Home Page | Rotary Club of Hattiesburg

Dr. Chambers-Berry most recently served as Director of Emergency and Nursing Staff Services at Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto in Southaven, Mississippi. In that position, Dr. Chambers-Berry was involved with supervising a 92 person staff, managing the daily operations of an emergency department, which cares for 67,000 patients annually, overseeing a multimillion dollar budget, and strategic nursing oversight for a 25-bed emergency expansion project. Additionally, Dr. Chambers-Berry oversaw nursing support services at Baptist Desoto and was responsible for bed flow daily operations.

Dr. Chambers-Berry has a wide range honors and accomplishments including serving as President of the Mississippi Nurses Association of Marshall, Tate, and De Soto Counties from 2018 till her relocation to Hattiesburg on September 1 and being voted Top 100 Nurses in Memphis-Shelby County 2015. She was also nominated for the prestigious Nightingale Nurse of Distinction Award.

Dr. Chambers-Berry earned a Masters of Science in Nursing from Loyola University New Orleans and went on to receive a Doctorate of Nursing Practice also from Loyola University New Orleans in 2016.

MINUTES: November 22, 2022

Mark Killingsworth introduced Copeland Nowell prior to the beginning of today’s meeting. Copeland is a native of Hattiesburg and a graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School. After high school graduation he enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy and received a full scholarship to the Academy. The scholarship includes tuition, room and board, books, and a $120 weekly stipend for living expenses. It is estimated that the scholarship is valued at $500,000. The Academy is a four-year public university. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree and specialized training in an area they wish to enter. They also graduate as a commissioned officer in the Navy or the Marines. In exchange for the scholarship, they agree to serve in the commission for an additional five years after graduation.

Mallory Donald presided over the meeting. Ryan Kelly provided the opening prayer. Copeland Nowell led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mallory led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Mugshots Bar and Grill in Hattiesburg.

Richard Topp distributed a sign-up sheet for this year’s Salvation Army bell ringing event. Our club will ring the bells on Saturday, December 3^rd and the evening of Tuesday, December the 6^th.

Stew then conducted the 50/50 raffle. There was no winner, so the pot rolls over to next week.

Mallory reported that the board has decided to move forward with our annual wine tasting event. Committee members are needed. If you are interested, please let Mallory know.

Annie Jackson then introduced today’s guest speaker, Danyella Terrell. She is a graduate of the USM School of Social Work and is a licensed social worker. She began her career as an intern at Ellisville State School. Her work experience includes supervision, front line and regional case management, hospice, as well as navigation with the Medicaid Bridge to Independence program. In addition to being a social worker, she owns three businesses in the Hattiesburg area.

Danyella encouraged Rotarians to leave a legacy, not for us but for God. Her daily, personal goal is to make someone’s life better. She reminded us that nothing just happens, but everything happens for a reason. She says we should take what we have and make the best of it while being encouraging to others, because you never know when they need you.

There being no further business to come before the club, Mallory thanked Danyella for her remarks. She then adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”

OUR GUEST TODAY: Danyella Berry-Terrell—USM School of Social Work

Danyella Terrell, LMSW is a native of Pearl, MS youngest girl of 7 children, and 2-time graduate from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work. Currently serving as an adjunct instructor at the University, her determination to teach with integrity and compassion is conveyed to her students. She began her social work career as a licensed social work intern at Ellisville State School. Her 1st post undergraduate job was with Forrest County DHS where she was assisted in decreasing the custody count from 400 to 76 children over a five-year time span. Her social work experience includes supervision, front line and regional case management, hospice, as well as navigation with the Medicaid Bridge to Independence program, currently known as Community Transition Services and Clinical therapy.

In addition, she is a flourishing entrepreneur of 3 Businesses: Berry Boujee' Boutique Inc, The Boujee' Boss Pop-Up Market and DBT Properties.

MINUTES: November 15, 2022

Mallory Donald presided over the meeting. Ryan Kelly provided the opening prayer. Lucy Sanguinetti led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mallory led the club in the Four Way Test. The meeting was held at the Mugshots Bar and Grill in Hattiesburg.

Mallory then conducted the 50/50 raffle. Annie Jackson was the winner, however, she failed to draw the Queen of Spades, so the pot rolls over to next week.

Richard Topp introduced his guest today from the Salvation Army. Our club rings the bells for the Army each Christmas season. There is consensus that we will ring on December 3^rd and again for one evening. Sign-up sheets will be ready for volunteers at our next meeting.

Lucy then introduced today’s guest speaker, Ben Smith. Ben is an assistant baseball coach at William Carey University. He is a native of Laurel. He first arrived at William Carey in 2004 as an infielder/pitcher. He joined the Crusader baseball coaching staff in the fall of 2008 and helped lead the Crusaders to a GCAC Championship and NAIA National Tournament in his first season. In 2010 he became the first ever coach of the Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams. In 2015 the Men’s Cross-Country team won the SSAC Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Championship.

Ben says the Cross-Country team members are the hardest working athletics at William Carey. They start running at 4:30 a.m. each morning and run multiple miles before they rest.

Ben talked a great deal about travel ball and the often-negative impact it has on children. He says the most serious negative impact in his opinion is that travel ball teams play ball on Sunday morning when they should be in church. There are lots of player injuries as a result of the pressure travel ball puts on the players. Travel ball is also very expensive for parents.

His number one advice for parents of children who play youth sports is to make sure they play in multiple sports.

There being no further business to come before the club, Mallory thanked Ben for his remarks. She announced that a board meeting will be scheduled either before or after next Tuesday’s meeting. She then adjourned the meeting with our motto: “Service Above Self.”

NEXT WEEK: NO MEETING