Latest news with #Pharr
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Reminder of the sacrifice': Veterans, family reflect on Memorial Day
TUPELO — With Memorial Day days away, veterans and families of those who died in service of the United States say it is important to remember the meaning of the holiday and to honor those who gave their lives protecting the country. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was first celebrated in 1868 just a few years after the Civil War. It began as a day for families and friends to decorate the graves of military personnel who died in service. The holiday evolved from there. 'While it is a wonderful weekend to eat hotdogs and hamburgers, at the end of the day, it is a reminder of the sacrifice and those that gave their life,' Lee County Veterans Service Officer Ashleigh Pharr said. Pharr, who joined the Air Force in 2011, served on active duty from her recruitment through 2020 at Ramstein, Germany, and two postings in Alaska. 'Memorial Day stays this solemn occasion,' she said. 'I think of how grateful I am and reflect on those who came before me and made that ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy a wonderful weekend with our families.' While Pharr serves primarily living veterans, her office also helps the families of veterans and those who died, traditionally called Gold Star Families. Donna Bagwell is a member of a Gold Star Family. Her son, Lance Cpl. Marc Lucus Tucker, died in Iraq in 2005 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. '(Memorial Day) is a day to remember the fallen service members that died serving our country,' Bagwell said. 'I go to the cemetery, spend a little time with Lucas, then go to the Memorial Day program.' Bagwell said she understood the confusion some have between Veterans Day and Memorial Day but said they were both important for different reasons. 'As far as I have been alive, there has been confusion, but I think it is good to keep it separate simply because that is the way it was designated,' she said. 'I was like everybody else. I knew what it was, but it didn't affect me …. It was just a holiday. You could go to the lake and cook out or stay home from work.' On Memorial Day, Bagwell said, many of Tucker's former brothers-in-arms will message her or call to talk to her. Even after two decades, she said the day is still painful for her and for those who served with him. Bagwell added that one of the men who spent time with Tucker as a roommate in Okinawa plans to visit this year. She said she hopes the visit will provide him with some healing. One thing Bagwell said individuals could do this Memorial Day is reach out to a Gold Star Family member. 'If you know a Gold Star Family, reach out to them,' she said. 'Every day is Memorial Day for us.' Ever since veteran Scott Burns left the Marine Corps in 1995, he has made countless efforts to honor fellow veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country. 'It's always been important to me, especially on Memorial Day, to honor veterans that are no longer with us and to remember how they have paid the ultimate sacrifice, which makes it possible for us to keep doing what we're doing as a country,' Burns said. Following an injury that left him a double amputee and no longer able to serve, Burns wanted to give back to veterans and their families. Through his nonprofit organization, 7 Days For The Troops, he has spent almost 19 years addressing the gaps in care and resources that veterans often face. 'When we started back in 2006, we never planned on it being a 19-year endeavor, but we're glad it has turned out that way,' he said. Although Burns was born and raised in Jackson, he moved to Tupelo after he got out of the Marines. He commends Tupelo's strong sense of community when it comes to helping others, specifically veterans. 'I think it's pretty awesome to live in a town where, even though we don't always agree when it comes to politics or how things are being run, when it comes to helping the less fortunate, we're all on the same page," he said.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pathward CEO Brett Pharr Honored as Silver Stevie® Award Winner in 2025 American Business Awards®
Pathward CEO Brett Pharr has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award for Maverick of the Year in the Business Services Industries category in the 23rd Annual American Business Awards®. Pharr named Maverick of the Year for Business Services Industries. FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pathward®, N.A., a national bank focused on financial access, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Brett Pharr has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award for Maverick of the Year in the Business Services Industries category in the 23rd Annual American Business Awards®. The Maverick of the Year award recognizes an executive or manager who has affected the most positive change on his or her company and/or industry since the beginning of 2023. The American Business Awards received more than 3,600 nominations this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, according to the Stevie Awards Inc. Since becoming CEO in 2021, Pharr has led Pathward through a number of milestones, including its rebrand to Pathward. Leveraging nearly 40 years of risk management experience, Pharr has helped Pathward deliver solutions that increase financial availability, choice and opportunity for individuals and businesses, while adapting to a rapidly changing regulatory environment. Pharr's leadership has been crucial to a few specific initiatives, including inking partnerships aligned with Pathward's mission, a new product launch and business unit rebrand in our Partner Solutions business line, fostering a collaborative hybrid remote work environment with high employee satisfaction, and affirming Pathward's commitment to excellence in sustainability. "I'm honored to be recognized with a Silver Stevie from the American Business Awards and for the opportunity to lead Pathward through its evolution as a next-generation bank focused on delivering ways for everyone to access the financial services network," said Pharr. "It's the work our employees do day in and day out that is making a difference." View Pharr's award and other Management Award winners on "Organizations across the United States continue to demonstrate resilience and innovation," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. "The 2025 Stevie winners have helped drive that success through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all of the winners in the 2025 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 10 gala event in New York." Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2025 Stevie winners are available at About Pathward® Pathward®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pathward CEO Brett Pharr Honored as Silver Stevie® Award Winner in 2025 American Business Awards®
FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pathward ®, N.A., a national bank focused on financial access, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Brett Pharr has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award for Maverick of the Year in the Business Services Industries category in the 23 rd Annual American Business Awards®. The Maverick of the Year award recognizes an executive or manager who has affected the most positive change on his or her company and/or industry since the beginning of 2023. The American Business Awards received more than 3,600 nominations this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, according to the Stevie Awards Inc. Since becoming CEO in 2021, Pharr has led Pathward through a number of milestones, including its rebrand to Pathward. Leveraging nearly 40 years of risk management experience, Pharr has helped Pathward deliver solutions that increase financial availability, choice and opportunity for individuals and businesses, while adapting to a rapidly changing regulatory environment. Pharr's leadership has been crucial to a few specific initiatives, including inking partnerships aligned with Pathward's mission, a new product launch and business unit rebrand in our Partner Solutions business line, fostering a collaborative hybrid remote work environment with high employee satisfaction, and affirming Pathward's commitment to excellence in sustainability. 'I'm honored to be recognized with a Silver Stevie from the American Business Awards and for the opportunity to lead Pathward through its evolution as a next-generation bank focused on delivering ways for everyone to access the financial services network,' said Pharr. 'It's the work our employees do day in and day out that is making a difference.' View Pharr's award and other Management Award winners on 'Organizations across the United States continue to demonstrate resilience and innovation,' said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. 'The 2025 Stevie winners have helped drive that success through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all of the winners in the 2025 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 10 gala event in New York.' Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2025 Stevie winners are available at About Pathward ® Pathward ®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Metro Atlanta man found guilty of murder in fatal beating of elderly victim
A Douglas County man was found guilty this week in the fatal beating of an elderly victim. The district attorney's office says 32-year-old Jeffrey Pharr is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and obstruction of an officer. Officials say on July 8, 2021, the Douglasville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at a transitional home where multiple residents lived. The owner of the home told police that Pharr, who was one of the neighbors who lived at the home, attacked another neighbor inside of the home. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The attack led the owner of the home to the garage where he says he heard scuffling noises. When he went to the garage, he saw the 76-year-old victim on the ground shielding himself from Pharr, who was repeatedly kicking the victim. Pharr told the owner not to call the police and that everything was fine, however as he was leaving, the owner saw Pharr stomp the victim's head multiple times. The owner decided to all the police after witnessing the assault. The victim was taken to Grady Hospital where he died after suffering traumatic injuries, such as bleeding on his brain. TRENDING STORIES: Delta flight with more than 200 people on board forced to turn back after engine issue 5 Georgia Social Security Administration offices to close amid Trump Administration overhauls Deputy, officer speak after rescuing baby from burning Barrow County apartment When police arrived, Pharr was still acting in an irate manner and a struggle between he and officers ensued. He was later arrested after the scuffle. On Wednesday, a Douglas County jury found Pharr guilty, and he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole based on the facts of this case and his criminal history. 'Today's (Wednesday's) guilty verdict sends a powerful message that acts of brutality, such as the senseless killing of this victim, will not go unpunished,' District Attorney Dalia Racine said. 'We hope that this verdict helps the victim's family find healing as they grapple with the senseless loss of their loved one. We are proud of our team and law enforcement for their efforts in securing this verdict. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who commit heinous acts are held accountable for their actions.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
