Locals share stories on their toughest jobs

As of Thursday, September 8, 2011
© Copyright 2013 Newton Citizen

Most people will get a break from the work-a-day world Monday, Sept. 5. With more than 154 million workers in the U.S., according to U.S. Census data, the Citizen wondered: What is the toughest job you've ever had? Citizen staff posed the question to folks on their way to shop at the Ingle's in Covington and community members at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center in Conyers.

"(The toughest job I ever had was) surviving in that snow (while fighting in a trench on the border between Germany and France during WWII). To this day, I freeze to death."

Bud Sosebee, Conyers

"I'm a social worker and I worked at a psychiatric hospital at intake. I had to interview people when they first came in. But the hardest part was getting insurance companies to agree to pay for treatment."

Laura Kemp, Covington

"Being in the hot sun and bending to get those cotton stalks (as a 12-year-old girl picking cotton in Montrose, Ga.)."

Ella Mosley, Conyers

"I worked as a caregiver for 3 years for a lady with Alzheimer's and then she got cancer. The emotional strain, watching her go down was the worst part, watching her pass away was the hardest part."

Lee Ellsworth, Conyers

"When I worked at UPS. I worked on an air belt outside sorting packages that go to the airport. It was hot or it was raining."

Shiffon Jefferson, Covington

"Raising my children. They don't give you a handbook for that."

Diane Browder, Conyers

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John 1 year, 9 months ago

Bud Sosebee - Thank you for your service to our country. My Dad also fought in the trenches during the first World War, I have his Purple Heart he earned in Muese Argonne.

Ella Mosley - I can identify with you. I grew up on a "poor" farm - no hired help, we did it all.

Can't really identify who the caregiver is by the way the article is written, but Bless you, my Mom had dementia.

Shiffon Jefferson - if you really think a hand book would help, the library is full of books, article on raising children. But your children started out no different than others and amazingly enough these little ones are best taught by the actions of their parents and family, you know that foot step thing, don't use that "don't as I do, do as I say thing", know who they hang with, they are teachers too,be involved in everything they do sometimes tough love is needed, , learn to say no, make them earn what the get (or at least have some level of ownership), teach them respect (giving & earning it).
Hey we raised three children, the turned out just fine no hand books for them either. Raising children is not a job, it is blessing - children never ask to be here.

A comment for rest a tough job can and will build character and a bit of hard work has never hurt anyone.

Newton Citizen