Mr. and Mrs. John Barry Pickering of Brookhaven announce the engagement of their daughter, Olivia Joy, to David Michael Hobkirk. Mr. Hobkirk is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Bauer of Crystal Springs and Robert Bruce Hobkirk of Vicksburg.

Miss Pickering is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Pickering and Mr. and Mrs. Truly Earl Smith, all of Brookhaven.

Mr. Hobkirk is the grandson of Robert F. Pell and the late Myrtle Pell of Port Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Hobkirk of Vicksburg and John Bauer and the late Pat Bauer of Laurel.

The bride-elect is a 2006 graduate of West Lincoln Attendance Center. She received an associate degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she studied mathematics.

Miss Pickering is a deputy tax collector at the Lincoln County Tax Assessor/Collector’s Office in Brookhaven.

The prospective groom is a 2007 graduate of Copiah Academy and a 2009 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Mr. Hobkirk is employed with Averitt Express in Gallman.

The wedding will be at 2 p.m. May 14, 2011, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Brookhaven. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall of the church. All relatives and friends are invited to attend.