Baldwyn native Kayla Franks is a proud veteran of the Mississippi Army National Guard and currently serves as a Veteran Services Officer in Monroe County.

Military service runs in Kayla's family. Her grandfather served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and her uncle in the U.S. Navy. Their service inspired her own path. In 2006, as a young mother to a 3-year-old, Kayla joined the Guard and served with the 198th Battalion in Amory, taking on various roles from administrative support to fueling operations.

She deployed to Iraq in 2009 and later to Kuwait in 2018, serving one year in each location. "It's for life," Kayla said of her service. "I served with people from all walks of life, and we bonded like family." After 16 years of honorable service, she medically retired from the military.

In March 2024, Kayla began her work at the Monroe County Veteran Services Office. "God led me to do it," she said. Now, she advocates for fellow veterans, assisting with disability compensation claims, VA home loans, survivors' pensions, homelessness support and more. "It's my way of giving back to the community and fighting for every veteran for what they're owed," she said.

Kayla continues to make a lasting impact on veterans and their families in Monroe County. We're proud to partner with Veteran Services Offices across Mississippi, and we thank Kayla for her outstanding service to both our nation and her community.

For assistance, contact Kayla at (662) 256-3841 or contact my office at trentkelly.house.gov.

Team Kelly recently had the honor of attending the Home Dedication Ceremony for Sergeant William Brooks. A Southaven native, Sgt. Brooks joined the Mississippi Army National Guard in 1999 and was deployed to Iraq in January 2005. On March 29 of that year, while driving in a convoy to Baghdad, his vehicle was struck by an IED.

The blast severely damaged the Humvee, and Sgt. Brooks lost both of his legs. His life was saved thanks to quick actions of fellow soldier Sgt. Richard Anthony. After a long recovery, Sgt. Brooks returned home and continued serving his community. He was elected to the Southaven Board of Aldermen, where he served for 12 years.

This ceremony recognized Sgt. Brook's bravery, sacrifice, and continued dedication to our country and community. We thank him for his outstanding service.

Semaj Redd, legislative director in our D.C. office, recently earned a master's degree in military operational arts and science with a focus on joint warfare from the U.S. Air Force's Air Command and Staff College.

In his role as legislative director, Semaj supports our work on the House Armed Services Committee. A graduate of Mississippi State University, he is also a Fulbright Scholar and was a finalist for both the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships.

We congratulate Semaj on this outstanding achievement and thank him for his continued hard work and dedication to Team Kelly.

James Martin has loved to cook as long as he can remember. He enjoyed time in the kitchen so much that the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard made the most of his culinary skills. Throughout his long and distinguished service of 32 and a half years, James served up meals inside the mess halls and when needed - in the field following training exercises.

Grilling at Camp Shelby

He earned numerous awards for his service which his daughter, Wendy Walters, has preserved. She is proud of her father's service. "I'm proud of him," Wendy said. "He served America. He followed in his brother's footsteps. I have 28 American flags in my yard. Each represents family members who have served." It was an honor to meet James at the Tupelo Memorial Day ceremony.

James is married to Peggy Bearden Martin - his wife of 63 years. They also have a daughter named Julie Kay Thorn. We are proud of his devotion to our great nation. His service will always be remembered. 

In times of war and peace, Mississippians have always been known for their great patriotism. Generations of families have worn the Uniform, entering service with a willingness to lay down their lives in the name of freedom. Warrant Officer William H. "Bill" Seaborn, Jr., paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He began his career on July 18, 1970, in the U.S. Army. Seaborn was attached to the 1st Aviation Brigade, 240th Assault Helicopter Company.

A ceremony was held to rename the section of Highway 9 in Webster County the Warrant Officer William H. "Bill" Seaborn, Jr., Memorial Highway. State and local officials gathered with Seaborn's family, Team Kelly, and members of the community at the Walthall Baptist Church. His service and sacrifice will always be remembered. 

We are proud to introduce Dan Sloan, one of our summer interns. Dan is a rising senior at the University of Mississippi, majoring in economics and mathematics. He plans to pursue a master's degree in economics and hopes to become an economist in the energy industry.

We are glad to have him on Team Kelly this summer.

My office offers internships for college students each semester and during the summer. This is an amazing opportunity for students. Interns will work with staff members to learn the legislative process, assist with daily tasks, attend training, perform administrative duties, and aid in constituent services in an educational capacity.

If you would like to apply for an internship through my office, please complete our online application. For more information, please visit trentkelly.house.gov or contact our intern coordinator at ctkinternships@mail.house.gov.

Trent Lott Leadership Institute Students

University of Southern Mississippi President Joe Paul

Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative Representatives

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