This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Fed-Ex driver, Joseph Burkhamer.
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Poplarville on Feb. 13, 1971.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: West Marion.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I work at Fed-Ex. I started out as a contractor in 2005 right after Katrina. I went to school for the position two weeks prior and contracted with FedEx in October 2005. I contracted for myself for five years and have been under four other contractors as well. However, I have always had the Marion County route. My original route was Columbia, Foxworth and Poplarville.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I was a professional musician for years in New Orleans. When we moved back to Mississippi, I started working at Orleans Furniture. Later, while working at Quality Flooring, I spoke with a Fed-Ex driver on several occasions about purchasing the driver’s route. I also spoke with my aunt who owned a restaurant in New Orleans, who backed me and allowed me to purchase the route. I have been doing it for 16 years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I enjoy meeting people. I am a shy person but also a people person. I like to be an asset and a help.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Dealing with the general public in a hostile environment.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: That you can do anything you set your heart to do. Treat people like you want to be treated and to treat everyone no matter what as equally important.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: We grew up poor. My faith has always been important to me. I knew if I trusted in God, He would lead me where I needed to be.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I was a bus boy in my aunt’s restaurant.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My mother, Margaret Ann Jacobs Burkhamer, had seven children. My father left her when I was 12 years old. She kept her faith and taught us right from wrong. Second to her would be my pastor, a man of God.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Geri.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have three living children, but I fathered four. My three are Geri Faith, who is 17, Nathan Andrew, who is 16 and Elisabeth Hope, who is 9.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and a baked sweet potato. For dessert it would be pumpkin pie.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Hunting and fishing when I am not doing youth leading work at my church, Oak Grove Apostolic Church.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: The good food, and there are some good people here. We do have great hospitality here.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: The Apostle Paul. He was well versed in the religions of the day. He was taught so much that is not in the Bible, and I would love to know what all he knew.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: Pursue a better relationship in winning souls. I would dedicate my time to helping people and teaching them the Gospel.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: The day I was born again in Jesus.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Honesty, forgiveness and faithfulness.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As somebody who did what all he could to help somebody even when other people could do more.
