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NATCHEZ — Kirby Watts always has a smile on her face when she has a racket in her hand.

Watts said she began playing tennis in 1978 after graduating from Mississippi State University, and she met her husband, Henry Watts, on the Duncan Park tennis courts.

When The Dart landed at Duncan Park on Thursday afternoon, Kirby Watts was playing a doubles match with Karen Blain, Margaret Fudikar and Augusta Smith.

“They are all of my friends, and I never get to see them except on the tennis courts,” Watts said.

Watts said she has had success in tennis playing doubles.

In 2019, Watts and Cynthia McCormick played in the United States Tennis Association Combo Doubles 55 and Over State Championships from Nov. 8-10 in Vicksburg.

Watts said the duo lost in the 2018 finals in the state tournament.

“We won the state tournament for doubles in 2019,” Watts said. “We came back to prove ourselves, and we were determined to win. We were ecstatic to win it.”

At 63-years old, Watts said she enjoys playing tennis and teaching at Adams County Christian School.

Watts added she teaches first grade and is entering her 44th year of teaching this upcoming school year.

With school out for the summer, Watts said she plays tennis twice a week at Duncan Park on the tennis courts with a racket in hand.

“I love playing tennis with my friends and playing tennis is fun,” Watts said.