February 3, 2026
Hundreds of women from around the area packed the Poplarville campus for the 19th annual Women’s Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College. The event provided education on personal health and fitness, with this year’s presentations focusing on creating your own story.
The event was made possible through the generosity of Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation, Grand Sponsor; Forrest Health, Highland Community Hospital, and Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home, Gold Sponsors; Aladdin (an Elior Company), Hancock Whitney, Hattiesburg Clinic, and Mississippi Power, Silver Sponsors; and BankPlus, Pearl River County Economic Development District, and Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A., Bronze Sponsors.
The day started with a light breakfast and greetings by Vice President for Planning and Accreditation/Dean of Honors Institute and Women’s Health Symposium Chair, Dr. Jennifer Seal, and PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood.
Marshall Ramsey, the Director of Mississippi Media Lab and the Director of Engagement for the Jordan Center at the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi, delivered the keynote address. He began the talk by sharing about the recent ice storm in Oxford and how Mississippi is the land of chainsaws and casseroles.
He then shared stories from his past, including his path as an editorial cartoonist, his dog Banjo serving as inspiration for children’s books, and personal battles with melanoma and back injuries. He also shared the impact his father, Dave Ramsey, had on his life with repeated instruction on the need to persevere and rewrite or reframe situations to tell the story of survival rather than defeat.
“Every day we wake up, every day we are given a blank canvas,” said Ramsey. “We’re all artists. We all can, with our actions, which I guess are our brush strokes and our attitude, which are the colors, we can create something on the canvas of what we do every single day and make a difference in somebody’s life. And you know what’s so beautiful about it? You may never know it. And that’s what’s great about it.”
Ramsey also talked about his anxiety after being diagnosed with melanoma and how he finally quelched it.
“One of the greatest ways to be able to tackle anxiety in your life is to take the thing that you’re anxious about and to help other people on the journey that they’re on,” said Ramsey.
He also shared his use of the acronym HOPE (humor, opportunity, physical well-being, and educate yourself) to remind him to stay on the path.
“Hope is the ability to see your way through the storm,” said Ramsey. “Fear is probably one of your greatest enemies when it comes to your health. Because what it does is fear lies to you. And if you can pull back from it a little bit, you will be great.”
The morning also included a guided art session with local artist Kym Garraway. All attendees were given small watercolor kits for doing a quick floral still life. In twenty minutes, hundreds of women had their own personal keepsake from the day.
An avid animal rehabilitator and nature lover, Garraway encouraged the women to watch the animals and learn something from them.
“Hundreds and hundreds of different animals, from foxes to cranes to whatever, and they’ve all gone back, and I’ve learned something about each one of them,” said Garraway. “I’ve learned about care. I’ve learned about motherly love. I’ve learned about family. I’ve learned about faith, love, endurance, heartache, and loss.”
Between the presentations and luncheon, attendees could peruse handmade items at the Art Walk, access health screenings, and visit vendors for more information on ways to live healthier.
Anna Hemphill of Lacombe was a first-time attendee of the event. She came with her mother-in-law, who has been several times.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Hemphill. The speakers related to the audience very well, making it very engaging. I loved the art activity and giveaways.”
Veronica Jordan of Hattiesburg returned to the symposium for the fourth time, bringing her friend, Pamela London. She has found the event’s insightful speakers and their challenges to be a great way to start each year. Ramsey’s presentation especially resonated with them.
“I like the way his father was saying to control your narrative,” said Jordan. “Like you can stop there and let that be your ending when you are down and out, or you can put another ending to it. It’s your choice. So he just brought that to the forefront. Change your narrative. Change the end of your story. Your story can be uplifting and better, but you have to realize you’re in control of that.”
Attendee favorite Janie Walters returned to entertain during the luncheon. She used several jokes and references to songs centered around “walking on sunshine.”
Many of the women donated towards the Dr. Becky Askew Scholarship for Medical Students with the purchase of raffle tickets for three designer handbags. $1,200 was raised to fund scholarships for females entering either a pre-med or allied health program.
The health screenings included blood cholesterol, blood pressure, bone density, glucose screening, vision, and more. Participants also had the opportunity for some pampering in the form of a short chair massage from the massage therapy students or to have their nails manicured by the cosmetology students.
Walters also assisted Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President of the Forrest County Campus, in drawing for grand prize winners. Smaller door prizes were listed in advance for attendees to claim. Attendees were excited to leave with two gifts: a pearl inlay necklace and a warm pashmina scarf.
Vendors and Art Walk Participants
Vendors for the 2026 event included Arden Hospice, Bright Steps, Forrest General Home Care and Hospice, Hattiesburg Clinic, Hattiesburg Eye Clinic, P.A., Highland Community Hospital, Hypnotherapy Services & Other Mind Matters, Jubilee Gardens Residential Living, Massage Envy, Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home, Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, Poplarville Woman’s Club, PRCC Associate Degree Nursing Program, PRCC Cosmetology Program, PRCC Dental Hygiene Program, PRCC Massage Therapy Program, PRCC Medical Laboratory Technology Program, Pearl River County Putting on the Pink, Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Inc. (SeMRHI), Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, P.A., The Poplarville Clinic, Thrive Health & Aesthetics, and Wellness Through Wisdom by Mary Kay.
Art Walk vendors displayed their handmade items available for purchase. They included Dana Danby (Just Write), Stacey Dengler, DeDe English (Sew Unique), Kay Kammer (Blue Cricket Designs), Teresa Card (The Spicy Mermaid), Richard Cullen (EmbroideryMeister), Kym Garraway, Tony Guerra (Southern Charmed), Rebekah Haddox (Becky’s Bakes), Adrian London (Agape Plug Soap Company), LeAnn Lundy (Girly Productions), Ashley Purvis Smith (Rogue Studio), and Gail Taylor (Stained Glass Sentiments).
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG),and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Kaylee Fortenberry and Laura O’Neill.
