Valentine for life: Preschool class focuses on moms for special day

Published 11:37 pm Thursday, February 13, 2025

While couples may be whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears this Valentine’s Day, Debbie Freeman’s First Baptist Church four-year-olds preschool class has been busy working on a special Valentine’s Day booklet for their mothers.

These booklets, each created for the special woman in each child’s life, included a picture of their mom, a self-portrait, a handprint, a photograph of themselves and a message telling her why she is loved.

“I love my mother because she gives me the tightingness and loving hugs every single time after school,” four-year-old June Cooksey said.

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Eloise Mooney said she loved her mother because of her nutritional savvy.

“I love my mother because she gives me healthy food.” Eloise added that included serving up seaweed, which she liked, during mealtimes.

The four boys in Freeman’s class also had plenty of thoughts on why they loved their mothers, most of which included hugs and kisses.

“I love my mother because she gives me hugs every time I leave school,” Craig Cannon said.

Will Busby concurred.

“I love my mother because she hugs me after school,” he said.

Levi Ables gets hugs from his mother too.

“I love my mother because she gives me hugs at night when she tucks me in bed,” Levi said.

And Nathan Thames said, “I love my mother because she gives me kisses.”

In addition to making their mothers Valentine’s Day booklets, the children had also created Valentine-inspired mailboxes that would hold cards from their peers. Freeman’s class also created table tents to be used as decorations for the dining room at the Vicksburg Convalescent Home.

First Baptist Church preschool director Julie Tillotson said 22 table tents were made and delivered to the Vicksburg Convalescent Home on Wednesday, so residents and staff could enjoy them throughout the weekend.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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