In this month's issue of Stroll Eastover, meet the Mockbee Family - Chelsea and Wesley Mockbee and their four precious children, Steele (8), Mac (5), Mary Ellis (3), and Caleb (1). The Mockbees have been married for nine years and have lived on Twin Lakes Circle for five years.

Chelsea and Wesley's love story began eleven years ago when Chelsea, in her final year of medical school, and Wesley, a law school graduate working at Baker Donaldson, were set up for dinner by mutual friends. They had their first date at Julep and the rest is history! 

Chelsea is originally from Fulton, Mississippi, and graduated from Mississippi State University and later received her MD at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Today, she is a dermatologist at UMMC at the Face and Skin Center in the Township. Wesley, a Jackson native and a graduate of Jackson Prep and Ole Miss Law School, initially practiced law as a partner at Mockbee, Hall, and Drake before transitioning into his current role as the Capital Campaign Manager for Little Light House.

Steele, Mac, and Caleb attend First Presbyterian Day School where Steele is in the 2nd grade, Mac is in Kindergarten, and Caleb is in the nursery. Mary Ellis is in the Yellow Room at Little Light House, a Christian developmental center for children with special needs. Mary Ellis was born with an extremely rare genetic duplication and has already overcome so many challenges both physically and developmentally at such a young age. Chelsea emphasized how fortunate their family has been for Mary Ellis to have the opportunity to attend Little Light House where she is thriving! "We are also so thankful for so many friends in Eastover and our circle in particular, who have rallied around her and us on this journey." 

As a family, the Mockbees spend a good deal of time together at youth sports and enjoy walks and bike rides in the neighborhood, while the boys love to fish. The Mockbees can also be found hanging out in the Grove and attending football games in Oxford in the fall. They also love their getaway weekends at the beach. Although the beach is their top choice for vacation, Chelsea told us that they enjoy long weekends at Pickwick Lake, and Disney World is a family favorite! Their favorite home-cooked meals include chicken spaghetti and baked tacos, and their go-to local restaurants range from classics like Walkers to their new favorite date-night spot, Eudora's. As a family, their favorite eateries are Primos and El Charro. 

Outside of their personal pursuits, Chelsea and Wesley are deeply involved in the community. Active members of Fondren Church, they lead a small group on Wednesday nights. Chelsea serves as the Assistant Program Director for the Dermatology Residency Program at UMMC, while Wesley's transition from practicing law to managing a capital campaign for Little Light House reflects their commitment to community service. Little Light House's goal is to build a new school that could accommodate many more of the large waitlist of over 130 kids. Wesley can also be found on the youth sports fields coaching Jackson Futbol Club Soccer and North Jackson youth baseball.

 We asked the Mockbees what they love most about living in Eastover and Chelsea told us, "Our neighborhood is simply the best. The kids can go a few houses down any direction to find friends to play backyard football or shoot basketball with. We also have fantastic older kids in Eastover who are great role models for our children." From family walks to neighborhood-wide events like the TLC Valentine's parade, Christmas caroling, a neighborhood-wide Halloween party and Easter egg hunt, the Mockbees find joy in the camaraderie and support that Eastover provides.

The Mockbees' story exemplifies the incredible bonds that a community can create, and Stroll Eastover is honored to feature them as our Family Spotlight this month! Thank you to Chelsea and Wesley for giving us a glimpse into your family's life!