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Carlos Redden said credits his faith for turning his life around. "He's seen me through prison, poverety, everything in my past" Redden said. "God's seen me through it all." (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Carlos Redden sits outside on Franklin Street Monday after his shift was over at the Natchez Coffee Company. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Carlos Redden shows off the tattoo of his daughter’s initials Monday on Franklin Street. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Carlos Redden sits outside of Natchez Coffee Monday after his shift, where he works as a cook. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Carlos Redden shows off the other tattoo of what was his nickname, Monday outside of Natchez Coffeee.

NATCHEZ — At 39 years old, Carlos Redden is rising from the mud of his past.

“Ain’t nobody come from the mud like I came from the mud,” Redden said Monday sitting alone on Franklin Street reminiscing about what he now refers to as his past life.

“Now I just want to be an example to a person who was exactly like me — hopeless, depressed, at 13 with no mama and no daddy,” Redden said. “I can tell you about it because I’ve been there.”

He works full time waiting tables, cooking and washing dishes, as he refers to it, learning to live on the legal side.

Redden said at 13 years old, he raised himself, attended Natchez High School but ended up dropping out and selling drugs.

“I didn’t have a mom to buy clothes, food, and I lived with my friend’s aunt,” he said.

In 2002 Redden was caught selling cocaine. He was in prison until 2011.

When he was released, Redden moved in with his sister, Pallice Vicks. He lived there for 3 to 4 months while working at local restaurant.

“I mean, I built up a reputation and a title, so you know people are going to look at me awkward and look at me as if I’m the same bad person until I show them.”

After six months, Redden applied to work at Natchez Coffee Company as a dishwasher. They declined at first, then three days later offered him the job, and he’s been there since.

“It’s a blessing from God that I’m working here,” Redden said, “I’m showing up thankful for Miss Sharon Brown and Miss Annette Johnson, they believe in me even when I don’t.”

Redden said at first it was a monster knowing that what he makes in an hour selling drugs, he now makes every paycheck.

Now, he said it’s easy.

“I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” he said.

Working has helped him deal with people and provides him with the opportunity to be there for his 20-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, Redden said.

“I didn’t want to let my daughter down anymore. I was constantly letting her down and missing out on her life,” Redden said.

Redden said he is now happy just to wake up, living in his own apartment, knowing his bills are paid for with an honest day’s work and realizing his life has more purpose than what he thought.

“God reassures me, let’s the past be the past. You gotta walk forward and let go of the regret,” he said. “Now, I’m glad I went through all that because I can relate to others.”

“I’d like to reach out to the same type of child I was, coming out of the mud and the gutters and let them know they can make it,” he said. “They don’t have to give up on life. I’m here and I’m trying.”

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