(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights The Flower Shop owner Tracy Dyess.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Laurel on March 18, 1968, but I was actually adopted through the Mississippi Children’s Society. I’m very proud of being adopted because they were excellent parents, and I think adoption is the perfect thing because someone gave me a better life.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I started out at an elementary school in Silver Creek that doesn’t exist anymore. I graduated from New Hebron Attendance Center. I went to Jones County Junior College, and I got married while I was there and had my children.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am the owner of The Flower Shop, and we do a little of everything. We do birthday parties with balloons, weddings with all of the floral arrangements and we have a little gift shop. We do funeral arrangements. There’s a lot of emotions over the course of the day. You can start out really happy doing a wedding, but before it’s over you’re sitting down with someone in a hard time in their life.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I worked at Prentiss Christian for 16 years, and I loved to be around children. I would also direct weddings a lot. If anybody had a wedding, I would direct it or help with flowers through the years. I retired from the school, and we were going to travel. Then a friend of mine told me the florist was for sale, and she asked why don’t I do that because I always loved weddings and flowers. I called and decided I would do it because I like this kind of work. I love to meet with the brides, but I mostly just like being around people. I was retired for five years, and not doing anything drove me nuts. The way I found my love for Marion County was every morning for five years, I got up and came and walked at the park here. All my friends were working, so I started walking and making friends. I would go to Second Street Bean and became friends with Paris. I fell in love with Columbia.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Finding out what people like because you tend to pick things out that you like. Just because I like it doesn’t mean someone else is going to like it. So when I go to pick things out, I’ll call my daughter and daughter-in-law to see what they think. It’s challenging to figure out what people really want for their flowers and their gifts.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be a lawyer. I discovered real quick I was too emotional. I would always tell my dad I was going to be a lawyer when I grew up, and he would tell me he wasn’t sure about that because I’m real easy to cry and emotional. I don’t think I could have ever done it.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Babysitting when I was a teenager was my first little job. My first major job was working with vocational rehabilitation. I would go in and train mentally retarded adults, and I absolutely loved that job. It was really rewarding to see somebody go in that couldn’t do it and see them succeed. I’m still friends with some of those clients.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: I’m going to say my children. I have really good kids. They are very supportive. My oldest son, Mason, is a neurologist in Miami. My daughter, Presley, is a nurse and is my baby. My middle son, Colby, is an electrician offshore. My daughter-in-law, Tiffany, is a big influence, too. She does a lot of computer work here. Her and my daughter pick out a lot of the things in the store. They’re the kind that call me up every day and encourage me. I probably wouldn’t have done this without my children encouraging me to do it. They push me to keep going.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Danny. He’s a great husband and I love him.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Shrimp and grits. It’s absolutely my favorite meal in the whole wide world.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d like to go to England. I like the royal family, and I like the feel of England. I watch a lot of shows about it and the royal family.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Every spare minute I can find I want to spend with my grandchildren. We like to go play in the park. I love to ride bikes, but I haven’t found time to do that much recently.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I remember telling a friend when I would walk at the park that we just didn’t walk, we would walk and make friends at the park with people I never even knew. I thought people were so friendly. You’re quick to make friends here. I love the friendly atmosphere here, and I love Second Street Bean and the atmosphere there. I think it’s something about small communities that I just love because I loved Lawrence County, Jeff Davis County and Marion County. All three have that feel of closeness and a connection. People care about one another.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I just got through reading a book about Jacqueline (Kennedy) Onassis, and she did so much with her life as a first lady and was such a kind and giving person. She did so much more than people realize with charities and children.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I’d visit with my grandchildren, do any kind of flowers I wanted and travel. I’d love to go to alternate places to eat in Mississippi and see places I haven’t seen in the state.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Having my first child because you’re so responsible for everything that child is going to do for the rest of their lives. You want them to be a kind person and love everybody. It’s the moment you realize you’ve got someone there looking at you that you have to prepare for the rest of their lives.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: I might would try to ride a motorcycle. I’m very terrified, but I’d want to try that.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Honesty, loving and kindness.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: That I was kind to everybody, loving and a good mother.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: The Flower Shop owner Tracy Dyess said she wouldn’t have purchased the business if it wasn’t for the encouragement of her children, Mason, Colby and Presley, and her daughter-in-law Tiffany. “They push me to keep going,” she said. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
