Mississippi

First Black Woman Named To Lead Episcopal Diocese Of Mississippi

Published

6 months ago

July 22, 2024

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First Black Woman Named To Lead Episcopal Diocese Of Mississippi

by Daniel Johnson

July 22, 2024

Rev. Dorothy Sanders Wells made history on July 20 when she was formally installed as the newest bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, becoming the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position.

Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells made history on July 20 when she was formally installed as the newest bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, becoming the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position. Wells has held the position since being elected in February 2024 and has been active in the role since May, but it now becomes formally acknowledged by the church with her installation.

According to Al.com, Wells doesn’t focus on the historical significance of her appointment, instead, she wants the congregation she serves to showcase radical love and hospitality to their neighbors. “If it ends when our time together ends on Sunday mornings, then we have already missed the message,” Wells told the outlet. “That should be the beginning. When we walk out the doors, that becomes the beginning of us showing that radical love and hospitality.”

According to USA Today, Wells replaces Brian Seage, who guided the state’s Diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis. Shortly after Wells’ election, Seage told the outlet, “This is a historic moment and this marks a new chapter in our history. It’s the first time we have elected a woman and the first time we have elected an African American as the bishop of the diocese. I think this speaks dramatically for this movement within our church.”

The installation was presided over by Michael Curry, who was the first Black person to be the presiding bishop of the Catholic Church and gained worldwide acclaim for his sermon at Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding in 2011.

Wells’ election came after Sharma Lewis became the first Black woman to serve as bishop of the Mississippi United Methodist Church in 2022.

After her election, Wells told USA Today, “I am truly humbled by the confidence that the council has placed in me, and I am so looking forward to working with the good people of the Diocese of Mississippi. We are reading all kinds of statistics and reports about declining church attendance and declining church engagement, but we know God is in the midst of all of this and I am looking forward to exploring with this Diocese all of the ways we can continue love God and love one another and serve our neighbors and care for the people around us.”

Wells hails from Mobile, Alabama, and earned a degree in vocal performance from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She also holds a Juris Doctorate from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, a master’s degree in divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in ministry from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Wells expressed her desire to engage with the community and familiarize herself with the various congregations in Mississippi, telling USA Today, “When we had our meet and greets when I was able to get to know some of the people in the Diocese, I said then that I really want to get out into the districts.”

Wells added, “I want to meet people. I want to meet clergy and I want to meet lay folks in these different convocations. I want to see what is happening in their ministry, and I want to get some good conversations going so that we can be good relationship builders together and be about the business of exploring the ways that we can serve God.”

RELATED CONTENT: Episcopal Church of New York Apologizes For Participating In The Transatlantic Slave Trade, Pledges $1 Million Against Racism

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Mississippi

Leading rusher Davon Booth announces return to Mississippi State football for 2025 season

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Leading rusher Davon Booth announces return to Mississippi State football for 2025 season

Mississippi State football will leading rusher Davon Booth back next season season.

The running back and the Bulldogs revealed the news in a joint social media post on Tuesday that said, “Booth is back.”

Booth, who was a senior and out of eligibility, is allowed to return because of an NCAA decision in December to grant junior college players an extra year of eligibility for 2025-26. Booth played two seasons at Cerritos College in 2021 and 2022 before joining Utah State and transferring to MSU.

He rushed for 759 yards and five touchdowns this season and also caught four touchdowns. Booth also returned kickoffs, averaging 25.7 yards per return.

What Davon Booth’s return means for Mississippi State

The running back room looks like it will be one of the strengths for the Bulldogs with Booth’s return.

In addition to Booth, Mississippi State added South Alabama’s Fluff Bothwell in the transfer portal, who was an All-Sun Belt Third Team selection as a freshman this season. MSU is also expecting Seth Davis to be healthy after he missed the entire season with a knee injury. In 2023, Davis was second on the team in rushing and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Xavier Gayten, a former four-star recruit, also flashed potential in a limited role this season as a freshman.

What’s most encouraging about Booth is how he finished the season. He didn’t arrive at Mississippi State until after the spring semester and didn’t run efficiently in the first half of the season. However, Booth had a five-game stretch in the second half of the season with at least 90 scrimmage yards in each game. That includes 100-yard rushing games against Tennessee and Missouri.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Where Mississippi State basketball stands in updated March Madness bracket predictions

Mississippi State basketball is projected for its highest NCAA tournament seed in 20 years.

The Bulldogs (13-1, 1-0 SEC) are off to a strong start to the season with only one loss − to Butler on a neutral court. They play at Vanderbilt (13-1, 1-0) on Tuesday (8 p.m., ESPNU).

Here is where MSU stands in the latest NCAA tournament projections.

Mississippi State basketball is as high as a No. 3 seed

CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm has Mississippi State as a No. 3 seed in the South Region. The Bulldogs would be matched up with No. 14 South Dakota State in Milwaukee. The winner would play either No. 6 seed Purdue or No. 11 seeds Vanderbilt or New Mexico, who are projected to play in the First Four.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi lists MSU as a No. 4 seed in the West Region, matching up with No. 13 Grand Canyon. The second-round game would be against either No. 5 UCLA or No. 12 UC San Diego. Both rounds would be played in Denver.

Mississippi State basketball’s NCAA tournament resume

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 13 in the NCAA NET rankings as of Tuesday. They are 3-0 in Quad 1 games, beating Memphis, Pittsburgh and SMU. The loss to Butler is Quad 2, but MSU has wins in that quadrant against McNeese and Utah.

MSU’s 85-50 win against South Carolina on Saturday in the SEC opener is Quad 3.

Mississippi State is slated to play five straight Quad 1 games until it visits South Carolina on Jan. 25.

Mississippi State basketball’s NCAA tournament history under Chris Jans

The Bulldogs have made the NCAA tournament twice in coach Chris Jans’ two seasons but haven’t won a game.

In 2023, they were in the First Four and loss to Pitt by one point. Last season, No. 8 seed MSU lost by 18 to No. 9 Michigan State in the first round.

Mississippi State last won an NCAA tournament game in 2008, a first-round win against Oregon. It has not advanced past the round of 32 since 1996.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Gulf Coast preps for cold; experts urge to protect four P’s

Published

18 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Mississippi Gulf Coast preps for cold; experts urge to protect four P’s

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – With temperatures forecast to drop below freezing overnight, residents took action to combat the cold on Monday.

With the big chill setting in until midweek, both the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Mississippi Power posted reminders on social media about the importance of protecting the “Four P’s” – people, pets, plants, and pipes.

The following tips are recommended to keep everyone safe and warm:

Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially those with special needs and the elderly.
Bring pets indoors. Remember, it’s a Mississippi law for pet owners to provide adequate shelter.
Insulate or wrap exposed water pipes. Keep water dripping to avoid freezing.
Cover any outdoor plants or bring them inside.

Pine Hills Nursery Manager Rachel Bond told WLOX that it’s not too late to bring plants inside.

“Yes, if you can bring the plant indoors, we do recommend that because you can control the environment and it is much warmer,” Bond said. “If it is something permanent that you can’t bring in, then we recommend covering it with a soft layer like a blanket or sheet and then plastic or tarp over that.”

“Then once temperatures are above freezing the next day you can go ahead and remove that,” she continued. “You don’t want to leave it covered for several days in a row. You want to uncover it and cover it again if you have to.”

The EMA also stressed the importance of preparing a “go-kit” for the vehicle, containing the following items: