By Moonlight

DAYS STRETCH BEYOND 8-5 FOR THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS IN THEIR WORK LIFE.

PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY | TEXT BY MADOLINE MARKHAM

PAMELA FONDREN

CALERA ELEMENTARY LUNCHROOM ASSISTANT MANAGER + DIXIE SWEETS OWNER

Pamela Fondren works eight hours a day, and then another eight after that. She herself went to Calera Elementary, and her work in the lunchroom there is all about making her community happy. After the school day ends, she cranks up the radio (she’s “a ‘90s alternative girl”) and dances while she bakes lemon blueberry cake, birthday cakes, iced sugar cookies and more. Her personal favorites are her strawberry cream cheese cookies and carrot cake, and she credits her baking skills to what she learned from Joan Spiess. “I’ve always had lots of energy,” she says “I’d rather (bake) than watch TV or read a book.” To learn more, join the Dixie Sweets page on Facebook.

JAN RENFRO

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER + CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Twenty-five years ago Jan Renfro married Jeff Renfro “because we felt like we could minister to children and families better together than apart,” and that’s what they are still doing today. During the school day Jan teaches at Inverness Elementary and Jeff at Oak Mountain Middle, and for the last four years Jan has run the children’s ministry at The Station Church. On Sundays she leads children’s worship, and she also makes sure all the teachers have the lesson ideas and support they need. “I couldn’t do any of the jobs I do without God’s guidance and the amazing people of all ages He has blessed me with,” Jan notes.

PERRY BARNETT

ENSLEY FAIRFIELD MATTRESS CO. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS + COOSA CATCH FOUNDER

When the COVID-19 quarantine began in 2020, Perry Barnett and his family found themselves on break from the busyness of work and activities and rediscovering their ties to Lay Lake. “It rekindled that connection and reminded us it is a special place,” he says. That time also grew a desire in him for more people in the surrounding areas to experience what he and his family were with lakes off the Coosa River, and with that Coosa Catch was born. The initiative has made stickers that often spark conversations and shares inspirational images and videos on social media, all as a fun way to nurture an interest in fishing and being on the water. Follow @coosacatchco on Facebook and Instagram.

BILL LEWIS

ATTORNEY + LEWIS LAKES VINEYARD OWNER

A lot of wines made in Alabama are sweet, but 14 years ago Bill Lewis and his wife, Bonnie, set out to see if they could instead make a good dry wine on their property in Columbiana. Today the varieties of muscadines they grow yield just what they imagined with a Lakeside White, an Autumn Red blend, a Blushing Bride rosé and more. Often when Bill is in his office doing civil trial work, he’s wishing he were on the tractor on the vineyard, which he, Bonnie and their vineyard manager Gary Litzinger pour their heart and soul into. You can buy Lewis Lakes Vineyard wines at Whole Foods on Highway 280 and at Piggly Wiggly in Columbiana.

MAURICE MERCER

KATS DELIVERY OWNER + PELHAM CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Many days it feels like Maurice Mercer is running seven days a week— probably because he is. In 2014 he left a job in banking to start a delivery service named for his mother Katherine—who could no longer get her own groceries when she became sick—that now delivers 20,000 meals annually in Shelby, Chilton and Pike counties. He’s also serving his first term as city council president and third on the council and has three kids at home. What’s the key to doing it all? Teamwork. “I rely on drivers and also and also on the city clerk and city manager and mayor and council and my wife and family,” he says. “I am only as successful as my team allows me to be.” Learn more at katsdelivery.com.

JENNY LESPI, KERRI WOODS & KRISTI HALLMARK

TEACHERS + DREAMER MAKERS DANCE STAFF

The school day at Elvin Hill Elementary ends by 3:20 p.m., and by 3:30 p.m. fourth-grade teacher Kerri Woods and special education teacher Jenny Lepsi have made their way over to the Recreation Center in Columbiana to start teaching tap, ballet, jazz, clogging, lyrical, contemporary dance and pointe. Four nights a week they and director Kristi Hallmark are at Dreamer Makers Dance—Columbiana’s only dance studio—until around 8 p.m. “When you have a passion for dance, no matter how tired you are your energy and excitement are renewed when you walk in that room,” Jenny says. And that’s exactly why Jenny and Kerri started the program around 25 years go—for girls to have the opportunity to dance close to home.

RUSSELL BEDSOLE

ALABAMA HOUSE DISTRICT 49 REPRESENTATIVE + SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE JAIL COMMANDER

When someone needs assistance, Russell Bedsole’s phone is on, and he’s ready to assist them. That’s been the case for the 23 years he’s worked in law enforcement and also holds true in his newer role representing parts of Alabaster, Helena, Montevallo and beyond in the state legislature. For example, during his first session in Montgomery last year he sponsored a bill for those who have served in the fire service and get cancer to extend death benefits up to 10 years after retirement, and it’s now been signed into law. He also brings that same advocacy and service to his work overseeing the 500-plusbed inmate facility in Shelby County and the 70 deputies who work there.

JAMES LATIMER

MOODY POLICE OFFICER + VINCENT MAYOR + SCENT DETECTION DOG TRAINER

When James Latimer isn’t patrolling Moody as a police officer, you can find him in the mayor’s office in Vincent. And when he’s not in the mayor’s office, he’s training dogs to detect certain scents. Some canines he and his partner James Cole train will go on to detect termites or bed bugs for pest control companies, and others will investigate arson for fire departments. James’ father started FSI Canine Services in 2003, and James bought it in 2015. He now runs it it out of his home, cleaning kennels and caring for dogs for three to four months each as he trains them. Fun fact: Often the dogs FSI trains come from shelters.

RICKY RUSTON

COLUMBIANA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER + DJ

Ricky Ruston plays hip hop. He plays oldies. He plays soul. He plays country. Mostly he plays whatever you want to hear at a party, or a community event or a football game. “I want to create an environment where people want to enjoy themselves and have fun,” he says. His work as a DJ through Ruston Entertainment and Events started about a decade ago when his motherin-law asked him to play music for an engagement party they were hosting for friends, and he thought it could be really fun. He quickly learned that DJing provides an opportunity to make people happy, and today you’ll find him doing just that—on the side of city council work and his full-time job.

JOHNNY HOWARD

HOWARD TIRE SERVICE CO-OWNER + FIRE CHIEF

Johnny Howard is always on call, both as the fire chief in Columbiana and for the 24-hour towing service his family business offers, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “(When) you get to help someone and see the look on their face when you have helped them, that’s when it’s worth it,” he says. Johnny has worked for Howard Tire Service since his dad started it in 1980, and today he co-owns it with his brother Ricky. He also followed in his father’s footsteps joining the fire department as soon as he was able when he turned 21 in 1986. His father was the assistant chief for years, and Johnny became chief himself in 1989.

RESIA BROOKS

SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR + PROVIDENCE PHOTOGRAPHY OWNER

On weekends you can find Resia Brooks capturing images of families to create memories they can return to for years to come. “(The name Providence Photography) symbolizes we are all in God’s care, and I am capturing those in his care,” she notes. “I believe that prints matter and that you should be surrounded by images of the people you love.” For her that all started as a child when she loved to look through her family’s photo albums, and she’s had a camera in her hand ever since, with her business officially getting its start a decade ago when a friend asked her to take photos of her son and his friends before prom. Learn more at providencepics.com.