|
|||
|
|||
 |
|||
|
10/16/2009 - Becky Long: First Lady of Marion
By Daphne Henderson
Becky Long became first lady of Marion when her husband, Tony, took office in October, 2004. "I'm just Becky," she said. "Today, I am the mayor's wife and tomorrow I am not!" "I didn't want (Tony) to run in the first place," Long admitted. "However, he has a love for the city and he can make a difference, and I support him 110 percent in everything he does." She said that she knew being mayor would be a difficult job and was worried about the level of stress that the job entails.
When asked about her most important role as first lady, she quickly replied, "Besides supporting the mayor, I try to be a good influence for women in the community to look to." "You know, I see this position as just an opportunity for me to serve God and I try my best to do it well. Everyone has a purpose, whether it's large or small," she said. "This really is a good little town, kind of like a Mayberry and I just want outsiders looking in to see the good things our town has going for it," she said. Long says that she gets very discouraged because Marion often times gets "bad publicity." She hopes to change that during her time as first lady. "Most people are unaware of the positive things in Marion, like Sowing Seeds of Hope and Cross Ties," she said. Along with her role as first lady, Long also serves as the library assistant at Judson College. She said her favorite part of her job is the students. "They're the highlight of my work," she said. And the feeling is mutual. Long is very popular with Judson students. "I love Ms. Becky!" said sophomore Sarah Dunn of Frisco City. "From the first day I met her, she made me feel so special, like she'd known me for years." Long says, "The only part of my job I really dislike is working the night shift." The Bowling Library stays open until 11:00 p.m. and library workers alternate when they stay late. "Besides the fact that it makes me tired, I just miss that time with my family," she said. It was very evident at the beginning of the interview that Long's faith and her family are very important to her. She's an active member at the Marion United Methodist Church where she enjoys "screaming in the choir." She's the mother of three sons, Wes, Everett and Dean and two grandchildren, Bracken and Ella Kate. In her spare time, Long enjoys decorating, cleaning and fishing. "Holidays are my favorite because it is then that I get my whole family together at my house . . . all 30 of us," she said with a laugh. * Article courtesy of the Judson College Public Relations Department.
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||