NATCHEZ — In a small town like Natchez, history has a habit of repeating itself for LaToya Fleming.

Fleming grew up in Northeast Subdivision, and her upbringing was a collective effort not only of her grandparents that lived nearby — but by the neighbors who she grew to think of as family.

When The Dart found Fleming on Meadowlane Drive, she had just arrived at her house, which is a few blocks from where she grew up.

Now that the 30-year-old single mother has two children of her own, her children are being brought up with the help of their great-grandmothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbors in the same neighborhood.

“It’s like I never left,” Fleming said.

Not only do the friends and family near her house help watch out for her children when she is at her job as a high school English teacher in Tensas Parish, but Fleming’s house has become the popular hang-out for neighborhood boys and girls to gather.

Fleming moved to her house approximately one year ago, and her son, Jaylen Fleming, 13, and daughter Jada Richardson, 9, love living in a neighborhood where someone is always dropping to play.

Between 6 and 7 p.m., Fleming’s sister, Candice Fleming, walked into her house to say hello before church, Fleming’s mother came by unannounced to let out Fleming’s two nephews and niece to play, and a neighbor Fleming knew as child stopped her car in front of the house to say hello and check in.

Fleming said calling before coming by her house is a formality those in her life prefer not to make.

“Everybody just shows up,” Fleming said.

Her mother lives less than five minutes away, her father lives less than one minute away and to get to her grandmother’s house — Fleming’s children simply hop the back fence for a shortcut.

Between working on online classes at Alcorn State University to earn a masters degree, teaching nearly an hour away, getting her children to football, baseball, basketball and dance team practice, and making it to Bible study — Fleming said she appreciates the help.

Fleming said her neighbor usually picks Jada up from the bus stop every day, and then Jada visits with her great-grandmother until her mother gets home.

Fleming said she does not worry too much about her children playing outside, because she knows everyone’s name in the neighborhood, and most of the neighbors have known Fleming since she was little.

Fleming pointed down the block at each house visible from her lawn, rattling off the names of the people who lived at each house.

Fleming said the tradition of neighbors helping watch over the neighborhood children seems to continue, because she notices her older children tend to take care of the younger children.

Fleming watched Jaylen play basketball in the driveway with his cousins Norman, 15, and Jordan, 11, Mosby, while Jada played on her Ripstik skateboard on the sidewalk with her cousin Morgan Mosby, 8.

“I like to see my children grow up in this neighborhood,” Fleming said.

“They’re happy here.”