MARLENE RATLEDGE BUCHANAN

lives enthusiastically as a woman, wife, mother, and teacher. She is a multi-award-winning author of Southern humor, cozy mysteries, and not-socozy police procedural books, and has also written an educational book, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques, to help people learn and remember more easily. Marlene is quick to say that she planned to marry someone old and rich but only got old. However, on her first date with Snell, her husband, she knew he was the one for her, to the point that she proposed. After his refusal, Marlene considered getting him pregnant. They are the parents of a beautiful oliveskinned son. James suffered a lack of oxygen during delivery, resulting in him having special needs. She refers to James ' condition as a special gift. After 34 years in public education, Marlene retired in 2007. In the classroom, she earned the nickname " Ms. Rat," which led her students to collect rat figurines and other rat-themed collectibles over the years. As a Southern Humorist, Marlene has entertained readers with her observations about life through her column, Hey Y ' all, published in the Gwinnett Citizen in Georgia since 2015. Marlene returns to share her thoughts on how the automobile industry has changed over the years, and how those changes have affected her life and others who yearn for the wonderful energy of bright, colorful automobiles that contribute to their driving happiness in her delightful story,“ I WANT A YELLOW CAR!!!,” in her unique commentary column, Anything Goes with Mama Marlene.

LADY AMB. DR.( HC)

RANDI D. WARD

is our editor-in-chief extraordinaire! At 76, she has been a“ mother” to hundreds of children during her 37 years as a Georgia Language Arts educator. Her teaching journey has taken her to Cairo, Egypt, where she started several language schools teaching ESOL. Randi is also an African animal advocate and environmentalist. She is an honorary president of World Peace Forest( Africa) and the USA Regional Director for Africa Nomads Conservation. Her passion for life and humanity has earned her many awards and honors. Randi recently received the IAOTP Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Her life ' s philosophy is“ Believe! Don ' t dream big; dream bigger! The sky is the limit, so reach for the stars!” Randi has traveled to 60 countries on four continents. From one of her destinations came her memoir, Because I Believed In Me- My Egyptian Fantasy Came True, which encapsulates her view of what life is all about. Today, Randi is a master editor, visionary book consultant, and Co-Owner of RM Infinite. By the way, as a mother and forever teacher, she is making sure I am“ crossing my t ' s and dotting my i’ s”… Ha, Ha, Ha!

JESSYKA COULTER

6 | Inspirations for Better Living • August 2026

had a dream since 4th grade to graduate as valedictorian when she finished high school. It might seem silly to a lot of people; however, she was determined, and since then, every homework assignment she completed or test she studied for in middle school and high school was done in the hopes of earning a 4.0 and being at the top of her class, the valedictorian. Today, besides accomplishing her dream, Jessyka founded Ace Cookie Tutoring to help students of all ages excel in their learning journey by offering them her 12 study skills that are personalized to their learning habits and personalities through her Love to Learn study skills program. When students discover“ How to Learn” at their own pace and understanding, this makes it easier for them and their parents. She works with tweens, teens, and college students to help them achieve their maximum learning potential. Since learning is part of our human DNA, I am sure we can all benefit from these study skills as adults. Jessyka returns to share a wonderful insight about how we may not be aware of it, but it can be empowering for our family during times of moving and relocating our families during the schooling years of our loved ones in her experiential story,“ Move it or Lose it, or Lose it because you Moved?,” in our Cultivating the Love for Learning section.