I loved growing up in the small town of Jackson. We could be gone from home for hours, on our bikes, but we knew we were safe. And, if we acted up, our parents would know about it before we got home! I’m very blessed to have taken part in the fun at Jackson United First Methodist church and also to have learned more about Jesus and so many Bible lessons. I always thank Him every morning for the wonderful pastors, teachers, pianists and choir leaders that have blessed me in SO many ways. I loved going to Bible school, then as I became a pre-teen found Methodist Youth Fellowship for more fun and learning activities at my big church. I never had to pay to go to any of the classes, or to eat at the big tables, which is still true at Mt. Bethel.

  I also loved my many jobs. I started off babysitting for a feisty young boy that once locked me out of the house when I went to collect their pet dog he’d ushered out the door. My next paid job was working at a dime store and I immediately loved handling cash and counting out change to our customers. I then moved on to my first full time job at Life of Georgia in downtown Atlanta and enjoyed riding up there with co-workers. They lived in Jackson, and would stop by the Stroud apartment house in McDonough to collect me. Then  we’d head up Hwy. 42 before veering off onto Moreland Avenue. We drove by the prison, neat Craftsman homes, and then we’d wind our way into Atlanta to West Peachtree Street. I still remember seeing the massive computer, which was about the size of my stove and with its own air conditioner unit. We all had to dress like we were going to church but the computer dude got to wear khakis and a button down shirt with no tie. I enjoyed walking over to the Varsity for a treat.  After I left the insurance policy filing position I moved over to become a Dictaphone secretary, which I loved too. 

  For some reason I took a day off though, and applied to First National Bank of McDonough and was so happy when I got that job and once again I was filing, this time the checks that we posted to a big card. We built a new branch down the street, maybe Trust Company by then, and I got to become head teller after my brief days as a teller on the Square. I still remember selling food stamps and those receiving them had to pay a small amount of cash. My next fun job (after the bank robbery) involved helping people get a mortgage loan for their home purchase. I loved the round house (a log cabin that came in a Sears’s kit) and the 900 square foot cabin on Jackson Lake.

  In 1999 I retired from SunTrust, on a Friday and went to work at United Mortgage the following Monday. No more long drives to the monthly meetings at Perimeter Center and if we got a new program we’d find a brief copy in our mail slots. I had a pager, in addition to my cell phone that sort of resembled the one I now own. It was very simple, as most devices were then. In 2008 when the mortgage industry took another dive, I entered  my next career with a real estate broker and good friend. It was neat to be able to work at home on my laptop. I’m glad they still keep me in the loop and I actually logged a few hours this month. So, besides my wonderful family and two amazing churches, I’ve had some great experiences with my careers, and ALL the neat people I served and worked with.