Leland, Mississippi. once considered the Hellhole of the Delta, transformed itself into a vibrant little community which was able to provide support and encouragement when Velma Allen needed it most. This segregated Mississippi community withheld many basic amenities from her, but because of a determined mother, her church, teachers, and numerous individuals in the Leland community, she overcame the appalling shortcomings she experienced financially and experientially. Leland, Mississippi: The Village That Raised Me is a personal memoir intertwined with a cultural history. This is an ode to a community and the Christian faith that held it together.