Building our community starts with people developing an idea or simply having a passion for something that would be beneficial in contributing to meaningful growth in our own backyards. Simpson County is a great place to contribute jobs, personal growth, and community support.
Eric & Rosalind Jaynes came up with the idea of opening a company after working in their own careers as a diesel technician and a registered nurse. Eric Jaynes (Son of Ernest and Clara Jaynes) initially wanted to join the military as a young man, but his father (Ernest Jaynes) encouraged him to look into auto mechanics. After graduating high school, Eric took classes at Colin in the auto mechanics field and began helping his father around the house repairing their cars. Eric would eventually take his first job with Nickie Floyd, a well-known businessman in the community.
Eric’s second job opportunity would take him on a winding road full of turns that would start his career in the diesel mechanics world. His first diesel technician opportunity began with Jim Johnson at JMS in Richland, MS. Eric would later leave JMS, working at Total Transportation and Old River Volvo all in Richland. He joined Tri-State Trucking where he earned multiple diesel technician certifications. Eric had no idea that this special training and opportunity would eventually lead him to becoming a great leader in his own community. Eric met Rosalind after his first year working at Tri-State and they became husband and wife.
Rosalind Jaynes (Daughter of the late Charles and Minnie Weatherspoon) originally from Memphis, TN earned her bachelor’s in nursing at the Baptist School of Nursing in Memphis, TN and began working in the Cancer Center at one of the largest University Hospitals in Memphis. She relocated to Mississippi where she worked at UMMC in the patient placement center and was promoted to supervisor. She also worked at Magee General Hospital as the Director of Case Management & CDI. Rosalind obtained her Master’s in Health Informatics & Information Management from Ole Miss and began building/improving healthcare software programs at United Healthcare Insurance contributing to improvement of healthcare outcomes for people across the nation. Ultimately, caring for people has always been her passion whether it was providing nursing care at bedside or leadership positions. Eric & Rosalind decided in 2020 that it was time to move their careers in a different direction. Opening and leading with their own ideas to provide comfortable living wages to their employees, great healthcare benefits, a great work environment and donating to the community where needed. They came up with the company name (E & R Diesel Service) in their home driveway. It was a dream realized and it was time to move forward with the dream.
Growth of jobs and support for the community to continue as part of the E & R Diesel Service mission. E & R Diesel Service started operations as a remote diesel fleet service company for large diesel trucks (18 wheelers, dump trucks and garbage trucks). Now with over 100 years of experience from their diesel technician team, the demand grew into the need for a physical location and the old McPhail building in Braxton, MS in Simpson County would be that location. Eric & Rosalind opened the building located at (4418 Highway 49 N, Braxton, MS 39044) in late 2022 with their family beside them during the restoration period. Their adult children Markees Weatherspoon, Jasmine Triggs, and Eric’s parent all contributed their time and efforts to prep for opening.
Eric & Rosalind would like to give a special thanks to those businesses that supported them along the way: Regions Bank for believing in their dream, Trustmark Bank for supporting the purchase of the building on Highway 49 and Tri-State Trucking for donating their staff and food for the grand opening on 9/22/2023. Also, a special thanks to the Mendenhall Chamber of Commerce for their support during the grand opening and all the community leaders who came out and showed their support and generosity. We appreciate all the love and support; it has truly been a humbling experience and greatly appreciated!
