ELLISVILLE – Homecoming on the campus of Jones College in Ellisville will be a celebration of the theme, “Better Together, Homecoming 2022.” Numerous activities, reunions and gatherings are scheduled before the culmination of Homecoming celebrations on Saturday, October 8, 2022. During the football halftime, Queen Amberlyn Holifield of Leakesville, and the entire JC student-elected, 2022 Homecoming Court will be presented. Escorting the ladies will be a Jones College student selected by the student representatives.
Queen, Amberlyn Holifield of Leakesville is a pre-dentistry major. The Jones College sophomore is a graduate of Greene County High School where she participated in the band’s colorguard, HOSA, FBLA and WILDPAT. She was elected as a Greene County High School Homecoming Maid for all four years, and she was a top ten finalist in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition. At Jones College, Amberlyn is a member of the Bobcat Brigade student ambassadors, Student Government Association, the yearbook staff, and she was a Freshman Homecoming Maid last year. After graduation this May, Amberlynn plans to continue her educational journey in becoming a dentist at the University of Mississippi. Her parents are Mike and Amber Holifield.
Escorting Holifield will be Braden Gray of Stringer. In high school, he was the varsity football kicker all four years, a member of the Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and an Honors graduate. At Jones, Braden is majoring in kinesiology with plans to attend the University of Mississippi to earn his degree. His parents are Jody Gray and Lindsey Myers.
Meg Matthews is your Student Body Maid. The Raleigh High School graduate was elected Miss Raleigh High School, Homecoming Queen, and she served as a class officer and Vice President her senior year. She was also a member of the Beta Club, captain of the Tennis team, Captain of the colorguard/rifle auxiliary, co-captain of the varsity Cheer Squad and graduated with Highest Honors. At Jones College you can find Meg dancing on the Touch of Gold and Gold Rush Dance Teams. She is also a member of the SGA, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Meg is majoring in secondary education with plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi. Her goal is to be a high school teacher and coach dance. Meg’s parents are Jeremy and Shanna Matthews.
Escorting Mathews will be Tripp Cotton of Natchez, who is majoring in construction management. The Adams County Christian School graduate is keeping busy on campus as a JC football team manager. His parents are Tee Cotton and Katie Beach.
Sara Grace Jackson is your Sophomore Maid. The Florence High School graduate is majoring in elementary education. While in high school, Sara Grace was involved in the FCA, FHS Varsity Coed Cheer Team, Medical Science Academy and she was voted Homecoming Queen and Miss Florence High School. Jackson was honored to be the first recipient of the Laura Clapp Teaching Scholarship. At Jones College, she is active in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and she is a member of the Bobcat Brigade. Her plans are to continue her education at USM and hopefully teach in her hometown at Florence Elementary School. Jackson’s parents are Kris and Robin Jackson.
Escorting Jackson is Kody McElroy of Brandon. The Simpson County Academy graduate was a member of the Archery team while training as a diesel technician in the vo-tech program. Kody is continuing to expand his welding skills at Jones and plans to earn his welding certifications while pursuing a career in welding. His parents are Ronnie and Kristie McElroy.
Sophomore Maid, Tasjane’ Jones is from Raleigh and is majoring in nursing. In high school, Tasjane’ was the Cheer Captain and a member of the softball and basketball teams, Beta Club and she graduated with Highest Honors. At Jones College, she has been singing with the Gospel Choir and has been on the Honor Roll. Tasjane’ was awarded an NAACP Award twice from the Mississippi NAACP Organization. Her career plans include becoming a nurse practitioner. Jones’ parents are Tod Jones and Stacey Miller.
Her escort will be Travis Blakeney of Raleigh. The physical education major was active at Raleigh High School as a member of the Beta Club, FCA, and the Raleigh Lions Baseball team. At Jones College, Travis is a member of the PTK Honor Society, and he is a manager for the Jones Softball team. Additionally, Blakeney earned the Letter “J” Award and has been on the President’s Honor Roll. His future plans include earning his bachelor’s degree at USM and teaching math and coaching baseball. Travis’ parents are Joe and Dana Blakeney.
Freshman Maid, Jordan Smith lives in Laurel and is a nursing major. At West Jones High School, she was captain of the Swim team her junior and senior years, and she was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lead team. Jordan’s future plans include becoming a registered nurse. Philip and Stephanie Smith are Jordan’s parents.
Escorting Smith will be Sawyer Griffith of Ellisville. The business major is a graduate of South Jones High School, where he was voted Mr. South Jones, Football Player of the Pine Belt, Most Valuable Player, and Most Outstanding South Jones High School Student. At JC, Griffith is a member of the FCA and is a “red shirt” Bobcat Football player. Sawyer plans to earn his master’s in business administration and pursue a career in investing and real estate. His parents are Greg and Jennifer Griffith.
Aliyah Watts is your Freshman Maid from Sandy Hook, and she is majoring in psychology. She attended West Marion High School and finished high school at the Mississippi School for the Arts in Brookhaven. Watts was active in the choir, Diversity Club, and Interact Club. She also served as chairman of the prom committee, President of the Gospel Choir, Total Praize, Student Body Vice President, and Beta Club Secretary. Aliyah is a member of the Jones College Concert Choir, Gospel Choir and Jones OnStage. Her future plans include studying forensics psychology at the University of South Alabama. Her parents are Chris Watts and Tamara Johnson.
KeShon Hicks will be escorting Watts. The music education major from Laurel is a graduate of Northeast Jones High School, where he ran track and was in the show choir. At Jones College, KeShon is a member of the Concert Choir, Collegiate Choir and Jones OnStage. Additionally, he is a lifeguard in Laurel. KeShon’s future plans include being a Show Choir Director. His parents are Bobby and Kisha King.
The Homecoming Court will also feature the Flower Girl, five-year-old Merritt Cooley of Ellisville. The Crown Bearer is six-year-old Jack Tate from Ellisville.
PICTURE CUTLINE: by Teresa McCreery-Court group with escorts: The Jones College 2022 Homecoming Court is pictured left to right in the front row, Freshman Maid-Jordan Smith of Laurel; Sophomore Maid-Sara Grace Jackson of Florence; Student Body Maid-Meg Matthews of Raleigh; Queen-Amberlyn Holifield of Leakesville; Sophomore Maid-Tasjane’ Jones of Raleigh and Freshman Maid-Aliyah Watts of Sandy Hook. The escorts are pictured left to right in the back row, Sawyer Griffith of Ellisville; Kody McElroy of Brandon; Tripp Cotton of Natchez; Braden Gray of Stringer; Travis Blakeney of Raleigh and KeShon Hicks of Laurel.