The following article originally appeared in the 2011 Winter-Early Spring issue of Hometown Magazine.
Lisa Parker-Little personifies the power of positive thinking. She was one of the first 100 people let go when International Paper bought out Union Camp and transitioned their new team into the mill. Her husband, Joe, was one of the last people out the door when International Paper shut down earlier in 2010. But through it all, she has held her head high and kept the belief in her heart that despite these life-altering setbacks, her family would be okay. And they are.
But there’s more to Lisa than her can-do spirit. She positively lights up when she speaks about every facet of her life—from her family, to her job as a bookkeeper at Windsor High School, and even her relationship with her credit union.
“After I graduated from Windsor High I went to Paul D. Camp Community College then went to work for Union Camp,” says Lisa. “I worked for Union Camp for 13 years, then for International Paper for one until they laid me off. Right after that I came back to Windsor High School and I’ve been here ever since. And I LOVE my job.”
Was it tough making the transition from being a student to being someone who is responsible for the students? “Well, I’m very glad I went from the corporate world to the world of education,” adds Lisa. “It wasn’t quite as much of a shock as it would have been going the other direction. It’s kind of like being home. From day one I was welcomed, accepted and got right back into the scheme of things. And being around these great young people really keeps me young at heart.”
Interestingly, Lisa’s son, Parker is currently attending Windsor High School. But like most teenagers, he doesn’t want to be embarrassed by acknowledging his mom’s existence there. “Unless he needs money or permission for something. Other than that, I’m not supposed to know him,” says Lisa with a chuckle.
In her spare time Lisa loves to cook, enjoys spending time at the cottage she owns with her sister in the Outer Banks and she is a HUGE “Grey’s Anatomy” fan. She is also very involved with her church, Colosse Baptist Church, and takes time off from work to volunteer with the Senior Adult Group there. “One Friday a month I take a day of vacation and team up with my niece to work with the senior adults,” says Lisa. “We’ll either take them somewhere like to play Bingo with the residents of Consulate Nursing Home in Windsor and then go out to lunch, or we’ll bring speakers in to meet with them. It’s fun because it gives the older adults something to do—not to mention the joy and blessings my niece and I receive from the senior adults.”
As for her relationship with her credit union, Lisa joined while she was at Union Camp, has been a member for more than 20 years, and, in her words, is very much a Bronco supporter and advocate. “I ADORE Bronco Federal Credit Union,” Lisa states. “I love going there because I’m not a number when I walk through the door or when I call. They have always been there for me and have always been helpful, regardless of my circumstances. They’re real people and they don’t judge you. They just give you a very comfortable feeling.”
Despite the temporary setbacks that Lisa and her family have endured because of layoffs at the mill, Lisa is comforted by the fact that things happen for a reason, and what may look and feel like a completely negative thing is actually the doorway to new opportunities.
“My husband and I are very much a success story in spite of the layoffs,” says Lisa. “We are very blessed. Even though you don’t understand why at the time of a layoff, there is a reason. You have to find the peace that transcends all understanding and move forward.”
