In life you meet a few people who have a drive in them that won’t go away. Back in 2010 my wife and I came to know a person who had an undying drive to achieve.
That was the year Flor applied for and was hired by Buddy Powell, owner of McComb’s Golden Corral on Anna Drive adjacent to I-55.
That’s been 16 years ago, and she and I along with our daughter Mikella paid homage to Buddy’s family and his great achievements by attending his final rites at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home last week.
What the fine minister said at his memorial was an echo to what we already knew, Buddy Powell lived life the way it was supposed to be done.
He set his standards and expectations high.
There’s an old saying: If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly.
And if you are going to do something, give it your best.
If anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.
And Buddy Powell did it right.
Flor was so proud of her boss and owner all these 16 years because he set work ethics like they are supposed to be set.
He always appreciated a staff that like himself did things with all their heart.
Flor is a quiet person and if a compliment comes from her you can take it to the bank. It will cash.
She thought the world of her boss and saw integrity on two feet in Buddy Powell.
A few people felt he was a little hard, but the truth is he wanted his enterprise to be first class.
He and lovely wife Stacey came to McComb in 1987 and eventually became owners of the Golden Corral’s original facility on Delaware Avenue. They then relocated the restaurant to its present location, and I had the high honor of being one of his first guests in the new facility.
Ever since come Wednesday I’m found helping myself to their fine buffet.
In all the many times down through the years I have entered that restaurant I never found it unkept or untidy.
Some people are all work and no play, while some are all play and no work.
Buddy Powell was a balanced human being, integrating his hard work with time with his family.
His son Mike and daughter Kristi had his fingerprints all over their childhood and days in school.
He was always there to watch Mike on the mound pitching baseball for Parklane and Kristi competing in gymnastics.
He loved hunting and fishing and being in the great outdoors. Thus he was a balanced human being.
Actions speak louder than words to me, and in her final act to her husband of 49 years, I saw Stacy lean over his casket and kiss her boyfriend/husband goodbye for the last time.
For any marriage to stay in place 49 years means there was a love that stayed after the courting was over.
In fact, the courting never stopped and it’s why they almost made it a golden anniversary together.
Together they have introduced a Huey Magoo’s chicken tender franchise to Mississippi. One is just up the road from Golden Corral.
Today we take time to salute one who lived among us who did it the way it was supposed to done.
God bless you and God bless America.
