this selfless act, the lives of seven people were dramatically changed, and a ripple effect of kindness and hope spread across families and communities.

Coach Davis’s story is a beautiful reminder of the power of giving, the strength found in faith, and the importance of organ donation. It’s a story that will inspire you to believe in miracles and the good in people.

Read the full story in our January issue ! 📖

01/24/2025

Transforming Dreams Into Reality: MB Design & Construction ✨🏡

MB Design & Construction is raising the bar for home remodeling! Led by Margie Baumann, this woman-owned firm combines design and construction under one roof to create stunning, functional spaces that truly feel like home.

From collaborating closely with homeowners to managing every detail in-house, Margie and her talented team ensure a seamless process with beautiful results. One recent project? A breathtaking kitchen transformation in Olde Towne Ridgeland featuring an open layout, expanded island, and a show-stopping backsplash.

“Our goal is to make every space as unique as the homeowner,” Margie shares. Whether it’s a residential remodel or an exciting commercial project, MB Design & Construction focuses on timeless designs that blend style and functionality.

💬 Thinking of starting your own dream remodel? Margie’s advice: “Hire a licensed professional and find the right fit—it makes all the difference!”

📖 Be sure to read more about Margie and her team in the January issue, and check out the before and after of a recent project below!
🌐 Visit www.mbdesignconstruct.com or call 601-966-0034 to lear

01/24/2025

Today is the last day to nominate your favorite business for Madison's Best of the Best! Click the link below to nominate!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

01/21/2025

📢 Renew Audiology 🎧

Meet Dr. Kasi Saucier, the driving force behind Renew Audiology – Hearing Aid and Tinnitus Center in Gluckstadt! With a doctorate in audiology from Southern Miss and years of experience, Dr. Saucier brings a unique passion for helping patients manage tinnitus and hearing loss.

At Renew Audiology, Dr. Saucier focuses on personalized care, offering tinnitus education, hearing aid fittings and repairs, and support for veterans through VA exams. She believes in giving patients hope, knowing that effective treatment can make a big difference in quality of life.

💡 “Tinnitus can be treated, and 80% of those suffering can find relief,” says Dr. Saucier.

From working directly with patients to “fixing hearing aids like a mechanic,” Dr. Saucier’s goal is to build lasting relationships while improving lives.

📖 Read more about Dr. Saucier and Renew Audiology in our January issue.
🌐 Visit: www.renewaudiology.org

01/17/2025

🚑 Meet Elicia Farmer, Paramedic at Pafford EMS 🚑

With a family legacy in fire and EMS, Elicia found her passion for medicine at a young age. Starting as an EMT, she soon advanced to paramedic and has proudly served with Pafford EMS for nearly 8 years.

As a mom of two boys, Elicia balances work and family life with grace. She loves unwinding by reading books, watching movies, and taking spontaneous trips with friends. Her advice to young people? “Don’t give up when life gets hard. Kindness can go a long way.”

📖 Read more about Elicia Farmer in our January issue!

01/15/2025

Career opening! 📌

01/15/2025

We restocked our Primos rack locations today, in case you haven’t seen this amazing story.

Have you seen?!
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Hometown Magazine is out, and it’s warming hearts! Two years ago, Coach Davis was in a fight for his life, battling kidney failure. Enter Leah Cox—MRA mama, real-life hero, and the perfect match in a history-making seven-way kidney swap. She didn’t just donate a kidney; she set off a chain reaction of life-saving generosity. It was a game-changer. It is the heart of the Gospel. And it’s just another great thing about this !

01/15/2025

We are adding more categories this year! If you have a category, business/group or profession you’d like to see recognized. Let us know. Who is the Best of the Best in Madison County…🌟

01/14/2025

Get ready, Madison County! 📌

01/10/2025

Get ready, Madison County. Hometown Madison County’s Red Carpet “Best of the Best” is coming SOON!

01/05/2025

Congratulations to Brooke Bumgarner for being named 2nd Runner Up to Miss America’s Teen! Brooke was on the cover of the Fall issue of Glitz magazine. All of Mississippi is proud of her! 👑

12/06/2024

Looking for a fun Christmas gift for the person who has everything? Send them Hometown Rankin or Hometown Madison to their mailbox! Sign up today! 🎁 🎄

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11/21/2024

Mississippi Metro Ballet | 2024 The Nutcracker

Each September the 100-plus dancers ofMississippi Metropolitan Ballet Company eagerly await the arrival of a single email that reveals the course of their fall dance life. Attached to the email is the cast list for that season’s production of “The Nutcracker,” a classical ballet that is a holiday tradition for audience members and dancers alike. The first role on the cast list: Clara.The name filling the role for the 2024 production: Emily Garner. Garner, 17, of Madison, has been receiving a Nutcracker cast list for a decade. Surprisingly,the 2024 cast list had her name at the top for the second time. Garner first danced the role of Clara in 2021 as a ninth-grader. It is a special role for her, considering her mother danced the same role as a young ballet student in Hattiesburg.

Read more about the 2024 production of The Nutcracker performed by Mississippi Metro Ballet in our November issue. Available in stands and online!

11/18/2024

IN HER FATHERS FOOTSTEPS || THE ENGEL FAMILY STORY

Madison orthodontist Dr. Alexa Engel has been crafting smiles with the same dedication as her father, Dr. Lee Engel, who has been practicing orthodontics for nearly three decades. Dr. Alexa grew up in Greenville with her parents, Lee and Jan, and older sister Savannah. Following high school, where she excelled in academics and musical theater, she moved to Dallas where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in engineering from Southern Methodist University. It was while she was studying at SMU that she chose her career path. “I knew I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps,” she shares, “and I'm so thankful to learn from him and collaborate on treatments. His expertise and compassion for his patients have shaped my approach to orthodontics.”

Engel entered dental school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2016 and completed her orthodontic residency at the St. Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education, where her dad also did his orthodontic residency. “Dad excelled academically and clinically, finishing at the top of his class,” she says, recalling the pride she felt while walking the same halls during her own residency, seeing the awards her father had won. “It was so special to see the honors he achieved,” she reflects. “It made me want to carve my own path while honoring his legacy.”

When Alexa joined her father's long-established practice in Greenville, their father-daughter bond transformed into a great partnership. Together, they blend traditional orthodontic techniques with innovative practices, ensuring their patients receive the best care possible. It wasn’t long before they envisioned an expansion. “Working alongside my daughter is a dream come true,” Dr. Engel says. “I remember the day she received her acceptance call to dental school, and I knew it would definitely change my career going forward. Her fresh ideas are already taking our practice to the next level as she brings new technology to Engel Orthodontics.” Read more about The Engel Family in our latest November issue! On stands now!

11/15/2024

THE HARDY FAMILY

Tell us about your family. (names, ages, hobbies)

Mary Beth (39) and Creighton Hardy (40). We have 3 girls- Hensley Hardy (12), Sarah Michael Hardy (10) and Mary Powell Hardy (6).
Hensley is a 7th grader at Jackson Prep. She loves show choir, dancing, golf and swimming. Sarah Michael is a 5th grader at Jackson Prep. She loves soccer, golf, basketball and tumbling. Mary Powell is a kindergartener at St. Andrew’s. She loves ballet, golf and soccer. We are members of Madison Methodist Church and have been attending there ever since we moved to Madison County in 2013.
Creighton loves to hunt and be outdoors with our black lab, Tucker. I love being a mom, working with the best co-workers ever and running.

How did you and your spouse meet, and how long you’ve been married?
Creighton and I met in college while attending the University of Mississippi. We have been married for almost 14 years. I am originally from Greenwood, MS and we lived there for the first couple of years after marriage. After our first child was born, we moved to Madison County. Creighton was born and raised in Madison and has had the privilege of watching it flourish over the years.

Do you allow time to be with your spouse for a date night?
Season of life doesn’t allow much time for date night, but we make the most of our time together. Most date nights are on the soccer field or in the football stands watching our girls. We try to take an adult trip at least once a year!

What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
Being able to watch our kids learn and grow to enable them to become a better version of ourselves.
Read more about The Hardy Family in our latest November issue! On stands now!

11/14/2024

GERMAN BEER HALL || KEN HACKMAN

Imagine receiving an inheritance from a relative, and having your spouse tell you to use it for your fantasy project.

That’s exactly what happened to Ken Hackman when he received an unexpected sum of money after his aunt passed away. His wife, Ruth, told him to use it for a project he had talked about for years – building an authentic German beer hall on the RV pad next to their Madison home.

When the Hackman’s moved into their Madison home in 2001, the property had a large, covered RV pad adjacent to the house. Ken added walls to the 50’ by 25’ structure and for years it was a very large junk room.

Ken and his brother, David, were both born in Germany. Ken was born in 1960 and his brother followed in 1963. The family moved to the United States in 1966, just in time for Ken to start school. “I had gone to kindergarten in Germany, so I spoke a little German when I got to the States.”

They moved to Decatur, Mississippi before moving to the Jackson area. “We moved around a bit,” Ken says. “We moved to Biloxi just in time for Hurricane Camille. But we stayed there until my senior year. I loved sailing and the Coast life.” The family returned to Decatur and Ken attended East Central Community College, then on to Mississippi State where he met his wife. The couple settled in Jackson before moving to Madison in 1991.

“I’ve always had a love for all things German,” Ken says. “That includes German beer.” When Ruth gave Ken her blessing, he and his brother David ran with it. “We had to clean out all the junk and decide on a design. I wanted it to look as authentic as possible.” The brothers scoured various places for items to go in the beer hall. Read more about Ken Hackman in our latest November issue! On stands now!

11/13/2024

OPENING OUR HEARTS TO SUPERNATURAL LOVE || SARA DALE AND JUSTIN HARMON

Sarah Dale Harmon grew up learning about foster care from her mother. “My mother was only eight years old when her mother died. She had a hard childhood, and her experience planted a seed in me. I knew that someday I wanted to be a blessing to children in need.”

Growing up on Mississippi Gulf Coast, Sarah Dale met her husband, Justin, after college. “Justin is from Corinth. I told him early on in our relationship that I wanted to someday foster, and possibly adopt children.” That didn’t scare Justin away. Instead, the couple got married and settled in Gluckstadt.

They met with a counselor who suggested they have biological children of their own first, before fostering other children. But when Sarah Dale had trouble getting pregnant, she was torn, because they had space in their home and in their hearts for children.

The couple prayed about it and on the day Sarah Dale learned that medical issues would prevent her from having children of her own, she had a voicemail from Methodist Children’s Home. “Justin had gone to an event there for work, and he gave someone his card. They called about us getting into their next training group.”

Believing that is where God was leading them, Sarah Dale and Justin took the necessary courses and had a home inspection. “They check everything,” she says. “It’s very invasive, but I’m glad it’s that way. We got DPS certified and before we knew it we got our first placement.” Read more about The Harmon's story in our latest Novemeber issue! On stands now!