First African American mayor of majority white Pelahatchie

Pelahatchie is about 60 percent white, and come July 1, the city will have its first African American mayor.

Ryshonda Harper Beechem, 37, also will become the first African-American mayor in Rankin County.

For some, Beechem pulled off a surprise in winning the June 6 general election in her hometown of Pelahatchie by defeating two other candidates.

Beechem has heard a lot of peopleexpress surprise that she won the mayoral race.

“It was by the grace of God,” Beechem said.

Outgoing Mayor Knox Ross said it’s no big surprise to him that Beechem won because it was a three-candidate race in a nonpartisan general election with no runoff..

Ross, who has been mayor since 2001, didn’t seek reelection. He said it was time to step aside and give someone else an opportunity to lead Pelahatchie, a town of about 1,340 residents off I-20 about 20 miles east of Jackson.

“In politics, we have a problem that some people stay around forever,” Ross said.

He said Tuesday that he wishes the new administration well. He didn’t endorse or get involved with the campaigns of any of the candidates seeking to replace him, but he said he will be available to help Beechem’s administration if she seeks his advice.

Elected officials in small towns and cities are really public servants because they don’t get paid a lot, Ross said.The Pelahatchie mayor’s salary is $1,000 a month. The mayor and Board of Aldermen meet once a month.

“A lot of people came out,” Beechem said, responding to a question of how she won the race.

Beechem said Tuesday in an interview she didn’t know what the pay is for the part-time job.

Beechem, who identifies herself as an independent, campaigned on people working together to move Pelahatchie forward.

“One thing I can assure is she will be fair to all races and she is qualified,” said Adrian Allen of Pelahatchie, who has known Beechem all her life. “I consider her a Christian young lady.”

Beechem’s campaign message was “It’s time for progress: Expect more.”

One of her first priorities will be to finish construction on Milltown Park because she said citizens have indicated they want the recreation facility for children in the community.

Milltown Park, on the south end of town, includes playground equipment; ballfields; a half-mile, 10-foot-wide asphalt…

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