(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Pic-N-Sav bookkeeper Vickie McNeese.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Brookhaven on July 29, 1957.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Columbia public schools.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am the head bookkeeper at Pic-N-Sav. I work customer service, which is dealing with both the employees and the customers. I do money orders, I check groceries and take care of the customers’ needs. I’m just an all-around person in the office.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I was looking for a job and found one part time, which led to a full-time position. I started out in the deli area actually, but through my experience with other jobs I’ve had I moved up to the customer service area. I’ve been with Pic-N-Sav for two years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Meeting and dealing with the public. I like having conversations with customers, meeting new people and finding out something about their lives. I’m just a people person. I like to intertwine with people.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Right now it’s dealing with the virus and having to explain to the customers why they can only have a limited number of items so we can have it available for other customers. That’s been the most challenging thing I’ve dealt with since I’ve been there.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: To have patience, always try to be friendly no matter what the situation and be professional.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I actually wanted to be a school teacher, but I just never pursued the aspect of that. So I just went out and worked various jobs in the public.
Q: What was your first job?
A: It was taking orders at a small, old-fashioned sandwich shop when I was about 9 years old. I went there and visited with my mom, wanted to help and started taking orders.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: It would have been both my mom, Florine Terry, and my dad, Ray Terry, because they were such hard workers. They were simple people but hard workers. They taught me the value of a day’s work.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Michael McNeese. He’s a lineman for CA-PAR Electric.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have three children. Tracy Swayze is 44, Stacy McCray is 42 and Taylor McNeese is 25.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: A steak dinner cooked medium well at home.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: It would have to be somewhere I could get to by car because I don’t fly. I’d like to go to Las Vegas to be able to see all of the lights and, not necessarily to gamble, see the nightlife.
Q: What are some of your hobbies you like to do in your spare time?
A: Honestly I don’t really have any hobbies. Most of my time is spent working or just sitting around.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I love the small-town atmosphere.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I would love to be able to have lunch with my mom again. That would be awesome. I’d love to talk to her about her grandchildren. When she passed she only had one grandchild, and there’s six others that are my grandchildren now so it would be awesome to tell her about their lives and the accomplishments they’ve done.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I would probably volunteer somewhere there was a need like a children’s facility where they need a sense of comfort and just need someone to be there with them.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: When I accepted Jesus as my savior. You can find good in all people, but you might have to search it out.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: There’s a lot of things I haven’t done in life because I’d rather be working, but I’d say to fly. I’ve never tried that, and I might could do that. That’s on my bucket lit to at least do that once.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Honesty, compassion and friendliness.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I’d like to be remembered as being a caring person and a people person.
— Joshua Campbell
