Check back over the next few weeks as we get to know the Newsom family better, learn more about Les and hear about the decision making process that led to his nomination from our Pulpit Nominating Committee.

WEEK 3: GETTING TO KNOW GINGER

background written by Ginger Newsom

I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. I went to Jackson Academy and graduated in 1988. While there, I was involved in different activities and sports… cheerleading, student government, basketball, track. I guess I was trying to be like my big brothers, Reed and Sam, who are four and five years older than I am. My Mom and Dad were married for 53 years, and we were members of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Jackson where my Dad was an elder. Sadly he passed away five years ago.

I loved my six years at Ole miss as a student. After earning my Masters in Math, I got a job at the University of Memphis and started teaching. Not long after I started there, I met Les, who had just arrived on campus to start RUF. We married two years later and after another three years, we moved to Oxford! I was seven months pregnant with Anna Grace when we got to town.

We have loved our time in Oxford and we never want to leave!!! As most of you already know, we have three children. Anna Grace (18 and a Senior at OHS), loves photography and is one of the co-editors of the yearbook. Caroline (17 and a Junior at OHS), enjoys being involved with theater. She also is working with the journalism department this year and is co-anchoring (along with CPC’s Andrew Gardner) an OHS news show called “The Snooze”. Last but not least, Luke (13 and in the 7th grade at OMS), is also enjoying being involved in Theater. Presently, he is practicing every day for their upcoming musical “Hairspray”. Our children have been the greatest blessing to Les and me. We can’t wait for you all to get to know them.

After a 13 year break, I went back to work at the University, teaching in the Math Department. It has been a great job to have! I have loved being back on campus. Since Anna Grace plans to attend Ole miss in the Fall, hopefully I will see her around campus and maybe even teach some of her new friends!

Q&A WITH GINGER

q&a – Whitney Reese & Ginger Newsom

Q1: We read last week that Les was not so athletically inclined. What sports do you love? Did you play on any teams growing up?
Ginger: I love most all sports! In high school, I tried to be involved in as many sports as I could. Here at Ole Miss, I played every intramural sport I could! But… my love is basketball! I played all through middle and high school, and on intramural teams while at Ole miss. Sadly, I don’t ever get to play anymore. I wish so much that Oxford had a great church league for women!!!!

Q2: How do you like to spend your downtime?
Ginger: Hmmmmm…. I wish I had something fun and exciting to tell y’all, but I guess I spend my downtime sleeping or watching a good movie! I wish I was more of a reader, but I’m just not! I need a good hobby!

Q3: We learned from your background that you work on campus. What do you love about being a part of the University? What do you love about working with college students?
Ginger: Les and I worked with college students for 17 years before he became an area coordinator 7 years ago and started traveling. When Les stopped working as the Ole Miss campus minister, I was really sad! Sometimes I think the transition to his new job was harder for me, and that was because I LOVED having students in our home! I’m not a great cook, but students are happy with slice-n-bake and just being in a home! So that’s when Les and I started having CPC’s youth fellowship at our house, and that has been great! But 5 years ago, it was time for me to go back to work and thankfully, with the help of Lisa Ewell, I got a job at Ole miss where I had first taught in graduate school 18 years earlier. I have loved being back on Campus. I teach a lot of freshmen, and sometimes I feel like they need not only a good teacher, but someone to greet them with a smile and help make them a little less nervous. Most of my students are away from home for the first time, and Ole Miss can be very intimidating. My hope is that they will feel like they can come talk to me and that I truly want them to succeed.

Q4: What is your least favorite household chore?
Ginger: Scrubbing our shower! And I hardly ever do it! But Les found an attachment for his cordless drill that attaches a brush and that has made it a lot better (mainly because Les thinks it’s so great, that he’ll clean the shower for me!)

Q5: What is Les’s least favorite household chore?
Ginger: 100% Cleaning dishes!

Q6: We read last week more about Les’s time with RUF. How did you support the RUF ministry during Les’s time on staff? How do you think your support will change as he steps into his new role at CPC?
Ginger: My main role as an RUF campus minister’s wife was to support Les! RUF has always tried to stress to the wives that the best thing they can do is to give their husband a place that he loves to come home to… a soft place to land. I have always tried to do that! In addition, we had students in our home all of the time. That was probably a little easier to do with college students because they would just show up any time to come visit. Honestly, I am not sure exactly what my role will look like with this new job. Les and I genuinely like to be around people. We are excited about getting to know the members of Christ Pres better and hanging out with you all more! And as always, I hope I can continue to be a support for Les and the members of CPC.

Q7: What are some of your “go to” parenting tips for those moms out there with elementary aged children?
Ginger: Keep a box of poptarts either by your bed or somewhere low in the pantry so when your kids wake you up super early, you can either give them one or send them to the pantry to keep them happy until you can get going!

Q8: How many years have you & Les been married? In that time, what would you say has changed most about him? What has changed most about you?
Ginger: We will have been married this summer for 22 years! Not much has changed about Lester (maybe his hair color!) and for me, I’m not sure. Definitely being out of shape and feeling like my body is old!

Q9: What are some of your families most loved meals?
Ginger: Well, Les eats almost anything! Luke loves chicken tenders and fries (we all love that!). My girls love mac-n-cheese, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, poppyseed chicken with rice (just good ol’ starches!).

Random Questions of the Week:

We know the Newsoms love Newks. What is your personal favorite restaurant in Oxford?
Ginger: Boure! South Depot Taco Shop and Ajax too.

If Les had a warning label, what would it say?
Ginger: “Caution… will show extreme road rage to those who don’t know how to maneuver round-abouts”

If a bicyclist can drive down a one-mile hill three times as fast as she can ride back up the hill, and the round trip takes 20 minutes, how fast does she drive down the hill in miles per hour?
Ginger: Oooooh, no fun! Nobody wants to work a word problem, even me!!!!