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NATCHEZ — Marcus Archer officially handed over the reins at The Stewpot to its new director, Beverly Adams, on April 2.

“Her official first day was April 1, but I didn’t think that was right for her first day to be on April Fools Day,” Archer said in jest.

Archer took over as director of The Stewpot from Amanda Jeansonne on March 1, 2022.

Archer said he let The Stewpot’s board know that it was time for him to step away after its February board meeting. Archer is also the lead pastor at Crosspoint Church, and he said doing both jobs was beginning to take its toll on him.

“I was getting really stressed, and anyone who knows me knows that I don’t get stressed. I was asking myself, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ I just had too much going on,” Archer said. “Our church has more than doubled in size in the last year or so, and I found I just couldn’t do both jobs well.”

He said that when The Stewpot opportunity came along, God led him there.

“It has been kind of the same thing now. Beverly Adams has been volunteering here for about six months and she expressed an interest in this job. She was kind of in the right place at the right time. We’ve had many conversations and will continue to talk until she feels comfortable on her own,” Archer said. “This has very much been a God thing.”

Adams agrees, “It was a God thing.”

“I had been volunteering there for months, and when they asked me if I was interested in applying, at first I wasn’t. I like my freedom. However, when I thought about it, I realized I was there at least three days a week anyway. I figure it was a God calling,” she said.

Adams’ parents are both from Natchez and she grew up as an Army brat, she said. “We traveled the world.”

Adams was Director of Student Services at Alcorn for more than 16 years and retired from working for the State of Mississippi. She also worked for the Natchez Fire Department for about three years.

“I enjoy knowing I am helping feed people in need,” Adams said. “The Stewpot is a wonderful organization. The board is made up of good people, and it fills a real need in our community. Many places will have someplace like The Stewpot, but they don’t have the longevity that The Stewpot has. That’s a statement about the commitment of the board and people like Miss Johnny, who has worked here for 37 of The Stewpot’s 40 years. It also points to the wonderful support The Stewpot gets from this community.”