C h i c k s WE L o v e T Felicia Durham
land, but I’m going for the kitchen first. That definitely has to be the ‘wow factor’ for me.” As much as she’d like some room to spread out, Durham jokes that she doesn’t want too much space. “Dust builds up, and I’m so busy!” she laughs. To make realty-related inquiries, find Durham’s business page on Facebook. —Taylor McKay Hathorn
Jo Beth Murphree When Jo Beth Murphree’s parents gave her a name, they nearly predicted her life’s trajectory, naming her after a family friend, the wife of the man who would go on to become her high school softball coach and present-day colleague in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “When I was in high school,” Murphree recalled, “I went to FCA to get a free donut. I really
didn’t understand what it was supposed to be about, but my high school coach taught me what it was all about.” The mission of FCA is to “reach coaches for Christ,” as the organization believes that coaches have the ability to have an impact on their players’ spiritual development, just as Murphree saw in her own life. “A lot of kids spend more
Letitia Johnson
When Letitia Johnson ran for a seat on the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees in 2017, she wanted to instigate positive change in the school district that serves nearly 24,000 students. Five of those students were Johnson’s own children, making the mission to improve the local public-school system personal to the now-president of the district’s governing body. Johnson’s biggest victory as a board member to date, she says, is seeing JPS initiate a 1:1 program that will provide technological learning tools for its students. “The last supply of electronic devices (that were ordered) is going to be enough for each student to have their own device,” Johnson boasts. This program has been particularly needed in the current school year, as Jackson Public Schools students have been learning entirely remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the successes that Johnson has seen in her three-year tenure, she believes that her work isn’t yet finished, however. “I continue to serve because there’s still a lot of work left to do,” she says. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but there are still a lot of things I’d like to see done.” In Johnson’s view, the biggest determining factor in the district’s continued success lies in its teachers and students. “I wish everyone knew that we have a body of committed teachers and a large spectrum of students who are eager to learn. I think a lot of people don’t think we have great things, but those are our two greatest resources,” Johnson concludes. —Taylor McKay Hathorn
time with their coach than they do with their parents,” Murphree says. “We feel like the lasting impact that coaches will have on their athletes and ultimately on their families and communities will make a huge difference.” Murphree’s journey to becoming an area director for FCA was a long one, as she supervised campus ministries at Belhaven University for 15 years prior to accepting her current position. Presently, the FCA boasts chapters in middle schools, high schools and colleges across the
courtesy Letitia Johnson
November 25 - December 8, 2020 • jfp.ms
“I encourage patience with my clients,” Durham says. “I tell them there’s a house for everyone, but you must show patience.” Although Durham spends her days helping clients find their “perfect home,” she has some definite ideas about what her own dream house would look like. “My husband was born in the city, but he has a country spirit. So (my ideal house) would be on some
courtesy Jo Beth Murphree
20
he Jackson metro area has a nifty habit of raising and attracting a number of is full of driven, innovative and community-focused residents. This year’s Chicks We Love package showcases a number of influential women who do their part to bolster the city that we call home.
courtesy Felicia Durham
The current pandemic has created an environment of low-interest rates in the world of real estate, which has resulted in striking changes to the field, but Felicia Durham of EXP Realty helps her clients roll with the punches. “We have more demand than we have supply,” Durham says. “People who were previously content in their (living) situations are reaching out, so it’s amazing because the market has opened up tremendously.” In the present climate, houses are going on the market and being put under contract 24 to 48 hours later. Because clients have so little time before making their decisions, they can often find themselves overwhelmed, which is why Durham aims to provide support and put them at ease during the process. “I have to make sure that both the buyer and the seller understand the process,” Durham says of her role. “Setting the expectation is the number-one key for both parties.” The expectations can be high in the present market, as Durham notes that many clients who previously had time to look for a new home while selling their own often find themselves with a pressing offer—and thus a pressing need to vacate their own home.
2020
country. Murphree describes the work of “leading coaches and athletes into a lasting relationship
with Jesus and the church” as evergrowing. “I oversee eight counties in central Mississippi, and we don’t have a staff in each of those areas yet,” Murphree says of her present work. “The main focus right now are Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties. We have some coaches who are leading things, so I’m travelling to minister to coaches until we have staff in place there.” To learn more about the Mississippi FCA, you can visit mississippifca.org. —Taylor McKay Hathorn
