Lorine Cady moved with her husband and young family to Southaven in 1965.  As she was raising her children, she became active in First Baptist Church.  As our young community was forming, there were needs abounding.  During this time, she began praying regularly with a group of other church leaders for our community.  She was not the kind of person who could see needs and then do nothing, so that’s where it all started! 

Even before official titles were cast upon her, Mrs. Cady led efforts to create opportunities for both girls and boys with youth sports and other recreational activities.  These efforts led to her being appointed as Chairman of Parks Commission for a local volunteer organization.  Along with others in the late 1960s, she was instrumental in acquiring county land where Cherry Valley Park was built and Greenbrook Park a few years later.  In the mid-1970s, the young community of Southaven was threatened by annexation from Horn Lake until Mrs. Cady led the effort going door-to-door raising money needed to hire attorneys to successfully stop it.  From that point forward, it became clear that Southaven must incorporate and she successfully advocated, along with others, for our city’s most important moment that occurred in 1980.

In 1984, Mrs. Cady was elected to her first term on the Board of Aldermen where she served for seven four-year terms.  During these pivotal years for our city, tremendous growth and economic success occurred.  Alderman Cady was one of the visionaries who knew that the city must have geographic expansion to capitalize on opportunities which led her to become one of the strongest advocates for several annexations that allowed our city to become what it is today.   As expected, she continued her unwavering support of the city’s parks and recreation program, starting the first official senior services division as well as promoting monumental progress, in general, during her time in service.

Of all her community and charitable service spanning seven decades, none had a larger impact than what began on May 6, 1985 when Mrs. Cady held a public meeting to discuss the needs of domestic violence victims.  She realized the magnitude of this need and founded the House of Grace which has transformed the lives of countless domestic violence survivors in north Mississippi since then.  She served as the Executive Director of this outstanding organization until her retirement in 2021.

Mrs. Cady, was humbly quick to note the contributions of others repeatedly, but as she reflected on questions about the past, she boldly stated, “I’m a doer, don’t give me a need”.