“There’s always an opportunity. When God wakes us up in the morning, there’s a reason for that. We just have to do the best we can with the time we’re given,” advised Sandra Simpson. “Make the most of every minute you have with family and friends because we never know what will happen, especially after everything we’ve seen happen this year. Just make the most of every moment you have with people.”
Sandra Simpson knows firsthand what it means to live each day thankful for what has been given to her; she does everything she can to make the most of every situation, whether it is good or bad. In fact, she makes sure to use the different things she has learned through various experiences to help others.
“I have gone through things in life and have seen so many situations and changes. I think you learn and grow from everything you walk through and can always use that to help another person along the way,” explained Sandra. “When I was three, I had spinal meningitis. The doctors told my mom and dad that if I lived, I would be a vegetable. God brought me through that through prayer and healing. When you’ve gone through something like that, heard your parents and grandparents talking about it, and grown up to live a full, productive life, you just see how prayer changes things.”
One of the things she enjoys the most is her family. Sandra has been married to her husband, Richard, for 48 years, and they have three daughters together.
“I just enjoy family and friends, and I have been very blessed to have great family and friends,” stated Sandra. “I’ve always enjoyed having my grandparents in my life. I had my grandparents on both my mom and dad’s sides. I even got to know my great grandmother. All the childhood memories I have with them are wonderful.”
Now, Sandra is happy to make precious memories with grandchildren of her own.
“I look forward to giving my grandchildren good memories too,” said Sandra. “I have four granddaughters and four grandsons. They range in age from the set of two year old twins to my oldest grandchild who is graduating from Ole Miss this next semester.”
Sandra’s love for her family is also extended to her church family. She attends Cooper’s Chapel and values the love, support, and wisdom that her church family provides.
“Our pastor, Brother Larry White, gave a message the other day about something that has really stayed on my heart: the word joy. He said if we put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last, then everything will work. That’s what I’ve been looking at over the years, and he just sort of put it in perspective with those three letters. I think that what’s important is that we just love each other and help each other along the way,” explained Sandra. “Just being part of the church family at Cooper’s Chapel is special. It really is a loving congregation, and I’m proud to be part of that.”
Over the years, Sandra has shown a strong work ethic.
“I graduated from high school and worked at the knitting mill in Quitman for several years. Then, I took off to raise my daughters,” said Sandra. “When our baby girl made it to elementary school, I started working as an assistant teacher. I worked there for around five years. Then, I went to work at the knitting mill again. When the knitting mill closed, I had the opportunity to come work at Farm Bureau.”
Since then, she has worked at Farm Bureau. Although Farm Bureau is known for insurance, Sandra’s job has had her dealing with the other things the agency does.
“I’m the federation secretary, or their membership secretary I should say,” explained Sandra. “We are a farm organization. They are very involved with agriculture for our state, and people really should come by and find out just how much Farm Bureau is involved with. I just think they have a lot of stuff to offer that people really aren’t aware of.”
Although she has loved her job and all the people she has been in contact with over the years, Sandra has decided that it is time to take another major step in her life: retirement.
“I’m going to be retiring October 30. From there, I’m looking forward to a new chapter. I’m ready to go spend time with family and friends. I think retirement is going to be wonderful,” stated Sandra. “I’m going to miss so many people that I’ve worked with over the years that I won’t be seeing every day, but hopefully I’ll see them at different times when I’m in town. Working at Farm Bureau has been really wonderful. These past years, I’ve gotten to meet so many people that I never would have had the opportunity of meeting and made so many friends along the way. I just want them to know how much I cherish those memories. They’ve all just been such precious customers, and I’ve come to know them as friends and not just customers.”
