As a youngster, Laurel native John Whit had dreams of becoming an architect, but studied photography and film-making in college.

Oddly enough, however, at age 58, Whit chose neither interest as a career choice. Instead, he earns a living designing and creating stained glass.

Whit owns and operates Sweetwater Studios, Inc. Customed Stained Glass in Moselle. He’s been working with class for more than 30 years now and creates beautiful stained glass windows for churches and businesses, as well as stained and beveled glass to enhance residences.

“I never had an art lesson in high school,” explained Whit. “This is something I took an interest in and learned by trial and error, with the help of a few people along the way.

“We never thought we could make a living as artists in a small town in South Mississippi,” said Whit, referring to him and his wife Kim, who is a weaver. Kim Whit, a former teacher at Nora Davis Magnet School, is Arts Education Director for the Misses Arts Commission.

The couple met while attending the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Their plans were to graduate from college and then perhaps move to Oregon or California to pursue careers.

However, during John’s junior year in collage, Kim’s step father, who was owner of The Natchez Democrat, was in need of a photographer. “And I was in need of the experience,” asserted John. “I was getting a salary, rather getting paid by the hour.”

John explained that this was back in the ’70s when the average pay was about $2 an hour. While he was excited about having a salaried job, he soon discovered being on a salary was not as wonderful as he thought it would be.

“When I was hired, they got rid of the Associated Press photo wire, so that meant I was taking all of the photos for the daily paper,” he said. “If I didn’t take the photos, I had to develop the photos that were taken by the reporters.

“In addition to that, I had to cover five football games on Friday nights and have all of the photos in for the next day’s paper,” continued John. “What I learned from that newspaper job was that I didn’t want to work for anyone again.”

He considered it a valuable life’s lesson, one that caused him to strive to become a business owner. John worked at the newspaper for about six months and then worked for a pipeline for a couple of summers. After that, he and Kim started a bar in Hattiesburg called The Homestead.

“We sold beer for a quarter and supper for $1 a plate,” said John. “We only cooked one meal, something like red beans and rice or spaghetti and sold it to mostly USM students.”

They later opened a plant and craft shop in Hattiesburg and operated the two business simultaneously. However, after three years of operation, the couple decide to sell the bar and keep the plant and craft shop they called “The Greenery.”

“We actually did well with the bar,” said John. “I actually was able to pay off some of my student loans.”

The couple also was able to purchase the 17 acres in Moselle where their home and studio is located. They soon sold the plant and craft shop and started a nursery on the scenic property located on a winding road in the rural community.