Special to The Panolian

Angel Taxi will soon expand into Batesville, providing a much-needed service for the community according to owner Sue LaCross .

The company, which is based in Oxford, will start operation in the Batesville area in four to six weeks, La Crosse.

“The goal of my business is not about the money,” she said. “It’s always been about making sure our children are safe. And I want to be able to provide the same service we enjoy here in Oxford in Batesville.”

La Crosse believes that a good taxi service benefits the community and also promotes business growth and tourism.

“Whether it’s taking a patient home from the hospital or providing someone a safe ride home from a party, we strive to do this in a clean, friendly and affordable way,” she said.

Once Angel Taxi is approved to provide a service to Batesville, La Crosse said she plans to have as many taxis as needed to answer the calls of Panola County.

“One thing unique about my company that will also happen in Batesville is that we provide a cab tab account service for various families and businesses,” she said.

According to La Crosse, parents call and set up an account with Angel Taxi for their family and ride on a receipt system.

“Once the parents put up a credit card, they are billed once a week for the rides they take,” La Crosse said. “We currently have over 400 cab tab accounts, and that’s how we were able to grow Angel Taxi.”

She said the taxi service is open 24 hours a day.

“At least one driver is always on shift to make sure someone gets to their destination safely,” La Crosse said.

Angel Taxi opened in Oxford in Nov. 2004 while La Crosse was a substitute teacher for Lafayette and Oxford School Districts.

“The idea came to me in a dream right after I moved to Mississippi,” she said. “It was almost like God telling me to do this. I opened this while I substituted and within three months, I had to quit to work full time for my business.”

What started out as one taxi a decade ago has grown into 10 taxis and 12 drivers, according to La Crosse.

“We are literally ‘angels’ in the community,” La Crosse said. “I pride myself on hiring those with a clean background, a mind for the community and who know the streets of the town they service.”
La Crosse has a Master’s of Science in Environmental Health and Safety Management.

“Rather than use my degree in a manufacturing plant, I apply it to the streets of Oxford and will for Batesville soon,” she said.