I was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi.  I attended high school at Heritage Academy in Columbus, Mississippi.  Upon graduation from Heritage Academy, I attended Mississippi State University majoring in banking and finance.   While attending Mississippi State University, I was selected for membership in the Blue Key National Honor Society, the Outstanding Students of America society, and was elected to serve as  a Student Association Senator.  I was also a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and held several offices within that organization.  Upon graduation from Mississippi State University in 1988, I was accepted to law school at the University of Alabama.  While attending law school at the University of Alabama, i was selected for membership in the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society.  I clerked for several well-respected law firms in the summer months followoing my first and second years of law school.  Upon graduation from law school in 1991, I accepted employment as an associate with the law firm of Watkins, Ludlam and Stennis in Jackson, Mississippi.   I returned home in 1993 to join the law firm of Mitchell, McNutt, Threadgill, Smith and Sams where i became a partner in 1997.  I have been fortunate to have experince in practicing law in several different areas, including corporate law, business law, labor and employment law, insurance defense, railroad litigation, criminal law and divorce and family law.  In the past ten years, the majoirty of my practice has been devoted to divorce and family law practice.