2010 SALUTE TO

FAMILY-OWNED
BUSINESS

THE
For 30 years Smith Landscaping has tirelessly served
the Golden Triangle, but Susan and Alan Smith can
still find time to stop and smell the roses. Page 7
DISPATCH
October 10, 2010
2 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

OUR VIEW

Keeping it
in the family
amily owned an unhurried world and,

F businesses …
now there’s
an increasingly
scarce concept for
you.
Fortunately, home-
grown businesses are not
in the same boat as fami-
ly-owned farms, an enter-
prise now on the endan-
gered list. Businesses
owned and run by fami-
lies — in many instances
for generations — are
alive, well and thriving in
these parts, thank you.
That should hardly
come as a surprise. Take
Alan and Susan Smith of
Smith Landscaping, the
business featured on the
cover of this publication.
if you’ve been there
before, someone who
knows you and under-
stands your needs will
take the time to listen.
Consider the
McBrydes, Wheelers,
Johnsons, and Lumsdens,
names associated with
businesses active in this
community for genera-
tions. They have raised
their children here and in
many cases those chil-
dren are now in charge.
Funeral homes, hard-
ware stores, barber and
beauty shops, an appli-
ance dealer and a soul
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
food kitchen, they all Tim Pounders, left, built Lowndes Funeral Home from a slow business with only four employees, to a booming
offer unique, personal operation that performs more than 140 services a year. Carmen Phillips, pictured at right, is one of nine
attention. How do these staff members of the funeral home.
mom and pops compete

Lowndes Funeral Home

The Smiths for years
have run a nursery, gift
shop and landscaping
service that has inspired
a devoted following.
with the Walmarts and
the McDonalds? They do
it by doing what comes
naturally: by being friend-
lier, more accommodat-
ing and offering products

builds family business

Their children work
alongside the parents.
Chances are if you’ve
used their service, Alan
or his son, Spencer, has
shown up at your front
door, shovel in hand. You
may have sung with them
in their church choir.
Take Beth Jeffers and
her unfailingly friendly
daughter, Whitney
Brown. Mother and
daughter run a gym and
corner espresso shop just
and services tailored to
the specific needs of their
clients.
Next time you attend a
high school sporting
event, take a look at the
program and see who
bought ads. Family busi-
nesses comprise the
backbone of a communi-
ty. The money they gen-
erate stays here; the
from the ground up
BY RYAN POE at 1131 N. Lehmberg Road, he had “That’s our goal — to share the
taxes they pay repair the rpoe@cdispatch.com four employees and business was comfort we would want,” said
streets you drive on and slow. Pounders. “We want them to feel

up the street from the
Smiths that are more like
a neighborhood hangout
than a business. Walk
through the front door of
the businesses featured
in this edition and
chances are you will find
S
the parks your children
play in.
We encourage you to
not only shop locally, but
to support family-owned
businesses. You and your
community will be richer
for it.
ince its creation in
1997, the locally-
owned Lowndes
Funeral Home has built its
business from the ground
up.
When Columbus native Tim
Pounders started the funeral home
Now the nine-member staff of
the burgeoning East Columbus
funeral home perform more than
140 services each year and sport
the only in-house crematorium in
the city, the manager and majority
stockholder said.
But what really sets Lowndes
Funeral Home apart is the support
structure, Pounders said.
like they’re part of our family.”
Customer loyalty is almost a
given, but referrals make up a big
part of the funeral home’s busi-
ness, helping it weather the reces-
sion.
“We just appreciate the trust and
confidence everyone’s placed in
us,” Pounders said. “And as we
See FUNERAL HOME, Page 4

Index of +H
OHQ·
V
.LW
FKH
Q
Advertisers
A-1 Appliance Center ............................................................ 5
Alarm One .............................................................................. 5
Beautiful Life Adult Day Center ............................................. 5
Busy Bee Nursery & Gift Shoppe .......................................... 9
Cash & Carry Building Supply ................................................ 8
Columbus Vacuum Center ..................................................... 7
Covenant Health System ....................................................... 4
Fitness Factor......................................................................... 9
Futures Unlimited................................................................... 6
Monograms Plus .................................................................... 6
GNC ....................................................................................... 8
Gift Horse & Floral ................................................................. 9
Hancock’s Flowers ‘n More .................................................... 5
Helen’s Kitchen ...................................................................... 2
Johnson Carpet Center ......................................................... 7
Jordan Barber Shop ............................................................... 9
Kudoz ..................................................................................... 8
Lee’s Storm Shelter .............................................................. 10
Lowndes County Radial ......................................................... 9
Lowndes Funeral Home & Crematory ................................... 4
Miller’s Barber & Style Shop .................................................. 4
Puckett McGee Electric Supply ............................................. 3
Shelton’s Pharmacy ................................................................ 6
Smith Landscaping ................................................................. 4
Wheeler Roofing .................................................................... 3

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We shot for our own version of
“American Gothic,” the Grant Wood
masterpiece, at Smith Landscaping in
Columbus.
Alan and Susan Smith were willing
participants, and struck a more jaunty
pose than the subjects in the original.
Photo by Kelly Tippett. 
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XPEXV
06
SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com
A-1 Appliance holds to core
business values 27 years later BY SARAH WILSON
editorialassistant@cdispatch.com
W
hile
some
Mississi
ppi State
University jun-
iors spend their
spare time
drinking, party-
ing and pulling
all-nighters,
John LedBetter
was opening his
own business.
The 21-year-old mar-
keting major started A-1
Appliance (then A-1
Maytag) in 1983
“from scratch.”
LedBetter
opened his store
in East Columbus
those kids become our
with only one customers. That’s says it all
employee, who
tended the shop really. If they’ve come back
while John
attended class.
and have trusted you and they
When he graduat-
ed in December
1984, he decided to
stay in Columbus and
“Keep nursing the busi-
ness.”
More than 27 years
later, A-1 Appliance is
going strong. Now locat-
ed at 1515 Highway 45
N., it’s a family business.
John’s wife, Darlene,
who he married in 1990,
started working at the
store part-time in 1998
and is now a full-time
part of the operation.
Their sons, McGee, 17,
LEFT: John and Darlene LedBetter pose next to the
A-1 Appliance street sign in Columbus.
Puckett-McGee
Electric Supply
A locally-owned
electrical supply company
Our Family
Serving
Sarah Wilson/Dispatch Staff
A Family Business Your Family
Since 1946
Since 1937
D
Jason Wheeler &
Doug Wheeler
James Gibson, Owner
Wheeler Roofing, Inc. 715 6th Street South,
No Job Too Small Or Large
Columbus, MS 39701
Residential • Commercial • Shingle • Rubber Roofing
Built Up • DuroLast® Authorized Dealer
Ph. 662-328-5151
Roof Repairs of All Types • Licensed, Bonded & Insured Fax 662-329-1842
© The Dispatch
1218 Military Rd. • Columbus, MS
328-3625 or 328-7612
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 3
and Michael, 13, help means that I just fix
out in the shop some- their machine today and
times when they aren’t sell them a new one in
in school, and McGee five years.”
spends his summers Because of this, A-1
working alongside his Appliances wasn’t as
parents. hard hit by the reces-
John and Darlene say sion. “We are really not
they love working with as dependent on build-
each other all day, but ing business, because a
so they don’t stress their lot of our business is in
married life, they follow ser vice and replace-
one rule. “We don’t ment.”
bring work home,” said Longtime customer
Darlene. Melanie Guerr y appreci-
“At the end of the ates A-1’s commitment
day, when you know to ser vice. “When there
you’ve helped people is a problem, they are
and they leave happy, right there, on the
that’s when you’ve had a phone or in person to
good day,” said John, take care of me. I have
used other brands, some
“We’ve as good as Maytag, but
none that came with a
seen customers better location or
sales and ser vice
children grow up, and than John at A-1.”
“We’ve seen
customers chil-
dren grow up,
and those kids
become our cus-
tomers,” said
Darlene. “That
bring their kids says it all really. If
they’ve come back
in here.” and have trusted you
Darlene LedBetter
and they bring their kids
in here.”
John says they must
whose motto is “I don’t be doing something
want to make a sale; I right.
want to make a cus- “Parents will come in
tomer.” here when their kids are
He says it’s all about going to college or get-
the people of Columbus, ting married and will
and as a small business buy them their first
owner, A-1 depends on washer and dr yer. They
returning clients. “I tell trust us.”
people that I want to “And time flies when
earn them as a cus- you’re having fun,”
tomer, even if that added Darlene.
SQUARE D
PREMIER
DISTRIBUTOR
6 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

The legacy of Jordan’s Experience

with adult
Barber Shop and Salon
SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH
day center
becomes
A
dam Jordan
began cutting
hair at the
age of 14, using
what was then
business
called “hand clip- oday’s

T
working full
pers.” Dispatch time plus a
As a young man, he full-time stu-
was gainfully employed at is featur- dent working
Columbus Marble Works, ing a special on my mas-
where he worked for section ter’s in
more than 10 years. Also, Nursing/
Adam worked part time at focusing on Family Nurse
Lemon Dickerson’s family-owned Jennifer Dozier Practitioner. I
Barber Shop. He then businesses was just not
began working for able to help my mother
Mitchell Engineering, but and I was asked
as I should with Dad.
when his work schedule to tell you a lit- Luckily we heard about
conflicted with his tle about our an adult day center in
Christian endeavors, he town.
found it necessary to leave local business
The adult day center
the company. and how we got was our perfect solution.
Adam continued to cut started. It helped my mother and
hair and raise his five To do that I must first I with Dad and freed us
boys. Adam had already tell you about myself. from any guilt of placing
proven that he had found Being born and raised him in a nursing home.
his creative “niche.” Ironic in the Philippines it is Dad was able to get out,
enough, the day he left considered an honor to socialize and receive cog-
Mitchell, to his surprise, care for our elderly. nitial and physical stimu-
his barber license awaited There are no such things lation that he would not
him in the mail. as nursing homes or have been able to get by
He then opened up the assisted living homes in being home all the time.
first Jordan’s Barber Shop the Philippines. Adult sib- Mom attended also. It
located on Catfish Alley. lings feud to see who gets enhanced her level of
Four decades later, to take care of Mom and independence and ward-
Jordan’s Barber Shop is Dad and not to see if they ed off depression. She
still going strong and is can avoid a responsibility. made lots of friends there
owned and operated by Moving to the Texas while enjoying the games
his son, Bobby Jordan, on at age 16, I soon enrolled and festive atmosphere.
Military Road. in LPN school and began After seeing firsthand
hospital work at 18. By how an adult day center
23, I had my own place was able to help my fami-
and convinced my older ly, I knew that one day I
Ashley Jordan, siblings that it was my would like to help others
15, and her turn to have Mom and the way I was helped by
grandfather,
Dad live with me. operating my own center.
Bobby Jordan, After becoming a
relax at Jordan’s My father soon began
Certified Nurse
Barber Shop and to develop Alzheimer’s,
Practitioner and marry-
Salon on Military leaving my mother and I
ing Fayette, Ala., native
Road. to tend to most of his
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff daily needs. Now I was See DOZIER, Page 9

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SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 7

COVER STORY

Smith Landscaping owners find

time to stop and smell the roses
BY JASON BROWNE
jbrowne@cdispatch.com
dream of having a green-
house,” she said of her life
before meeting Alan.

F
orty years
into his
career in
landscaping, the
only growth Alan
Smith cares about
is planted in the
ground.
The owner of Smith
Landscaping, a mainstay in
Columbus for nearly 30
years, has had plenty of
time for trial and error. He’s
watched the number of
landscapers and the science
surrounding the industry
explode over the years, all
the while calmly plodding
along in his own lane.
“I’ve pretty much
learned on the job, which
may be a shortcoming,”
Smith admits. “I’ve noticed
what works and what does-
n’t and that’s what I do.
There may be better ways
to do it, but I’m 60 years old
and I know what works for
me. My education has been
a matter of experience
more than sitting in a class-
room. I never was good in
school.”
Nor did he need to be.
Smith’s methods have
served him well. After start-
ing in landscaping for
another company in
Hattiesburg in 1968, Smith
went into business for him-
self in 1977 with a small
landscaping company in
Amory.
After meeting his wife,
Susan, Smith moved his
business to Columbus in
1981 and opened his shop
and nursery on 18th
Avenue North a decade
later.
His work has spoken for
itself long and loudly
Shown, from left, are Alan Smith, Spencer Smith, Clay Bowen and Susan Bowen Smith of Smith Landscaping.
For nearly 30 years landscaping company has been a Columbus mainstay.
enough that he gets away
with minimal advertising,
choosing instead to rely on
word-of-mouth. And that
earns him jobs up and
down Highway 45 from
Tupelo to Noxubee County,
and sometimes as far away
as Meridian.
His specialty, he says, is
pointing people in the right
direction when they want to
change or establish a land-
scape. He prides himself on
telling his customers what
will and won’t work in the
long run, rather than sim-
ply installing flowers and
bushes.
Smith keeps his work-
force limited to 10 or 12
employees throughout the
year, which forces the com-
pany to pass on some work
during the spring but pre-
vents cuts in the winter.
The composition of his
workforce is the one area
where Smith is known to
take a few chances. His is a
family business first, with
his wife, two of his six chil-
dren and one son-in-law on
board. But Smith is also
known to hire individuals
other businesses might not
consider.
“We use a lot of people
who have been through
drug rehab. We’ve got and
had a number of people
through the years who
have been through that pro-
gram,” said Smith.
Hiring former addicts
isn’t a charity. They have to
work hard and many
employees don’t last, but
Smith believes in second
chances.
“Sometimes you find
somebody who is really try-
ing to get a new start so
they try extra hard,” he
said. “When you hire some-
body you can tell pretty
quick if they know how to
work or not. That’s what I
gauge by. A lot of people
don’t stay but a day, but
some folks have been here
10 or 15 years.”
Smith’s family, of course,
has been along for the
whole ride. His son,
Spencer, 28, was on
Seventh Street North
Tuesday planting flowers
solo.
“I’ve been working with
my dad since before I was
any help,” he jokes.
Spencer is taking plant
and soil science courses at
Mississippi State University,
but he’s not sure if he’ll
strike out on his own or
Kelly Tippett/Dispatch Staff
stick with the family busi-
ness. One thing that is for
sure, his work experience
has guaranteed him work
during his travels.
“I always had something
around me that gave me
something I could do for a
living. I’ve lived in different
towns and had a skill that
was marketable. Any town
I’ve been in, this is my gen-
eral line of work,” he said.
Susan Smith would love
for her children to take
over the business one day.
She’s got her eye on retire-
ment, but that doesn’t mean
she’s fallen out of love with
her work.
“I had always been inter-
ested in plants and, oddly
enough, sort of had a
When she and Alan mar-
ried she helped him add
the retail component to the
landscaping service. That,
she says, has balanced the
business because when one
side is slumping, the other
end is doing well.
Susan is in charge of
keeping the store stocked
and decorated, which can
be hectic. Luckily she
works in a 360-degree gar-
den surrounded by plants
and fountains.
“A girl said to me
Saturday, ‘I love to come
here because I can feel
peaceful.’ We always laugh
and say ‘Until you’re drag-
ging a hose around in 98
degree weather,’” said
Susan.
The Smiths take that
same practicality home with
them.
“Our home is pretty nice
but I wouldn’t call it lush,”
said Smith. “The last thing I
want to do when I get home
is dig in the ground.”
After a dip in business
during the recession, Smith
says business has picked
up considerably this year.
But even in the most diffi-
cult times he stuck to what
he knew.
“There are many things
in landscaping I don’t know
and I don’t pretend to. I let
somebody else handle it. I
have my niche and I feel
comfortable in that niche,”
said Smith. “Some people
say ‘If you’re not growing
you’re dying.’ I don’t know
if that’s true. It just depends
on what a person wants out
of life.”

Great service the key

to Miller’s Barber and
Style Shop’s expansion
SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH Miller’s barbers and Largest selection of quality
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stylists are dedicated and
stand firm in giving their

A
fter retiring from the
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put his dream into
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In 1992, he started Miller’s Barber
and Style Shop. Starting off as just a bar-
bershop, Miller later expanded into a
full-service salon. Business had flour-
ished because of the shop’s proximity to
Columbus Air Force Base.
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662-328-1522 © The Dispatch
8 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

Hard work and faith tell the

story of The Fitness Factor
SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

W
hat is so
different
about a
family-owned busi-
ness versus a
chain?
A family-owned busi-
ness has owners — regu-
lar family people just like
you — who work togeth-
er for one common goal:
serving its customer.
There is no corporate
group making the rules
to govern
the busi-
ness, nor
fund the
business. It
is funded
through
many, many
B. Jeffers hours of
hard work put in by these
“everyday” people who
decided to take a risk and
go into business.
Although it may seem
glamorous to own your
own business, it involves
long hours of work each
day, along with many
headaches which seem to
Provided
surface regularly. It is
critical for the business Whitney Jeffers Brown trains Stacy Oness at The Fitness Factor located at 518 18th Ave. N.
owner to have a passion “My children were in before going home. It coffee/smoothie bar fitness in her, which is love what we do.”
for his or her business grade school then. I was our routine for many (KUDOZ) next door to encouraging for this Jeffers and her hus-
and what is does and also would pick them up and years, as it is with other The Fitness Factor, so aging owner.” band facilitate a Bible
for what it stands for. bring them to The family business owners now we have two family- Jeffers says that “hav- study called “Business by
Beth Jeffers’ passion Fitness Factor where like us — juggling work owned businesses. My ing this passion to serve the Book”. She says, “It
for the last 24 years has they would eat a snack and family to get the job daughter did a college others is critical for a reminds us that we are
been to share the impor- and finish their home- done.” Jeffers said. internship in Kudoz and family-owned business to not working for our-
tance of health and fit- work until my day was “My children are helped me start that busi- survive. My employees selves, but for God. We
ness to others. She feels through or get picked up grown now, one in col- ness. She has since grad- are like family and we must depend on him for
very confident that God by their dad as he headed lege and one married. uated and continues to work together to have a guidance and run our
gave her that passion, as home from his job. Each has worked many play an important role, warm, caring atmosphere business how he would
well as the desire to open Sometimes Dad had to hours in our family busi- both in the coffee shop for our customers and do want us to. After all, it is
up The Fitness Factor fif- stop in and do any main- ness. In fact, three years and the fitness business. our best for them. We his business, not ours. I
teen years ago. tenance on the business ago we added a I do see the passion for don’t get wealthy, but we am just his instrument.”

Have a cup of coffee with our family!

We take pride in being a
T r ue S p ecialt y coffee sh op .
• Freshly roasted organic coffees
• Barista perfected espresso drinks
• Frozen Frappés
• 100% natural fruit smoothies
• Homemade sausage muffins & fruit bars
• Wifi and comfortable atmosphere
• Drive-thru
• Coming Soon: Panini breakfast sandwiches!!!

Cash & Carry Building Supplies © The Dispatch

TOWNE SQUARE CTR. • COLUMBUS • 241-1941

Service, Quality, Variety
Building contractors and
do-it-yourself homeowners
appreciate quality merchan-
dise, selection and friendly
service. Add expertise and
more than 100 years of com-
bined experience, and it’s
easy to see why Cash & Carry
Building Supply at 1120
Gardner Blvd. is a preferred
place to shop for building
www.kudozcoffeeshop.com
MasterCard and Discover.
Cash & Carry stands behind
what it sells, and takes per-
sonal interest in customers,
because many of them are
We are retiring
and selling our
friends and neighbors. It is a
locally owned and managed
business, and it is committed
business after
27 years.
to this community.
Owner Bill McBryde takes
pride in their staff, led by

Thanks for
materials. Manager Randall Grant, who
Cash & Carry stocks vir- has been with the company

tually everything needed to
complete a home, building
or remodeling job. In fact,
the staff will analyze house
plans and give cost estimates
on materials needed for
construction and finishing.
They also deliver when need-
ed, and they accept VISA,
supporting us
38 years. Avery Duncan 35
years; Charles Williams, 34
years; Jim Key 34 years; Lindy
McBryde, 13 years; Steve JoAnn Walk-Ferguson
during the years.
Lindsey 18 years; Tommy and Howard Ferguson
Betts, 11 years and book-
keepers Dorothy Tarlton and
Interested in a GNC store?
Call us today!
Diane Lollar.
© The Dispatch

328-5776 "GNC's Longest

COLUMBUS STARKVILLE-SMOOTHIE
Leigh Mall, Suite 2 911 Hwy 12 W. • Suite 206B
1120 Gardner Blvd • Columbus, MS 662-328-4450
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Running Franchise!"
662-323-4919
Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
© The Dispatch
Sun. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 1p.m.-6 p.m.
SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 9

Dozier
Continued from Page 6
Eddie Dozier, his work as a commercial pilot
eventually led us to Columbus. Throughout the
Advice for family business owners
GAEBLER.COM ber to join the family business. Let make a mistake. In contrast, mistakes
years we often talked of an adult day center, but them know that it’s an option but in business are not easily forgiven.
never were in a position to do anything other encourage them to consider other Accordingly, a family business must

I
t’s hard enough to deal
that talk about this dream. options. lay down clear guidelines: In the busi-
By 2007, the opportunity finally revealed with family. It’s even ness, we are going to hold you
itself and we made the decision to go out on a harder to deal with family Nip family business accountable for your actions, just as
limb and try something never tried before in we hold all of our employees account-
Columbus. After extensive remodeling to our
in the context of a family problems in the bud able for their actions.
business. When issues arise between family
space in the Weathers Building on Second members, address them quickly. If a
Here are some great tips for avoid-
Avenue North, Beautiful Life Adult Day Center
ing conflict in a family business and dispute is not resolve early, it can turn Treat family members and
began serving clients in the summer of 2007. into a much bigger problem. Be on non-family members equally
We have been steadily growing with a good out- keeping things on the right track.
the lookout for hostility or jealousy If family members get preferential
look. Currently we have 30 clients enrolled. between family members, and deal treatment, non-family members will
Some of our services can be found in our Communicate early and often with such issues directly as they arise. lose their motivation to help grow the
accompanying ad. The best tool for keeping a family
business. Smart family businesses
The National Respite Network and Resource business focused on business is good
Center (www.archrespite.org) is a good source communication. Don’t take your work home don’t flaunt their ownership by giving
family members perks that others
to find out more about adult day centers. They Good communication avoids and visa versa don’t get. Do whatever it takes to
have said that "one difference between tradi- unpleasant surprises and can mini- It’s smart to distinguish between
make non-family members feel that
tional adult respite, both in-home care and mize the damage on potential family family discussions and business dis-
they have the same opportunities as
group care, is that adult day centers not only business crises by addressing prob- cussions and keep those conversa-
family members. Otherwise, expect
provide respite (break) to family caregivers but lems sooner rather than later. It’s a tions separate. Don’t have business
your family-owned business to deliver
smart idea to conduct family-only meetings at the house, and don’t have
also therapeutic care for cognitively and physi- mediocre results and lose market
business meetings at least twice a family meetings at the business.
cal impaired adults.” share to competitors. If you can’t treat
month.
Because God has helped us in this effort, we non-family members equally in some
are in turn now able to help others and have Hold family members area — for example, maybe they can’t
really enjoyed this journey so far. Don’t make working at accountable for results have stock ownership like family
Thank you Columbus for all of your support. the business mandatory In a family, the standard is often to members do — make up for it in some
It’s wise not to force a family mem- forgive a family member when they other way.

The Legacy of Jordan’s Barber Shop

Adam Jordan began cutting hair at the age of
14, using what was then called “hand clippers.”
As a young man he was gainfully employed
at Columbus Marble Works, where he worked
for 10+ years, in addition to working part-time
at Mr. Lemon Dickerson’s Barber Shop. He then
worked for Mitchell Engineering but when his work
schedule conflicted with his Christian endeavors,
he found it necessary to leave the company. He
continued cutting hair and having five boys, he
had already proven that he had found his creative
formerly Gateway Green “niche.” Ironic enough, the day he left Mitchell, to
his surprise his barber license awaited him in the

Funeral Arrangements mail.

He then opened up the first Jordan’s Barber
Shop located on Catfish Alley. Four decades later,

Plants & Gifts Jordan’s Barber Shop is still going strong and is
owned and operated by his son Bobby Jordan.

TR
Wire flowers anywhere
ANSWORLD
Jordan’s Barber & Style Salon
in the U.S.
S' D
IST

EL
IVE
FLOR

RY

FTD
S IN
CE 19 10 ® BARBER SALON
662-328-2048 662-328-4466
131 Gardner Blvd. • Columbus, MS • 662-327-2400 © The Dispatch 1910 Military Road • Columbus
Where Looking Good Is Understood! © The Dispatch

Join Our Family & Get Healthy!

• Upscale, clean facility

What sets Fitness Factor
apart from the others?
• Updated programs and classes
THANK YOU
• Friendly, family atmosphere
• Personal program set-up
• Personal & small group training
• Reboot Fitness Boot Camps to our customers for
• Pilates Reformer
letting us serve you
OCTOBER for over 40 years.
FAMILY
SPECIALS! • Tires
Try A Class for $5!
Join for $25
• Struts
8:30 am ReBoot Camp

327-6348
• Lube
www.fitnessfactor.net • Oil
Towne Square Center
Columbus, MS © The Dispatch
• Filters
• Brakes
• Shocks

At Your Service Are…

“Chief” Lumsden Rita Forrester
Jeremy Lumsden Lucy Forrester
“Buzz” Soule
© The Dispatch

LOWNDES COUNTY
RADIAL TIRE
1512 Highway 45 North • Columbus • 327-3311
7754 Elon Rd. • Macon, MS • 662-726-2222 © The Dispatch
10 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2010 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SALUTE TO FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

Where
will
you
find
shelter?
Lee’s Storm Shelter, Inc.
has been family owned
and operated since 1977.
We manufacture safe
rooms and storm shelters
for above and below
ground applications.
We are also one of
the largest precast
concrete manufacturers
in Mississippi. Lee’s
Precast produces catch
basins & box culverts
for the drainage markets,
wastewater treatment
plants, septic tanks,
and grease traps for the
environmental markets.

• Little or no site preparation needed

• No special requirements. The above ground shelters
shown in the photo above sit straight on the ground.
• Lee’s storm shelters are ready to protect you and
your loved ones immediately. You can fancy them up
or use them as they are.

• Meets and exceeds FEMA and safe room

specifications
• Constructed of concrete
• Heavily re-enforced with steel
• Solid steel doors with tight fit
• 4 anchors driven 2 feet into ground to secure
1.25” metal straps holding shelter firmly to ground

• Standard with electrical outlets and air vents

• Handicap accessible

• Easy access
• Attached stairs with curved handles for safety

• Can be free-standing or enclosed in house

• Four Styles
• Above Ground: 5x8, 6x9, 6x12
• Underground: 6x9

Be Sure Your Family Is Safe.

Lee’s Quality Construction Goes
Into Each Lee’s Shelter
Shelter, Inc. 662-369-8311