Indianola Chamber Main Street held its annual mixer this past Monday night at the B.B. King Museum, bringing together community leaders, local residents and business owners for an evening of celebration and networking.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Morris Lewis Jr. Citizen of the Year Award to attorney Richard Noble.
Last year’s recipient, Lisa Cowart, introduced Noble, who was recognized for his dedication and service to the community.
Noble expressed gratitude for the opportunities he's had since moving to Indianola.
A native of Fayette, Missississippi, Noble moved to Indianola after obtaining his law degree from the University of Mississippi 52 years ago.
“I was an outsider, basically,” Noble said, thanking the Indianola community for accepting him five decades ago. “I tell you what, it was the best move that I ever made, except of course marrying my wife (Laurie). It is a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to raise a family. It’s got so much promise if each one of us would take pride in this place.”
Noble said that each day in Indianola, there is an opportunity to help people and to do good things for the community.
He credited Attorney Frank Crosthwait for giving him his first break in the community.
Tuesday night’s event also featured a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the chamber’s past accomplishments over the last year. Bryan Davis, immediate past president, led the presentation before passing out awards to participants, recognizing their service and dedication.
“It was truly an honor to serve Indianola Chamber Main Street, and by default, the Indianola community, last year,” Davis said. “We are going to continue to work and build on the momentum that our Chamber and town have going into this next fiscal year.”
Pastor Steven Jarrod Smith provided the invocation to begin the evening, setting a tone of gratitude and community spirit.
Following the awards presentation, Kendall McDowell, the 2025-26 chamber president, presented a service award to Davis in appreciation of his leadership over the past year.
McDowell said that she is looking forward to the upcoming year with a focus on membersip drives and improving communication within the organization and throughout the community.
““I’m excited for the opportunity to serve our community in this capacity in conjunction with our board,” McDowell told The Enterprise-Tocsin. “We have a really special community and it’s an honor to be part of the momentum we have going — we’re looking forward to a great year ahead.”
The evening also recognized several outstanding community members with awards from the 2025 Indianola Community Fund. Recipients included:
Business of the Year: Honeysuckles Children’s Boutique, sponsored by Guaranty Bank
Policeman of the Year: Irish Johnson, sponsored by Community Bank
Fireman of the Year: Terry Cobbs, sponsored by Southern Bancorp
Public Works Person of the Year: Jessie Hankum, sponsored by Gresham Petroleum
EMR of the Year: Jake Abney, sponsored by Indianola Community Fund
Educator of the Year: Kristie Montesi from Lockard Elementary and Almare Goodes from Indianola Academy, sponsored by Planters Bank
High School Senior Scholarship Recipients: Tyrianna (Bunny) Johnson and Madison White of Gentry High School and Raksa Nhem of Indianola Academy, sponsored by the Indianola Community Fund
Recipients were celebrated for their service, dedication, and positive impact on the community.
The event exemplifies Indianola’s ongoing commitment to recognizing local talent and fostering community spirit. Indianola Chamber Main Street continues to support local growth through events like this, which highlight the achievements of individuals and organizations dedicated to making Indianola a better place for all.
