8
May 2022
The Community News Flash
Big family is everything for Eckford including on job when her daughter is at work. By Lucy Weber Eckford said she and her siblings Beverly Eckford has a heart for were brought up by their parents to be family. responsible. "We were brought up that Eckford's role in her big, extended you have to earn your way," she said, family is mother, daughter, grandadding that she used the same principle mother, great-grandmother, sibling with her children. "I'm firm but I give and the one who helps those in some. I learned from my children that need feel like part of a famiif you give them all the things, they ly. don't respect you." As executive director Eckford start at the housing of the Baldwin Housing authority in 2011 and became the Authority, Eckford sees executive director last May. "I'm her responsibility lies busy all day. There's a steady beyond just the 65 stream of calls," she said. "I work apartments, but with late every day, sometimes till the young families and 6:30 or 7 but I love what I do. 40 senior citizens living I've always been a hard worker." there. "They look to me As soon as she became the for help. Everybody director, Eckford knew that her needs somebody." father could be an asset on the While maintaining job so she offered him a position. her professionalism on "I told him he had six months to the job, Eckford realmake a decision on whether he izes that some of the wanted to stay. His working of me seniors have no one else. that tickles him," she said. She helps them out with a Eckford is her Sunday School smile by giving them rides Beverly Eckford secretary at Emmanuel Baptist to doctors or reading their Church in Baldwyn and works a retail job on mail to them, or even fixing televisions when weekends. But, she says, there is always time they find it difficult. "You have to have a heart for family. and have Jesus on your side," she said. The past two years with Covid slowed down That desire to be of service comes from the immense family gatherings of up to 50 or being from a big family. Eckford is the oldest more but Eckford said everyone is looking forof seven children. Her parents are 82 and 83 ward to getting together, possibly on Memorial years old, but her father is one of her part-time Day. "I can't wait to do that again." employees, and she also has many aunts and uncles around. She's the mother of one so, is a minister at Greater Life United Baptist Church in Corinth who has five children, and a daughter, who has two girls. She also has a great-grandchild. "My grandchildren, I love them and would do anything for them," Eckford said. She said she is blessed that as a grandmother she is able to keep her daughter's 10- and 131010 Meigg Street year-olds at times 662.286.6327
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