I have been writing poems and short stories for many years. My parents, Maxine Smith Calcote and Jimmy Boyd Calcote (deceased), are originally from Brookhaven, Mississippi, and our ancestor was Bartlett Calcote. My brother, Jim and I grew up at New Hope United Methodist Church, Brookhaven, MS before our family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the early 1960s. New Hope UMC was and always will be the first Homecoming in my life, for it is through our Faith that makes us stronger. The background of our family covers a wide multitude of ministry, musicians, writers and artists. I have been blessed to have a loving family that encourages us to persevere in our faith and dreams.