MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Marsha Raiford

By Sarah Grace Coleman

Marsha Raiford and her family at Clark Creek in Woodville

Marsha Raiford is a life-long resident of Wesson, where she lives with her three children and husband, Lance Raiford. Growing up, Raiford’s dream was to be a dancer and cheerleader. She attended Nina Smith’s School of Dance, where she then worked as a student teacher in high school.

Raiford attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where she danced as a Colette. After graduating with her associate degree in office technology, she returned to Nina Smith’s as a dance instructor, where she taught for twenty-three years. She then commuted to the Trustmark bank in Hazelhurst for a year and nine months before returning to Wesson. Raiford currently works as the secretary for the nursing program at the Copiah-Lincoln Community College, which allows her to spend more time with her family.

Raiford also created a “dancersize” class, which she started after she and fellow alumni of Nina Smith’s came together to surprise their former teacher at the school’s 50th anniversary recital. The class features dance-oriented exercises, such as line-dancing. 

“I like the fact that people tell me they enjoy just being around other ladies, and then, also, they get their heart rate up, they feel like they have done something, they get their exercise for an hour…feel like they belong to something and just [enjoy] being able to get together, have a good time and laugh and get some exercise,” said Raiford. 

The class is also an opportunity for prayer and fellowship.

“Before we leave, we ask for prayer requests, and we do a prayer time and talk about praises and what we’re thankful for,” said Raiford.

Outside of dancersize, Raiford is also involved with the children’s ministry at Strong Hope Baptist Church.

“I help in the nursery, I help with children’s things. I used to help with Bible School, because I was off in the summers…I used to do the music for Bible School, and I used to do children’s music, also. I enjoy children’s ministry,” said Raiford.

When she’s not dancing or at work, Raiford enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family. Raiford enjoys riding bikes, walking and exercising in her spare time. She and her family are also frequent visitors of Clark Creek in Woodville, Mississippi. 

What are your hobbies?

I’d say my hobbies are my kids and doing stuff with them—I like to walk and exercise…I do that with my youngest daughter; she motivates me to do stuff.

Are you a reader?

I do like to read, but my main thing is I love audio books—I’m reading Atomic Habits right now.

How about music?

I love Christian music, and I enjoy some of the oldies. I like the old rock…not hard, I like the soft rock and Creed, and I love Imagine Dragons.

Do you go to the theater or movies?

I do like the theater, [but] I don’t get to go very much, because I have children. I’m really wanting to get back to New York to go to the theater. The last time I went, it was before my oldest daughter was born. I got to see Wicked, the Rockettes, and Mama Mia.

If you won a lot of money in the lottery, how would you spend it?

I’d probably pay my house off, and I’d give a lot of it away; I’d use it to help people…Travel would be one of the big things. I’d like to go to Hawaii one day…I’d like to go to New York again. I’m not one to want to travel out of the country. I’d like to go to Montana, Colorado; I’d like to make a trip to the west.

How would you change the world?

I’d want everybody to believe in Jesus, so that everybody could go to heaven…because this is not all there is. There’s life after this world. I would love to know that everybody in the world would know Jesus and spend eternity with Him.