The Co-Lin Foundation inducted 11 new members into its Hall of Fame at a banquet held March 19 at the Thames Center on the college’s Wesson Campus. Those inducted for the 2025 class were Dr. Richard and Lesa Baker of Brookhaven, Bank of Brookhaven, CCMC Cares Foundation, Dr. Toby and Kathy Graves of Magee, Cliff and Angela Furr of Brookhaven, Melton King of Natchez, David M. Magee of Magee, Dr. Dewayne and Tan Middleton of Magee, Barry and Susan Tyson of Bude, Wesson Lions Club and LaNissa Anita Wilson of Houston, Texas. Seven Hall of Fame members were also recognized for reaching new giving levels. Steven and Deborah Ammann of Mendenhall, Dr. George and Zoula Huffman of Wesson, Dr. William Smith of Brandon, and Margaret Ewing Thomas of Hattiesburg were elevated to Visionary. Mary Jane James of McCall Creek, and the Mississippi Humanities Council were elevated to Ambassador. The Bower Foundation was elevated to Benefactor.
Dr. Richard and Lesa Baker
Dr. Richard and Lesa Harrison Baker were recognized for their contributions to the Back the Pack Capital Campaign and the general fund.
Richard is a graduate of Enterprise High School and holds an associate’s degree from Co-Lin, a bachelor’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi College, and a PhD from USM.
Richard is a CPA with over 35 years of experience in managing financial operations and has been involved in multiple entities as an owner and co-owner. He began teaching at Co-Lin in 2010 and has served as the college’s Vice President of Business Affairs since 2019.
Lesa is a graduate of Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky, and she received an associate’s degree from Jones College, a bachelor’s degree from USM, and a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College.
Lesa is an attorney and a CPA and has served in multiple roles, ranging from an auditor for the Mississippi Department of Revenue to the Lincoln County Public Defender and the Lincoln County Youth Court Referee. Lesa has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Co-Lin. She is currently retired from practicing law and devotes time to activities at church, child advocacy issues and being an attorney coach for the Brookhaven High School Mock Trial team.
They have one child, Thomas, who is a senior at Brookhaven High School and a dual-enrolled student at Co-Lin. They are members of Christ Methodist Church in Brookhaven.
Bank of Brookhaven
Bank of Brookhaven was recognized for its contributions to the Bank of Brookhaven Scholarship and the Big Wolf Fund.
Bank of Brookhaven opened in 2000, beginning with more than $7.5 million in assets. Since then, it has grown to more than $240 million in assets. The bank has been involved in most of the development in downtown Brookhaven in recent years, financing projects ranging from restaurants to hotels to office buildings. In 2025, Bank of Brookhaven was ranked seventh in the state for overall performance. The Bank works hard to be a good corporate citizen and looks forward to a long relationship with Co-Lin.
CCMC Cares Foundation
CCMC Cares Foundation was recognized for its contributions to the CCMC Cares Scholarship.
Founded in 2022, the CCMC Cares Foundation was established with a singular purpose: to strengthen Copiah County by supporting the underserved population. Built on a spirit of service, generosity and shared responsibility, the Foundation has become a driving force for positive impact — uplifting individuals and families during times of need while championing causes that create lasting change.
Through strategic partnerships, community engagement and a deep commitment to compassion in action, CCMC Cares has helped hundreds of Copiah County residents, demonstrating that when a community comes together with purpose, the results are transformative.
Cliff and Angela Furr
Cliff and Angela Furr were recognized for their contributions to the Back the Pack Athletic Campaign and the general fund.
Angela has been employed at Co-Lin for more than 20 years, where she has held positions in recruiting and alumni relations prior to her current role as executive director of Foundation and Alumni Relations, which she assumed in 2018. She has also served as an adjunct instructor in the humanities division for 19 years. She was the recipient of the college’s Howell C. Garner High Performance Award in 2009. Angela is a graduate of Co-Lin and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has been involved in community organizations such as the Brookhaven/Lincoln County Rotary Club and the Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, both of which she has served as past president, and the Mississippi Community College Alumni and Advancement Association.
Cliff is a graduate of Co-Lin and received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern Mississippi, and master’s and specialist degrees in education from William Carey University. He has been an educator for 20 years, with teaching and coaching positions at Brookhaven High School, Co-Lin, Terry High School, where he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2021, and Alexander Junior High, where he currently teaches 8th grade. He is the founder of Y’all Sports, a media company covering athletics in Southwest Mississippi and beyond.
The Furrs are active members of Heucks Retreat Baptist Church, and they have two children, Amelia, 17, and Graham, 14.
Dr. Toby and Kathy Graves
Toby and Kathy Graves were recognized for their contributions to the Simpson County VP Enrichment Fund.
Toby received a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College in 1999, a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2003, and an Ed.D. from Delta State University in 2026. He is a charter member of the faculty and staff of the Simpson County Center, where he is a history instructor.
Kathy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and family studies from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a psychology and sociology instructor at the Simpson County Center.
Toby was recognized as the Faculty Member of the Year and Humanities Instructor of the Year by the Humanities Council, and he received the Howell C. Garner High Performance Award. Kathy was recognized as faculty member of the year and advisor of the year. She is a licensed professional counselor and a national board-certified counselor.
The Graves have three children: Gretta (‘22), Greyson (‘22) and Garrett.
Melton King
Melton King was recognized for his contributions to the Natchez Literary & Cinema Celebration, Back the Pack Capital Campaign and various scholarships.
He is a 1956 graduate of Natchez High School and a 1970 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a retired senior sales representative at Humana and is a semi-retired insurance agent at Melton King & Associates, LLC.
He has been a member of the Co-Lin Board of Trustees since 1988 and served as board chairman from 2021-2025. He was instrumental in establishing the Co-Lin Natchez campus. He is the current chairman of the Board of Trustees at Jefferson Street Methodist Church in Natchez and is a member of the Rodney History and Preservation Society, the Natchez Historical Society, the Historical Natchez Foundation, the Musical Arts League and the Natchez Festival of Music.
He has been married to Kathy Brown King for 56 years, and they have two daughters, Kristyn King Gray and Amy King DePaula, and five grandchildren, Mary Katherine, Jack, Jacob, Anna Grace and Caroline.
David M. Magee
David Magee was recognized for his contributions to the Nurse Connie Scholarship and the Simpson County VP Enrichment Fund.
A Magee native, he has been a contract grower for Tyson for 31 years. He served the region as a forest ranger for the Mississippi Forestry Commission for three decades before his retirement from the state. During most of these years, he also operated a commercial and residential lawn business. He has owned D.M. Properties LLC for the past 25 years, providing affordable housing in Magee.
He is an elder at Church Alive, a growing interdenominational church. He volunteered for 10 years as a boys and girls tennis coach at Simpson Academy. He is a board member of the Farm Bureau Federation of Simpson County, and he was honored as Magee’s Outstanding Citizen in 2025.
He shared 33 years with his late wife, Connie Magee, and together they raised four daughters, Nicole, Hannah, Alisha, and Emily — all graduates of Co-Lin. To honor Connie’s memory, the family established the Nurse Connie Scholarship to ensure her legacy of care lives on. One of their daughters, Nicole Cheramie, now serves as Director of Student Services and teaches at Co-Lin’s Simpson County Center. He has three grandsons, with another grandson on the way.
David is married to the former Patti Jean Page (‘81), a past president of the Co-Lin Alumni Association.
Dr. Dewayne and Tan Middleton
Dr. Dewayne and Tan Middleton were recognized for their contributions to the Back the Pack Capital Campaign and the President’s Campus Improvement Fund.
Dewayne is a graduate of Franklin County High School, and he received an associate’s degree from Co-Lin, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree from Alcorn State University and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. He started at Co-Lin as Upward Bound program coordinator and assistant basketball coach. He held several positions at the college before being named Co-Lin President in 2023.
He is a member of the Mississippi Post-Secondary Education Financial Assistance board, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges board, the Mississippi Act Council, Southeastern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Academic Officers, Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Student Affairs Association, Mississippi Scholars Steering Committee, Simpson County Leadership, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and Simpson County Tourism Council. He has also held community leadership roles as a member of the Five County Head State Board of Directors, Magee Hospital Health Trust Board of Directors, Peoples Bank CDFI Advisory Board, Simpson County Economic Development Board of Directors, Southern Pine Electric Power Advisory Board and Simpson General Hospital Board of Directors. He received the Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award for new Presidents in 2024.
Tan is a graduate of Magee High School, and she received an associate’s degree from Co-Lin, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a master’s degree from William Carey University. She has been a teacher and librarian at Magee Elementary School for 24 years.
The Middletons have three children: Mikaylin (‘19), Soumya (‘20) and Kendal (attending). They are members of St. John Church of God in Christ in Magee.
Barry and Susan Tyson
Barry and Susan Tyson were recognized for their contributions to the Back the Pack Capital Campaign and the general fund.
Barry received an associate’s degree from Co-Lin in 1984 and a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi College in 1988. Susan received an associate’s degree from Co-Lin in 1994 and a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University. He owns Franklin Ready Mix Concrete, and she is a registered nurse and IT director at Franklin Memorial Hospital.
Barry has been a member of the Co-Lin Board of Trustees for 23 years, serving as secretary for five years before being named chairman in 2025. He has also been on the Foundation board for 16 years. He is a lifetime member of the Co-Lin Alumni Association and served as an officer for three years. He is a past member of the Co-Lin President’s Advisory Committee under Dr. Ronnie Nettles. He is the Sunday school director and Pastor Conical at the Bude Church of God. Susan is a Sunday school teacher and pianist at church, as well.
The Tysons have three children: Braden (’21), Anna (’22), and Caden (attending in fall 2026).
Wesson Lions Club
The Wesson Lions Club was recognized for its contributions to the James M. Lewis, Kenneth Furr and Jimmy Furr Memorial scholarships and the Big Wolf Fund.
Established in 1940, the Wesson Lions Club is dedicated to the conservation of sight. They do screenings at Wesson Attendance Center and provide glasses to those in need. They also fund Wesson students who are selected to the Mississippi Lions All State Band.
The Lions Club meets monthly at Fire House BBQ. They fundraise by selling sweet potatoes in October, and they hold a roadblock at the end of March to collect donations.
LaNissa Anita Wilson
LaNissa Anita Wilson was recognized for her contributions to the Shawn Marquis Smith scholarship.
LaNissa, a native of Brookhaven, is the daughter of Florence Wilson and the late Randy T. Wilson Sr. She has two children, Alica McPhaul and the late Shawn Marquis Smith, and one grandchild, Gigi Marie Coleman.
LaNissa is a 1994 graduate of Brookhaven High School and a 2003 honor graduate of Co-Lin. She served as freshman class secretary, freshman maid, class president and representative for the Blue Wave Marching Band. She was also a Colette, a Trailblazer and an active member of both Phi Beta Lambda and Phi Theta Kappa. She was crowned Homecoming Queen in 2002 and was recognized in Who’s Who Among American Junior College Students. She also served as vice president of the President’s Council. Wilson continued her academic journey at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Mu Nu Chapter) and served as a Residence Life staff member.
Her professional career reflects more than two decades of dedicated federal service. Wilson honorably served in the United States Navy as a Petty Officer Third Class Intelligence Technician during the Gulf War Era. In 2004, Wilson began working with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services in Hattiesburg. Today, she is a Title II Claims Specialist at the Social Security Administration Office in Houston, Texas.
LaNissa has been a volunteer with Houston Hospice since 2019. She was pinned by former board chair and Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner for her dedication to volunteer services within the organization. LaNissa is a member of Transforming Faith Christian Center. Her life reflects a seamless integration of faith, service and leadership.
The Co-Lin Foundation Hall of Fame includes individuals and businesses who have donated more than $10,000 to the efforts of the Foundation. The Visionary level acknowledges donors who have exceeded $25,000 in gifts; the Ambassador level acknowledges donors who have exceeded $50,000 in gifts; and the Benefactor level acknowledges donors who have exceeded $100,000 in gifts. Contributions can be made to the Co-Lin Foundation, P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191, by calling (601) 643-8313, or online at www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation.
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CUTLINE: The Co-Lin Foundation inducted 11 new members into its Hall of Fame at a banquet held March 19 at the Thames Center on the college’s Wesson Campus. Members of the 2025 class pictured were (front, from left) Dr. Toby and Kathy Graves, Wesson Lions Club representative Larry Williams, Bank of Brookhaven representative Shannon Aker, Dr. Richard and Lesa Baker, Melton King, Angela Furr, LaNissa Wilson; (back), Wesson Lions Club representative Bobby Thornton, David Magee, CCMC Cares Foundation representative David Sinclair, Dr. Dewayne and Tan Middleton, Barry and Susan Tyson, and Cliff Furr.