Saundra (Mitchell) Harper

We are all grateful that Saundra and her husband, Scott Harper, returned to Jackson County eight years ago when they retired. Saundra assumed the caretaking duties of the class bank account and very capably sees to sending sympathy cards, flowers, get well cards etc. when our class needs to be thoughtful or represented.

Saundra and Scott have been married forty years and have two children. Their daughter, Holly, is thirty-five years old and has three children by birth and one teen-aged stepson who complete her family. Their son, Tim, is thirty-two years old and has two little children.

After marriage, Saundra didn’t live in this area until she and Scott returned in 1995. Scott’s job with the Corp of Engineers took them to Boydton, Va., Ft. Gaines, Ga., Abbeville, Al., Chattahoochee, Fl., then back to Abbeville. Abbeville is where they settled in 1977, and they stayed here until their return to Scottsboro.

Because she wanted to prove to herself that she could succeed in college, Saundra furthered her education after her children were born. She earned an AA degree from George C. Wallace Jr. College in Dothan, and also took some courses from Troy State. Saundra says that if she had studied as diligently in high school as she did in college, she would have been on the honor roll! She has worked in several capacities, including secretarial work at a newspaper, a health department, and a county social services office. Her longest job tenure was with Champion Paper, where she worked in the accounting department. She finds it amusing that math was difficult for her in school, but she had no trouble working with figures in her job. Saundra also substitute taught at the schools her children attended when they were growing up.

Saundra had one sister, Pam, who died of breast cancer five years ago. Saundra’s mother is able to live alone, but Saundra does a great deal to care for her mother so that her mother can live in her own home.

Reading, traveling, and decorating are among Saundra’s hobbies. She loves to collect recipes, but she doesn’t always get around to cooking them. She also likes to listen to music and watch old movies. However, her favorite way to spend her time is with her six grandchildren. Holly’s family lives close enough for Saundra to attend some ballgames, school functions, etc., and Tim’s family is only two hours away.

Sundays, you can find Saundra at a Baptist Sunday school, then at the Presbyterian Church for preaching!!!! (What can I say?) To see a recent picture of Saundra and her clan, see the “family pictures.”