Profiles

Picture this. A kid caught peddling drugs is sent to juvenile detention. But instead of trying to scare or shame him, a counselor there asks for his story. He finds the kid is turning his grandmother's $400 Social Security check into a $2,000 drug business, which he uses to support her and the five kids she is raising. (Such things happen.) Full story »

Haywood Smith didn't invent the Red Hat Society, but her novels "The Red Hat Club" and "The Red Hat Club Rides Again" appeal to the same audience of women over 50 who want to express their individuality as well as enjoy the solidarity of belonging to a group. Full story »

Tamara Wicks of Memphis, single mom to Alexis (Lex), 2, works full time in FedEx's Customer Relations Support area, but longs for a career as a writer. "I have dreams of writing books, screenplays, advice columns and editorials," she explains. Two years ago, she found a creative outlet for her writing, starting a blog of her thoughts and opinions about current events and celebrities. She eventually hopes to write a column for a publication, newspaper or entertainment blog. "I love to write. I'm going to keep blogging until something opens up," she says. She recently took time to answer questions from Midsouthmoms.com: Full story »

Let's say your kids are grown and gone and one of you has serious health issues. Full story »

Mark Garrett and his son, Stephen, have found an unusual way to spend quality time together. Full story »

Richard Janikowski and Phyllis Betts don't look as if they're inclined to stir up trouble. Full story »

Caroline Mason of Cordova is mom to Carolyn, 24, Kelvin, 16, and Collette, 15. But to TV viewers, she's known as the tough-talking, no-nonsense Memphis Police Department homicide detective on the popular A&E reality program "The First 48," which follows detectives on real murder investigations. Full story »

When Sheri Marshall decided she wanted to learn to shape clay, her teacher told her he didn't think she could do it. Full story »

Do you dream about chucking the daily routine to become a park ranger, or getting a job on a cruise ship? Maybe you're more the volunteer type, or you'd like to learn about falconry or try a silent meditation retreat. Full story »

Editor's note: Reader Exchange connects newcomers with longtime Memphians to share tips about community groups and activities. Full story »

Amid hundreds of glass shards in reds, blues, greens, gold and violet, I have to decide what color to make my coasters. I am at Studio 1688 on North Hollywood taking the beginner's class in glass fusing and slumping. Full story »

Chip Ponton, 45, of Collierville, has been bringing his work home for about 20 years. Ponton, a 20-year veteran of the air cargo industry, has been collecting model airplanes since he was a child and owns more than 550 models, Full story »

A photographer instructs U.S. Dist. Judge Bernice Donald to lean in closer to the table, but she hesitates. Full story »

Dr. Susan Murrmann has people here scratching their heads. She seems to be involved with everything from local movie promotion to Humane Society efforts to health charity work in addition to being one of the city's best-known obstetricians and gynecologists, a frequent lecturer and a local ground-breaker in the field of women's health. Full story »

In a Civil War infirmary full of injured men, soldiers waited for their wounds to be tended. They begged for a shot of whiskey or a rag to bite down on before their amputation without anesthesia. Full story »