“You have to live. If there’s something you want to do, then you better go do it,” advised Lynnita Bartee.
Anyone who meets Lynnita Bartee in Quitman knows that she makes sure to take her own advice. If there is something to be a part of or do in the county that can benefit others, she is sure to be involved.
Lynnita was the youngest of seven children growing up, and her mother instilled in her different lessons that she would never forget.
“When I was a child, we were always doing something. Mama always had people over,” stated Lynnita. “There was always something going on at our house or the church. I was always involved, and that has helped me be the woman I am today –just being involved.”
In 1991, she joined the Airforce and left home for the first time. Lynnita initially started off as a photographer for ten years. She later became a military training leader at Keesler Airforce Base in Biloxi. Then, she became a professional military instructor for five years. Before she retired, she became the chief of information protection, briefing the wing commander and being responsible for over 20 thousand people on and off the base. She served in the military for 21 years and six months and truly enjoyed her time serving her country.
“I travelled overseas to several different places,” said Lynnita. “I just really enjoyed meeting new people, doing new things, and learning new things. My military career helped me develop more of what was instilled in me as a child.”
She met her husband, Tobey Bartee, on eHarmony and moved to Clarke County from the coast. Just like when she was growing up, Lynnita had no trouble interacting with people and jumping right into things.
“I joined the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, and anything else I could,” said Lynnita. “I just jumped straight into doing whatever was needed and tried to get other people to join too.”
Although she enjoyed being involved with the different groups in the community, she started to notice that Clarke County was not completely unified when she first arrived. The existence of the different cliques and separated groups bothered her, but she did not let that stop her. Instead, it gave her something more to become involved with.
“I was shocked and overwhelmed with just how divided Clarke County really was when I first moved here,” explained Lynnita. “I was determined—and I’m still determined—to be the one to help bring things together. My main focus is on one race: the human race. I want to reach out and help everybody. I want to help anyone who has a need or even just needs to talk.”
Her compassionate nature led her to found a new group in Clarke County: the Clarke County Community Service Group. The goal of the group is to reach out and assist those in need. She has it arranged so that it is able to use the different strengths and talents of its members to assist the different needs of the community.
Not only does Lynnita take time to help the community through her newly established group, but she is also over the Women’s Ministry at her church, Pearlie Grove Baptist Church. As a group, they frequently do free giveaways where people donate different items and allow the community to come and take whatever is needed for free. They also offer a free information expo each May where different businesses are able to set up for free and provide different information and materials to the community.
“I think charity at its best is when you want to do it and not when someone makes you do it,” explained Lynnita. “You can make the opportunity if it isn’t already there. It could be going out and seeking someone who just needs a kind word and talking to them.”
She is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and is currently the chairman for the Forestry and Wildlife Festival.
She is even strongly involved with the schools.
“I’m president of the P-16 Council for Quitman School District,” stated Lynnita. “We’re basically a community group that comes together, and we get to go through the handbook and give suggestions to the board through our council. It’s like an improvement board that we do to try and make the school even better.”
Between working at Chickasawhay Natural Gas and all of the organizations she is already part of, it is hard to imagine that Lynnita has time to do anything else, but she still makes time to be involved in other things, too.
She works alongside her daughter with Blossoming Young Girls. Their goal is to talk to young girls about life and different choices.
“We want to show them that there is more to life and that they can do whatever they put their minds to,” stated Lynnita.
In fact, they are planning an event to bring different accomplished women to speak to the young girls to help give them a different outlook on things and provide positive role models for the girls.
Her help with the youth doesn’t end with Blossoming Young Girls, though. She also tutors on the side. Currently she tutors students in elementary, junior high, and even one college student.
As much as she supports others, Lynnita and her husband have experienced tragedy in their family that has helped encourage Lynnita to live her life to the fullest.
“In 2013, we lost our daughter, Toni, when she was 18 years old. She passed away the day she was supposed to be going to college,” explained Lynnita. “At her funeral, over 20 kids got saved. After that, I took that as an opportunity for God to show me that I couldn’t be selfish with losing her when he gained so many. That also helped catapult me to understand that we just have to live. We never expected that her first day for college would be her last day on Earth, so now we just make sure to live every day that we can.”
Now, she does everything that she can to live her life to the fullest. She loves to spend time with her family and go camping. On the rare occasions that she has any spare time, Lynnita also enjoys scrapbooking.
Her interests go beyond simply relaxing, though. In the future, Lynnita does intend to run for a public office.
“I do plan to run for a public office later on,” stated Lynnita. “I like everyone in office right now and believe they are all doing a great job, but when one of them decides not to run again, I do plan on running for that office.”
No matter what comes her way, Lynnita is strong and independent, so she will make sure to continue staying involved and doing everything in her power to benefit and encourage everyone she meets in Clarke County.
