Pickering victory a family affair

By By William F. West / community editor
Nov. 6, 2002
JACKSON U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering's victory Tuesday was the end of a long campaign for him and his family.
Moments after Pickering's victory speech at the Old Capitol Inn, his wife, Leisha, 43, was outside, smiling and talking with a group of well-wishers.
Chip Pickering, 39, is the only son of U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering and Margaret Ann Pickering.
The judge and his wife also have three grown daughters, but their roles in the campaign were limited because two of them live out of state and all three of them combined have several children.
Margaret Ann Pickering, 65, also spent several days recovering from an Aug. 14 quadruple bypass surgery at a Hattiesburg hospital.
However, she did participate in the Pickering campaign caravan that toured the new 3rd Congressional District two days before the election. She said people were encouraging and kind to her.
She said she believes her son is where he needs to be now.
Pickering's father, also 65, has maintained a low profile because it would be improper for him as a federal judge to participate in the campaign.