By SABRINA SIMMS

The Natchez Democrat

WOODVILLE — Jessie Minor, a mother of four in Woodville, said she feels blessed to have all of her daughters graduate with the highest honor in the classes of 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018.

The four daughters have a lot in common. Not only are they all talented singers in their own spiritual quartet The Minor Sisters, they also were all valedictorians of their respective high school classes.

As the youngest of her siblings, Janae said she felt pressured to measure up to her older sisters’ accomplishments.

“At first there was a lot of pressure,” Janae said. “I know my family wasn’t forcing me to do it. They just wanted me to do my very best. Still, I felt like I wanted to be like them because it was an amazing thing that they’ve accomplished. It’s really cool to actually have accomplished that goal. I’m happy that the Lord blessed me to be like them.”

Janae is one of two valedictorians of Wilkinson County’s class of 2018, which had more than 70 students. She and her classmate Ranlissihia Tickles tied their GPAs in the last semester and both received numerous scholarships.

Tickles said she would continue her education at Mississippi State University, where she intends to study political science before going to law school.

“I’ve always wanted people to be treated equally and justly,” Tickles said.

Both of Wilkinson County’s valedictorians said they have found the most encouragement and support throughout their high school careers from home.

Janae is the daughter of Jessie and Wayne Minor. She was a member of the National Technical Honor Society, her school band and basketball team. She was also the president of her school’s 4-H club.

Janae credits her success in school to her mother and to God, because her mother taught her about faith before she ever enrolled.

“She taught me about God at an early age,” Janae said. “All of my accomplishments and all of my successes have come from God. I’m grateful to her for raising me to love God. I know that my life has been better knowing Him.”

Janae said her faith is the most distinguishing quality that sets her apart from her peers. She worked to bring daily prayer into her school when she was a sophomore.

“God loves you and He wants you to live a holy life,” Janae said. “I never really heard the rest of my classmates talk about stuff like that. That’s something that makes me different from my classmates.”

Janae’s mother said she was particularly touched by her youngest daughter’s valedictory speech.

“What touched me about (her speech) was how she was not ashamed of God,” Jessie said. “She spoke out to her classmates, letting them know how much she cared about them. That, to me, was the icing on the cake. … It touched my heart.”

Jessie said she feels honored to be the mother of four valedictorians — Jessica, Joycelyn, Jasmine and now Janae.

“I’m honored and elated that God saw fit to do this,” Jessie said, “because at the end of the day it really is all about Him.”

Janae and her sisters call themselves The Minor Sisters and sing together in a quartet at church and at a local nursing home.    

Janae said she hopes to study engineering at either Jackson State University or the University of Southern Mississippi.

“Throughout school, I’ve always enjoyed math and science,” Minor said. “Engineering seemed to be the best fit for me.”

Among her other goals, Janae said she would like to start a homeless shelter and ministry for women and children.

“Some people need love and are abandoned, misused and mistreated,” Janae said. “I hope to teach them about God. … He is everything that we need. … and is our only hope in a world like this.”