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 husband, Lance Raiford, and their two youngest children, Nick and Savannah. Her oldest daughter, Kelly Grace, lives on her own. Growing up, Raiford’s dream was to be a dancer and cheerleader. She attended Nena Smith’s School of Dance, where she later 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 Nena Smith’s as a dance instructor, where she taught for twenty-three years. She then commuted to the Trustmark bank in Hazlehurst 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 with fellow dance teachers Jessica Breazeale and Taylor Burke after she and fellow alumni of Nena 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 held every Tuesday from 6–7 p.m. and is $5 per class. Raiford is grateful to Christy Shaw, who so graciously allows the class to use her Event Room.

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 praisesand what we’re thankful for,” said Raiford.

Outside of Dancersize, Raiford is involved with Strong Hope Baptist Church, where she serves in the choir, helps in the nursery and helps teach Preschool Discipleship Training. She also lead a small group called Moms N Prayer biweekly.

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 especially enjoy doing those things with my youngest daughter. She inspires and motivates me to stay active.”

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.

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.