“My first job at Mississippi State was serving in the Perry Cafeteria. Now I am in charge of the whole thing. The Lord put me in the right place, and I thank him everyday. I love the kids, and everything I do is for them. I listen to them and pray for them when they have problems. They are good kids with so much on their plates. They need someone to love them and to keep them going and stay focused. It is hard to leave home and adjust to a different world at college. They miss their parents and sometimes they get depressed. I don’t let them come into this cafeteria sad. They have to enter with a smile or I give them mine. Everyone is going through something, but there’s nothing too bad that we can’t get through it. The best part of my job is when they tell me they love me. If I miss a day, they are worried about me.

I have been married for 34 years and have five kids, four girls and a boy. One of my daughters is a preacher. Another daughter died from Chron’s disease when she turned 40. You don’t know when your time is coming. I asked the Lord to let me live long enough to be with my grandkids.

My grandaddy was a deacon, and my mom was at church every day doing something from choir rehearsal to prayer meetings. I get my love of people from them. I help feed people at church on Saturday morning. Much of my life is about feeding people. You have to give back and help somebody. I am going to help you if I can.”

Annie