Page 80 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2025

GOLDEN YEARS
Generations
of
Compassion
Jennifer Cain Avonna Cain story by Cherie Ward photos by Katherine Sowers and Fred Salinas and courtesy of The Homestead
When Jennifer Cain talks about her life’s work, she doesn’t begin with her own story. She starts with her father’s legacy. In the late 1960s, Conner Cain dreamed of becoming a doctor, but circumstances prevented him from attending medical school. Still, he found another way to fulfill his calling by building facilities that would provide dignity, comfort, and community for seniors across South Mississippi.
That vision, planted in 1968, has grown into Generations Health Care, with three facilities, hundreds of employees, and an extended family of residents who call the communities home.
Conner Cain
A Mother’s Determination
When Conner Cain passed away, Jennifer Cain was just 19. His wife, Avonna Cain, stepped into leadership without hesitation. Already deeply involved in the business, Avonna
Cain carried forward the mission
with grit, faith, and the kind of relentless organization that became
her trademark. She not only kept the doors open, but she also expanded the Cain family’s vision, developing The Homestead Assisted Living Community and strengthening the organization’s reputation for compassionate, local care.
“She just picked it up and kept going,” Jennifer Cain recalled. “There was never a question of what she had to do. She still had people to care for, and this was her life’s work too.”
Now, Avonna Cain remains CEO while Jennifer Cain serves as president, they work side by side in a complementary rhythm. Jennifer Cain tackles operations and finance, and Avonna Cain brings her precision and drive. It’s a mother- daughter partnership that has turned
a family business into a generational legacy.
A Continuum of Care
Generations Health Care includes The Homestead and Greenbriar Nursing Center, both on the same campus in D’Iberville, as well as Azalea Gardens Nursing Center in Wiggins. Together, they provide a continuum of care from independent assisted living to more advanced medical support, and all within a familiar, home-like setting.
“I lost my husband, and I didn’t
want to be alone,” said resident Elsie Arcement. “I couldn’t take up all the duties of the house, and I didn’t want my two kids to worry. So, we looked at a
80 | November 2025
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The Heart Behind The Homestead