(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights its new Advertising Consultant Sheila Stringer.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Columbia Dec. 27, 1965.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Columbia Academy and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: My childhood was awesome. We ran around on the farm. I was just by myself because there were no neighbors, before it was built up like it is now, so you had to entertain yourself. I had a pony named John, and I rode him around. I played with dolls; we built forts, went outside in the woods and played and came home when it got dark. We moved away when I was in my fifth-grade year to Florida, and it was a total culture shock.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am the new advertising consultant at The Columbian-Progress, and my role is to help companies in Marion County promote the welfare of their business through the benefit of our paper.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I love The Columbian-Progress because this is where all of Columbia happens and where we find out everything that’s going on in Columbia. This is the hub right here. I feel very blessed to be here.
Q: What do you think you will enjoy most about your job?
A: I’m going to enjoy getting to know all of the people and getting to hear all of the stories about my grandparents. I’ve already heard several stories about them just in the two days I’ve worked here. I’m going to get to know the people that are so awesome in Marion County. There’s no way I’d get to know all of the people in this community in any other capacity. I think it’s an awesome opportunity to get to know people. And I’m going to get paid for it, so it’s a great opportunity for me.
Q: What was your first job?
A: The first job I ever had was in my grandfather’s stock yard. They decided I would be the end of the line where you put the check underneath this machine, dial out the numbers, press it down and it writes out the check. Del’s Electric has one of these machines, and he wrote out the check in front of me with one of these machines and I nearly burst into tears. It transported me.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: Velma Stringer, my grandmother, and June Williams, my aunt. They took the time to be involved in my life, and they also taught me to follow with Christ. They taught me to always be good to other people and set a good example. And they took the time to live those morals, ethics and the Bible themselves.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have two children. Rachael is 26 and Andrew is 23.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Lobster with crab sauce and filet mignon.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’m very happy to be home and am happy just to be here. I moved away and chose to come back here.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I love to read, and I love gardening.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: The people are so authentic, and they’re some of the kindest and sweetest people. The men are gentlemen. I love the way the people care about children and treat them in a loving, kind way. They treat them as if they matter. Here everyone is integrated into a family, and it’s a community. If you live somewhere else and you come here, it’s a glaring and wonderful thing to see in operation. It’s the sweetness of going to Walmart and seeing a whole family shopping together.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: Queen Sheba because I think it was interesting that she had the wisdom to go and talk to King Solomon, and she was a woman who wanted to question him. I always found her very interesting and very pivotal, and the Bible doesn’t say much about her. I’d like to know more about that conversation and what did she find out and learn from that conversation. She obviously had a lot of power and riches, but what did she really take away from that? Did it really change her life? Was it really impactful? Did she change her morals and her life?
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I’d still want to be around people. I work with Celebrate Recovery at my church, and I would want to continue to build that program and help people build better lives for themselves.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: Definitely read a good book. Words help me build mental picture, and it’s a quiet activity. Peace and quiet are very important to me because it helps me unwind. Movies, sometimes, are so loud. Being in sales is a high-energy thing, and you need that peace and quiet.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Accepting Christ as my Lord and savior.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Faithful, honest and loving.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As a person who encouraged others to realize their full potential, a person who lived a life that encouraged others to know the Lord and a person who is joyful.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: New Advertising Consultant Sheila Stringer for The Columbian-Progress said it’s a blessing to be a part of the team. “I love The Columbian-Progress because this is where all of Columbia happens and where we find out everything that’s going on in Columbia. This is the hub right here,” she said. | Photo by Mark Rogers
