By Staff
Senior Living
(This week The Atmore Advance spotlights 66-year-old Jean Scarbrough. Scarbrough lives in the Monroeville area, but travels to Atmore as a chaplain with AseraCare Hospice. She visits the Atmore SAIL Center periodically where she holds support groups for those who need help with bereavement. As a part of her job in the mission field, she has traveled to may different areas in the world including Sweden, Guatemala and Portugal.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Mexia on June 15, 1941 at home.
Q: Where do you currently live?
A: I live in the Monroeville area.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: Lillie Mae (Wiggins) and Winfred Scarbrough.
Q: Where were they from?
A: My mother is from Mexia and my father was from Mississippi.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: I have one brother, Gary Stapleton. He's nine years younger than me.
Q: Where did you attend high school and college?
A: I graduated from Excel High School in 1959. I went to Bible College in Plymouth, Fla.
Q: Do you do a lot of traveling?
A: I do. I travel for (AseraCare) Hospice. We basically cover five counties, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe, Wilcox and Butler. Myself and one other chaplain cover those areas.
Q: What jobs have you held?
A: There are a lot. I guess my first job was when I worked in Fort Lee, Va. as a secretary. I've had all kinds of secretary jobs. I have worked for doctors as medical assistants. I have owned a ladies dress shop.
Since 1988 I was on the mission field until six years ago. Now I work with AseraCare as a chaplain and in bereavement care.
Q: Did you ever marry?
A: Yes, I am not married now.
Q: Do you have any children or grandchildren?
A: I have three children. One daughter who lives in South Carolina, Deborah, and two sons who live in Richmond, Ind., Daniel and Christopher.
I have two grandsons, Clayton who is 20 and Liam who is 11. I have a deceased granddaughter, Kam. She died when she was 8 months.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: Mexia Baptist.
Q: What keeps you busy these days?
A: My job, we assist people with end-of-life issues and with spiritual issues. Through that I do support groups at senior citizen centers. The one here (at the Atmore SAIL Center) was very successful.
And, I live next door to my mother, who is 85. I came home from Guatemala to live next to her when my father died.
Q: Where else have you traveled through your mission work?
A: I started out in Sweden and then went to Germany. Then I went to Portugal and Macau, which is right there at the China line. Then I went to Mexico and ministered in churches there.
From Mexico I went to Norway.
When I was in Macau, Norway and Sweden I worked with a drug rehab group.
I left Norway and came back to the states and worked in a drug rehab center in Iowa. Then I went to Guatemala and worked in the public schools. I had my own ministry then.
Then I came home.
Q: What's your favorite television show?
A: "Survivor." I started watching it when it was in Guatemala. And, I have been to China so I enjoyed that one.
Q: What advice would you like to give people on staying healthy?
A: First of all, get a regular checkup. Eat healthy and exercise if you can. And pray a lot.
(If you would like to recommend a senior to be spotlighted please contact Adrienne McKenzie at 368-2123 or e-mail her at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com)