2023 December Warrior web

LAIRD

news of Jesus. I feel like our society is in a place where young people are looking for hope and light of any kind. I’ve seen the goodness of God in all my life and I want to share that with them. Former teammate BJ Morrow said Willis was a key part of East Central winning the State Championship in 1998. “We had a lot of experienced players on the team, and he found a way to contribute both on the mound and at the plate. Willis is deserving of induction into the ECCC Athletic Hall of Fame due to his contributions to the baseball program and the school dur ing his two years as a student athlete. However, he has also been supportive of the program as an alumnus and now being able to work with the current players as the team FCA representa tive, he will continue to help encourage and teach lessons that will long outlive their playing careers.” Willis reflected on how his faith had changed his perspective gave new meaning to his baseball accomplish Having a parent as instructor might have been difficult for some, but Laird happily signed up for her father’s leg endary English and literature classes which she said were akin to watching a theatrical production. “I loved my dad’s class and I felt about it like others did. He made the • and I had play practice on the same night. I had to go to play practice, but it bothered me so much that I had to choose.” She was a member of the Warrior Corps student ambassadors, student council, theater productions, intramu ral sports and Spring Fling committee. Her sophomore year, she was selected for the Student Hall of Fame, the high est honor one can receive. “I think I’m one of just a few people who have been able to experience a community college the way I did. EC was home to me. Not only did I com plete my associate’s degree and later an internship at East Central, I spent my childhood and grew up there. I did everything on campus, from ‘play ing house’ as a little girl to riding my bicycle and playing hide-and-seek to gathering on the old tennis courts with my high school friends.”

ments. He said, “I understand how God has used so many things in my life to give me a platform to be able to make much of the name of Jesus. The MVP awards and championship games mean something completely different than they did before. I had always worked hard and knew baseball was going to be a lifelong pursuit of mine, but now this game gives me the opportunity to get in front of people and proclaim the gospel. I’m forever grateful for the time I had in Decatur and the time spent in the minor leagues.” Willis also met his wife, the former Crystal Cooley at ECCC, which he said is another reason the Decatur campus is such a special place to him and his family. They have been married 24 years and have three daughters: Cam bre Willis Mayo, also an ECCC gradu ate, Jaci, and Claydi. He said, “I’m proud of the family and the life we have built, and it all started at EC!” information so vivid and brought it to life,” she said. After the death of her parents in 2020, Laird, along with her sister, Nona, and additional family members spearheaded an event in memory of the Vickers that raised thousands of dollars designated for the Founders Gymnasium Renovation project. What would the Vickers think about their daughter’s ECCC honor and her continued commitment to the col lege? She said, “I think they would just be beside themselves. Nothing meant more to them than East Central besides their family.” Laird is a member of the Epis copal Church of the Resurrection in Starkville and is involved in the church’s Oktoberfest that raises money for the underprivileged in the Starkville area. Laird and her husband, Jim, have two daughters. Hannah is a first-year resident in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Harper is an admissions counselor at Missis sippi University for Women.

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“Getting drafted was exactly what it seems like it would be…an answered prayer, a dream come true. The deci sion to play in the SEC or professional ball was a tough one, but one that I had to make quickly. I chose to sign and play for the Yankees. The minor leagues are brutal! Long bus rides, short sleeps in hotels and never ending nights at the park. But it was awesome!” Following his baseball career, Jason returned home to Philadelphia where he owned and operated a sporting goods store for a number of years. He later served as a youth pastor at Trin ity Baptist Church. He now represents the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Neshoba County and with the ECCC baseball team. “Taking a role that combines sports and ministry, I get to go into schools with FCA and impact and encourage even more students with the good retired Executive Director of the Hinds Community College Foundation, who said, “Harriet is the total package— wife, mother, ultimate professional. I admire her greatly and she is so very deserving of this amazing honor. She is the posterchild for Mississippi community colleges. No matter what college signed her check, she was an advocate for all community colleges wherever she went, and I am sure she continues to advance community col leges in her role at MSU. However, it was always evident that East Central held her heart.” Laird said attending East Central was a natural progression, having spent her entire childhood on campus. She thrived as an active and engaged student and some days it was difficult to fit all her activities in her schedule. “I played intramural basketball and Dan Sullivan from Louisville was our coach. I looked forward to those games every week. I was also in the musical that year, ‘Man of La Mancha.’ At bas ketball practice one day Dan told us when the next game was going to be, WILLIS – Continued from page 12

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