“Love your neighbor. Don’t waste time holding onto anger or resentment because life is so incredibly short,” advised Courtney McPhearson. “God has us here for a purpose, and we don’t need to miss it.”
Courtney definitely loves those around her. She has always been a people person and loves to be able to interact with others.
“I love people! I love hearing their stories and telling them mine,” stated Courtney. “I value face to face communication. I think we have gotten away from talking to each other outside of text messages and Facebook. If anyone ever wants to sit down and chat, I am always excited to listen.”
Over the years, she has taken on various jobs that allowed her to work closely with people. Not only did she take her jobs as a way to make money, but she used them as an opportunity to learn.
“My first job was at Sunflower. I bagged groceries. It was a great job because I got to talk to a lot of people,” remembered Courtney. “Most people knew me as ‘Stephanie’s daughter,’ but I didn’t mind a bit. There was something nostalgic about working in the hometown grocery store. It wasn’t necessarily a hard job, but it was a tiring one. It gave me my first paycheck, so it was a huge foundation for learning to work and provide for myself.”
Her desire to learn on the job continued to grow, and with one job she was able to learn more about something that most women don’t even think about.
“My favorite job, besides being a mama, was working at Construction Fasteners,” explained Courtney. “We sold bolts, among other things. It was fascinating to me because the learning was endless. When I didn’t have customers, I stayed in the back and just memorized bolt sizes, bolt strengths, and bolt functions. I learned about tapping screws, wood screws, concrete bolts, etc. It turns out ladies, using the random screw or nails you find in your house aren’t always practical. They actually do each function with a specific purpose.”
Along the way, she has also made some great friends and mentors. Her favorite job may have been at Construction Fasteners, but her favorite boss was at another job she has held.
“My favorite boss will have to be Amanda Allen while at QLE,” stated Courtney. “Although my time there was brief, she taught me invaluable lessons. I learned more there and from her than I probably have at all the other jobs combined. I am forever grateful for all that she taught me moving forward in my life. Even still, she is a source of advice if and when I need it. That kind of boss and that kind of experience teaches you more than you realize.”
Along with being a hard worker, Courtney loves being able to get an education. She has worked hard to get degrees of her own, and she encourages others to become educated in something as well, even if it is something that doesn’t require a college degree.
“I graduated high school from Enterprise High School in 2008. After high school I attended MCC and then transferred to Blue Mountain College where I received a B.S. in Christian Ministry in 2013. In 2014, I finished my A.A. from MCC. If you know me, I’ve always been kind of a gypsy, so timelines never mattered to me,” said Courtney. “I worked very hard at Blue Mountain College studying the Old and New Testament, the Baptist Faith and Message, and countless other books about faith, Christian history, and Revelation. Although it was the basis of my faith, these classes were often difficult to comprehend. I would not trade my college experience for anything in the world. College, for me, helped to build my character and teach me the importance of deadlines and productivity; however, I also see such value in life even without a college degree. I think it is important that we don’t uphold any type of education above another. I really wish I could change my own oil. It would be cheaper if I could do my own auto work. God has blessed everyone with gifts and talents to follow their dreams and His plan for their lives. Sometimes, education is required and helps us get there; sometimes, it doesn’t. Be happy with where you are in life, but if education helps you move closer toward your dream, then go for it!”
Courtney has found her gift and talent that God has given her, and she uses it abundantly to bless those around her. She is able to write and play music.
“I love to play the guitar and write songs. That is my biggest stress reliever,” stated Courtney. “God has gifted me with the ability to put into a song feelings and emotions that I can’t seem to express any other way. Writing music seems to give me validation that I do have something to say. Sometimes I wake up from a dream at 3:00 a.m. with a song lyric in my head. It will literally keep me awake until I get up to write it down. Songs come to me in so many random ways. It is the most fun for me to watch an idea turn into a verse, and then a chorus, and then into a completed song. I am thankful that God blessed me with the ability to tell this kind of story to people.”
Recently, Courtney competed in the The Radio People’s Jimmie Rogers Singer/Songwriter Competition. Her fans voted her in to perform live, and although she didn’t win the competition, she did an amazing job singing her original music and using the talent that God gave her.
When she is not playing her music, Courtney does what she loves the most: being a mama and spending time with her family.
“In 2015, I married my husband, Matthew McPhearson. Together, we have a four-year-old daughter, Mabry, and two-year-old twin boys, Hunter and Waylon,” said Courtney. “As of now, I stay at home since my kids just all started going to school and daycare. My husband is my sanity. He is the level head to my anxiety and worrying. He is the only calm we see in our house of loud noises, big messes, and huge love.”
Everyone in her family is very special to her, and some of her favorite memories are spending time with her family growing up.
“My favorite memory is any time I was at my grandparents’ house with all of my cousins,” reminisced Courtney. “I have a big family. Back then, we all spent time together at my Granny and Papaw’s house. We always shot fireworks on Christmas Eve together. Now, it is few and far between when we get to all see each other. Our lives have taken us in different directions, but we will always be family, and I will always be my Granny’s favorite.”
Now, Courtney will continue doing what she does best: being a mama and spending time with family, writing and singing her own music, and just spreading joy and love to everyone she meets.
To nominate someone for Person of the Week, email the name and contact information to bmangum@clarkecountytrib.com.
