2012 MS Representatives and Senators

STEP 1: Look here to determine what district you live in (based on your 9 digit zip code or full address).

Step 2: Scroll down to find the name of your Representative in the state House of Representatives (H001 thru H122) and Senator in the state Senate (S01 thru S52)

Step 3: Find your 2 legislators' contact info here by entering their names in the "Search" box. Remember, you may have new legislators starting in Jan 2012. The 2012 legislators are the ones you will want to contact regarding the "Midwife Standards Act". After Janaury, you can go straight to the MS Legislature page to find their contact info.

Note: The "2011 Vote" is how the legislator voted in the 2011 Midwife licensing bill.

District	Name			R/D	2012 Freshman	2011 Health Comm	2011 Vote
H001	Lester Carpenter			R	N	N	N
H002	Nick Bain			D	Y	NA	NA
H003	Tracy Arnold			R	Y	N	NA
H004	Jody Steverson			D	Y	N	N
H005	Kelvin Buck			D	N	N	Y
H006	Eugene Hamilton			R	N	Y	N
H007	Wanda Jennings			R	N	N	N
H008	Trey Lamar			R	Y	N	NA
H009	Clara Burnett			D	N	N	Y
H010	Nolan Mettetal			R	Y	NA	NA
H011	Joe Gardner			D	N	N	Y
H012	Brad Mayo			R	Y	NA	NA
H013	Steve Massengill			R	Y	NA	NA
H014	Margaret Rogers			R	N	N	N
H015	Mac Huddleston			R	N	N	N
H016	Steve Holland			D	N	CHAIR	Y
H017	Brian Aldridge			R	N	N	Y
H018	Jerry Turner			R	N	N	Y
H019	Randy Boyd			R	Y	NA	NA
H020	Chris Brown			R	Y	NA	NA
H021	Donnie Bell			D	N	N	Y
H022	Preston Sullivan			D	N	N	N
H023	Charles Beckett			R	N	N	N
H024	Kevin Horan			D	Y	NA	NA
H025	Gene Alday			R	Y	NA	NA
H026	Chuck Espy			D	N	Y	Y
H027	Ferr Smith			D	N	N	Y
H028	Tommy Taylor			R	Y	NA	NA
H029	Linda Coleman			D	N	N	Y
H030	Robert Huddleston			D	N	N	Y
H031	Sara Thomas			D	N	N	Y
H032	Willie Perkins, Sr.			D	N	N	Y
H033	Thomas Reynolds, II			D	N	Y	N
H034	Linda Whittington			D	N	N	Y
H035	Joey Hood			R	Y	NA	NA
H036	David Gibbs			D	N	N	Y
H037	Gary Chism			R	N	N	Y
H038	Tyrone Ellis			D	N	N	Y
H039	Jeffrey Smith			R	N	Y	N
H040	Pat Nelson			R	Y	NA	NA
H041	Esther Harrison			D	N	N	Y
H042	Reecy Dickson			D	N	N	Y
H043	Michael T. Evans			D	Y	NA	NA
H044	C. Scott Bounds			R	N	N	N
H045	Bennett Malone			D	N	N	Y
H046	Bobby Howell			R	N	Y	N
H047	Bryant Clark			D	N	Y	Y
H048	Jason M. White			D	Y	NA	NA
H049	Willie Bailey			D	N	N	Y
H050	John Hines			D	N	Y	Y
H051	Rufus Straughter			D	N	N	Y
H052	Thomas Woods			R	N	N	N
H053	Robert Moak			D	N	Y	Y
H054	Alex Monsour			R	N	N	N
H055	George Flaggs, Jr.			D	N	Y	Y
H056	Philip Gunn			R	N	N	N
H057	Edward Blackmon, Jr.			D	N	N	Y
H058	Rita Martinson			R	N	N	Y
H059	Kevin McGee			R	N	N	N
H060	John Moore			R	N	N	N
H061	Ray Rogers			R	N	N	N
H062	Thomas Weathersby, Sr.			R	N	N	NA
H063	Deborah Butler Dixon			D	Y	NA	NA
H064	William Denny, Jr.			R	N	N	N
H065	Mary Coleman			D	N	Y	Y
H066	Cecil Brown			D	N	Y	N
H067	Earle Banks			D	N	N	Y
H068	Credell Calhoun			D	N	N	Y
H069	Alyce Clarke			D	N	N	Y
H070	James Evans			D	N	Y	Y
H071	Adrienne Wooten			A	N	N	Y
H072	Kimberly Campbell Buck			D	N	N	Y
H073	Brad Oberhousen			D	Y	NA	NA
H074	Mark Baker			R	N	N	N
H075	Tom Miles			D	Y	NA	NA
H076	Gregory Holloway, Sr.			D	N	N	Y
H077	J. Andrew Gipson			R	N	N	Y
H078	Randy Rushing			R	Y	NA	NA
H079	Blaine Eaton, II			D	N	Y	Y
H080	Omeria Scott			D	N	V-CHAIR	Y
H081	Stephen Horne			R	N	N	NA
H082	Charley Young			D	Y	NA	NA
H083	Elton Gregory Snowden			R	N	Y	N
H084	William Shirley			R	Y	NA	NA
H085	America Chuck Middleton			D	N	N	Y
H086	Sherra Lane			D	N	N	N
H087	Johnny Stringer			D	N	N	N
H088	Gary Staples			R	N	N	N
H089	Bobby Shows			R	N	N	Y
H090	Joseph Warren			D	N	N	N
H091	Robert Evans			D	N	N	Y
H092	Becky Currie			R	N	Y	N
H093	Timmy Ladner			R	Y	NA	NA
H094	Robert Johnson, III			D	N	N	Y
H095	Jessica Upshaw			R	N	Y	N
H096	Angela Cockerham			D	N	N	Y
H097	Sam Mims, V			R	N	N	N
H098	David Myers			D	N	N	Y
H099	Bill Pigott			R	N	N	N
H100	Ken Morgan			R	N	N	Y
H101	Hank Lott			R	Y	NA	NA
H102	Toby Barker			R	N	Y	Y
H103	Percy Watson			D	N	Y	Y
H104	Larry Byrd			R	N	N	Y
H105	Dennis DeBar, Jr.			R	Y	NA	NA
H106	Herbert Frierson			R	N	N	N
H107	Doug McLeod			R	Y	NA	NA
H108	Mark Formby			R	N	N	Y
H109	Manly Barton			R	Y	NA	NA
H110	Billy Broomfield			D	N	Y	Y
H111	Charles Busby			R	Y	NA	NA
H112	John Read			R	N	Y	Y
H113	Henry Zuber, III			R	N	N	Y
H114	Jeffrey S. Guice			R	N	N	N
H115	Randall Patterson			D	N	N	Y
H116	Casey Eure			R	N	N	N
H117	Scott DeLano			R	N	N	N
H118	Greg Haney			R	Y	NA	NA
H119	Sonya Williams-Barnes			D	Y	NA	NA
H120	Richard Bennett			R	N	N	N
H121	Carolyn Crawford			R	Y	NA	NA
H122	David Baria			D	Y	NA	NA

District	Name	R/D	2012 Freshman	2011 Health Comm	2011 Vote
S07	Hob Bryan	D	N	CHAIR	NA
S10	Nolan Mettetal	R	N	Y	NA
S13	Willie Simmons	D	N	Y	NA
S15	Gary Jackson	R	N	Y	NA
S16	Bennie Turner	D	N	Y	NA
S20	Josh Harkins	R	Y	NA	NA
S21	Kenneth Jones	D	N	Y	NA
S22	Eugene Clarke	R	N	Y	NA
S23	Briggs Hopson	R	N	Y	NA
S26	John Horhn	D	N	Y	NA
S27	Hillman Frazier	D	N	Y
S31	Terry Burton	R	N	Y
S37	Melanie Sojourner	R	Y	NA	NA
S39	Sally Doty	R	Y	NA	NA
S41	Joey Fillingane	R	N	Y	NA
S42	Chris McDaniel	R	N	Y	NA
S44	John Polk	R	Y	NA	NA
S49	Sean Tindell	R	Y	NA	NA
S01	Chris Massey	R	Y	NA	NA
S02	Bill Stone	D	N	N	NA
S03	Nickey Browning	D	N	N	NA
S04	Rita Parks	R	Y	NA	NA
S05	J. P. Wilemon	D	N	N	NA
S06	Nancy Adams Collins	R	N	N	NA
S08	Russell Jolly	D	Y	NA	NA
S09	Gray Tollison	R	N	N	NA
S11	Robert Jackson	D	N	N	NA
S12	Derrick Simmons	D	N	N	NA
S14	Lydia Chassaniol	R	N	N	NA
S17	Terry W. Brown	R	B	N	NA
S18	Giles Ward	R	N	N	NA
S19	Merle Flowers	R	N	N	NA
S24	David Jordan	D	N	N	NA
S25	William Longwitz	R	Y	N	NA
S28	Alice Harden	D	N	N	NA
S29	David Blount	D	N	N	NA
S30	Dean Kirby	R	N	N	NA
S32	Sampson Jackson	D	N	N	NA
S33	Videt Carmichael	R	N	N	NA
S34	Haskins Montgomery	D	N	N	NA
S35	Perry Lee	R	N	N
S36	Albert Butler	D	N	N	NA
S38	Kelvin Butler	D	N	N	NA
S40	Angela Hill	R	Y	NA	NA
S43	Philip Gandy	R	Y	NA	NA
S45	Billy Hudson	R	N	N	NA
S46	Philip Moran	R	Y	N	NA
S47	Tony Smith	R	Y	NA	NA
S48	Deborah Dawkins	D	N	N	NA
S50	Thomas Gollott	R	N	N	NA
S51	Michael Watson	R	N	N	NA
S52	Brice Wiggins	R	Y	N	NA

Homebirthing Families in MS Need Us NOW!

"Action isn't a burden to be hoisted up and lugged around on our shoulders. It is something we are. The work we have to do can be seen as a kind of coming alive. More than some moral imperative, it's an awakening to our true nature, a releasing of our gifts."  ~ Joanna Macy

Where were you when you found out that the state of MS was about to pass a law to outlaw direct entry (non-nurse) midwifery?
Twenty months ago, I recieved an email from my midwife alerting me that there was a fast moving effort in Jackson to restrict midwifery to nurse midwives only.  The law would outlaw the midwives who care for home birthing families.  Amazingly, the supporters of home birth in MS joined hands across the state and built a wall to stop that law from going any further.  Organizations across the country were impressed with our fast action. Where do we stand now?

We have been building relationships - with legislators, Department of Health, MS Nurses Association.  Here it is bluntly:  If we don't get this bill passed to license midwives, someone else is going to get a bill passed to make direct entry midwives illegal.  We have to pass the "Midwife Standrds Act" which requires midwives optain the CPM credention to be a Licensed MS Midwife. We have done a lot of work to make sure we have the very best law in the US.  One that improves home birth for mothers and babies while elevating the profession of midwifery.

To accomplish this, I need you each to take a moment to reflect.  What will MS be like in 10 years if the "Midwife Standards Act" is passed?  What if ACOG gets its way and puts an end to direct entry midwives?  I have a pretty clear picture in my mind of what I want to see for MS families.  Just talk to a midwife or homebirth family in one of the 26 states that has licensed midwives, like FL or TN.  Ask them what acess to and care from idwives is like in their state.

What is your role in this? 

To pass the "Midwife Standards Act" we need help from every corner of the state. We need YOU to contact your legislators right now to let them know how important this issue is to their constituents.  Personally, I am working my way from my own district out to other areas - calling legislators.   I am willing to spend several days a week in Jackson while they are in session (January-April).  However, I have had to ask myself, what will I do if we don't have money to pay for these trips?  I have turned down opportunities for paid work, so that I can dedicate more time to this.  So, I am already working with a reduced income.  In addition to the countless hours I dedicate, how much can I take from my family's budget to pass this legislation?

I am asking for your help.  There are several states working on passing similar legislation with big budgets and paid lobbyists.  Thankfully, we have a few families that are donating enough time to be "lobbyists."  We work on a very small budget.  Please read the options below and think about how your family can help the families on MS for generations to come.

Thank you, Bianca Wooden
Co-Founder and President
Contact me anytime: 228.233.0686, me@biancawooden.com

Can you offer your time?
1 min: CLick on "Update your Preferences" at the bottom of this email and make sure we have your address and phone number.

5 min: Forward this email to a friend that wants to keep homebirth legal

15 min: Write a note to your Senator or Representative and tell them how much the "Midwife Standards Act" means to you.

30 min: Call your Senator or Representative and tell them how much the "Midwife Standards Act" means to you
1 hour: Join a board member for a meeting with your Senator or Representative
5 hours: Set up a booth at a local park or farmers market to spread the word.
20 hours: Volunteer to be our "Fundraising Coordinator" and organize an online fundraising effort.

Can you donate money?
$3: Send you a bumper sticker so you let others know about us.
$10: Stamps and envelopes to mail 15 letters to legislators.
$20: Make 200 flyers to distribute to legislators.
$30: Gas for a board member to drive to Jackson (just one way).
$100: Hotel room for a board member to spend the night in Jackson.

Other: Donate an item or service for a fundraising auction.

2011-2012 Board of Directors

The newest Mississippi Friends of Midwives Board of Directors have been officially installed and already been working hard! We've held a few events across the state to promote our organization and educate our local communities about midwifery. We've been creating goals for the upcoming year and have lots in store!!!

President, Bianca Wooden
email: me@biancawooden.com
phone: 228.233.0686
Bianca is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Treasurer for the past year.  Bianca's first birth was attended by a CNM in Atlanta with no complications or interventions.  When she got pregnant 5 years later in south Mississippi, she sought out a provider and hospital that was familiar and comfortable with natural birth.  After much research and education, she decided on a home birth with a CPM as her caregiver. Bianca is an advocate for improving birth outcomes and hopes that in the future, MS will have midwives available across the state, working in homes and birth centers in collaboration with local OBs and hospitals - to provide the very best care. Bianca's family lives in Ocean Springs.

 Vice –President, Mandi Sanders
email: goodearthgourmet@gmail.com
phone: 662.791.1663
Mandi is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Board Member for the past year.  After researching and visiting local hospitals and obstetricians, Mandi was disappointed with not only the philosophies and outcomes of these facitilites, but also the lack of options available to pregnant and birthing women in her area. Mandi sought out alternative care that would be supportive of natural childbirth. This led her down the path of midwifery care and deciding to birth at home. Both of her children were born at home in Mississippi attended by CPM's out of Memphis, TN.
Mandi is passionate about natural childbirth options and better education for women about their bodies' amazing capabilities.She currently resides in Starkville, MS and is busy with all things related to mothering 2 boys, Tripp (3) and Charlie (1).

Secretary, Kathy Petersen
Kathy is a founder of MS Friends of Midwives and served as Secretary for the past year.  When Kathy was pregnant the first time, she started reading about all things related to pregnancy and birth, in preparation for a planned home-birth with a CNM. Afterward, she continued her interest in all things related to birth, gave birth at home a second time (this time in MS, with a CPM from Memphis as the midwife), and started Woman to Woman Childbirth Education blog on WordPress. Kathy lives with her family in Ripley, MS.

 Treasurer, Maddy Dietrich
email: madeline.dietrich@yahoo.com
phone: 769-220-2120
  Maddy has become increasingly interested in birth in the last several years, and  firmly believes that women deserve the choice of midwifery care.  The care is holistic, superior, and what every woman needs in their pregnancy journey.   She has been married for a little more than three years and has one 15-month- old daughter named Maria, who she is blessed to stay home with.  She and her husband are expecting their second child in October.  She believes that birth is normal, and wishes to empower women to embrace their God-given abilities and trust their bodies. They live in Hattiesburg.

Board Member, Laura Dearman
email: lmd328@gmail.com
phone: 601-214-3144
Laura is a stay at home mama to Henry, 2.5 and Liza, 9 months.  After the highly managed birth of Henry, she became consumed with reading and learning about natural childbirth while planning an intervention-free birth in a hospital setting during Liza's pregnancy.  After reading home birth birth stories, Laura sought and found a Mississippi based DEM to attend their daughter's birth at home.  The more Laura learns about women's natural ability to give birth, the more important she feels it is to empower women by promoting and advocating natural childbirth.

Board Member, Jess Eddleman
email:  ilovelabor@gmail.com   
phone: 601.405.5743
Jess is married and has one son who will be two in June. She lived in Jackson as a teenager, graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi, spent five years in Portland, OR and then returned back to Jackson after the birth f her son, to be closer to family. Her pregnancy and experience wither own midwives sparked an interest in birth. She is now serving as a doula in the Jackson area.  She is working towards DONA-certification.

Board Member, Toni Hill
email: whozyourdoula@yahoo.com
phone: 662-255-8283
Toni Hill became fascinated with women's health when she was her mother's doula at the age of 14.  She is the mother of four children that she home schools.  She is a doula and a childbirth educator in Northeast Mississippi.  Toni is the project coordinator of the Northeast Mississippi Birthing Project which supports and educates pregnant women until their children reach a year old.   Toni supports mothers with breastfeeding as a La Leche League leader and as a lactation specialist with the Mississippi state department of health.  Toni advocates for all women to have access to care, evidenced-based information, and better birth outcomes.  Toni lives in Tupelo with her husband Jimmy and her four home-schooled children; Precious (14), Jimmy III(9), Preston (7), and Patience (4).


We are excited for the great things the next year has in store for us! We are overwhelmed with the support in our state and thrilled for the community we have helped create amongst home birth and midwifery-supporting families in Mississippi. If you want to get involved, but are unsure of what to do or where to start, PLEASE contact one of the board members. We're here to help!