03/13/2026
⭐ MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ⭐
📚 The Quality Education Foundation of Amory presents our next board member spotlight, Zandra Conner!
Being born to Roosevelt and Alice Freeman, Jr. in 1971, Zandra Freeman Conner was raised in Amory on 107th Street, which is now called Martin Luther King Blvd. She graduated from Amory High School with the Class of 1989. Zandra also graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In 2004, she and her husband, James Conner, started their own business called JC Designs. Later, they renamed their business The Graduation Place & More.
For many years, Zandra has been dedicated to working for and supporting children. She volunteered a great deal at West Amory Head Start. Along with Michelle Harris and Nicole Pack, she helped restart graduations at West Amory Head Start in May 2004. In 2014, Zandra had her first experience starting a booster club for one of the Amory peewee football teams, which led to her starting the Amory Middle School Football Booster Club. For several years, she hosted “Panther Talk,” a live stream on Facebook that promoted Amory seniors in football, band, cheer, and dance. Many people enjoy watching her livestream during football season, which she calls ZSPN.
In 2019, Zandra began serving in Kiwanis, an organization that focuses on the needs of kids and families. She also serves on the QEF Board, the Abundant Life Board as secretary, and the Library Board. Zandra and her family are active members of St. Paul MB Church, where they serve in the church’s Media Ministry.
Zandra met her husband, James Conner, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, while she was attending Mississippi State. Her husband is a Senior Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, the Assistant Pastor of St. Paul MB Church, and a Branch Manager for Securitas. They have been married for 29 years. Zandra and her husband have three young adult children who all graduated from the Amory School District: Christopher, who has been an AT&T Store Manager for many years; Jasmine, a Laboratory Scientist at Tupelo Hospital; and James II, a welder in Pascagoula. They also have a daughter-in-love, Deanna, who is a teacher at Amory Middle School. Together, they are blessed with 10 grandchildren and a number of children they have lovingly adopted into their family.
Zandra spends a great deal of her time working at their family business, where she handles financials and creates shirts, jerseys, signage, and more. She strives to provide the very best customer service possible. Zandra is also a photographer and enjoys building custom sets and scenes to meet the desires of her clients.
When she is not working, Zandra loves spending time with her family, whether traveling or playing games together. One of her favorite things to do is host parties at her home so the entire family can gather and have fun.
Zandra states, “I take every opportunity to encourage young people, as well as encourage parents to be involved with their children. Service to my community is what I am all about, however I can help. I truly believe in telling people:
‘If you quit, you won’t win, so keep it moving forward.’”
📚 Thank you, Zandra, for your leadership, dedication, and continued service to QEF and the Amory School District!
