Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Friday, June 29, 2007

Downing, Arender

Mr. and Mrs. James Lee Downing of Laurel announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Murray, to Matthew Clark Arender, son of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Arnold Arender of Polkville.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Homer Thomas Denham and the late Mimi Markette Denham and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Young Downing. She is a 1999 honors graduate of R. H. Watkins High School and a 2003 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She graduated magna cum laude in 2006 from Mississippi College with a master's degree in elementary education. After teaching third grade at Casey Elementary School in Jackson for three years, she is now teaching third grade at W. L. Smith Elementary School in Petal.

The future groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Luther Franklin Arender and the late Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Allen Clark. He is a 1999 graduate of McLaurin Attendance Center in Florence. He attended Jones County Junior College until 2001. He graduated cum laude from Mississippi State University in December of 2003 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. He has been employed with Sanderson Farms for three years where he is now a national sales representative.

Wedding vows will be exchanged at 6 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Laurel.