Southaven, or the community that would incorporate into the city of Southaven in 1980, has undergone a staggering amount of change in the last 50+ years. From the beginning, with no grocery stores, few red lights, no emergency services, and only one school, Southaven and all of DeSoto County has become a magnet for families and businesses from across the country and around the world.
As time has moved forward and things have changed, many things are still the same as they were back in the smaller and slower days of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Families are still the center of life for this community. Even though the pace and details of life have quickened and expanded, the home and raising kids is still the primary focus of this community.
It is truly amazing to see DeSoto County people leading out in the march to the future. Youth athletics, school bands and state of the art fire, police and emergency services have all been a part of our embracing of the future. There were also some hard lessons learned regarding the need for cooperation and community involvement among the cities of DeSoto County. These fast moving times have required adjustment, adaptation and even some compromise, for the greater good of the community at large.
I have seen all of this change occur, and even when times were tough and growing pains were the rule, the people of our communities have set their face to the contrary wind and have ridden out the storm. To this end, we have become a stronger community with a proud heritage, history and future. We join those old and new members of our community as we prepare to face the great promise and continuing challenges tomorrow will bring.
Our prayer will be that we stand as we have in the past, together and strong in community and faith. Our hope is built on the tradition that has been set by those who came before us, the men and women who could see the future and helped us all to prepare for it. We still need these men and women; they are our very own children, who are learning to embrace both technology and the family home. We do have a hope. It is the history of DeSoto County and our collective future.
May we all continue to invest in one another and in our community, making sure Northwest Mississippi remains a beacon of hope to a nation in great need of it.
-Mark E. Avant
Our prayer will be that we stand as we have in the past, together and strong in community and faith. Our hope is built on the tradition that has been set by those who came before us, the men and women who could see the future and helped us all to prepare for it. We still need these men and women; they are our very own children, who are learning to embrace both technology and the family home. We do have a hope. It is the history of DeSoto County and our collective future.
May we all continue to invest in one another and in our community, making sure Northwest Mississippi remains a beacon of hope to a nation in great need of it.
-Mark E. Avant