(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Annette Broom of First Southern Bank.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Richton at home on Aug. 21, 1947.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Richton High School.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: I have lived in Richton, Louisiana for a short period of time and Columbia.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am with the mortgage department for First Southern Bank and deal with post-closings. I handle all of the mortgage loans for each of the four other branches. I make sure all of the proper documentation is filed and sent in to our investors.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: When I moved here, I was looking for a job. I first worked with one of the local firms, then I got into banking, which was 36 years ago. I worked with Foxworth Bank, Trustmark Bank for a short time and have been with First Southern for 25 years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I enjoy meeting the public. There are a lot of good people here. All of my coworkers and superiors have all been nice. It’s been a very pleasant 25 years with First Southern.
Q: What was your first job? Most unusual job?
A: My first job was working at the local hamburger house in Richton. It was called the Rebel Hamburger House because we were the Richton Rebels. When I was 15, I started working there after school and on Saturdays. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a really unusual job, but I worked with the training school for a little while with the psychologist. After he would talk to the children who had been brought in for different problems, I would transcribe all of his notes regarding those children. That was different and heartbreaking a lot of times.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My dad, William Odom, influenced me a lot. His influence was based on being an honest person. He taught me to always give the person you’re working for an honest eight hours of work and always have God first in your life. He was a big inspiration in my life.
Q: What is your spouse’s name? What does he do for a living?
A: Gerald Broom. We’ve been married for 32 years, and I’ve been very proud of him for the good name he carries in church and being the religious leader and Godly father he’s been to our children. He is retired now. He used to own the Broom Slaughter House on highway 98. He retired from the state of Mississippi as well. He was a supervisor with the petroleum division in south Mississippi.
Q: Do you have any children?
A: I have one daughter, Stephanie Slay. He has four sons, Ken Broom, Paul Broom, Tim Broom, who is now deceased, and Mark Broom. We’re proud of all of our children. They’ve gone out, gotten their education and are out on their own.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: Everybody loves a good steak, so that would probably be mine.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii just for the beautiful scenery.
Q: What hobbies/activities do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time, I go to a lot of football and baseball games. I have grandchildren who play and have two who love to hunt. We always brag on them. We have a granddaughter who rides with the rodeo team at Pearl River Community College, so we do a lot of different things with our grandchildren. We work a lot in church at Calvary Baptist Church and do a lot of activities there.
Q: What do you enjoy most about living and working in Columbia and Marion County?
A: It’s convenient and everything is close to home. You know everybody and like to help other people. My husband and I are very active in Gideons International, who place bibles in different areas and give testaments to the school children. We enjoy getting out, talking with people and seeing that they are a born again Christian and where their future lies should they pass away.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: It would probably be with my mother, Margie, father and a set of twins that I had a miscarriage with. We could just all sit down, have a big family gathering and talk about what has happened since they passed on. It would be nice to let them know how all their family is, we’re all happy and everybody loved them.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I would like to be remembered as a Godly woman who set an example for other young women and for being a good mother to all of our children and grandchildren. Most of all that my husband and I lived a happy life and would like to be remembered as an inspiration to others.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: A big impact at one time was a business that I worked with was closed, and it was very devastating to know just out of the blue one day the doors were locked. You don’t know where you’re going to be the next day or if you’re going to have a job. It was pretty devastating knowing you have a family at home and want to provide for them.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I love a good book, but I would say a movie. That way my husband could watch it with me. We enjoy spending time together. The only thing he reads is the Bible, so I would say a movie.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Annette Broom works in the mortgage department at First Southern Bank. She has been in the banking business for 36 years. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
