OUR TEAM
Left to right
Sam Kendricks, Roy Hightower, Kay Hightower, Melissa Hewitt
Kay Hightower Real Estate is a boutique real estate agency based in Oxford, MS.
We're real people who have worked hard all our lives and believe in integrity in all we say and do.
We don't chase large numbers of clients because we believe in personal attention that gives our clients the best representation possible on their real estate journey.
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If this resonates with you, we'd love to help you, too!
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Our History: Mississippi natives, my husband Roy and I returned to Mississippi in 1998 after ten years in the eastern portion of Tennessee. Oxford was a perfect choice to live and raise our family. A brief move to the Madison area for a couple of years culminated in a return to Oxford, and we now consider Oxford home. After purchasing a condo in 2006 to use for short-term rentals, I built a thriving business providing short-term rentals in Oxford, which I continue to operate. Buying and selling various properties in Oxford through the years, I developed a keen interest in the Oxford real estate market and am familiar with all areas of Oxford. Becoming a Realtor was the next obvious step. When my longtime friend Sharon Grace invited me to join her at her new boutique real estate agency, I jumped at the opportunity to join her at Grace Realty Group in February 2015! Through the years, Roy and I have bought and sold properties close to 30 times, so I'm intensely familiar with the client side of the process as well as the professional side. In February, 2020, I opened my own brokerage, Kay Hightower Real Estate, LLC. Roy joined me as an agent in July, 2021. Our friend Sam Kendricks joined us in June, 2022, and Melissa Hewitt in July 2023.
Kay Hightower, Broker/Owner 662-801-6692 Business Experience:
REALTOR® since January 2015, Broker/Owner since February 2020
Extensive experience in Education, Legal Assistance, Human Resources Management, and Consulting Owner of Hightower Property Management, LLC since 2007 (short-term rentals)
Professional Distinctions:
C2EX (Commitment to Excellence) Endorsement from National Association of Realtors
e-PRO Certification from National Association of Realtors
Community, Civic and Church Activities: Member of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce since 2010
Follower of Jesus, Active member of First Baptist Church, Oxford
Active in the community with participation in Chamber of Commerce and North Central Mississippi Board of Realtors activities and events; volunteer and sponsorship activities with The Pantry of Oxford, Lafayette County Literacy Council, Oxford High School Job Shadowing, and Lafayette High School Reality Fair
Member of the Mississippi Association of Realtors Professional Standards Committee Personal Highlights:
Home town is Zama, MS (Attala County) Married to Roy since 1986 Empty nester and KiKi to Ivy
Hobbies include all types of DIY including minor home renovations, chasing down bargains, renewing furniture, crafting, cooking and Internet research.
Education :
Master of Education from Delta State University Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Extensive ongoing classes and workshops beyond required CE
Melissa Hewitt, REALTOR® 601-672-6124 Melissa moved to Oxford in 2020. Following some health battles in her family which required her complete focus, their family began to assimilate into life in Oxford. She began renting out their home for short term rentals and subsequently found friends in Oxford who wanted a boutique rental management experience. Her business, Honeybee Services LLC was born.
Melissa enjoys keeping up with the real estate market. She has strong problem solving and customer service skills. Once she met with Kay, she determined our company and culture were a great fit for her.
Business Experience:
Premium Auditor Amfed Insurance Company Ridgeland, MS
Assistant Director Faith Presbyterian Church Brookhaven, MS
Waitress First Watch Oxford, MS
Owner of Honeybee Services LLC
Church and Community:
Jesus-follower for decades. By His word and His spirit leading, Melissa trusts that all things will work together for His glory and purpose. Member of Grace Bible Church -
Volunteer with children and special events Volunteer Chaplain Baptist Medical Center Volunteer in Oxford Public Schools
Roy Hightower, REALTOR® 662-801-6691 Business Experience REALTOR® since July, 2021 Long career in Automotive and Medical Device industries primarily in areas of Quality and Business Development.
Professional Distinctions: Certified Quality Engineer for 30+ years
Community, Civic and Church Activities: Follower of Jesus, Active member of First Baptist Church, Oxford
Former President and active member of Oxford Bass Club
Personal Highlights:
Home town is Vaiden, MS (Carroll County) Married to Kay since 1986
Empty nester, Pubba to Ivy
Hobbies include all types of DIY including minor home renovations, fishing
Education:
Bachelor's Degree from Mississippi State University
Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Sam Kendricks, REALTOR® 228-297-5582
Sam Kendricks joined us in June of 2022. Sam retired from Hancock Whitney Bank in 2021 after a 42 year banking career. During that tenure he was involved in sales, sales management, credit approval, credit risk assessment, risk management and governance. He was a senior member of the Executive Management team, working with the Board of Directors, state and federal banking regulators, and investment analysts that followed HWC’s stock. His previous positions of Chief Credit Officer, Chief Credit Risk Officer, Director of Credit Review, Division Manager, and oversight of various related departments add to his broad base of knowledge related to banking, finance, economics, risk management, and real estate related matters. His related real estate experience involves having financed commercial, retail, development, and residential projects; management oversight of appraisal departments; analysis of economic, regulatory, and political risks; and oversight of liquidation of over a hundred million dollars of foreclosed real estate (largely acquired through troubled bank acquisitions).
Sam and his wife Susan have a residence in Oxford that they have owned since 2018, and are excited to spend more time in Oxford with their family after fully relocating from Gulfport. They have 3 adult children: one lives in Huntsville, AL and the other two here in Oxford.