May 20, 2001

By Staff
BARR, PAYNE
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Robert Barr of Meridian announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Allyn, to Carl Edward Payne Jr., son of Betty Payne of Flowood and the late Carl Edward Payne Sr.
The wedding will be held Saturday, June 16, 2001, at 4 p.m. at Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church.
Miss Barr is the granddaughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Allen Bailey of Indianola and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Barr of Cleveland.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Meridian High School and received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University.
While attending MSU, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and Kappa Delta Phi. She is a member of Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church.
Miss Barr is employed as a first grade school teacher with the Meridian Public Schools.
Mr. Payne is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Luther Payne of Flowood and the late Mr. and Mrs. E.W. Nichols of Pearl.
The bridegroom-elect is a graduate of Northwest Rankin High School and attended Mississippi State University. While attending MSU, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Mr. Payne is employed at Darrell's Auto Electric in Brandon.
A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall following the ceremony. Friends and family are invited to attend.
NOWELL, JOHNSON
Jimmie C. and Verna F. Nowell of Decatur announce the engagement of their daughter, Misty Rene, to Michael Keith Johnson, son of William C. and Sandra G. Johnson of Chunky.
The wedding will be held Saturday, June 9, 2001, at 2 p.m. at Goodwater Baptist Church in Enterprise.
Miss Nowell is the granddaughter of the late Claude and Louise Nowell of Sturgis and the late Earl and Dorothy Knapp of Scioto County, Ohio.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Louisville High School and received an associate of arts degree from East Central Community College. She received a bachelor of science degree in speech pathology and a master of science degree in audiology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Miss Nowell is an audiologist with River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg.
Mr. Johnson is the grandson of W.M. "Red" Johnson of Chunky and the late Laura Jean Johnson; Gloria Allen of Enterprise and the late Howard E. Allen.
The bridegroom-elect is a graduate of Hickory High School and received an associate of applied science degree in electronic technology from East Central Community College. He received a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering technology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mr. Johnson is a sales engineer with Motion Industries in Jackson.
A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall following the ceremony. Family and friends are invited to attend.
BUIE, TODD
Wayne and Lenita Buie of Meridian announce the engagement of their daughter, Leah Michelle, to Joshua Allen Todd, son of DeWayne and Lisa Todd of Collinsville.
The wedding will be held Saturday, June 16, 2001, at 2 p.m. at Central Baptist Church in Meridian.
Miss Buie is the granddaughter of William E. "Bill" and Lenita Bruner; Maudene S. Buie and the late Jack O. Buie. She is the great-granddaughter of M.E. "Cutcher" Crawford and the late Peggy Crawford.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Meridian High School and attended Meridian Community College, where she was a member of Future Teachers of America.
Miss Buie is employed by Winn-Dixie Photo Lab.
Mr. Todd is the grandson of W.A. and Janie Todd, Amanda Stewart and the late Scott Stewart. He is the great-grandson of Morgan Powell and the late Willie Lou Powell; Sam Bennett and the late Margaret Powell Brashier Bennett.
The bridegroom-elect is a graduate of West Lauderdale High School. He is employed by Lauderdale County.
A reception will be held at the church following the ceremony.
ROBINSON, NELSON
Dr. Laura Lea Robinson and James "Jay" Edwin Nelson III are joined by their parents in announcing their engagement.
The couple will exchange vows Saturday, June 9, 2001, at 5 p.m. at Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Jackson.
Parents of the couple are Murray and Charlotte Johnson of Philadelphia, Johnny and Sonja Robinson of Meridian and Jimmy and Patti Nelson of West Monroe, La.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Willie Mae Farish and the late Joe Lewis Warren, the late Mr. and Mrs. Costa B. Johnson of Philadelphia; Grace Gainer and the late William G. Gainer, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Claiborn Robinson Sr., all of Meridian.
Dr. Robinson is a special honors graduate of Neshoba Central High School and an honors graduate of East Central Community College, where she received an associate of science degree. She received her doctorate of pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi and received her State of Mississippi pharmacy licenses in June 1999.
Dr. Robinson is a registered pharmacist with Eckerd Drugs in Jackson.
The bridegroom-elect is the grandson of Cleo McBroom and the late W.P. McBroom and the late Mr. and Mrs. James E. Nelson, all of Monroe.
Mr. Nelson is a graduate of West Monroe High School and received an associate of science degree from Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. He attended Northeast Louisiana University and Winthrop University of South Carolina, majoring in science and criminal justice.
He is a state policeman with the State of Mississippi.
A reception will be held at The Villages of Northpointe Club House "The Red Barn" in Jackson following the ceremony.
DAVIS, MCCRACKEN
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Rothenberg Meyer Jr., of Meridian announce the engagement of their daughter, Lea Marcella Davis, to Thomas Leland McCracken, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Tipton McCracken of McKinney, Texas. Miss Davis is also the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Frederick Davis of Madison.
The wedding will be held Saturday, July 14, 2001, at noon at First Christian Church in Meridian.
Miss Davis is the granddaughter of Marcella Riffe Kerby and the late Conan Doyle Kerby, Sara Henley Meyer and the late Lee Rothenberg Meyer Sr., all of Meridian; and Mr. and Mrs. George Leslie Davis of Thomastown.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Meridian High School and a cum laude graduate of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where she received a bachelor of arts in religion with a minor degree in social work.
While attending the university, she was a TCU Scholar, a Religion Department Scholar and a member of Alpha Theta Omega honorary society.
Miss Davis is currently a graduate student at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, where she is a D. Ray Lindley Fellow.
Mr. McCracken is the grandson of the late Laura Gertrude and Robert Ingle McCracken of Wewoka, Okla., and the late Letha Leland and Cecil Cebern Shepherd of Benton, Ill.
The bridegroom-elect is a graduate of Midland High School and the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. McCracken also holds a masters of science degree in industrial engineering and a juris doctorate degree from St. Mary's University of San Antonio, Texas.
He is the recipient of a masters of divinity degree from Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, where he received the Walker T. Moody Award as outstanding senior.
Mr. McCracken is currently pastor of First Christian Church in Lexington, Texas, and is pursuing a doctorate degree in church-state studies from the J.M. Dawson Institute.
A reception will be held at Northwood Country Club following the ceremony.