(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights TMH Administrative Assistant Sharon Kuykendall.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born May 28, 1970, at Marion General Hospital.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended West Marion my whole life then Pearl River Community College and also went to a cosmetology school that is now closed.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I work at TMH as an administrative assistant. I do billing, collection, interacting with clients, make appointments and go over their tax information with them once it’s completed by the CPA.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: My daughter had a car accident Sept. 29, 2004, and had a brain injury. The Christian Motorcyclists Association came to visit her in the hospital because it had went from being considered a car accident to a motorcycle accident. I got to meet a guy named Steve Gray, who used to live in Columbia and is the one who sent the association. After a year I had to go back to work and did an interview with him, and he hired me. I worked for Gray CPA Firm from 2005 until we were merged with what was then Nicholson and Company, which is now TMH, in 2007.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Everything. We’re a close-knit firm. Everybody is like family, but I also love my clients. I love to visit with them and talk with them. I love to talk to people.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Probably deadlines and the seasonal hours during tax season from January until April. You do get tired by the end of it, but I still love it. I love all the clients; they’re so sweet.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: Treat everyone how you want to be treated. I’ve been raised to do onto others as you would have them do onto you. As I’ve grown older I’ve realized that is the most important thing.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be an administrative assistant, but back then it was called secretary. I love to talk to people and be around people, and it looked like something that was fun to do.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I worked at McDonald’s when I was 16 years old. It was the one here in Columbia in the building that is now Rajun Cajun’s.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My best friend, Julie Penton Rollo. We’ve been best friends for 47 years, and she’s always pushed me to do more. She’s always there when I need her even if we don’t live close together; she lives in Baton Rouge. We call, talk, text and send each other happy messages all the time.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Mike Kuykendall. He’s an attorney here in town.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have three children. Amber Barber is the one who had the bad car wreck and is 31 years old. Kayla Barber is 28. Brandon Barber is 22. I have one stepdaughter, Katherine.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Mexican spaghetti from Bogie’s and a strawberry mango smoothie from Bogie’s.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d want to go back to New York at Christmas to see some Broadway shows and go back to the 9/11 museum. I’ve been to it once, but it takes quite a long time to get through it and didn’t finish it. There was so much to see throughout New York.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to do crafts, like to knit and am in a card club where we make cards.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: The Southern hospitality. Everybody is nice. You’re not numbers here; you’re real people. You can walk into a store, and somebody is going to hold the door open for you. It’s a great place to raise kids.
Q: What clubs or organizations are you involved with? Where do you go to church?
A: I go to First United Methodist Church. I’m in the Junior Auxiliary Club. This is my first year doing it. And I ride with the crew of Iris in New Orleans,
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My grandfathers, Cripp Moody and Rhesa Boyles, because they were like father figures to me. They were always there when I needed them. They were sweet, loving, caring and protective.
Q: What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
A: Any kind of sweet. I love sweets. I eat ice cream at night pretty much all the time.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: When my daughter had her accident when she was 16. She almost died and did die three times during the flight. It was hard. We were in Forrest General Hospital for about a month then in Jackson for about three more. She’s permanently disabled because someone was late to work. At the same time that’s how I got to where I am now. That’s how I met Steve Gray and met my now-husband. My son also had a near fatal accident, and I was more prepared if you can be prepared for that situation. It helped me understand the questions and things that were going on.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: I want to sail around the world. I’ve always wanted to do it. I think that would be fun.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Honesty, compassion and loyalty.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I want to be remembered as a loving mom, wife and friend.
— Joshua Campbell
