Opening at the end of May Hands of Earth Energy is located in the bright purple building on Main Street in Downtown Magee. It offers handmade jewelry by owner Ada Martin along with other gift items as well as yoga classes.
Martin, 45, was born and raised in Florida. She met and married her husband Wayne 21 years ago. Her father-in-law, Allen Kelly lived in Florida as well but also owned land in Simpson County, MS.
In obstacle course fashion the couple made their way from Homestead, FL to Pinola, MS over a four to six year period. A house was built for Kelly in Pinola following his early retirement from American Airlines. With the cost of living in Florida it made more sense to make his life in Mississippi. In 2017, he sold his Florida residence and moved. Ada was extremely close to her father-in-law having the bond of a father/daughter relationship. They met weekly in Florida for meals, spent much time talking on the phone; all the typical aspects of that relationship.
Then in the fall of 2019 Kelly unexpectedly died. “I took it really, really hard. He was the picture of health, took care of himself, he was active; traveled all around the world. We always checked on Facebook his daily good morning picture wherever he was,” Martin explained.
A wake-up call his death made Martin realize time is fleeting. “I was already not happy with my job…for a long time.” She had been a nurse for 18 years and was feeling the burnout. Martin began to realize she wanted a change.
Martin admits to being a very creative person since she was a child. She began to make jewelry as it provided an outlet for her grief and discontent. Just before the Covid pandemic, Martin left the nursing field and began pursuing the jewelry making as a full-time business; attending farmer’s and crafts markets and other events as she was able. Then the country went on lockdown along with an avenue for sales.
She improvised and began selling out of the living room of her home. Internet sales had already been established. Once things began to open up again, Martin found a small store front she says was like a closet in an office building but people began to come – a lot of people. Sales skyrocketed in Homestead. But Martin was not happy.
Following Kelly’s death Ada and Wayne rented out the Pinola home on Airbnb with good success. She would return to Pinola to clean after rentals and found it more and more peaceful after each visit; and very difficult to return to Homestead each time. Ada suggested to Wayne they sell their home, move to Pinola and open a business.
Martin admits she was in a constant state of anxiety in Florida. “Here I can go outside and listen to birds instead of fire trucks, police sirens, helicopters.”
It took some time and effort on her part but Ada did convince Wayne it was time to move. The couple sold their home and closed her store front. Ada arrived first in the spring of 2022 with Wayne following not long after.
The Martins purchased their current building where Hands of Earth Energy is located in 2021 and leased it for a time. It took about three months to complete the renovations once they were fully underway.
Neither one at this point would consider leaving. Pinola is home. Even on return visits to Florida to see their children and granddaughter not much time passes before the two are ready to come back home. “We’re so grateful for Dad leaving this to us. He’s still giving.”
