Natchez senior honored with DAR Good Citizen award

NATCHEZ — Natchez High senior Latrice Ramsey admits she doesn’t say much, but apparently her smile speaks volumes to those around her.

The senior English classes of Natchez High selected the 17-year-old as the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Good Citizen of the Year.

Ramsey said the honor shocked her because she wasn’t in any English classes this year, having finished that part of the curriculum as a junior.

“They all voted, and I did not even know this was going on,” she said. “I think they voted for me because of my personality. I’m always nice to everyone.

“I don’t talk a lot, but I’ve always got a smile on my face.”

Ramsey said she inherited her personality from her grandmother, Betty Benton, who raised her.

“She instilled in me to be nice to others, to be caring, humble and always put God first,” she said.

Her grandmother also had an impact academically, in helping Ramsey learn about her passion for English literature.

“It all started out in the sixth grade — I used to write poems and would read them to my grandmother,” she said. “She was just so supportive and would tell me that I write so well.”

Her destiny was later settled in English class after reading Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright.

“I want to be a writer or I want to teach it one day,” she said. “I want to be an English professor.

“I’d love to be called Dr. Ramsey one day,” she said, laughing.

Being in Natchez has also helped her on that path, as she was able to meet local author Greg Iles.

“I love him,” she said. “I got a chance to work with him in the pilgrimage play.

“I was amazed at how calm he was while putting a play together.”

Ramsey said she was grateful to her classmates for helping her get the DAR good citizen scholarship award. She plans to attend Tougaloo College in the fall.

“I fell in love with Tougaloo — the liberal arts program is amazing,” she said. “I love all of the English professors.”

Beyond her grandmother, Ramsey said teachers and members of the community have also had an impact on her. One important person has been Diane Good of the D&J Good Youth Choir.

“They took us on trips to Las Vegas, Canada and all over,” she said. “That’s when I started to realize there is more out there than the streets of Natchez.

“Whatever you want to do, you can reach that goal.”

After she leaves the state to get her doctorate, Ramsey said she’d love to come back to Mississippi.

“I most definitely want to come back to Mississippi for my career,” she said. “I want to be able to help raise Mississippi up. I want to be part of the change.”

“I want to be like the people who encouraged and instilled values in me,” Ramsey said. “I love to see people from Natchez doing great things. Even if they have to go off, they can come back and reach out to the youth and show them that anything is possible.

“I want to be that person one day.”

SportsPlus

News

Schools, government offices closed Tuesday, Wednesday for winter weather

Business

Business networking event on MLK day will go on as scheduled in cozy indoor setting

News

GALLERY: A night in Paris begins Mardi Gras season for Mystique Krewe of Natchez

News

GALLERY: KOP Call Out Ball dances the night away

News

Light agenda for county supervisors’ meeting Tuesday morning

News

Look who’s cooking: Jessica Swalm Byrne

Business

‘Magic of Natchez’: Berrys help reimagine PGC’s Spring Pilgrimage

News

Lights, camera, action!…It’s happening in Natchez

News

Meet the Team: CPSO introduces Special Victims Unit that investigates sexual, cyber crimes

News

Wreck on MLK Friday night sends one person to hospital with minor injures

DEVELOPING NEWS

UPDATE: Schools close for inclement weather Tuesday

News

4 people now arrested and charged for Dec. 11 double homicide on Lewis Drive

News

Snow chances increase for area Tuesday

News

MLK parade postponed due to weather

DEVELOPING NEWS

Second arrest made for fatal New Year’s Day shooting

News

Pickleball or CPR anyone? Co-Lin Natchez offers special interest classes this spring

News

UPDATE: ‘Complaint of pain’ was extent of injury in law enforcement, 18-wheeler collision

DEVELOPING NEWS

Troopers investigating ACSO collision with 18-wheeler

News

State Supreme Court denies appeal of Franklin County man convicted of killing brother-in-law

News

BRIGHT FUTURE: Porter named 2025 Concordia Parish Student of the Year

News

Natchez man arrested for father’s death at Lake Saint John residence

News

Dangerous cold expected, snow possible in next week’s forecast

BREAKING NEWS

One arrested for Wednesday morning homicide on Lake Saint John

News

LDWF cites Jonesville man for bringing deer carcass with CWD into state