Angels, Helpers and Heroes in Oakland

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

Well, what else is there to write about but ice and power outages? Our Oakland area was hit pretty hard and as I write this on Sunday afternoon, the town of Oakland doesn’t have power restored yet nor do most of the folks in the surrounding area. Some have been told it may be another 4 or 5 days. There are things we learn about ourselves and others during times when our communities are in crisis mode. I hope you learned that you live in a community where people care about each other and do the very best they can to help. I hope you learned that you either are a patient person or that you are being taught that you need to be a patient person. I hope you looked around and saw the angels and heroes. I saw so many in Oakland. I saw our Mayor Stephanie Patterson practically flying around in a Super Woman cape trying to get the resources for a small town that can easily be overlooked. Thank goodness, she is either kin or friend to EVERYBODY! Her cousins are legend and they rallied to help her (and therefore Oakland) in so many ways.

My brother Rich Ross, who really prefers to fly under the radar, just started helping. He shared his generator with his neighbors, moving it back and forth. He helped people with gas heat get their heaters going. He took gas to people. He cut downed trees. He checked on his mama, of course! My cousin Bradley walked across town to check on my mom and has made sure her house is ready to accept electricity when the power is restored. I saw photos of brothers Melvin and

James Sayles helping with James posting a wonderful uplifting message about how blessed he was to be able to help. I saw Bud Leland in those photos and knew he had opened his home to a family who lost their home to fire. I read about Alderwoman Marzet Bland cooking and feeding people. My sister Carol helped set up the warming center under the direction of our grocery store manager Kini Bradford-Jefferson. Kini posted earlier this week, the following: “A tremendous salute to Cedric Jones, Dexter Bland, Lonnie Bland, Markel Andrews, Joshua Few, Robert Curry for expertly operating tractors and chainsaws, tirelessly working to restore our beloved community. Heartfelt gratitude to Mrs.

Barbara Benson for your selfless contributions, ensuring the needy receive the essentials that will uplift them during this time. Special appreciation to my husband for going the extra mile to collect all donated items. Thanks to Joshua Few and his wife for generously providing delicious, homemade chili that warmed our hearts. Today was indeed a demanding day, yet together, our community demonstrates unwavering strength and resilience, navigating through adversity as one.” There are so many and I KNOW that I have left out a bunch of the helpers, but all of this is just to point out we are so blessed to live in a caring community.

Mr. Rogers famously quoted his mother as saying, “Look for the helpers” in times of emergency. For our Oakland community, I’d say, “look in the mirror” because so many of you serve as helpers. As James Sayles said in his post, “you don’t have a belong to any organization to help others, all you need is the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to see smiles on people’s faces to feel the joy from their hearts is priceless, and I’ll do it all over again tomorrow, helping others is so awesome, GOD doesn’t see black or white, he sees his children in need and wants you get out and help your brothers and sisters because tomorrow, it might be you.” Amen, James Sayles.

Send me names of those you want to recognize and I’ll include them in my next column. Email to oaklandareachamber @gmail.com or call and leave a message or text to 601-853-3942. I’ll have more names next week that Mayor Stephanie Patterson wants to include also.

The worst of the weather is over, but the damage from it will last for quite a while. Your mayor and your town leadership and those who continue to volunteer will be doing everything they know to do to get things cleaned up and restored. Former Governor Haley Barbour, who is credited with great crisis leadership, during and after Hurricane Katrina is famous for saying “we hitched up our britches and went to work,” but he also said, “ “I think… crisis and catastrophe does not create character, it reveals character.” Keep your local leaders and volunteers in your prayers in the days and weeks and months ahead.

Oakland is extremely proud to be the home base of Grays Power Supply. Michael Gray, the founder of the company, helped us establish the Oakland Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the founding board. A post from Grays says, “We are truly blessed to have the team that we have to help us make it through the extremely tough times.

This ice storm that had lead to widespread outages throughout has hit our home towns. Grays sent crews across the country to respond to Georgia Power, Dominion Power, Greenwood Municipality, Oncor, Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative , Water Valley Electric Department and now Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power.” They went on to say that TVEPA has asked Grays to help them rebuild their system and “we are honored to do so.”

Both Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn have praised the work of Danica Hart and her group Chapel Hart. Chapel Hart has split, but Danica Hart is still singing her heart out! She will our featured musician at Oakland’s 5th Yalo-Ribbon Festival! It’s not everyday we have such a big name stopping by to sing for us. Put Sat., May 2, on your calendar. If you are interested in being a sponsor or vendor, contact Chamber Executive Director Sue Donohue Smith at execdir.oaklandareachamber@gmail.com.