“Don’t give up on Clarke County. Don’t give up on our schools and city,” advised Tammy Dearman. “There’s just so much potential here. We just need people to pitch in and do what needs to be done.”
Tammy Dearman grew up in Clarke County and has always loved living here and all the people in it. She cherishes the many beautiful memories she has growing up here.
“I always remember going to Day in the Park in Clarkco, and it was always fun. That’s something that I wish they still did. I remember hearing the bands and all the booths that were set up. It was a lot of fun when they did that,” remembered Tammy. “I remember playing softball in the summer time and swimming at Parker’s Bridge out on Montrose Road in the cold water.”
Although she had fun growing up, she also valued her education and has always been a hard worker. Once she graduated from high school, Tammy made sure to continue her education. Then, she has continued to benefit Clarke County over the years with her strong work ethic.
“I graduated from Quitman High School and got my Associate’s Degree at MCC and my Bachelor’s Degree in business administration with a minor in marketing at Mississippi State in Meridian,” expressed Tammy. “I started out my working life in Meridian. Thanks to my former teacher from Quitman High School, I was able to move my work life back here to Clarke County. I went to work for Stephen Myrick a little while. From there, I worked at Blake Thomas’s office for 17 years. When he sold his business and retired, I went to work for State Farm. I worked there for seven years, and now I’m at Farm Bureau. I have my insurance agent license in property, casualty, life, and health. I did that once I went to work for State Farm, and I’ve done continuing education for that.”
She has always loved Quitman School District and believed that it is a great school. Once her daughter, Brinley, started attending school in the district, she decided to show support and be as involved as she can in the school system. She really believes in the education her daughter is receiving and wants to be there for her daughter in any way that she can.
“I’ve always been very involved in the school with my daughter ever since she started school. When she started kindergarten in Quitman, I got involved with the PTO and have been involved with some organization each year. When she played soccer, I was on the soccer booster club. Now that she’s in band, I’m an officer on the band boosters,” explained Tammy. “I try to stay real involved and in the know on what’s going on in the school system. I’m a big supporter of Quitman schools. I believe that Quitman has a wonderful school, and I feel like I received a great education there and that my daughter is receiving a great education there. They just have a lot of opportunities. I just try to be a big supporter and help in all the organizations that I can with the school system.”
The school district has recognized the amount of support that Tammy has given over the years, and she even received recognition one year for all the hard work she had put in.
“I was Parent of the Year for the PTO at Quitman Upper Elementary when Brinley was in the fourth grade,” recalled Tammy.
School isn’t the only thing that Tammy supports. Her faith is very important to her, and she does everything she can to help out around her church as well.
“I go to Pine Grove Baptist Church, and we try to stay involved in anything the church has going on,” stated Tammy. “We usually take turns teaching Sunday school for the kids since we’re so small.”
She doesn’t limit serving the Lord to only her church. Tammy has also gone on various mission trips and enjoys sharing her faith with those in other countries as well.
“I went on a mission trip with my daddy a few years ago. He’s been supporting a ministry in Trinidad for over 30 years. He helped start the First Baptist Church in Trinidad,” informed Tammy. “I was able to go on one of his trips with him about three years ago along with my in-laws, Mitchell and Wilma Dearman, and my brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Heather Kennedy. It was a life changing experience that is one of my favorite memories. We all fell in love with the people there, especially the children. It was such a moving experience to see how the people there truly worship during the church services we attended.”
She truly has a heart for others and desires to share her optimism with everyone she meets in the county.
“I try to do what I can to help people. I hope that people see me as a positive person,” said Tammy. “I try to shine a little light wherever I go.”
Her desire to help others goes much farther than the vibrant smiles and kind comments she offers those around her. She also desires to see a change in the state that would help those struggling with infertility. After her own experience, she is now more grateful for her daughter and is doing what she can to try and have lawmakers make the necessary changes so that it is easier and more affordable for those battling infertility to get the help they need.
“Don’t take stuff for granted. We went through IVF to have my daughter, and it took us 11 years to have a child. It makes you appreciate what you have more when you’ve struggled to get where you are. So many people take for granted that they have the children that they have or the family that they have,” voiced Tammy. “That is something I wish could change in our state. I wish they would make some legislation to help couples who struggle with infertility. It isn’t something that health insurance is required to cover, and I think legislation to change it so that it is required to cover that. They cover so many other illnesses and problems that people have, and infertility is something medical. My sister and I have both written letters to our state representative, and I’ve talked with him. It’s something that they’ve tried to get into legislation, but it’s always added to something else and ends up getting taken away.”
Although she works hard to be supportive in the community, Tammy does have something she enjoys doing to relax.
“I love to work in my yard. I love flowers. I guess I get the love of flowers from my daddy. He’s always digging in the dirt either planting a garden or working in flower beds, so I guess that was passed down to me,” stated Tammy. “I love doing crafts like painting and refinishing furniture and little projects like that. My main hobby is yard work, though, because I just love to get out and work in the yard.”
Whether she is showing her support around Clarke County, working hard, or simply relaxing do something she loves, it can be guaranteed that Tammy will do whatever she can to share positivity and kindness to all those around her.
