VIDEO: Long Time Employment Benefits

LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – One long-time business in our area that employees hundreds is celebrating a milestone.

Louisville’s Wal-Mart Super Center turns 40 this week.

One employee has been working at the store for almost the entire time.

Mrs. Barbara Wood has been with the Louisville Wal-Mart just two years shy of it’s 40 year mark.

“I finished high school in May of 79 and went to work in Wal-Mart in August of 79. My resume is short and sweet,” said Wood. “I just bloomed where I was planted,” said Wood.

Store Manager James Jones says that’s one thing the company’s designed to do.

“Wal-Mart is a good company to grow with. One of the biggest things is, no matter where you start, you can always move up. Most of the people in this store have started out as an hourly and they’ve worked their way up. We try to value everybody and let them grow with the company,” said Jones.

The Louisville Wal-Mart arrived in 1977 but Wood was too young for employment. Wood says she knew once she came of age, it would be a place that fuels her passion and that’s others.

“It’s been wonderful working with all the different people, not only with the associates but just the customers and the connection and being a small town it feels like a family,” said Wood.

Wood dates back to a time when founder Sam Walton owned the entire company.

“The experience of taking pride in your work, getting to know people and not just in a customer, but being a person. Going that extra mile and that’s one thing Mr. Sam always believed in, the respect for the individual no matter who you are.”

Wood says after 38 years her best advice to younger generations, “Make every moment county cause you never know you may be somewhere for 38 years.”