Skip to main content

User account menu

  • Log in
Shopping cart 0
Cart

Search

Search
Home The Winona Times

Domain menu for The Winona Times (main)

  • Home
    • Newsletter Email Sign Up
    • FAQ
    • Our Staff
    • About Us
    • Notifications
    • Monthly Website Statistics
    • Our Awards
    • Contact Us
    • Rack Locations
    • Wedding Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Post
    • Post Dashboard
    • Payment Settings
    • Leaderboard
  • Top Stories
  • Most Recent
  • Most Read
  • Local News
  • State
  • National
  • More News
  • Sports
  • E-Editions
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Social
  • Submit News
  • Schools
  • Comics
  • Games
  • Communities
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
    • How to Advertise
    • Classifieds
    • Pay Bill
    • Ad Rates
    • Ad Staff
  • Archives
  • Home
    • Newsletter Email Sign Up
    • FAQ
    • Our Staff
    • About Us
    • Notifications
    • Monthly Website Statistics
    • Our Awards
    • Contact Us
    • Rack Locations
    • Wedding Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Post
    • Post Dashboard
    • Payment Settings
    • Leaderboard
  • Top Stories
  • Most Recent
  • Most Read
    • Most Read This Week
    • Most Read This Month
    • Most Read This Year
    • Most Read All Time
  • Local News
  • State
    • Other State Websites
    • Most Read Statewide
    • Most Recent State News
  • National
  • More News
    • Features
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyles
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Associated Press
    • Press Releases
    • Public Notices
    • Submit News
    • Documents
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • State Sports
  • E-Editions
    • Newspaper E-Edition
    • Magazine E-Edition
    • Special Section E-Editions
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Cartoons
    • Letters
    • Polls
    • Comments
    • My Two Cents
    • Submit Letter
    • Submit My Two Cents
  • Obituaries
    • Submit Obituary
  • Social
    • Weddings/Engagements
    • Anniversaries
    • Births
    • Submit Wedding
    • Submit Engagement
    • Submit Anniversary
    • Submit Birth
    • Submit School News
  • Submit News
    • Submit Obituary
    • Submit Wedding
    • Submit Engagement
    • Submit Birth
    • Submit Anniversary
    • Submit News
    • Submit School News
    • Submit Letter
  • Schools
  • Comics
  • Games
  • Communities
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
    • How to Advertise
    • Classifieds
    • Pay Bill
    • Ad Rates
    • Ad Staff
  • Archives

‘Stay prayed up’

By LaKeadra Coffey , READ MORE > 11,888 Reads
On Thu, 02/25/2021 - 11:30 AM

Maverick Hughes of Winona said his first day on campus at Mississippi State University intimidated him, but he was determined to complete the task he was there for -- to get his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management.

“I was scared out of my mind,” Hughes said. 

Hughes started his freshman year at the age of 55.  He worked full time, and he had a wife and children at home.  However, he was determined to earn his college degree.

 “It was 300 people in that class, and here I am way in the back trying to hear the teacher,” he said, recalling his first class, college algebra in Allen Hall.

However, he said with his faith in God, determination, and tutoring, he successfully made it through College Algebra.

“A lot of it I had forgot, but I made it out of there with a B,” he said. “I took Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Fundaments of Accounting; I took some hard classes,” he said. 

Regardless of the subject, Hughes took his studies seriously with the mindset of someone who had already experienced the real world.

“I took this Intro to Art class, and the professor showed a picture of a green bell pepper and my professor asked me ‘What would you say was on this artist’s mind?’ and I said ‘I don’t know what was on his mind, I guess he was hungry.’ The whole class fell out laughing, even the professor. I still keep in touch with my professors,” Hughes said. “I took Entrepreneurship. That was hard. The entire class was writing a business plan from start to finish. We had to do it in groups, I don’t like groups. But, I had to do it.”

This was not Hughes first experience in higher education.  He’d attended Holmes Community College in the 1990s and had achieved an associate’s degree with a concentration in engineering. This is what led to his career as a real estate appraiser.

“I needed one more class, and I did not want to come back another semester just to take one class,” he said. 

Hughes said his advisor told him to look through the curriculum and see if there was a course that interested him, and he found Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal. The class met once a week for four hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and he said the class was taught by Chuck Thomas, who is also a certified appraiser.

Hughes is the first African-American real estate appraiser in Montgomery County. He said he became interested in the class and wanted to learn more. He said he went and obtained the education requirements that he needed and earned his experience hours with the help of the late Frank Herring of Winona. 

Hughes has owned his own appraisal business for the past 25 years. 

His business background helped when he went back to school at Mississippi State. While still managing his business, taking care of his wife, Dr. Katherine Ward-Hughes, and his children, Katrina Bays, Marcus Hughes, Rev. Tyone Hughes and Krystle Hughes, Hughes still managed to achieve his goal and receive his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. He said it took him seven years taking two classes a semester.

Hughes said in those seven years, he faced many challenges, but he fought his way through.  A painful case of Shingles was particularly difficult.

“I never missed a day, never showed any pain. My wife took good care of me,” he said. “I went through three cars, never had an accident or got a moving violation. I thank God for that. I didn’t do any summer school.”

He said there were a couple of semesters he had to take off but he never stopped.

“They [students in his class] called me “uncle.” They said I was an inspiration to them, they loved me,” he said. 

He credits his inspiration and motivation to keep going to his family. 

“They’re my inspiration. My wife is my darling. She’s very educated. I go to her for advice. I go to my kids for advice, they’re an inspiration to me,” he said. 

However, he said owes much to his relationship with God. He said his relationship with God is the reason for his success now. 

“You have to have a strong relationship with God. He’s the reason for success. I’ve never been to New York, but you can drop me off with just that [his relationship with God] and $5 and give me 30 days. I may not have a house, but I’ll have an apartment, a car and a job,” Hughes said, laughing. 

His other advice for those wanting to take the leap to college or to go back to college, “stay prayed up, treating people how they want to be treated and ask for help.”

Hughes said he hopes that he’s an inspiration to others, especially those younger than him, to show them that if he can do it, they can do it, too.

“I don’t know about any other schools, but I do know about Holmes and Mississippi State. If you ain’t got it up here [pointing to his head], you don’t have good study habits, you’re not enthusiastic about your homework because they’re going to give you homework, enthusiastic about your exams, you’re not going to make it,” he said. 

“I finish with a 3.1 GPA,” he said, smiling. “I’m still learning even with my appraisal business. I’m still learning. I read, you have to read in order to stay abreast.”

 

‹ PreviousNext ›

Most Recent - Winona Times

Jackson Councilman Kenneth Stokes leads protest across the street from gun show

As hundreds gathered at the Mississippi Trade Mart this weekend for an annual gun show, Jackson… READ MORE

Most Read News Article

  • Week
  • Month
  • Year
  • All Time

Mississippi Covid-19 Update : April 08, 2021

Listed below is the daily COVID-19 update for the state of Mississippi.   New cases of COVID-19:… READ MORE

Town discusses Master Street Plan
Candidate drops out of race
Secretary of State Watson faces criticism for saying ‘woke, uninformed’ college students shouldn’t vote
“Connect me to Ruleville”: NSMC telemedicine pilot becomes model for national COVID response
In a season of baseball excellence, we should recall the ‘Willie Ball’

Mississippi increases monthly welfare check for first time since 1999

Mississippi’s relatively small number of families receiving federal Temporary Assistance for Needy… READ MORE

Carrollton water customers reminded of boil water alert
Vaccine-resistant COVID-19 strain detected in Mississippi
More than $51 million separates legislative chambers on K-12 education appropriation bill
MDOT employee severly injured in accident
Wicker, Hyde-Smith Cosponsor Legislation to Honor Emmett Till’s Legacy

Needy families get July 4th holiday boost

For some families in the Carroll and Montgomery area, the Fourth of July holiday just became a… READ MORE

Favorite dips to enjoy for summer
Recipe even better the next day
Charges against Curtis Flowers dismissed
Two killed in I-55 crash
4-H hosts first-ever Virtual State Congress

“Hill Fire: Knee Deep” based on the stories of the late Arnold Dyre

This weekend, the Montgomery County Arts Council will present a special play inspired by the life… READ MORE

Stars to face St. Joseph in first round
Carpenter wins runoff, Daniels new constable
Orvlie Hunt
Four injured in Carroll plane crash
Black Hawk resident meets Austrian pen pal for the first time

edition-button

Sign Up for Notifications of Local Breaking News

Start E-mail NotificationsStop E-mail NotificationsStart Mobile NotificationsStop Mobile Notifications

Social - WT

State Auditor, AG investigating Centene on allegations it pocketed millions in taxpayer dollars

Both the state auditor and Mississippi attorney general are investigating whether Centene Corp., as… READ MORE

U.S. Supreme Court denies Fitch motion to halt education lawsuit over Jim Crow-era language
Charter school must improve to continue operating, board says
New Summit School operators allegedly fleeced the Mississippi Department of Education out of more than $2 million from 2017 to 2020 using a program that serves hospitalized children. They had been charging the program for over a decade.
How public education fared during the 2021 legislative session
MDE: Legislature Passes Teacher Pay Raise, Increases Funds for State Board of Education Priorities

Obituaries

Henry Franklin “Buddy” Blount, Jr.

Henry Franklin “Buddy” Blount, Jr., 74, and a lifelong resident o

Kathrine 'Kay' Heath Steed
Susie Kuykendall McElroy
Lora Ann McCuiston
Lester Bell, Jr.
Tannie Dixon, Jr.

SPORTS

Brian Dozier will be at home on Opening Day and loves it

Major League Baseball’s opening day is set for Thursday. All 30 big league teams will play, but for… READ MORE

Brian Dozier will be at home on Opening Day and loves it
In a season of baseball excellence, we should recall the ‘Willie Ball’
Stars split district games
Tiger tennis wins district
Jaguars rout Bulldogs 27-0

Cartoon Button

  

Comic Button

COMPANY COMMUNITY ADVERTISE E-EDITIONS MORE NEWS
Contact Community Calendar Subscribe Newspaper Archive Cartoons
FAQ/Help Obituaries Ad Rates Newspaper E-Edition Columns
Our History Engagements/Weddings Ad Staff Special Section Editorials
Our Staff Most Read My Account   Politics
Statewide Most Recent Rack Locations    

Click on the city name to visit its website.

ACKERMAN  •  CARROLLTON  •  CHARLESTON  •  CLARKSDALE  •  COLUMBIA  •  DUMAS(Ark.)  •  EUPORA  •  FOREST  • 

FRANKLINTON(La.)  • GREENVILLE  •  GREENWOOD  •  GRENADA  •  HATTIESBURG  •  JACKSON  •  KOSCIUSKO  •  INDIANOLA  • 

LOUISVILLE  • MAGEE  • MENDENHALL  •  McCOMB  •  NEWTON  •  PETAL  •  QUITMAN  •  SENATOBIA  •  TALLULAH(La.)  •  WINONA  •  YAZOO CITY


Copyright 2020 - Montgomery Publishing | Privacy Statement | Help | Terms of Service

Montgomery Publishing - 401 Summit St. Winona, MS 38967 - (662)-283-1131

Emmerich Newspapers proud to serve your local communities.

Thank you for visiting our website.