Daughter and dad duo: Smiths receive their associate degrees on same day

Jimmyia and Jimmie Smith
Daughter Jimmyia and dad Jimmie pose for a photo opportunity before getting their Meridian Community College diplomas.


There’s the cliché, like father
, like son. But at a recent Meridian Community College event, there’s a twist: it’s like daughter, like dad. 

Jimmyia Smith, 19, and her dad Jimmie, 50both received their associate in arts degrees during the College’s commencement ceremony held earlier in May. It was the College’s first in-person commencement since the pandemic hit. 

“I am so proud of my dad for coming back and finishing his degree because everybody can’t do that, and a lot of people don’t come back and finish,” said Jimmyia. 

Jimmie said his children, JimariaJimmyia, Jayla and Jimmie III, have been an inspiration to him to finish his degree. His youngest daughter, Jayla will graduate from MCC in December. 

The encourager for all the family has been Rhonda Smith, Jimmie’s wife and JamariaJimmyia, Jayla and Jimmie III’s mom. Rhonda works at MCC as a college and career navigator for the Adult Education Department. 

“I wanted to study at MCC because my mom works there and I am familiar with the campus and staff,” Jimmyia said. “I knew how friendly and welcoming MCC’s environment was, so I decided it was the best choice,” she added. 

Jimmie added because college was in his backyard, “that made it easy to balance work and school.” 

Though the daughter and dad didn’t study together, “we didn’t have the same classes,” Jimmyia reasoned, they did share in other academic arenas. “We did talk like students sometimes about assignments being due or ways to tackle an assignment,” Jimmie added. 

Lessons are learned outside the classroom, too. Jimmie said, “you are never too old to learn because education is ongoing, and as long as you’re learning, you’re growing.” Jimmie plans to continue his education at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus and continue working as finance manager at Southern Chevrolet. 

Jimmyia will also study at MSU-Meridian to obtain her bachelor’s degree in accounting. 

“I think everyone needs education and discipline,” he added. 

Jimmie said that when his children were younger, he and Rhonda would not let them quit in the middle of anything – whether it was piano, dance or sports. 

“I think graduating from MCC just drives that point home and shows my conviction about finishing what you started,” Jimmy said. 

He added, “and just how important education is.”