(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Chancery Court Deputy Clerk Joy Baughman.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born March 21, 1966, in Marrero, La.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended school in the Columbia School District and Pearl River Community College.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: My role at the chancery clerk’s office is as a deputy clerk, and my primary duty is in the court department. This is where all the chancery court cases are filed. I prepare appeals to the Supreme Court, I handle chancery court accounts and I train part-time employees in the court department. I also work in the chancery court room for all four of the chancery court judges.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: After I graduated from college, my name was given to different Marion County businesses. The chancery clerk at that time, Cody Buckley, contacted me for a job interview and he hired me. When Cass Barnes was elected, he hired me and I’ve worked alongside him since he took office.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I’m a people person so I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them. I especially enjoy getting to help people and let them know I care. My job allows me to do that on a daily basis.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: The most challenging aspect is if my job isn’t done correctly, I could create a problem for someone else.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: An important life lesson I’ve learned through working in the chancery clerk’s office is to never judge a book by its cover. Many people come to the chancery clerk’s office for help that are going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. I always strive daily to show them compassion because I never know what situations they may be facing.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be an office worker. I can remember my grandmother bringing me to a little stationary shop, and she bought me a rubber stamp and an ink pad so I could use it at my little desk. I loved it.
Q: What was your first job?
A: During high school I worked at Sonic Drive-In as a cashier.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My parents, Lavelle and Laura Daley, taught me love, respect and right from wrong. I grew up watching both of my parents work very hard for our family. They impressed upon me that things you want in life don’t always come easy. You have to work very hard for them.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have two wonderful daughters. Sarah is 24 and Brooklyn is 9.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: My momma’s seafood gumbo.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I would really love to go to the Holy Land.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like going to flea markets and garage sales because you never know what treasures you might find. The main thing I love to do is spending as much time as I can with my family.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: What I enjoy about it is being able to call Columbia my home. I love the people. Being in a small town, it often seems like we’re one big family. I love the way we come together and share good times, and we help each other during bad times. This past holiday season is a great example of the way we come together to share good times. Then I think back to Columbia Strong, and that’s a perfect example of coming together during the bad times and coming together.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I would want to have lunch with my grandparents, Sarah Garner, Laura Fabre and Ernest Fabre, who passed away, but I would like to include my two daughters. I often think about how happy it would make me if they could meet my children.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I’ve had a desire to reach out to single mothers, so if I didn’t have to worry about money and could do whatever I want all day I would want to start an outreach program for single mothers in our community. My focus would be not on what circumstances led them to the road they’re on but to let them know they’re not traveling that road alone.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: The day my first child was born my life forever changed. I knew from that moment that for the rest of my life that there was someone else I would have to meet their needs before mine.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: Right before my second child was born I was in the process of joining a prison ministry team. With having a new baby at home pretty soon, my life would be demanding so I kind of put it on hold because life had taken me in a new direction. I still hope to one day do ministry in the prisons.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Trustworthy, compassionate and respectful.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: A couple weeks ago my oldest daughter sent me a picture of my name, “Joy.” She said, “I saw this and it reminded me of you.” Each letter of my name had a word with it. The “J” was Jesus first. The “O” was others second. The “Y” was yourself last. When I saw that, I realized that’s exactly how I would like to be remembered.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Chancery Court Deputy Clerk Joy Baughman said she enjoys getting to meet and help new people on a daily basis at work. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
