Class of 2023

Haywood Reeves fulfilled multiple roles on several levels at Forest High School, but he established a foundation of contributing to the lives of FHS students through classroom instruction and leading three athletics programs to success.

Reeves served as coach of the girls’ basketball and track programs 1970-78 and the golf team 1973-81. In all, Reeves worked 43 years in education including classroom teaching, coaching, and in administration. He served as a math teacher for 25 years and was selected as STAR teacher twice. He later served two years as an assistant principal and three years as a principal. Reeves was also active in the Forest Parent Teacher Association. Reeves was one of four school administrators across Mississippi selected to receive an academic grant from the Hardin Foundation. The 1978 FHS yearbook “Rambler” was dedicated to Reeves.

Under Reeves’ leadership, the girls basketball program earned a 172-68 record including season marks of 20-7, 20-9, 24-8, 28-5, and 27-8 among others. Reeves-coached teams also won the Scott County Championship in 1971 and 1975, North Little Dixie Championship in 1978, District 6 Championship in 1976 and 1977, South Mississippi 2ndplace in 1975 and 1976, and reached the state tournament three times with runner-up finishes. 

Reeves was selected Coach of the Year in the Little Dixie Conference in 1977 and as coach of the South team for the all-stars in the annual North-South game. 

Five of Reeves’ players were selected for the state all-star basketball game and five players signed four-year scholarships to play basketball on the collegiate level. Three of Reeves’ former players are now inducted members of the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame including Tutti Calhoun Carter (2015), Rowanna Pope (2019), and Sheila Sanders (2020). 

The FHS girls track team won the Class A State Championship in 1971 and the golf team won the Little Dixie Conference Championship in 1979, both under Reeves’ leadership.

After his service at Forest High School, Reeves’ career includes 14 years at East Central Community College including serving as a math instructor where he was named Academic Instructor of the Year in 2007.

Reeves has continued his involvement in athletics as a volunteer in recent years. He has served as a coach for the 5th and 6th grade age groups of a local Upwards basketball league for the past two years. He has also served as a volunteer for golf tournaments, including managing the scoreboard for The Masters tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia for five years.

Reeves is a member of Forest Baptist Church where he teaches Sunday School and serves on the Deacon Council. He is also a member of the Forest Country Club.

Reeves resides with his wife, Patricia, in Forest. She is a retired elementary school teacher. Haywood and Patricia have a son, Ryan, and daughter-in-law, Britni, and two grandsons, Noah and Shepard. 

John David Calhoun was a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron and diamond while his opponents tried to keep up, to little avail.

In little league baseball, Calhoun was a slugger on the baseball diamond including setting a league record with 12 homeruns, including an outing when he hit three homers in one game. Calhoun broke a record of 11 homers set by his neighbor Larry Johnson, also a member of the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2016. 

In one game, Calhoun hit two homeruns during the same at bat. Just after stepping to the plate, and the pitcher David Madden went into his windup, catcher Joe Townsend asked the umpire for a timeout to tie his shoe as the ball is being delivered. Calhoun swung anyway and hit the ball out of the park. Because time was called, the umpire ruled the hit did not count. 

Play resumed and Calhoun stepped to the batter’s box again and a few pitches later, he hit another homerun - which counted.

In the high school ranks, Calhoun played football for Forest for three years where he he earned All Little Dixie League honors and played on the 1969 Little Dixie Conference Championship team which finished 10-0-1.

As Calhoun was being scouted for the college ranks, a Miss. State coach asked Forest Coach Ken Bramlett how fast Calhoun could move, Bramlett responded “as fast as you need him to be.”

At Miss. State, Calhoun played for coach Charlie Shira and was named second team All-SEC and was named second team by the Associated Press as a linebacker and recorded the most tackles on the MSU team in 1972. After State defeated Houston in 1972, Calhoun received NCAA and SEC Linebacker of the Week honors. Calhoun lettered in the 1971 and 1972 seasons and recorded four interceptions returns for 25 yards (6.3 yards per return) for the Bulldogs.

Calhoun left his playing days behind and became a business entrepreneur through his professional life engaging in multiple enterprises. He sold insurance, operated a car dealership, and became an ordained minister. Calhoun’s interests also included selling gold and silver, painting art, and music. His musical talents were explored through gospel music where he recorded an album with a group. He was self-taught in everything he tackled and could develop any talent he set his mind to doing. 

“He was a heckuva ballplayer and it always seemed he could do almost anything,” said his brother, Jackie Calhoun.

John David Calhoun and his wife, Tena Pace Calhoun, made their home in Jackson and had three daughters, Dr. Shea Moses, Kris Honey, and Pacey Harris. They also had seven grandchildren. 

In addition to his brother, sisters included Laurie McLaughlin and Wanda ‘Tutti’ Calhoun Carter, a 2015 inductee into the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame. John David and his siblings were children of Jack and Jeri Calhoun. 

John David Calhoun passed away on Feb. 23, 2022.

What heights that James Nathan Russell might have eventually reached in athletics will never be known, but he made the most of his time and opportunities in becoming an outstanding athlete before an untimely death. 

Born in 1978, Russell began his athletic career as a standout at Forest High School where he received numerous honors including All Scott County Football Team (defense), 1994; Best Linebacker, 1994; All Division 5, 1994; All Division 5, Best Punter, 1995; Best Defensive Player, 1995; All Division 5, 1995; All Scott County Football Team MVP Punter, 1995; and All Scott County Baseball Team, 1995.

Russell played 37 high school football games from 1993 to 1995 at Forest and 32 of those games were victories for his team. His work ethic can be best described through a column by Sid Salter, then publisher of The Scott County Times:

“At Forest High School, Nathan by necessity played tight end on offense, outside linebacker on defense, manned the special teams, and handled the punting chores. His senior year, Nathan rarely left the field. He did everything but sell hot dogs and raise the American Flag before kickoff, and he’d have done that if they had asked him. 

“Nathan wasn’t the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest [player]. But he got more out of his wiry, powerfully-built 170-pound body than any kid I’ve ever seen. He didn’t talk trash, he didn’t leave his game in the locker room, and he didn’t brag. What he did – from the spot he loved at outside linebacker as a natural defensive player – was knock opposing running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks into the middle of next week. Cleanly, within the rules, he meted outs swift and sure punishment for this in different-colored uniforms who ventured across the line of scrimmage. If they didn’t come to him, he’d go looking for them.

“Nathan left it all out on the field on those Friday nights – all his strength, all his emotion, all his abilities, and all his efforts. He was so tired at game’s end he could barely move. High school athletes play for the glory of it and pound for pound, Nathan was the hardest hitter I ever saw on the football field either as a sportswriter or a player. He was a winner. A conversation with Nathan ended with “sirs” and ma’ams.” He was a good country kid from a good family.” 

Russell’s talents led him to continue his athletic career at East Central Community College as a defensive back. During Homecoming week in October 1996, East Central was preparing to face Hinds Community College to continue an undefeated season. Russell was the only fatality of a 2-vehicle accident involving seven East Central students on Highway 15 south of Decatur. After sustaining multiple injuries, Russell passed away a day and a half after the accident. 

In recognition, honor, and respect to this fallen Warrior, the MACJC South Division battle was postponed until the end of East Central’s successful season. During a ceremony including his parents Rodney and Julie Russell, at halftime of an East Central basketball game, Russell’s #20 football jersey was officially retired – his number never to be worn again. No other East Central athlete’s jersey number has been retired in the school’s history.

With his parents Rodney and Julie Russell, Nathan is also survived by his siblings, Stacey Russell Mitchell and Clifford LeRue Russell. Six nieces and nephews never knew their uncle Nathan, but they honored him by wearing his number 20 through the years in their own athletic activities. 

Therefore, with respect to his athletic skills, work ethic, and contributions to his schools’ teams, Russell is now posthumously inducted into the Scott County Sports Hall of Fame.

Krista Donald amazed and inspired Lake fans and their opponents during her time as a Lady Hornet on the basketball court and followed those performances on the collegiate level.

Donald was a two-time member of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's Dandy Dozen of the top players in Mississippi for all classification sizes. The Ledger named Donald as an All-State player three times in 2009, 2010, and 2011.She was ranked as the nation's No. 55 overall recruit and the No. 12 wing by the Girls Basketball Report.

She was named the Southeast Region Player of the Week by ESPN Rise Magazine after scoring a career-high 37 points against Newton. Overall, Donald scored 2,456 points and recorded 1,470 rebounds during her time at Lake. In 2011, Donald was named a Parade All-American, Gatorade All-American. 

“Any player of Krista’s level has God-given talent, but what takes her above others and has made her the best player in the state is her tremendous work ethic,” then-Lake head coach Victor Gilstrap said of Donald as her high school career ended. “She’s put in the time to develop her skills, not only the talents she’s been blessed with but the cerebral parts of the game. She’s also a very unselfish player. Krista is not only the most outstanding player I’ve had in my 10 years of coaching, she’s also the most unselfish.”

After high school, Donald moved to the collegiate ranks to play for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs as a starter. She scored 675 points and 497 rebounds.

“Krista is a power guard,” said then-Georgia Head Coach Andy Landers at the time Donald signed a national letter of intent to play for the Lady Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference. “She has great strength coupled with a guard’s skill set. Krista can score it from the perimeter, slash you to the basket or post you up - truly an unusual package for a guard.”

Donald also overcame a height disadvantage, joining Georgia as a 5-foot-11 player compared to most of her opponents in the post who sit well above six feet.

“For her to be able to go out and be able to do what she’s doing is absolutely amazing,” Landers said. “Then you add to that equation the absence of height. Everybody out there is bigger than her.”

The height issue is not the only challenge Donald faced. Upon her arrival at Georgia, it was discovered that she had overextended one of her knees while in high school. Neither Donald or anyone else was aware of the knee injury. There were no surgeries available, but Georgia arranged for some medical treatment as much as possible. 

Adversity in college might have slowed her down at times, but it didn’t stop Donald. Rest, recovery, and focusing on academics during a break helped her come back even stronger. 

“Everything we do here helps me,” Donald said. “Work hard, execute, it’s all the same for me.”

For the first time in her career, Donald posted her second-consecutive double-double, during a team victory upon her return to action, making that four career double-doubles. “She’s a warrior. She gets it done,” Landers said.

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, Donald held several positions at different times, most of them in the coaching ranks as well as a physical education teacher, with a lot of time spent in Texas. Such positions have involved assistant coaching in varsity girls’ sports including basketball, softball, track and field. Head coaching experience included junior varsity volleyball and girls’ basketball.  

A variety of non-athletic positions have included real estate investor, library assistant, spelling bee coach, camp manager, recreation specialist, and classroom teacher in a juvenile justice department.

Donald currently serves as teacher and coach in Texas.

Spectators at Lake High School football games heard an informative voice in Darvis Vance for nearly three decades as he remained a special part of the game experience for all fans.

Vance called action for 27 years treating plays equally, whether they were favorable or unfavorable to the Hornets. He is described as an impartial announcer whose dedication to truth and accuracy added to his credibility, covering more than 600 high school games.

Vance graduated from Lake High School in 1954 where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He earned collegiate scholarship offers in football and basketball, but his college education was deferred four years following service in the U.S. Army. After military service, Vance earned his degree in business administration at Mississippi State University.

Vance returned to Scott County and athletics in Lake as a football clock operator and served as a basketball referee. Vance was appointed to serve as the game announcer in the 1970s, witnessing some of the best years of Hornet football.

With his even-keel and balanced approach, fans could not always tell on whose behalf Vance was announcing. He would describe the plays and the results, report jersey numbers and names, and include any additional important information for the homestanding Lake Hornets and their opponents.

“I considered myself an announcer, not a cheerleader. I was always for Lake, but I wanted our visitors to be as satisfied with the announcing as our home side,” Vance said. “To do the job right, I felt that first I had to know the rules and how the game is played. And then memorize the names of our teams. It was important to be a good announcer and tell what happened in such a way where a person cannot tell which side you’re on.” 

Many game announcers have assistance, color commentary or spotting plays. Vance was all on his own with no spotter. The only help came from assistant coach [SC Sports HOF inductee] Marvin Morgan who provided team rosters for Lake and their opponents. When Morgan retired, Vance had to collect that information too.

Vance crafted his style based on how the job should be done, and said he was not alone. “We had some good announcers around here, like [inductee] Tommy Lee in Forest and great coaches like [inductee] Howard Sessums,” Vance said.

Many memories included coach (inductee) Granville Freeman and his assistant, Morgan. He noted (inductee) Freeman Horton who became part of the “Nasty Bunch” defense at the University of Southern Mississippi.

“I saw a lot of really good players. I have to say, though, that the best player I saw was [inductee] Sammy Holifield. The things he could do was amazing,” Vance said.

Vance recalled the 1974 Lake football team that finished the season undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. That record was almost tarnished in the final game of the regular season playing Edinburg. Lake’s win was secured with a 38-0 lead, but Edinburg was setting up for a field goal that would break Lake’s defensive streak.

“They had a kicker who was really good, and this would have been a simple chip shot for him. We thought it was a done deal for them until Willie “Moochie” Weidman broke through and blocked that kick,” Vance said. 

Vance announced a semi-final game in the 1988 season that ended with a state championship before eventually ending his tenure as the regular announcer. Vance filled in when needed in later years. 

Vance said there was some adjustment to sitting in the stands as a spectator as opposed to being in the press box, but he has continued attending games as often as he can. 

Vance remains a resident of Lake and supporter of school activities. He and his wife, Mary Ene have a son, Harry in Lake; and two daughters, Angela Woodrow in Taylorsville, and Robin Atwood in Hattiesburg. They also have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Genia Griffin Jackson is known in the Morton Panther athletic circles as being among the best athletes produced in the basketball program’s history in the early 1990s. 

The daughter of Tommy and Mary Griffin, Jackson played four years on the Panthers’ hardcourt before taking her talents to East Central Community College as a Lady Warrior for two years. She moved to the next level playing for the Lady Crusaders at William Carey University for her final two years of collegiate athletics.

At Morton High School, Jackson earned recognition with the award for having the Best Free Throw Percentage in the 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons and the Best Field Goal Percentage in the 1992-93 season. She was recognized with the Best Ball Handler Award in 1992.

Jackson won the Pantherette Award for the 1991-92 season, was named MVP in 1992, and earned All-District honors in 1993. She finished her high school career in 1993 as an honor student and had remained a scholar athlete all the way through the period.

At East Central, Jackson contributed to the Lady Warriors’ following achievements in 1993-1994: 2nd in state, 2nd in division, helped the team to Region 23 Championship, and the team ended seventh in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association. During the 1994-95 season, the Lady Warriors were 2nd in state and 1st in division. Jackson received the Lucille Wood Award and the Lady Warrior Award. 

At William Carey University, Jackson was a scholar athlete in both years of competition and scored game-leading points in the teens on multiple occasions. She finished third in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 3-pointer percentage in 1995-96. In 30 conference games played, Jackson made 43 field goals out of 123 attempts for a 35 percentage. She improved on that mark to earn first place in the same category in 1996-97. In that season, Jackson played 28 games, making 57 field goals out of 131 attempts for a 43.5 percentage.

In one of her William Carey campaigns, Jackson’s elite skills at the free throw line singlehandedly extended her team’s season a little further. With nine seconds left to play, her two free throws kept the team’s season alive, giving the Lady Crusaders a 63-61 victory over Spring Hill in the opening round of the conference tournament. 

Spring Hill led 35-28 at halftime but Carey hung in to keep the game close. Spring Hill led 61-59 Jackson’s teammate Mary Camacho made a steal and was fouled with 54 seconds remaining. Camacho tied the game with her free throws. Spring Hill made a bad pass with 30 seconds left when Jackson was fouled and made the winning points.

During and after her playing days, Jackson coached in a summer basketball camp at East Central Community College for five years. 

Jackson returned to Scott County where she resides in Morton with her husband, John. They have two daughters, Alexis and Hailey. In more recent activities, Jackson served as director of employment benefits for St. Dominic Hospital for 16 years. She has served as a volunteer supporter with the Morton Cheerleader Boosters since 2017. 

Dr. Vernon Clyde Muse has made his mark on Mississippi and our nation with a legacy in education that would not have happened without the foundation that sports laid for him at Sebastopol High School. Throughout his professional life in education on the collegiate level, Dr. Muse remained true to his roots in making sure students from Scott County were taken care of, often referring to them as “his people.”

In addition to his own athletic participation and academic contributions, Dr. Muse is credited with being one of two men responsible for the invention of T-ball for youth around the nation and world.

A native of Benton County, Dr. Muse moved to Scott County in 1944 when his father was called to pastor at Rocky Hill Church of God. Dr. Muse attended school in Sebastopol where he fell in love with basketball. He credits Sebastopol for his learning from “some of the best teachers and coaches” and earning accomplishments leading to college and professional academic success.

Dr. Muse played basketball at Sebastopol from 1944-47. Statistics are not available, but during one game against Harperville for the county championship, Dr. Muse made three free throws that won the game. His love for basketball and his work ethic demonstrated in high school led to a basketball scholarship to (then) East Central Junior College. While a student at ECJC in 1947-1949, Dr. Muse’s athletics also included running distance for the track team. He was also named president of the student body and sang in the choir. 

Dr. Muse earned his Bachelor of Science in health and physical education with honors at Delta State University. At DSU, he played basketball and served as student body vice-president. He finished his own education with a Master’s degree and a doctoral degree, both in school administration, at Mississippi State University. 

Dr. Muse worked 26 years in K-12 education in Mississippi holding a wide variety of teaching, coaching, and administrative positions across the state. He also held adjunct teaching positions on the collegiate level and participated in national education programs. The last stop in his professional career was appointment in 1978 as president of Hinds Community College, a position he held for 42 years until retirement in 2020 at the age of 90. Because of his tireless advocacy and work, Dr. Muse is known by many as “The Godfather” of the state’s community college system. As president emeritus of Hinds CC, Dr. Muse remains active in improving public school education in Mississippi.

While his contributions, accomplishments, and honors are much too long to name here, relevant highlights include being named to the Delta State University Sports Hall of Fame, Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Sports Hall of Fame, East Central Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, and Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Dr. Muse was honored by the Mississippi State Senate with a concurrent resolution recognizing him for his role in inventing the game of T-Ball. Dr. Muse helped invent the game while in Starkville when he and MSU Professor W.W. Littlejohn were looking for a way that 8 and 9-year old children who don’t have the hand-eye coordination could participate in baseball. Now, the game is played by preschoolers worldwide.

“I’ve had one original idea in my life. The first game we played, I knew it was going to be a tremendous success. I saw how much fun the little children have,” Dr. Muse said.

He remains a resident near the campus in Raymond where he teaches Sunday School, visits the Mayo Gym for regular workouts, plows gardens for community residents while providing his garden produce to those willing to come and pick. He returns to Scott County and East Central Community College for visits whenever possible. 

Dr. Muse and his wife of 58 years, Vashti Underwood, raised three children, Julia Muse Cole, Susan Muse Rucker, and Vernon Muse. He is the center of life’s lessons for eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.